Final Fantasy (series) - A good look into how a good story can help a game.

Timesplitters ( 2 and 3) - A look in the frantic side of FPS

Runescape- An MMORPG, a great example of mmorpg elements, such as a huge variety of skills, it's level system, and a very good example of Player vs player play in games.

Legend of Zelda (series)- Puzzles and action.

Quote:

Original post by Marmin Quote: Original post by Darkneon I would add: Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the SNES. That's a real HARD f*cker of a game!! I can't even get past the first screen. Well this is another 'I like this game best' thread but I would like to add (if anybody actually reads this): Rayman 2 by Ubisoft. My favorite DirectX 3d game of all times, mainly because of the story, game play and level design.

The furthest I ever got was the ghost ship level. That game was scary, even the picture on the cartridge.

Glad to see people finally mentioned Far Cry, which is my favorite FPS of all time. In addition to the incredible graphics, this game has great AI and allows for unconstrained tactical decision-making within a larger linear storyline. It also has some of the biggest levels I've ever seen in an FPS. Great game, all around.

Has no one mentioned Rome: Total War? This game almost perfectly blends strategic and tactical command, along with incredible graphics, sound, and gameplay depth. I have a few minor complaints about some aspects of the strategic (turn-based) parts of the game, but over all, I think this game is currently the best blend of high-level strategy and low-level tactics.

The orginal stronghold is a great example of a single played RTS.

DK country series is a good example of a side scroller with 3d graphics.

Kingdom hearts is a nice example of skill based stat building battles, in real time, and how AI can be commanded.

RPG: Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights (maybe Sacred, although it's not really RPing)
RTS: Empire Earth and Settlers 4 (not 5, it's not as good imho)
shooter: Ghost Recon and Doom 3 (sorry I'm not a cs fan ;-))
other style: Worms, Lemmings and the incredible machine

OH MY GOD, I'm going to EXPLODE looking at this list.

First of all, add "Star Reach" to Real Time Strategy, it's a must play for designers.

Second, where is Final Fantasy 3/6 on the RPG list, its inarguably one of the best games of all time, sporting an awesome mix of gameplay and story. What about other extraordinary SNES RPGs/action RPGs like Seiken Densetsu 3 / Secret of Mana 2, Tales of Phantasia, etc. Those games with their pixelated characters sport design that makes them a lot more fun than most of the games coming out today.

FALLOUT 1/2????

Settlers?!?!?

Battle Realms is another RTS game that is worthy in terms of unique design and balance (multiplayer setup)

MAGIC THE GATHERING!?!?

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONSN!?!?!?!?!?!?

The FPS list is also missing TRIBES, and it's predecessor: STARSIEGE

.... seirously, i'm about to explode

You guys judging from most of your lists, you guys have the most hyped games with the most repeditive play.

For shits sake guys, Star Craft was bad.

Here is my list in no particular order.

Total Annihalation
Half-life (the orginal)
Total War (midevil and rome, shogun was pretty bad)
Dues Ex
Grand Theft Auto (the orginal)
Civilization: Call to Power (yes the activision one, ctp2 was made by difrent team and really bad, civ1 was copy of countless empire games before it and civ2 was civ1 with better graphics, civ3 is really bad and 4 is looking that way to)

Warning, going to be quite retro-based...

Forbidden Forest (C64) - birth of the horror action genre
Karateka (C64, others) - forefather of Prince of Persia, birth of cinematic storytelling in games
Turrican I & II (C64/Amiga) - huge platform level exploration, bonuses/secrets
Turrican III (Amiga/Genesis) - ...and how to wreck that formula + include a cute manga girl
The Secret Of Monkey Island (PC/Amiga/ST) - adventure, characters, humor + you don't necessarily need to die or get stuck
Kirby's Adventure (NES) - the powers, efficient inclusion of secrets in a basically linear game
Kirby's Dreamland 3 (SNES) - emotional bonding with NPCs (well, animal friends) without any words
Ultima Underworld I & II (PC) - amazing variety of interaction in the gameworld
Deus Ex (PC) - systematic & varied methods of storytelling, while not really using cutscenes
Operation Flashpoint (PC) - how to take no shortcuts (in how many other games can you for example ride a car either as a driver or passenger and look around you, with body awareness and all)

hi all
OK, here's my list (or lists, better yet)
The Best RPGs (in no order)

D&D (tabletop) - because it's the first and the rpg industrial standard

KOTOR II - the best RPG+action hybrid (in that order)

Deus Ex (the first one) - the best FPS+RPG hybrid (geez, maybe even the only successful ?)

Divine Divinity - ah yes, it's hack'n'slash with cool story development and also the giant world

Ultima series (VIII especially) - the freedom of action and the loads of activities, also the npc system

Morrowind - the big and seamless (and dead %P) world

Gothic - the atmosphere and also the big world

Arcanum - the crafting system

Other Great Games

Starcraft - the best RTS ever! Great 3-race system, great story, KISS (already mentioned) etc

Flatout - the best racing sim. The physics system is so spectacular

Unreal Tournament 2004 - the best MP tournament game in terms of simulation and available weapons, also the best engine in terms of graphics+customization
Battlecity - you talk about consoles and don't mention this one? My personal favorite even in these ultramodern days.

PoP - the great fighting system combined with 3D arcade action and fun level design. Unfortunately VERY hard to beat (at least for me)

Quake I and II - great engine, great graphics for the moment, the awesome atmosphere (which was ruined in III Arena to my mind)

Earthworm Jim (all) - for my psycho side of mind, the funniest and craziest games! also cool level design

Zelda 3D - best console issue for Action RPGs! Great story and pretty cool arcade action

Even though it's been said already, go _definitely_ needs to be played if you're only familiar with chess and checkers. I'm not sure if it's the same around other parts of the US, but I had never even heard of go until recently, whereas I was very familiar with chess/checkers.