Posted on Saturday, January 21 @ 14:48:06 Eastern by
GR_Staff
The Greatest Games of All-Time (or The Quest for the A+)
With Game Revolution's transition from our notorious letter grades to the five-star system for reviews, we were fated to crash into one unfinished matter of business: What would we have given an A+?
Anyone who has referenced our grading system at the bottom of the site knows what we call an A+ title: "The Holy Grail of Gaming. The Perfect Game. We have never given one." Indeed, Game Revolution has never given an A+, which would coincide with the philosophy that there is truly no such thing as absolute perfection—somewhat depressing but certainly realistic.
But with this notable cloud over our heads, we posed the inevitable question and realized immediately that, in fact, we're just writing a feature on what we think is the greatest game of all-time. We've never written that feature, either. So why not kill two birds with one... you know what, that's mean.... how about killing two congressional bills with one Internet? Is that idiom worth an A+? (Maybe.) ~ Nick Tan
Anthony Severino - Final Fantasy III
There isn’t a perfect game, and there never will be. But there are a few games that do come close. Josh and Dave’s picks were among my three-way tie for what I’d consider as close to perfection as possible. The SNES seemed to be a breeding ground for greatness. The third title, and the one they didn’t already picked, edged out the rest as my one A+ game.
There’s a special place in my heart for Final Fantasy III (VI in Japan). It’s my childhood video game equivalent of the N64 kid. And to this day, I don’t think any game has pulled me in so deeply into the story or built as strong a bond as I did with Terra, Locke, Edgar, and the rest of the crew.
I cherish the hours I spent dungeon-crawling in search of Esper-filled Magicite. I’ll never forget the shock I felt when (*spoilers*, but yeah, this game's quite old already) Kefka killed Gestahl and brought the world to ruin. The entire game is filled with moments that not only shaped me as a gamer, but will also stay with me forever. And nothing yet has ever touched me the same way.

Nick Tan - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
This is neither the first nor the last time that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will grace "best of" video game lists. Nearly every game reviewer gave Ocarina of Time their highest accolades in 1998, and according to GameRankings, for games with 20 or more reviews, it still has the highest average score of all-time.
Objectively, I could dissect the reasons for its timelessness: mythical structure, intricate yet whimsical level design, the innovative use of music, the Z-targeting system, and the 3D graphics that were a powerhouse in 1998. Ocarina of Time laid the groundwork for future 3D "open-world" titles, more immediately Majora's Mask but also Batman: Arkham City.
It's one of the rare games I've played to full completion, let alone three times through. It has an elegant sense of balance that escapes even today's best titles, whose designs can be just a bit too gimmicky, too overdone, or too instantly gratifying. It's, purely and simple, video game magic.

Daniel Bischoff - The Simpsons Arcade
I don't think any game deserves an A+ or whatever.... "The Perfect Score". It's elusive for a reason. Even 5 out of 5 stars doesn't mean "perfect" in my critical mind. Regardless, I think it's okay to call a game perfect based purely on how much fun you had. That's why I'm basing my decision purely on nostalgia.
You wouldn't think The Simpsons Arcade would be a "perfect" game, and it wasn't, but it was perfect for a 10-year-old with a little brother and a pocket full of quarters. Popping coin after coin in the machine to progress through each level as Bart and Homer never got old. As we neared the end of the game, other kids joined in. With four players in all, we powered through to the finale and defeated the boss to rescue Maggie.
Our parents were so pissed that we had them waiting at the pizza place for so long.

Jessica Vazquez - Bioshock
In
order to explain why I would give Bioshock a perfect score, I have to first explain why I wouldn't give one to my favorite video game series, Mass Effect. The one thing Mass Effect lacks that Bioshock doesn't can be summed up in one word: consistency. Both games implement incredible storytelling, but Bioshock has been able to preserve core shooting mechanics. Mass Effect's drastic change in RPG elements and overall style between the original and the sequel were too stark.
Bioshock's ambiance carries over from one incarnation to the next. Its nightmarish underwater world stayed with me weeks after I had finished the game. Just the thought of lurking in the shadows trying to figure out how to evade a group of splicers as they engaged each other in morbid conversation was enough to make my skin crawl.
WILLS_COOL_MODE
Joined: Oct 2010
usaglory
Joined: Mar 2009
Jonathan_Leack
Joined: Jan 2012
1. Final Fantasy VII
2. Final Fantasy Tactics
3. Metal Gear Solid 4
4. Counter-Strike
5. World of Warcraft
Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
Sidenote: I recently reinstalled steam on my old PC which I haven't used in a few years. I saw that I had 1042 hours logged onto CS:Source. That game brought me so much joy.
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
DE_RATS! DE_EFFING_RATS!
Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005
No, what those things do is make one of the greatest "experiences" ever. The game itself is unchanged, it's just the experience surrounding the game that has been enhanced. All those things you listed had next to nothing to do with the actual Counter Strike game. Only the Spray Paint was really built into the game. Clan support was practically non-existent and just consisted of giving yourself an [I'M IN A CLAN] tag before your name. Hacking and Modding are clearly user created events, as are Mics/Opinions.
What I am getting at, is that I believe the actual game of Counter-Strike is not what made the experience memorable, but everything else you've listed. Crediting THOSE things to Counter-Strike wouldn't be accurate. It just happened that CS was in the right place at the right time, and people latched onto it. Almost any other game that allowed for modding and running your own server could have taken it's place if they had offered an even remotely similar style of game.
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
You can argue that CS is not the best game according to a review on the game itself, but when you factor in everything else it takes it to one of the greatest games ever.
Was it a good game - Yes.
Its lasted at least a decade - Yes. (include CS & CS: Source)
Its had over 100,000's players - Yes.
Has a vibrate and large community - Yes.
People pay to run servers - Yes
Tournaments - Yes
Experiences with game - Priceless
If you judge it solely on the game then no, but you cant judge it solely on the game. You have to factor in how it made people feel and that takes it to one of the greatest ever.
danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009
Yoshi
Joined: Nov 2005
OdiousLupous
Joined: Jul 2011
damo_rox619
Joined: Jan 2007
xxlordskullxx
Joined: Nov 2007
damo_rox619
Joined: Jan 2007
Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005
Lien
Joined: Feb 2008
...well except for half life of course! Not arguing with that one!
Jonathan_Leack
Joined: Jan 2012
dirty_f
Joined: Nov 2010
also am i a massive retard for not knowing that GTAIV had multiplayer? kinda makes me wanna reinstall it on my ps3. but i need the room for skyrim so......
danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009
"also... Red Dead Redemption."
Lien
Joined: Feb 2008
dirty_f
Joined: Nov 2010
Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010
TurinAlexander
Joined: Sep 2006
spartan317
Joined: Dec 2005
spartan317
Joined: Dec 2005
metalimi
Joined: Nov 2005
metalimi
Joined: Nov 2005
sliverstorm
Joined: Jun 2007
danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009
xxlordskullxx
Joined: Nov 2007
Lien
Joined: Feb 2008
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
"The spice must flow"
cyberjim2000
Joined: Feb 2010
kingobling
Joined: Nov 2007
Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Hate to be cliche, but it just is.
Squiggy
Joined: Nov 2005
Nick_Tan
Joined: Jul 2006
Falx
Joined: Jul 2011
Heath_Hindman
Joined: May 2011
Final Fantasy XII International: Zodiac Job System
Mother 3
Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005
Heath_Hindman
Joined: May 2011
Was not entirely down with part 2.
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
FF7 - Just so much to do. 3D - Made you read what was said. Relied on sound to set the mood which did fantastically. I cried when Aeris died.
Bioshock 2 - While the first one had the better story, the graphics and gameplay made the 2nd stand out. Having read Socrates I enjoyed the change in government.
Halo - COOP Legendary + Flood
Warcraft 3 - Perfect story + Custom Mutliplayer Maps
WoW - 13 million people played it.
CoH - the last great RTS.
CounterStrike (Source) - Mods, Hackers, Dust_2, Iceworld, Bawls, Lan Parties
Ivory_Soul
Joined: Nov 2005
friggest
Joined: Mar 2008
FF7, WoW, and CS are some of the greatest games ever. How are FF7 and WoW overrated?
Aeris's death has to be one of the Top 10 moments in video game history.
WoW had over 13 million people paying 15 bucks a month to play. It has destroyed people's marriages and lifes. It has spawned novels and pretty much is the sole reason for Blizzcon. It made Blizzard a billion dollar company. That alone makes it one of the greatest.
How are you giving me **** for CS, when Daniels pick is an arcade game. He talks about how awesome it made him feel even though the game wasnt perfect. You have to concede on CS.
WILLS_COOL_MODE
Joined: Oct 2010
WoW isn't one of the best games ever. It's not even one of the best MMO's ever, it's just extremely popular because it's possibly the easiest non-casual game to start playing.
And finally, as someone who probably has more hours of cs played than any other game, I still don't think it's one of the best games ever. I'm not a huge fan of Quake 3 but I think even that is a better game. There just isn't much to cs, once you've played a round you've played the whole game. It's an extremely fun round, and it was good enough to get me playing until I consistently had the best spread, but I just don't think there's enough there to call it the best.
Doc_Holliday
Joined: Nov 2005
Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010
sg4real
Joined: Apr 2011
( Not Spam )
cyberjim2000
Joined: Feb 2010
WILLS_COOL_MODE
Joined: Oct 2010
I think one of the best marketing moves possible right now would be to remake DX1 with the HR engine and add in all the things that were in the original with the same slick presentation and execution of HR.
tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011
Nick_Tan
Joined: Jul 2006
ReinhardtBII
Joined: Oct 2007
WILLS_COOL_MODE
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friggest
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WILLS_COOL_MODE
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ByoDyne
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Zpyder
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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009
Klandathu
Joined: Apr 2008
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Vectorman
Streets of Rage 3
World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
Earthworm Jim
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
These were some of the greatest games I've ever played.
StickyGreenGamer
Joined: Jul 2011
--Henry--
Joined: Jan 2010
Dolive90
Joined: Oct 2011
WickedLiquid
Joined: Mar 2009
WickedLiquid
Joined: Mar 2009
spartan317
Joined: Dec 2005