Favorite Games Ever (Besides Ninja Gaiden, Obviously)

[talonmalon333]

I should get around to posting a top 10 in the near future. I'm currently in the process of playing some games that I've wanted to play for ages (but kept pushing off for one reason or another), as well as replaying a few longtime favorites. Once I'm done with them I think I'll settle on a new list.

[Spark Of Spirit]

My favorite Genesis games:

1. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
2. Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master
3. Rocket Knight Adventures
4. Ristar
5. Gunstar Heroes
6. Streets Of Rage 2
7. Monster World IV
8. Mega Turrican
9. Ranger-X
10. Contra Hard Corps.
11. Castle Of Illusion
12. Phantasy Star IV
13. Strider (Yes, I finally played this port!)
14. Pulseman
15. Rolling Thunder 3
16. Comix Zone
17. World Of Illusion
18. Flashback
19. Quack Shot
20. Super Fantasy Zone

Yes, I stuck to one per series (the Illusion games don't play much alike) and tried to avoid multi-plats.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

3. Rocket Knight Adventures

[Spark Of Spirit]

3. Rocket Knight Adventures

I introduced that to a friend a few months ago. He was amazed that such a game was actually made!

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Its easily one of the most underrated Genesis classics that I have had the pleasure of playing. I'm so glad that I actually watched that Happy Video Game Nerd episode introducing me to the game by hyping it up. While I do think that he generally overrates some of the games that he tries to get more people to play (though the other ones that I have tried are still pretty good), RKA is that one game that he was absolutely right about. Its just brilliant. I honestly like it just as much as I like Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and overall its easily one of the best platformers that I've ever played, though I still have yet to find anything that even comes close to Yoshi's Island for me, personally.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Well, obviously, I recommend every game in that list. They might not top Yoshi's Island (few games do), but some are pretty close!

[talonmalon333]

My favorite Genesis games:

1. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
2. Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master
3. Rocket Knight Adventures
4. Ristar
5. Gunstar Heroes
6. Streets Of Rage 2
7. Monster World IV
8. Mega Turrican
9. Ranger-X
10. Contra Hard Corps.
11. Castle Of Illusion
12. Phantasy Star IV
13. Strider (Yes, I finally played this port!)
14. Pulseman
15. Rolling Thunder 3
16. Comix Zone
17. World Of Illusion
18. Flashback
19. Quack Shot
20. Super Fantasy Zone

Yes, I stuck to one per series (the Illusion games don't play much alike) and tried to avoid multi-plats.

Decided to do a Genesis list, rather than an all time one?

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

He already did an all-time one before. It probably just hasn't changed since then.

[Spark Of Spirit]

My favorite Genesis games:

1. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
2. Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master
3. Rocket Knight Adventures
4. Ristar
5. Gunstar Heroes
6. Streets Of Rage 2
7. Monster World IV
8. Mega Turrican
9. Ranger-X
10. Contra Hard Corps.
11. Castle Of Illusion
12. Phantasy Star IV
13. Strider (Yes, I finally played this port!)
14. Pulseman
15. Rolling Thunder 3
16. Comix Zone
17. World Of Illusion
18. Flashback
19. Quack Shot
20. Super Fantasy Zone

Yes, I stuck to one per series (the Illusion games don't play much alike) and tried to avoid multi-plats.

Decided to do a Genesis list, rather than an all time one?

My overall doesn't change too much. So I just decided to do a systems list instead.

[talonmalon333]

Fair enough. I won't ask you to dig that up. But at the least, what is your #1 favorite? I vaguely remember you saying Super Mario Bros. 3, though I could be remembering wrong or thinking of someone else.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Nope, that was me!

[Grave]

01. Street Fighter 4/Super/Arcade Edition/2012
02. Marvel vs Capcom 3/Ultimate
03. Devil May Cry 3
04. Mass Effect 2
05. Shenmue
06. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater/Subsistence
07. Okami
08. Halo: Reach
09. Assassin's Creed 2
10. Final Fantasy 8

Honorable mention: Ninja Gaiden 2, God of War 2, Gears of War 2, Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark (N64)

Trying to find something to replace SSF4 was a lot harder than I thought, and even then I still couldn't find anything, so I'll leave it at top 9 for now. Anyway, as I've stated I'll give the reasons:

01. Metal Gear Solid 3 - I don't know what happened, but somehow this game ended off my list completely, and I drifted away from it when it was my #1 when I first got my hands on it. But now with the release of Metal Gear Rising on the way, and a renewed interest to play MGS3, it quickly regained it's dominance on my favorites. Eventually it'll end up being replaced by MGS4 when I actually play it, but for the time being MGS3 is on top. It has everything I like plus some. There's no wrong way to play the game, and it gives you the option of going in guns blazing as well as doing stealth. The characters are very memorable along with its story. Now I'm the type to look for story in my games, but if it's there I'll pay attention to it, especially if it draws me in. I love the graphics and the cutscenes. Probably the best looking game on the PS2.

02. Devil May Cry 3 - Could've easily been DMC4, but I chose 3 because Vergil's in it, and I like playing as him. I can easily lose myself in this game (along with DMC4) because, when it comes to pulling off certain moves I'm easily entertained by it. I don't play these type of games for the challenge, nor do I play it for the story, but I play it just for the sake of having fun, and when it comes to these type of games DMC delivers more than the other games in the category. Plus having a badass main character helps.

03. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 - This along with Super Street Fighter 4 (mainly SSF4) renewed my interest in fighting games, but it wasn't until I went to EVO last year to spectate was when I really wanted to learn the game. And not to mention it's just so hype to watch. I like that it's not a real deep fighter. I like that it's one of those games you can pick up and go nuts with your friends and family, although I do want to be better than them in this. Sure I have questions about some of the characters in this game, but overall I really enjoy this game.

04. Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition - As I said in another thread, me and SSF4: AE is like being in a relationship. One moment you love it, and then the next moment you hate it. Anyway, deep down I love this game. Despite having hard links to pull off, and a boring training mode, it doesn't change the fact that I have fun with the game. Anytime I complain about this game it's because of my lack of time to actually practice the game, or I'm angry about a match.

05. Shenmue - The only game I've played that's actually calmed me down when I was extremely frustrated. Till this day I can play this game and still feel refreshed. The story of martial arts mixed with revenge, if pulled off correctly, can really net satisfying results, and I feel Shenmue pulled it off nicely. So sad that I don't have a dreamcast anymore, otherwise I'd be playing this right now. I did hear that Shemue HD collection may be in the works, though, so I'm looking forward to that (and I'm still hopeful for Shenmue 3)

06. Mass Effect 2 - This spot could've easily been Mass Effect 1 since I feel that Mass Effect 1 did so many things right that it just pulled me in and made for quite the experience. However, Mass Effect 2 improved upon Mass Effect 1 till it trumps it completely. If there's one thing I could do away with, it's the wandering around looking for ammo. I liked that you didn't have to look for ammo in ME1, and would've loved to not have to scurry about looking for ammo, but other than that ME2 is great. So great that I've yet to finish the game because I don't want the game to end, especially hearing that some of the characters aren't on your squad in ME3, and I've grown quite attached to my squad in ME2, especially Miranda, Garrus and Tali.

07. Okami - The one game that comes close to giving me that serene feeling that Shenmue gives me. Okami does it differently though. I get that serene feeling just by looking at the game itself. The artwork, setting, when things blossoms in full effect, all that just puts me at ease. If there's one flaw I have to point out about Okami it's that it should've ended at an earlier point of the game. It's been a while since I've played it, but I do remember never finishing it because it felt like it was dragging entirely too much, but other than that I enjoyed it. Sure it takes some things from Zelda, but as I already stated in another thread, until Zelda changes from using the same formula from OoT, it's always going to feel like a tiring franchise.

08. Halo: Reach - I've already gave my reason for this.

09. Assassin's Creed 2 - More than likely to be replaced by one of the later games in the series, but for now, AC2 did so many things right. Like I said, I don't play games for story, but if it's there, and it's presented well, I'm game. Originally I was turned away from the AC series because of AC1, but AC2 was a big step up, and I immediately took to it. I love the idea of going about objectives the way you want instead of being forced to do it one way or another. Eventually it keeps repeating and that did bog it down a little bit. But then there's Ezio. Ezio is such a charismatic character, and then there's the free-run platforming (if that's what it's called), I love it when it works, but hate it when I die or lose a large amount of health due to Ezio not jumping in the direction I tell him to. For the most part I enjoy this game though. I don't care about history at all (unless it's Japanese), but if people through their own little twist on it like this it can make for one exciting experience.

10. Final Fantasy 8 - I came into the rpgs late, and this was my first rpg. And at that time I clicked with it because I saw myself relating to Squall quite a bit. Not so much as being emo or whatever, but the way he responded to people felt right at home with me. Also, I'm not real big into rpgs either. I mainly got this one just to look at the summons and limit breaks, but who knew that I'd end up becoming addicted to the game at that time as well, especially after coming off games like DMC3 and MGS3? The junction system and the card game were little perks that kept me entertained as well, but the junction system itself when I got used to it stuck gold. Also, this is the only game that I've sold 3 times, and bought 4.

And there you have it. Like I said, there are some games I've yet to play (but I've seen full playthroughs of) that can easily replace some of these choices. Uncharted 2 being 1 along with Metal Gear Solid 4 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Revelations and 3. As for honorable mentions, I'm gonna leave that blank for now until I get my 10th game.

[Foggle]

My top 10 list:

10. The Legend of Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
9. Dead Or Alive Xtreme 2
8. Resident Evil: Gaiden
7. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing
6. A Perfect Massage
5. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
4. Tony Hawk: Ride
3. Tunnel Rats
2. Agricultural Simulator 2011: Extended Edition
1. Bubsy 3D

[gunswordfist]

10. SSX Tricky
9. Streets Of Rage Remake
8. Einhander
7. Max Payne
6. Contra Hard Corps
5. Sonic The Hedgehog 2
4. Devil May Cry 3
3. Devil May Cry 4
2. Devil May Cry
1. MGS4

Metal Slug 3 didn't make the list because, like Foggle said, the levels aren't all that great until the Final Mission. Metal Slug 3 would have been perfect if it had some stages as good as the best ones in MS1 and 2 to compliment its perfect last level. Astro Boy, Sweet Home, Time Splitters 2, Max Payne 2 and Phantasy Star IV didn't make the list.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

10. SSX Tricky
7. Max Payne
5. Sonic The Hedgehog 2

4. Devil May Cry 3
3. Devil May Cry 4
2. Devil May Cry

What about DmC?