100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-06
05
Super Mario 64
Nintendo 64, 1996
D: Nintendo EAD | P: Nintendo
926 points
From the moment you first guided Mario across the grassy knolls overlooked by Princess Peach's Palace and clambered up a polygonal tree, it was clear that Super Mario 64 was something special. Indeed, Mario's first ever fully-3D outing was very special, and would quickly prove to be an undeniably crucial moment in the wider history of videogames, both as a title that inspired dozens of other developers to explore the possibilities offered by a third dimension, as well as a game that provided a sturdy stepping stone between digital and analogue control in videogames.
Almost ten years on, Super Mario 64 is still superior to many of the 3D platformers churned out today, an achievement that speaks volumes. The smooth-as-butter analogue control that felt so satisfying back in 1996 still handles flawlessly today, while the level design on display here is the very definition of 'timeless', an irrefutable testament to the immense talent of the team behind it. Even the smaller details - the hidden areas, the secret slide race, swinging Bowser about by his tail - are still nothing short of joyous. A platforming masterpiece then, and a jolly important one at that.
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04
Resident Evil 4
GameCube, 2005
D: Capcom Production Studio 4 | P: Capcom
1,021 points
It's an unfortunate fact that the vast majority of games with a first-quarter release date are often shunted to the back of memories when it comes to deciding on the best game of each year. 2005 promises to be a one-horse race all the way however, with Resident Evil 4 the thoroughbred that looks set to finish several lengths ahead of its nearest rival. The fact that it was first released almost ten months ago has done nothing to dampen its quite stunning impact. Everything about Resident Evil 4 displays the trademarks of a developer that knows what it wants to do, and is damn good at getting it done. The visuals are as atmospheric as they are beautiful, the sound is wonderfully nerve-racking, the enemies are exemplary and the cut-scenes are simply magnificent.
It's the combat that steals the show however, with each and every enemy encounter meticulously weighted in order to generate as much tension as possible. With the shuffling undead of previous Resident Evil games now scrapped for an altogether craftier, quicker foe, and with the amount of ammunition granted to players impeccably well-judged, every individual skirmish between the player and the enemy becomes a hugely memorable battle. Even the plot is half-decent compared to previous titles in the franchise, though we'll admit that's perhaps not saying a great deal. It's all of these ingredients that make Resident Evil 4 the greatest survival horror title ever by a country mile, and one of the greatest titles of this or any other year.
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03
Final Fantasy VII
PlayStation, 1997
D: Square | P: Square/SCEE
1,094 points
Gaming mythology has long held that Final Fantasy VII, one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, also holds the dubious honour of being one of the most returned games ever, due to what is often perceived as a slow start to this majestic RPG. For those who persevered however (and with 8 million sales to date, that's probably a good number), Final Fantasy VII was vastly rewarding. It remains one of the finest examples of a videogame that can truly connect to players on an emotional level, and we're not just talking about individuals who can be classed as hardcore fans of the RPG genre.
Even those who usually find the world of RPGs a confusing and inaccessible place should make the effort in this case, for there's so much to love and admire about Final Fantasy VII - the inventive dystopian setting, the likeable characters, the emotive storyline, the cracking dialogue, the fabulous battles, the endlessly versatile Materia system - that the idea of missing out seems almost criminal. It's an epic package rounded off by a quite brilliant final encounter, and a game that should be experienced by everyone from three to one hundred-and-three. Essential.
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02
Goldeneye 007
Nintendo 64, 1997
D: Rare | P: Nintendo
1,121 points
There is, of course, a great deal to sneer about when it comes to movie-to-game conversions, which makes the appearance of Rare's Goldeneye at #2 all the more sweetly ironic. It's hardly unmerited though, for this stellar Bondian adventure reaches some quite awe-inspiring heights. Most of these are to be found in the wonderful multiplayer mode, almost certainly the most fun that can be had with an N64 and three other friends - we dread to think of the number of patchy educations and even patchier relationships that can be attributed to Rare's decision to include a four-player mode.
Elsewhere, the singleplayer is hardly too shabby either, spread across a total of twenty levels of masterful design that positively ooze atmosphere. Weak levels? There's barely a weak moment, never mind a weak level. The range of guns is ridiculously well-rounded (though we'll admit that perhaps the KLO88 could have been excluded), while some of the set-pieces simply deserve dozens of playthroughs. And heck, we've not even touched on the superb stealth sections or the gadgets, two features that helped recreate the thrill of actually being Bond better than any game since has managed. Yes, it's getting on nowadays, but there can be no better tribute to the all-round brilliance of the game than the lofty position it occupies in this chart, especially as it comes from a genre so focussed on cutting-edge, modern technology. Infact, according to you lot, there's only one game out there that can eclipse it...
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01
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nintendo 64, 1998
D: Nintendo EAD | P: Nintendo
2,157 points
Surprised? We're guessing not. Since its release in 1998, barely any other title has come close to taking top spot from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in any of the Top 100 charts that are routinely trotted out by other publications. True to form, the game racked up almost twice as many points as the second-placed title in this survey, and appeared in over half of your lists. The appearance of the game at the top of polls such as this one has almost become a cliché in itself by now. Yet like all clichés, there's a truth and fundamentally sound reasoning behind its revered, untouchable status.
For a start, it's a game that packs an emotional punch like few others, a title that genuinely inspires a wide range of feelings. Riding across Hyrule field on Epona felt utterly liberating, entering the Temple of Time for the first time felt foreboding, watching night fall across Lake Hylia felt strangely melancholic, and climbing the winding staircase on your way to a final confrontation with Ganondorf felt daring and epic. Emotion engine? Sony was three years too late, we're afraid. It's also a title with some breathtaking design. In all its brain-twisting glory, the Water Temple is perhaps the best example of this, though the standard simply never drops below 'scintillating' from dungeon to dungeon. It's a visually beautiful game as well, and it plays out to one of the great videogame soundtracks. It's engrossing, it's unforgettable and it's imaginative.
It's all of these things. But above all, it's the greatest game ever made.
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Surprised? Agitated? Pleased? Whatever your impressions are of our - sorry, your - list, feel free to speak your brain here. But before you do, take a few minutes to reflect on our final Top 100 below. And thanks for reading.
100...Final Fantasy XI [90]
099...Soul Calibur 2 [93]
098...NiGHTS Into Dreams [94]
097...Disgaea: Hours of Darkness [95]
096...WipEout 2097 [99]
095...The Sims [100]
094...Silent Hill 2 [103]
093...Quake II [105]
092...F-Zero GX [106]
091...Advance Wars: Dual Strike [107]
=89...Super Smash Bros. [108]
=89...Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge [108]
088...Gran Turismo 3 [109]
087...God of War [110]
086...Age of Empires 2 [111]
085...Warcraft III [112]
084...Super Mario Sunshine [114]
083...Star Wars Battlefront [115]
082...Conker's Bad Fur Day [116]
081...Chrono Cross [117]
080...Counter Strike [119]
079...Metroid Prime 2: Echoes [120]
078...Golden Sun [121]
077...Fire Emblem [122]
076...Diablo II [123]
075...Civilisation III [124]
074...Advance Wars [125]
073...Phantasy Star Online [127]
072...Lemmings [128]
071...Call of Duty [130]
070...Unreal Tournament [132]
069...The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening [133]
068...System Shock 2 [134]
067...Katamari Damacy [135]
066...Eternal Darkness [136]
065...Doom [137]
064...Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic [138]
063...Rez [139]
062...Tales of Symphonia [140]
061...Final Fantasy VI [143]
060...Grim Fandango [146]
059...Beyond Good & Evil [153]
058...Planescape Torment [157]
057...Killzone [161]
056...Banjo-Kazooie [162]
055...Pokémon Gold/Silver [165]
054...Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening [170]
053...Sonic & Knuckles [173]
052...Soul Calibur [185]
051...Final Fantasy IX [191]
050...Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle [195]
049...Burnout Revenge [198]
048...Sonic the Hedgehog [201]
047...Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty [204]
046...Gran Turismo 4 [209]
045...Mario Kart 64 [214]
044...The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind [217]
043...The Secret of Monkey Island [220]
042...Secret of Mana [226]
041...Pro Evolution Soccer 4 [228]
040...Baldur's Gate II [232]
039...The Legend of Majora's Mask [237]
038...Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time [238]
037...Deus Ex [243]
036...Grand Theft Auto: Vice City [250]
035...Kingdom Hearts [256]
034...Street Fighter 2 [262]
033...World of Warcraft [269]
032...The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past [292]
031...StarCraft [301]
030...Sonic the Hedgehog 2 [304]
029...Super Metroid [309]
028...Super Mario Kart [314]
027...Half-Life [325]
026...Final Fantasy VIII [337]
025...Super Mario World [342]
024...Perfect Dark [353]
023...Grand Theft Auto III [361]
022...Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island [385]
021...Ico [401]
020...The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker [408]
019...Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater [438]
018...Super Mario Bros. [453]
017...Chrono Trigger [457]
016...Final Fantasy X [466]
015...Halo 2 [473]
014...Super Smash Bros. Melee [485]
013...Halo: Combat Evolved [504]
012...Super Mario Bros. 3 [537]
011...Metroid Prime [589]
010...Burnout 3: Takedown [622]
009...Half-Life 2 [649]
008...Metal Gear Solid [690]
007...Tetris [765]
006...Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas [817]
005...Super Mario 64 [921]
004...Resident Evil 4 [1,026]
003...Final Fantasy VII [1,094]
002...Goldeneye 007 [1,121]
001...The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time [2,157]
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