The lights are on
1. The Legend of Zelda
It was wrapped in gold when released, and now it's earned the gold amongst its peers. Running neck-and-neck with Super Mario Bros. during most of the voting process, it was only toward the end of the tallying that The Legend of Zelda came out on top as the best game of all time. All things considered, we are lucky to have been pleasured with its presence at all. Nintendo was worried about how an American audience would respond to this very different game, and when you think about it, the trepidation was justified. At the time, the most successful games in the States had been linear action titles providing instant gratification. The Legend of Zelda was a free-roaming title with strange game mechanics. It took hours to learn, and so much time to finish the cartridge had to have an internal battery to allow for game saves. It didn't take long for Nintendo to find that the US was indeed ready to experience an adventure like Zelda. So ready, in fact, that over a million copies of the cartridge were sold within six months of its 1987 release. To music that no one can forget, players take the role of Link, and guide him on his quest to find the pieces of the Tri-Force, defeat the evil Ganon, and rescue the princess Zelda. On this unforgettable adventure, one travels an incredibly huge overworld, explores nine labyrinthine dungeons, earns new weapons, and discovers secret areas aplenty. Gameplay alone made Zelda addicting, but the way Miyamoto structured the world caused people to play it ravenously. You could see items and new areas on the edge of the screen, yet you could not get to them. Obtaining access to these things drove interest in the game from high to obsessive. Most pleasantly surprising of all, once the game is beaten, an entirely different and more difficult quest opens up. The Legend of Zelda is the ubiquitous experience of video games – it's not a question of if you've played it, but how much. Perfect in every conceivable way, it is well-deserving of the top honor amongst the greats.
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oh the memories of the past...I actually have this issue somewhere in my collection
I can't wait to have this issue in my hands! You Guys Rock, I don't go anywhere else for my news.
-Korey Eiche
Wow, there's already been so many great games that deserve to be added over the years since, not to mention games that must've just missed out on that list.
I'm really looking forward to the 200th! :)
Can't wait for issue 2oo. So many more great games over the years and more to come.
Big lists are lame, but they do sell magazines and make for entertaining nostalgia.
Fun Fact: At the height of it's popularity, Sonic the Hedgehog was recognised by more children than Abraham Lincoln.
Wow! Brings back alot of memories! I still have a lot of these games in my collection, all the way back to the good ol' Atari 2600 days of my youth.
Oh man, I used to love RC Pro Am. I never knew it was a Rare game, probably because the last time I played it, I was 7 years old. :)
Panzer Dragoon Saga was awesome
nice list
Wow! So many great games have come out since August of 2001! To name a few...
Metal Gear Solid 2, 3 and 4
Metroid Prime 1, 2 and 3
Call of Duty 4
Half-Life 2
Portal
Guitar Hero 1 and 2
Rock Band 1 and 2
I can't wait to see the new list!!!
WHAT? No Wing Commander?
Super mario Bro.s was always my favorite classic video game.i never got into LoZ.
I recently aquired issue 100, you guys were right that Super Metroid should have been higher. (Starcraft as well)Anyway is the new list completely haggled out between the staff or were readers able to vote at some point? I hope for 200 it is the former and the next time the latter just so it remains fresh everytime.
I like our changes to the top 8... And have to say #4 on this list did make me lol a little. Not really the same as it was then...
On 94 for Phantasy Star that picture is awesome btw.
I am okay with the number one choice. That was the first game I really ever played. However, I agree with you. Super Metroid needs to be much, much higher.
1 more issue till the 200th! can't wait, I love the magazine
A list of 200 games is gonna be hard. Even with all the editors I would hate making that list.
nice top 100 list, although i'm hoping the 200 list will have more recent games than just all of the classics. I also noticed that the right side of the text is cut off slightly.