Some of you are likely aware of the Laser Orgy 500, our current ongoing battle to crown the greatest video game of all time. We've received roughly one gazillion votes in this thing, and we've tried to stay out of it because, for the most part, you're all doing a great job with it. The Top 100 is almost perfect.
Almost.
We can't help but notice that there are a few games in the lower ranks that really ought to be higher up. The standings may have changed by the time you read all this, but here now, are a few of those sadly neglected games, along with links for you to upvote them (or, as it were, downvote them):
Day of the Tentacle
This time-bending LucasArts adventure deftly combines inventive puzzles with humor. The Purple Tentacle is one of the great villains of our time. Two similar games, Sam and Max Hit the Road and The Secret of Monkey Island are both solidly in the top 100, but those two franchises were recently rebooted by TellTale Games. Perhaps someone needs to bring Bernard and Dr. Fred out of retirement.
Earthbound
Earthbound has a really fun story, a sweet sense of humor, and a charmingly simplistic style. Despite the fact that it wasn't as advanced as its peers, it's still engrossing and addictive. Given all this plus the nostalgia factor at work here and the general high placement of most Nintendo games on our list, I would have thought this would be a lock for the top 50. Instead, it's stuck around 120 at the moment.
Baldur's Gate II: The Shadows of Amn
This is the RPG-player's RPG. It's spoken of in hushed, reverential tones, even ten years later. On our list, it's currently languishing at number 138. Maybe you all just aren't that into BioWare, though, because neither Mass Effect is doing especially well in the voting either at the moment. In fact . . .
Mass Effect II
I am ignorant on matters Mass Effect, so I will let my colleague Maddy Myers explain:
This is a case where the sequel schooled the first one. And yet the first Mass Effect sits at spot 128, with Mass Effect 2 trailing behind at 140. Am I the only one who much preferred ME2's streamlined control panels and weapons screens, not to mention the easier-to-understand experience and leveling systems? Sure, there was no blue alien lesbian love affair, but the second game's organization of abilities, team management, and weapons screens made way more sense than the first game's. Usually, sequels do it better, and this is no exception.
Assassin's Creed II
Maddy also wished to weigh in on Assassin's Creed II's low ranking:
Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II are currently at 147th and and 149th place, respectively. The former makes some sense; after all, the first game's mechanics were a bit wobbly and the campaign was unexpectedly short. However, Assassin's Creed II got several good reviews from critics (including us). The campaign for ACII is longer and more involved, and the narrative is helped by surprisingly good voice acting, beautifully designed period costumes, and the inclusion of a youthful Leonardo DaVinci as the science wiz in charge of your weapon upgrades. The game’s mechanics are much improved; the button lay-out feels intuitive, so climbing, exploring, and assassinating all feel graceful and effortless. You can even hire a bevy of Rennaissance courtesans to walk with you and distract guards, and a couple of these ladies end up being assassins (and secondary characters) as well. Much classier than the GTA street-walkers, no?
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
Consider: Street Fighter II (which we were sort of using as the catchall for all re-releases thereof) is in our top ten currently. Tetris is also in our top ten. Yet this super-advanced hybrid of the two is closer to #150. What gives?
Dragon Quest VIII
Upfront I will acknowledge that RPGs like this are not everyone's cup of tea. Some people simply don't wish to deal with limited inventories, level-grinding, and random encounters. For those who are willing to put up with those things, though, this game is extremely deep and rewarding. It's better than the last four or five Final Fantasies, at any rate.
NBA Jam
Sports games aren't doing so hot on our list, which I guess isn't really surprising - I know more than a few gamers who never got into them for whatever reason. But even the ball-phobic among us acknowledge that NBA Jam was pretty sweet - unique and winning thanks to its emphasis on over-the-top silliness. The remake is probably awesome, too.
Feel free to plug your favorite games below (and if you notice we missed something, don't forget about our suggestion box).
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