This Old Neon Forum

I added some more side poll nominees...

Also added a couple more invincible bosses: the Crab from Gradius 2, and the Hunter from Dead Space

BEST GAME EVER

Since this is old hat and therefore boring, I just tried to give a handful of nominations here that I knew would be underrepresented among our crowd.

Planescape: Torment (PC)
Final Fantasy III (FC)
Fallout (PC)
Star Control II (PC)
A Mind Forever Voyaging (PC)
Uplink (PC)
Wing Commander: Privateer (PC)
Shadowrun (Genesis)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Starship Bridge Simulator (SNES)

Best Mech Customization

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (PC)
Starsiege (PC)
Armored Core 2 (PS2)
Xenogears (PSX)

Most Innovative Mechanics

A Mind Forever Voyaging (PC)
Herzog Zwei (Genesis)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC)
Katamari Damacy (PS2)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
SimCity (PC)
Star Saga One: Beyond the Boundary (PC)
The President is Missing! (PC)
Elite Plus (PC)
The Lords of Midnight (C64)

Best Game That You've Never Played (Ever)

Considering how woefully behind I am, this was a pretty easy list to fill.

Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Persona 4 (PS2)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)
Fallout: New Vegas (PC)
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC)
Sid Meier's Civilization IV (PC)
Grand Theft Auto V (PC)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

Best Game Trilogy

Castlevania (NES)
Dragon Quest (Erdrick) (NES)
Half-Life (it's real to me dammit) (PC)

Best Light Gun Game

Duck Hunt (NES)
Virtua Cop (Arcade)
Silent Scope (Arcade)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Arcade)

Best Game Not Available on Any Digital Service

This probably goes without saying, but piracy doesn't count as a digital service.

A Mind Forever Voyaging (PC)
Shadowrun (Genesis)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Starship Bridge Simulator (SNES)
Destiny of an Emperor (NES)
Dynasty Tactics (PS2)*
Metal Marines (SNES)
MechWarrior (SNES)
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (PS2)**
Starflight (Genesis)
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday (Genesis)

*Interestingly, the sequel is available for PS3 on PSN.
**I am aware that preorders for the recent release of AC7 on PS4 included a port of AC5. However, that port is not yet available to the general public and is no longer obtainable.

Best Mascot Racing Game

Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Wacky Wheels (PC)

Best Strategy Game

Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (Genesis)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII (PS2)
Europa Universalis III (PC)
Master of Orion (PC)
Heroes of Might & Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (PC)
X-COM: UFO Defense (PC)
Sid Meier's Civilization III (PC)
Jagged Alliance 2 (PC)
Starcraft (PC)
Command & Conquer (PC)

Best Boss Fight

Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid, PSX)
Scarecrow (Batman: Arkham Asylum, PS3)
The Master (Fallout, PC)
The Transcendent One (Planescape: Torment, PC)

Best Shareware

Assuming this is for games that were shareware on release, since pretty much nothing applies otherwise.

Doom (PC)
ZZT (PC)
Solar Winds: The Escape (PC)
One Must Fall: 2097 (PC)
Tyrian (PC)
Duke Nukem 3D (PC)
Epic Pinball (PC)
Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons (PC)
Scorched Earth (PC)
God of Thunder (PC)

Best Game Released in the Noughties (2000-2009)

Half-Life 2 (PC)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
Bully: Scholarship Edition (Xbox 360)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC)
BioShock (PC)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
Deus Ex (PC)
Max Payne (PC)
Mass Effect (PC)

Funniest Game

The Stanley Parable (PC)
Undertale (PC)
Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle (PC)
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (PC)

Best Game of the Last 5 Years (2014-2019)

Undertale (PC)
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PC)
Kerbal Space Program (PC)
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (PC)
Plague Inc: Evolved (PC)
Hacknet (PC)
1001 Spikes (PC)
Doki Doki Literature Club! (PC)

Best Social Gaming Experience

Pfft. If I think way back into my past when I was remotely social, I guess I could say:

Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (Arcade)
Contra (NES)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (Genesis)
Aerobiz (Genesis)

Best First-Game-in-a-Series

The hard part of this one is trying to come up with the best ten.

Fallout (PC)
Double Dragon (NES)
Sid Meier's Civilization (PC)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
Deus Ex (PC)
Half-Life (PC)
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (PC)
Star Wars: X-Wing (PC)
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)

Rob

Main Event (“BEST GAME EVER!!!)

• Metroid Prime (GCN/Wii/Wii U)
  Still one of my favorite games I get back to each year

Best Mech Customization (Kong Wen)

• Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (NDS)
  Probably the only game I've played with mech customization. The other game I would consider is about upgrading, not customizing.

Most Innovative Mechanics (VictorViper)

• Another Code: Two Memories (NDS)
  Short puzzle game that used the DS in ways no other game used it.

Best Game that You’ve Never Played (Ever) (Kiwi the Tortoise)

• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
• Celeste

Best Game Trilogy featuring life-energy sucking, floating creatures (MerlinDrazziw)

• Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii/Wii U)

Best Light Gun Game (Han Solo)

• Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
  Played more games on Wii with point&shoot, but this one is the closest to a light gun game.

Best Game Not Available on Any Digital Service (Pluvius)

• Yoshi's Universal Gravitation (GBA)
• Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (GBC)
• DOOM 64 (N64)

Best Mascot Racing Game (evildevil97)

• Mario Kart DS (NDS)
  Probably the MK version I've spent most solo time on because of the challenges.

Best Strategy Game (SakaeWu)

• Chess

Best Boss Fight (Skullomancer)

• ???

Best Shareware (Corwin)

• Doom (PC)
  From the old shareware on PC this is the one that I impressed me most.
• Rise of the Triad: The HUNT Begins (PC)
  Impressed me enough to get the full version.

Guess demos are the modern version of shareware, but can't recall a demo that made me buy a game I would not have gotten without the demo.
Best Game Released in the Noughties (2000-2009) (Slurmee)

• Metroid Prime (GCN/Wii/Wii U)

Funniest Game (Sharecrow)

• LEGO City Undercover (Wii U/Switch)

Best Game of the Last 5 Years (The Shoemaker)

• Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
• Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
• Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS)

Best Social Gaming Experience (Claytone)

• Township (iOS)
  The only social game I still play. Other experiences were destroyed by the developers.
• Geomon (iOS)
  Have to list this game as it was the first one that got me involved in a single game community. Still using references in other social games.

Best First-Game-in-a-Series (Tayclone)

• Luigi's Mansion (GCN/3DS)
  Guess you can call it a series with #3 announced.
• Metroid Prime
  First of the Prime series.

My list so far. Still have to fill some gaps. Best strategy will be the hardest to fill as I don't really play them.

Added a few more nominations. Mainly games I forgot about that others mentioned.

Why is mega man x classified as a first in the series when mega man was on the nes?

Here's my list of nominations so far:

Main Event (“BEST GAME EVER!!!)

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
• Super Metroid (SNES)
• Ghouls 'n' Ghosts (GEN)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Best Mech Customization

• Robotrek (SNES)
• Custom Robo (N64)
• Metabots AX: Metabee/Rokusho (GBA)

Most Innovative Mechanics

• Herzog Zwei (GEN)
• Ghost Trick (DS)

Best Game that You’ve Never Played (Ever)

• Half-Life 2 (PC)
• Shenmue (DC)
• Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
• Beyond Good & Evil
• Resident Evil 2 (PS1)
• Portal 2 (PC)
• Red Dead Redemption
• The Last of Us (PS3)
• God of War 4 (PS4)
• Rocket League

Best Game Trilogy

• Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
• Metroid Prime (GCN and Wii)
• Ninja Gaiden (NES)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Best Light Gun Game

• Elemental Gearbolt (PS1)
• Point Blank (PS1)
• Rescue Mission (SMS)
• Time Crisis II (PS2)
• The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

Best Game Not Available on Any Digital Service

• Rocket Knight Adventures (GEN)
• Contra: Hard Corps (GEN)
• Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (N64)
• Golvellius Valley of Doom (SMS)
• Snatcher (Sega CD)

Best Mascot Racing Game

• Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
• Mario Kart DS
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Best Strategy Game

• Advance Wars (GBA)
• Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)
• Star Craft (PC)
• Herzog Zwei (GEN)

Best Boss Fight

• Rebel Mothership from FTL: Faster Than Light (PC)
• Dark Link from Ocarina of Time (N64)
• King K. Rool from Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
• Mike Tyson from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (NES)

Best Shareware

• Doom (PC)

Best Game Released in the Noughties (2000-2009)

• Metroid Prime (GCN)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)
• Ghost Trick (DS)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations (DS)
• Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (Xbox)
• Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
• Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
• Mass Effect (XB360)

Funniest Game

• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
• Popful Mail (Sega CD)
• The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)

Best Game of the Last 5 Years

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
• Spider-Man (PS4)
• Into the Breach

Best Social Gaming Experience

• Super Smash Bros. (N64)
• Mario Party 3 (N64)
• Pokemon Stadium 2 (N64)
• Halo: Combat Evolved (XBOX)
• Power Stone 2 (DC)
• Wii Sports (Wii)
• Saturn Bomberman (SAT)

Best First-Game-in-a-Series

• Banjo-Kazooie (N64)
• Halo: Combat Evolved (XBOX)
• Castlevania (NES)
• Rocket Knight Adventures (GEN)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (GBA/DS)
• Mass Effect (XB360)

Slurmee wrote: ↑10 Feb 2019 22:31 Why is mega man x classified as a first in the series when mega man was on the nes?

Mega Man X is the first game in the Mega Man X series.

Main Event (BEST GAME EVER!!!)
Final Fantasy VI (Super Nintendo)
Persona 4 (PlayStation 2)
Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360)
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube)
Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation)
Spelunky (Xbox Live)
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes (Xbox Live)
Cave Story (PC)
Katawa Shoujo (PC)
Saints Row: The Third (Xbox 360)
Portal 2 (Xbox 360)
Undertale (Steam)
BioShock 2 (Xbox 360)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
Resident Evil 4 (GameCube)

Best Mech Customization (Kong Wen)
Earthsiege 2 (PC)
Starsiege (PC)
Metal Wolf Chaos XD (Steam)

Most Innovative Mechanics (VictorViper)
Portal (XBox Live)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Nintendo DS)
Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition (Steam)

Best Game That You’ve Never Played (Ever) (Kiwi the Tortoise)
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super Nintendo)
Super Metroid (Super Nintendo)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Super Mario 64 (N64)

Best Game Trilogy (MerlinDrazziw)
BioShock (BioShock, BioShock 2, & BioShock Infinite) (XBox 360)
Borderlands (Borderlands, Borderlands 2, & Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel) (XBox 360)

Best Light Gun Game (Han Solo)
BIT.TRIP FATE (WiiWare)

Best Game Not Available on Any Digital Service (Pluvius)
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube)
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (Nintendo DS)
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (PlayStation 2)

Best Mascot Racing Game (evildevil97)
Mario Kart: Double Dash (GameCube)

Best Strategy Game (SakaeWu)
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube)
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii)
Starcraft: Brood War (PC)
Final Fantasy Tactics (PlayStation)

Best Boss Fight (Skullomancer)
Mitsuo the Hero (Persona 4) (PlayStation 2)
Mad King Ashnard (Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance) (GameCube)
The Handsome Sorcerer (Borderlands 2 DLC: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon's Keep) (XBox 360)
Wheatley (Portal 2) (XBox 360)
Jevil (Deltarune) (PC)
Martyr Logarius (Bloodborne) (PlayStation 4)
Death (Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow) (Nintendo DS)
The Core, Misery, & Sue (Cave Story) (PC)
Giygas (Earthbound) (Super Nintendo)
Fou-Lu (Breath of Fire IV) (PlayStation)
Ameno-Sagiri (Persona 4) (PlayStation 2)
Jubileus (Bayonetta) (XBox 360)
Elesa (Pokemon White) (Nintendo DS)
Fassad (Mother 3) (Game Boy Advance)
Cloud of Darkness (Final Fantasy III) (Nintendo DS)

Best Shareware (Corwin)
Katawa Shoujo (PC)
Cave Story (PC)
Deltarune (PC)
Iji (PC)

Best Game Released in the Noughties (2000-2009) (Slurmee)
Persona 4 (PlayStation 2)
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube)
Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation)
Spelunky (PC)

Funniest Game (Sharecrow)
Psychonauts (PlayStation 2)
Undertale (Steam)
Portal 2 (XBox 360)
Borderlands 2 (XBox 360)
Tales from the Borderlands (XBox Live)
Earthbound (Super Nintendo)
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GameCube)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Nintendo DS)
Elite Beat Agents (Nintendo DS)
God Hand (PlayStation 2)

Best Game of the Last 5 Years (The Shoemaker)
Undertale (Steam)
Overwatch (PlayStation 4)
Doki Doki Literature Club (Steam)
Bloodborne (PlayStation 4)

Best Social Gaming Experience (Claytone)
Overwatch (PlayStation 4)
Apex Legends (PlayStation 4)

Best First-Game-in-a-Series (Tayclone)
BioShock (XBox 360)
Shadow Hearts (PlayStation 2)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo DS)
Shantae (Game Boy)

Kong Wen wrote: ↑10 Feb 2019 22:59

Slurmee wrote: ↑10 Feb 2019 22:31 Why is mega man x classified as a first in the series when mega man was on the nes?

Mega Man X is the first game in the Mega Man X series.

Ah I guess I read that as Franchise and not series. Makes sense.