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What games would you consider true classics for this generation?

Devil May Cry - Capcom redefines arcadish 3D !

Pikmin - So charming !

Jet Set Radio - A piece of art in movement.

Silent Hill 2 - Quite probably the best story to ever grace a videogame.

F-Zero GX - Arcade racers are not dead yet !
 
VALIS said:
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. :D

You're welcome. Although poo poo on you for not including MP and GX :(
 
There are, of course, a ton of great games this generation that I have enjoyed the hell out of (and still do). The only two that strike me as games that will withstand the test of time as classic games, at least for me personally, are Ico and Rez. I'm not sure they would be considered universal classics, but for me both of these games evoke an emotional experience that is completely unmatched by any other game I've ever played, in or out of the present generation.

Personally, I feel that games in overdeveloped genres are automatically excluded from the gaming hall of fame most of the time. Unless they were one of the very first games in that genre, or they really did introduce massive, sweeping changes to the genre, they aren't likely to be recalled with great fondness or booted up on a regular basis a decade or two from now. The Halo games, for instance...currently lauded for their excellence in an overpopulated field, are eventually going to fade to bigger, better FPS games. God of War is a game that I would LOVE to put down as a classic, but I know deep down that it will be forgotten down the road, its gameplay conventions considered to be completely archaic, because 3D Action games are a field that is always improving itself, and there is no reason to believe that God of War is going to be the end of the line. Ultimately, the improvements God of War offers to the 3D Action genre are relatively incremental; there is nothing in the game that I would consider a sweeping revolution. I think the same is true for many games that are considered classics right now.

And, I'm sorry - I know this is GAF - but Resident Evil 4 is a horrible choice. The gameplay in this series has always been somewhat choppy, and that holds true for Resident Evil 4 as well. It's pretty, involving and it has a nice long quest, yeah...but none of these things are going to matter when the game is being judged twenty or even ten years from now. Admittedly, I haven't spent as much time with the game as I would like to, but the fact that I can't just pick up and play it without dealing with somewhat convoluted controls is not a good sign for this game's chance at the hall of fame. Just my two cents.
 
Silent Hill 2 - Probably the best survival horror game ever. Awesome story, awesome characters, awesome atmosphere, and at the time, awesome graphics. Silent Hill 3 and 4 were more goodness, but Silent Hill 2 is the one I will always remember.

Final Fantasy X - While it doesn't quite top Final Fantasy VIII as the best game in the series, the story, from start to finish, grabs you and doesn't let go. Having the best battle system of any Final Fantasy to date doesn't hurt either.

Baten Kaitos - Probably my favorite RPG of this generation. The story and characters were nothing great, and the voice acting was putrid, but the game has some of the most exotic and attractive locales ever. The card battle system keeps the player on their toes and never gets old. One of the only 50+ hour games I never took a break from.

Honorable mentions:
-Paper Mario 2
-Metal Gear Solid 2
-Suikoden III
-Xenosaga I and II

I currently have MGS3 in my back log, have yet to pick up God of War, and am about 6:30 into RE4. Resident Evil 4 is a delight to play so far, but I don't think I would put it as an instant classic at this point.
 
Pikmin 2
Beyond Good & Evil
Shenmue II
Skies of Arcadia Legends
Chronicles of Riddick
Resident Evil 4
Knights of the Old Republic
Metal Gear Solid 3
Final Fantasy X
Grand Theft Auto III and San Andreas
Fire Emblem
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Psychonauts
Metroid Fusion
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
MDK 2

Personal favorites, as a Zelda fan: The Wind Waker, The Minish Cap
 
There are more, but I tried to be egalitarian and pick at least a game from each system

Metroid Prime
Skies of Arcadia (DC)
MVP Baseball Series (Xbox) - I'm really going to miss this game
Kingdom Hearts
 
echoshifting said:
:lol :lol :lol

Please. Explain.

Screw the haters. Kingdom Hearts has great art design, a great story which integrates years of Disney nostalgia, and a lengthy quest. Also, the music is top notch, amongst the best this generation. Yeah, the play mechanics aren't perfect, and the Gummi Ship is a waste, but I don't know why people expect some kind of Ninja-Gaiden like complexity in action-rpg's. I mean, Secret of Mana gets tons of love and it was just a hack and slash too (and this game is really a direct descendent of that gameplay wise). The game has fantastic production values and rises above its flaws to create an immersive experience.

A lot of people have a hatred of Disney so that colors their impressions of this game, IMO. I also get the sense that the hate for this game on the board is a backlash against the extreme mainstream populatrity of it compared to some of their classics (I like Skies of Arcadia and Ico as much as anybody). Just because something is mainstream and not "hardcore" doesn't mean it's not quality.

Hey, to each his own, but I don't think Kingdom Hearts should be laughed off and I'm sure many agree (not on this board, though)
 
Question is, what games, 10 years from now, will still be worth playing?

I think another question to ask would be, what current games from this generation will likely not be surpassed in the next generation?

There are really very few games that I can think of. The biggest games of this generation are undoubtebly Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil 4, Madden Football, and Metroid Prime. However, all of those games, good as they may be, will have sequels that will blow each of them out of the water.

GTA3 may be a classic based on the fact that it introduced new gameplay ideas that will be implemented in countless games to come.

Metroid Prime could be a classic. It was the first Metroid of it's type, and it is a very unique game among the usual clout of first-person shooters.

A few other games that could reach the 'classic' status:

Mario Sunshine. Yeah, I know it gets ragged on a lot, but there's something to be said about being the best platformer of its generation. It's under-appreciated now, but I think one day we'll look back and realize what a unique and great game it truly is.

I believe Pikmin will become a classic one day, for being an all-new Nintendo franchise for one, and being a unique game. Ico is another one. Mostly for it's art-direction, but also for its interesting story and music.

Panzer Dragoon Orta. One day it'll hit us. We want another Panzer Dragoon game. This was probably the last one, and it's still one of the greatest Xbox games.


Halo will become a classic. Sure, Halo 3, 4, and 5 will make it look outdated. But we still consider 'Doom' and 'Quake' classics, and those games are dinosaurs compared to their sequels. Plus, this is one of those few games that reached outside the normal video game fanbase and into the casual domain.

Other potential classics: Psychonauts, The Wind Waker(One day people will clamour for more cell-shaded Link), Ninja Gaiden, Wario Ware, Inc., Katamari Damacy, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Virtua Quest.









Just making sure you were reading. I was just kidding about that last game. :)
 
Resident Evil 4
Metroid Prime
Final Fantasy X
Tekken Tag Tournament
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

And on Dreamcast:

Shenmue
Jet Set Radio
 
games that i will remember like smb, tetris, smw, actraizers, oot, mgs, res evil, gran turismo, etc, are:

metroid prime - amazing! it combines the best of japanese and western game design to create one of the greatest games ever made. fantastic gamplay, stunning visuals and an incredible musical score make this one of the most complete gaming experiences ever!

super smash bros: melee - virtually limitless multiplayer value in an incredible game. ssbm is this gen's super mario kart/sf2. the feeling of being in a battle is amazing, where the mistakes made are totally owned by the player and not the fault of game's controls.

for future games released, twilight princess will probably [hopefully :D ] make the list.
 
First and foremost, the Dynasty Warriors series. Truly the first "next gen" game for this generation. Great beat-em-up action, but it's not just you against a bunch of enemies, or just you against an army, it's you and an army against another army on a huge battlefield all fighting at once. Nothing like it was possible before. This series epitomizes this generation for me and always will.

Grand Theft Auto series. This needs no explanation.

Dropship: United Peace Force. Really good air combat games are exceedingly rare, and Dropship is one of the best I've ever played. That alone will make it a classic when I look back on this generation.

ICO. Art.

Ratchet & Clank series. At the end of the PSX generation, I utterly despised 3D platforming. Then Insomniac blew me away.
 
the numbers of Halo 1 and 2 in here are laughable. get over it already. the game is a decent shooter at best. being the winner of the crappy console shooter contest hardly makes you a classic. :\
 
Battlefield 1942 - Best multiplayer game ever. I have been playing this game for more than 3 years and still having a blast! And the community support is really good IMO.

Final Fantasy X - Best Final Fantasy so far this generation. The battle system was fun, the game provides good challenge with the optional bosses, I loved the pacific environments and the story was good.

Knights of the Old Republic - Awesome characters, awesome story, awesome plants/words to explore. Best RPG of this generation IMO.

Hitman Contracts - Best stealth game this gen. Memorable locales, awesome music by Jasper Kid and good gameplay.

Ace Combat IV - My first Ace Combat title. Very good production values, awesome story told by hand drawn cut scenes, fun missions, very good music and good gameplay. Best game on PS2.

Others:

God of War
Ico
Halo 1
Halo 2
GTA 3
GTA Vice City
GTA SA
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 (PS2)
Burout 2
Splinter Cell series
MGS Series
ZOE 2
Freedom Fighters
Half Life 2 - hey the ending sucks but the game still rocked!
 
ICO- The first time you stand on the battlements and look out over the moat to the forest is just amazing. The draw distance is awe-inspiring. Everything about this game is sublime.

KOTOR 1- Yes it had its technical problems but the story was unparalleled, especially the Dark Side ending. The cast of characters was great, the HK assassination droid being worth the price of admission alone. The twist in the middle of the game is also very well done and it gives more weight to the light/dark side choices.

Metroid Prime- The first 1st-person whatever game on consoles that didnt make me vomit because of a bad-frame rate. Great game as well, I loved gaining access to previously hidden levels with power-ups. Boss battles were fun and challenging; just good stuff all around.

Hey, one for each system, how about that? :D
 
I'll just point two underdogs that most people ignored

-Buffy: Best TV license to game EVER

-Metal Arms: It is just pure fun, seeing cute robots blowing shit up, cussing like sailors and talking about lube never ceases to amaze
 
borghe said:
the numbers of Halo 1 and 2 in here are laughable. get over it already. the game is a decent shooter at best. being the winner of the crappy console shooter contest hardly makes you a classic. :\

Another example of backlash against a popular game. Halo 1 is a classic, it has great action sequences, great music, interesting weapons and gameplay.

BTW, I think there are plenty of FPS created for consoles that aren't "crappy", including Brothers in Arms, TimeSplitters series, Riddick, etc. Just because an FPS isn't using a keyboard and mouse doesn't mean it's crap.
 
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:bow

Combat Evolved indeed
 
In no particular order,

1) Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3
2) Dark Cloud 2
3) Final Fantasy X
4) Halo & Halo 2
5) ICO
6) Resident Evil 4
7) God of War
8) SOCOM 1 & 2
9) Ratchet & Clank (series, or pick your favorite)
10) SSX, the original
11) Pikmin
12) GTA series
13) Devil May Cry
14) Silent Hill (the best game ever to have subpar controls & tons of fog)
15) Burnout 2 or 3 (2 for the overall gameplay, 3 for the graphics & speed)
 
It would be easy to list 100 good to great games, I really enjoy about 90% of the ones mentioned so far. As far as my true classics? That's tough.

Halo: CE I know the 2nd really just improves what are probably the most approachable and greatest mechanics on a console shooter, but the first was just a greater experience for me. I'll never forget playing through that, alone and with a friend.

KOTOR I'm not a huge Star Wars fan, I didn't expect much out of this title, but of all the rpg's I've tried this gen, this was the best and most memorable. Amazing game.

GTA: SA I know it has sooo many small faults. And many were burnt out by the time it arrived, but to me GTA is not only an amazing feat of game world creation, it is a stunning vision and parody of a slice of American time that probably means more to me than any other. It's not just brilliant, it's a cultural flashpoint.

Resident Evil 4 It has a lame story. Stupid puzzles. Your movement is still hampered....and it's one of the greatest interactive experiences I've ever had. Creepy, awe inspiring, visceral...this game is incredible.

Advance Wars The whole reason I wanted a gaming handheld. It lived up to every expectation I had. Addictive and jammed with content, I think it's yet to be surpassed in portable gaming. Nintendo at their best.

Psychonauts Deserves it for vision and heart, if not for some occasionally questionable execution. If I ever imagined playing a cartoon, Psychonauts was my personal vision, not the dissapointing and more saccharine Wind Waker. Rougher and darker than a Miyamoto dream, this is the first time a platformer has truly amazed me in a particular way since I first tried SMB. Totally different in execution, totally similar in capturing part of what I want in games.

SSX3 Probably the best "sport" game for me this gen. Surpasses THPS2, even. Has everything and has tons of it. When I think of just having hours of fun with a game, this often comes to mind.

SOCOM2 There are a ton of shooters. I've played a ton of shooters, on PC and console. But nothing ever has or probably ever will approach the particular feeling of tension and fun I've had playing this online with regular teams. I hope their new efforts help me approach the experiences I had in this game.
 
Psychonauts
Resident Evil 4
Half Life 2
Wave Race - Blue Storm - Yeh that's right, Waverace Blue Storm - If it aint broke, dont fix it. :)
 
borghe said:
the numbers of Halo 1 and 2 in here are laughable. get over it already. the game is a decent shooter at best. being the winner of the crappy console shooter contest hardly makes you a classic. :\

why don't you just let people name their classic games and quit being an idiot.
 
God of War
GTA3/GTA:SA
Halo 1
Burnout 2/3/probably 4
THPS4/THUG
Metroid Prime
RE4
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker/ Probably the new one too
 
Gotta give some GBA love, that's this gen too.

WarioWare & WW: Twisted
Mario & Luigi
Advance Wars 1+2
Fire Emblem games
Castlevania: AoS
Warioland 4
Ninja Five-O
 
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil (REmake)
God of War
Katamari Damacy
Grand Theft Auto III
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Halo: Combat Evolved (For Single-Player)
Halo 2 (For Online)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Devil May Cry
Fable
Metroid Prime
Wario Ware Inc
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Killer 7
Pikmin 2
Jet Set Radio Future

I could probably make a bigger last, but I have to go get in the shower :lol
 
Halo series
MGS series
PGR series
Burnout series
Metroid Prime
RE4
DMC
Ghost Recon 1 & Island Thunder
REZ
Rayman 2 (DC)
SSX Tricky & 3
jet set/grind radio
 
SMT Nocturne - Best RPG this gen, I clocked over 100 hrs on the fucker, awesome art direction, great character design, an original story for once and great music. just awesome all around.

Metroid Prime - Tied for the best of this gen with RE4, Prime is Metroid in 3d done right Super Metroid is still my favorite Metroid but just to stand side by side with Super Metroid speak volumes of the quality of Metroid Prime I remember being blown away when I first saw Samus in full 3d and the whole concept of being inside her suit made it a more incredible experience.

MGS3 - with the incredible disappointment of MGS2 I was skeptical about this one, I should be sent to hell for doubting Kojima-san an incredible cinematic experience that's just perfect the ending is one of the best endings of all time.

RE4 - alright where do I start? RE reached a level where the main formula of the gameplay was so stale and monotous the series either needed death or a complete turn around, gladly for gamers Mikami decided for a complete turn around and we got RE4 and holy shit what a turn around. Simply incredible let's just leave it at that :D

Wind Waker - dificulty, triforce hunt and sailing aside, Wind Waker is a classic pure and simple, amazing graphics that will still look great even when Next-gen rolls in, great story line and of course the classic zelda formula that never grows old. a classic

edit: forgot Halo dammit

Halo - best console FPS, I wasn't a fan of them but this game made me a fan of FPS incredible presentation, storyline was great, and fuck the multiplayer was fucking awesome a true classic oh yes.
 
Ace Combat 4? C'mon now, do you really think this game will be considerred a classic of this generation?
 
Halo - The Goldeneye/Perfect Dark of this generation. The only console FPS I really played, other than Timesplitters 2. 16-player LANs, beating co-op on Legendary with my friend - awesome stuff.

SSBM - I have probably played this game almost as much, if not more, than Halo. Fucking amazing game.

Metroid Prime - The most atmospheric game this generation for me. Really brought the greatness and feel of Super Metroid into 3D.

Zelda: TWW - Provided one of the best gaming moments I've ever had. The art style really made the game look awesome, the boss fights were pretty awesome, and just like every other Zelda game, I loved just messing around. Needed added difficulty and dungeons though.

GTA 3 - The groundbreaking game of this generation. Just plain kick-ass fun. Going on rampages with the fire truck provided some of the most fun I've had in a game in my entire life. :lol

Advance Wars 1&2 - Fucking awesome games. Period.

Burnout 3 - Amazing graphics, speed, fun.

F-Zero GX - The best single-player racing experience I've had this generation.

I've yet to finish RE4 and Ninja Gaiden. I hope by the end of the summer. Most likely they will join these games.
 
Resident Evil 4 is a classic for sure. Dunno about anything else though.

Oh yeah, sorry - GTA 3 and Metroid Prime probably.

But RE4 is the best of all for a pick of being classic.
 
Amir0x said:
You've pre-emptively defined these as true classics for the generation?


Ahahahahahah

what can I say, I'm a gambling man. :D
But seriously, I'm not sure why I didn't add "most likely". That's just one of those things I usually do to cover my own ass... but oh well. I have no doubts these games will be remembered as amazing, trend-setting products.
 
Neex said:
Ace Combat 4? C'mon now, do you really think this game will be considerred a classic of this generation?

Yes. Have you even played the game? It's got excellent gameplay and an excellent story.
 
Ace Combat was great... but its not 'classic' material


The GTA series, mostly 3, Metal Gear Solid 3, Halo... I can't say anything for Gamecube. I don't have one.
 
It's hard to not turn this into a 'favorite games' thread.

I consider the following as classics:

Halo - The impact it had in the industry is significant and undeniable, love it or hate it. One of my favorite games of all time though.

Ninja Gaiden - This is a personal favorite. The fluidity and moves made it the smoothest action game in 3D. For me it's the perfect realization of hardcore 2D action/ninja games in 3D.

Grand Theft Auto 3 - The targetting and controls of GTA3+ games are a big pet peeve of mine. I simply despise them. That said, I absolutely consider this one of the great classics of this era. It simply brought the "sandbox" concept big time (not that it's the first one,) and has had a huge impact in game design in the industry.

SW: Knights of the Old Republic - Fantastic game that brought the concept of choosing sides (good vs. evil) to the mainstream.

Project Gotham Racing 2 - Great game that brought an unparalleled level of online integration to the single player experience.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Best platformer this generation. Made acrobatic moves possible in games with incredible level and puzzle design. Too bad the sequel was awful and the upcoming sequel looks to go in the same 'dark' direction.

I'm sure there are a few more that I'm missing, but it's hard to draw the line between what I consider a great non-classic game and an equally great classic one. :p
 
What's with all the KOTOR and Xenosaga love?

I mean KOTOR's good and all, but really I've already forgotten most of that game. Great, to be sure, but not a classic in my head. I think it's a 50/50 chance it'll survive the test of time.

And Xenosaga?
surprised.jpg
 
GitarooMan said:
Screw the haters. Kingdom Hearts has great art design, a great story which integrates years of Disney nostalgia, and a lengthy quest. Also, the music is top notch, amongst the best this generation. Yeah, the play mechanics aren't perfect, and the Gummi Ship is a waste, but I don't know why people expect some kind of Ninja-Gaiden like complexity in action-rpg's. I mean, Secret of Mana gets tons of love and it was just a hack and slash too (and this game is really a direct descendent of that gameplay wise). The game has fantastic production values and rises above its flaws to create an immersive experience.

A lot of people have a hatred of Disney so that colors their impressions of this game, IMO. I also get the sense that the hate for this game on the board is a backlash against the extreme mainstream populatrity of it compared to some of their classics (I like Skies of Arcadia and Ico as much as anybody). Just because something is mainstream and not "hardcore" doesn't mean it's not quality.

Hey, to each his own, but I don't think Kingdom Hearts should be laughed off and I'm sure many agree (not on this board, though)

Whole heart agree. Haters are just a bunch of heartless.
 
I can't beleive no one has mentioned Ikaruga

I am not a hardcore shump fan by any means, but Ikaruga was the best one I have played in years. And while it is an arcade game, it was ported to consoles so it still counts in my book.

other than that, I pretty much agree with the gernral sentiments in this thread. RE4, MP, MGS3, ICO, katamari will all bring back nice memories several years down the line^^
 
Soul Calibur - Dreamcast
Sonic Adventure - Dreamcast
PowerStone - Dreamcast
SSX - PS2
Jak and Daxter - PS2
FFX - PS2
Disgaea - PS2
Kingdom Hearts - PS2
GTA 3 - PS2
ICO - PS2
Devil May Cry - PS2
Katamari Damacy - PS2
MGS3 - PS2
God of War - PS2
RE4 - GC
Viewtiful Joe - GC
Pikmin - GC
Mario Kart DD - GC
Metroid Prime - GC
Zelda TP - GC
SSB Melee - GC
Halo - Xbox
Ninja Gaiden - Xbox
KOTOR - Xbox

Wario Ware
Prince of Persia
Burnout

I find a lack of fighting games to claim as classic sad.
 
RE4
Metroid Prime
Paper Mario 2
Psychonauts (yeah, I played it on PC, but I'll still count it)
Beyond Good & Evil
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Zelda: The Wind Waker (flawed, but still brilliant in my book)

There are also some games others have listed that I haven't played (and thus can't put on the list), but that I really want to (God of War, Ico, MGS3).
 
Devil May Cry (DMC) - Father of the Modern Action Game. We'd be collecting coins and hacking n' slashing Medievil style if it weren't for this 2D action done in 3D style action manifesto that is known as Devil May fuckin Cry!

Metal Gear Solid 3 (MGS3) - It's not "just a game" sums it up pretty well.

Devil May Cry 3 (DMC3) - Such a hardcore game with high production values...an endangered aspect of games this generation and an extinct one for next-generation...I promise you that. Unmatched combo system, challenge, length, and variety also help. In addition to a well played story. Another rarity in action titles.

Ninja Gaiden - Could have a better combo system, but this is the most technically impressive Xbox game, and I don't think anything else will take that. Also this is a challenging game with high production values, like I said above--a rarity this generation. Most high budget games (see God of War) are mindless button mashers to appeal to the lowest common demoninator, so it's great to see a game with near equal values come up and hardcore the fuck out of everyone here at GAF. Such a shame more people won't support titles like these.

Shadow Hearts - The "other" Final Fantasy for those that don't like Final Fantasy...eh.

Resident Evil 4 - A perfectly balanced game. For something with such shallow gameplay (point and shoot for 20 hours) RE4 not only pulled it off, but pulled it off very well.
 
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Super Mario Sunshine
Zelda WW
F-Zero GX
Baten Kaitos
Resident Evil 4 <~~~ haven't own this game yet.
Tales of Symphonia <~~~ haven't own this game yet.


Future Titles:

Fire Emblem: P. of R.
Zelda TW :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D fainted!
 
Amplitude
Beatmania
Castle Shikigami 2
Contra: Shattered Soldier
Culdcept
Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry 3
Disgaea
Firefighter FD 18
Frequency
Gitaroo Man
Graffiti Kingdom
GTA3
GTA san andreas
Guitar Hero(i know its not out but it will rock, no pun intended)
Guilty Gear X2
Gungrave
Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3
Onimusha 3
Shinobi
Way of the Samurai


Halo
Max Payne 2
Metal Slug 3
Morrowind
Ninja Gaiden
Otogi
Otogi 2
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe

Eternal Darkness
Ikaruga
Resident Evil 4
(i haven't played many cube games)

I'm not much of a gba gamer either. I probably forgot some stuff but the list is looking pretty good to me.
 
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