Most industry defining & influential game of all time ?
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WhiteWaterM00se
Member
Wow, lots of interesting debates to be had here.
Super Mario, Doom, Halo, Half Life, World of Warcraft, FFVII, MGS, SFII all seem to have heavily influenced what came after.
I am going to say Mario 64. Since it was the first "mainstream" 3d movement game in a 3d environment.
Edit: Goldeneye should also be an option.
Super Mario, Doom, Halo, Half Life, World of Warcraft, FFVII, MGS, SFII all seem to have heavily influenced what came after.
I am going to say Mario 64. Since it was the first "mainstream" 3d movement game in a 3d environment.
Edit: Goldeneye should also be an option.
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DonkeyPunchJr
World’s Biggest Weeb
It's basically the Star Wars of video games
Burger King
Member
Even as a negative example?
So Concord should also be on that list.
So Concord should also be on that list.
Digital-Aftertaste
Member
Pong started it all. Started both the arcade and home console industries.
DonkeyPunchJr
World’s Biggest Weeb
Real answer: probably GTA3.
LectureMaster
Has Man Musk
For better or worse, you can't deny he's the guy.
GamesDontSuck
Member
Super Mario Bros, NES. Hands down.
That's not to say others on that list didnt help define.... Metal Gear Solid comes to mind for its cinematic and production values. Even a shoutout to Shenmue for it's in-depth open world gameplay. But Mario on nes was the one who helped bring the games industry out of the gutter in north america, practically invented the sidescroller (there were others before it sure) but it brought gaming into a new age.
Super Mario Bros is king here.
That's not to say others on that list didnt help define.... Metal Gear Solid comes to mind for its cinematic and production values. Even a shoutout to Shenmue for it's in-depth open world gameplay. But Mario on nes was the one who helped bring the games industry out of the gutter in north america, practically invented the sidescroller (there were others before it sure) but it brought gaming into a new age.
Super Mario Bros is king here.
BigBeauford
Member
I think Halo:CE has influenced the majority of what we see in modern FPS.
*Narrative Campaign (not the first but nailed it)
*2 weapon limit
*Regenerating shields (which most games aped as stay in cover to recover)
I'm sure this is more but these were big ones.
*Narrative Campaign (not the first but nailed it)
*2 weapon limit
*Regenerating shields (which most games aped as stay in cover to recover)
I'm sure this is more but these were big ones.
Plague Doctor
Member
Tangential
It's way before my time but after watching a bunch of videos on the topic...
I never realized how big the Wizardry series was for Japan in the 80s and then went on to inspire so much of their rpg and rpg adjacent games.
Like it was ground zero that would have been developed in many different iterations by 80s and 90s Japanese dev teams.
For me, Wizardry seems like the lesser between them and Ultima as being influential for Western rpgs, but damn, the East ran with it. And then the jrpgs would influence the west in the 90s and 00s.
It's way before my time but after watching a bunch of videos on the topic...
I never realized how big the Wizardry series was for Japan in the 80s and then went on to inspire so much of their rpg and rpg adjacent games.
Like it was ground zero that would have been developed in many different iterations by 80s and 90s Japanese dev teams.
For me, Wizardry seems like the lesser between them and Ultima as being influential for Western rpgs, but damn, the East ran with it. And then the jrpgs would influence the west in the 90s and 00s.
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EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.001
Ocarina of time I guarantee you surpassed expectations, how did they do that open world back in 98?
Cert.in.Death
Member
GTA3 is the most vivid in my memory.
But Halo CE deserves a nod for finding all the solutions at once to the issues of FPS controls on console (at least more than any game that preceded it).
But Halo CE deserves a nod for finding all the solutions at once to the issues of FPS controls on console (at least more than any game that preceded it).
roosnam1980
Member
GTA3
STARSBarry
Gold Member
I feel like Tetris, this was the game that captured gamers and also turned many none gamers into them. Its essentially the grandaddy of candy crush etc. But still has an entire community based around professional play.
While pong essentially helped create gaming, tetris cemented it.
While pong essentially helped create gaming, tetris cemented it.
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CrimsonTide
Member
Mario is the only answer here
Everyone on planet earth knows who Mario is
Mario brought gaming from it's deathbed back to life and started a juggernaut in gaming
Everyone on planet earth knows who Mario is
Mario brought gaming from it's deathbed back to life and started a juggernaut in gaming
asdasdasdbb
Member
Fortnite, lol
Radical_3d
Member
It's Doom. Super Mario is winning because this is a Yankee centric forum but the rest of the world were just fine without a NES, thanks. And Mario 64 is getting a lot of votes because there is always deranged people.
clarky
Gold Member
Might be an lol but there certainly is an argument for that pick.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
rm082e
Gold Member
I think if we strip away peoples feelings and look at it from a pure numbers perspective, I think it really comes down to:
Super Mario Bros.
DOOM
Grand Theft Auto III
Same thing here but for the open-world genre. I don't personally like GTA and it's never clicked with me, but I can respect it for all the other games that wouldn't exist if GTA3 hadn't established the open-world format. GTA V alone has sold over 215 million copies. That's nuts.
It's not on the poll, but I would also include Minecraft for the same reasons above.
Super Mario Bros.
Sure, gaming consoles existed before the NES, but the NES was the system that really established video games as a culture. Super Mario Bros. being the pack-in and also being a great game was the foundation for most people who got into gaming as a hobby. It's nearly a universal starting point. It also single-handedly established the platformer genre which has gone on to sell hundreds of millions of units across a ton of different IP franchises.
DOOM
Established the FPS as a genre. Granted its rough by today's standards, but without Doom, we don't get Quake, and without Quake, you probably don't get every other notable FPS franchise up-to and including Call of Duty, Battlefield, etc.
Grand Theft Auto III
Same thing here but for the open-world genre. I don't personally like GTA and it's never clicked with me, but I can respect it for all the other games that wouldn't exist if GTA3 hadn't established the open-world format. GTA V alone has sold over 215 million copies. That's nuts.
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Magic Carpet
Gold Member
I'll need to ask AI which game had the most clones.
I need to ask AI how to ask how to do that.
I need to ask AI how to ask how to do that.
kevboard
Member
super mario bros, and it's not even close.
SMB was essentially the first game that truly took game-feel into account. games before SMB usually were entirely mechanics focused, how the interaction feels while using the mechanics wasn't really part of the design.
Mario in SMB had momentum, weight, fine control for his jump, was bouncy when hitting enemies, and felt truly intuitive as he reacted to inputs in ways that just felt natural. like how if you press down while running full speed you slide a little.
it was also one of the first games that truly intuitively taught the player how to play the game, with zero text being required to teach you anything... just playing through the first level should teach the player all main mechanics simply by playing.
even modern games usually don't do it as well as SMB.
SMB is not only influential for 2D Platformers, it should be seen as the blueprint to any modern video game.
I think people often forget how games played and how they were designed before SMB hit the scene
SMB was essentially the first game that truly took game-feel into account. games before SMB usually were entirely mechanics focused, how the interaction feels while using the mechanics wasn't really part of the design.
Mario in SMB had momentum, weight, fine control for his jump, was bouncy when hitting enemies, and felt truly intuitive as he reacted to inputs in ways that just felt natural. like how if you press down while running full speed you slide a little.
it was also one of the first games that truly intuitively taught the player how to play the game, with zero text being required to teach you anything... just playing through the first level should teach the player all main mechanics simply by playing.
even modern games usually don't do it as well as SMB.
SMB is not only influential for 2D Platformers, it should be seen as the blueprint to any modern video game.
I think people often forget how games played and how they were designed before SMB hit the scene
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NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
Very hard to pick just one.
I stand by my opinion that the combo MGS2 + GTA 3 influenced 95% of the western AAA video game production of the last 25 years.
Kojima made cutscenes and dialogue possibly more important than gameplay, linking video games and cinema in an unprecedented way that would become THE way for most devs. Meanwhile, basically every open world / sandbox game ever since has tried to do its own version of GTA3 to some degree.
But Doom has also been tremendously influential for a genre that, after Doom, became a staple of video games.
And 15 years later, you can still see elements of Dark Souls in games that have nothing to do with From's magnum opus.
SMB was a pivotal moment in gaming history, but what's left of its legacy? 2D has long been out of fashion, and so has the platforming genre as a whole. Literally nobody is trying to do a new Mario, because Mario was proven to be too good for its competitors a long time ago. Gaming has moved on from Mario, and this is how and why stuff like MGS and GTA became a thing.
The same is true for Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy. Nothing ever equalled TR before TR itself was milked to death and abandoned by its own creators. And concerning JRPGs, I wish we could still see Japan making something as poignant as what Square did on the PS1.
I stand by my opinion that the combo MGS2 + GTA 3 influenced 95% of the western AAA video game production of the last 25 years.
Kojima made cutscenes and dialogue possibly more important than gameplay, linking video games and cinema in an unprecedented way that would become THE way for most devs. Meanwhile, basically every open world / sandbox game ever since has tried to do its own version of GTA3 to some degree.
But Doom has also been tremendously influential for a genre that, after Doom, became a staple of video games.
And 15 years later, you can still see elements of Dark Souls in games that have nothing to do with From's magnum opus.
SMB was a pivotal moment in gaming history, but what's left of its legacy? 2D has long been out of fashion, and so has the platforming genre as a whole. Literally nobody is trying to do a new Mario, because Mario was proven to be too good for its competitors a long time ago. Gaming has moved on from Mario, and this is how and why stuff like MGS and GTA became a thing.
The same is true for Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy. Nothing ever equalled TR before TR itself was milked to death and abandoned by its own creators. And concerning JRPGs, I wish we could still see Japan making something as poignant as what Square did on the PS1.
kpopSuperstar
Member
Super Mario 64, in terms of modern game design, established a lot of golden rules that is still followed today. How players get motivated and how levels create player motivations and stuff like that, and the dynamic possibilities of 3D movement.
The original Mario Bros. made games fast, dynamic, and made game designers consider things like variation and power ups in a more meaningful way than before. As well as showing how important music and art styles are.
Doom's adult themes and visceral feedback influenced the entire industry overnight, it shaped PC gaming during the 90s, just like Mario Bros. did for console games. Of course, that game changed game tech forever as well.
Half-Life changed how we view set pieces and game direction, getting away from the "level to level" feel of other games, and used sound effects and clever tricks to manipulate the player in a more sophisticated way.
A lot of games like Ultima, Zelda, Tetris or Sim City has had massive influences, but it's more genre specific, but Mario (64 and original), Half-Life and Doom changed the industry completely. They changed how game designers view the medium. It's hard to pick one, but I think that's the big four in this discussion.
The original Mario Bros. made games fast, dynamic, and made game designers consider things like variation and power ups in a more meaningful way than before. As well as showing how important music and art styles are.
Doom's adult themes and visceral feedback influenced the entire industry overnight, it shaped PC gaming during the 90s, just like Mario Bros. did for console games. Of course, that game changed game tech forever as well.
Half-Life changed how we view set pieces and game direction, getting away from the "level to level" feel of other games, and used sound effects and clever tricks to manipulate the player in a more sophisticated way.
A lot of games like Ultima, Zelda, Tetris or Sim City has had massive influences, but it's more genre specific, but Mario (64 and original), Half-Life and Doom changed the industry completely. They changed how game designers view the medium. It's hard to pick one, but I think that's the big four in this discussion.
xenosys
Member
Hard to choose really.
All of them did something extraordinary for their time, and things which are still leaving their footprint in the industry 20/30/40 years later.
Do we have FPS games as we know them today without Doom?
The same applies to 2D/3D platformers with the Mario series.
The same apples to 3D cinematic JRPG/RPGs with Final Fantasy VII.
I could go on.
All of them did something extraordinary for their time, and things which are still leaving their footprint in the industry 20/30/40 years later.
Do we have FPS games as we know them today without Doom?
The same applies to 2D/3D platformers with the Mario series.
The same apples to 3D cinematic JRPG/RPGs with Final Fantasy VII.
I could go on.
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The_hunter
Member
Super mario Bros, mario 64 for 3d, grand theft auto 3 and assassin's creed 2 for open world, dark souls for challenge.
cireza
Member
If I really want to try to answer in an objective manner, I think it would be these games :
Mario Bros 1 on NES (Platformers)
Zelda 1 on NES (Adventure)
Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy on NES (JRPG)
Phantasy Star I on MS and Phantasy Star II on MD (JRPG)
Wolfenstein 92 and Doom 93 on PC (FPS)
GTA 3 on PS2
Diablo 2 on PC (Hack'n Slash)
Half Life, Counter Strike and Quake 3 on PC (more FPS)
Dune II on PC and MD (and probably other platforms) (RTS)
Baldur's Gate on PC (CRPG)
Warcraft 3 on PC (RTS)
Phantasy Star Online (MMORPG)
World of Warcraft on PC (MMO RPG)
Resident Evil 4 on GC (modern TPS)
Halo on Xbox (FPS on console)
Gran Turismo (Racing)
Certainly not an exhaustive list, but I think all these games served as templates for what came after them.
Mario Bros 1 on NES (Platformers)
Zelda 1 on NES (Adventure)
Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy on NES (JRPG)
Phantasy Star I on MS and Phantasy Star II on MD (JRPG)
Wolfenstein 92 and Doom 93 on PC (FPS)
GTA 3 on PS2
Diablo 2 on PC (Hack'n Slash)
Half Life, Counter Strike and Quake 3 on PC (more FPS)
Dune II on PC and MD (and probably other platforms) (RTS)
Baldur's Gate on PC (CRPG)
Warcraft 3 on PC (RTS)
Phantasy Star Online (MMORPG)
World of Warcraft on PC (MMO RPG)
Resident Evil 4 on GC (modern TPS)
Halo on Xbox (FPS on console)
Gran Turismo (Racing)
Certainly not an exhaustive list, but I think all these games served as templates for what came after them.
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Midway-AGNC-
Member
It was a hard time to choose between Super Mario Bros and Zelda: Ocarina of Time. But yeah, OOT was an unprecedented game changing moment for the whole gaming industry and took it to a new parameter. Not that other games made the same before and after it, but OOT's legacy is unmatched.
Nocty
Currently Steaming
Very hard to say as it depends on what scope you look at to be honest.
Games like DOOM made it possible that we can have first person shooting games, Final Fantasy 7 showed us games could have giant 3d world scope and cinematic experiences within an RPG.. Half Life 2 showed us that games could have super realistic physics systems and complex gameplay that lead into the narratives.
I think in terms of most influence of all time, I would say the Zelda Ocarina of Time. It was not only genre defining but a true masterpiece of it's day that inspired just about every single game developer to aspire for what could be.
Dark Souls was a similar pivotal moment, arguable that it single handedly made difficult games relevant again, spawning an entire sub genre of RPG and countless clones and imitations.
Games like DOOM made it possible that we can have first person shooting games, Final Fantasy 7 showed us games could have giant 3d world scope and cinematic experiences within an RPG.. Half Life 2 showed us that games could have super realistic physics systems and complex gameplay that lead into the narratives.
I think in terms of most influence of all time, I would say the Zelda Ocarina of Time. It was not only genre defining but a true masterpiece of it's day that inspired just about every single game developer to aspire for what could be.
Dark Souls was a similar pivotal moment, arguable that it single handedly made difficult games relevant again, spawning an entire sub genre of RPG and countless clones and imitations.
falconhoof
Member
How the fuck do you not have PAC-MAN on there?
First major gaming mascot - it had merch, expanded reach with Ms. PAC-MAN. The colourful graphics brought in a wider audience to gaming.
Really brought in the notion of levels and progression
Earned fucking billions of dollars.
Still relevant with new titles coming out: Pac-Man 99, Shadow Labyrinth
First major gaming mascot - it had merch, expanded reach with Ms. PAC-MAN. The colourful graphics brought in a wider audience to gaming.
Really brought in the notion of levels and progression
Earned fucking billions of dollars.
Still relevant with new titles coming out: Pac-Man 99, Shadow Labyrinth
