I have written and rewritten this introduction five or six times now, always failing to get it onto the page in the same way that it has fallen out of my head. Each time I thought of a solution to the problem I was facing, I just ended up making another problem that needed to be dealt with.
My journey took me from emulation to censorship, to the state of the Internet, to the availability of games, and ultimately to the fact that this whole Evergrowing Backlog thing is just a string of 0s and 1s on some Google servers that will stick around for purposes unknown for some time to come.
I'm not doing this for an audience. I'm not doing this to make my name as a reviewer or a critic or anything like that. I'm not even good at it. If you wanted a definition of time wasting, this could be it. But I say 'could' because I'm actually enjoying some of it.
I have been stunned by some of the games that make their way onto The 451/1001 Milestone Awards list and will never forget them. I would never have known about these games had I not picked up this book and challenged myself to go through them all, and some four years since starting, I'm still not halfway through.
In this world where everything is consumed and discarded in no time at all, I'm enjoying my time in the slow lane, living twenty years behind everyone else, finally getting around to those games that defined other peoples childhoods.
Here we are once more then, going back over the previous 50 games, from Grand Theft Auto 2 to Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette. The Millennium has finally arrived and video games are pulling off all kinds of things. Which gimmicks got my attention the most?
Ugh, that's enough of that nonsense. Wasn't even funny.
The first to be acknowledged are always those that are barely worth acknowledging in any situation that isn't a Milestone Awards post, and they are The Indifferent 5. Games that are games and that is neither a good nor a bad thing. In no particular order, they are:
Mr. Driller, Namco
Everquest, Verant Interactive
Rocket: Robot on Wheels, Sucker Punch Productions
Space Channel 5, United Game Artists
F355 Challenge, Sega AM2
I wish everyone could pause from their busy lives to remember that these titles exist, if just for a moment, before moaning about something on Twitter.
With all this censorship lark, you'd be forgiven for thinking that I want the next winner of the What Was That 1 Even Put On The List For? award to be blacked out for all eternity, locked in a vault and to never be played again, but no. Instead, I just want you to all ask yourselves:
What Was Threads of Fate Even Put On The List For?
I shudder thinking about it.
So what would I put in its place? I try to find games that were released around the same time as the current batch of games, but I'm heading just a little way into the future for this next one. It occurred to me while playing Banjo Tooie that there's an omission from this 1001 list that needs to be rectified, not because it's a fantastic game, but just because it's better than Banjo Tooie.
You Forgot What?!
And now for the meaty bits. There have been a good few titles in this batch. If there hasn't been something for everyone, then there has at least been something for me, coming in many different forms. What has made The Top Ten on this occasion?
10: The Typing of the Dead, WOW Entertainment, Smilebit
It's amazing. I've written this entire blog post up until this point without moaning about my keyboard, but as soon as I remember that The Typing of the Dead made my list, I hate each and every key that I've pressed in the last twenty seconds. Especially this squeaky bloody space bar...
9: Homeworld, Relic Entertainment
It's a bit chaotic, but the fact that there's a remastered version to enjoy really does drive this 3D Sci-Fi RTS into my mind.
8: FreeSpace 2, Volition
And sticking with space, a surprise space shooter. My flight stick is gathering dust, and this should be the game to get it in use again.
7: Final Fantasy VIII, Square
I still don't want to see Junction used as a verb ever again, but can't deny that I admire this entry in the series.
6: Final Fantasy IX, Square
Speaking of admiring, I really want to see more of this entry. Still need to decide on how best to play it, though, but after that, bring it on.
5: Paper Mario, Intelligent Systems
Three RPGs in the middle of my Top Ten list? How will I find the time to get through them all? And why does this one work for me when so many others don't?
4: Quake III Arena, id Software
I might have hit the wall early on, but can't deny its slick gameplay. What a shooter.
3: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Neversoft
Technically speaking, not as good as I remember, but it is still absolutely fantastic.
2: Faselei!, Sacnoth
How do giant mechs even manage to sneak up on me? This little turn-based puzzler kicked my arse and yet still I want to play more.
There could well have been another five games that would have taken my number 11 spot in this list, but I simply don't rank them high enough, and thus they're not worth worrying about. But I can't ignore the number 1 spot. What good is a top ten list without a number 1? You might well have already guessed the number 1 this time around. It was practically written down on the top ten list as soon as I'd played the game. The number 1 is none other than Front Mission 3.
Gah. What is it about mechs?!
The final task for us, before the censor's black marker pen descends upon this page once more, is to work out The Topper Than That Top Ten list. The ten best titles from the previous four hundred and fifty-one we've looked at in some capacity over the last four years.
Times and tastes change, but the latest of the greatest are...
10: Half-Life, Valve
Dropping down the list like a facehugger drops from the ceiling, Half-Life still clings to what little life it has left. It's a phenomenal game, but will it last long in this list?
9: Quake III Arena, id Software
Well established rules, simple to grasp controls, utter carnage unleashed by the hands of skilled opposition. I'm no good, but it's still a blast to play.
8: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Neversoft
Can't get the soundtrack out of my head. Arguably wouldn't want to, either.
7: Snake, Nokia
<7> #############
6: Faselei!, Sacnoth
Unexpected surprises, when good, are really good. This one is really good. Sixth best game of all time (so far)? You probably think I've gone mad.
5: Super Mario Kart, Nintendo EAD
Oh no. Now I've got this soundtrack competing for brain space with Tony Hawk.
4: Tekken 3, Namco
I must remember that I now own Tekken 7 and still haven't played it. Right. That's this afternoon sorted then. Let's hope it plays like the series always has.
3: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Nintendo EAD
This is still the best looking game to have ever been made.
2: Front Mission 3, Square
Straight in at number 1 for this last batch, straight to number 2 for the topper top ten, the number 3 Front Mission can do no wrong. It's just not as good as a certain other Mechy game.
1: Metal Gear Solid, Konami
I don't know what is going to be able to budge this one off the top spot. I might lose my marbles if it ever happens.
There we go, another Milestone Awards are done and dusted. So much to see, and quite a few titles that didn't make my list but would certainly make some of yours. The list continues to climb, and we'll get back into the action with Skies of Arcadia, before it and another 49 games take us all the way to the halfway point. Amazing, for many a reason.
Enjoy the games, folks. Always take the time to enjoy the games.