Best of lists are such wonderfully subjective and divisive things. Everyone has their own opinion about what is the “best” of anything. So when a new list comes out I like to peruse it, pick it apart, and then judge the writers for obviously not knowing what they’re talking about. This past week Entertainment Weekly released its 1000th issue (holy crap) and they did not shy away from making a best of the new classics in video games. And before you question their gaming integrity Geoff Keighly was a part of writing said list.
Like Beck, who had the best celebrity top 10 in the magazine, I also hate coming up with lists. I’d rather read and disagree with someone else’s. The EW list of the best “new classic” video games is interesting because it reads a little like what the average person would pick. You know, more like the well known entities are mentioned for the most part.
Take the inclusion of Final Fantasy VII at number 13. I loved the game when it came out, but it suffers from the “at the time” syndrome. Games like FF VII and Goldeneye seem to be viewed in today’s world through rose tinted glasses. I’d certainly include both of these games on my personal top 25 list of all time, but perhaps not quite as high. See? Subjectivity, isn’t it fantastic?
Here’s another interesting thing to note: Super Mario Bros appears nowhere on the list. The game came out in 1985, so it falls within the 25 year time frame EW set up. I don’t necessarily agree with IGN that SMB is the number one game of all time, but it certainly is in the upper echelon. And yes, Mario does make an appearance on EW’s list at number four with Super Mario World. I’m about to say it, but I think World is a better sidescrolling platformer than Super Mario Bros 3. It’s nice to see it get some recognition.
I wonder if Geoff and the crew who made the list are kicking themselves that MGS 4 came out after the deadline for the list. Because I can’t help but feel that it would have knocked GTA IV way down. Number nine, that’s where the latest GTA rests and I find that incomprehensible.
You know what? That’s enough from me. Here’s EW’s list of the Top 25 New Classic Video Games. For the rest of their list visit EW.com.
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