1. The gamer wants to see what kind of entertaining things the author has to say.
2. The gamer wants to make sure a specific game he or she was thinking of makes the list, and comment on whether or not said game actually makes the list.
This second reason is far more common among people who read articles like these. As such, authors sometimes pick "high traffic" topics that everyone is familiar with, in order to attract an audience that will, at best, glance over their stuff. There are certain topics that list articles are pretty much expected to cover now. So, to save me some time (and to make things even more "skimmable" for you all), I've decided to make a list of the lists that are often listed in websites that feature lists. After each list item, I will list the games/characters/whatever that I feel fit that list. With so many lists, hopefully I can avoid confusing anyone.
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| Let's Begin! |
#10: "Top 10 Most Annoying Characters"
It's a well-known fact that gamers love to hate things. They enjoy hating things together on the Internet even more. As a result, one can often find an endless number of webpages with users logging on just to discuss how annoying they think Navi is, or how incompetent a pilot Slippy can be. Few things get a gamer more riled up than a character that refuses to be likable. Naturally, this makes for prime reading material for any aspiring article writer to punch out. As I mentioned before, gamers love to see it when others agree with them. Thus, lists like these often turn into a conglomeration of hate that everyone can take part in, and everyone is always bonding by the end of it.
My List (Top 8):
8. Mayu (Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly)
7. Zack (Dead or Alive)
6. Pikachu (Super Smash Bros.)
5. Wendy Oldbag (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)
4. Xigbar (Kingdom Hearts II)
3. Blissy (Pokemon)
2. Konishi (The World Ends with You)
1. Anyone who is my opponent in Mario Party (Seriously)
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| The best game to play if you don't want friends anymore. |
#9: "Top 10 Boss Battles"
This kind of article has seen many derivatives on the Internet. "Hardest Boss Battles," "Most Fun Boss Battles," "Most Tedious Boss Battles." The list for this list goes on. However, I like to think that the "Most Interesting Boss Battles" can usually sum up all of them. A boss that is interesting is usually challenging, and is often more fun as a result.
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| Except for this chick. She should have never existed. |
With such an abundance of content to choose from, it's no wonder that this topic is popular among gamers. It's comforting to discover that the entire world (i.e. one author) is struggling with or enjoying the same boss as you. However, if they don't mention the boss you had in mind, it's your sworn duty to notify the author of his "mistake."
My List (Top 8):
8. Masked Dedede (Kirby Super Star Ultra)
7. Drek (Ratchet and Clank)
6. Axel (Kingdom Hearts II)
5. Cloud of Darkness (Final Fantasy III)
4. Seymour (Final Fantasy X)
3. Giant Oni (Muramasa: The Demon Blade)
2. The Shadow Broker (Mass Effect 2)
1. Avion (Shadow of Colossus)
#8: "Top 10 Best Looking Games"
Gamers apparently love reading this kind of stuff. They enjoy discussing how realistic something looks, or how colorful something is. Granted, these are worthwhile conversations to have. However, to rank games based on how they look could be a practice in insanity. Who's to say that stylized graphics win over photorealism? It's a really difficult thing to judge. But gamers demand an answer, and by golly they're going to get it! The question of which game looks better than another must not be ignored! Thus, lists like these exist. I'm going to try to compile my own such list without severely damaging my psyche.
My List (Top 7ish):
My List (Top 7ish):
Braid
Cave Story
Dead or Alive Dimensions
Oblivion
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Kingdom Hearts II
Sonic Colors
Alright, got the games down. Now I just have to order them...Let's see...Braid was pretty fantastic looking, with all of its color and charm, but did it look as "good" as a 3D game like Oblivion? Hmm...Then again, Oblivion's graphics weren't as sharp as Muramasa's painting-like style. But wait, how does that style hold up to Cave Story's charming 8-bit retro feel? Ah...I um...Geez, let's see...Hmmrrrrggghhh...
As you can see, this isn't a very easy thing to do. However, lists like these usually generate a lot of traffic, simply because they're so objective.
#7: "Top 10 Weirdest Glitches"
I guess I can see why these can be pretty popular, but they're still not incredibly interesting to me. Sure, some glitches can be pretty entertaining, but I don't go scouring a game's universe just to find a funny little trick. It seems that the rest of the Internet just eats this stuff up though. So, to be fair, this list makes my list, as I've seen many a webpage that dedicates itself to some of the weirdest glitches out there.
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| ...Ahahaha? |
For better or for worse, I've not been very up-to-date with gaming glitches. As a result, my list for them is both short and outdated.
My List (Top 3):
3. Missingno (Pokémon)
2. Jiggling Splicer (Bioshock)
1. Door Spasm (Oblivion)
...Aaannd those are pretty much the only glitches I've found entertaining.
#6: "Top 10 Best Stories in Games"
These lists are never usually titled like this. They often take the form of things like "Top 10 Most Heart Wrenching Moments" or "Top 10 Most Thrilling Scenes." In a general sense, though, they all talk about a game's story. Therefore, I am shamelessly throwing them all together in one encompassing topic.
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| Spoiler Alert. |
Most gamers love a good story, and they enjoy discussing them on forums. Top 10 lists are a great way to generate discussion for topics like these. Granted, the discussion will inevitably branch out into 10 entirely different subjects, but that's the best you can hope for on the Internet. People write stuff like this for traffic, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't work.
My List (Top 10):
10.Jak II
9. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
8. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
7. Shadow of Colossus
6. Braid
5. BIT. TRIP Complete
4. The World Ends with You
3. Bioshock
2. Final Fantasy X
1. Mass Effect 2
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This confusing mess depicts the life cycle of man.
And that is why it is awesome.
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#5: "Top 10 Best Moments in Games"
This could technically be filed away under the "best story" section, but there's one main difference that sets it apart. When an author writes an article about the "best moments" in a game, the person usually refers to a mission, or a specific task that is accomplished while playing the game. This can range from single fights to sprawling quests. Either way, gamers love to talk about their triumphs and failures while discussing the experiences that were shared with others who played a certain game.
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| "Dude, you died there too? Awesome, so did I! We should totally hang out!" |
I'll admit that I'm guilty of relishing in the moment of certain games and talking about them later with friends. Turns out that when something awesome happens, you kind of want to talk about it. Go figure.
My List (Top 10):
10.Eggman Final Boss (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
9. Sculpture Splicers in Fort Frolic (Bioshock)
8. Fighting Ayako (Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse)
7. Riding on top of Avion (Shadow of Colossus)
6. All of World 4 (Donkey Kong Country Returns)
5. Conquering Cotton Alley (Super Meat Boy)
4. Killing 1000 heartless (Kingdom Hearts II)
3. Walking to Crowhaven from the Imperial City (Oblivion)
2. Sailing the ocean (The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass)
1. Suicide Mission (Mass Effect 2)
#4: "Top 10 Biggest WTF Moments"
The possibilities for these are endless, which is what makes them so entertaining. Usually WTF moments are intentionally placed in a game, which serves to confuse the player even more. When odd stuff happens in a game, people playing it like to make sure that they aren't the only ones who are totally weirded out.
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...Something about this just doesn't seem normal,
but I can't put my finger on it...
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"WTF moment" lists are a culmination of all things disturbing and hilarious. It's no surprise that gamers can find thousands of such lists all over the Internet. In terms of mind-scarring things, you could definitely do a lot worse...
My List (Top 6):
6. Getting arrested for stealing a cup (Oblivion)
5. Turnabout Big Top (Phoenix Wright: Justice for All)
4. Discovering the fate of the collected humans (Mass Effect 2)
3. Meeting the broken neck lady (Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly)
2. One of Zack's costumes (Dead or Alive)
1. Every single mini-game in WarioWare Inc. (Ever)
#3: "Top 10 Hottest Women in Games"
You simply cannot visit a gaming site these days without seeing a list like this. Gamers, on top of being adept problem solvers and critical thinkers, are often very, very lonely people. The Internet preys on people like that. Thus, you get articles that compare the body curvatures of various pixelated females, and the hits just start to rack up (no pun intended). It almost depresses me when I see an article attempting to do this with a straight face. Thankfully, most websites create these lists all in good fun, and they simply play off of the gamer stereotype, instead of succumbing to it.
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| No one you meet will ever look or dress like this. |
Guys, I get it. A lot of women in games are depicted as attractive, scantily clad goddesses. You can't help what you do and don't like to see. But please, keep it to yourselves and don't broadcast it over the Internet. And on that note...
My List (Top 5):
5. Elora (Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage)
4. Wendy Oldbag (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)
3. Anjean (The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks)
2. Bandage Girl (Super Meat Boy)
1. Your mom (Pokémon)
(Dang, it was harder to find "joke characters" to fill up this list than I thought...)
#2: "Top 10 Most Anticipated Games"
I'm not a very big fan of discussing games before they're released. The conversations that revolve around these topics are usually all just conjecture and speculation. No one really knows how a game is going to turn out until it's finally released. Apparently I'm in the minority when I think like this. If there's one thing gamers love more than talking about a new game, it's talking about a new game before it's released! A few months before that game hits the shelves, it could be anything! This aspect of the unknown is really what gets gamers excited. As a result, articles hyping up the "best games coming out later this year" usually get a lot of hits, as excited fans are more than willing to bask in the glory of that which does not exist yet.
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| "Ohmygod!Ohmygod!Ohmygod! Best game evaaarrrrr! I can already tell!" |
Now, this doesn't mean that I don't get excited for certain games. I just don't like picking apart every single detail concerning them before they come out.
My List (Top 5):
5. Kingdom Hearts 3: Dream, Drop, Distance
4. Rayman Origins
3. Tomb Raider
2. Bioshock Infinite
1. Mass Effect 3
#1: "Top 10 Best Games of All Time"
Sweet mother of all things good and holy, do gamers love lists like these. As I said at the beginning of this article, a large majority of people reading top 10 lists online do so only to see if the author put their favorite game in it. If said game does appear on the list, they sing praises to the writer, regardless of the person's credibility on the Internet. However, if their game is absent from the list, the reader will often make a clever remark, such as "Oops, you forgot to mention 'Blah-dy blah this game.'"
No, the writer did not "forget" it. He or she just didn't think it belonged on the list. This concept can cause some heat between people, which as a result brings in traffic. Some of them don't understand that a list article is an opinionated piece of writing. What someone else thinks should have no impact on you if you believe something differently.
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"How could they NOT have mentioned
Tak and the Power of Juju?!"
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"Top 10 Best Games" lists always manage to attract readers. Whether they agree or (more likely) disagree with it, the article still becomes popular. This is why you see these lists all over the place. And on a completely unrelated note, here's my list.
My List (Top 10):
10. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando
9. Kirby Super Star Ultra
8. Jak 3
7. The World Ends with You
8. Jak 3
7. The World Ends with You
6. Mass Effect 2
5. Kingdom Hearts
4. Bioshock
5. Kingdom Hearts
4. Bioshock
3. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
2. Final Fantasy III
1. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
Feel free to comment and tell me how wrong I am.
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