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HG101 Presents The 200 Best Video Games of All Time (Available Now!)
- Thread starter SmiteOfHand
- Start date
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Did this ever happen? It doesn't seem to be on the site still.
cj_iwakura
Member
It's in the final drafting stages, so yes. I'm currently proofreading it.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Just like that reader-voted Top 200 VGM thing from a few years back, the salt floweth strong and deep on the shores of this list.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Sorry! Looking to get this finalized by the end of the week. Editing is taking longer than expected because of the text volume. It's 216 pages, so compared to the Konami Shooters book (152) it's only about 40% larger...but the word count is almost double.
The site ended up focusing more on Japanese games since that's what I was really into when I started it, which ended up creating a feedback loop (readers looking for more Japanese coverage, contributors supplying more of them, etc.) but I've always wanted to amp up more Western games too. For the book I made a conscious effort to include a wide selection of titles between Japan and the US/EU - it's like a 55/45 split between them.
The site ended up focusing more on Japanese games since that's what I was really into when I started it, which ended up creating a feedback loop (readers looking for more Japanese coverage, contributors supplying more of them, etc.) but I've always wanted to amp up more Western games too. For the book I made a conscious effort to include a wide selection of titles between Japan and the US/EU - it's like a 55/45 split between them.
sixteen-bit
Member
^Are you Kurt Kalata? I was alaways curious, how is possible to like Sparkster more than the original RKA?
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Good question! Last time I played both of them I kinda ended up liking RKA more? I think I wrote that original article like 8+ years ago, my opinions on things tend to change over time.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Right!?
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Both (official artwork that is). This blog entry is from several months ago but it shows how the pages are laid out. It's pretty uniform throughout.
http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2015/05/hg101-state-of-union-june-2015.html
Don't tell me you're a Dual Strike fan because just UGH
Also getting offtrack, there's a solid argument to be made of RKA vs. Sparkster. RKA is like a Sonic game stuck inside of Contra game. The level designs aren't always acclimated towards the character's abilities so there's lots of times where you use your super boost power and get killed. Alternatively, it's brilliant for boss battles and in the specific cases where you need to use the jet bursts.
Sparkster's levels are much more open and better tuned towards jet bursting, so it's more consistent in its design. Conversely, it doesn't really have the setpieces that make RKA stand out so much. I also think the griminess of RKA's graphics and soundtrack are more appropriate towards the universe, but the SNES version is still plenty attractive.
Ah, thanks. That looks fantastic! I think I prefer the two-page entries over the single page entries just a tad bit (I especially like the box art covers for both Japan and NA), but beggars can't be choosers.
My favourite is the original AW since it's the most fair and balanced, and has a top notch single-player campaign with different routes. I see you've also chosen Elite Beat Agents over Ouendan 1 and 2, but I can't fault you for that given the audience.
I can't see a link to buy the paper version, so I'll just wait until you're finished editing.
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
All of the entries are a single page, couldn't find a way to squeeze both covers or fit as much. Some territories artwork better fit into the layouts given the assets available - I wanted to use the SFC cover for Dragon Quest V as a header but couldn't find a good version that fit, so I had to do with the DS version.
For Days of Ruin, I like the way they implemented the CO powers (a lot like Langrisser), and even though the story isn't great I think the darker tone is more appropriate than the cartoonishness of the earlier games. Still, the write-ups tend to give an overview of the series and makes it clear that most of them are pretty good, we just had a preference for a single one. Like, Ouenden 1/2/EBA are all basically the same game, I just picked EBA because of the way it recontextualizes American pop music, something which ends up lost from the Japanese versions unless you're a huge J-Pop fan.
For Days of Ruin, I like the way they implemented the CO powers (a lot like Langrisser), and even though the story isn't great I think the darker tone is more appropriate than the cartoonishness of the earlier games. Still, the write-ups tend to give an overview of the series and makes it clear that most of them are pretty good, we just had a preference for a single one. Like, Ouenden 1/2/EBA are all basically the same game, I just picked EBA because of the way it recontextualizes American pop music, something which ends up lost from the Japanese versions unless you're a huge J-Pop fan.
Available Now!
I've already purchased it off Amazon and I should have it by the end of the week. The link contains the full list of games featured, but I'm trying not to read it until I have the book in my hands, so the lineup can be a surprise.
I've already purchased it off Amazon and I should have it by the end of the week. The link contains the full list of games featured, but I'm trying not to read it until I have the book in my hands, so the lineup can be a surprise.
SmiteOfHand
Member
Cool. Got a physical copy on lock down.
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
It's part of the layout. It was based on the color scheme from the mid-90s PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World reviews.
I'd like to. It takes a little while for Amazon to "combine" entries (the color, B&W, and Kindle options should be available on the same page). I'll see if it's possible, right now the Kindle version is only connected to the color book.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
If we want to discuss the book should we do it here, in a new thread or what? How much can we talk without spoiling?
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
I don't have any problem with discussing it here, unless someone else wants to make a new thread.
SmiteOfHand
Member
Title change is probably all that is needed. Maybe a mod will do us the honor of changing it from 'coming November' to available now.
NoFaceNico
Member
I'm typically the biggest fan of HG101 books but I'm going to sit this one out.
I like their work when they're covering obscure games that deserve more attention, even if they're not very good, or meticulously documenting an entire series.
If they're doing a top 200 list then I'm sure it's going to cover a lot of mainstream games you can find anywhere else.
I like their work when they're covering obscure games that deserve more attention, even if they're not very good, or meticulously documenting an entire series.
If they're doing a top 200 list then I'm sure it's going to cover a lot of mainstream games you can find anywhere else.
SmiteOfHand
Member
Just remembered I have some travel that this won't arrive in time for so I grabbed the digital version as well (double dip welcome, HG101)
Just skimmed through very quickly, will read more in depth when I have time, a few quick thoughts..
Just skimmed through very quickly, will read more in depth when I have time, a few quick thoughts..
- Yes, a lot of popular titles are represented, but way more of a mixture than your typical list.
- Some Interactive Fiction love, respect!
- Personally I would have barred anything from 2015, but no big deal.
- Happy to see that things like a fan translation doesn't rule a game out
orthodoxy1095
Banned
It's your thread so can you PM one and put the list in your OP?
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Here's the games covered:
One of the best Top Games lists I've ever seen (with the criteria being I like a lot of the games on the list).
One of the best Top Games lists I've ever seen (with the criteria being I like a lot of the games on the list).
RespectThySole
Member
Pretty good list. Missing the original Bayonetta though.
XAMOEL_ART
Banned
Some good choices...others, not so much...
ebullientprism
Member
These lists are kind of pointless. Worse they make for some of the worst discussion on any forum. Every other post is "X is too high/low" and "No X? List fail.".
PHEW, thanks for the list, now I can save myself the trouble of buying the book to find out what they chose!
I'll wait until a price drop on the color version & when I have a bit more funds. Not to mention I have other game-related books I still need to read, but neat to hear this is finally out. I'll still buy it eventually since all the books have been great reads & it's nice having certain franchises and such in one, up-to-date compilation. Plus I want to show support for more books happening.
I'll wait until a price drop on the color version & when I have a bit more funds. Not to mention I have other game-related books I still need to read, but neat to hear this is finally out. I'll still buy it eventually since all the books have been great reads & it's nice having certain franchises and such in one, up-to-date compilation. Plus I want to show support for more books happening.
It's for that exact reason as to why this book doesn't have any ranking order and they also have games that are similar to their picks so there's still "honorable mentions" for the most part.
This list is unranked, so your first example actually doesn't apply.
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Originally this was the case (we started back in January 2015). The two 2015 titles (Bloodborne and The Witcher III) were originally planned for Dark Souls and The Witcher II, but when it came to write the pieces, the authors decided the newer games were better. Any of the other 2015 games (Axiom Verge, Undertale, and a few 2014 ones like Alien Isolation and Divinity Original Sin) ended up in the runners-up section at the end.
SmiteOfHand
Member
Probably worth pointing out that is nowhere near the full list. Especially if you consider the runner ups. edit: oh I guess it is. I must have miss typed searching for a couple titles, but definitely 200 games listed. My bad. Still, runner ups are worth mentioning.
Also, it looks like a single game is chosen to represent a series with exceptions for what defines the series (Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter III being separate 'series' in that regard)
So Ocarina of Time is being represented with Majora's Mask. You may love or hate that decision, of course, but between the two the editors decided it was the best representation of that style of 3D zelda game.
Also, it looks like a single game is chosen to represent a series with exceptions for what defines the series (Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter III being separate 'series' in that regard)
So Ocarina of Time is being represented with Majora's Mask. You may love or hate that decision, of course, but between the two the editors decided it was the best representation of that style of 3D zelda game.
Yeah, I did the same thing. I can understand not liking the game but what on earth prompts one to not even include it in a top 200 where "historically significant" games are also included.
Edit: I misread the site, still it seems like a gap intentionally done to drive controversey.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
They included Majora's Mask and they have an "honorable mentions / like this" sections. They mentioned that they're trying to avoid games that are too similar to each other and must have felt that they could only afford to pick one of Majora & OoT. For example, they mentioned that even though SMB3 & SMW are both amazing games, they're close enough to each other that they only picked one of them.
ebullientprism
Member
I am talking about list threads in general. There isnt really much discussion to be had in them. Either omission/presence or ranking.
/shrug
Acquiescence
Member
Kudos for having Broken Sword in there. That game needs to be recognised more often as the seminal genre classic it is.
Terareflection
Member
I know that Bloodborne is on there, but no Dark Souls?
Magic Mushroom
Member
Pointless without context. There was a lot of criticism about the Edge list, but it was beautifully written.
Looking forward to reading this.
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Doh! Does that mean if I increase it by a cent, it'll become eligible?
(Though sometimes Amazon does discount them down the road anyway so it would end up making it ineligible regardless.)
Tizoc
Member
Correct.
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i am a butthurt babby that can only drool in wonder at shiney objects
Done! It might take a few hours to flow through the system but check it out in a bit.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Only notable thing that jumped out to me. I'm always iffy on this. On the one hand, it's always a matter of opinion so any inclusion can be justified, but on the other hand, I feel like it's hard to really get a handle on a game until a decent time after its release.
But...
eh, this response satisfies me enough. I think that's fair.
I like this approach as well. I think it makes thinking about even my own favorite games hard. I could sit here and sing the lauds of the entire Persona or GTA or Pokemon series, but it's an interesting thought process to just narrow it down to one.
Then why are you here? To tell us our discussion is pointless?
Great contribution m8.
Version 3.0
Member
So include Ocarina and not Majora's Mask, then. Which is better is subjective (I would say Ocarina), but which is historically significant is not, and Ocarina is one of the most historically significant games in existence.
By the way, they also snubbed Link to the Past. I suppose that's in favor of Link's Awakening. That's just trolling.
I suppose every major series could have a separate argument about which entry they picked, though. Like Sonic CD, Street Fighter, RE4 but no other RE games, Doom but not Doom II, no Dark Souls in favor of Bloodborne, which FF they picked, etc.
Speaking of FF: I'm not a Final Fantasy fan, but are V and VI different enough to both make the list?
Magic Mushroom
Member
Everybody knows Majora is the best Zelda.