5. Ubisoft Montpellier
Michel Ancel is Ubisoft's greatest asset; his games are consistently stellar. Almost everything Montpellier touches turns into an excellent game, whether from an established franchise (Rayman), a brand new IP (Beyond Good & Evil), or even a licensed property (King Kong).
4. Retro Studios
There will probably never be another studio as good as Retro at reviving derelict franchises. What Retro did with Metroid and Donkey Kong is extraordinary. It brought beloved characters and worlds back to life with reverence and a touch of its own creative energy, and, in the process, created one of the best video game trilogies ever made.
3. Kojima Productions
I'm a huge fan of Hideo Kojima. In my mind, he's second only to legendary game maker Shigeru Miyamoto in terms of technical skill and imagination. The studio that bears his name is equally brilliant. Sure, Kojima Productions' portfolio isn't as diverse as some, but its games are masterworks.
2. Rare
I still love Rare, despite its decade-long slide into mediocrity. During the 1990s, the British game company turned out hit after hit, with suprising swiftness. Over an eight-year perioud it mastered the first-person shooter, the arcade racer, and the platform game, in some intances surpassing its benefactor Nintendo.
1. Nintendo EAD Kyoto: Group 3
The team responsible for The Legend of Zelda series earns this top spot. In my mind, Zelda is the very best video game franchise, and the staff at Kyoto Group 3 have done a tremendous job maintaing that legacy. Whichever perspective, whichever platform, Eiji Aonuma and company make it work, and make it sing. I trust this team above all others to release a polished, coherent, well-designed game.
Honorable mentions go to Bungie and JAPAN Studio.
