Famitsu top 100 games of all time: #52: Ys1 & 2

[Inochi 命]

personally, i think this is the most messed up and horribly biased top 100s ive ever seen. but hey, atleast Ys made it in somewhere! Actually, im surprised that more Ys games didnt make it in, and that the one that did make it in isnt higher... this IS Japan after all.

And if you know the hardcore gamers of Japan, the famitsu readers, then you know why the top 4 is what is is... you will never find a bigger group of Square-Enix and Traditional RPG super-fanboys anywhere in the world so... yeah i think this had to have been a reader's votes thing...

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--)

11. Dragon Quest V (1992)
12. Far East of Eden 2 (1992)
13. Sakura Taisen (1996)
14. Dragn Quest IV (1990)
15. Final Fantasy V (1992)
16. Xenogears (1998--)
17. Dragon Quest II (1987)
18. Sakura Taisen III (2002)
19. Kingdom Hearts (2002)
20. Streetfighter II (1992)

21. Super Mario Bros (1985)
22. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
23. Toki Meki Memorial (1995)
24. Final Fantasy IX (2000)
25. Final Fantasy VI(1994)
26. Metal Gear Solid 3 (2004)
27. Valkyrie Profile (1999)
28. Chrono Trigger (1995)
29. Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
30. Dragon Quest (1986)

31. Zelda 3 (1991)
32. Final Fantasy X-2 (2003)
33. Resident Evil (1996)
34. Dragon Quest VI (1995)
35. F-Zero (1990)
36. Sakura Taisen II (1998--)
37. Mother 2 (1994)
38. Mother (1989)
39. Virtua Fighter (1994)
40. Dragon Quest 5 (PS2 remake) 2004

41. Zelda Windwaker (2002)
42. Metal Gear Solid 2 (2001)
43. Animal Crossing (DS) 2005
44. Tales of the Abyss (2005)
45. Ogre Battle (1993)
46. Legends of Zelda (1986)
47. Virtua Fighter 2 (1995)
48. Mysterious Dungeon 2 (1995)
49. Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
50. Metal Gear Solid (1998--)

51. Pokemon Red and Green (1996)
52. Ys 1 and 2 (1989)
53. Romancing Saga (1992)
54. Toke Meke Memorial (PC Engine) 94
55. Super Robot Taisen Alpha (2000)
56. Resident Evil 2 (1998--)
57. Tales of Eternia (2000)
58. Digital Devil Saga Megami Tensei II (1990)
59. Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
60. Final Fantasy II (1988--)

61. Super Mario World (1990)
62. To Heart II (2004)
63. Final Fantasy (1987)
64. Puyo Puyo (1992)
65. Family Stadium Pro Baseball (1986)
66. Wizardry (1987)
67. Hokkaido Murder Mystery (1987)
68. Fire Emblem (1994)
69. Super Mario Kart (1992)
70. Dynasty Warriors 4 (2003)

71. Monster Hunter (2004)
72. Best Play Pro Baseball (1988--)
73. Grandia (1997)
74. Resident Evil 4 (GC) 2005
75. Gran Turismo 4 (2004)
76. GTA: Vice City (2004)
77. Super Monaco GP (1990)
78. Torneko Mysterious Dungeon (1993)
79. Tales of Destiny (1997)
80. Streetfighter 2 Turbo (1993)

81. Dynasty Warriors III (2001)
82. Final Fight (1990)
83. Monster Hunter Portable (2005)
84. Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
85. Minster Hunter G (2005)
86. Mysterious Dungeon 2 (2000)
87. Kung Fu (1985)
88. Toke Meke Memorial (Saturn) (1996)
89. Tales of Destiny II (2002)
90. Kamaitachi No Yoru (1994)

91. Sakura Taisen IV (2002)
92. Tales of Rebirth (2004)
93. Sim City (1991)
94. Saga 2 (1990)
95. Pro Baseball Family Stadium 87
96. Tetris (Gameboy) (1989)
97. Secret of Mana (1993)
98. Gradius (1986)
99. Super Mario Bros III (1988--)
100. Resident Evil IV (PS2) 2005


even kung fu beat SMB3 to a pulp... that right there is proof of how flawed this realy is (trust me, i have Kung Fu... its fun but not SMB3-fun)


EDIT: i originaly found this in a jeuxfrance blog, but for anyone who wants a legitimate, linked source, i decided to spend some time and find one:

next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2401&Itemid=2

[Gamemusicfreak]

Hard to believe The Dawn of Ys isn't on there.

[FM-77AV]

gamemusicfreak said:

Hard to believe The Dawn of Ys isn't on there.

It is not hard to believe. It is very poorly balanced.


Anyway, surprising to see that they had RE4 for PS2 and not the Gamecube version in there.


Interesting list!

[Inochi 命]

heh, it would seem that way... but no, this is done by famitsu readers... and like i said, they're a pretty one-sided group... also, consider that it was done by voting... maybe pokemon beat out Ys by no more than a single vote?

anyways, this isnt japan's voice... it's the voice of famitsu's readers. i cant think of it any other way. do you think all the people buying all those DS games read famitsu? heck, a lot of those new gamers are old folk too (they're realy lucky people in japan, they even talked about it on the news). look at the weekly most wanted charts from famirsu... those DS games were never on there. Kingdom Hearts II was 2nd for months, yet those DS games trampled it in sales.


oh, and isnt it true that back when the first few Ys games appeared, they were considered rivals/alternatives to Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior? so, maybe Ys/Falcom gamers are probably too cool for famitsu, ever since back in the day, if you get what i mean ^_^

[Justin]

famitsu is Japans Gamepro...its crap, I dont trust anything it says.

[Majuunun]

Damn, that list is psycho RPG heavy. I'm suprised Tengai Makyo II Manji Maru(FOR TURBO) wasn't higher up on there because it was dominating the reader favorites well into the PS era.

Dragon Quest games are like freakin Everquest without other people-griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind

[FM-77AV]

justinzero said:

famitsu is Japans Gamepro...its crap, I dont trust anything it says.

I definitely agree! I don't trust Famitsu one bit!

[Brocksketchum]

mp83 said:

Hehe, this list is stupid. No way can Pokémon Red/Green be better than Ys I-II. It's like this is list mostly based on sales.

You said that because you knew I would reply fanboystically, didn't you!

The list doesn't have Parodius at all? Some shame involved. I'm not surprised at the number one game of all time. What will it take to be a Final Fantasy X?

[Gamemusicfreak]

brocksketchum said:

What will it take to be a Final Fantasy X?

Ys I & II Oath style! That willl do it.

[Inochi 命]

To top it all off, Famitsu gave FFXII a totally perfect score...

the review must have been: "c'mon people, it's final fantasy! anyone found in Japan without a copy will be labeled a blasphemist!"

its funny that even though FFX is number 1, DQVIII is the best selling RPG of all time in Japan (or was it VII?)... its just that even I was beggining to think this was based on saled. But i deffinately have to say it was based on hype and over-the-top fanism, though. Im sure all of you know what goes on in Japan when a new FF or DQ/DW is released... its one of the silliest gaming facts of all time. Many people who buy them know nothing about the game, they just see that familliar name one day and line up for it. Oh, and I think FFXII will top FFX on the next chart...

its the same thing over here though... hype blinds all. I can see why people would like them, but they're nowhere near perfect...

if anything makes me label famitsu's team and it's readers as totaly blinded fanboys, its FFVIII. I once loved that game, but then I grew up and learned more about what makes a game... i reflected on myself and realized why i liked the game and why, even though i loved it, I always lost interest halfway and got sidetracked (i attempted to beat it over 7 times, NEVER DID). Its got the greatest characters, story, and cool factor out of every FF ive played... but the gameplay is one of the most horrible in all of gaming.

[FM-77AV]

Hype blinds all? There are some people (like me) who hate the game the more hype it gets. Seriously, hyped games disgust me and I rarely ever play them.

[SinReVi]

I don't like FF anymore.

[Inochi 命]

lol... well, seldane, by "all" i just ment in general (most people), ofcourse... i mean, I myself also purposely avoid overhyped things. Even for Zelda: Twilight Princess, im avoiding all media and news as much as possible so that I can just play the game with a clear mind. Hype ruins games for me. I personally think its all about how much you yourself hypes a game. Whither its a great game or a bad game, if you hype it the results will be much different from if you didnt. Its good to go into things with a clear and open mind, then judge it for yourself once you've experianced it enough.

[ARES]

I'm surprised that FFX is number 1. Sure it's a damn fine game, but doesn't even sort of rival the OMG! excitement factor of earlier titles in that series.

For fun I'll make my top 3:

1. Xenogears
1. Final Fantasy VI
1. Ys Book I & II

Notice the numbering system I used.

[Inochi 命]

I have to say that although the storytelling, storyline, plot, music and characters may not match up to other popular FFs, FFX had by far the best gameplay (dispite the lack of a world map and adventuring) of the first 10 games (havent played X-2 or XI, so cant say anything about them). It was easier to get into, the sphere grid and colourful menus helped, and it was quicker. Still, it used the same old stale gameplay ideas set by FF1, imo. There was still micromanagement and repetative battling involved (the monster hunting in calm land was such a drag). It was quicker and more fun compared to other FFs, but not enough... not anywhere near the amount Ys and other action-rpgs give me. FFVI is what i consider the best in the FF series but only because i found everything to be balanced as far as FFs go, nothing exceptionaly great by my tastes, more like an 8/10 for each aspect. It's gameplay for an FF is only second to X's. But lets just say if VIII had the gameplay of X or even VI, I'd call VIII the best. Maybe its just me... I just realy get turned off by numbers and menus. I like to attack things in real time and see what happens... I just realy hate the whole idea that a person cannot attack continuously and has to stand in rows. Its just plain strange and extreamly tidius. If anything, its just that people get used to it. I like how in games like Lufia II, battles are avoidable if you want, but its not like that in FFs. Its always been the same idea since the very first game and all that i feel has changed it is a few small tweeks in gameplay and a ton of cinematic and emotional storytelling... in no way does X deserve to be first simply because it can make people cry (because of my dislike for Tidus and Yuna, I actualy laughed during that ending). With the exception of DQ/DW (which I dislike more than FF), all other Square-Enix RPGs (thats all they make! besides Rad Racer, they dont do well in any other field) deserve a higher place.