Centerpieces & Favorites of YOUR Collection?

[SonicAdvDX]

Hey guys!

I was just curious, because I'm looking for some essentials to add to my various video game collections, now that I have every system. I was hoping to find out what you guys have in your collections that you guys are most proud of, so that I know what to buy for each of my systems. Whether they are extremely rare, cult classics, or just awesome games, I'm looking for suggestions.

So, give me your top ten favorite/rarest/essential games that you guys have (or would like to have) in your collections. And don't leave any system out! I'm especially looking for good Sega CD/Saturn games, but any of your favorites are welcome! :]

[Beastman1975]

For Sega CD my top pics are Lunar 1 and 2  and Dark Wizard

[juan0tron]

Sorry if my english isn't totally coherent in this post. Just got back from Six Flags and rode aaaaaaaaall the roller coasters, and I'm getting extremely dizzy just typing this out aoisdrjgtihjijoij. Attached is a picture of the fun times we had:


ANYWAY, LETS TALK ABOUT GAAAAAMES. This is half sentimental half whatever the hell pops out at me as I stare at my wall. Numbered not for ranking but cause I need to organize this mess of crap into some sort of list

1. Timesplitters: Future Perfect (Xbox/PS2/Gamecube)- Absolutely an essential first person shooter. Great multiplayer, great single player, and some kickass challenges. Only shame is that it's not backwards compatible with the 360 :<
2. Final Fantasy 7 (PS1)- Got it as a christmas gift in box with a strategy guide. Awesome thing to have, although I always play the downloadable version on my PSP
3. FF7 Crisis Core- One of my favorite PSP games, 'nuff said. (Though I haven't played KH:BBS or MGS Peace Walker yet...)
4. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Xbox)- Awesome yet not very well known. Mixes 3rd person fighting with first person shooting...using critters as ammo. This and the rest of the oddworld collection hold a special place in my heart. They have quite the charm to them and are usually pretty original in terms of gameplay. There's a downloadable version of Stranger's Wrath coming to PS3/360, and hopefully that's a signal that the Oddworld series will finally continue on.
5. Indigo Prophecy (Xbox)- Got this when Gamestop was discontinuing buying back original xbox games. Got it in perfect condition. Quite the original game. Can't wait to play Heavy Rain.
6. Crash Bandicoot series (PS1)- That right there is my goddamn childhood in 5 games. Naughty Dog was awesome when they made these and it shows especially in their newer games.
7. Resident Evil 2/4 (PS1/PS2)- Two of my favorite games. They're both radically different, but are both RE titles so I threw them together.
8. Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)- Dad got this for me for christmas when I was a kid and N64 titles were becoming increasingly rare. Awesome.
9. Halo 3 Legendary Edition (360) SO PISSED. Worked my ass off that summer to buy this super rare collectors edition at FULL PRICE, then a month later i see a whole friggin lot of them for 60 bucks each. And now I dont have a job or enough money to get this supposedly more rare more awesome Halo Reach LE. Oh what a shame.
10. Every Metroid and/or Metal Gear Solid game ever? Yeah. That. IT'S 1 AND IM DIZZY AND I HAVENT SLEPT IN A WEEK. ENJOY. NIGHT.

[BadChad]

Yeah, you guy look like you must of had a blast with those expressions of excitement on all of your faces. 

[KaiserWAVE]

Here are a few games (some are very underappreciated IMO) that I love and consider to be centerpieces of my colelction (in no particular order):

Mega Man Network Transmission (Gamecube)

Fade To Black (PS1)

Ghosthunter (PS2)

Zombies ate my neighbors (SNES)

Darkwatch (PS2)

Uniracers (SNES)

Syndicate (ATARI JAGUAR)

X-Com: Ufo Defense (AMIGA CD32)

Psycho Pinball (GENESIS)


Finally, one of my favourite games of all time and in my oppinion completely underappreciated is Manhunt (PS2)!
I must admit that the controversy about the high level of violence is what got me interested in the game. And I enjoyed the violence a lot. But the violence is not what kept me playing. Honestly, when you find a new weapon you get excited avout the new killing animations, but once you've seen them, you're back in the game, not thinking about it anymore, just trying to stay alive The game just clicked with me, maybe because there weren't too many games back then specifically designed for a mature audience because make no mistake, this game does NOT belong into the hands of children.
Using the PS2's headset, the "director" was directly talking to you, which was a stellar idea which grabbed me and never let go. The storytelling was great, the atmosphere was intense, the music was awesome (very John Carpenteresque) You're not a trained super agent with all kinds of gadgets, you're not even supposed to be a likeable hero. You are just a guy fighting for your life (which was suppoesed to be ended by lethal injection before the game even starts). When you play the game on hardcore difficulty (without the radar showing enemy positions and their line of sight) you're constantly on the edge of your seat because you're always outnumbered, not quite as well armed as your enemies. In the earlier parts of the game you don't have more than glass shards or a baseball bat and even when the game introduces guns, an open confrontation gets you killed in no time. You always have to plan ahead and distract the enemy. I just love the game!!!
Honestly, I think in the so called stealth-genre, Manhunt is way above Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid. There, I said it, flame on  

[Doom]

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, TS2, Endless Ocean, Endless Ocean 2. 007: Nightfire. Call of Duty 4. MGS: Essential Collection. Zelda: Wind Waker.

I can't decide if I should try to get a JPN and PAL version of Endless Ocean. It seems very silly, but the USA version has a much crappier manual.

Re: KaiserWAVE

I ignore Manhunt (well mostly Manhunt 2) for moral reasons. Not because I care about murdering people, but because I think Rockstar uses controversy to sell mediocre games.

[Mick Dundee]

My favorite Games in my collection would be:

Earthbound (SNES) (RPG)

Chrono Trigger (SNES) (RPG) (easier to snag on PS1 or DS)

Albert Odyssey (Saturn) (RPG)

Guardian Heroes (Saturn) Side scroll Multi Player Beat Em Up with multiple paths to several endings

Landstalker (Genesis) (Action/Adventure/RPG) Much Like Zelda. Not rare at all really)

Alundra 1 NOT 2!  (PS1) This Game is pretty much an upgraded Landstalker (Semi-Rare. There are several different disc art and case insert variants)

Guardians Crusade (PS1) (RPG) This is a cute little game that is in no way graphically demanding of the PS1, however I enjoyed playing it trying to find all the fighting toys and continuously buying more armor and weapons for the baby creature to eat to level his attributes up

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64. Also available on Gamecube and Virtual console for the Wii)  Its Zelda for the 64... If you don't have it and own a 64... there is a problem

Little Big Planet (PS3) (I have no clue what to categorize this as... closest thing would be customizable platformer) There is a  GOTY edition out with a lot of the download content and there is a sequel coming within the next month

Most of my gaming is single player Rpg/Action/Adventure.  Though Borderlands (360 or PS3 or PC) (Shooter/RPG) is the first FPS I enjoy and there is a game of the year coming out in just a few weeks which will include a map of Pandora and all 4 DLCs (they were $10 each) for $60


 I had to think about what ones stuck out as different and that were something that isn't just a game that sits on the shelves for the last few.

 My Parents played RPGs and that seems to be something I got from them. I tried to keep this list somewhat more open.. otherwise it would probably have been ALL RPGs with SNES having quite a few of them.

[SonicAdvDX]

Wow, awesome suggestions everybody, especially Mick Dundee and KaiserWAVE! I didn't know there were actually any GOOD games for the Jaguar other than Tempest. xD

Anyway, all of these are awesome suggestions, exactly what I was looking for, stuff from all generations.  That said, it's surprising how many of these I already own, and how many I haven't even heard of. xD All sounds really great! If anybody else has any more suggestions, keep 'em coming! I'm always open to add more games to my wish list. 

Re: KaiserWAVE

I ignore Manhunt (well mostly Manhunt 2) for moral reasons. Not because I care about murdering people, but because I think Rockstar uses controversy to sell mediocre games.

Those were my sentiments exactly. I didn't trust Rockstar enough. After I heard how brutal the second one was, and that it almost got an AO rating, I think I rented it, just to give it a shot. I didn't like it, (nor was I surprised by the level of gore. Seemed pretty standard to me.) returned it only two days into the rental, and assumed the first one was just the same. *shrugs* 

[lotusoftheleaf]

I don't have nearly as big a collection as some other guys here, but I guess I'll list off my favorite games. I have mainly SNES and PS1 games, though.

SNES: EarthBound, Super Mario RPG, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Tetris Attack, Donkey Kong Country series, Kirby Super Star
PS1: Final Fantasy VII, Resident Evil 2, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, Final Fantasy VIII, PaRappa the Rapper, Parasite Eve
PS2: Kingdom Hearts I & II, God of War I & II, Okami, Persona 3 FES, Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition, Final Fantasy X, Tales of the Abyss, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3
GC: Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Paper Mario: Thousand-Year Door, Zelda: Wind Waker, Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2
Wii: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution
DS: Chrono Trigger, Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver, The Legendary Starfy, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Pokémon Platinum
GB/C/A: Pokémon Red/Blue, Pokémon Gold/Silver, Tetris, Pokémon Emerald

My Game Boys need more love.

[Jonesat]

Yeah, you guy look like you must of had a blast with those expressions of excitement on all of your faces. 

LOL i was just thinking that.   makes me really want to plan a trip to sixflags 

[KaiserWAVE]

Wow, awesome suggestions everybody, especially Mick Dundee and KaiserWAVE! I didn't know there were actually any GOOD games for the Jaguar other than Tempest. xD

Re: KaiserWAVE

I ignore Manhunt (well mostly Manhunt 2) for moral reasons. Not because I care about murdering people, but because I think Rockstar uses controversy to sell mediocre games.

Those were my sentiments exactly. I didn't trust Rockstar enough. After I heard how brutal the second one was, and that it almost got an AO rating, I think I rented it, just to give it a shot. I didn't like it, (nor was I surprised by the level of gore. Seemed pretty standard to me.) returned it only two days into the rental, and assumed the first one was just the same. *shrugs*  

There are actually quite a handful of good games on the Jaguar. But some of the best games are ports from other consoles or PC like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Flashback, Cannon Fodder, Syndicate or Pinball Fantasies.  I think the only good games developed specifically for Jaguar are Tempest 2000 (although Tempest X3 on PS1 is awesome too), Rayman, Ultra Vortek (most people say it's mediocre but I like it a lot) and Power Drive Rally (which is a lot like R.C. Pro AM).

As for Manhunt 2, yes, unfortunately the hype promised more than the game could deliver. I still liked it, but it was nowhere near as good as the first one. Maybe that's why it's so hard to recommend the game to other people. Most have heard the controversy about Manhunt 2. They rented it, played it and thought it was mediocre. And since it was the second in the series they automatically think it has to be better than the first one. So if you think Manhunt 2 sucks you probably won't bother checking out Manhunt 1, which is a damn shame. Honestly, Manhunt 1 is miles and miles above Manhunt 2 and you should at least rent it and play it once.

What I like about Rockstar is that they seems very passionate about the games. I'm not a big fan of GTA. didn't like one GTA until Vice City. San Andreas was just more of the same with a different (boring) setting, Gta IV was nothing more than GTA III in HD and more content. All good games, but I don't think they deserve the praise they got. But the Rockstar games that fly under the Radar are mostly great. Manhunt, Red Dead Revolver (the prequel to Red Dead Redemption) and The Warriors were great. Especially The Warriors. It captured the feel of the movie perfectly and it was just not what you would expect from Rockstar. Most of the controversy about Rockstar is just media hype. If you give them a fair chance you'd be surprised what you might get.


Finally, some more suggestions:

Darkwing Duck (NES)
Very Mega Man like, IMO the best game with the Duck Tales license.

Die Hard (PC Engine)
Starts of like Rambo or Mercs, in the forest, which makes you think if they even saw the movie prior to making this game But starting with level 3 they get to the Nakatomi Plaza and you play the events of the movie, with nice digitized photos as cutscenes. Nothing special but I'm a die hard fan of the movies (see what i did there? ) and I just had to get the game. It's Japan Exclusive though for some reason.

P.N. 03 (GAMECUBE)
Kind of a cross between a third person shooter and a rail shooter. Has a killer soundtrack too.


Midnight Resistance (GENESIS)
It's a lot like Contra but different enought not to be a simple clone

[thesubcon3]

Honestly I wouldn't consider games to be a Centerpiece unless they are originally boxed. 

Some of my favorites are my NES TV which is just got last weekend.
For games, my Boxed Zelda collection, Custom and originals as it's my favorite series.
I also have a Super Mario Bros Ladder Game that is a classic rarity.

[sheep2001]

oooooooooh, so many to choose from............
PS1 - Tony Hawks Pro Skater, Tekken 2, Wipeout series, Destruction Derby series, Rollcage, Ridge Race 4, Resi Evil, Silent Hill
PS2 - Burnout series, Tony Hawks series,
DC - Virtua Tennis, Jet Set Radio, MSR, Mr Driller, Ikaruga, Capcom vs games, Space Channel 5, Hydro Thunder, Crazy Taxi
Master System - My Hero
Megadrive/Genesis - Megalomania
XBox - Destroy all Humans, SSX, Amped, The Warriors, Kung Fu Chaos
SNES - Uniracers/Unirally, Rock n Roll Racing, Bomberman, SF2, Donkey Kong Country, Actraiser, Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Super Tennis, Super StarWars series.
GameCube - Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine, Aggressive Inline, PN03, Donkey Konga

[FellipeBr]

My collection is very small but the best games (for me) that I have is:

SFC - Final Fantasy V
NES - Dragon Warrior
N64 - Duke Nukem 64
Saturn - X-Men Children of the Atom
PS3 - LittleBigPlanet (the only PS3 game I have  )

[Velmeran]

In Terms of "just to show off" as centerpieces:
PS1 - Anything done by WorkingDesigns (I'm looking at you Lunar:SSSC, Lunar:EBC and the Arc the Lad Collection mainly, but really anything they did)
N64 - Zelda OoT (Gold Cart pre-order edition)

In Terms of great games:
PS1 - Final Fantasy Tactics (also available on PSP), Vagrant Story (IMO most underrated Square game, ever), Lunar:SSSC, Lunar:EBC.
PS2 - MGS3, FF12 (this seems to be a love-it or hate-it game in the FF series)
PS3 - MGS4
N64 - Zelda OoT, Conker's Bad Fur Day (this one is probably for more nostalgia reasons for me, there was something so enjoyable playing that Saving Private Ryan / Beaches of Normandy tribute mode)
GC - Zelda WW


(Hmm... I've noticed a theme as I look back over my gaming habits of the last 12 or so years)