Top 10 games that turn 20 this year.
5. Mega Man X4
Mega Man X 4 hit the Playstation and Sega Saturn in Japan on August 1, 1997 (North America got it on September 25, 1997). While it was the second game in the Mega Man X franchise to release on the Playstation and Saturn, it is the first to give players the option to play as Mega Man or Zero from the start. Personally, I’m with Zero—just look at that awesome sword. This gives players a big option in terms of gameplay between the traditional ranged combat or up close melee combat.
While some outlets at the time found the traditional 2D platformer to be getting a little stale, I argue that it’s why X4 remains such a classic. Anything is better than what they did with Mega Man Legends, am I right? Even without the ability to perform the hadouken, Mega Man X 4 is one of my all-time favorites (though still below Mega Man 2) in the entire franchise.
4. Final Fantasy VII
If you weren’t already aware, Final Fantasy VII originally released for the Playstation in Japan back on January 31, 1997 (North America had to wait until September 7, 1997). So happy belated 20th to Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith (Aeris), Sephiroth, and all the rest. Final Fantasy VII was genre defining. I can’t believe it was so long ago until I look at actual screenshots of the game. FF7 is one of those titles where the lens of nostalgia always makes it look better in my head. I spent so many hours wearing down my original PSX controller grinding levels to finally beat those damn weapon bosses.
I know there are a lot of people that would say this should be in the number one spot, but I have to disagree. As amazing as Cloud wearing a dress and wig is, there are a lot of places that bloated the game beyond what was needed. I can only hope that the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake will be able to tell the same story with not only superior visuals, but also a tighter narrative across its three part episodic release. Fingers crossed that we see more of it from this year’s E3.
3. Final Fantasy Tactics
I may be cheating just a tad with this one. Final Fantasy Tactics released for the Playstation in Japan June 20, 1997, but North America didn’t get it until January 28, 1998. So technically it wasn’t a 1997 game here in the states, but that didn’t matter to anyone with a modded Playstation at the time. This game is not only in my top three games of 1997, it’s definitely in my top five of all time. It’s the game that sold me on tactical combat and led me to eventually get talked into joining a 4th Edition D&D game.
Final Fantasy Tactics combines a great story set in the world of Ivalice with easy to learn mechanics and a robust job system. To me, Ramza and Delita will always be just as iconic as Cloud is to the larger community. I still have my original disk and still play it from time to time. I admit, however, that I haven’t actually tried the revamped War of the Lions version with all of the new cutscenes and two additional job types.
2. GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 released for Nintendo 64 on August 25, 1997. It’s an FPS that follows the story of the movie by the same name, but that’s not what makes it my number two pick. This game got me playing FPS games as a social activity, not alone at my computer. The split screen multiplayer mode with all of its ridiculous options is why I still think fondly of summer days spent yelling at friends. This was the game that nobody would say no to playing.
Of course it was later followed by Perfect Dark, but nothing ever really took the place of GoldenEye 007 for me. Maybe it was the focus on bringing more realism to the genre instead of chasing the sci-fi angle like many other games of the time. It wasn’t another Doom clone, it was unique and it left a lasting impression. It paved the way for future games like Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, and possibly even Halo. I know that it was remade in 2010 for the Wii, but like the new FFT, I just haven’t played it.
1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Released for Playstation in Japan on March 20, 1997 (North America on October 2, 1997), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the clear pick for the number one spot on this list. SotN is also currently my top game of all time, so it wasn’t really hard to decide. The story is phenomenal and the dialogue infinitely quotable even if the voice acting wasn’t always stellar. The soundtrack is one of the most hauntingly beautiful compilations of music to ever appear in a game. All of this and nonlinear gameplay make it is as near to a flawless game as I’ve ever encountered.
Unlike earlier entries in the Castlevania franchise, Symphony of the Night introduces a number of RPG elements. Alucard gains experience points and levels up during the course of the game. A wide variety of items can be found and equipped as players explore the castle. There’s also a system for familiars that provide bonuses, aid in combat, and even open hidden areas. If you’ve never played this game, stop what you’re doing and go get a copy of it.
Since its initial release, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night has be re-released on Sega Saturn (1998), the Xbox Live Arcade (2007) and Playstation Network (2007). For anyone that loves this game, I would suggest checking out Koji Igarashi’s newest game, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
