List of video games notable for positive reception

The video games listed here have achieved notably positive reception from a variety of gaming publications, which have also labelled these as the best video games ever made.
C
Checkered Flag
On its initial release, Your Spectrum praised the driver's view graphics. Critics praised the game's complex plot, innovative battle system, varied characters, moving score, vibrant graphics, and success in breaking convention with its predecessor. Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Chrono Cross a Gold Award, scoring it 10/10/9.5 in their three reviewer format; the first review declared the game to be "a masterpiece, plain and simple". GameSpot awarded the game a perfect 10, one of only seven games in the 40,000 games listed on Gamespot to have been given the score, and its Console Game of the Year Award for 2000. Famitsu rated the game 36 out of 40 from four reviewers. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine described Trigger as "original and extremely captivating", singling out its graphics, sound and story as particularly impressive. IGN commented that "it may be filled with every imaginable console RPG cliché, but Chrono Trigger manages to stand out among the pack" with "a story that doesn't take itself too serious " and "one of the best videogame soundtracks ever produced". Victoria Earl of Gamasutra praised the game design for balancing "developer control with player freedom using designed mechanics and a modular approach to narrative."
D
Dragon Warrior III
Dragon Warrior III did not come close to meeting the success of its Japanese counterpart, although the Game Boy Color remake received very good reviews from critics. GameSpot gave the Game Boy Color version a "good" 7.6/10, saying that "DWIII is a worthy port of its old NES ancestor, but its firm grounding in the RPG old-school means that only the hard-core need apply."
G
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV has received universal acclaim from video game critics. The May 2008 issue of Official Xbox Magazine (UK) published the first Grand Theft Auto IV review, giving the game the maximum score of 10/10. The magazine also stated that the game has an "amazingly realistic world; stunning action set pieces; genuinely engrossing storyline; hugely entertaining multiplayer;" and that it is "vast in every respect." PlayStation Official Magazine (UK) also gave the game 10/10 in their May 2008 issue, describing the game as "a masterpiece that improves on all GTA's best bits." GameSpot gave the game a perfect 10, making it the first game since 2001 that GameSpot had rated perfect. The review called the game "compelling", with a "plethora of online multiplayer features" and stated that GTA IV is "undoubtedly the best Grand Theft Auto yet."
I
Infinity Blade II
Infinity Blade II garnered critical acclaim from many major video game critics. IGN gave Infinity Blade II a perfect score of 10/10, stating that "Infinity Blade 2 is a must own." Infinity Blade II is the first iOS game to get a perfect score on IGN. GameSpot gave the game a score of 9/10, calling it "The perfect sequel."
J
Joust
* Received a perfect score from IGN
M
Magical Tetris Challenge
* Received a perfect score from IGN
Mario Golf
Mario Golf received highly positive reviews, and was considered a slightly better game overall than the console version, averaging 89.6% compared to 87.6%. GameSpot did not enjoy it as much, giving it only a 7.2 of 10. They criticized it, saying that some of the mechanics could have used some work, such as putting. However, they feel it to be an excellent adaptation of the console version. In Japan, Famitsu magazine scored the Game Boy version a 30 out of 40.
Metal Gear Solid
The game was extremely well received by critics, achieving an average of 95.92% at Game Rankings. It is the 12th best-rated game on the site, and also achieved a perfect 10/10 on video game website IGN. Nintendo Power listed it as the 11th best Game Boy/Game Boy Color video game, praising it for successfully bringing elements from the three dimensional games. GamesRadar listed Metal Gear Solid as one of the titles they want in the 3DS Virtual Console.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4 has received overwhelming universal acclaim, with a 94% aggregate rating at Metacritic and 93.56% at Game Rankings. The first review was a 10/10 from PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), commenting "MGS4 shifts gears constantly, innovating again and again". The game has been awarded 10/10 from Game Informer and a 5/5 in all categories (graphics, control, sound, and fun factor) from GamePro. The game also received perfect scores from PlayStation: The Official Magazine (5/5), Japanese magazine Famitsu (40/40) and Empire. The game received a 9.9/10 from IGN UK, a 9.5/10 from IGN Australia, and a 10/10 from IGN. IGN was quoted in a video review, saying MGS4 is "one of the best games ever made". Edge and Eurogamer both gave the game 8/10. GameSpot gave it a 10/10 saying "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the most technically stunning video game ever made," making MGS4 one of only five games ever to receive a perfect "10" from both IGN and GameSpot, and one of only seven games to receive a perfect ten from GameSpot overall.
P
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
The game has received universal praise from critics and gaming Web sites, which cited a big improvement over the original. IGN gave the game a perfect 10/10 and an Editor's Choice award, calling it "a master class in game design." GameSpot gave the game 9.0/10, praising the new elements which make Championship Edition "more thrilling and addictive than ever." 1UP.com gave the game an A rank, calling it "insanely addicting." Eurogamer gave the game 10/10, calling it "a game you'll want to instantly evangelise to anyone with even the vaguest sense of what makes a game good." Destructoid gave the game 9/10, calling it "one of this year's best and purest arcade experiences and definitely a must-buy." Giant Bomb gave it a score of 5/5, saying that the player experiences "sensory overload of the highest order, the kind of game that leaves your eyeballs dry, your nerves shot, and every last bit of you wanting more."." Good Game gave it 9.5 out of 10.
Pokemon Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver continued the enormous success of its predecessors, beginning the formation of Pokémon into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Reviews from critics were mostly strong, with many saying that the extended length of gameplay and the new features were valued additions that kept the sequels as interesting as the original games. Craig Harris of IGN gave the games a "masterful" 10 out of 10 rating, stating that "As awesome as the original Pokémon edition was, Pokémon Gold and Silver blow it away in gameplay elements, features, and goodies. There are so many little additions to the design it's impossible to list them all."
Pokemon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue set the precedent for what has become a blockbuster, multi-billion dollar franchise. By 1997, Red, Green, and Blue combined had sold 10.4 million copies in Japan, while in the United States, Red and Blue had sold 8.6 million copies by that time. The games received mostly positive reviews from critics, holding an aggregate score of 89% on GameRankings. Special praise was given to its multiplayer features: the ability to trade and battle Pokémon with one another. Craig Harris of IGN gave the games a "masterful" 10 out of 10, noting that "Even if you finish the quest, you still might not have all the Pokémon in the game. The challenge to catch 'em all is truly the game's biggest draw." He also commented on the popularity of the game, especially among children, describing it as a "craze." Nintendo Power gave it an eight out of 10, while Game Informer gave it a 6.5 out of 10. In a panel of 10 children, nine of the children gave it a "very good" or "excellent" score in the fun category, but only five recommended its purchase. RPGFan called it "so revoltingly addictive that any player of it has no choice but to "catch 'em all"". They also called Yellow "insulting" in how limited the additions from Red and Blue were. IGN's Craig Harris praised the game's mechanics, commenting that Yellow was the best game of the three to start with. He gave it a perfect score.
R
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
Undead Nightmare has been well received by critics. As of June 2011 it has sold two million units at retail. Undead Nightmare received a 10/10 from IGN, stating "Undead Nightmare is what downloadable content should be - a lot of bang for your buck." As of the 1 February 2011, Undead Nightmare has an aggregate review score of 87 (which indicate generally favourable reviews) for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions on Metacritic. At the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, Undead Nightmare was awarded as the "Best DLC" (downloadable content) for 2010 video games.
S
Shanghai
* Received a perfect score from IGN
SNK Vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
* Received a perfect score from IGN
Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
IGN gave the game a perfect 10 out of 10 score. Gamespot gave the game an 8.3 out of 10, praising the games graphics, sound, and gameplay, but criticizing the games short length and lack of difficulty.
SoulCalibur
The game received the perfect 10/10 scores from GameSpot and IGN, and being the second game ever to get a perfect 40/40 by Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu (the first being The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time). As of 2009, game review aggregator website GameRankings has the Dreamcast version ranked as the fifth best-reviewed game of all time, as well as being the highest scoring title in the fighting game genre.
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
The game holds an aggregate score of 92.11 percent on Game Rankings, coming in as the second best game on the Game Boy Color and the 150th best game overall on its lists. IGN's Craig Harris gave it a perfect score, praising it as a perfect translation of the NES game. He hoped that it would be the example for other NES games to follow when being ported to the Game Boy Color. GameSpot gave the game a 9.9, hailing it as the "killer app" for the Game Boy Color and praising the controls and the visuals (it was also the highest rated game in the series, later surpassed by Super Mario Galaxy 2 which holds a perfect 10). Both gave it their Editors' Choice Award. Allgame's Colin Williamson praised the porting of the game as well as the extras, noting the only flaw of the game being that sometimes the camera goes with Mario as he jumps up. Nintendo World Report's Jon Lindemann, in 2009, called it their "(Likely) 1999 NWR Handheld Game of the Year," calling the quality of its porting and offerings undeniable. Nintendo Life gave it a perfect score, noting that it retains the qualities of the original game and the extras. St. Petersburg Times′ Robb Guido commented that in this form, Super Mario Bros. "never looked better." The Lakeland Ledger′s Nick S. agreed, praising the visuals and the controls. In 2004, a Game Boy Advance port of Super Mario Bros. (part of the Classic NES Series) was released, which had none of the extras or unlockables available in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. Of that version, IGN noted that the version did not "offer nearly as much as what was already given on the Game Boy Color" and gave it an 8.0 out of 10. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe ranked third in the best-selling handheld game charts in the U.S. between 6 and 12 June 1999 and sold over 2.8 million copies in the U.S. It was included on Singapore Airlines flights in 2006. Lindermann noted Deluxe as a notable handheld release in 1999.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 received overwhelming critical acclaim from major video game critics with numerous reviews praising the game for its creativity and technical improvements over the original. Tom McShea from GameSpot called it a "new standard for platformers", giving it a perfect 10, making it the seventh game in the site's history to earn that score. Other perfect scores came from Edge, stating "this isn't a game that redefines the genre: this is one that rolls it up and locks it away", and IGN's Craig Harris, who felt that the game "perfectly captures that classic videogame charm, the reason why most of us got into gaming from the start". IGN later placed Super Mario Galaxy 2 4th on their "Top Modern Games" list. IGN also listed Super Mario Galaxy 2 as the greatest Wii game of all time.The Escapist editor Susan Arendt echoed this view by stating it "doesn't tinker with the established formula very much, but we didn't really want it to", while GameTrailers commented that "there's something tremendous for just about everyone and games that we can truly recommend to almost everyone are rare".
T
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Link's Awakening DX received positive reviews; based on ten media outlets, it holds an average score of 92% on Game Rankings. IGN's Adam Cleveland awarded the game a perfect score, and noted that "throughout the color-enhanced version of Zelda DX, it can easily be inferred that Nintendo has reworked its magic to fit new standards", by adding new content while keeping the original game intact. Cameron Davis of GameSpot applauded the game's camera support and attention to detail in coloration and style, while reviewers for the Courier Mail believed that the camera added gameplay depth and allowed players to show off trophies. The Daily Telegraphs Samantha Amjadali wrote that the addition of color made the game easier by reducing deaths caused by indistinct graphics. Total Games noted that the new content added little to the game, but found it addictive to play nonetheless.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was released to outstanding, widespread critical acclaim and strong commercial success worldwide. In 1998, it sold 2.5 million copies despite being released only 39 days before the end of the year. In Japan, it sold 820,000 copies in 1998, becoming the tenth-best-selling game of that year. During its lifetime, Ocarina of Time sold 1.14 million copies in Japan, and 7.6 million copies worldwide. On its initial N64 release, Ocarina of Time received perfect review scores from the majority of gaming publications that reviewed it, Edge, Electronic Gaming Monthly, GameSpot, and IGN. After publication, Ocarina of Time was featured on a number of compiled lists of best or most influential games, including those of Electronic Gaming Monthly, IGN, and Nintendo Power. In June 2009, it was voted as the best game ever in GameFAQs' reader poll. Ocarina of Time has consistently been placed at number one in Edge magazine's "top 100 games" lists: a staff-voted list in January 2000, a staff- and reader-voted list in July 2007, and a list of "The 100 Best Games to Play Today" in March 2009. In May, 2011, IGN held a tournament style competition voted on by fans celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original ' release, with Ocarina of Time being voted the greatest Zelda game of all time, beating ' in the final round. It beat The Adventure of Link in Round 1, Phantom Hourglass in Round 2, and The Wind Waker in Round 3.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
The PS2 version earned a rare perfect 10 score from GameSpot, one of only seven games to ever receive said score, "Probably because of the freedom given in this game." It was also awarded the best sports game award at the 2001 E3. IGN rated the game 9.7/10, stating that the game "Should go down in history as one of the best twitch-fests on PS2. Yes, TH3 is that good. The perfect skating game remains just a tiny hair's breadth out of reach, but if you are not satisfied with your purchase of this game, head examinations are recommended." The game is currently the top rated PS2 game on the review aggregate website Metacritic, with an average score of 97/100, tying with Grand Theft Auto III.
Tornado Mania
Tornado Mania! received a positive response from game critics, including being awarded a perfect 10/10 and IGN's game of the month award for December 2006.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword has received critical acclaim. IGN awarded the game a perfect score of 10 out of 10. IGN's reviewer Richard George said it "is the greatest Zelda game ever created. It's the best game for Wii and one of the finest video game accomplishments of the past 10 years." In regard to motion controls, he praised them for their integral implementation into the gameplay, stating: "After slashing enemies with 1:1 sword movement, I never want to go back." He considered Skyward Sword to be "the purest, most perfect realization of Nintendo's ambitious goals for motion-controlled gaming." Game Informer praised the controls as the best in any Zelda game, writing that "when the correct method to defeat each foe finally clicked, I felt a sense of satisfaction that repeatedly tapping the A button never provided." GamesRadar however felt that "though we still prefer traditional button inputs, we have to admit that the Wii MotionPlus really does work well here overall, and while the detractions are there, they're relatively small." Eurogamer called the motion controls "as integral to this game as the analogue stick was to Mario 64." Eurogamer's reviewer stated that the MotionPlus controls "perfectly" track movement "without requiring energetic gestures" and give players a "more direct link to Link." In contrast to most reviews, EGMs reviewer Ray Carsillo felt that the MotionPlus controls follow the player "too well." He preferred the simpler motion controls found in the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess stating, "...this could’ve been one of the greatest Zelda games yet had the controls just worked" and ended by saying, "Even with cruddy controls, is still an epic adventure worthy of the franchise—and it should absolutely be played by all fans of the series."
U
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception received critical acclaim, receiving numerous "Game of the Year" awards. The first publication to review Uncharted 3 was the Spanish magazine Playmania, which gave it a score of 9.9 out of 10, the highest score that the magazine has ever given a game. The reviewer ignored a request from Naughty Dog co-president Christophe Balestra requesting publishers not to include plot spoilers in their coverage. The second review was published by the Dutch magazine Power Unlimited, which awarded it with 94%, and concluded with "It is jaw-dropping. The whole game is full of highlights. One of the best games ever for the PlayStation 3 to date.
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