Empire's 100 Greatest Video Games Of All Time

I can appreciate the influence that Ocarina of Time (and other titles such as FFVII) has had on modern gaming, but I honestly think OOT has long since been surpassed by other Zelda titles, and others as well. It was a skeletal framework. It's been years since it was released, and things have gotten better as the formula has been refined and improved. Just because it was the first (or, rather, the first one that was recognized by a huge number of people) does NOT mean it was the best; far from it in fact.

I think that is one of the primary reasons lists like these bother me - they're stuck in the past. Nothing can ever be as good as the first one, and if you even think otherwise you're obviously wrong. Voice it and you're liable to be burnt at the stake for heresy. If I had the kind of attitude Empire and IGN have, I'd never play newer games at all. The whole idea is that things improve over time, and I think that should be recognized. Really, the list should be called either "Most Influential Games Of All Time" or "Most Popular Games Of All Time" rather than the "Greatest".

I wouldn't say it was overrated, but poorly represented by the media and the fanbase? Absolutely.

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Originally Posted by The Man

the omission of FFVI and Yoshi's Island from this list is unforgivable. It's as if they regarded 2D gaming as an afterthought, which is unbelievably stupid.

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Completely agreed. I understand that our love for FFVI at this website is pretty biased, but out of 100 games it has to be on there, certainly if FFVIII and IX are on the list as well. Also I can't understand why Yoshi's Island is so overlooked. It pretty much represents the peak of 2D platforming. It is as close to flawless as you can get in a game.

Completely agreed. The only other game that approaches the level of artistry Yoshi's Island set for 2D platforming is Super Metroid, and some people don't even consider Metroidvanias as platformers.

This thread just reminds me that I REALLY need to play Super Metroid.

It's a pretty good list. Dark Souls is high. I dig.

This list was obviously made by someone born in the 1990s. It has a few classic games sprinkled in there for effect but it is very heavy on the most recent generations. Some glaring omissions (other than Yoshi's Island and FFVI mentioned above):

Super Mario Bros. 3 - Not only should this be on any top 100, I'd say it has a fair argument for being number 1.
The Legend of Zelda - Seriously, you have the last like, 5 Zelda games on there but not the original, and also greatest, Zelda?
Ms. Pac Man - Maybe not the best game ever but how many games ate up more quarters and are still fun to play to this day? The lack of anything from the golden arcade age is disgraceful.
Sonic 2 - Did they forget the '2' when they listed Sonic the Hedgehog?
Mega Man 2 - Got to have some representation from the Blue Bomber on any top 100 list
Castlevania Symphony of the Night - Also the lack of a Castlevania is pretty bad, particularly this game.

Well, a case could be made that LttP is greater than the original Zelda. I go back and forth on which is the best. It's probably one of those two though.

Can't disagree with most of the rest of what you said.

The Last of Us as #1?

Well, it's a very good game alright... but can't help but feel it's a tad overrated.

Anything that becomes popular is overrated by default.
Source: the internet.

That is a pretty great list, Del. It's sad that those have been omitted.

SotN is my favorite Castlevania. But even if they even included Castlevania III or Super Castlevania IV, it would've been alright. But to not include one?

Not including SMB 3 is an act of terrorism. The compilers of this list should be tarred, feathered & waterboarded.