A list! The first of many...

I'm really fond of lists. I will order anything you like into some sort of list of ascending importance and/or quality. Now in my first post, I mentioned a couple of great games from the past decade or so, and it got me to thinking. So, here's my top five, and a couple of reasons why, as well as some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions-
    These didn't make the cut for whatever reason, but are still great to me.
    The Madden franchise: I do love a good sports game, these are the best.
    Goldeneye (N64): I'm generally not a fan of shooters, but the pure chaos of a four man free for all from this game was a ton of fun.
    Super Metroid (SNES): Pretty much speaks for itself. Great game, great franchise.
    Diablo (PC): Another Blizzard Entertainment classic. I've loved these Diablo games for quite some time.
    Soul Caliber 2 (PS2): My favorite fighting title. Its a great game and a lot of fun.

5. Baldur's Gate- PC
    Very possibly the first successful adaptation of Dungeon's and Dragons to the world of video games. I can't count the amount of times this game kept my up until 3 or 4 in the morning playing just to see what happened next. Which is exactly what set this game apart from many other role players that I had previously attempted to play: the story. It was interesting and well told, featured voice acting for all of the major characters (including 4 or 5 choices for you depending on your sex), and it responded to choices you made. Your companions would object to things you did that they didn't like, random people wouldn't talk to you if they didn't like you, and there were actual consequences for most of your actions. The game had an expansion and a sequel, plus another game with its associates set in the same universe called Icewind Dale. Everything in the line was fantastic, but the original, as usual, is the best.


4. The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past. - SNES
    For my money, its the best of the Zelda franchise. This one clearly set the mold for all the others to follow and is the gold standard for action/adventure games of the time. Its one of those rare games that has held up very well over time, despite the poor graphics of its day. Its also one of the first games I can recall where you improved your character in multiple, unique ways as the game continued. You collected hearts to improve your health, jars to enable you to collect more potions or faeries in the event you die, improved weapons and armor, and gadgets to help you pass the game's many puzzles. It was a genre defining title, and an eternally replayable game.

3. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness- PC
    The advent of the modern RTS (Real Time Strategy game) lies here. Collecting multiple specialized resources to build your base and your army, and bring the world (of Warcraft?) to its knees. Anyone between the ages of 25 and 30 remembers the epic LAN battles this game would cause. I spent half my algebra class in the 8th grade playing Warcraft in the back of the classroom against the other smart kids who could similarly get away with murder. For me this game began a life long love of the RTS. Without it I never would have discovered Command and Conquer, Age of Empires, Starcraft, or many others that I've enjoyed over the years.

2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic- PC

   Any gamer/Star Wars geek will tell you, most games of this license are forgettable at best, and painful at worst. This one is the exception. Much of the creative team behind Baldur's Gate was behind this one as well, and it showed in the quality. Everything I loved about what they did with Baldur's Gate was present, and it had Jedi. It also developed a spin on the system developed for BG for how your companions and NPC's (non player characters) react to you which is uniquely Star Wars. Actions most would consider good gave you Light Side points, and evil actions award Dark Side points. Playing as dark or light also affects which powers from the Force you have available to you.

1. Super Mario Bros. 3- NES

    The game that made me fall in love with gaming. I'd played the previous versions of Mario, of course, as well as Tecmo Bowl and other sports games, and a variety of other early Nintendo mainstays. But this one was the first to get its hooks into me. The first game I ever lost sleep over. The first game I dared to defy the orders of my parents to play. Looking back anyone can see the moment in time where they first develop that interest for something that later sparks into something bigger. So you can tell me there are better games, and I'd believe you. But this is a sentimental favorite for me, and it always will be.

So there you have it, my list. Feel free to comment me with suggestions, criticisms, games I may have forgotten.