1. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask ; Absolutely my favourite game of all time with no other game even close. No game has replicated the atmosphere or life that this game conveys in spades. It's truly a masterpiece and my life would be very different if I had never played this game
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ; This is, by no means, the greatest game of all time. It is, however, a milestone in gaming that somehow still manages to grip me to this day. It may be strange to have Zelda games as my top two, but I really can't emphasise enough how much both these games not only impacted my life, but are still incredible experiences when played in a modern context.
3. Banjo Kazooie ; The best platformer of the generation, bar none. Eat your heart out Mario 64. This game is just...more fun than Mario 64, more charming and just generally a more enjoyable game. Mario 64 may have have some more ingenious platforming here and there, but the soundtrack alone makes Banjo Kazooie one of my favourite games ever.
4. Metal Gear Solid; The only PS1 game in my top ten, but boy is it one amazing game from start to finish. Nothing like it had been seen before and playing it years later is still breathtaking. The story is cheesy at points, but engaging and unique. If it weren't for Twin Snakes and the backtracking this could easily have been my number 2, though with those factors considered, it feels about right at 4.
5. Conker's Bad Fur Day ; I only played this games years later. It has odd controls, sometimes offensive humour and the platforming is generally weaker than the Banjo games. This, however, is easily the most charming game of the generation. I don't know what it is, but I couldn't help but smile when playing it. I'd seen the Great Mighty Poo before, and thought the boss fight to be juvenile, but it's actually really well thought out and crafted to the point that the humour makes sense in its own little bubble. I love this game and am really upset I only got to experience it's genius last year when it was too late to save Rare.
6. Banjo Tooie ; This may seem like a block of Nintendo 64 games, but that's because I truly believe it to be the best console of its generation. This game still holds up. I'd even argue upon playing it the first time, this is more fun than the original, but it's held back by being a bit too monotonous to walk through large sprawling overworlds on subsequent replays. Still the music is top notch and the charm is here in barrels, I can't recommend it enough.
7. Burning Rangers ; What a hidden gem. I understand, this game looks awkward, controls awkward, is like 2.5 hours long, has minimal music and mechanics and its easy to get lost...But damn it, something about it makes me love it. Really. I would never recommend this game to anyone, but something about what it does just resonated with me.
8. Star Control II (3DO) ; The Best 3DO game bar none. This space adventure is so...epic. I hate using that word but it really is. It's amazing what a game of it's era was capable of and this really had the most amazing feeling of space exploration.
9. Guardian Heroes (Saturn)
10. Mario 64
x. Discworld II
x. Space Station Silicon Valley
x. Diddy Kong Racing
x. F Zero X
x. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
x. Starfox 64
x. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
x. DragonForce (Saturn)
x. Mario Kart 64
x. Lego Racers
x. Pokemon Snap
x. Pokemon Yellow
x. Snowboard Kids
x. Pokemon Stadium 2
x. Donkey Kong 64
x. Dragons Lair (3DO) ; Actually the first place I played this classic. It's pretty damn cool honestly and I can actually beat it these days.
x. Rayman 2
x. Fighters Megamix
x. Konami Antiques MSX Collection ; The gem in my Saturn collection. It's a really fun set of games I never played prior and definitely worth owning.
x. Age of Empires II
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ; This is, by no means, the greatest game of all time. It is, however, a milestone in gaming that somehow still manages to grip me to this day. It may be strange to have Zelda games as my top two, but I really can't emphasise enough how much both these games not only impacted my life, but are still incredible experiences when played in a modern context.
3. Banjo Kazooie ; The best platformer of the generation, bar none. Eat your heart out Mario 64. This game is just...more fun than Mario 64, more charming and just generally a more enjoyable game. Mario 64 may have have some more ingenious platforming here and there, but the soundtrack alone makes Banjo Kazooie one of my favourite games ever.
4. Metal Gear Solid; The only PS1 game in my top ten, but boy is it one amazing game from start to finish. Nothing like it had been seen before and playing it years later is still breathtaking. The story is cheesy at points, but engaging and unique. If it weren't for Twin Snakes and the backtracking this could easily have been my number 2, though with those factors considered, it feels about right at 4.
5. Conker's Bad Fur Day ; I only played this games years later. It has odd controls, sometimes offensive humour and the platforming is generally weaker than the Banjo games. This, however, is easily the most charming game of the generation. I don't know what it is, but I couldn't help but smile when playing it. I'd seen the Great Mighty Poo before, and thought the boss fight to be juvenile, but it's actually really well thought out and crafted to the point that the humour makes sense in its own little bubble. I love this game and am really upset I only got to experience it's genius last year when it was too late to save Rare.
6. Banjo Tooie ; This may seem like a block of Nintendo 64 games, but that's because I truly believe it to be the best console of its generation. This game still holds up. I'd even argue upon playing it the first time, this is more fun than the original, but it's held back by being a bit too monotonous to walk through large sprawling overworlds on subsequent replays. Still the music is top notch and the charm is here in barrels, I can't recommend it enough.
7. Burning Rangers ; What a hidden gem. I understand, this game looks awkward, controls awkward, is like 2.5 hours long, has minimal music and mechanics and its easy to get lost...But damn it, something about it makes me love it. Really. I would never recommend this game to anyone, but something about what it does just resonated with me.
8. Star Control II (3DO) ; The Best 3DO game bar none. This space adventure is so...epic. I hate using that word but it really is. It's amazing what a game of it's era was capable of and this really had the most amazing feeling of space exploration.
9. Guardian Heroes (Saturn)
10. Mario 64
x. Discworld II
x. Space Station Silicon Valley
x. Diddy Kong Racing
x. F Zero X
x. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
x. Starfox 64
x. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
x. DragonForce (Saturn)
x. Mario Kart 64
x. Lego Racers
x. Pokemon Snap
x. Pokemon Yellow
x. Snowboard Kids
x. Pokemon Stadium 2
x. Donkey Kong 64
x. Dragons Lair (3DO) ; Actually the first place I played this classic. It's pretty damn cool honestly and I can actually beat it these days.
x. Rayman 2
x. Fighters Megamix
x. Konami Antiques MSX Collection ; The gem in my Saturn collection. It's a really fun set of games I never played prior and definitely worth owning.
x. Age of Empires II