#4 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is the best 2D platform game ever made. Easily. The level design in this game is utter genious. It's graphics and music; superb. The music is perfectly attuned to the style of the game, arguably it is one of the best soundtracks, if not the best soundtrack ever made in a video game. I cannot give enough praise to this game. Like my #5 entry (Link's Awakening), I feel this game is heavily underrated. Yes, most people agree that this game, is a good game, but people should be agreeing that this game blows it's predecessor out of the water! If you'd ask me, it is no contest. Sadly, the popularity of this game never came close to Mario World. It is likely due to the childish graphics. They are however amazing, and pushes the SNES's capability to it's limits. It also includes very advanced graphical effects for it's time. Despite it's looks, the game is by no means a push-over. Most levels can be extremely challenging to say the least. Though I've been playing this game since shortly after it came out, it wasn't until the GBA port that I started to appreciate it's brilliance. This game had confirmed and solidified to me, all the moral things other games in my top 10 had taught me.
Finally, we have arrived at the top 3.
These games hold a crown unattainable by all other games. Kings amongst games. Before we count down the final three games, I'd like to mention 20 games that didn't make my top 50, but deserve to be mentioned as they are either great games or have meant something special to my gaming carreer (as in my list in the official thread, release date is PAL year):
Age of Empires (PC, 1997), Anno 1404 (Dawn of Discovery (US)) + exp. (PC, 2009), Blast Corps (N64, 1997), Diablo + exp. (PC, 1997), Empire: Total War (PC, 2009), The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (PS3, 2007), Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio (US)) (DC, 2000), The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1987), Prince of Persia (MAC, 1990/1992), SimCity 2000 (MAC, 1994), SimTower (MAC, 1994), Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II (PC, 1997), Star Wars: Rebel Assault II - The Hidden Empire (MAC, 1995), Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64, 1997), Super Mario Kart (SNES, 1993), Tetris (GB, 1990), Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (MDRIVE (GEN), 1995), Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3, 2007), Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos + exp. (PC, 2003), #14: Gunfighter (G7000 (ODY2), 1977).
For those who don't know that last one, here it is. It is the first game I've ever played. On a console from my mother's youth, way older than me:
And then finally the hint for #3:
#3 - ?
You invite this guy to you with a certain piece of pastry, then some other guy ruins your nice dinner!
