Your Top 50 Games: 2011 Discussion Thread

[Runa216]

Wow, gotta play some Ketchum Up....Wow.

27 - Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES, SNES, GBA)

Everything about this game oozes Quality Nostalgia. The levels were inventive, the many tricks and secrets to be found are still wonderful to stumble upon to this day, the music was some of the best to EVER come out, and ties Super Mario World for the best mario soundtrack, and...Seriously, do I have to explain myself? It's mario 3, it's epic, it's memorable, and it will forever have a special place in my heart.

26 - Ratchet and Clank Future: tools of Destruction (PS3)

Basically take everything about the series to that point and refine it to a perfect sheen. While the campaign did seem a little short, it was arguably the best story in the series up to that point, not to mention the graphics were described as "If Pixar Made a Videogame." I admit, though, I'm a touch biased in favor of Ratchet and Clank due to the persistently well-made mishmash of genres and styles.

25 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES, GBA)

This one kind of took me by surprise because, like many others at the time, I was turned off by it at first. The art style was weird, you didn't play as mario, and when you got hit, Mario whined and cried and....But none of that mattered in the end becuase when I picked it up on GBA, I realized just how amazing this game truly was. the art style was generations ahead of its time, the level design was arguably the best in the entire Mario Brothers series, and it had so much to do for an SNES game, making it a tremendous value. This one grew on me and has earned its spot as #25 on my all time list.

24 - Rock Band 2 (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii)

Of all the games on my list, I think I've spent the most time on Rock Band 2. I don't mean the most time of the ones mentioned so far, I mean the most time EVER. I've easily put over 2000 hours in on Rock Band 2, downloading almost 2000 songs, mastering all the intstruments, and always being 'the guy' who brought my entire kit to parties so people could rock out. while public love for the genre has withered, I'm still rockin out and still loving playing along on the plastic guitar, drums, and mic. Seriously, if anyone still plays on PS3 (RB3), hit me up, I'm sure we can work something out.

23 - Portal 2 (PS3, PC, Xbox 360)

What can I say? My personal Game of the Year 2011, Portal 2 basically took everything epic about Portal and made it better. It's longer, the humor is funnier, the puzzles are better, the story is better, the voice acting is easily some of the best to have ever been produced, and it has Co Op! I still say this is like the perfect game, because it's long enough to make it worth your while but still short enough (and enjoyable enough) to give you reason to play through more than once, not to mention the co Op mode will keep you entertained for hours. I still put in the original Portal when I'm in the mood to do something quick, and once this year's awesome-game blitz is over, I can see myself returning to Portal 2 many times.

22 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2, Xbox)

While Grand Theft Auto III introduced the idea of a crime-based sanbox game, Vice city took it to the next level by giving us more to do, refining the mechanics, and above all else having memorable characters, settings, and plot. I also learned the value of NOT using cheats thanks to the great fun that was brought on by trying to get 100% in this game. While I never did get 100% due to the sheer volume of stuff that could be done, I am proud to say that, at one point, I was able to memorize all 100 locations of the hidden packages! Dont remember it anymore, but I remember getting bored one afternoon and trying to get all 100 from memory and I did it! That shows dedication!

21 - Final Fantasy IV: the Complete Collection (SNES, PS1, PSP, GBA, DS, iOS)

I know I said Portal 2 was my Game of the Year, but this is an oddly special case because it's a remake of a game. I only just played Final Fantasy IV for the first time earlier this year when I reviewed it, and I have to say, HOLY CRAP WAS IT GOOD! It was a little short, but it was cheap and had TWO pseudo-sequels with upgraded graphics, so there's no loss there. And I have to say, this was by far the best version of FFIV. If you have a PSP, GET THIS GAME! I cannot stress that enough.