1- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Truly the greatest gaming masterpiece of all time. It may not look the best, sound the best, or even play the best, but in terms of a "complete" experience, Ocarina of Time is an unopposed champion of game design. The world is vast, the graphics are lush, the music is integral, the puzzles are intuitive, the combat is satisfying, the story is epic, the bosses are enormous, the secrets are plentiful, the characters are memorable, and the amount of fun and side-quests to take is staggering. It's the only game that does everything and, from sword-fighting to racing to shooting, and it does it perfect.
2- Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is a sequel to the most robust game world possibly ever created. However, it ups the ante, delivering even more impressive visuals, far smoother gameplay and variety, and showcasing one of the most impressive casts of characters to ever exist in any fictitious world. Playing through is impossible not to admire the badassery of Garrus, the charm of Tali, the sacrifice of Samara, the pain of Jack, the honor of Thane, or the humor of Mordin. It is less a testament of good gameplay and more a testament of the strength of strongly-written characterization.
3- Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is, admittedly, not as scary as its forebearers, but it makes up for it by being one of the most graphically impressive, smoothly playing horror-action games of last generation. The combat is visceral, the locations imaginative and diverse, the monsters original and varied, and the pacing pitch perfect. It's rare for a game to re-invent itself and pave the path for not just one but TWO genres, but RE4 pulled it off.
4- Chrono Cross
Usually, Chrono Trigger is mentioned as the better game, though I'm inclined to disagree. While Crono's journey was certainly memorable, and the bond between members tighter, Chrono Cross to me is the better game. It has my absolute most favorite soundtrack of any game ever composed. The world is so vibrant and lush, it's like a watercolor painting brought to life. The characters, all 40+ of them, have side-stories and behind-the-scenes drama. The combat is smooth and original. Everything works for me, and it left me with one of my most favorite adventures of all time.
5- Silent Hill
I love horror games, but the Silent Hill series is where I get my best fix... specifically the earliest games. Definitely the FIRST. SH2 may play better and look better, but for me, nothing tops the original. The story of Harry Mason braving the horrors of Silent Hill in search of his daughter continues to resonate with me, and the disturbing imagery continues to haunt my mind. Whether it's the "glass room", the "locker scene", the "other school", the final scene with Lisa, or the ultimate ending, the game leaves an incredible impact of pervasive dread, horror, sadness, and desperation. Couple that with one of the best uses of sound and music in the medium and you have a horror game full of heart, intelligence, and expert skill.
6- Beyond Good & Evil
An overlooked gem that plays fantastic, whether it's racing, shooting, sneaking, or fighting. The game, however, is all about the characters, and you'll grow to love and bond with them. The way the game builds the impending revolution, and how your actions slowly begin to sway the public and influence the world around you, is a testament to good game design. Now, if only that sequel would come out.
7- Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Much like Beyond Good & Evil, Enslaved is a beautiful, lush game that thrives more on character and story than on mind-blowing gameplay. But that's okay by me; the gameplay was very good, if not original, while the story tells an original tale of passion, regret, fear, sadness, love, and an assortment of all the extremes of human emotion. Watching the gruff lead Monkey and the indignant Trip bond and ultimately come to care for each other is worth the price of admission. The fact that an abomination like Kane & Lynch 2 had almost triple this game's sales is unforgivable. Seriously. Please. Buy this game.
8- Shadow of the Colossus
ICO was a huge cult hit, but Shadow of the Colossus got the success it deserved. The game is a testament to minimalism. The game is vague with almost everything left up to the player to fill in for themselves. Who is the woman Wander kills to save? What do the Colossi represent? Are your actions justified or unrighteous? What happened to cause the downfall of this world? No answers... but beauty in its simplicity and imagination-spurring design.
9- Shadow Hearts: Covenant
The first Shadow Hearts was a decent RPG with a lot of heart, but not a lot of budget. It was itself a sequel to a very poor but original RPG called Koudelka. Well, Shadow Hearts: Covenant was the RPG that dethroned Square Enix as the best RPG of the year in a surprise few saw coming. The game was immense, the cast of characters arguably the most original, memorable, and varied of any game EVER to exist, the combat turned-based but action-driven and fast, the music beautiful, and the story was an emotional rollercoaster of grim depression, gut-busting humor, passionate love, and everything in between. It blew its predecessors, and even most main Final Fantasy titles, out of the water and dared to do something new with the RPG formula.
10- Metroid Prime
Recently, Metroid: Other M came out. I didn't like the game. It had almost none of the things I love about the Metroid franchise and left a black stain on the character of Samus Aran herself. When asked what I DO like about the Metroid series, I point to Metroid Prime. Intuitive puzzles. An isolated, huge, beautiful world. A drive for exploration and daunting self-discovery. Rewarding upgrades and discoveries. New and alien creatures and bosses. A fantastic soundtrack. A non-linear, choose-your-own-path approach to exploration. Responsive, effective combat and a variety of old and new powers. A sense of satisfaction as progress is made and you emerge from a weak visitor on an alien world to a powerful soldier tearing through previously dire threats. The game is pure gaming and not a pretentious space opera. It puts the plot to the side and gives more emotion and story through the world around you that you interact with than any 20-minute cutscene could ever hope to match. Just an all-out great game.
Picking my top 10 is difficult. I have a lot of love for Final Fantasy IX, Lost Odyssey, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space, Half-Life, Jade Empire, Mario 64, and many more.
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