SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time - The Top Ten

This is it. The moment you have been waiting for. For the past nine weeks we've been counting down our favorite games of all time. This is the final week we'll be doing so, listing our top ten games of all time. As is standard for each week, here is our spiel:

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)
Games of All Time (40-31)
Games of All Time (30-21)
Games of All Time (20-11)

10) Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

Many competitive fighting gamers would stick up their noses at this choice, but our preference towards the Super Smash Bros. series has us choosing Brawl over Melee. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, while not as competitive of a fighter as Melee, was the more complete package. It was much more entertaining for parties and gatherings due to its off-the-wall antics, fierce action and intense battles. Throw in interactive stages, newcomers like Ike and Lucas, a healthy heaping of crazy items, and you have the ultimate party game. Like many of Masahiro Sakurai's creations, Super Smash Bros. Brawl brought players hundreds of hours worth of content-- stages, characters, modes, trophies, stickers, music, etc. One could spend months, if not years, trying to unlock everything that the game contained. Brawl was indeed a love letter to all Nintendo fans, lovingly designed by its developers, offering more characters than ever before in both playable and non-playable forms, two dozen all-new well-executed stages, trophies containing info about many Nintendo properties, music from an assortment of well-known Japanese composers and tremendous bang for one's buck. A local multiplayer fan's delight, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is our number ten game.

9) Mega Man X (SNES)

While we love the classic Mega Man series and think it has more great games than the X series, our favorite Mega Man title of all time just so happens to end with an X-- Mega Man X, to be specific. Everything about Mega Man was made more incredible and astounding with Mega Man X. You had more abilities like wall climbing, more replay value in finding Dr. Light's capsule upgrades, heart tanks and sub tanks, more challenge, more intimidating bosses and a more mature story. The level design was among the entire Mega Man franchise's best, making players perform daring leaps while keeping a cool head about them. This was definitely one of those games that would get your hands soaked with sweat as you clutched your Super Nintendo controller. Mega Man X is one of those games that we constantly find ourselves returning to. It may not take a long time to complete once you know the location of every item, but we always come up with new challenges to do-- speed runs, no damage runs, X-Buster only runs, etc. Case in point, if you're looking for hot and hectic 2D run and gun platforming action, there's no better than Mega Man X.

8) Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA)

Yes, we actually prefer Banjo-Kazooie to Super Mario 64. While Super Mario 64 was revolutionary for 3D platformers, Banjo-Kazooie was evolutionary to Super Mario 64. It offered larger worlds, a wider array of moves (most of which had to be unlocked, so you would have a reason to return to past worlds), plenty of fun collectibles, awesome transformations a la Mumbo Jumbo, great music, Rare's trademark humor and some gorgeous graphics. It's actually the Xbox Live Arcade version that prefer the most and is our favorite. In the original N64 version, you had to collect all 100 musical notes in a given level at once. That meant if you died, you had to restart your collecting of them. With the XBLA version, if you die, all the notes you've collected stay collected. This makes the game a more fair and fun experience. Banjo-Kazooie delivered on all fronts, and focused on platforming and exploration to create a combination that is hard to beat.

7) Resident Evil 4 (Multi)

Out of all of the different versions of Resident Evil 4 that came out (the GameCube original, the PlayStation 2 port, the iOS version, the HD iterations), our favorite would have to be the Wii version. Not only did it offer superior aiming controls with the Wii Remote, but it was just a lot more entertaining taking shots on and picking off the Ganado horde. The version had all of the content of the PS2 port, and if motion controls did not suit your fancy, you could choose to use a more traditional means to control U.S. government agent Leon S. Kennedy. As a whole, Resident Evil 4 was a perfectly paced game, delivering thrills, chills and tense moments throughout its lengthy adventure through three major areas. The game defied all expectations, certainly our own, and there's good reason it is so almost universally loved. Resident Evil 4 created dozens of imitators and games inspired by it, and none-- even Capcom's own efforts-- have come close to outshining the game.

6) Metroid Prime (GCN)

Austin-based Retro Studios was a developer no one really had much clue about or faith in, but if they taught us anything, it's that Nintendo's influence can make the difference. Oh, what a difference it made with Metroid Prime. Taking the 2D foundation of the series and implementing it into 3D was certainly a daunting task, and the end result was a first-rate first-person shooter with a focus on adventuring. The world of Tallon IV felt lived in, natural and full of wonder to behold. Little in this world felt man-made, and the overall level design was simply superb. Secrets were smartly hidden and required some exploring to find, rooms and areas were linked together in a logical way, and enemy locations were wisely placed. The encounters on this mysterious planet were action-packed and exemplified the excellent controls that Retro Studios gave the player to control Samus Aran. Metroid Prime came from out of nowhere. Few expected it to be something special, and many gamers, including us, were hit with it like a strike to the back of our head. Unlike a real strike to the back of the head, Metroid Prime was mostly certainly welcomed and felt oh-so good.

5) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Previously Mario had ventured through the Mushroom Kingdom, explored the hallways and chambers of Peach's Castle and even had a platforming adventure on a tropical island. Who could have foreseen that Mario would be going galactic with Super Mario Galaxy, and who could have foreseen that it would become not only one of the highest rated games of the generation but also one of the best games of all time? Super Mario Galaxy put players in an epic intergalactic quest to save Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser through traversing along planetoids both big and small, taking down the Koopa King's forces and entering some of the best designed levels ever seen in a platformer. The originality and innovation that exuded in Super Mario Galaxy was no doubt breathtaking to behold and witness. Nintendo EAD created a title that was truly unforgettable and shows that all video games need not look towards Hollywood-like experiences for entertainment. Instead, pure fun in disc form is all you need for a good time.

4) Super Mario World (SNES)

The battles on message boards pitting Mario fan against Mario fan concerning which 2D Mario is superior, Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario World, are never going to pass away any time soon. That's okay, as good discussion comes from such battles. Regardless, we're in the camp that prefers the multitude of secret exits, multiple paths to reach Bowser and addition of Yoshi with Super Mario World. Over two decades old now, few developers have come close to creating a game with as excellent and near-perfect level design than Super Mario World. There was no filler to be had. As stated with other Mario games on this list, every hill, every pipe, every enemy, every block, every coin, etc. had its purpose and was placed perfectly for players to try to overcome. The aforementioned secret exits meant the levels containing them could be explored more thoroughly, and when you finally found that key and keyhole, you felt an immense level of pride, as many of the secret levels were really well hidden. It says something about Super Mario World when you can not play it for years, yet go back to it and remember so much about it, especially the minor details. It is for these reasons why our top 2D Mario title is none other than Super Mario World.

3) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

The greatest 2D Legend of Zelda title is A Link to the Past. After the drastic departure from what fans were accustomed to with the original LoZ with the side-scrolling Zelda II, Nintendo return to the overhead viewpoint of the original Legend of Zelda with their lone Super Nintendo entry of the series. As kids, we lost ourselves in A Link to the Past's Hyrule, venturing through the forests, caves, towns and dungeons, bombing walls for secrets, acquiring optional items, collecting Pieces of Heart, solving puzzles in dungeons, figuring out how to and then taking down behemoth-sized bosses and transporting between the Light and Dark Worlds. The two world mechanic opened up so many more possibilities to the world design, and the dungeon design offered plenty of brain busters that made us think out of the box countless times. It all adds up to Link's most complete and satisfying 2D adventure yet. With the Nintendo 3DS' A Link Between Worlds, we are anxiously awaiting returning to ALttP's version of Hyrule.

2) Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

To see a direct sequel of a 3D Mario game was an usual, but very welcomed, sight. To see it be the sequel of one of the highest rated games of all time made us worry at first. How would Nintendo EAD possibly outdo Super Mario Galaxy? The answer is "very well." Offering a higher challenge right from the get-go, Super Mario Galaxy 2 was a game that used ideas left over from the original Galaxy game, while bringing forth multiple amazing new gameplay mechanics, a near perfect mastery of level design by the designers, and some of the most fun we've had with a platformer since... well, ever! The developers designed Super Mario Galaxy 2 around the concept that players had already experienced its predecessor, meaning that the difficulty could be placed at a higher point at the start. This made for a much more rewarding, and challenging, experience for players. Even after besting Bowser and getting all 120 Power Stars, the game still wasn't over. You then needed to use your platforming prowess and a little ingenuity to reach 120 Green Stars scattered in hard to reach locations in each galaxy. Super Mario Galaxy 2, alongside Super Mario Galaxy, are without a doubt the best games of this generation and of all time. When your bottom line is entertaining the player and charming the pants off them at a constant rate, this is the type of exquisite game you get.

1) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS)

The most masterful game on this list, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, released in 1998, after years of tech demos, trailers and screenshots in issues of Nintendo Power. The game went through several incarnations before finally becoming the highly rated and greatly loved game. Super Mario 64 was a game that put Nintendo in a class to themselves by properly and almost perfectly implementing a true 3D world. Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo took their expertise and successfully put the world of The Legend of Zelda into 3D as well. Pretty much using the foundation and formula laid down by A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time perfected it, adding new touches, new items that would go on to be series regulars, the incredibly innovative, intuitive and invaluable Z-targeting to center Link's attention on a foe at a given time, and dungeons that required deep thinking to solve the copious amounts of puzzles that laid inside.

We will never forget first walking out onto Hyrule Field and seeing the glorious expanses ahead of us. Sure, nowadays it seems quite empty, but then it was marvelous. Moreover, the entire game world was fascinating to explore, from the high vantage spots of Death Mountain to the beauty of Lake Hylia. The recent 3DS remake, Ocarina of Time 3D, built even more on the greatness of the Nintendo 64 original, beefing up the graphics and frame-rate, introducing the ability to change between equipping the Iron Boots with ease with the touch screen (making the Water Temple no longer tedious) and a Master Quest for veterans.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those games that doesn't come out very often. It brings with it universal critical and gamer acclaim, it inspires countless developers, it redefines our understanding of what makes a truly terrific and expertly crafted game, and it sticks with us long after we've put the controller down.

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There you have it. Those are our top 100 games of all time. Do you agree/disagree with our list? Are there games that you love that we neglected to name? Keep in mind that this list is by no means the be-all end-all and that it is entirely subjective. Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (20-11)

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)
Games of All Time (40-31)
Games of All Time (30-21)

Let's return to the countdown!

20) Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

The first game on our list of ten titles for this week is Super Mario 3D Land. The series finally found a nice balance between the 3D gameplay of games like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, and the 2D linearity of games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. Because of this, Super Mario 3D Land really felt like a 2D Mario game in 3D. What players received with the game were an unforgettable combination of cleverly constructed obstacle courses, each with three hidden star medals to find, power-ups like the returning Tanooki Suit and more than double the expected content of 3D Land with the secret eight bonus worlds after originally completing the game. Many were bummed with the unveiling of Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U that the new 3D Mario action game wasn't in line with something like Super Mario Galaxy. Seeing as how great Super Mario 3D Land really was and the addition of multiplayer, we can't help but be excited.

19) Star Fox 64 (N64)

Do a barrel roll! One of those rare games that seemingly has infinitely quotable lines of dialogue, Star Fox 64 put players in the role of Fox McCloud, joined by his squadmates Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad and Falco Lombardi. Star Fox 64 was the type of action game that offered multiple paths to the final planet of Venom, where the nefarious scientist Andross was exiled to. There were over twenty unique ways to reach Venom, meaning players needed to replay the game multiple times to reach every level within the game. Most levels had two paths to them, giving players an option on which path they wished to go. (Sometimes the path would be chosen for you if you failed to complete the requirement.) The replay value didn't stop there, either. No, one could go for medals by getting high kill counts on each of the 15+ levels. Outside of arwing combat, whether it is along rails or in all-range mode, Fox could pilot a ground tank and even a submarine. Star Fox 64 is one Nintendo's classics for the 64, so there's no wonder why gamers around the globe wish to step into the cockpit with Team Star Fox once again.

18) Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

Last week we had Donkey Kong Country Returns on our list. This week the greatest of the Donkey Kong Country line of games is proudly represented on the Top 100 Games of All Time list. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest featured Diddy Kong in the starring role, alongside his girlfriend Dixie Kong (no relation) to save Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool's klutches-- er... clutches. What transpired from there was a myriad of differently themed areas, masterfully crafted levels, which constantly brought some new and fresh gameplay mechanic into the fold, and an atmosphere that most 16-bit games of that era would have dreamed to have. Donkey Kong Country 2 brought a harder challenge than its predecessor, more interesting bonus areas and even a secret world and boss battle to overcome. Then there's the glorious soundtrack, which made our list of best soundtracks of all time. All of this is packaged into one banana-slamma' of a ride.

17) Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

What we declare to be the best in the Final Fantasy series (sorry, Final Fantasy VII fans), Final Fantasy VI (or as it was originally released in the West as Final Fantasy III) brought together a cast of interesting characters, each with unparalleled development from beginning to end. Final Fantasy VI contained a villain who actually succeeded in his plans, creating a second half of the game that was totally nonlinear, which may have been overwhelming to some players, and understandably so. The previous Final Fantasy games were already fantastic experiences to themselves, but Final Fantasy VI seemed like such a massive beast in comparison to them. There were so many side quests to do, optional bosses to conquer, powerful equipment to find, party members to save and dungeons to enter. It's amazing how timeless Final Fantasy VI is, and it's all thanks to the compelling gameplay, stunning presentation and excellent vision the developers had for the game.

16) The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (GBC)

The first handheld Zelda title was Link's Awakening. A remastered version of the game, implementing color, was released on the Game Boy Color in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX. Of course, if you had a Super Game Boy, you could already play the original Link's Awakening in color, but you'd miss out on DX's exclusive color dungeon, giving Link either stronger offense or beefier defense. Koholint Island didn't waste any space within its borders. Each grid on that island served a purpose. There was little to nothing in the way of filler. The dungeons sported clever puzzles, especially the seventh dungeon, a tower, where one needed to chuck an iron ball into the support columns to bring the top floor crashing down. Link's Awakening brought with it Roc's Feather, an item that would be used in the majority of handheld Zelda titles that followed. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was a dream come true in video game form, and the DX version only heightened its greatness.

15) Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

SuperPhillip Central's favorite kart racer of all time gets the 15th spot here on this monumental little countdown of ours. It is Diddy Kong Racing, one of Rare's greatest spectacles. It introduced something that a lot of future racers tried to copy, to varying degrees of success, an adventure mode. Through completing races, acquiring golden balloons and beating bosses in tests of speed, the player progressed through a story to halt the sinister sorcerer Wizpig's tyranny on Timber Island. Not only that, but alongside the four player multiplayer, the three different racing vehicle types that offered their own takes on the twenty tracks, and aforementioned adventure mode was a cast of characters that were fun to play as, each with their own stats. We even had a look at Conker before he let alcoholism ruin his life. Diddy Kong Racing was a combination of well crafted tracks, addicting multiplayer (even allowing two players to cooperatively do the adventure mode via code) and colorful presentation.

14) Perfect Dark (N64, XBLA)

Our favorite first-person shooter of all time also comes from Rare. Man, those guys were really something during the Nintendo 64 era! Perfect Dark was built as a spiritual successor to GoldenEye 007, one of the best selling games on the Nintendo 64. However, Agent Joanna Dark can do anything James Bond can do, and her game did it a lot better. The missions were much more complex, offering a similar amount of freedom like GoldenEye 007 to complete objectives in any order the player liked. The multiplayer was practically its own game, presenting players with large scale maps with endless amounts of vantage points, places of cover and hidden areas. The mode also allowed something GoldenEye 007 lacked-- bots. This made it so you didn't need to have a sleepover or live on campus just to have some competition. All this in addition to the added beauty and powerful performance that the expansion pak gave to Perfect Dark (slowdown, be damned) make for a first-person shooter that may be a little long in the tooth, but is near perfection.

13) Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

We like Super Mario Bros., but we did not like it enough for it to make our list of 100 games. Now, if this was a list of revolutionary or influential games, we'd no doubt have to include the game on merit alone. That said, we didn't truly get into the Super Mario Bros. series seriously until the third installment. With Super Mario Bros. 3, Nintendo implemented eight overworld maps, which served as the player's way to access each level. Unlike past games, Super Mario Bros. 3 featured a non-linear level structure, offering different paths for the player to go, sometimes skipping over some levels entirely if need or want be. Super Mario Bros. 3 brought a bunch of other mechanics that would be featured in future Mario games, such as items that could be held, sliding down slopes, new types of jumping, the ability to fly via the Super Leaf power-up, airships, fortresses, ghost houses and more complex level design than previously seen. Despite all of these revolutionary features that many future Mario games would use, Super Mario Bros. 3 isn't quite our favorite 2D Mario.

12) Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN)

Many nights went sleepless when the fantastic Super Smash Bros. Melee came into our lives. Like a falcon punch to the gut, Melee came out of nowhere as our go-to multiplayer game. Everything about Melee was meant to bigger and better than its Nintendo 64 predecessor, a game that was originally never supposed to leave Japan! We're glad it did, because otherwise we would have never gotten to experience Super Smash Bros. Melee. The game gave us more characters, more stages, more items, more modes (like the awesome Adventure mode, more crazy nights than we can count, classic Nintendo musical tracks orchestrated, better graphics, the addition of collectible trophies and much much more. To this day, Super Smash Bros. Melee is a game that many still break out for parties and get-togethers, and it is still played competitively at various events around the world. Whether or not you call it a fighting game is moot, Super Smash Bros. Melee is a love letter to all Nintendo fans and fans of great, addicting gameplay.

11) New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

This may be considered sacrilege to some Mario fans, but we actually prefer New Super Mario Bros. Wii to Super Mario Bros. 3. While the NES classic was certainly revolutionary, New Super Mario Bros. Wii had the overall better designed and more interestingly designed levels. The addition of multiplayer to make messing over your friends and family, or, as the game probably intended, to work together to beat each level didn't hurt either. We really believe that New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the pinnacle of 2D Mario level design, showing that Nintendo EAD's experience with the franchise allowed them to craft some of the finest obstacle courses that ever existed in a 2D platformer. Each level offered up something exciting to freshen things up, challenges and hidden areas that were expertly placed. Every Goomba, every pipe, every Koopa Troopa, every pit, every coin, etc. served its own purpose. There was nothing on screen that didn't belong there. That is masterful level design, and that is what New Super Mario Bros. Wii delivered in spades.

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Next week we will finally name our favorite game of all time. Oh, there will be nine other titles to be listed as well. You do NOT want to miss this. You'll HATE yourself if you do! Trust us. We know these things.

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (30-21)

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)
Games of All Time (40-31)

Let's return to the countdown!

30) God of War II (PS2)

God of War was featured last week on SPC's list of 100 games. This week we have its sequel, which took the combo-based combat, spectacular set pieces and brutal ultraviolence to new heights to create a bigger, better and bolder game. Betrayed by Zeus, stripped of his title as the God of War and ruthlessly murdered, Kratos seeked the Sisters of Fate to go back in time and thwart his betrayal. God of War II showcased the power of the PlayStation 2 and just how tough that little black box was. The game contained more challenging puzzles, as well as a healthy helping of bosses-- easily multiple times more bosses than the original game. All of this was coated in a fantastic fighting system that towed the line between casual and hardcore players beautifully. Case in point, God of War II is one of finest action games ever devised, and it's without a doubt one of the best offerings in the PlayStation 2's robust library of intriguing games.

29) Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

While this is a game that probably wouldn't make it on most lists this far into a top 100 list, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a title that gives us great flashbacks of our days with the old PlayStation. However, it's not just nostalgia, as we recently played the PSP port Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and the combat was just as refined and hectic, the presentation (especially that music by Motoi Sakuraba) was brilliant and beautiful, and the dozens upon dozens of hours that could be lost to this game, regardless of which version, made for many sleepless nights. The Second Story already provided excellent replay value, but when you consider there's two main characters that can be chosen, as well as a wide cast of party members that can be recruited, you have a game that is one of the highest RPGs listed on our top 100 countdown.

28) Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT)

The second Mega Man game to be released on a PlayStation platform, and the first Mega Man X game to enter the 32-bit era, Mega Man X4 took the series to new heights with two protagonists, each with their own characteristics, stories and cutscenes. X specialized in long range attacks and was the easier of the two playable characters to complete, while Zero focused on short range assaults with his sword. Though many classic series that moved into the PlayStation era jumped into 3D or used some kind of 3D visuals, Mega Man X4 stayed tried and true to its roots, and it looked absolutely glorious in 3D. The game contained flashy visuals, had plenty of replay value thanks to the aforementioned two heroes, and it was a game that was challenging for all the right reasons. Mega Man X4 is a shining example of a terrific 2D platformer in the 32-bit era.

27) Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)

The first Ratchet & Clank was a fun, albeit forgetful and flawed game. However, Insomniac Games' second try with the franchise blew minds, including our own. Right away through viewing the game, you could see how incredibly improved the visuals of Going Commando were to its predecessor. Not only that, but the gameplay was much more refined, and the developers even included some role-playing elements in the mix. This came in the form of weapons that could be upgraded through repeated use. A small cluster bomb could turn into one that sent out dozens of bombs once the initial one exploded. By far the most fascinating aspect of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was its terrific level design. Each planet generally had two ways to go, each leading to a different destination, adding to the longevity of the game. Also adding to that was the challenge mode after completing the game. This mode delivered more bolts (the currency of the series) to players. Without a doubt our favorite in the Ratchet & Clank series, Going Commando still hasn't been beaten by any other PlayStation platformer yet.

26) Mario Kart DS (DS)

This might be a controversial choice for this list because of a little thing called snaking. However, if you found a like-minded friends who promised not to snake, you'd find much enjoyment in the online. Sure, the emblem creator made it so you could see the glorious, glorious drawings of crudely done wangs, but you could always stand to appreciate art as you see it. Regardless, Mario Kart DS was one of Nintendo's first attempts at an online game, and while the online part isn't even why we considered the game to be on our list, it was a nice feature to have. Mario Kart DS' most exciting part was its offline play, featuring something that needs to return desperately to the series, a mission mode. The game also featured some stunning and well designed tracks, including Airship Fortress, Luigi's Mansion and Delfino Square. Mario Kart DS really felt like the most complete Mario Kart that had been released as of yet, and in many regards it still does.

25) Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS)

Recently released on the Nintendo 3DS with eight new levels and the removal of waggle to perform actions, Donkey Kong Country Returns saw the revival of Rare's classic Super Nintendo series. This time the game was developed by a different Western developer, Austin, Texas' Retro Studios. Despite the long hiatus between games, Donkey Kong Country Returns really felt like the series had just picked up where it left off. Levels constantly introduced new concepts and gimmicks to make it so you never knew what was coming next. Puzzle pieces and bonus areas were hidden well to make players explore every crack and crevasse of a given level. Then you had the Kongs' interactions with each level. Sometimes being shot from the foreground to the background and vice versa. (This looked particularly impressive on the Nintendo 3DS.) It is for these reasons that we cannot wait to see what Retro Studios delivers next with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U this holiday season.

24) Mega Man X2 (SNES)

The second Mega Man X game to hit our list in the same week (and the second Mega Man X game overall) is Mega Man X2. The game introduced a trio of baddies known as the X-Hunters, looking to take down the reploid that brought down the leader of the Mavericks, Sigma. Each member of the X-Hunters had a piece of Zero that players could go after optionally to rebuild the pony-tailed Maverick Hunter and get the good ending of the game. Mega Man X2 had all of the features of its predecessor, such as eight initial levels to complete, Mavericks to defeat, special weapons to obtain, capsules to find, Energy and Heart Tanks to uncover, and all the shooting, wall climbing and dashing fans of the original Mega Man grew to love. Mega Man X2 might not have reinvented the wheel, but it didn't have to. It simply took what made Mega Man X great and attempted to improve upon it. Depending who you are, it might have been the better game.

23) Super Metroid (SNES)

The best in 2D Metroid-vania games, Super Metroid brought with it some of the greatest atmosphere in a 16-bit title. The game followed bounty hunter Samus Aran as she followed her nemesis Ridley to a new planet, after Ridley had murdered the scientists studying the Metroid infant Samus uncovered at the end of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The game was structured in a way that had Samus venturing around the many areas of the planet, uncovering new abilities from Chozo statues and left behind from bosses to reach new, previously inaccessible portions of the game world. At the start of the game, Samus' repertoire of moves wasn't that stellar. By the end of the game, however, Samus had the ability to freeze foes, spin attack right through them and unleash holy heck on any enemy that got in her way. The final battle with Mother Brain still stands as one of the most defining boss battles in Metroid history, as Super Metroid itself is one of the most defining, if not THE most defining, game in Metroid history.

22) Mega Man 3 (NES)

It's bizarre that we find Mega Man 3 to be the best game in the classic Mega Man series. We say so because series creator Keiji Inafune believed the development of the game was one of the most stressful times in his career. All artists much suffer, we guess, and Mr. Inafune's suffering gave gamers this delightful title. We find Mega Man 3 better than its much loved (we love it too) predecessor for several reasons. We enjoyed the levels, challenge, storytelling, and length better than Mega Man 2. There was also no Crash Bomb boss, which meant if you ran out of Crash Bombs during that boss, you had to commit robo-cide and refill your weapon energy in a boring grind-like fashion. The additions of Rush, Proto Man and Mega Man's sliding ability added even more charm to the series. Despite Capcom's best efforts to make Keiji Inafune's creation down and out, we'll always love you, Mega Man.

21) Super Mario 64 (N64)

One of the most influential and groundbreaking video games of all time, Super Mario 64 wasn't the first fully 3D game, but it was the first to show how a proper 3D game with proper 3D models should be done. Worlds were open-ended, offering immense amounts of exploration-- just mind-blowing at the time. Super Mario 64 shifted gameplay focus from completing linear platforming levels to completing multiple unique missions within each world of the game. In doing so, the developers still had mechanics from past Mario games so Super Mario 64 had a bit of familiarity in its brand-new bold package. The game worlds were fun to explore. Heck, even messing around in Peach's castle, the hub world of the game, was an absolute blast. Revolutionary is a not word to be used lightly, but Super Mario 64 represents that word sensationally well. Other 3D Mario titles would be evolutionary, including several that are higher on this list.

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There are only two weeks left for our Top 100 Games of All Time countdown. The next games are even better than the ones listed here! Is that even possible? Find out next Wednesday!

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (40-31)

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)

Let's return to the countdown!

40) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

The most recent game to be released that is one this countdown, Animal Crossing: New Leaf turns from a video game into an addiction quite quickly. After hearing the criticism of City Folk (the Wii game) players that there were far too few changes to the Animal Crossing formula, the developers behind the game decided for a huge change in the form of becoming the mayor of town. This allowed you to create public works projects and enact ordinances for your town. The level of customization was one that hadn't been seen in an Animal Crossing game-- a series that already had plenty of customization options. Now players could alter the look of their house, create unique patterns that could be placed on clothing, signs or the ground, and even create custom-patterned furniture. We here at SuperPhillip Central have already clocked a total of 160 hours to New Leaf in the span of one month and one week. To say Animal Crossing: New Leaf has become an addiction isn't too far off. Be forewarned before you play or you could end up like us!

39) God of War (PS2)

It's amazing how we enjoy a series whose main protagonist is a some male adolescent power fantasy come to life in virtual form. Kratos may be a total jerk who is hard to like, but his games are anything but hard to like. While not our absolute favorite God of War game, the original God of War was an epic roller coaster of a ride, all beginning with Kratos leaping from boat to boat being rocked back and forth by the choppy sea waves while having to deal with the multi-headed Hydra. God of War turned the action dial up to 11, offering action sequences so intense and thrilling that many competing games just paled in comparison and seemed tame. Sprinkled throughout the action were small puzzles and platforming sections to create a nice sense of pacing to the entire game. All of this was tied up together into an ultraviolent package, making God of War one of the most entertaining action games of all time.

38) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1, SAT)

Before Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania games were mostly linear affairs with brutal difficulties. The first Castlevania game in the 32-bit era was Symphony of the Night, and it completely changed how future Castlevania games would be created. Many would try to outdo Symphony of the Night, and most would fail. Following the formula that Metroid and Super Metroid created, Symphony of the Night had players controlling Alucard through a nonlinear castle. As he defeated bosses and earned new abilities, he could venture into new portions and areas of Dracula's behemoth-sized castle. Alucard could obtain new weapons and equipment and even earn experience to level up his strength, defense, among other attributes. Unfortunately, it seems this manner of Castlevania game is in hibernation, but we hold hope that one day the series will return to this preferred Super Metroid-inspired formula.

37) Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (GB)

Not everyone on the SuperPhillip Central staff got as into Pokemon as much as Phil did. He was in middle school when Pokemon Red and Blue released, and he bought (i.e. had his mommy buy for him) the Blue version with Blastoise on the cover. He was so engulfed with the Pokemon mythos that he woke up really early every weekday morning just to watch the Pokemon anime, he drew his own line of Pokemon comic books and he collected every figurine and trading card he could find. The original games seem so ancient now and slow. Still, there's this wide sense of nostalgia that makes the trio of Pokemon games so cathartic to play. We didn't have to worry about IV training. We worried about catching 'em all and finding a friend to hook up Game Boys with to trade Pokemon that we couldn't get in our version of the game. Many called Pokemon a fad, but it still goes strong to this day, especially with the upcoming release of Pokemon X and Y.

36) Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)

Not the best Ratchet & Clank game, but it's pretty darn close. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is our pick as the second best Ratchet & Clank game in the entire series. It featured a glorious mix of platforming and shooting action, and it didn't sacrifice its tone to do that mix either. (We're looking at you, Jak & Daxter!) Up Your Arsenal featured more expanded levels than in past games, a wide array of awesome weaponry (approximately 20) that could be leveled up upon repeated use, and the same trademark humor that makes the Ratchet & Clank games so endearing. It introduced one of our favorite villains, Dr. Nefarious, a hater of all squishies (aka organic life). Up Your Arsenal was the first game in the series to offer online multiplayer. While the PS2 servers are long gone, those that have the Ratchet & Clank Collection for PlayStation 3 can online multiplayer out. It's truly a blast, much like the entire package that is Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal.

35) Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GEN)

Is this cheating combining the two games? We hope not, but even so, we're sticking to our proverbial guns here. After all, the main point was combining Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles to create this excellent platforming adventure. The pinnacle of Sonic's 2D exploits is Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a game that, back in the day, required players to insert the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge into the SEGA Genesis (or Mega Drive for our PAL pals) and then place the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the S&K one. What all that added up to was a fantastic journey through an abundant number of well designed levels, zones, and acts. You could play as Sonic and Tails or Knuckles, each having their own separate endings to up the replay value. Then there was trying to obtain all of the Chaos AND Master Emeralds via the Blue Sphere bonus stage mini-game. Sonic 3 & Knuckles is everything fans of old school Sonic the Hedgehog adore and must-play-gaming for those who have not experienced this glorious combination of games as of yet.

34) Chrono Trigger (SNES)

How can you not have a game on a Top 100 Games of All Time list that doesn't include Squaresoft's named Dream Team of Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy series creator), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest series creator) and Akira Toriyama (famed artist of the Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball series)? We didn't just include Chrono Trigger on this list because of the men who worked on it. We included it because it's one of the greatest RPGs ever devised. Everything about Chrono Trigger was exemplary, including its many multiple endings, its character-driven story with side quests that fleshed out each character, its drop-dead gorgeous graphics and its incredibly unique and entertaining battle system. It is a total shame that PAL players could not play Chrono Trigger when the game originally released. In fact, the game would first be available to them with the Nintendo DS port released in 2009. We believe that with how great Chrono Trigger is, the wait may have very well been worth it-- no matter how agonizing.

33) Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)

One of the first Final Fantasy spin-off games, outside of Mystic Quest, Final Fantasy Adventure and Final Fantasy Legend, Final Fantasy Tactics verily leaped over what a Final Fantasy spin-off could be by providing sensational tactical RPG gameplay, a dramatic plot of politics and betrayal and one of the best soundtracks for a video game ever composed. Players joined the ranks of Ramza, an upper class cadet who is thrust into the center of The Lion War, consisting of two factions desiring the throne of the country of Ivalice. Final Fantasy Tactics was a huge departure of what made the mainline games so popular. The game was played on grid-based battlefields that featured an isometric camera angle that could be spun around. Constants from Final Fantasy such as magic, summons, jobs (an idea taken from Final Fantasy V) and items returned, as did various enemies like Bombs, Chocobos and Marlboros. Two sequels came out on Nintendo platforms, but they came nowhere near the level of Final Fantasy Tactics. In all honesty, few tactical RPGs have ever come close to Final Fantasy Tactics's level.

32) Final Fantasy IV (SNES)

Though Final Fantasy IV (or as it was known in the West as Final Fantasy II) is not our favorite Final Fantasy game, it might as well be our most played due to how many re-releases this classic has seen. From the Super Nintendo original, to the PS1 version, to the Game Boy Advance release, to the Nintendo DS remake, to the PSP Complete Collection... yikes. We've played a lot of Cecil Harvey's story of romance, betrayal and crystal collecting. Final Fantasy IV was the first Final Fantasy game to use an Active Time Battle (ATB) system, where when a party member or enemy's gauge fills, they are able to choose an attack. This constant amount of action with little in the way of waiting made for more exciting battles. The ATB would be used in several subsequent Final Fantasy games, and they were made all the better for it. The plot of the game has been called everything from a brilliant early example of excellent video game storytelling to something that modern games can be thankful of. Final Fantasy IV delivers in story, gameplay and presentation-- a hat trick deserving of the series.

31) Mega Man 2 (NES)

Widely accepted as the best classic Mega Man game, Mega Man 2 introduced eight of Dr. Wily's Robot Masters to battle as opposed to the six of the original game. These bosses and their respective levels could be taken on in any order, but for the easiest time, using the weapon that a given Robot Master is weak against was recommended. Choosing the correct order to take down the Robot Masters (as each defeated Robot Master gave Mega Man its signature weapon) was essential to having the smoothest go of it. Of course, one could make Mega Man 2 and its subsequent sequels as difficult as they'd like by taking on bosses using only the Mega Buster, for instance. Mega Man 2 stands as an important title for the series as it introduced new concepts to the games like a helpful password system and Energy Tanks to restore lost health. The former was a godsend, as that meant one didn't need to play through the entire game in one sitting. While not our favorite classic Mega Man game, there's no denying Mega Man 2's influence to Capcom's now neglected franchise.

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We have but three more parts of our top 100 list to get through. The best of the very best is coming, and we hope you'll stick with us to this unprecedented (at least on SuperPhillip Central) list's conclusion.