the essential top 10 games every gamer should play

[LordTheNightKnight]

"Stop being a party pooper and list your top 10!!!!"

Even though it was meant for twesterm, I'll list something.

These are 10 essential games I think every gamer should play, not any influence I think the game had. They are just games I think really emcompass gaming. And they're listed in no particular order. Plus I'm admittedly cheating in that I'm allowing choices for those with different preferences.

* Just Dance 2/Singstar Dance/Dance Central (depending on which system you have): And don't play for score, play for the hell of it. Everything about games is defined as playing something (which cannot include a cut scene any more than setting up a board game would count as actually playing it), and making an ass of yourself is something a lot of people in the gaming community should be doing instead of taking themselves so seriously (this applies to even developers I like).

* Zelda 1/Zelda 2/Link to the Past: These games define action and exploration. Not to mention they aren't for the weak. Forget the naysayers claiming the controls in the first games are wonky. The swordfighting is very precise and responsive. Just the gameplay really makes you hone your reflexes. The third game does as well, even if not to the same degree. Now there is a reason I didn't list Ocarina here, and that is...

* Grand Theft Auto III/Vice City: These games are what exemplify exploring huge worlds in polygonal form, while just doing what you want (Ocarina has a bit too many cut scenes and side quests that would get in the way of those just wanting to try this type of game). I would have included the later games, but these two are tighter experiences, and they are great for those that like shooting or racing.

* Tetris/Bejeweled: Your choice depends on whether you like your puzzle games with fast reflexes or not. But regardless, these games are everything that is great about the genre.

* Wii Sports/Sports Champions/Kinect Sports: Sports games are often hard to get into, at least the dedicated ones. That is why these games are far better choices for those just wanting to jump in and play. The games don't have to be loaded with features. Those would just get in the way, and those demanding fetures miss the point. These are not meant to be full simulations. Those would drive away those that just want to play a game, not memorize the stats and field conditions.

* Doom: I could have recommended other FPS, but this one just puts you in the action, and you figure out how to play it soon enough. I first got a taste of this on the SNES port, and it doesn't matter if it wasn't the best version. It still kicked ass.

* Super Mario Bros 3/Super Mario World/Sonic the Hedgehog(Genesis)/Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis): These four games, whichever you chose (preferably all of them) are simply the most sublime platformers ever. The 3D games often miss the mark by making things too fast (it's not about jumping over half a dozen holes at once) or two slow (why do we need to inch across 100 virtual yards on a narrow ledge?). These games get it all done right.

BTW, there are Master System and Game Gear versions of the first two Sonic games. They are actually pretty good, just the Genesis ones are even better.

* Street Fighter II/SF II Champion Edition/SF II Hyperfighting: The game that made one-on-one fighting more popular than brawlers, and  also the most pick-up-and-play installments of the series.

* Final Fantasy VI (possibly VII as well)/Dragon Quest VI/Phantasy Star IV: While I still maintain Mystic Quest is a pretty good RPG primer, in terms of capturing the "essence" of the genre, these three games do it best for me. They have highly polished gameplay and plenty of story, without loading themselves with cut scenes (why FF VII is just listed as a possibility here).

* R-Type/Gradius/Contra: They aren't listed here just for being essential shoot-em-ups, but for being essential arcade action games in general.

* Double Dragon/Final Fight: For a different type of arcade action, these two games capture the feeling of taking on waves of bad guys with your raw muscles.