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[Wellington]

And by this generation, I mean PS2/GX/Xbox.

I don't know... There have been a lot of solid titles but not much so damned excellent that it screams classic from the get go. Only two titles I could really think of were ICO and Metroid Prime (keeping in mind I really haven't played more than an hour of both RE4 and MGS3). Let's not turn this into a list thread those are fuckin boring, I would like to see some opinions.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

mario party 4.

no, mario party 5.

no, mario party 6!

ahem, real answers for me are super monkey ball, SMS and halo 1 and 2.

 

[Prine]

Classic this gen for me: MGS3, Halo, RE4, KOTOR, Ninja Gaiden and Windwaker

These game i will play well into the next gen, i'll remeber the first time i played them and what impact these games had on me.

 

[Red Scarlet]

And by this generation, I mean PS2/GX/Xbox.

What's a GX?!

For me, dunno. Too soon to say.

 

[Spastic Colon]

Wario Ware

 

[argon]

So we can't mention Dreamcast? Well that almost invalidates any list of true classics.

/Soul Calibur for life

 

[Draft]

Metroid Prime and RE4, which are coincidentally, two games that took old series and moved them to a new perspective, with sexy results.

 

[Johnas]

I definitely feel that Metroid Prime and Metal Gear Solid 3 are both worthy of the title, MP moreso. As I mentioned in a recent thread, playing through Metroid Prime for the first time was the single greatest experience I have had in all my years of gaming. All of the pros have been stated numerous times, but the fact that they not only successfully brought Metroid into 3D, but totally owned all the doubters and skeptics with the sheer quality of every facet of the title. IMO, it will probably be a number of years before I am again truly "wowed" with every aspect of a game.

MGS3 will always be remembered for a number of things, but for me the story was icing on the cake. An ending that honestly made me emotional, as well as killer graphics (for PS2) and IMO, the finest stealth gameplay to be had in any game to date. Not perfect, of course, but I think Subsistence will quiet the haters enough for them to focus on the game's noteworthy aspects.

How could I forget RE4? I'm not a huge fan of the franchise, but that game was an instant classic.

 

[Straightballin]

ICO really seems like a classic

 

[Teknopathetic]

Psychonauts.

 

[Wellington]

So we can't mention Dreamcast? Well that almost invalidates any list of true classics.

/Soul Calibur for life

Well I was talking about this to my brother last night. Problem with the DC is that it has so many damned classics. :lol

The GX is the Gamecube XTREME that I have.

 

[DECK'ARD]

RE4
Katamari
Made In Wario
Super Monkey Ball

And if we are including Dreamcast:

Phantasy Star Online
Jet Set Radio

 

[Speevy]

Any game that has won or will win the AIAS Award for Innovation.

 

[Timo]

ico, chronicles of riddick: escape from butcher bay, metroid prime, re4, and a bit o grand theft auto three. if only for that the converations i've listened to a thousand times are still good.

 

[Culex]

Skies of Arcadia (Legends) has my vote.

RE4, GoW, MGS3.

 

[Tarazet]

And by this generation, I mean PS2/GX/Xbox.

I don't know... There have been a lot of solid titles but not much so damned excellent that it screams classic from the get go. Only two titles I could really think of were ICO and Metroid Prime (keeping in mind I really haven't played more than an hour of both RE4 and MGS3). Let's not turn this into a list thread those are fuckin boring, I would like to see some opinions.

You can't call anything a classic within its own generation. It has to withstand the test of time first before you can truly call it that. I haven't been so thrilled with any games in this generation that I would call it an incontrovertible classic on the level of, say, Castlevania: SotN or Soul Calibur.

With that proviso out of the way, the game that is probably destined to remain in the collective psyche the longest is Grand Theft Auto. The series got its start in the PSX era, but in this generation it has come to signify a type of game that is open-ended, has a range of diverse options and provides endless hours of good, not-so-clean fun.

Metal Gear Solid 3 will probably be held closer to the hearts of gamers, though. It's a wonderful artistic statement as well as a game with mechanics head and shoulders over other games of its type.

 

[etiolate]

Hrm

Metroid Prime, Ico, RE4, SOA, and maybe Psychonauts. All of these games had really memorable moments.

 

[Jado]

Metroid Prime easily.

I remember getting totalled by this mini-boss and just barely winning, then walking to this beautiful open area with snowfall... and still on pretty low energy, a huge shadow flies overhead and its freakin' RIDLEY. I was awed and terrified and talking to myself how it wasn't fair, I'm gonna get FUCKED up, etc. Then he flew away. It was great.

Viewtiful Joe for being a new and expanding franchise, plus the amazing boss fights.

 

[Soul4ger]

Oooooh. Gitaroo Man.

 

[Speevy]

Every game this generation has its share of detractors. However, the true classics are those games that you're not likely to forget, or play again in that generation (unless it's the sequel to said game).

 

[Pack of Wild Rats]

Halo
Halo 2
Super Smash Bros Melee

 

[Wario64]

Ninja Gaiden - i admit i never played the originals, but holy crap this game is one crazy action game. it really demands a lot out of players. not many difficult games this generation, which is a shame. great graphics, tough as nails enemy and bosses and engaging gameplay makes this one stick out


Resident Evil 4 - this is gaf, i dont think i need to explain this one


God of War - ok, Ninja Gaiden lite, but this one is still one hell of a trip even if the game is easy. just a great experience from beginning to end, using great camera angles (reminds me of ICO at times), great score, good CG cinematics to push the story forward. great mix of action and puzzles (pretty good puzzles too). plus, it isn't a sequel...not many original titles this gen


ICO - won't go into this one either


Wario Ware (Twisted/Touched) - there's really nothing like this game (besides Incredible Crisis and some other game i cant remember). the true pick up and play game for handhelds



Katamari Damacy - you roll up a ball to some crazy tunes while accumulating objects as big as humans and buildings, even whole islands. what's not to love here?


Phantom Dust - fighting game + 4 players + card-like system + Xbox Live = some motherfriggin crazy battles. destructable environements, crazy attack moves, deep gameplay...very fun


MGS3 - awesome story/cutscenes, some ideas here that defy gaming conventions (

Spoiler

being able to kill a boss before the actual boss battle with that particular character, or killing a boss by leaving the game unattended for 7 days

), an ending that's actually satisfying (what's up with the weak endings this gen?). yeah.



Metroid Prime - lol, a 3D Metroid game. wtf is Nintendo thinking...wait a minute, it's actually GOOD? and one of the best games this gen? who would have thought it....after playing this game, you asked yourself why Metroid wasn't 3d long ago.



Rez - some people will argue that this isn't a game but rather a winamp visualization. well fuck em, this is one trippy experience. the gameplay isn't what makes this compelling (it's actually kinda crappy), but the way the music builds up and how the sound effects mixes with your interactions is pretty amazing. the running man boss is one of my favorite gaming moments ever

 

[Zeo]

In no particular order the best games this generation so far:

Resident Evil 4
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Devil May Cry
Halo 2
Animal Crossing
Metroid Prime
Katamari
Mario Kart Double Dash!!
God of War
Onimusha 3: Demon Seige
Final Fantasy X
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Super Smash Bros.

 

[Dynamite Shikoku]

Metroid Prime - one of the best games this gen, one of the best games ever.

Oh, and Smash Bros.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

God of War
Burnout 2 and 3
Amplitude
Frequency
Metroid Prime
Halo 1/2
Wind Waker
GTA series

 

[johns all like]

RE4
GTA: SA, i wanted to hate this game so bad, but it was entertaining

and if we include the dreamcast:
jet grind radio
shenmue

 

[Speevy]

Oh yeah, here are my picks

1) Animal Crossing - Charming, unique. Collection, interaction, and creativity. Brilliant.

2) Pikmin 2 - As good as this weird game concept can get. Graphics, gameplay, content, multiplayer. How many Nintendo games can you say that about?

3) Metroid Prime - Slick as hell. Never really grabbed me, but you won't find a better produced Nintendo game.

4) Resident Evil 4 - As good as this formerly crappy survival horror series has ever been, and perhaps the best one ever.

5) Ninja Gaiden - Just plain fun. You'll spend hours just farming essence because the fighting is so smooth and responsive, the graphics and animation so beautiful.

6) Phantom Dust - Card-based action games do not get better than this. Not that you can name another one, but still. An absolute friggin' blast. This is what a Magic the Gathering game SHOULD have been.

7) Psychonauts - Adventure + Platforming + Tim Schafer = An absolute treat. Beautiful art design, inventive levels, funny and fun throughout.

8) KOTOR - Highest rated RPG this generation, best Star Wars game ever arguably, original fighting engine, very cool, lots of dialogue, great score.

9) Halo/Halo 2 - Love it or hate it. I guarantee it's the best console FPS you're playing online/against friends.

10) Panzer Dragoon Orta - In my mind, a great conclusion to a pretty dead genre. Rail shooters don't get better than this, or prettier.

 

[Comfort_Eagle]

Dark Cloud 2. The greatest game this gen.

 

[Juice]

I think it's funny that while this generation has played host to even more classics than most hardcore backward-looking gamers are willing to admit, I still have a hard time calling many of the instant classics "fun."

In my opinion, the only classics we would be able to determine so quickly are ones that (a) made a fantastic initial impression that we can tell will last or (b) was so unique and successfully implemented that even with the graphical boost of the next gen it wouldn't be easy to build upon or even repeat.

In my opinion, the classics include:

Shenmue I&II: No game has contributed more to the "real life adventure" genre more than Shenmue has, in my opinion. Simply irresistable to people hoping that gaming will someday be able to substitute real life, adventure, and travel successfully.

The GTA Series: Love it or hate it, the series has opened up the "sandbox" jar and it's likely that the next generation will be defined by how content-packed a game can get, borrowing heavily from GTA.

Morrowind: A lot like GTA, but with much more class and creativity. The scope of the game is breathtaking.

Metroid Prime: I actually didn't have a ton of fun with the title, as I found it a bit stressful and disorienting, but I can completely recognize why everyone loves it and think it's a major contribution to gaming. Someday I'll get off my ass and beat it, but the sense of immersion and the artwork make it virtually irreplacable, even with better hardware.

MGS3: In fifty years, when children learn about how the non-interactive movie industry crashed and was replaced by personally interactive cinema experiences, MGS3 will be pointed to as a prime precursor to this event.

Then you have RE4. Man... Wonderful.

I'm holding out hope that Twilight Princess will be the new Ocarina.

...

Yeah, too bad we all agree on this.

 

[Unison]

Resident Evil 4
Super Monkey Ball
Ninja Gaiden
Outrun 2
Soul Calibur
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Wario Ware (all three, really...)
Phantasy Star Online
Jet Grind Radio
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Crazy Taxi

 

[krypt0nian]

For me it would be:

Wario Ware - inventive without sacrificing gameplay
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - mindfuck
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System - brilliant "first" effort
Halo - AI for the win
Pikmin 2 - Miyamoto genius
Ninja Gaiden - you get everything back that you put into this game
Katamari Damacy - the coolest game I've ever played
GTA: SA - bloody sandbox with everything but the kitchen sink
Phantom Dust - will only be realized as classic years from now
Resident Evil 4 - reinvention of the wheel that worked
God of War - sheer genius
Burnout 3 - the most hands on fun to play
Metroid Prime - immersion done spot on perfectly
Rez - my love
Psychonauts - my heart
ICO - my soul


In no particular order.

 

[Unison]

I am fairly shocked now that I noticed I listed 5 Sega games on there... and I could have easily included Virtua Fighter 4 Evo!

 

[Bartman3010]

DONKEY KONG JUNGLE BEAT.

Thanks.

 

[Amir0x]

Speevy and Zeo with the AC. Tsc tsc, such vile opinions.

Classics, classics... for me, timeless classics for various reasons...

Resident Evil 4 - For single handedly saving the RE franchise from the jaw-like grip of irrelevance and re-defining aspects of the classic formula for the better, an award in unlimited excellence.

Metal Gear Solid 3 - For the most involving/tragic tale of two central characters, the best ending in arguably any game ever and one of the most brilliant bosses ever conceived (File:

Spoiler

THE END

)... an award in cinematic videogame storytelling.

Pikmin 2 - For the single biggest improvement a game can possibly make over its predecessor; with superior visuals, multiplayer, strategy, complexity, length, music, relaxation, awesome : an award in how to substantitvely evolve a unique concept into something actually good beyond mere simple innovation.

Psychonauts - For proving once more that memorable level design is just as important as memorable characters/storylines and some of the best dialogue this generation - an award in how to properly create a platformer in this age of fading excellence.

Metroid Prime - For forever providing the guiding light on the path to update a franchise from 2D to 3D and innovating with crucial gameplay elements such as look-down jumping and helmet HUD, an award for properly developing a popular IP.

Grand Theft Auto (3D series) - For showing incontrovertibly that pushing the envelop doesn't have to come at a cost to amazing, forward-thinking gameplay and continually molding the sandbox archetype into something thoroughly superior: an award in helping the industry grow.

ICO - For triumphs of artistic direction and proof that a game is as much in its little details as anything else, an award in technical artistry.

F-Zero GX - For bringing the world of futuristic racing back to its most essential roots by ratcheting up the challenge to eliminate the weak-minded, containing blood-vessel popping speed, fuck awesome adrenaline rushes, and incredible near-zen like track design... an award in bad assery.

Halo 2 - For providing what is undoubtedly the greatest online console FPS-ing ever, refined gameplay concepts and the ultimate advertising campaign... an award in popular gaming that is actually quality!

God of War - For boiling down the action genre into what is essentially a never-ending stream of over-the-top production values, chilling, bone-crushing violence and easy-to-learn, rewarding-to-master combat system... an award in visceral gameplay.

Devil May Cry 3/Ninja Gaiden - For truly seperating the men from the mice with overflows of consistent, brutally difficult scenarios and absurdly deep action gameplay, an award in challenging the heart of a gamer.

 

[Barnimal]

GTA3
Klonoa2
Resident evil 4
riddick
PGR2
ICO
sonic adventure
powerstone
jet set radio

 

[puck1337]

The most memorable games for me, and ones I'll look back on as classics:

ICO
Katamari Damacy
Metroid Prime
The Wind Waker
Super Monkey Ball
Viewtiful Joe
Animal Crossing

 

[dannyQ]

Metroid Prime - first metroid i've played and the results were far beyond that i expected

 

[Neex]

A lot of you guys are just naming games that you think are good but didn't get enough recognition. That's not really answering this dude's question.

 

[Link316]

Space Channel 5
Disaster Report

 

[krypt0nian]

A lot of you guys are just naming games that you think are good but didn't get enough recognition. That's not really answering this dude's question.

No we're not. You are.

 

[Raven.]

ICO
MGS3
RE4
Super Smash Brothers Melee
XENOSAGA episode 1

 

[demon]

This generation didn't really hold my interest as much as previous generations, so I didn't play nearly as many of the big games as I did last generation. But from what I've played, I'd say Super Monkey Ball, Ico, GTA3, maybe Amped. Of course that doesn't include other obvious ones (like Halo), games I felt were extremely overrated (like..... nevermind), and genuinely good games that simply weren't that innovative or didn't stand out that much in my mind as games that symbolized this gen.

 

[evilromero]

SMS, RE4, Wind Waker, Pikmin 2, Doom 3 (for me, get off my back!), Metroid Prime, SSB:M, Animal Crossing and Eternal Darkness. Haven't played MGS3 yet, but from what I hear it is a classic (refrained from putting MGS2 for obvious reasons).

 

[shpankey]

Halo
RE4
Ico
Prince of Persia: SoT
Devil May Cry
Splinter Cell: CT

 

[Xenon]

Dark Cloud 2. The greatest game this gen.

 

[Ironclad]

MGS 3: Absolutely brilliant. I still can't get over how much I love this game. Brilliant. It's beyond words.

RE 4: Same goes for this. I don't need to explain it. The game is amazing.

KOTOR: Many have disagreed on this one. Still, I feel that it's a classic. The game has excellent dialogue and it plays very well. I could care less for the Star Wars license but Bioware did an excellent job making it interesting.

Psychonauts: Sure, the platforming is the same but just the amount of style that the game has and the humor is what propells it to classic status for me.

Metroid Prime: Managed to reinvent Metroid in a way that many thought would be a horrible turn. Ended up being one of the greatest games of this generation.

Jet Set Radio: Excellent game. The game has abundant style and the music is brilliant. The game is a blast to play as well.

Shenmue: Such a different game. It manages to pull you into the world and care for all of the characters so well.

Wind Waker: Panned for its style but the game is amazing. It's gorgeous, the music is brilliant, and above all, it plays as well as any Zelda game should.

Pikmin: One of the most original titles this generation. It's so offbeat yet it is so good. Both the first one and the sequel.

Ico: A beautiful game. The world is just so amazing and you really care for it and the characters running around in it.

Shit, wish I could list more RPG's than KOTOR. Definitely lots of excellent RPG's this gen. but I can't really say any were classic.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Metal Gear Solid 2 - like it or not, this game was a defining element to sell PS2's

MGS3- after MGS2 split the fans up, Kojima kept things more in perspective and created an overall amazing experience.

Grand Theft Auto 3- two important words: gameplay depth. This game opened so many doors and created a real sense of freedom in a console gaming world. With almost an endless amount of things to do, this game was a classic the moment it hit the shelves.

Resident Evil Remake- I still think this is one of the finest visual games all generation. A wonderful update to an already classic game.

Resident Evil 4- resurrection of a series going stagnant, brilliant visuals, involving gameplay. The long wait was worth it.

Super Smash Bros. Melee- almost everyone I know in person who owns a GC has this game. Fun for everyone.

Final Fantasy X- another epic, emotional, high quality production from Kitase and Division 1. This game, as with most FF's in the past, has set the bar for every console RPG since.

Halo- like what FF does for RPGs, Halo has become the bar setter for FPS. This franchise was born this gen and I have no doubts it will be around for a long time to come.

Silent Hill 2- a brilliant show of desolate atmosphere and tragically depressing story-telling. Unnerving and powerful, even though I've enjoyed it's sequels, this game is a masterwork, probably a real 'one of a kind'.

ICO- to echo many of you, this game is a wonderful example in the endless debates of 'video games as art'. Unforgettable.

God of War- an overall solid production by Jaffe and co. Like MGS3, this game has the highest quality in practically every category.

Metroid Prime- when everyone doubted it, Retro pulled out one hell of a game. Being one of the original naysayers, I was pleased to eat crow after experiencing this game.


and upcoming:
FFXII
LoZ: Twilight Princess
Shadow of Colossus
Okami

 

[Krowley]

1. Metroid prime = I think this is my favorite game EVER. the level design, art, enemies, bosses, pacing, music.... i don't think there is a moment in this game that i can complain about. I've beaten it multiple times and i could start it up again tonight... The interesting thing about that is there is very little built-in incentive to replay the game. It's just so damn perfect that you want to do it all again. Metroid has always been my favorite nintendo series, followed by mario and then zelda and this game delivers everything that i love about metroid, including surprisingly the platforming. It's the best platforming ever in a first person game... it just feels so right.

2. Ninja gaiden = This game just plays really well. Ryu is almost as fun to control as mario. It doesn't matter how many times you play through it and beat it, controlling ryu never gets boring. It breaks the trend in action games of just giving enemies more hit points and more damage to make them difficult. The enemies fight for their lives, they corner you and they won't let you lure them away from their allies. They block and try to counter your moves.. It's also extremly long for an action game. A game with this much detail, variety and intensity that manages to be 20+ hours is pretty incredible. The level design is great, and i love the way the game opens up at the end and you really feel like your in this gigantic world instead of little levels... I even thought the platforming was a nice addition because it breaks up the action. The only thing wrong with it is the story, and really, who cares?

3. MGS3 = it's the first stealth game that i've really enjoyed since thief 1, and it's another example of a game thats amazingly long for it's genre. there are a million ways to go through each situation and i can't wait to replay it a few times. The strange humor and the bizzare but extremly enjoyable story are very big advantages, but i'm more concerned with gameplay, and i was very surprised after all the complaints about this series how great the gameplay was. It's almost like a giant puzzle game if you try to approach it in a stealthy way and this is mainly due to the extremly clever level design and the flexibility of the item system. The boss fights were inventive, there are a million easter eggs and it had a great ending. People will remember this game.

RE4 = the best survival horror game of all time... again (a big theme for me) it's incredibly long for it's genre... it has incredible variety and it's very replayable... One of the most intense games ever... the structure of the game reminds me of ninja gaiden (as does GOW's structure) something about invisible loading and unrelenting pacing... It's a nice trend and this game is one of the better examples. On a technical and artistic level, it's basicly unmatched. It's the best looking game this gen.

Morrowind = After some reflection, i've decided this is the best RPG of this generation. i've waffled on it at times, but looking back now and really trying to think of the definitive games of this generation, morrowind is just incredible because of it's size, scope and detail. It's extremly immersive, and the character creation is so flexible. It has some flaws, but any game with this much scope is going to have some flaws. I played it first on the pc, and then on the xbox... i've spent hundreds of hours with multiple characters and i;ve never even finished the main quest... this is not a complaint, but it points to the games strength... you can just get lost in it, doing your own thing for hours and hours. Oblivion can't come soon enough for me.


edit// a few others that i'm not sure about yet... these are all great games, but will they go down as all time classics? only time will tell...

1. god of war
2. pikmin 2
3. f-zero GX
4. Zelda: TWW
5. Virtua Fighter 4

and here are some others that are probably gonna go down as all time classics, but aren't nessecarily games that i like (although i do like some of them and others i haven't played yet.)

1. GTA series
2. Halo
3. DMC
4. FF10
5. KOTOR
6. HL2
7. splinter cell
...

there are others that will be classics for me (like maximo and TOS among others) but they don't quite have the universal appeal to be games marked down in the annals of history and all that.

I'm sure there will be a few more defining games released before this gen is over... the next Zelda and DQ8 seem promising to me.

 

[Amir0x]

and upcoming:
FFXII
LoZ: Twilight Princess
Shadow of Colossus
Okami

You've pre-emptively defined these as true classics for the generation?


Ahahahahahah

 

[VALIS]

Speevy and Zeo with the AC. Tsc tsc, such vile opinions.

Classics, classics... for me, timeless classics for various reasons...

Resident Evil 4 - For single handedly saving the RE franchise from the jaw-like grip of irrelevance and re-defining aspects of the classic formula for the better, an award in unlimited excellence.

Metal Gear Solid 3 - For the most involving/tragic tale of two central characters, the best ending in arguably any game ever and one of the most brilliant bosses ever conceived (File:

Spoiler

THE END

)... an award in cinematic videogame storytelling.

Pikmin 2 - For the single biggest improvement a game can possibly make over its predecessor; with superior visuals, multiplayer, strategy, complexity, length, music, relaxation, awesome : an award in how to substantitvely evolve a unique concept into something actually good beyond mere simple innovation.

Psychonauts - For proving once more that memorable level design is just as important as memorable characters/storylines and some of the best dialogue this generation - an award in how to properly create a platformer in this age of fading excellence.

Metroid Prime - For forever providing the guiding light on the path to update a franchise from 2D to 3D and innovating with crucial gameplay elements such as look-down jumping and helmet HUD, an award for properly developing a popular IP.

Grand Theft Auto (3D series) - For showing incontrovertibly that pushing the envelop doesn't have to come at a cost to amazing, forward-thinking gameplay and continually molding the sandbox archetype into something thoroughly superior: an award in helping the industry grow.

ICO - For triumphs of artistic direction and proof that a game is as much in its little details as anything else, an award in technical artistry.

F-Zero GX - For bringing the world of futuristic racing back to its most essential roots by ratcheting up the challenge to eliminate the weak-minded, containing blood-vessel popping speed, fuck awesome adrenaline rushes, and incredible near-zen like track design... an award in bad assery.

Halo 2 - For providing what is undoubtedly the greatest online console FPS-ing ever, refined gameplay concepts and the ultimate advertising campaign... an award in popular gaming that is actually quality!

God of War - For boiling down the action genre into what is essentially a never-ending stream of over-the-top production values, chilling, bone-crushing violence and easy-to-learn, rewarding-to-master combat system... an award in visceral gameplay.

Devil May Cry 3/Ninja Gaiden - For truly seperating the men from the mice with overflows of consistent, brutally difficult scenarios and absurdly deep action gameplay, an award in challenging the heart of a gamer.

Well shit, change F-Zero GX and Metroid Prime for The Mark of Kri and Sly Cooper and that's about my list as well. Thanks, Amir0x.