Those of you who read Steve's blog about becoming the Animal Crossing 3D Mayor last week may have noticed that we've been arguing about the top 100 Nintendo games again. Three years on from our last best Nintendo games list, we've started the process again. With some massive Nintendo releases since 2009 - Skyward Sword, Mario Galaxy 2, Mario Kart 7 - it will be interesting to see if the number one is still the same.
It's always difficult to choose the best Nintendo games of all time as the games that mean the most to you might not actually be the greatest. In my case, Super Mario 64 is my favourite Nintendo game of all time. I couldn't begin to argue that it is a better game than either of the Galaxy adventures but it was the game that got me into Nintendo.
Stop me if I told you this one before but I didn't have a Nintendo console as a kid as my parents (who were both teachers) believed in the educational powers of a BBC Micro. So I had to wait until I earned money to buy myself a Nintendo console.
I had played Nintendo games before, mind. One of my first gaming memories was playing a Donkey Kong Game and Watch at a neighbour's house and I had played Tetris and Super Mario Land games on a friend's Game Boy. Yet it wasn't until I bought an N64 and played Super Mario 64 that I could describe myself as a true Nintendo fan.
As someone who had previously thought of Jet Set Willy as the height of platforming gaming, I was blown away by Super Mario 64. Just bouncing around outside Peach's Castle was incredible, let alone jumping into Bob-omb Battlefield and climbing up the mountain to defeat King Bob-omb. I wasn't alone in thinking that this was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The best thing about Super Mario 64 was that I got to know every single corner of Peach's Castle like it was my own house.
It was incredible and from then, thanks to GBA's Mario Advance series, I moved onto Mario's back catalogue, playing games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island. All brilliant, but any Mario game would struggle to match the impact of his first 3D adventure, which is perhaps why Super Mario Sunshine never lived up to the hype for me.
So, as the first Nintendo game I bought, Super Mario 64 holds a special place in my heart. Is it the best Nintendo game of all time? Probably not, you'll have to wait until March to find out what has won our vote. In the meantime we'd like to know what your best Nintendo game of all time is.
We'll reveal the result in the same issue as our top 100 and it will be interesting to compare the results. So vote for your top three Nintendo games below or in this forum thread and we'll compile the results.
1. Redident Evil 4 Wii Edition 2. Super Mario Galaxy 3. Mario Kart 7
I only got into Nintendo with the Wii so can't comment on anything pre-2007
I still agree with that last time ONM did the 100 greatest nintendo games. Super Mario Bros is, and alway will be, the greatest nintendo game of all time. It difined nintendo as a company and without it neither nintendo nor platform games would be what they are today. Ask anyone what character nintendo is famous for and no doubt they will say Mario. Mario is such a huge part of nintendo's identity that it would be wrong for any other game than a Mario game to be number one. Despite this game being over 20 years old now, it is still an absolute joy to play and was completely head and shoulders above anything else that was around at the time. I would even go so far as to say that it is better than many modern games in terms of new ideas, gameplay, difficulty level and sheer addictiveness. Anyone who has never played this game honestly should give this a go and see for themselves the game that made nintendo what it is today.
very difficult choice. huge difference betwen best and favourite too, which makes it harder. oh well.
3: spirit tracks. makes best use of the ds, hands down 2: mario kart 64. excellent 3 dimensional installment of fantastic franchise 1: new super mario bros wii. took a classic game and brought it bang up to date and with added multiplayer = perfection
Ahhhh this is so difficult D: Out of terms of quality of game, Skyward sword, Twilight Princess and Super metroid would definitely be contenders, but these games were the ones that inspired me not just from critical brillance, but also from personal milestones
1. Pokemon Silver - Like you Tom, my parents were quite against me having games consoles when i was young, but they finally relented on my 9th birthday when they bought be a gameboy advance with spyro on it. The game that really inspired me though was Pokemon Silver (which i ran out to the shops and bought the next day ) which introduced me to a series and genre that was deep and addictive and full of brilliant charm. It was the game that made me want to play more and led to me finding a new passion for gaming.
2. Zelda Wind Waker - As my first Zelda game i had to put this up. It introduced me to the Zelda franchise of which I've played every game since, and re-visited nearly all the classics. My 11 year old mind was blown with the epic scale. The magic of leaving your tiny island to explore a huge unknown world is just a feeling that I've never felt in a Zelda game since (as i guess i now expect it) and probably wont again.
3. Mario Galaxy 2 - The 3rd slot was a hard decision because the first two were games that introduced me to Nintendo, but I've chosen Mario Galaxy 2 just because i literally adored every second. I never felt frustrated, or that anything could be improved, I just sailed through the game taking in all the love and imagination that had been lavished pon this game.
Super Mario 64 is a great game! But probably not my favourite. It would have to be something like Pokémon Platinum or White, but 64 maybe second. If it's not just Nintendo though, Sonic Heroes and Drawn to Life would be the Top 2. I brought Lock's Quest this weekend, and I've got to say it's supeb! I lvoe 5th Cell as a developer, I think they're great!
1. Zelda Wind Waker- The most beautiful game I have ever played. 2. Pokemon Red/Blue- The first game I've ever played. Still amazing today. 3. Super Mario World- My favourite platfomer ever and a joy to play.
1. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Really launched the Wii and made it worth getting on release day for me, the story, controls (although with hindsight perhaps a little tacked on) and everything were just perfect
2. Super Mario Galaxy - Took everything great I remembered about Mario 64 and just made it better; pips Galaxy 2 on similarity stakes, although the latter was more refined.
3. Mario Kart DS - For me still the best Mario Kart, although Mario Kart 7 is probably just as good; made the long bus journeys travelling to play sport with school bearable, especially racing other people wirelessly.
These are my personal favourites, having had every console since the N64 and Game Boy (Home and Handheld). Although not everyone will agree (but that in itself is a good thing both proving the plethora of great games Nintendo have produced/provided a platform for), these stay imprinted in my mind. However other very close contenders would be Mario 64, Galaxy 2, 6 Golden Coins, Pokemon Blue, Ocarina of Time (3DS) and Skyward Sword, which are all right up there too! Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is another but not sure if it counts as a "Nintendo game"!
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 4. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker ... Yes, I'm a Zelda fanboy... In fact, the only reason why I bought all the Nintendo Consoles since Nintendo 64, and not a XBOX or Playstation, is Zelda. Skyward Sword won't even be considered by me on this list because... Well, for me, that piece of s**t is not a Zelda, and even thought it was fun for the sword gameplay, it's pretension was it's demise.... LOL, "demise" xD
5. Metroid Prime Echoes Gorgeous.... I played it before playing the first "Prime", and it was the first "first person" action game that I enjoyed until the last credit!
6. Super Smash Bros ... I still remeber the first time I played it... It was EPIC! I may like Smash Bros Meelee and Brawl more, but seeing as it was a sequence of a already winning team and the first deliveredTHE innovation, I'll let it in the list.
7. Pokémon Stadium Oh, my childhood.... *O*
There are others, but I can't think of an order for them... Super Mario Bros, Mario Party, Pikmin, Starfox, Donkey Kong 64........ Nintendo delivered some great games for all I can remember, but Zelda is still on the top!
This is such a hard question for someone like me. Super Mario World holds a special place in my heart for being the first game I ever played (in the year 1999) and so does Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for being the first game I ever owned(2001). I understand the feeling of being blown away by SM64 because the DS version was the first 3D mario game I owned(2004), I had played Super Mario Sunshine first and loved that too(2003).I longed for sunshine a kid but I didn't have a gamecube . Later I was blown away by pokemon emerald, my first pokemon game, when a friend let me play it(2006) and again by Animal Crossing Wild World and Super Mario Galaxy(both 2007). I had played OOT for 10 minutes in my childhood (2000) and those 10 minutes are still very dear to me. I longed for OOT more than sunshine, I wanted my first Zelda game so badly. When I finally got OOT and started properly playing Zelda for the first time on the N64(2008), this blew me away too. Even though I had no proper nintendo consoles as a kid until the wii , It still defined my childhood and continues to do so today. Picking the best game out of all these memories over so many years, is impossible for me. To class any one of these, as not the best would be the worst thing I could possibly do to these memories of mine.
No way I can pick a concrete favorite, though I can name a lot I love. But it really depends on the kind of mood I'm in.
Balloon Fight is a pretty solid staple for me, though. I don't think there's a time I could not play that.
Also, love Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, their sequels, and some other oldies from when I first got into the whole thing. Some of it is sentimental, but most of them are just good games.
More recently, New SMB/Wii, Super Mario Galaxy/3D Land, and Twilight Princess/Skyward Sword are some favorites.
This may be beyond the point but I'm not sure what the difference between a favourite and a best of all time, other than that the former would be prone to change.
Well my favourite game is Twilight Princess, which was probably one of the first impressive Wii games along with Metroid Prime: Corruption, that I encountered and was interested in. First ever Zelda game, now one of my favourite series', though I admit that it wasn't until the following year or so when I started a new game that I went all the way through to the end. Ever since, not a day goes by when I don't think about Twilight Princess. I generally have a preference for epic fantasy, emphasis on the epic.
Heh, as a result of Corruption, some years ago, there was some kind of drama activity to do with fears, and I said mine were of Metroids and the weeping angels from doctor who XD (maybe I should regret taunting them while they were inside those containers...)
My experience of Nintendo games is rather narrow, since I had pokemon blue and no other Nintendo game between then and the release of the Wii and DS. Blue being one of my first ever video games, that occupied many a journey, but I'm not so keen on the pokemon series generally.
Mariokart Wii and Super smash bros. brawl are two which I feel can be returned to and still have good fun.
Hm, I think with super mario 64, I only got it because a friend (who has this habit of often starting games, including super mario 64, and not finishing them) recommended it, and super mario galaxy I borrowed from someone else, both undoubtably great games.
I find it amusing how, I remember some comment about someone saying that everyone's heard of Mario, when last year-ish, I met someone who has an X box 360 and a PS2, and had seemingly never heard of any Nintendo characters. Such things can change with ease...
Bought myself a Wii for my birthday last year (May 2011) and have to say up until that point my favourite game ever - never mind Nintendo game - was Super Mario 64. Sheer perfection. For fourteen years nothing came even close to beating it. Then I played Super Mario Galaxy which got damn close and Galaxy 2 which is simply the most astonishing, wonderful, amazing and (most importantly of all) fun video game ever made. From start to finish it's just a joy to play and I doubt my opinion will change until whatever the next true Mario game is whether it be something all new or a third (HD) Galaxy title. Preferably both.
Skyward Sword won't even be considered by me on this list because... Well, for me, that piece of s**t is not a Zelda, and even thought it was fun for the sword gameplay, it's pretension was it's demise
Each to their own and everything but that may be the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen in my life. And I watched Liverpool get beat by Bolton on Saturday in the away end.
Skyward Sword won't even be considered by me on this list because... Well, for me, that piece of s**t is not a Zelda, and even thought it was fun for the sword gameplay, it's pretension was it's demise
Each to their own and everything but that may be the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen in my life. And I watched Liverpool get beat by Bolton on Saturday in the away end.
Sorry for that =P But I won't change a letter of it =D If you like Skyward Sword, lucky you ;D
Oh, and I don't think your opinion "may be the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen in my life", but... well.... Each to their own and everything =P kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Sorry for that =P But I won't change a letter of it =D If you like Skyward Sword, lucky you ;D
Oh, and I don't think your opinion "may be the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen in my life", but... well.... Each to their own and everything =P kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
It's more your claim of the game's pretension being it's demise that irked me. If you'd have said you had problems with the controls, gameplay, etc I could understand. But not liking it for being pretentious (which I've not heard a single person who likes it or not say) just seems very odd. The game took a good ten hours or so to click with me but once it did I thoroughly enjoyed it. But we'll agree to disagree. Life's too short to argue. (someone on internet not wanting to argue - SHOCK)
Sorry for that =P But I won't change a letter of it =D If you like Skyward Sword, lucky you ;D
Oh, and I don't think your opinion "may be the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen in my life", but... well.... Each to their own and everything =P kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
It's more your claim of the game's pretension being it's demise that irked me. If you'd have said you had problems with the controls, gameplay, etc I could understand. But not liking it for being pretentious (which I've not heard a single person who likes it or not say) just seems very odd. The game took a good ten hours or so to click with me but once it did I thoroughly enjoyed it. But we'll agree to disagree. Life's too short to argue. (someone on internet not wanting to argue - SHOCK)
You got me wrong, but I can't blame you for it... I resumed all that I don't like in the game in one word, maybe the wrong one, maybe not, but... I won't explain again all that I've already explained once on the topic where people were stating this "peculiar piece of wonderful Zelda's history" (sarcasm? kkkk) to be the best Zelda ever.....
Let's leave at the "we'll agree to disagree" and be happy XD
1. Ocarina of Time: Skyward Sword may be better than OoT nowadays, but OoT came before SS and so it is more of a Zelda classic. 2. Pokemon Black and White: These games expanded on the already perfect system of the Pokemon games with some nice additions, and was possibly the biggest expansion of the series since Gold and Silver. 3. Super Mario Galaxy 2: Because where Super Mario Galaxy was brilliant, Galaxy 2 was perfect. Plus, it had Yoshi.
A difficult choice between Pokemon Pearl (Which I put 100s of hours into) or Twilight Princess.
If I had to choose one, it would be Twilight Princess.
It was the first Zelda game I ever completed. (Bearing in mind I am only 13 and it was my first real Zelda game.)
I remember on Christmas 2006, playing TP for the first time. Utter astonishment. I had previously played Ocarina of Time at the age of three, but I couldn't comprehend very much and Gohma frightened me.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (It's better than the original and we all know it) 2. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Level 5 developed but Nintendo published, not sure if it counts) 3. The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker (apart from that infuriating Triforce collection quest at the end!)
Note: I would have put Skyward Sword in second place (three guesses what my favourite game series is) but I don't think it's been out long enough that I can call it one of my favourites. I'm not familiar enough with it yet. Also, Nintendo should have made Okami!
Note 2: Was I the only one that didnt't really enjoy Galaxy 2 that much? Fantastic game with the unparalleled production values expected from Nintendo, but so dissapointing after the original!
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (It's better than the original and we all know it) 2. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Level 5 developed but Nintendo published, not sure if it counts) 3. The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker (apart from that infuriating Triforce collection quest at the end!)
Note: I would have put Skyward Sword in second place (three guesses what my favourite game series is) but I don't think it's been out long enough that I can call it one of my favourites. I'm not familiar enough with it yet. Also, Nintendo should have made Okami!
Skyward sword didn't have that spark to keep me hooked. Sure it's a great game, but I just don't think i has that extra special Nintendo magic that sets apart Zelda from every other game out there. Maybe it's me.
Without question, the folks at Nintendo have produced some of the greatest gaming experiences to be had, and some of their most accomplished creations have appeared within the last decade. Both GameCube and Wii have had some of these games grace their systems, the latter having only a few, but nonetheless games few can match.
I’ve been playing Nintendo games for 21 years, and I feel I've narrowed down the pinnacle of the best titles that Nintendo have ever produced. So, without further ado, I present to you five of the finest works to ever grace a Nintendo system.
Super Mario Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy is a timeless wonder. Really, ten years from now, it will still be just as epic as when you first played it, and still be a marvel to look at. I still can’t believe the game looks as good as it does. Super Mario Galaxy represents ingenious level design, compelling gameplay, and above all - fun. Galaxy 2 was amazing, but it’s part 1 that truly ushered in a new experience for Mario, and will forever be remembered as a benchmark for the series.
Resident Evil 4 - Resident Evil 4 is, in many respects, without equal, with production values that rival some of Hollywood’s best. It’s that good. Everything, from the weapon upgrade system to the pacing, down to the beautiful graphics and epic boss fights, has RE4 filled to the brim with greatness. The replay value is extremely high, and is the first game that I’ve had multiple play-throughs without ever getting bored. RE4 is one of the greatest games ever made, on any console.
Metroid Prime - Metroid Prime was crafted by an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. Seriously, it fell through some sort of time shift or portal from the distant future, and somehow landed in the hands of Nintendo developers who saw fit to ready it for mass production. At least that's what it feels like. Prime is so good that you’ll often wonder how the human mind could ever conceive such an experience, let alone a game. It’s brilliant. The game beams you from wherever it is you’re sitting into its world and doesn’t let you leave until you press pause or get your electricity shut off. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece, and needs to be played in order to be fully understood.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Fault me if you want, but I’m only 20 hours into Skyward Sword, and it’s already one of the deepest experiences that I’ve ever had playing a video game. After a few hours into the game, it became obvious just how much creativity went into crafting this piece. Truly, the artistic value is through the roof. It’s a peak in artistic design for Nintendo, rivaled by absolutely nothing, solely because it is in a class of its own - and there are no teachers. And yes, I am very much basing this off of 20 hours of personal gameplay. I’ve never seen, or played, anything like it. And I’ve barely scratched the surface. Amazing.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Before Skyward Sword, no Zelda game was more adventurous and enthralling to me than Wind Waker. No, not even your beloved Ocarina of Time. Despite some early criticism, Wind Waker’s visuals turned out to be one of the games strongest features, complimenting the stylistic gameplay and vibrant cast of characters. Pulling off an amazing sense of wonder and exploration, The Wind Waker has cemented its place in gaming history, and will for all time rank among Nintendo’s best.
And that, folks, concludes my list of the very finest that Nintendo has to offer. It is my hope that The Big N’s next console, Wii U, will enjoy continued success and critical acclaim. The new console will provide Nintendo (and friends) with an unprecedented array of new tools that will surely usher in a new era of Nintendo ‘epicness.
Wii U will RULE in 2012. And beyond!
-Donavan Tucker, or to the ONM community, GeniusTheMisfit
Skyward sword didn't have that spark to keep me hooked. Sure it's a great game, but I just don't think i has that extra special Nintendo magic that sets apart Zelda from every other game out there. Maybe it's me.
Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. I just thought that Skyward Sword was just such fun to play at it's core. I also found the whole origin story really enjoyable. Again, it doesn't have that "Aw, I remember this, it's brilliant" factor that OOT does but as the most recent Zelda I thought it was an incredible achievement. Also, the last boss battle was really well done. I know exactly what you mean though.
Skyward sword didn't have that spark to keep me hooked. Sure it's a great game, but I just don't think i has that extra special Nintendo magic that sets apart Zelda from every other game out there. Maybe it's me.
Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. I just thought that Skyward Sword was just such fun to play at it's core. I also found the whole origin story really enjoyable. Again, it doesn't have that "Aw, I remember this, it's brilliant" factor that OOT does but as the most recent Zelda I thought it was an incredible achievement. Also, the last boss battle was really well done. I know exactly what you mean though.
I probably have my expectations too high. It's nigh-on impossible to top OoT, especially considering it was achieved 14 years ago. I don't think many games can say that they have hardly aged in that time. Its even older than me but I have still managed to complete it 4 times on 4 consoles.
Well the game that got me into Nintendo was Animal Crossing Wild World. But my favourite would have to be the original Super Mario Bros. an absolute classic!
I probably have my expectations too high. It's nigh-on impossible to top OoT, especially considering it was achieved 14 years ago. I don't think many games can say that they have hardly aged in that time. Its even older than me but I have still managed to complete it 4 times on 4 consoles.
Yeah, I'm slightly older than the game (three years) but I love it all the same. Completed it countless times on my banged up N64, but when I got the 3DS version I was stunned. I had filled up my save slots with completed quests (normal and master) in a couple of months. I had forgotten how much I loved it until I saw it reinvented. Without a doubt OOT as a concept is an incredible piece of art. On a side note, people absolutely love the Mario games but (and I know there is no disputing their quality and influence) they don't have enough substance, in both plot and emotional attachment, to rank in my favourites. I know that's not the point of playing a Mario game but I can't seem to get attached to them for that reason alone. With Zelda, you feel as if your returning to a world that you can get immersed in and see through your own individual perspective but with Mario I feel very aware that I'm playing the same videogame that everyone else who bought it is. If any of that makes sense.
1. metroid prime trilogy 2. wind waker 3. metroid fusion 4. super smash bros melee 5. lylat wars
i was going to say metroid prime, but prime trilogy is realistically the best game there has ever been. everything that was perfect in one, was made absolutely astounding with the awesome controls made awesomer, and to be honest, its metroid prime, it was beautiful and tallon four is designed so well that it defies belief that this all fitted onto the most awesome data utility ever (it was a bundle of joy those gamecube discs) players choice for a good reason.
wind waker took me 7 years after it came out for me to play it. man, that was a good Ł12 i spent. the dungeons are the best that have ever been in the zelda series, and everything in it reeks of awesomeness. if a game makes you feel awesome, you love it. you feel achivement with this game in the later dungeons, and its also very long for a zelda game.
fusion - wow... how long have i lost running away from the SA-X? the scariest thing in videogaming ever, bar none. things can jump out and stab you forever, but at least you can FIGHT BACK. if you fight back in fusion, you are dead. so 'if you see it just run, don't even think about fighting' as the computer once told me. also, its got the best gameplay of any 2d game i have ever played.
melee is the obvious one, because everything just felt right, balanced, and generally a masterpiece. brawl seemed to underpower a lot of things, and make it less hardcore, and a lot of the characters felt like carbon copies. melee was just for everyone. accessible, yet masterful, and thinking that it came out very close to launch shows how well the guys did, even at the early stage of a console's life.
i allways prefer to call starfox 64 lylat wars since it makes us europeans feel more special than other places ('we got an awesome title america!' you get a title that ends in '64'! we win!') gameplay wise, it is up there with anything i have ever played. i cant say the 3d version, because unless you play on n64 mode, you make it too easy, and the voice acting has actually improved - and anyone who's ever played the original knows you shouldnt improve perfection. its short, yes, but i have play area 6 about 600 times a year, and lets just have a go at macbeth again to see if we can get the big train with the massive design flaw to crash. its awesome to play, and i believe it to be the first 'experience' videogame. you see where games like uncharted go now, lylat wars was the catylst for that, and gets its spot on the list.
Twilight princess has got to be it. Stop and think for a moment. Forget the "artistic" style of skyward sword and its fenominal motion controls. Twilight princess is the purest zelda adventure yet. The story is the most original and creative yet. Nintendo even forgot some of the best parts of the game in skyward sword! Remember the spinner? The gale boomerang? Fishing? Diffrent outfits? and even the joy of a scope on your bow! WHAT ABOUT EPONA? and that smooth transition between areas that skyward sword does not have. A true gem and nintendo's finest yet. This game proves that not only are Nintendo the greatest Dev. of all time but they can make an amazing zelda adventure that you never feel the necessarty for Tingle I have spoken.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - The whole grand scale of the game still catches my breath everytime I play the game. While I'm not to fussed on the Skyloft side of the adventure, everything underneath the clouds is amazing. The first time I fought Koloktos I wanted to restart the entire game, just to fight it again!
2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 'Nuff said.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles - Everything about this game is amazing! While some people don't like the English voice acting, I absolutely love them. Playing through the game while listening to Reyn's amazing one-liners just made the game for me. If I could only ever play one game for the rest of my life, I can safely say that this would a candidate! Nothing beats Reyn Time, baby!!!
Such a difficult question considering how many quality games are in Nintendo's back catalogue, but here we go...
3) Mario kart ds- while the 3ds version is an excellent game, the ds version is the one i go back to time and time again. Excellent tracks, great challenges and filled with loads of cool characters. It's not only kept me entertained, but my brother and sister aswell on long journeys. It's also the first game which showed us that nintendo could handle online gaming.
2) Legend of Zelda: Phantom hourglass- This is still the only game that, when i had finished it, i played again straight away. It has a wonderfully colourful cast, loads of secrets to discover and an excellent storyline. Throw in windwaker style graphics, a memorable soundtrack and an unique control scheme and you've got a game everyone can play and fall in love with. A classic title, despite that Ocean king temple!
1) Super Mario Bros. 3- okay, it may be predictable, but it's this game which not only set out a template for all future Mario games, but it also provided a benchmark of quality in platform gaming only a few have achieved since. Simple controls to learn and a challenge to master, it featured many classic powerups, including the iconic racoon leaf, now reinvented as the tanooki leaf for Mario's latest 3d adventure. A memorable soundtrack mixed with secrets to discover and bitesize levels equals a receipe for fun and perfect for handheld gaming when re-released on the GBA. Deaths never felt unfair and always has that 'one more go' factor. I love that game because not only did it help install my love of gaming, but game me, my brother and sister many happy memories.
1. Pokémon Fire Red. The first Pokémon game I have ever had and played the most. 2. Mario Kart Super Circut. The first game I ever got and still feels good to play. 3.Pokémon SoulSilver. Biggest one ever? Still has lots of replay value and was easily best game on the DS.
Oh, this is too hard! I have to pick just three?!? I could fill that with zelda games! Never mind, I'll try to make my list varied: 1-Skyward Sword: My favourite zelda game alternated between Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past. Then I played this and it has confused matters further! I may have picked this as my favourite because I have been playing it recently, but there is no denying it is phenominal. Now I am thinking I should pick A Link to the Past! Now Ocarina of Time! Lets just say that they all have fantastic gameplay, storylines, music and are overall simply magical experiences. And Skyward Sword is the best. Probably. 2- Pokemon Red/Blue: Having grown up in the 90s I was introduced into gaming by pokemon and so obviously i have fond memories of it. Nostalgia may be interfering here, but it's a great game anyway! I may not have understood EVs and had battle plans prepared, but I had great fun playing pokemon. 3- Super Mario Galaxy: I have to have a mario platformer on here, and this is my favourite. If I went with nostalgia, i would pick mario land 2, for that was my first mario game, but I cannot ignore the sheer brilliance of Galaxy. I pick it over it's sequel because it just felt more original. Because it was really. One of my best memories of the wii.
I have had to miss off Resident Evil 4, Ocarina of Time, A link to the Past, Super Mario World, Metroid Prime 3, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Bros., Professor Layton and the Curious Village and Okami. And I love praising Okami! Okami would be my number 4. I look forward to seeing the list in the magazine!
Super Mario 64 was the best game i've ever played.(It was the DS game I played but i'm guessing thats the same thing) I also like Super Mario Galaxy,Super Mario 3D Land,Fable 2 and Call of Duty World at War.
A number of things make several games my 'best' nintendo game ever! Donkey kong country and the level when it snows, the music in general in that game is amazing, playing the vc download takes me back. Mario 64 for just blowing everything out of the water at the time!!! Zelda twilight princess for the non wolf parts, it's kinda dark in tone and I just wanted to play it all the time I was at work. I guess also a shout out for streetfighter on the snes, streetfighter in my house, classic! Mario 3 when my neighbour brought it back from Japan as a kid. Nintendo will always be a part of my life and if/when I have kids they will play also. I love you nintendo
1. Mario Galaxy 2 2. Ocarina of Time 3. Donkey Kong Country 2 Honourable mentions to Smash Bros. Melee (I've probably played this more than any single other game) and Metroid Fusion (bleedin' exquisite gameplay and atmosphere, but ultimately a bit short. Massively replayable, though)
DKC2 needs more love. That game is truly awesome. I'm a little ashamed that I haven't picked up DKCR yet . Wasn't sure about the order to put those top two. Note: I'm not saying Galaxy 2 because I'm particularly young— I've been playing Nintendo since SNES days.
My best three Nintendo Games are: 1. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii) This was by far the best game ever with great controls, great story and challenging enimies compared to previous 3D Zelda titles. This game also looks great and has epic music. Though I've played this game for only a couple of months and only completed it twice, it still deserves the top spot. 2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES) This old platformer is still my favourite of all the Mario series. This game has the most power-ups in any Mario platformer, has great level design and a good difficulty curve. This games also has catchy tunes still used in the Galaxy games and 3D Land. 3. Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube) This game is a rare find and anyone who has not played it should get one. This one is the best Tales of game ever with 40 hours gameplay from just the main story, awesome graphics and one of the best stories in gaming history. If you were thrown off by the Wii's sequel, I am happy to let you know that this one is a million times better. And there you have it.
1. Ocarina of Time. Not as good as Skyward Sword, but... sentimental value 2. Skyward Sword. 3. Mario 64. Yeah, I like it more than Galaxy. Don't know why
My best three Nintendo Games are: 1. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii) This was by far the best game ever with great controls, great story and challenging enimies compared to previous 3D Zelda titles. This game also looks great and has epic music. Though I've played this game for only a couple of months and only completed it twice, it still deserves the top spot. 2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES) This old platformer is still my favourite of all the Mario series. This game has the most power-ups in any Mario platformer, has great level design and a good difficulty curve. This games also has catchy tunes still used in the Galaxy games and 3D Land. 3. Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube) This game is a rare find and anyone who has not played it should get one. This one is the best Tales of game ever with 40 hours gameplay from just the main story, awesome graphics and one of the best stories in gaming history. If you were thrown off by the Wii's sequel, I am happy to let you know that this one is a million times better. And there you have it.
Wait, can we indicate a game that wasn't made by Nintendo? If so, I'll put Tales of Symphonia second only to the Zeldas, because it was my favorite (aka. the best for me) game on GameCube after Twilight Princess and Wind Waker xD
Too Hard To Chose But The Games That Come Straight To Mind Are: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Super Mario 64 Zelda: Wind Waker Zelda: Skyward Sword Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy 2 Super Smash Bros. Melee Super Smash Bros. Brawl Lylat Wars Zelda: Twilight Princess Pokemon Soul Silver and Heart Gold Pokemon Black and White Pokemon Blue and Red Pokemon Gold and Silver Mario Kart Wii Mario Kart DS Mario Kart 7 Super Mario Kart Super Maio Land Sonic 2 Sonic 3 Sonic & Knuckles The List Is Probably Endless
This is almost impossible to do! Just 3!?! My favorite games of all time are Metroid Prime 1, 2 and 3! Since its a bit one sided, my top 3 will be made up of the top game of my three favorite series So, here goes................WOW this is hard lol!
3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 1. Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is truly in a league of its own, nothing compares to it, it's a true masterpiece!!! I don't think any game will knock it off the top of my list!
The best Nintendo games I've ever played are in the following order: 1-Professor Layton and the lost future (It had an entertaining story and had great graphics) 2- Mario and Luigi bowser's inside story 3-New super Mario bros
It's virtually impossible to choose from such a wealth of games! I'm inclined away from Super Mario 64 though, always felt it was slightly over-rated. I think The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker should be up there...Resident Evil 4, Animal Crossing Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 3D Land...the list just goes on.
I had to think long and hard for my list but here it is:
1. Chrono Trigger (SNES)- My all time favourite game; it should be voted as the best for the timeless storyline and awesome character desgins by Akira Toriyama. Not to mention 12 different endings! When I first played Chrono Trigger I thought it was jsut an ordinary RPG but I ended up playing over 7 hours on the first day! (Lucky I had no school haha!) It's pretty much the only game I play over and over aside from...
2. The World Ends With You (DS)- Okay, this one is a personal preference however, it is a very creative game that utilises the DS touch screen to it's maximum capacity! The story is very deep and gripping while the characters have their own personal charm and attitudes towards life. It's a shame that this game was fairly unknown until it's appearance in KH 3D :/
3. Legend of Zelda- Wind Waker (Gamecube)- It was actually between this and Twilight Princess. Even after Skyward Sword, Wind Waker is my favourite of the series as it was completely different from what you should normally expect and the cartoonish style is very cute while maintaining the hardcore gaming style of Zelda. It doesn't give me the same nostalgic feelings as Ocarina of Time where the memories of me, my mom and sister completed it together but I find myself replaying it from time to time as it was so enjoyable!
Other games you should consider: - Tetris (Admit it, who hasn't played this game for hours once?) - Super Smash Bros. Brawl (How can you NOT enjoy a game with all your favourite characters?) - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Timeless classic.) - Okami (Not a game I personally like but everyone else seems to enjoy it and it is pretty artistic) - Sonic Adventure (It's one of my favourite games and way better that SA2) - Luigi's Mansion (HOW was this 99 in your last list? HOW?!) - Breath of Fire 2 (Breath of Fire can win the most underrated series EVER award) - Pokemon Snap (How long do we need to continue hinting before Nintendo gets the picture?) - Ninokuni (Not released in west BUT it should still be considered. One of the most charming DS games ever) - Pokemon Platinum- (I preferred the 4th gen games a lot more than b/w there's more to do when you finish) - Super Mario Sunshine (I actually liked it a lot more than Galaxy!) - Rhythm Paradise (Played it for hours when I was in Hong Kong!) - Mario Kart 7 (so fuuuuuun!)
2: Super Mario Sunshine. Best Mario game there is. 4: Metroid: Other M. Just finished it and I think its the best in the series.
Great to see some love for Other M, it's one of my favorite games but sadly its been criticized and overlooked for ridiculous reasons! Super Mario Sunshine is also one of the best Mario games, I completely agree with you!
I'm surprised that the ONM Team are compiling their top 100 list again already-I thought they were going to do several lists for diferent members, not one big list for all of them. Last time they did that was only three years ago.
Oh well, here's mine:
1. Zelda: Majoras's Mask The game that has always been my favorite game of all time, ever since it came out. Nothing has ever topped it in my opinion, and it added that depth to the series which wasn't present before, not even in the next game on my list...
2. Zelda: Ocarina of Time I grew up with this game and Majora's Mask. Me and my freind would sit and play it for years, literally years on end. The graphics have dated a fair bit, but the rest is still as compelling and absorbing now as it was upon UK release.
3. Zelda: The Wind Waker/ Zelda: Skyward Sword I got The Wind Waker when it came out. I was about 11, and it simply took me to a world of adventure which the Zelda series was made for, and which it stands for in the first place! I didn't like Twilight Princess, so I had to wait until Skyward Sword for the next instalment in my life. Playing this game as a 19 year old man, not a child, is a very differnt feeling, but a very, very special one; Skywad Sword provided me with one of the best emotional experiences I have ever received. Astoundingly brilliant!
Other mentions include Super Mario 64, Pokemon, other Zelda's of course, Metroid Prime, Brawl, Wario Land 3, Mario Kart 64, Galaxy 2 and probably a few others.
By the way-i'm currently holding in my hands a book called the 'Nincyclopedia' which was released with this magazine back when it was known as 'NOM UK'. In it there is a 'NOM UK Staff's all-time top ten (from over ten years ago) and this is what they chose:
1. Super Mario 64 2. Goldeneye 007 3. Ocarina of Time 4. Super Mario World 5. Super Mario Kart 6. Link to the Past 7. Mario Kart 64 8. Super Metroid 9. Tetris 10. Pokemon
Sorry if I sound biased, but I think the team have better tastes in gaming now, especially considering it is a completely differnt bunch of people.
obviously there are tones/millions of different games too choose between, zelda, mario, pokemon, smash brothers, fire emblem, lylat wars, medroid, sport, action....what have you
but when it comes down to it, which game can you trully play over and over again from the begining?
With me it's on;y Zelda games and Fire Emblem games, all the rest I can't, even with pokemon I can't start again as I risk loosing all the unobtainable pokemon I've already got.
So whether you choose graphics, game play or a combination of both, just remember to have fun playing it and why you love it.
This is a tough one, and my preferences are likely to change! Off the top of my head, here's three
1. Xenoblade Chronicles - Possibly the best game I have played in the last ten years. Wonderful characters, a captivating, emotional storyline and a fun gameplay style. Oh, and the soundtrack is absolutely incredible too! I still have a long way to go in it, but I'm loving every second!
2. Golden Sun - Easily my favourite GBA game! It pushed the handheld to its limit (and beyond, I feel!) with beautiful landscapes. The battle system was smooth, fast, yet patient. Loveable characters, an incredible plot and fantastic execution!
3. Metroid Prime - As a huge fan of the Metroid series, playing Prime for the first time was pretty special. I got it pretty soon after I got my Gamecube, and it's game I still play to this day. I'll never forget entering Phendrana Drifts for the first time.
1 POKEMON EMERALD. Having played every pokemon game since yellow this was a hard choice for which one to pick but emerald was the one that had the biggest impact for me. 2 SUPER MARIO GALAXY. I hav'nt played galaxy 2 yet so i've got to with galaxy on this one. 3 LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME 3D. The original ocarina was awesome but with the same great gameplay coupled with vastly improved graphics and a better control system this took one of the best games ever and made it even better.
Donkey Kong Country - Back a while ago now, I would happily pick up my controller and chuck in any old cartridge, having a go every so often. Then this came along and I actually started to appreciate what the Super Nintendo could do and how good platforming games could be.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - This game did for the Wii what Street Fighter 2 did for the genre.
Xenoblade Chronicles - Amazing and delivers in every aspect of a game you care to think of. Near perfect RPG.
Super Mario Galaxy - Took SM64 to the next level in a very big, exciting and intricate way.
Donkey Kong Country Returns - To revisit such a breath taking title as D K C, was a task that many thought would ruin everything. This game proved the past can be visited without ruining it, and gave us some beautifully crafted new additions. The platforming was as perfect as it was in the original. An awesome achievement.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword/Ocarina of Time These two are probably some of the best videogames, period. Therefore they are joint first in the Nintendo charts. Like many fans of the series, Ocarina was always top dog until Skyward Sword slipped into my Wii and blew my mind. 2. Pokemon Black/White One of the first Nintendo series I was ever truly hooked to, it was tough to choose which generation should get a place. But all things considered, being the most modern and perfected titles to date, Black and White just took it from my old classic Crystal. 3. Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins I put so much love and time into this amazing title when it was out on Game Boy, and recently having the joy of downloading it on the 3DS e-shop made me remember just how brilliant it is. One of the greatest entries into the series.
If we're talking more generally of any game on a Nintendo system rather than just their own work, then Okami needs to be in there, though I'm not entirely sure where. It's one of the greatest games I have ever played. I even own the absolutely stunning art book, "Okami Official Complete Works". Both beautiful and endlessly fun to play, as well as some traditional Japanese influence, it will always hold a special place in my collection.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Before even playing the demo, I knew that Skyward Sword was going to be my new favourite game. It's truly a masterpiece, although not perfect. This is as close as you'll get to perfection though.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - While I got Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash with my Gamecube, it was the Zelda collector's disk that blew me away. And the game on there that I cherished the most? You guessed it! And then it just got even better when Nintendo re-released it on the 3DS!
3. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - I could have picked Wind Waker for this spot, but Brawl just beats it in my opinion.
in no particular order (because i don't "rank" my top games, i just have a bunch of best ones), my top 3 nintendo games are:
pikmin (because once i got the engine piece, i was just determined not to let olimar down...that game is SOOOOO GOOD), super smash bros melee (because of the irreplaceable childhood memories it brings, swallowing my cousin with kirby and spitting him over the edge...sigh...good times) and luigi's mansion (because once i had traded this game in, i missed it so much i immediately went back in the shop and bought it again...then completed it the same day...then downloaded the credits theme onto my ipod...then last summer i preordered the sequal. they almost refused because of how early on it was, but lucky for me the nice woman behind the desk was also a fan, so she let me...i love that green clad piece of awesome moustache (luigi, not the nice lady))
I still agree with that last time ONM did the 100 greatest nintendo games. Super Mario Bros is, and alway will be, the greatest nintendo game of all time. It difined nintendo as a company and without it neither nintendo nor platform games would be what they are today. Ask anyone what character nintendo is famous for and no doubt they will say Mario. Mario is such a huge part of nintendo's identity that it would be wrong for any other game than a Mario game to be number one. Despite this game being over 20 years old now, it is still an absolute joy to play and was completely head and shoulders above anything else that was around at the time. I would even go so far as to say that it is better than many modern games in terms of new ideas, gameplay, difficulty level and sheer addictiveness. Anyone who has never played this game honestly should give this a go and see for themselves the game that made nintendo what it is today.
just a shame that if you ask anyone under 12 the same question, they'd say COD!...this is what saddens me about the 25th anniversary of mario....it should've been so much bigger and better and made every single fan of the series get an un-nerving, yet oddly satisfying shiver down the backs of their necks...but instead we got a shoddy port of a 20 year old game and a crumby CD..........i just hope they did that to make the 30th anniversary bigger and better than ever! with actual fan pleasing stuff...stuff that'd make every single person in the world want to know who this strange character is and bring back casual gaming...i'm not good at expressing this kind of stuff, but surely, SURELY you agree with me? and there have got to be more people than just me who are fairly angry...angry at the fact that when ever i'm seen at school reading a nintendo magazine, i'm embarassed. angry at the fact when ever someone comes round my house and see my library of mario plethora, they call me "sad" and i "need to get a life". NINTENDO NEED TO BE HEARD!!!
Super Mario 64 was great, had it on the N64, and just the other day got it again for my DS, has a fantastic soundtrack, a wide variety of levels and difficulties, extra stars and characters on the DS version + mini games, a true masterpiece.
No.1 for me is Super Mario Kart on the snes, the original and the best of the mario kart games buy a mile. giving a no.2 is so hard there are lots that i love so much like super mario world(snes), mario 64, donkey kong country 1 and 2, mario bros 1 and 3, mario kart on the wii and not forgetting wii sports just for the intense golfing competition against the father inlaw, brilliant.
Too many great games to choose from but here we go: 1. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (First 3D Zelda game I ever played) 2. Super Mario 64 (like the OP said, it just blew me away for a 3D game for that time!) 3. The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Fantastic colour and adventure sword play, next one needs to be more TP, OOT though) 4. Megaman 2.(Would love to see a modern 3D adventure!!! Megaman 1, 3 and 9 also great) 5. Super Mario World. (I was originally going to say Super Mario Bros 3, but World just pips it for the snes)
This is just 5 and I've been gaming since the Sony MSX, so there are plenty to choose from, The Zelda games I've played are fantastic, Mario will always have a special place in my heart as it is one of my earliest platform memories (It's ok circus charly, I still love you too ) As for the Megaman series, If you haven't played Megaman, you don't know what you are missing, retro at it's best!!!
I want to use my votes for evil... I-I mean to support games that don't get much recognition. So that means no Marios, no Zeldas and no Smash Bros - as much as I love them we already know they will dominate the top 10. So here's my Top 3 underrated Nintendo games.
3) Street Gangs (Nintendo Entertainment System) - For me Street Gangs (better known as River City Ransom) is single best game on the NES. The basic presentation hides a more sophisticated Stat Boosting system which works surprisingly well with a side-scrolling beat-'em-up. It's also really simple to get into and has a wonderful sense of humour.
2) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS) - Is the success of the Ace Attorney series really that surprising? Yes it's a game about a lawyer set in a courtroom - yet it features a huge cast of funny and memorable characters (on and off the witness stand), well executed scenarios and cases and a soundtrack that totally gets you pumped when you've managed to spot the contradictions. It also encourages reading. Lots and lots of reading. I picked the first game as it features the best recurring characters, Miles Edgeworth is an awesome rival and the cases are classics, especially the DS special "Rise from the Ases".
1) Tales of Symphonia (Nintendo Gamecube) - Ah. My beloved Tales of Symphonia. This game is the benchmark with which I judge all RPGs. Since they can be so heavy on stats and strategy, RPGs can get a little dull in places. Symphonia remedies this with a fast-paced battle system that is fun, quick to grasp and intuitive to anyone whose played Smash Bros. This leaves you more time to master the many other features of the game including weapon upgrading and the EX-skill system. The game also has a truely epic story which sees your party travelling across two conflicting worlds in 80 hours of deciet, revelations and ass-kicking. Speaking of the party, this 8-man team is my favourite of any RPG. The characters, designed by the legendary Koisuke Fujishima, are all well-rounded, each having their own developing personalities and indivual stories which remain relevant to the larger plot. Discovering more about the cast adds to the replay value as the choices you make as Lloyd (the lead protagonist) effect the rest of the characters, and the ones that like you the most have a bigger role towards the end. For me, a truely great game is one that afer you've completed it you look back on it and think "I want to play that again." I've played through it four times now.
) which introduced me to a series and genre that was deep and addictive and full of brilliant charm. It was the game that made me want to play more and led to me finding a new passion for gaming.
. Later I was blown away by pokemon emerald, my first pokemon game, when a friend let me play it(2006) and again by Animal Crossing Wild World and Super Mario Galaxy(both 2007). I had played OOT for 10 minutes in my childhood (2000) and those 10 minutes are still very dear to me. I longed for OOT more than sunshine, I wanted my first Zelda game so badly. When I finally got OOT and started properly playing Zelda for the first time on the N64(2008), this blew me away too. Even though I had no proper nintendo consoles as a kid until the wii 
, It still defined my childhood and continues to do so today. Picking the best game out of all these memories over so many years, is impossible for me. To class any one of these, as not the best would be the worst thing I could possibly do to these memories of mine.
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. Wasn't sure about the order to put those top two. Note: I'm not saying Galaxy 2 because I'm particularly young— I've been playing Nintendo since SNES days.
Super Mario Sunshine is also one of the best Mario games, I completely agree with you! 
