The 25 Games You Need to Finish Before You Die
The apocalypse is nigh. Or maybe it's not. Who knows. Either way, you're going to want to finish these games before the Grim Reaper taps you on the shoulder.
6/25/2009 7:35 AM | 53 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Scott Jones
Status: Coffee makes me feel 4-percent sexier.
Death.
It's inevitable. One day -- and let's hope it's not today, because we totally did not make our beds or even shower this morning -- we will all have to go "into the light." You can't escape it, unlike Dick Clark or those crafty kids in "Final Destination." (What a movie!)
But before you go into the great beyond, instead of visiting the pyramids or making peace with your alcoholic father, make certain that you've guided these 25 games through to their final credits. [Crispy Gamer Pro Tip: Print out this list, tack it to your fridge, and cross out the games as you work through them.]
If you don't finish these 25 games, don't come crying to us when you're on your deathbed, and all your people are singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and you have this strange sense of unfinished business. You won't be able to come crying to us anyway. Because you will be on your deathbed. And even if you could come crying to us, all we would say is: "We told you so."
25.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Dreamcast/PlayStation/N64; 2000)
What you'll miss out on: Virtual skateboarders were free to explore huge, outdoor environments. (And unlock secrets, like the hidden pool in the "School II" level.) No interest in skateboarding? Shut up and play it anyway.
24.
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2; 2005)
What you'll miss out on: The story of a boy, his woefully short sword and his quest to save a very pale girl. Bringing down the game's big, sad giants is somehow
satisfying and troubling at once.
23.
Resident Evil 4 (GameCube/Wii/PS2; 2005)
What you'll miss out on: The guy wielding a chainsaw with a burlap sack over his head. And he does not appear to be here to give you candy. Nothing, and we mean nothing, in
Resident Evil 5 holds a candle to this moment.
22.
God of War (PS2; 2005)
What you'll miss out on: The best hydra battle of all time. It makes what King Kong did to that T-Rex in the original movie look like a game of patty cake.
21.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation; 1997)
What you'll miss out on: Unlocking Dracula's second, more bizarre castle.
20.
Super Mario 64 (N64; 1996)
What you'll miss out on: Sliding/racing with a giant penguin in the "Snow Mountain" level; swimming with a gigantic sea monster; seeing coins float in three dimensions.
19.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES; 1992)
What you'll miss out on: The story of a pudgy boy named Link, his woefully short sword and his quest to find a princess with the name of an exotic dancer (Zelda). Face it: This game is better than the windy, less-focused
Ocarina of Time.
