80. Mega Man X2
(SNES, 1994)
Definitely the easiest game in the Mega Man X series, but one of my favorites. Most of the bosses seemed kind of lame especially when compared to the ones in the original Mega Man X (a sponge, a crab, and a snail...really?) but the game is overall one of my absolute favorite Mega Man games, not just in the X series. The level I found to be top-notch, the music was every bit as fantastic as MMX, and sure some of the bosses were weird, but when it comes down to it, the game is just fantastic. It's a classic Mega Man X game through and through and absolutely should not be missed especially if you enjoyed Mega Man X. Who cares if it's easy?
79. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
(Wii U, 2014)
Just like Donkey Kong Country Returns revitalized the iconic series, Tropical Freeze took what was established in that entry and made it all bigger and better. No it didn't revolutionize the series but who cares? The game is fantastic. If you know me, you know I will never complain about a new Donkey Kong Country. Everything in this game was literally better than Returns, and best of all: no motion controls! The level design was fantastic, if challenging. Water levels were even brought back (which were surprisingly absent in Returns) with the best water-based controls in the series. Sadly, the only animal buddy who came back was Rambi, just like in Returns, but this time we also got Cranky Kong and Dixie Kong as partners for Donkey Kong. Each one adds their own ability - double jumps, extra long jumps, or extra high jumps. Also of note is an amazing soundtrack, which is completely done by legend David Wise. While Returns' soundtrack was very good, it was mostly just comprised of remixed tracks from the original Donkey Kong Country. The music in Tropical Freeze is all new, with very few remixed tracks thrown in. If nothing else, he proves he's still got it as a composer. The music is one of my favorite things from the original DKC trilogy and it made me happy to know the new soundtrack was fantastic. Everything else in Tropical Freeze is largely the same as it was in Returns, since they're both made by Retro Studios, so while this game doesn't really do much to expand the series, nor is it quite as perfect as the original trilogy, it's still a very excellent game and one of the best games on the Wii U. Now here's hoping for a third DKC game by Retro.
78. ICO
(PS2, 2001)
Since I played Shadow of the Colossus first, I was shocked at just how much fun I had when I played this game for the first time last year. Absolutely mind-boggling. It might have been exactly the game I needed at the moment I played it. It reminded me a lot of a 3D Limbo, with elements from Shadow of the Colossus. Sure this game was before both of those, but the fact that I played this one the most recently goes to prove just how well it's held up. Some mechanics are a little frustrating (like the girl's stupid AI), which keeps it from being any higher on the list, but overall the game is a great platformer / puzzler with beautiful scenery and great atmosphere. Ever since I played Shadow of the Colossus in 2006 I've really come to appreciate the ambience in games and this game has some of the best in all of gaming. It really sets a great mood, like you're lost in this empty world, and your only ally is a wooden stick and your mind. I think my only regret is not playing this sooner. Truly a classic, and a game I am actually looking forward to revisiting in the future.
77. Golden Sun
(GBA, 2001)
One of my first games on the Game Boy Advance, this game was the first great original RPG on the system. If nothing else, this game proved that handheld RPGs were every bit as fantastic as console RPGs. It showed a Super Nintendo level of graphics, sound, and story. It's easily one of the most memorable games on the system as well. It also spawned two sequels, one which is just almost as great but failed to make the Top 100, and one on the DS that didn't live up to the first two but is still a decent game. Golden Sun doesn't do much new in comparison to RPGs that were already established but it does have a few unique mechanics, most notably the Psynergy system which works like magic in other RPGs but a lot of it is used on the map to solve puzzles. When it boils down to it, it's only part 1 of 2, since the second game, The Lost Age, picks up exactly where this left off, but even on its own the original Golden Sun is absolutely worth playing and definitely impressed on many fronts when it came out.
76. 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
(DS, 2009)
Quite possibly the most unique game on the list, 999 is more of an interactive novel than an actual game. The story is absolutely amazing and its brilliance cannot be explained as it just needs to be experienced. I was really sucked into the story for all 9 hours of the game, and throughout the story you make certain choices and solve puzzles, and your decisions decide the outcome of the story (who lives, who dies, etc). There are 6 different endings, some are lame, some are great, but there is only one "true" ending, and thus if you want to get the most out of the game, you must play it multiple times. I only played through twice but neither one was the true ending, so I plan on replaying it again at some point. But even with the false endings at the end, the game is simply fantastic. I didn't even think a game like this could appeal to me, but after playing it, I want more. There is a lot of text to read, so if you hate reading, this game is not for you. Like I said - it's more of an interactive novel than anything. You only solve maybe 4 or 5 puzzles in each playthrough and only make 4 or 5 decisions, but the story is the focus here and this game supplies one of the best, more chilling, and more memorable stories in any game I've ever played. There is also a sequel on the 3DS called Virtue's Last Reward, which I read is equally as great but I have yet to play it.
75. Donkey Kong 64
(N64, 1999)
Nintendo 64 may not have had many RPGs but it was king when it came to 3D platformers. Rareware was a powerhouse developer during the Nintendo 64 era and is often looked at as the best time in gaming history for 3D platformers. Donkey Kong 64 wasn't the best of those 3D platformers, and it threw a lot of what Donkey Kong Country established out the window, but it was still a very great game. It went a little too "collecting happy" since there were 5 golden bananas and 100 regular bananas per level, per Kong. So 25 gold and 500 regular bananas per level. It got a little annoying after a while, but the level designs were fantastic, the music was great, the characters all played differently and added variety, and the platforming was just as good as you'd expect coming from Rare. If collecting everything didn't get so tedious after a while, this could've been much higher on this list.
74. Breath of Fire II
(SNES, 1995)
1995 was a truly magical year for the Super Nintendo, and quite possibly my favorite year in all of gaming. Breath of Fire II only further iterates that. One of my favorite RPG series that's sadly defunct nowadays, Breath of Fire II tells the tale of a boy who can transform into a dragon. It's a traditional RPG through and through, but one that begs to be played. I played Breath of Fire III before this one, and while they are not direct sequels, they have a lot in common, and even after playing the third game first, this game still kind of blew me away. The graphics were great for the SNES, the characters were all varied and fun to have in your party, the music is great, and the story is pretty solid and memorable. I played this one for the first time in the early 2000s on an emulator and just like many other SNES RPGs, this game just continued to prove how fantastic the console was.
73. Super Mario 3D World
(Wii U, 2013)
Mario games have a certain appeal. They're always fun to play, mostly everyone who plays them will like them, they're never too difficult, never too easy. Never over too quick, and never too long. They're such a great go-to games that they never fail to please. Even the worst games in the series are still very much fun. Super Mario 3D World didn't do much to innovate, especially after the very similar Super Mario 3D Land on 3DS, but it's a fun time the entire way through. Visuals are very crisp and a Mario game in HD looks even better than you'd expect, the music features some reused tunes but also a lot of new tracks, and the gameplay features the ability to play with 3 others simultaneously. 3D World, just like 3D Land before it, plays similarly to a blend of Super Mario World and Super Mario 64. The levels have end goals, but the levels are in 3D and the controls are very tight and just as great if not better than those in Super Mario 64. The level design is mostly great and there are even bonus levels starring Toad, which were good enough that it spawned its own game in Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker. Overall Super 3D World, like 3D Land on 3DS, is the best Mario game in a very long time and should not be missed if you own a Wii U.
72. Donkey Kong
(GB, 1994)
I'm not sure if this game was intended to be a direct sequel or just an expansion to the original arcade classic, Donkey Kong, but either way it was a surprise hit and one of the absolute best games on the original black and white Game Boy. Just like Mario vs Donkey Kong built off of this game, this game builds off the original arcade game, only it's about 10 times better. The gameplay is mostly the same as the arcade classic, but adds just enough new things to make it its own game. It's also about 50 times longer. It's almost a sure bet if you liked either the original Donkey Kong or Mario vs Donkey Kong on GBA you will absolutely enjoy this one. It plays almost like a puzzle game and a platformer, though it's still more of the latter. A game that's surely not to be missed.
71. Super Smash Bros. Melee
(GCN, 2001)
When the original Super Smash Bros. came out for Nintendo 64 in 1999, no one could predict the impact it would have on gaming. When Melee came out, it was better in literally every single way, and my all time favorite fighting game. The gameplay was simply perfect, and was quite possibly the essential multiplayer game. My friends and I played this almost to a hardcore level all throughout our college years, and I even became quite good at the game. I even participated in a tournament at a convention using Jigglypuff, though I only got to round 2, where I got destroyed fairly easily. The controls in the game were so spot-on, though, that any error that was made was made by you, not the game. Sure the series has expanded a lot more since then, Super Smash Bros Melee holds a special place in my heart for the being the game in the series I played the most by far. Unfortunately I'd find it hard to play this game for hours and hours on end by myself, it would still be a fantastic time if I got to play with other avid Smash Bros players.
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