But it's not the single player aspect of [Goldeneye] that really gave this game the staying power it needed to be looked at as one of the greats, it was the multiplayer
WHOA. NO.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Anyone who thinks Goldeneye was all about multiplayer might have played it, but they never actually OWNED it. By having well thought out objectives, non linear level design that made the places feel like actual places, and a no-nonsense punishing difficulty that made you really feel like you were the super spy when you got through (unlike the patronising handholding approach in all bond games since), Goldeneye's singleplayer has stood the test of time and is still played around the world to this day, almost
twenty years later! Mostly because it still hasn't been topped. (Though Perfect Dark has a much better multiplayer by comparison).
I'd also vote Banjo Kazooie waaay over DK64, and Conker's Bad fur Day over that.
Tough call between Starfox and Rogue Squadron, but for sheer inventiveness I suppose Starfox takes it.