This is it guys, we have made it to the top 10. Read, and prepare to argue. Woooo!
Just remember to keep in mind what I had mentioned in the first installment:
Now, they are not solely based on my opinion of the game, they are based on success, impact on gaming, and overall impact on the company that made it, and companies that released it. In other words, some games I don’t take too much liking to (Halo) will be on the list because its impact on gaming is absolutely undeniable. Then there will be small unknown games (like Excitebike 64) that ultimately changed the company releasing the product (Nintendo). In the list will be hot-sellers that hardcore gamers will shun (NintenDogs), underrated gems (F-Zero GX) and also games that I deem absolutely spectacular, even if the sales didn’t represent it. Bottom Line: this list will have games I didn’t fully enjoy but made too much an impact to be avoided—and at the same time there will be games you most likely have never heard of that I found spectacular enough to be on such a list. Sometimes it’s the smallest games that create a bigger impact on the industry without anyone noticing.
Now, here we go:
#10: How to Start the Decade Correctly
Game: Pokemon Gold/Silver
System: Nintendo Game Boy Color
Year: 2000
Sales: 23+ million
I am going to warn you now; the Top 10 is flooded with Nintendo. This is because I personally believe that not only did Nintendo make the better games of the decade, but they also drew the big success stories of the decade. We can start with this game, a massive, incredible, nearly flawless role-playing experience on the Game Boy Color. The Game Boy Color didn’t have as many games as the GBA or DS, but they didn’t have to—they had this game.
Let’s spit the facts: nearly double the Pokemon of the original, literally double the quest of the original, nearly 8 times as many special features, and dozens of more activities to do here when compared to the classic Red/Blue/Yellow games. Pokemon Gold/Silver quite literally threw everything it had at you, everything that the cartridge can handle. The only reason the game didn’t sell more was because the Game Boy Color wasn’t as big a hit. But with 23 million (and the 20+ million of Red/Blue/Yellow), Pokemon easily claimed the top of the hill in terms of role-playing franchises. Final Fantasy nowadays can only dream of re-capturing the top plateau (Final Fantasy XIII passed a million in Japan, but still needs to sell two million more to catch the remake of THIS game).
This game is a massive success, it’s nearly flawless, its impact is felt in the handheld industry, and is the perfect way to start the top 10 biggest games of the decade.
#9: Production Value Cranked to 11
Game: Metroid Prime
System: Nintendo Gamecube
Year: 2002
Sales: Almost 3 million
When Metroid Prime hit shelves in November of 2002, we didn’t quite know what to think. After all, Metroid had always been 2-D, and now it’s been transformed into a first-person shooter/adventure. Nintendo rarely even thinks about making first-person shooters. However, we were drawn in by the sleek art design, best graphics up to that point, great musical score, and incredible attention to detail. In most games, the plot is explained to you. In Metroid Prime, you seek out the clues yourself by scanning around. In most games, the map is given to you. In Metroid Prime, sometimes you have to walk around and explore before receiving a map.
Exploration games are hit-and-miss; they have to really draw you in. Retro Studios accomplishes this by going old-school and beginning the game with an action-packed introduction that is nothing more than a mere set-up towards the main quest. 10 minutes in, you would have fought a gigantic boss, loss all your abilities, reunite with an old foe, and are forced to exit the space station before it explodes. That’s just the first 10 minutes. Metroid Prime is an incredible blend of old-school exploration with a new-school way of playing the beloved franchise. Critics found this game nearly flawless and so do I, as to this day Nintendo has trouble matching the production value and effort placed on this 2002 hit.
With Metroid Prime, Nintendo decided to step it up in the maturity notch not just with their lineup of games, but their franchises that has (up until 2002) seen success with the younger audience. We saw the likes of F-Zero, Star Fox, and even Mario attempt to reach out to the older gamers with more mature storytelling, gameplay, presentation, and overall feel. Then Zelda got handed its first T-rated game with Twilight Princess. If Metroid Prime had not become a success and caused such a ripple in the gaming industry, one can only wonder where Nintendo would be at today with the big names.
#8: Old-School. Meet New-School
Game: Mario Kart DS
System: Nintendo DS
Year: 2005
Sales: 17+ million
The Mario Kart franchise is a storied franchise; with all of them being major hits no matter what score the critics (and old-school peeps) give it. Up to this point, it was Mario Kart 64 on top of the charts as the most-successful non-realistic racing game in history. However, the original (according to most) remains the best, the toughest, and the one with the best skill curve. The Nintendo DS though, had one trick up its sleeve, Mario Kart DS. Abandoning the 2-player Double Dash mess, the DS version stripped back to the basics, made the game much deeper by offering more vehicles, had an entirely new set of tracks (as well as bring back some old ones), and became online-compatible.
The end result is quite possibly the best racing game in Nintendo’s history, literally one Battle Mode away from destroying Mario Kart 64. Much more skill is required to win here than any other Mario Kart (besides the original), there is much more to do, and the ability to battle random people online is a gaming nirvana for Kart fans. The PSP looked better, but could never provide a better experience than the likes of Mario Kart DS—leading to its eventual demise and the DS conquering 70% of the handheld market. Nintendo finally gets a good hold of how an online game should work, and wil definitely make things interesting as Nintendo dwells deeper into the online circle against the big boy veterans Sony and especially Microsoft. Finally, a game that makes the old-schoolers happy, and brings new-school gamers into the mix.
#7: Epic Mario Has Arrived
Game: Super Mario Galaxy
System: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2007
Sales: 8.5 million
Super Mario has been in all sorts of incredible video games since the 80s. But, none of them have ever felt truly epic, in the realm of Zelda, Halo, God of War. The experiences were usually down-to-earth, colorful, humorous, full of life. In Super Mario Galaxy, we see a new type of platform game, we see a new type of Mario game, and the overall game remains one of the best you’ll ever play. The entire presentation was perfect, from the art design to the soundtrack (which is the best in any Mario game yet).
The gameplay was so different from your typical Mario; Japan didn’t gobble up the game like they do any Mario experience. You are now in space, you don’t explore in a level, you explore in multiple miniature levels that resemble one major level. Hopping from planet to planet is something we could have never imagined doing in a Mario game, but alas here it is. Everything was larger than Mario life here; from the levels to the scale of the levels, to even the boss battles. The exploration required in this game was to the scale of Legend of Zelda, the fights were to the scale of Shadow of the Colossus, and the music was epic to the scale of Halo and Call of Duty.
But what makes this game stand out as one of the best and one of the most important in the decade is the revival of the Super Mario brand. In the Gamecube days, the Mario name got a big hit with weaker hits, and a sudden over-commercialization of the well-known plumber. The reputation of Mario was going down the drain, with only New Super Mario Bros. keeping its image afloat. He was seen as a kiddie character immersed in many kiddie games. Older gamers, which were gobbling up the Mario World series in the 90s, were suddenly disappearing into other franchises. Super Mario Galaxy erases this by proving to the gamers and critics that Super Mario can still be featured in an excellent, excellent game.
Super Mario Galaxy is a brilliant, epic, beautiful game, and we only have the highest of hopes for the sequel, when Yoshi is mixed in.
#6: So Close to Reality, You Can Smell the Smoke
Game: Gran Turismo 3
System: PS2
Year: 2001
Sales: Almost 15 million
Gran Turismo 2 missed the deadline of the 2000s by about a month. Nonetheless, the third installment, despite lacking in the amount of cars and tracks when compared to part 2, is an incredibly realistic experience. While part 4 was criticized for some of its unrealistic moments, and part 5 is non-existent, A-Spec excels with top-of-the-line graphics, great physics, and realism that few games before or since could match. While comparing this to the likes of Mario Kart is like comparing apples and oranges, this game is arguably the best game of its genre, only Gran Turismo 2 can challenge it. There are auto courses throughout the country that reference and use this as practice. The details in this game are so defined, every single engine in the dozens of cars sound different. No American company focuses that much on detail.
The success of the Playstation 2 can be traced back to this game, which delivered sales of nearly 15 million, a number that only one game managed to reach in the PS2 days. With the Xbox and Gamecube not offering any sort of competition, the PS2 was laps ahead of the others in the racing genre (among other genres). Gran Turismo 3 was an online mode away from perfection.
#5: Nintendo Is Maturing
Game: Perfect Dark
System: Nintendo 64
Year: 2000
Sales: 2.5 million
Nintendo had a nasty kiddie image attached to it since Yoshi’s Island back in 1995, resulting in the Playstation becoming the dominant system from 1995 to 2001, when the PS2 took the throne. While Goldeneye 007 definitely brushed off the image a little, it wasn’t enough for the rising amount of mature gamers looking for a more adult experience. Nintendo turns to Rareware (again) and together they created a new character, created a new style of gameplay, and in 2000, arguably the greatest first-person shooter of all-time is born. Joanna Dark enters the gaming world as the first Nintendo heroine to star in an M-rated title.
I know there will be some screaming that Halo is the best, but Perfect Dark’s variety, gameplay, musical score, and replayability remains to be topped. Unlike your Halos and Modern Warfare games, Perfect Dark can’t be beat in a mere couple of hours, the quest is extremely long and spans multiple planets and plot twists. Then there is the multi-player, which uses maps from the classic shooter Goldeneye 007 as well as adds a slew of new ones. Excellent weapons were introduced here, including the always-reliable laptop gun. Then there was the revolutionary multi-player deathmatches with computer A.I. opponents as well as human ones entering the mix.
While it is no big deal now, back in 2000 it was impressive to see Nintendo release such a bloody, violent, yet mature video game that combines first-person frantic action with stealth, espionage, exploration, and science fiction. Rareware pulls no punches as the blood, guts; profanity was at an all-time high here---without ever crossing the line into utter vulgarity. Nintendo wanted to be seen as mature as well as something for the family, and this was the beginning of something special.
Unfortunately, the sales weren’t that big because the N64 just stopped selling, and because the Gamecube was around the corner. With the sale of Rareware and Nintendo still trying to find an audience, it would be years before Nintendo ever finds success with an adult title (Resident Evil 4). And it would be years before anyone else can experience this masterpiece, with the Xbox Live version coming out later this year---hopefully. In the meantime though, Perfect Dark will forever be remembered as the first major Nintendo title to attempt to reach out to the adults--and proof that first-person shooters in consoles can become extremely profitable and has a longer-lasting appeal amongst the Western Hemisphere gamers.
#4: Nirvana for Nintendo Fans
Game: Super Smash Brothers Melee/Brawl
System: Gamecube/Wii
Year: 2001/2007
Sales: 16 million
Super Smash Brothers came out in the revolutionary year of 1999, when we had the likes of Marvel vs. Capcom and Soul Calibur change the way fighting games were being played. Only one of these franchises however would continue rising and would dethrone any fighting franchise out there. Smash Brothers Melee was the best-selling Gamecube game and with good reason, it was a mere celebration of everything Nintendo and it also packs in a massive punch of addicting gameplay, great music, great ensemble cast of characters, and enough replay value for 15 games.
Smash Brothers Brawl is more of the same, except more of it, which is why it gets the same slot with Melee in this list. Brawl however included third-party characters, and we can only ponder just how many more third-party characters can make their way into the next installment. Overall, these are the two best fighting games of all-time, because the amount of available features and things to do extend much further than just fighting a foe or two foes; there are event matches, adventure modes, major challenges, so much more. While your Tekkens and Soul Caliburs offer extra characters, extra clothes, Melee/Brawl offers new stages, new hidden goodies, and enough new content to keep you busy long after the original quest is over.
Another reason for its superiority is because unlike most fighting games, you can quite literally develop your own style of fighting with whatever character and pretty much invent killer combos and invent nasty moves to take down your opponent. Then you have to adjust your fighting strategy depending on what items are on the field.
This style of fighting has influenced fighters ever since, with even Mortal Kombat suddenly depending on weapons/items to mix in the fun. Yet in my eyes, there is no fighter out there that can match the majesty, the details, and the deep fighting system of Super Smash Brothers. Take it or leave it.
#3: The Zelda That Changed the Franchise
Game: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
System: Nintendo 64
Year: 2000
Sales: 3.36 million
Ocarina of Time was a monster smash hit, and everyone knew this. It put the N64 on the map for the longest time, as it held what many considered to be the greatest game of all-time. Then, in between Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker came a Zelda game so spectacular, so incredible, so beautiful, and so dark, it was a total tragedy that few gamers were able to catch it. Of all the games on this list, this one stands as the best game overall. The only reason why it’s not on the #1 list is because its impact on gaming isn’t as massive as the first two, but quality-wise it stands as the definite and ultimate gaming experience.
The storyline here stands as the best in the decade, as the world is about to end in 3 days because of a curse—resulting in the moon crashing down to Earth. With the ocarina of time, you have to maneuver around these 72 hours to stop the end of the world from happening. It’s a gripping tragic story, and even the knowledge that the world is ending as you see the citizens around you go about their merry ways is quite sad and morbid. You can’t save everybody (when you do run out of time, its quite gruesome). While Ocarina of Time and Link to the Past were epic games with incredible stories, Majora’s Mask was the first to flirt with a story and an overall gaming experience that might be a bit much for the younglings.
What more can I say about this game? The music, pacing, setting, graphics, cast of characters, action, adventure, puzzles are all top-notch and some of the best Nintendo has ever offered. The 3 day system works perfectly and flawlessly, the dungeons themselves are tough and fun, and the overall game is extremely difficult, yet very rewarding. Many, many adventure/action games have copied elements from this game. If you have not played this game yet, then you are missing out on one of the best stories ever told on gaming, and one of the greatest video games in history. You can thank me later.
P.P.S. It is in Virtual Console. Buy it.
#2: A Game That Brought an Underground Industry to the Spotlight
Game: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
System: Playstation 2
Year: 2002
Sales:
GTA III overall: At least 48 million
Vice City: At least 15 million
Video games, despite its overwhelming success, were not really in the limelight throughout most of history. They were in page 6, perhaps a bit farther down after politics and celebrity gossip. But, turn of the century arrives, and suddenly games are becoming more mature, games are reaching out to a larger crowd. This is no longer a kids’ toy, adults were playing video games just as often. The first major piece of evidence would be the incredibly fun and the extremely successful Grand Theft Auto III trilogy, consisting of Vice City and San Andreas. These three together combined to reach 48 million copies sold around the world. Name 10 M-rated games that sold over 1 million in the 90s. It is so much easier to name 15 of them for this previous decade.
Grand Theft Auto III wasn’t the first game to reach out to older gamers, but was the first majorly successful game to accomplish this. Using a blend of top-notch gameplay, excellent sandbox mayhem, great plot, grand voice acting, and a totally massive overworld to contain all the crime-infested missions, GTA allowed for you to become the gangsters, mobsters and bad-asses that you could only dream of becoming because of something called the Law. The game would offend nearly everybody, but the controversy only enhanced the sales, and would help the PS2 become the most successful console of all-time (even though the Wii is on pace to shatter this)
Vice City is my pick for the #2 top game of the decade because unlike San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV, it carried a very slick style, and carried the best plotline. Now, there are multiple songs that are associated with Vice City (“I Ran” being the signature song and staple with the game). I believe with Vice City, the franchise and the popularity of it was as its absolute peak, being played in homes everywhere and hitting the news every couple of weeks or so. The game is fantastic, but its impact is what propels this instant classic into nearly the top of this list. If you have not played or heard of Vice City, it’s because you are trying to avoid it. While part 4 was bigger and offered more, Vice City remains the coolest, hippest, and slickest in the series.
#1: November 19th, 2006. Gaming Changed Forever
Game: Wii Sports
System: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2006
Sales: Best-selling video game of all-time. Almost 58 million sold. Responsible for at least $14 billion in revenue for Nintendo
There can be no other game to top this list. There just can’t be. The gaming world was literally turned upside-down with the release of Wii Sports. Analysts were totally wrong, the bloggers were totally wrong, all the gaming magazines were wrong. What was supposed to be a three-way war turned into utter domination within a matter of months. The Nintendo Wii opened the gaming gates to the mainstream, a new generation of gamers, and even people that hated video games before. Parents, grandparents, retirees, were suddenly playing Wii Sports with children and college kids.
Wii Sports changed the gaming world because it was no longer just for the young and for the college kids; everyone was invited to this re-invention of the video game. This little tech demo demonstrated that cheaper games can still rake in major profits, as long as the marketing and execution strongly follow. Wii Sports never disguised itself as an excellent game; it was a game that can be played by anybody. The simplicity of Wii Sports was its selling point, and to this day it still sells. While the competitors have had at least 2-3 price drops, the Wii has sunk its price just once, and the success rate is higher than ever. Nintendo Wii is just like Apple, it started out looking like a fad, and then expanded in personality, success, and reputation and became the leading force of the industry.
Because of Wii Sports, Nintendo is back to the #1 slot (first time since 1995), the variety of games increased significantly, the price range of games increased significantly, cheaper games can still make money, word-of-mouth in terms of video games hit an all-time high, and now video games can be seen literally everywhere—in movies, televisions, commercials, news stations, and even in retirement homes. The hardcore Nintendo crowd after neglecting the Gamecube is being absolutely punished for backing out on them years before, by seeing their company cater to people much younger and much older than them. With Wii Sports, now Sony and Microsoft are frantically at work trying to one-up the Wii’s motion controls (See Natal for the best example).
Everything literally changed. It would be such a different world of gaming if Wii Sports had failed or had not existed. No other game on this list shook the foundation of gaming the way this massive success did. Is it the best game this decade? Absolutely not. It’s a decently fun tech demo that’s better with more people involved. Is it the most influential? Absolutely. Wii Sports also put the brother Nintendo DS on the spotlight with its different approach to gaming; resulting in games like Ace Attorney, Trauma Center, Brain Age, NintenDogs, and Animal Crossing being such major success stories.
You can argue all you want, but in my mind, there is no bigger game in the 2000s. Helping sell a system nearly 60 million copies in just over three years is one heck of an accomplishment, and means that a company out there in Japan has the pulse of the planet and knows how to cater to their needs. Wii Sports is your biggest game of the decade, and among the biggest success stories in not only gaming history, but the modern-day history of economics.
Bottom Line: I know I did not catch every game, and that’s impossible. Which means one major thing: video games have improved so much over the last couple of years; it is hard to catch every good game that comes out. The backlash that analysts feared would happen to games soon just can’t possibly happen anymore. While one company is overwhelmingly destroying the competition, the other companies involved are still cranking out good games, and are still making very good money. 2010 is promising to be an even better year for gaming, as we see new franchises emerging (Black Rain), old franchises (Mario, Metroid, Halo) returning, and just so many potentially wonderful games coming out, it’s a fantastic time being a gamer. It was only a matter of time before the mainstream caught on to the gaming world, and it was only a matter of time before we saw games make more money than movies (with the exception of Avatar—but games always have competition...this movie doesn’t). I hope you enjoyed the list, I hope it brought back good memories, and may the 2010s be just as much fun.
Sources: Boxofficemojo.com Vgchartz.com Wikipdia.com
*Starts running*
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