Absolute Must Have Games

[Original_Name]

Well, I was trying to go for games which transcend subjectivity. Games which are accessible, yet satisfying for hardcore gamers. Iconic games which were huge deals back in the day, but moreover have held up well over time; the sorts of games which appear on Racket's "Defining Games" lists.

That's pretty much what I was going for, to be honest.

Really? Then why not Super Metroid and Donkey Kong Country, two of the highest-selling and highest-rated games on the system, still cherished by the majority of gamers?

[Luke]

Do we really need another favorite game thread?

Pick nits if you will, but that is essentially what this thread is.

[Original_Name]

Do we really need another favorite game thread?

Pick nits if you will, but that is essentially what this thread is.

I sort of see it as the games that are totally necessary in a collection of games for the respective system. I mean, even if you find Donkey Kong Country to be just an average game, it's one that seemingly EVERYONE will recommend to you when starting a Super Nintendo collection. For instance, I'm not really into Super Smash Bros., but it's one of those games that is of such quality and is so deliberately associated with the console that I felt it was necessary include it (I didn't add "Night Trap" and "Zero Wing" for instance, since they've become associated with their respective consoles for reasons other than being exempliary gaming classics). Honestly though, I think that the OP should have stated the aim of this little activity a bit more clearly.

[Luke]

I just assume people list what they think are must have games, which 99.9% will be their favorite game.

For instance:

NES
Ninja Gaiden
Batman
SMB.3

I picked those because they're in my top 10 of NES games.

I don't know if anyone has listed Duck Hunt as a must have for the NES, but if we're actually going by what a collector should have, Duck Hunt should be a must have.

[Breetai]

Well, I was trying to go for games which transcend subjectivity. Games which are accessible, yet satisfying for hardcore gamers. Iconic games which were huge deals back in the day, but moreover have held up well over time; the sorts of games which appear on Racket's "Defining Games" lists.

That's pretty much what I was going for, to be honest.

Really? Then why not Super Metroid and Donkey Kong Country, two of the highest-selling and highest-rated games on the system, still cherished by the majority of gamers?

Yeah, I thought about Super Metroid... but oh well. It just didn't have that "feeling" for me, if you know what I'm trying to say. Same with DKC. There is a bit of a personal bias there as well. I just can't avoid it!

On a personal list of "best games ever", I would include Super Metroid.

I think that the OP should have stated the aim of this little activity a bit more clearly.

I meant for it to be a list of "must have games" for various consoles. Personal bias does get in my way. Partially because If I were to list every single "must have game" on the NES and SNES, the list would be very long. I guess I should have limited the number.

[shadobeni]

For my list I limited it as much as possible to games that had unique and timelss experiences that didn't overlap with other games and were unlikely to be improved on in later generations. I also tried to avoid listing too many games in the same genre.

I'm surprised nobody put a megaman game...although there are so many of them I wouldn't know which one to pick as the defining megaman game.

In hindsight I would downgrade some of my choices to runner ups, No One Lives Forever, Mafia and Spyro. I would probably also add Pacman and Arkanoid for NES. I'd replace the gameboy versions of Mario Bros & Zelda with SNES games (as I'm sure the SNES has superior gameplay even if I have never really played either).

A game like donkey kong country though solid doesn't seem to do anything unique. I don't know enough about the 2d and 3d metroid. From what I've seen I don't see anything particularly original either. I'd more likely include a Castlevania game.

[Breetai]

I'm surprised nobody put a megaman game...although there are so many of them I wouldn't know which one to pick as the defining megaman game.

Yeah, I thought of Mega Man 2... but I didn't really think it was an absolute must have when I did my list. It's definitely up there, though.

A game like donkey kong country though solid doesn't seem to do anything unique. I don't know enough about the 2d and 3d metroid. From what I've seen I don't see anything particularly original either. I'd more likely include a Castlevania game.

We think alike. Well, I do know plenty about the 2D Metroids... and I included the NES game.

[puke_face]

Star Control II, Star Blade and Road Rash for the 3DO. It would suck to have a 3DO without these games.

[aaron]

the only absolute must-have game for any console is ROBO PIT 2 for the PLAYSTATION COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

[crux]

I think the best way to approach a list like this is like how one would approach a system they've never played before and to ignore all genre restrictions. It's possible to weed some games out due to personal preference, but I think there's quite a bit of objectivity to be had. For instance, I flat out think that anyone who claims that Ikaruga isn't a masterpiece is wrong. They may have preferences that weigh against it (masterpieces aren't inherently suited towards every individual), but to not be able to recognize the brilliance in it is a shortcoming of the individual. Of course, if we're talking about games on the level of Ikaruga, the list would get very, very small.

More generally (ie. not on the level of Ikaruga), just looking towards the most respectfully praised games will go a long way. However, the caveat to such an approach is that popularity tends to limit the possibilities of objectivity. Some of the mainstream titles hardly deserve the praise they get, yet they will score high reviews in many ways because of their popularity. They're rarely properly compared to the rest of gaming, but rather set aside amongst other blockbuster titles.

It's easiest to pull off these kinds of lists with consoles at least ten years old, I'd say. The dividing line in my head is Dreamcast. I'd be hesitant to create a "best of" list on any console past the Dreamcast, as I know my biases would weigh in too heavily. Of course, I don't create these kind of lists period. No matter what the list, I'm pretty confidant that I haven't experienced enough to make a list with certainty. Though I'm pretty sure most of humanity is in the same boat.