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Japan's Top 100 Games

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the they-sure-do-like-them dept.

Next Generation has a piece with the Top 100 Games of All Time, as voted by the nation of Japan. From the article: "1. Final Fantasy X (2001) 2. Final Fantasy VII (1997) 3. Dragon Quest III (1988) 4. Dragon Quest VIII (2004) 5. Machi (1998) 6. Final Fantasy IV (1991) 7. Tactics Ogre (1995) 8. Final Fantasy III (1990) 9. Dragon Quest VII (2000) 10. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)"

3 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Yet another example of east-west differences by NetDanzr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This list is yet another good example of east-west differences in gaming. If you look at the list, the biggest group are games that are heavily story-driven, but which don't give the player too much freedom. In fact, I found only one typical Western game on the list, Wizardry, which placed 66th. This doesn't mean that eastern gaming culture is bad; it's just different. However, with the proliferation of Japanese consoles in the US, resulting in larger numbers of Japanese games here, the eastern culture seems to take over the western one in gaming, at least on store shelves. It is no wonder then that whenever a western-style RPG is released (Arx Fatalis, Gothic, Morrowind), it creates a very fierce following of people who are starved for more freedom in their games.

    1. Re:Yet another example of east-west differences by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I think that we have to look at Japan as a very narrow market when it comes to games. Of the top 10 listed in the summary, all of the ones that were released in America sold well (Tactics Ogre being the exception, due to limited supply). The thing about the US is that we have many, many large markets for games of all genres. The majority of the people that play Final Fantasy will also vote for various Blizzard games as the best games of all time alongside it. These are the same people that probably enjoyed Doom, Sim City, one or more flavors of 2D fighter, etc.

      Look at the kind of RPG's that you can get on the portable systems in America these days. You could easily pass all your gaming time on a handheld. Fire Emblem (+sequel), Legend of Heroes, Popolocrois, Lunar, Generation of Chaos... All variety of RPG's are available...and this is a NICHE market.

  2. My list of 10 best japanese games. by master_p · · Score: 3, Interesting

    1. PacMan: best all-around game, for all ages and sexes (especially Ms Pacman), and its gameplay (or parts of it) still lives in many modern games.
    2. Legend of Zelda:best action RPG ever; I had so much fun with this game!
    3. Outrun: best and most atmospheric racer ever. It helped revived arcades back in '86. Best arcade console (a mini Ferrari moving according to the action on the screen helped by hydraulics). Best soundtrack for racing games ever (Magical Sound Shower).
    4. R-Type: best shoot-em-up ever. An audio-visual experience still not matched yet: there are shoot-em-ups with better graphics, or better sound, or more gameplay, but not with better graphics/sound/gameplay in the same game!
    5. Donkey Kong: it introduced Mario and Donkey Kong.
    6. Bubble Bobble: one of the best arcade games ever; number 1 for gameplay ideas. One of the most addictive games ever.
    7. Arkanoid: best bat-and-ball game ever. No matter how many OpenGL polygons modern games throw at it, Arkanoid is never matched: the metallic hypnotic ping-pong sound can not easily be forgotten.
    8. Metal Gear: First stealth game, with lots of important ideas. Released on MSX.
    9. Space Invaders: most important game ever released: it kickstarted the video game industry.
    10. 1942: Father of all vertical shoot-em-ups. Lot's of fun.