LOL, I appreciate your comparison but I didn't really mean it that way; what I should have said was, as a part of Gen X here's my list, but a Millenial or Gen Y or what have you would likely have a list that is weighted toward more modern games. It's still just as valid a list, but would likely look foreign to a fogey like me.
I've got a similar outlook to Brian, in that you have to have a solid classic gaming background and a variety of game genres in order to intelligently address the gaming industry.
Thusly:
Pong
Barnstorming
Super Mario Brothers & Duck Hunt (combo cartridge)
DOOM/DOOM2
Duke3D
SimCity
Civilization/Civ2
AoE/AoE2
GTA/GTA2
Zork (any of them)
Ultima (Any of them)
Final Fantasy (any of the series pre-2000)
Warcraft/Warcraft 2
King's Quest (any)
Half-Life Lo-Wang, Shadow Warrior (j/k)
Really, my list cuts off around 2000, because of what is essentially a generational divide. To that end, I certainly agree with CB in that you had to experience these older games in the time period to really 'get' their full import.
Wait, what generation? Cause I totally NAILED this list.
TheMightyFuzzkinsAt the end of the rainbow, stealing your treasures!
edited August 2011
I'm happy to see mention of Crash Bandicoot 3, but I think the first and second games should be added to this list too. They were really revolutionary for their time.
I'll add a few favorite gems of my own that I think should be added to this list.
Tomba!
NBA Jam (Because this game made sports game fun for many people.)
Dragon Warrior/Quest (Any of them)
Kingdom Hearts
Act Raiser
Parappa the Rapper
oni_delsDrunk French CanadianMontréal, Québec.Icrontian
Mortal Kombat (1) (arcade)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Lemmings (DOS)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Super Smash Bros (N64)
Commander Keen (DOS)
Pac-Man (Arcade)
Megaman 2 (NES)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX)
i think that's a good list. i mean, i would consider peeps gamers even if they havent played those, but i guess this is my path to gamehood.
I played a ton of Ikaruga on the Gamecube. To me it is the finest shmup ever designed. It has a brilliant play mechanic where you can change the polarity of your shields based on the color of the incoming barrage. The screen becomes total chaos, so much going on at once. You might be good enough to get through a level, but grading high at the end is the hardcore gamers goal. It takes razor sharp focus. Anyone that has ever gotten into that little zone playing an old school arcade game knows the feeling, when you are totally zeroed in and the outside world disappears for a few minutes... That is how you have to play Ikaruga to get the most out of it.
Deus Ex
Metal Gear Solid
Final Fantasy VII
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (the acting is at it's campy best in the RA series)
Age of Empires 2
Xenogears
Parasite Eve (seriously, I sunk so much time into this game. I actually beat the damn Chrysler Building which required multiple playthroughs of the whole game to pump my gear up far enough. Sadly, I also lost the memory card that had my saves on it )
Another World is a highly unappreciated gem from gaming's past. It is one earliest examples of games as a true art form. It is a must play.
0
RequitThat one guySomewhere over there, I don't knowIcrontian
Growing up, my parents refused to allow video games in the house. It sucked, because I was always interested in them and would play them nonstop when I went to my friend's houses. Around the age of 12 or so, I found a loophole with the internet. I could open up a game and have another tab open to Google or something, and swap between the two when my parents were around, so I could keep it hidden. Yes, growing up video games were my porn. It's only recently that I had the money needed to get a gaming computer, so I've been trying to play catch-up with 30+ years of missed opportunities. Anyway, because of the crackdown on fun, my list of games everyone should play are:
Neo-Geo:
Samurai Showdown
Art of Fighting
World Heroes
Colecovision:
Popeye
Star Wars Arcade game
QBert
Centipede
NES: (points if you've used the Power Glove on any of these
Ducktales
Paperboy
Marble Madness
ExciteBike
Bayou Billy
All Mario Bros
Rescue
Kung Fu
Double Dragon
Jackie Chan's game
Blades of Steel
Zelda (1 and 2)
Pro-Wrestling
Super Dodge Ball
Friday the 13th
River City Ransom
TMNT 1 and 2
Contra (beat with no cheat)
Double Dribble
John Elway's Quarterback (with super speedy QB)
Tecmo Bowl (Raiders...top team unfortunately)
Ninja Gaiden
Blaster Master
Ghosts and Goblins
Rampage
Bad Dudes
Mike Tyson's Punchout
Battletoads
Duck Hunt
Atari 2600:
Pitfall
Missile Command
Asteroids
Spyhunter
Joust
Pac Man
ET
Moon Patrol
Comments
WC2: Beyond the Dark Portal
WC3: Frozen Throne
HL: Opposing Force
HL2: Episode 2
GTA4: EFLC
TF2: Gold Rush Update
Crysis: Warhead
Wait, what generation? Cause I totally NAILED this list.
...okay, except Zork. But I HEARD it was good!
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iHKKq7kMF8w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I'll add a few favorite gems of my own that I think should be added to this list.
Tomba!
NBA Jam (Because this game made sports game fun for many people.)
Dragon Warrior/Quest (Any of them)
Kingdom Hearts
Act Raiser
Parappa the Rapper
You'll learn.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/253750/
Ikaruga is now on Steam for the hardcore only.
that game looks like Raiden X
http://raiden-x.net/
Mortal Kombat (1) (arcade)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Lemmings (DOS)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Super Smash Bros (N64)
Commander Keen (DOS)
Pac-Man (Arcade)
Megaman 2 (NES)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX)
i think that's a good list. i mean, i would consider peeps gamers even if they havent played those, but i guess this is my path to gamehood.
This shit is an easier Touhou, and with far less magical girl.
Get on Ily Wily's Level.
I played a ton of Ikaruga on the Gamecube. To me it is the finest shmup ever designed. It has a brilliant play mechanic where you can change the polarity of your shields based on the color of the incoming barrage. The screen becomes total chaos, so much going on at once. You might be good enough to get through a level, but grading high at the end is the hardcore gamers goal. It takes razor sharp focus. Anyone that has ever gotten into that little zone playing an old school arcade game knows the feeling, when you are totally zeroed in and the outside world disappears for a few minutes... That is how you have to play Ikaruga to get the most out of it.
old school lol asteroids was hi-tech to me when it first came out lol my first pc was the trs80 pong was the first game I played lmao
I think it's a different kind of difficulty. Ikaruga seems to have less bullets to dodge, but having to switch polarity really changes things up.
That's the only problem I have with this game.
I like Castlevania...
I know.
+1 to the following:
Deus Ex
)
Metal Gear Solid
Final Fantasy VII
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (the acting is at it's campy best in the RA series)
Age of Empires 2
Xenogears
Parasite Eve (seriously, I sunk so much time into this game. I actually beat the damn Chrysler Building which required multiple playthroughs of the whole game to pump my gear up far enough. Sadly, I also lost the memory card that had my saves on it
http://store.steampowered.com/app/233550/
Another World is a highly unappreciated gem from gaming's past. It is one earliest examples of games as a true art form. It is a must play.
Growing up, my parents refused to allow video games in the house. It sucked, because I was always interested in them and would play them nonstop when I went to my friend's houses. Around the age of 12 or so, I found a loophole with the internet. I could open up a game and have another tab open to Google or something, and swap between the two when my parents were around, so I could keep it hidden. Yes, growing up video games were my porn. It's only recently that I had the money needed to get a gaming computer, so I've been trying to play catch-up with 30+ years of missed opportunities. Anyway, because of the crackdown on fun, my list of games everyone should play are:
The Sonny series
Pandemic II
Incredibots
Anything in the SCGMD series
The Last Stand series (until that facebook atrocity)
Drunken Masters
Runescape (I spent a lot of time playing it, but can't suggest anyone play it now)
Radical Aces
Need for Madness
The Flowering Nose
Never mind, showed up as a new post...
Not sure what all's been listed (too many to remove from my own list), but here's a few earlier gen games...
Turbo Graphics 16 games:
Legendary Axe
Splatterhouse
Bonk's Adventure
Neo-Geo:
Samurai Showdown
Art of Fighting
World Heroes
Colecovision:
Popeye
Star Wars Arcade game
QBert
Centipede
NES: (points if you've used the Power Glove on any of these
Ducktales
Paperboy
Marble Madness
ExciteBike
Bayou Billy
All Mario Bros
Rescue
Kung Fu
Double Dragon
Jackie Chan's game
Blades of Steel
Zelda (1 and 2)
Pro-Wrestling
Super Dodge Ball
Friday the 13th
River City Ransom
TMNT 1 and 2
Contra (beat with no cheat)
Double Dribble
John Elway's Quarterback (with super speedy QB)
Tecmo Bowl (Raiders...top team unfortunately)
Ninja Gaiden
Blaster Master
Ghosts and Goblins
Rampage
Bad Dudes
Mike Tyson's Punchout
Battletoads
Duck Hunt
Atari 2600:
Pitfall
Missile Command
Asteroids
Spyhunter
Joust
Pac Man
ET
Moon Patrol
Just a list of games I remember playing as a kid