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J's Top Video Games: 10-6
By J - 04.03.03
10. Final Fantasy IX
2000 - Sony Playstation
 I know I'm in the minority when I say that this is the best Final Fantasy game. I mean, there are the hardcore followers of Final Fantasy VII, a game that introduced legions of people into the RPG fan base. They are followed by the devotees of Final Fantasy VI, who will fight to the death to defend the honor of 2D gaming. And then there's those who may give props to Final Fantasy straight up, giving credit to the game that started the series off. Or even the fans of Final Fantasy X, who were wooed by the next-gen era graphics. Well, all of these people are wrong (sorry to break it to you). Final Fantasy IX is the best installment of the series because it takes what worked from newer expansions in the series, and merges that with the core game play of the FFI - FFIV era games, to create a game with a clever and light hearted storyline, excellent graphics, fun (and not tedious!) sidequests, and an engaging battle system.
The biggest throwback to the earlier FF installments in this game is the more strictly designed characters. In this game, it is not just each characters limit break that sets them apart from one another. Instead, characters have roles - black mage, white mage, powerful fighter, fast fighter, summoner, blue mage, thief, and the shitty character. Players of Final Fantasy IX had to use more strategy in planning a team (back to four members instead of just three), carefully creating a balance between defense and offense, magic and physical attacks, and distance attacks and melee attacks. Unlike in Final Fantasy VII and VIII, special abilities are inherently learned, and cannot be switched from character to character. Knowing who learns what and at what time they learn it is critical to success in the game.
 Final Fantasy IX also does some cool little things that, while not contributing really to how the game is played, make the overall game more enjoyable. For example, save points are no longer random spinning unidentifiable thingies. In this game, they are moogles who record your progress in a big ass book. You can choose to act as a mail courier for the moogles who live in the world of the game. By doing so, you'll get added depth as to how "commoners" feel about the events transpiring during the game, as well as insight into the lives of the cute and loveable moogles (I do love me some moogle). FFIX brings back chocobos in a big way (since us unfortunate fans in the US didn't get that little Virtual Pet chocobo adapter thing for FFVIII). On the world map they're used as transportation (much as in FFVII), but raising them involves a ridiculously addicting hot/cold type mini game (which leads to big time treasure).
The story to FFIX is one of the strongest points. It's the most feel-good (compared to the horribly depressing stories of most RPGs) stories of the entire series. Aspects of Zidane's (the main character's) past are paralleled in the pasts of the other eight characters. It is through them you find out where he comes from, and why the hell he has a tail.
Oh, and at the end, the hero gets the princess. I mean, really, what more could you ask for?
9. Super Mario World
1991 - Super Nintendo (2002 - Game Boy Advance)
The thing I respect the most about the Super Mario series is that in each successive game a great deal of effort is put into making the game different from its predecessor. Unlike other series that rehash an old formula (*cough cough Sonic cough*), each Mario game stays true to its roots, while adding tons of new stuff. Super Mario World is more than just a good game - it's the best 2d platformer ever, the best launch game ever, and some of the best replay value ever.
Super Mario World borrows from and improves upon the formula that begun in Super Mario Bros. 3. This world map, however, encourages backtracking and houses tons and tons of secret levels. The Special World (found on star road) brings nightmares back to anyone who has dared to tackle this game. You are also no longer alone in your quest to restore order to the mushroom kingdom - Yoshi enters the series for the first time as Mario's faithful companion. Yoshi added a brand new aspect the Mario formula, giving you new ways to battle enemies, fly, or reach new areas.
As all console wars have shown us, the winner is always determined by the strength of the software that backs it up. The Super Nintendo had the benefit of debuting with this title, which greatly contributed to its overwhelming sales. The staying power of this game was proven in 2002 when Nintendo, faced with a relatively weak lineup in GBA titles, re-released the classic to (successfully!) boost sales. Super Mario World has genuine appeal to all gamers, and it's cheerful feel and simplistic yet engaging game play make it accessible to any gamer. There aren't many games who can boast that.
Oh, and blue Yoshi is by far the coolest of the Yoshis. I mean, he can fly, and he's blue. I wish I had one here like right now.
8. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
2002 - Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft X-Box
 I was a long time nay-sayer of the Tony Hawk series for a good long time. I didn't really have any interest in either skateboarding or sports games. Little did I realize that Tony Hawk games really aren't sports games as all, but extreme sports games, where the focus is not on head to head competition, but instead on point driven challenges. They games are wonderfully addicting, and provide both some of the best single player and multiplayer fun on the next generation consoles. Each game truly improves greatly upon the previous installment, so it should be no surprise that it is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 chosen to represent the series on this list. With great graphics, an amazing frame rate, smooth controls, and a ridiculous amount of challenges, it is without a doubt the best in the series.
Here's the premise - you're a skateboarder, hopelessly destined to skateboard all around the world for all eternity. The only way you can escape your fate is by completing random and pointless tasks that other skateboarders and random people want you to do. This could be anything from making a badass combo to scaring away some birds. Ok, so maybe that's not exactly why you're skateboarding around. But this game is hardly about plot - it's all about fun, and never takes itself too too seriously.
 The game's focus is on combos. The longer the combo, the more points you're gonna get. A great player will be able to last two minutes on only two or three combos. Simple tricks such as the manual and the revert are used to combine more complex (and higher value) grinds, jump tricks, and flatland tricks. The point system is implemented in numerous multiplayer modes. In time trial, you strive to get the most points in two minutes. In graffiti, you try to get the highest number of points on the most number of unique trick spots. In horse, you try to get higher combos than your opponent. There are other modes too, but these are the most memorable.
I don't have much more to say about this game - chances are with the money being made on the franchise you probably own one or more installments of it. If you haven't yet boughtTony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, go out and do it now - you won't regret it.
Oh, and Rio totally sucks my nuts.
7. Pokémon Red/Blue
1998 (in the US) - Nintendo Game Boy
Don't laugh at me for having this game on my list - this is one badass game. It's such a unique RPG, and without a doubt the best RPG on the Game Boy. Whoever thought of the idea of mixing cute and cuddly animals and fighting was a genius. The proof is in the profits - these games made (and are still making) so much money all over the world it's not even funny. No other game can be played on so many different levels - it caters both to little kids first jumping into the world of gaming and the most seasoned hardcore gamer alike. Goddamn this game is good.
In Pokémon, you play the role of a "pokémon trainer," a child who has abandoned an education to go off an make his little pets fight against random people, with ambitions of being the greatest pokémon trainer in the land. You must fight through (in a pretty linear fashion) eight pokémon gyms - each housing a seasoned and famous trainer. If you beat them, you get one of their badges as a symbol of you pounding them into the ground. If you get all of the badges, you gain the right to challenge the elite four - the toughest trainers in all the land. Along the way, your rival (another guy the same age as you) will continuously challenge you and be a big asshole in a number of ways. Defeating him gets you some significant money and pride. Unlike in other RPGs, no characters (aside from one) will automatically join your party. The most common way of making your party grow is by catching wild pokémon, by weakening them in battle and then trapping them in a pokéball (PETA be damned). You can also complete sidequests for more pokémon, or trade them with your friends (through a link cable). You can travel with up to six different pokémon at a time, although you can only send out one of them at a time (all the battles are one on one battles).
 
While the game overall really isn't that difficult, there is a lot of thought that goes behind making a well balanced team. There are 15 different types (fire, water, ground, flying, etc…) of pokémon, and each type does double damage against some types, while only being able to do half normal damage against other types (in a rock-paper-scissors type fashion). To really do well, you need to find a team that can do well against all types, and be strong enough to be able to survive whatever the opponent can dish out. This amount of thought needed to make a good team makes it fun for experienced players and little kids alike. The appeal of all the different characters and the logic behind the battle system also makes it very easy for anyone to pick up.
You've probably heard the slogan "Gotta Catch 'em All!" in connection with this game at some point. If you don't know much about the game, you may be wondering how pokémon red and pokémon blue could take up one spot on the list. Well in reality, these are not really different games - they were released on the same day, and are identical in almost every respect. The only real difference is that there are about ten or so pokémon unique to each version of the game. To get all 150 characters, you'll need to team up with someone else (or just buy both versions of the game, like me :). This is one of the central strengths of the game - there are tons and tons of sidequests that are fun as hell, but not essential to completing the game. You can play at your own pace, and get as immersed in the cheerful world of pokémon as you want. This game is crazy addictive and fun. You may not be satisfied playing through it a single time.
Oh, and Blue is way better than Red. Like 1000 times better.
6. Grand Theft Auto 3
2001 - Sony Playstation 2 (later on PC)
 I'm not going to talk about the actual gameplay of this game - it's gotten so much attention from both the gaming media and the news media, and if you've even ever seen a PS2 chances are you've played it. Instead I'm going to talk about why this game has a lot of value, why criticism of the game is completely unfounded, and in doing so, will explain why it deserves such a high spot on my list.
I think a lot of criticism this game got has a lot to do with the culture of America. The generation in power is always looking for some way to criticize the apparent roudyness of youth culture, and they like to do so by criticizing some aspect of culture that middle-aged America doesn't like. The perfect example of this would be rock music back in the fifties and sixties. Now this music took a lot of crap for promoting sex and drugs. But that just makes no sense - don't even tell me people in the 30s and 40s weren't going at it like rabbits, or enjoying the newly lifted prohibition. Come the eighties, the new generation couldn't criticize rock any more, even though the sex and drug references were much more explicit. The problem was, they liked rock music, so a new target needed to be found. Enter into the scene rap music - sweet, finally something to criticize again. See how the cycle continues?
Violence is yet another thing the older generation fears impacting the current generation. Critics may vaguely say that movies and tv will make your brain rot, but they'll never point to any specifics. The reason being - they like shows like The Sopranos, and movies like Saving Private Ryan. These can get away with violence because they are "artistic." So why then does GTA3 get such a bad rap? Sure it's violent, sure it's all about mob warfare and stuff, but so is The Godfather and Goodfellas. Now clearly this game is not for kids - there's blood, hookers, and guns and other things that's probably not good for a child. I'm certainly not saying anyone who likes games should play this. But if you think your child is old enough to watch violent movies and tv shows, I think it's rather hypocritical to stop them from playing this game, just because you don't feel guilty badmouthing videogames.
No matter how you feel about the violence, you have to respect the freedom granted in Grand Theft Auto 3. No other game lets you interact with the environment in such a big way, and it really allows  you to do whatever you want. I think (for people responsible enough to handle it), it's really a cool way to experience the life of a mobster - guns and hookers and all. You can create your own elaborate police chases, or see just how many cars you can pile up. Clearly these are not cool things to do in real life, but I think it's acceptable to fantasize through a game; Better in a game than in the real world.
I hope that write-up made you think a little bit. Hopefully you can pass on some of these ideas to the remaining GTA3 naysayers.
Oh, and the main character has no name. He's just GTA3 guy. That's badass to the mizax.
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