Best console game ever?

[dmr727]

My buddies and I were drinking last night and the topic of our favorite console games came up.

Now I'm from the old school, being raised on the original 8-bit Nintendo. Zelda and Metroid are probably first and second on my list, although Castlevania Symphony of the Night for the Playstation is right up there too.

I'm curious to see what you guys and gals think....

[mkrishnan]

It's hard to not give the shout-out to the NES here... I would tend to go with Zelda or perhaps SMB3 also. Post NES, there are games I consider amazing in various ways, like Panzer Dragoon Saga, but the problem is that as games advanced, it becomes really hard to compare PDS to a platform game or a sports game in any meaningful way. Post NES, I'd probably shortlist PDS and Zelda: Ocarina of Time. But I'd probably still go with the original Legend of Zelda and SMB3 as 1-2.

[dukebound85]

in order
super mario world
mario 64
goldeneye
mario galaxy

[dmr727]

Ooooh...SMB3 and Super Mario World. Good calls.

I admit that I'm biased towards the older games. But I've also really enjoyed Metroid Prime on the GameCube.

[zap2]

I'll take on from each generation
NES
Super Maro Bros 1
SNES
Super Mario World
N64
Golden Eye
Xbox
Halo(I know I'll take heat for that, but god, I enjoyed that game)
Wii
Mario Galaxy
(To be fair, this generation isn't over, so we'll see)

I'll admit my SNES/NES era knowledge isn't quite up to par(didn't game then), but I like those games, and have played a decent amount of those generation's games.

[michaelltd]

In my opinion (in no particular order):

Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Mario 64
Metal Gear Solid 2
Perfect Dark
Metroid Prime
Call of Duty 4
Tales of Symphonia

..to name a few.

[e²Studios]

Castlevainia SOTC
SMB 3
SMB
Legend of Zelda
MGS 4 (If you have finished it you would know)
FF7
Sonic (Sega days, gotta love the blue mammal)
Mario Kart 64
Super Smash Brothers Melee (yes I didn't mean brawl)
Ape Escape (If only you really knew the series)

-YK

[michaelltd]

I am extremely tempted to put MGS4 on my list, but I'm so hyped about it still. I typically wait for my hype to die down a bit before deciding to put a new game on my list. But extremely most likely, it will. Amazing game.

[GFLPraxis]

Tough one...

I have a hard time picking a single favorite, but Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Prime, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles (when you attach the cartridges), and Super Smash Bros Brawl (and Melee) all rank up there.

If PC games count, then Portal. :)

[Dagless]

Mario Galaxy
Smash Bros Melee (Brawl out in 12 days :D)
FFVII (can't believe it took me 10 years to finally play this game. It's incredible)
Mario Kart Wii
MGS1
Sonic 2 (Mega Drive)
Mario Bros 3

Good thing it's consoles and not handhelds... I'd be here all day :p

[pcypert]

Galaxy has too much extra crap that annoys me (like making you play through again, but still explaining game mechanics and stuff)...for me the great games are ones I can just jump into and play.

So Super Mario 1 or 3.

Though my honest most play time games on the NES are Castelvania 2 Simon's Quest and Contra (contra later replaced by the exact same game as a shooter: Lifeforce)

I would say Super Mario 1 though. I was friends with a complete loser for months because he was the first guy on the block with a NES. That game changed so much for me. And then the hype going into Mario 3 from Wizard...good memories there too.

[Brianstorm91]

Goldeneye on N64!

[DoFoT9]

super...smash...brothers!!!!!!



GTA (all)

and of course...Sim City!

[ZiggyPastorius]

As much as I love the Legend of Zelda franchise, the greatest game that was ever made was Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. I can't quite explain it, but that game was purely amazing. Square took a game franchise that no one thought could break from the side-scrolling legacy it held, and blew everyone away. The graphics were amazing for the time, the game-play was so great, and the storyline was goddamn great. I love this game so much, and so do many other people, though most probably wouldn't agree it's the greatest. To me, it symbolises something very important in my childhood, and I still play it to this day :) On my SNES, in fact.

[Cromulent]

Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Those two I spent ages playing and loved every minute.

[Much Ado]

Ape Escape (If only you really knew the series)

Good call.

Super Mario Kart on SNES also deserves a mention, and I'm sure when I get MSG4 that will be right up there.

[psychofreak]

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Super Mario 64
Goldeneye 007
Halo 2
Pokémon Red/Blue
MGS 2
GTA 3

[2nyRiggz]

Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 2
Super Mario Bros.3
Super Metroid
Street Fighter II Turbo
Sonic Adventures
MGS1


I have to mention MGS4 & Otogi


Bless

[DoFoT9]

wolfenstien :D

[sikkinixx]

Hmmm I'll go by systems I have owned

NES
Startropics, just cuz

SNES
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island... best platformer ever.

Genesis
Phantasy Star IV orrrrr Shinig Force since I loves 'em both

N64
Mario 64, still the best 3D mario bar none

Saturn
Panzer Dragoon

Playstation
FFT... so many hours lost... with FF7 at a close second with FF9 at a close 3rd with FF8 at a close 4th... kind of sentimental to those FF's... fond memories

Dreamcast
Soul Caliber

Cube
Wind Waker... best art style ever, please bring it back Nintendo

Xbox
Halo or Halo 2, loved the story mode in Halo but multiplayer is Halo 2 was a blast

PS2
MGS 2 since it was the game that got me to save up all my allowance to buy a PS2, but GTA III is up there as well, then the staples SotC, Persona 3, FFX, blah blah PS2 has an insane amount of amazing games.

PS3
MGS 4 (thus far)

360
Gears of War, co-op makes up for other lackluster elements

Wii
Galaxy, despite being tedious after you beat it and having the easiest bosses ever



And although it's not console, it needs a shout out

Fallout and Heroes of Might and Magic II on PC, so good.

[MarkMS]

Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 2
Super Mario Bros.3
Super Metroid
Street Fighter II Turbo
Sonic Adventures
MGS1


I have to mention MGS4 & Otogi


Bless

Just add MGS2 and 3 and that's my list!

Anyway, I just finished MGS4 and damn - that is one of the best games I have ever played. This alone was worth the PS3. I just wish I bought the limited edition. Now I'm missing out on the soundtrack and art book.

[KurtangleTN]

1. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - It's a true classic. It will turn 10 years old on October 31st, and by most standards it's still a great game.

2. Super Metroid: How many words do you need for a great story? IMO Super Metroid proved you don't need many. The amount of areas, the powerups, the secrets, the boss battles, everything was amazing.

3. Super Mario Bros 3 - Great, colorful graphics for the NES, a lot of levels, a lot of powerups.

4. Resident Evil (GC Remake)- This game combined a lot of the elements of previous RE titles, with the original. It was the first RE game I played and man was it good. Controls were a bit tankish but still, the graphics for the time were mind blowing and the game was better than ever.

I honestly can't think of #5. It's between Link to the Past, Metroid Prime, GTA 3, and others..

[Dagless]

Forgot to add GTA: Vice City. I'd probably say San Andreas instead but I kinda got bored of that and just downloaded a 100% save and now just have random funs. For story, VC. For funs, SA.

[MacRumorUser]

Too many console classics really for me to pick just one on any system.

[zap2]

Oh, and RE4...thats was a gem!

[stainlessliquid]

ff7

MGS3 (Im only on the first act in MGS4 so that may change, but MGS3 is simply brilliant for a game/movie/book/whatever, one of the best plot twists of all time)

GTA San Andreas

Mario 64

Tekken 4

Tomb Raider 1

Deus Ex (The best PC game ever, theres a console port which sucked so I guess it still qualifies as a console game)

I cant really list any old school games, I had an NES and I loved them when they came out but compared to games of today they arent very good. But my favorite old school games were probably Bionic Commando, SMB 2, Street Fighter 2 turbo, Out of this World, Flashback.

[evilgEEk]

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

For me that game is hands down the best game of all time.

It's more than just a game to me. Some of my best memories of my mother are her and I playing that game. I always had to kill the "big rar-rars" (bosses) for her. :)

That game will always hold a very special place in my heart.

[Joel Beason]

zelda 64 ocarina of time, mario kart, ken griffey (n64), socom II, GTA vice (and IV)

[GFLPraxis]

Tough one...

I have a hard time picking a single favorite, but Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Prime, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles (when you attach the cartridges), and Super Smash Bros Brawl (and Melee) all rank up there.

If PC games count, then Portal. :)

I should add:

Mario RPG
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Pokemon Red/Blue/Fire Red/Leaf Green

[kabunaru]

My buddies and I were drinking last night and the topic of our favorite console games came up.

Now I'm from the old school, being raised on the original 8-bit Nintendo. Zelda and Metroid are probably first and second on my list, although Castlevania Symphony of the Night for the Playstation is right up there too.

I'm curious to see what you guys and gals think....

For me the best console game ever is Mercenaries.

[MacRumorUser]

Can't believe no one has said Barbie's Horse Adventure yet :rolleyes:



;)

[2nyRiggz]

^I'll leave that to GFLPraxis to put that in his list:p

I'm going to add ICO & SoTC to my list because those games got me back into gaming.


Bless

[zelmo]

^I'll leave that to GFLPraxis to put that in his list:p

I'm going to add ICO & SoTC to my list because those games got me back into gaming.


Bless

Thank you! I was just reading through this thread and wondering how the heck those games hadn't been given a mention yet, particularly ICO.

[GFLPraxis]

^I'll leave that to GFLPraxis to put that in his list:p


Bratz Ponyz was way better.

[Antares]

A lot of people are selecting multiple games. We've had many lists like that before (on MacRumors, here, not to mention website everywhere....!).

No. What would be your ONE top console game of all time...of all systems? Don't list your favorites. Just list one game. Period. It's difficult, yes...but what's your first gut response?

Me? Super Mario World (SNES)

[michaelltd]

Hmm.. then perhaps I'll choose Super Metroid.

[Dagless]

Then I would pick Mario World too.

[e²Studios]

Smb3

[dukebound85]

mario world

[GFLPraxis]

Smb3

Quoted for truth.

[2nyRiggz]

Silent Hill 2



Bless

[MacRumorUser]

Super Mario World or Zelda Link To The Past. I can not pick between them period...

[kabunaru]

Nobody else said Mercenaries except me. :eek:
If a lot more people played it, then a lot more people would've said that it's their favourite console game. :rolleyes:

[Jovian9]

Super Metroid

The Legend of Zelda

Kid Icarus

Castlevania SotN

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Super Mario Bros. 3

Castlevania

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

The Legend of Zelda OoT

Metroid

[Mike Teezie]

Super Mario World.

[MacRumorUser]

Nobody else said Mercenaries except me. :eek:
If a lot more people played it, then a lot more people would've said that it's their favourite console game. :rolleyes:

meh! There were and are plenty of people here who have played it.

To me the game was fun in small doses, but fundamentally it was the same thing over and over again ad nausium.

Fun but by no means a perfect / classic example or best game on a console. But I respect your opinion.

[Dagless]

Nobody else said Mercenaries except me. :eek:
If a lot more people played it, then a lot more people would've said that it's their favourite console game. :rolleyes:

I played it and it was a far cry from my fave console game.

[lanervoza]

god of war 2

[Chone]

I can't even begin to think of any current gen games that are even close to matching the fun I've had with Super Mario Bros.

Since SMB3 is the best then yeah, I'd give a vote to SMB3 with some confidence though it's still a tough decision.

[zelmo]

If I judge my favorite based on how many hours I've spent playing it, then I'll have to go with Wipeout on PS.

[GFLPraxis]

If I went based on number of hours spent playing, I think it'd have to be Super Smash Bros Brawl at this point :eek: Now that I'm going to tournaments and constantly practicing with my one friend/rival that can match me on a semi-daily basis I'm putting a LOT of hours in on it.

[Antares]

If I went based on number of hours spent playing, I think it'd have to be Super Smash Bros Brawl at this point :eek: Now that I'm going to tournaments and constantly practicing with my one friend/rival that can match me on a semi-daily basis I'm putting a LOT of hours in on it.

Is there prize money in that? Good luck, man. I wish I could face you without lag to see how I do...

If I had to pick a game based on how long I played...I have no idea what game it would be. I don't really track play time.

[costabunny]

Micro Machines 4-Player on teh MegaDrive - Awesome racing your friends around a Toilet bowl, kitchen floow or pool table - sooo many wasted (but fun) hours

:)

[Dagless]

^ used to have that for the Amiga, jolly fun game too! But one of my disks was damaged and could never load up the later tracks :o tried to get into the PS1 and DS versions but the magic isn't the same (kinda like Worms).


So I've been playing through VG music again and I'm changing mine to Zelda: Links Awakening. Never been so moved in a game, love the gameplay, the story, the characters and setting. Especially love the music. Wasn't too difficult either.

[GFLPraxis]

Is there prize money in that? Good luck, man. I wish I could face you without lag to see how I do...

If I had to pick a game based on how long I played...I have no idea what game it would be. I don't really track play time.


Yep, but I'm not placing quite that high yet. Tournaments are usually $5 or $10 per person, winner taking 70% of the pot. Most of the big local tournaments are ~30 people @ $10, so winner can easily rake in a couple hundred bucks, but California tournaments are usually 60+. And the big professional tournaments go for thousands (MLG etc).

I'm somewhat inconsistent though :( I can beat the top player in the state, but I can't beat several of the guys below him in the rankings that he usually beats. I'm the best Peach player in the state though, and considering that Peach is a pretty poor character I'd say I'm doing pretty well :)

[marbles]

I used to play this game in dinner hour at school (in the 80's) ....there was the karate fella who had to walk across different levels and things would drop down like snakes or quite bizarrely decorated clay pots and things like that , you would have to control him to kick them or chop at them to score points .....when you got to the end of the levels there was a baddie who you have to fight to get to the next level.....it was THE best game EVER :D

Anyone have an idea what it was called , I'm getting old now and can't remember :p

[michaelltd]

I used to play this game in dinner hour at school (in the 80's) ....there was the karate fella who had to walk across different levels and things would drop down like snakes or quite bizarrely decorated clay pots and things like that , you would have to control him to kick them or chop at them to score points .....when you got to the end of the levels there was a baddie who you have to fight to get to the next level.....it was THE best game EVER :D

Anyone have an idea what it was called , I'm getting old now and can't remember :p

Kung Fu?

[BengalDuck]

GTA III (PS2)
Goldeneye (N64)
Oregon Trail (PC)
SMB 3 (1 and 3 are both great, but 3 > others) (NES/SNES)
Zelda: OoT (N64)
NCAA Football 2002 (PS2) (Joey Harrington on the cover... as a Duck fan, that game got me in to the NCAA franchise and I've bought every title since)

Not in any order, but those games were all great to me and to this day I will play them all if I have a chance. Other games (mainly sports ones, but some shooters or RPGs) I logged tons upon tons of hours on but they aren't as great overall as the ones above to me.

[TwinCities Dan]

Kung Fu?

Yup, Kung Fu was classic

:D

[TwinCities Dan]

Oregon Trail (PC)

HA! I thought that was an :apple: game? MECC (Minnesota Educational Computer somethin' or other) made it if I recall. Was the PC version a port or orig?

P.S. How do I merge these posts? or multiquote?

[inigel]

Until not long ago, I'd say GoldenEye on N64 (was the first game I ever owned).

GoldenEye has been pushed aside for Metal Gear Solid 4. I'm on my third play through and still gobsmacked by it.

I liked the hype that GTA IV had when released, GTA has nothing on MGS4.

[Malfoy]

http://16bit.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/chrono-trigger-boxart.jpg
It's about time.

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Guilty Gear XX. Only game that forced me to learn and use every technique in the manual. Truely satisfying Boss battles. Although they are hard I feel like I'm on equal footing with the bosses and not running scared or spamming moves (see Capcom) or hiding in the corner of the screen waiting for an opening (see SNK)

I do own a lot of these classics people are listing from the previous generation. I just haven't gotten around to playing them all.
I bought all the previous Metal Gear Solids at once a couple of years ago but just started playing MGS1 last weekend. I'm actually looking forward to playing MGS3 more than MGS4. I'm looking forward to laughing at MGS2.

[MacRumorUser]

http://16bit.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/chrono-trigger-boxart.jpg
It's about time.


Yeah Chronotrigger was my second choice next to Zelda : A Link to the Past.

Chronotrigger was amazing.

[bamaworks]

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I can't help but say the Halo series :).

[Dagless]

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I can't help but say the Halo series :).

I really can't stand how they broke Halo 2 and 3 but IMO Halo 1 is second only to Goldeneye. If only it didn't have that damn Library level.

[juanster]

for that's going to have to be either metal gear for ps one or gran turismo for ps1 i have not seen a game since that makes me actually want to go home and play or nto sleep all nigh just to play...

[DoFoT9]

I really can't stand how they broke Halo 2 and 3 but IMO Halo 1 is second only to Goldeneye. If only it didn't have that damn Library level.

here here !! halo is a pretty sweet game, i have yet to finish it though..:o

goldeneye is also a classic game.

[marbles]

Kung Fu?

Yeah , yeah :D I think that was it all right....I'd love a game of that just now , not played it in 20 years .......oh no .....I'M OLD.

[Digital Skunk]

Don't shoot me, but...

Final Fantasy 7 and 8

:D

With Halo 1 close behind.

[Malfoy]

Don't shoot me, but...

Final Fantasy 7 and 8

:D

With Halo 1 close behind.


FF7, definitely.



FF8, I'm gonna need you to take a leave of absence and rethink that and come back when you're ready to change your answer for the better.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

My favorite console games would have to be super mario 64, Metriod Prime and Zelda: Windwaker.

I know, I know Windwaker didn't seem to be anyone's favorite, but I guess I'm weird because I also liked Majora's Mask more than Ocarina of Time.

[Digital Skunk]

FF8, I'm gonna need you to take a leave of absence and rethink that and come back when you're ready to change your answer for the better.

I know I know.... I like it though. It's not as bad as FF9 or FF10 or FF10-2 YUCK!

[Malfoy]

I know I know.... I like it though. It's not as bad as FF9 or FF10 or FF10-2 YUCK!

I thought 9 was better than 8 :o

[Much Ado]

Fantasy World Dizzy, on Commodore 64.

[Digital Skunk]

I thought 9 was better than 8 :o

Of all things the story line was pathetic IMHO. They threw stuff at you from left field constantly, and the story changed three times (typical) just on disk 4 (not typical) and at the very end some new super demi-god character just appears at the end and starts messing with you.... :mad:

[Antares]

GTA III (PS2)
Goldeneye (N64)
Oregon Trail (PC)
SMB 3 (1 and 3 are both great, but 3 > others) (NES/SNES)
Zelda: OoT (N64)
NCAA Football 2002 (PS2) (Joey Harrington on the cover... as a Duck fan, that game got me in to the NCAA franchise and I've bought every title since)

Not in any order, but those games were all great to me and to this day I will play them all if I have a chance. Other games (mainly sports ones, but some shooters or RPGs) I logged tons upon tons of hours on but they aren't as great overall as the ones above to me.

Don't shoot me, but...

Final Fantasy 7 and 8

:D

With Halo 1 close behind.

Pick 1. Which would be your one favorite if you could only pick one?

[2nyRiggz]

It's about time.

I'm not the rpg type but chronotrigger was excellent....played it for hours on the SNES.



Bless

[.Andy]

For me it would be a toss up between two games on the SNES. Street Fighter II turbo or Mario Kart SNES. I loved both of them to death and me and my mates played them for hours every weekend in our teens.

Other than that Jack Attack on the Commodore 16 when I was young.

[Malfoy]

For me it would be a toss up between two games on the SNES. Street Fighter II turbo or Mario Kart SNES. I loved both of them to death and me and my mates played them for hours every weekend in our teens.

Other than that Jack Attack on the Commodore 16 when I was young.

Mario Kart no contest!

My boy
http://media.canada.com/16b6f2ca-3671-421d-b40b-5ee0ea90baea/mario_kart_201205.jpg

and I couldn't be beat!

[Digital Skunk]

Pick 1. Which would be your one favorite if you could only pick one?

Hmm,

If i had to put together all the aspects that make a game great, then it'd be FF7.

[JackAxe]

I have a friend that worked on FF7. why is it that guys my age didn't really like FF7, but yet all of the younger guys do? :p

If I could only take one game on a console and it was just me playing, I would choose RE4 Wii.

<]=)

[Digital Skunk]

I have a friend that worked on FF7. why is it that guys my age didn't really like FF7, but yet all of the younger guys do? :p

It depends on how old you are. :)

[Malfoy]

I have a friend that worked on FF7. why is it that guys my age didn't really like FF7, but yet all of the younger guys do? :p



<]=)

I guess its possible to outgrow good taste. :D

[dscuber9000]

The original Super Mario Bros. on the NES would be my favorite. Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (both on the Gamecube) come pretty dang close, though.

I'd like to give shoutouts to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, and BioShock, though. :P

[JackAxe]

Then again, when the predecessor wasn't as good as some of the proceedings, one just expects better. I can see how some would be wowed by the newfangled 3D graphics for the time. :)

But then again, I'm a hypocrite, I couldn't get into the game and only saw it finished because my friend drudged through it. :o

<]=)

[Dagless]

Somebody mention Sonic, he's feeling left out :o

[nplima]

no love for Pikmin?

flowa powah? :)

[pcypert]

For some reason when I hear console I still think cart based games...kind of odd. DVD and CD doesn't have the same feel and allure to me. There's been some great games, but something about the cart just makes things so much more epic to me. A lot games people list here were great to play through once, but I'd be hard pressed to play them again and again like Mario 1 or 3, Super Mario World or the Sonics. Just great, innovative gameplay. No story, just gaming.

[n8mac]

I am surprised not one mention of Atari. I grew up on the Atari 2600, skipped the NES and went to the Atari 7800 because a friend already had the NES. Am I too old? Or is it just that the 2600 games were too short due to low memory of the carts?

I see many mentions of the Super Mario Worlds for Nintendo which was a great series. But many don't know that the mario bros. started on the 2600.

Pole Position
Mountain King
Donkey Kong
Missile Command
Frogger
Q-bert
Asteroids
Centipede
Pac-man
Pitfall

Good times! :)

As far as my best game due to so many hours logged it would have to be...
Super Smash Bros. - N64

[n8mac]

Out of this World, Flashback.

Also good times. To anyone who wants a little challenge with a side-scroller mental teaser game I highly recommend these titles. They were out for both the SNES and Sega Genesis/Mega-drive. I beat these when I was a teenager and then recently bought them and beat them again.

[e²Studios]

Somebody mention Sonic, he's feeling left out :o

shhh, lest you forget what happened last time the blue mammal was brought up!! ;)