The Ultimate Library

The great thing when other people publish lists of any sort is that we the readers get to sit back and talk about how much better we'd do putting together the list ourselves.

IGN has published their Ultimate Library, the ten titles they consider fundamental to the GameCube's first four years.

It should be no suprise that I disagree with some of them.  I don't own a number of the games, and a number of the games I would recommend to almost anyone aren't on that list.

Specifically on the list that I don't own are:

Wave Race, Blue Storm
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Soul Caliber II

So, only three.  And to be honest, I don't have a serious problem with any of them.  A good arcadey racer is important to many, Super Smash Bros. Melee was a key launch title, and Soul Calider II is arguably the best fighting game of all time.  Plus it includes Link.  I've played all three, I just haven't forked out the cash for them, and that's primarily because they don't suit my play style.

The biggest omission to me on the list is Mario Kart Double Dash.  Maybe IGN was just looking for third-party titles to pad things and only wanted one arcade racer?  I'm not sure.  Wave Race is a great series, but I'm sorry, it's no Double Dash.

Not being a fan of fighters (I am cranky and old, but Street Fighter II and Virtua Fighter pretty much have everything I need from a fighter covered) the other two don't fit for me, so what would I replace them with?

Well, when I think Nintendo I think Mario.  Super Mario Sunshine was something of a punt given the revolutionary nature of Super Mario 64, and like everyone else on the planet I have a few problems with the water-spraying friend who dominates gameplay, but I still argue that it's not a Nintendo Library without a platformer, and Super Mario Sunshine is the tightest platformer available.  It needs to be on the list.

The other big hole in the list is the lack of a game that anyone can walk up to and interact with.  Nintendo's goals with the GameCube is to get people to play together locally, not long distance.  A game where you can have a group of friends over, everyone plugs in and everyone interacts and has a good time.  Sure it's good to play together, but it's even better when you're all in the same room.

For a game anyone can pick up and immediately understand, a game that will gather a crowd and get people laughing and howling and having fun, there's nothing out there that beats Donkey Konga.  It's a tough recommendation for me because of the peripherals that are required (not technically, you can play with a controller but you don't want to do that), and two sets would make for an even better blast, but if your library doesn't include Donkey Konga you're missing out.

Not just for the gameplay, either.  The whole trick of the Revolution is the change to gameplay, or rather the focus on gameplay as opposed to platform specifics.  Nintendo doesn't care about the performance indicators of their system, as far as they're concerned issues with graphics and storage and performance are solved.  Not perfected, certainly, but it's only a matter of time before you can't tell the difference between a picture of the real world and a landscape in a video game, regardless of platform. 

No, the important thing from this point forward is fun, and Donkey Konga is an excellent window into how Nintendo's going to be bringing the fun in the next generation.  New peripherals, new ways to interact with the game system.

Comments

[Jenn]

In your post you insinuate that there is no platformer on the original list, but the Ultimate Library includes Prince of Persia, which is considered to be a Nintendo platformer.

[Rob Drimmie]

I don't insinuate it, I outright state it. PoP:SoT is (in my estimation) an action rpg moreso than a platformer.

The distinction is a little bit blurry in the as platformers tend to acquire traits of rpgs, but here's why I make the distinction.

To me, a platformer is primarily about controller dexterity in terms of jumping. Platformers are about item collection and exploration. 3D platformers are about free exploration. All your moves are available to you at once, you have a number of lives, and powerups are short term and dramatically affect gameplay. The canonical (3d) platformer is Mario 64.

Action RPGs are also about controller dexterity, but more about combat. Item collection is less important as skills are something inherent to character, your character becomes capable of more advanced actions as time passes. Health and other statistics combine to enhance and alter gameplay, are long term and are a replacement for powerups. Character development is fundamental. The canonical (3d) action rpg is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The distinction is very slight and dimishing with each title, as both involve unlocking areas and progressing the story as time passes, both are real time, both are largely dependant on player skill for progress.

Any argument I make for distinction is pretty easily countered or dismissed, but I do maintain that there is a feeling to each that distinguishes them. I don't expect you (or anyone) to agree with my gut.

The original Prince of Persia was definitely platformers, but 2d platformers differ from 3d platformers, and I think the nature of Sands of Time is different than the original.

It's not a firm line to draw, but it's one I do, and if I ask myself which of Zelda or Mario PoP is closer to, it's not really a competition, it's definitely more like Zelda.

[Rob Drimmie]

Oh, I want to be sure to state explicitly: Jenn, you're most definitely right that PoP is considered a platformer by everyone on the planet except me.

I just think you're all wrong is all.

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