As the newest console generation nears its end, I've wondered to myself which titles really defined the generation. Undertale, Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid, Breath of the Wild... it's been a strong generation. But, more then this, it began to make me wonder which developers made the best games, over an extended period of time. Thinking about it, I whittled it down to what I consider the most influential developers of all time.
Nintendo: Nintendo is the only publisher that also, truly feels like a developer. Their games are wildly creative and fun, and you can feel the passion oozing from every pore. They're also polished to ridiculous sheen. When was the last time you saw a game breaking glitch in a nintendo game? Almost never. Furthermore, nintendo has created entire genres, while also making the best games withing those genre's. Mario is the best platformer. Splatoon is the best third person shooter. Paper Mario is the best JRPG. Zelda is the best action game. Fire Emblem is the best strategy game. Metroid is the best, well, metroidvania game. While the company has its ups and downs, there can be no doubt that nintendo is the platinum standard in terms of game mechanics and quality.
Kojima Productions: In terms of artistic merit, the Metal Gear Solid franchise is the greatest video game franchise ever made. The writing is fantastic, and the themes are far more complex and nuanced then anything we've seen in a video game before. Every game breaks new ground, not just in gaming, but in storytelling as a whole. Kojima's newest masterpiece, Death Stranding, even invented an entire new genre, where players can leave messages for players in other worlds, and help each other build structures. Like other great storytellers before him, I think kojima will most likely be looked back on as an artistic trailblazer who helped make some of the most thought provoking titles of all time.
Valve: valve is easily one of the most important developers of all time. Every title they release is an event. While they did not invent the puzzle game, or the first person shooter, they were the first ones to make those genre's good. They also have some of the best written stories, and most thought provoking characters in gaming. Half Life one and two manage to tell a fascinating story, with rich characters, without the need for long lengthy cut scenes, or boring text dumps. The game play is nearly uninterrupted while you uncover a fascinating, emotionally poignant plotline that is up there with the very best of film. Portal, too, manages to capture this level of storytelling and mechanical synthesis in one of the most memorable titles ever created.
Blizzard: While they have made some controversial decisions since merging with activision, there can be no doubt that blizzard has made some of the most important titles of all time. Diablo, World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Overwatch... every title they release is a blockbuster success that defines it's respective genre. Many of their games become national pastimes in some countries, earning the love of millions of fans. People have gotten married in world of warcraft, or felt empowered by the representation in overwatch. There can be no doubt that there is a unique magic in Blizzard titles that is unlike anything else.
Nintendo: Nintendo is the only publisher that also, truly feels like a developer. Their games are wildly creative and fun, and you can feel the passion oozing from every pore. They're also polished to ridiculous sheen. When was the last time you saw a game breaking glitch in a nintendo game? Almost never. Furthermore, nintendo has created entire genres, while also making the best games withing those genre's. Mario is the best platformer. Splatoon is the best third person shooter. Paper Mario is the best JRPG. Zelda is the best action game. Fire Emblem is the best strategy game. Metroid is the best, well, metroidvania game. While the company has its ups and downs, there can be no doubt that nintendo is the platinum standard in terms of game mechanics and quality.
Kojima Productions: In terms of artistic merit, the Metal Gear Solid franchise is the greatest video game franchise ever made. The writing is fantastic, and the themes are far more complex and nuanced then anything we've seen in a video game before. Every game breaks new ground, not just in gaming, but in storytelling as a whole. Kojima's newest masterpiece, Death Stranding, even invented an entire new genre, where players can leave messages for players in other worlds, and help each other build structures. Like other great storytellers before him, I think kojima will most likely be looked back on as an artistic trailblazer who helped make some of the most thought provoking titles of all time.
Valve: valve is easily one of the most important developers of all time. Every title they release is an event. While they did not invent the puzzle game, or the first person shooter, they were the first ones to make those genre's good. They also have some of the best written stories, and most thought provoking characters in gaming. Half Life one and two manage to tell a fascinating story, with rich characters, without the need for long lengthy cut scenes, or boring text dumps. The game play is nearly uninterrupted while you uncover a fascinating, emotionally poignant plotline that is up there with the very best of film. Portal, too, manages to capture this level of storytelling and mechanical synthesis in one of the most memorable titles ever created.
Blizzard: While they have made some controversial decisions since merging with activision, there can be no doubt that blizzard has made some of the most important titles of all time. Diablo, World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Overwatch... every title they release is a blockbuster success that defines it's respective genre. Many of their games become national pastimes in some countries, earning the love of millions of fans. People have gotten married in world of warcraft, or felt empowered by the representation in overwatch. There can be no doubt that there is a unique magic in Blizzard titles that is unlike anything else.
