The IGN Readers' Choice Top 100 Games of All Time!

Quazi Sameer Salman (BBA, AIUB)

Recently, IGN (Imagine Game Network) Entertainment presented the top 100
electronic games of all time (for any format: PS, Xbox, PC, GB, etc). The list features
some of the most well known games of all time and gives solid reasons on their entry to
the list of top 100 games of all time.
IGN used the following criteria to present its entries:
 Eligible games had to have been released no later than September 30, 2008
and must have received at least 1,000 reader ratings.
 The list is comprised of single, stand-alone titles and doesn't include
compilations, expansion packs or add-ons.
 Titles with multiple editions such as collector's boxes, gold editions or direct
re-releases have been consolidated into one single entry, with the edition
deemed most deserving taking precedence.
 Updated versions of original titles were only included on the list if they were
significantly different from their predecessors.
 Games released anywhere in the world are eligible (that means that even
Japanese-only titles qualify).

However, I have narrowed down the list to the Top 10 on IGN’s list. So, without
wasting time, take a peek at the top ten.

10. Shenmue II (pic 10)

 Platform: DreamCast
 Developer: Sega AM2
 Publisher: CRI

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“Shenmue raises the bar for entertainment as a whole. It is without a doubt the
one of the greatest games ever made. It demonstrates what a passion for a
project will get you and is a true classic in every sense of the word. This is the
only game I will ever award a perfect score to because, while not technically
perfect, the feeling you get after playing this game is indescribable. It is
something that everyone should experience. I can only hope that the potential
is realized in the future.”

9. Resident Evil 4 (pic 9)

 Platform(s): Cube, PS2, Wii

 Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
 Publisher: Capcom
 Year Released: 2005

Fan/reviewer’s comment
 “I spent over 20 hours scaring the hell out of myself with this game. It was
never stale, and always challenged me, while keeping me on the edge of my
seat. I can't count how many times I uttered "wow" under my breath. I was
expecting a good game, but instead was given an over-the-top, near-perfect
experience in which Capcom has officially developed a game that belongs in
the videogame hall of fame. All survival horror games will from here on out
be graded and put in front of this game to compare every aspect of its dream-
come-true gaming accomplishments.”

8. Metal Gear Solid (pic 8)

 Platform(s): PSX
 Developer: Konami
 Publisher: Konami
 Year Released: 1998

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“Bottom line: this is a must own for any gamer. If, for some odd reason, you
have not played this game, you owe it to yourself to go out and buy it (if you
can still find it!) or at least borrow it from a friend. While the game hasn't
aged well graphically, and the gameplay (aside from boss battles) isn't all that
great, the epic storyline is more than enough reason to play through this
classic in the industry.”

7. Golden Eye 007 (pic 7)

 Platform(s): N64
 Developer: Rare
 Publisher: Nintendo
 Year Released: 1997

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“To sum it up, GoldenEye is a game that I still play to this day and as it's the
only reason why I have a N64 means this a classic. Great memories of
multiplayer fun makes this a must for me where the addition of being able to
play favorable James Bond characters, along with its soundtrack, make it even
more enjoyable.”

6. Super Metroid (pic 6)

 Platform(s): SNES
 Developer: Nintendo R&D1
 Publisher: Nintendo
 Year Released: 1994
 Fan/reviewer’s comment

“This game does pretty much everything right with its great gameplay and
gorgeous soundtrack. It is both the best Metroid game in the series as well as
one of the greatest games of all time. It is never too late to play it so you
should definitely download it if you do not already have it for the SNES. It
would be wrong to call it anything less than a masterpiece and the pinnacle of
2D gaming.”

5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (pic 5)

 Platform(s): PS2
 Developer: Konami JPN
 Publisher: Konami
 Year Released: 2004

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a great game. In fact, it's arguably better
than its predecessor, "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" (sans the camera).
MGS3 has the unfortunate flaw of having a camera that should've been better,
but the game itself is so great that I can easily overlook it and give this second
sequel a ten out of ten.”

4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (pic 4)

 Platform(s): SNES
 Developer: Nintendo EAD
 Publisher: Nintendo
 Year Released: 1992

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“This was the pinnacle of the 2D Zelda era, and it was later followed by one
of the industry's greatest games, Ocarina of Time. To many, the greatest Zelda
of all-time, Link to the Past, remains one of my favorite games, building upon
my favorite series.”

3. Soulcalibur (pic 3)

 Platform(s): DC
 Developer: Project Soul
 Publisher: Namco
 Year Released: 1999

Fan/reviewer’s comment
 “This is one of the greatest fighting games of all time, and it has some of the
most memorable characters. And to top it all off, the graphics had been
reworked from the arcade version. If you've never played a Soulcalibur game
you should try this.”

2. Chrono Trigger (pic 2)

 Platform(s): SNES
 Developer: Square
 Publisher: Square
 Year Released: 1995

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“Without a doubt, Chrono Trigger is one of the most engaging games I've ever
played, right up there with Ocarina of Time. It is without a doubt a Square
RPG, but it is no Final Fantasy. It's happier in theme and less frustrating in
execution.”

1. The Legend of Zelda: Oscarina of Time (pic 1)

 Platform: N64
 Developer: Nintendo EAD
 Publisher: Nintendo
 Year Released: 1998

Fan/reviewer’s comment

“The Ocarina of Time is the videogame equivalent of the Godfather movie - it

is both excellent and brilliant. The Ocarina of Time also like the Godfather in
that it did not just make waves in its field, it made a tsunami. It remains to this
day one of, if not the best, videogames of all time. Nintendo Power said "The
Ocarina of Time has stood the test of time", and it has. It is literally frozen in
time as the absolute best videogame of all time. The game still is brilliant and
fresh to play after a decade and never grows old. This is the keystone game of
the Zelda series as every other Zelda game made to this day, and probably
future titles as well, are directly linked to Ocarina of Time.”

Source: www.ign.com

To check out the remaining 90 entries to this list, visit the website
http://top100.ign.com/2008/index.html