#30 Super Mario 64 (N64)
Can you spell system seller? I couldn't, not before I saw this in the local toy store. When the N64 had been released I had convinced myself it was time to put an end to my life as a gamer. It was time to become an adult, and adults don't play video games! Hah, that didn't go as planned (Hooray!) but it wasn't Super Mario 64 that actually saved me though; but that's another story.
I loved Mario on the NES and I loved Mario on the SNES. Now, it was time for Mario to conquer the 3rd dimension. He did conquer the 3rd dimension, and he did it with STYLE! He ultimately set the bar for 3D platformers, and in my honest opinion not many platformers have reached that bar, and even fewer have actually upped it.
#29 Resident Evil 4 (GC)
My first real experience with Resident Evil was on the Gamecube with Resident Evil Zero. Since then I've loved the series, and when RE4 was announced I was curious to see what Capcom would improve this time.
But Capcom didn't just improve. No no, that's way to easy. They changed the formula into something absolutely amazing. It kept the creepy atmosphere but vastly improved the gameplay. Resident Evil 4 isn't just a game that changed Resident Evil; it vastly upped the bar for TPS's in general.
This game is good on so many levels and has wowed me so many times. I was astonished, and totally horrified, by the intelligent enemies that would no longer peacefully wait outside if I closed the door in their face. No, they forced their way in. Going into a room and closing the door would not save. But, how about climbing? Yeah, that has to work, and I will even kick down the ladder! Hahahwhat the heck, the bloody bastard picked up the ladder!? He's climbing the ladder!? Hell no!
Resident Evil 4 also did something interesting with the cutscenes. Before you could safely put away the controller when watching a cutscene. Not this time. Capcom threw QTE's at you, and while I really don't like QTE's in general it felt like a fresh and interesting element in Resident Evil 4.
Oh, and those chainsaws really hurt alot. 
#28 Chrono Cross (PS2)
This is another game that got my attention when I still was a Playstation virgin. Chrono Trigger was marvelous and this game was the (sort of) sequel. No wonder I felt an urge to play it. But, I didn't have a PSX, and that damn Squaresoft just hated Europe. I had to wait over five years before I finally got to play it. Heck, you could say I fell for a girl mainly because she owned this game and an American PSX. Yeah, that's kinda low but whatever. 
So, was it worth it you ask? Was it worth it!? Hell yes, it was worth it! The game is amazing! Some of the best music ever, a great battle system, lots of different (and just weird) characters, different paths and endings and a wonderful story worthy of the franchise.
Chrono Cross is great! All you haters can eat my dirty socks! Hah!
#27 Professor Layton and the Curious Village (NDS)
I was very curious about this game the moment I saw a gameplay video from it. Puzzles, mystery, a nice setting and a lovely art style. Sounds like something for me! So I tried it and I couldn't stop playing. I messed up my circadian rythm (or whatever it's called in English ) quite badly but it was well worth it.
This is one of, if not the, greatest new franchise this gen. It's magical. The puzzles are great and there's plenty of them. Some of them probably took me over an hour to solve! I like that!
Go Layton!
