Rank a Game Series

If you've ever read the Kotaku feature "Pecking Order," you'll know how this works. For those who don't, listen up. 
 
Pick any game franchise you've ever played and rank every main game in said series from #1 to #5. No spinoffs and (for games like FF) no direct sequels. For instance, pick Final Fantasy X, XI, XII, but NOT X-2, XIII-2, XIII Lightning Returns, etc.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, to kick things off, give a warm RPG Maker welcome to...

CIVILIZATION

For this ranking, we'll only rank Civilization, Civ II, Civ III, Civ IV and CiV. No Call to Power, no Revolution (2), no Alpha Centauri, no Beyond Earth.

#1 :-: Civilization III

The first game in the franchise to introduce things like workers, scouts, culture and leaderheads, Civ III is the Civilization game to play. The game is fun (though a little slow,) complex, intuitive and the graphics stand out even today. It's a pretty amazing game overall.

#2 :-: Civilization IV

The first game in the franchise since II not to be in an isometric format, but rather a top-down game at a slight angle, Civ IV is a fun, fast-paced game with narration by Leonard Nimoy. Hearing him quote Sputnik is reason enough to play this game. Oh, and religion. This game added religion, which is clearly more important than hearing Spock going "Beep, beep, beep..."

#3 :-: Civilization V

I'll say this; while still a good game, it feels... incomplete. A step backwards from Civilization IV. Combine that with an absurd price for DLC and rather dull expansions that rehash concepts that were introduces in Civ IV and SHOULD have been in the base game and you've got a game that goes one step forward and eight steps back.

#4 :-: Civilization

The first game in the franchise isn't terribly great, in my mind. The graphics (in my 14-year-old mind) don't age well (though they have charm) and the game mechanics are far too simple for my taste. It's not a very great game. Not bad by any stretch, but not great.

#5 :-: Civilization II

This was the first game in the franchise I ever played. I did not have a good introduction to the series. Back in the day, I thought this game was great! My feelings changed around the time I first tried games like Alpha Centauri and Civ III. Civ II just kinda... sucks. It hasn't held up. Test of Time (the updated version) is better, but not by much, being mostly a graphical update that gave new Alpha Centauri-styled sprites to the game, a few new gamemodes and moved the GUI from the right side to the top of the screen. Still, it's not enough to make this game good in my mind. It's slow and confusing to new players. Something had to take 5th, and it was this game.

FF12: Unparalleled gameplay, astonishing graphics, real-time combat, an intriguing story - and it was a marvel. Not everyone likes the gambit system because the gameplay was not like traditional FF - or they felt it was clunky or whatever, but I loved it. It was an absolute joy to play, to the extent that even after losing a copy and the manual to a friend that never returned it, I rebought it to finish it! (Curse Girugevan though...)


FF9: The hallmark of the PS1 era, FF9 combined amazing graphical powers in cutscenes with well-balanced and smart gameplay. Negative aspects of this game are linked to the power that a PS1 had in its time, so there were slow-loading battles. However, once loaded and once the game gets going, it really shines. It feels like a proper 'game'.


FF3: One of the first FF games I played, this game had its own unique charm. With multiple worlds to traverse as well as fairly linear dungeons, the game often felt like a trudge. However, the rewards outweighed any downsides of these quests/dungeons/encounters, so it felt rather intuitive in the end.


FF4: Unfortunately, the story of this game dipped after the volcano segment. If it had spun quicker to its conclusion, the tale may have been easier to bear. However, the return of old friends and foes during the game makes this a classic game not to be forgotten anytime soon.


I have not completed FF1, 2, 6, 7 or 10, and I do not wish to put 13 on this list!

The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series


Warning: May contain minor spoilers!


#5. Season 2, Episode 5 - No Going Back


Even though the finale tugs the heart strings with too much calculation and manipulation, leading you to feel perhaps tricked into feeling emotion by providing some of the series' less-inspired player punches, the ending is satisfying enough to warrant a place on this list. Season 2, while not being as high in quality as the first, does provide a solid coda to Clementine's slow awakening, to reveal her fully matured and self-sufficient.


#4. Season 1, Episode 3 - A Long Road Ahead


This episode is an action-packed ride, as well as providing some valuable exposition and raising mysterious questions that will be resolved in the finale. Walking Dead packs on the foreshadowing, as A Long Road Ahead sits on the rollercoaster climbing the hill, ready to brace itself for the drop that releases when Episode 5 will come. But the climb is just as important, and Episode 3 climbs with the steadiest pace.


#3. Season 2, Episode 3 - In Harm's Way


This heist-themed episode emphasized stealth over confrontation, and without trying to reveal too much, let me just say that Clementine is a badass in this episode. Well, at least when I played her.


#2. Season 1, Episode 2 - Starved for Help


Where Episode 1 provided the platform for horror to blossom, Starved for Help mowed all those darn daisies down with a huge chainsaw. In one of the most stunning turns of the series, a realization turns out to be severely detrimental to the already thin sinews that hold this disparate group of outcasts together.


#1. Season 1, Episode 5 - No Time Left


It is the finale to the series' bruising first season that provides slowly mounting terror and a sense of dread, as well as purveying the tension and warmth of father-daughter relationships in games (I <3 you, Clementine!). No Time Left is the apex of Lee and co.'s journey, providing a climax that defined the series. No Time Left's ending is not its sole strength, though - several moral dilemmas are introduced, each seeming to be more harrowing than the last, and experiencing this through the eyes of a protective "father figure" and watching the things he will do to sacrifice to protect his adopted "child" might break your heart.

PHANTASY STAR

1. PHANTASY STAR 4

Best plot and prod values, gameplay a bit too straightforward



2. PHANTASY STAR 2

Impressive atmosphere, very difficult (which I like) but probably a bit too rough on the edges



3. PHANTASY STAR 3

Great idea with the generation system but less complex and developed than the other 2.



4. PHANTASY STAR

Pretty amazing for a Master System but only 4 characters and a dungeon view ala Shining in the Darkness which I like less.

Breath of Fire Series

#1  I started in on the franchise rather late, and didn't play BoF 1 until it came on on the GBA.  It's your typical Japanese RPG, with similar elements as most games.  The only feature that really stood out from the rest was the fact that your main character was a dragon and could transform into one at will.  It didn't delve very much into backstory or character development, which is a sad thing, as I probably would have liked it better if it had.  The rest of the game was superb.

#2  Is the one game out of the series that I still haven't finished.  It's a very good game, and is probably one of the first that has you start out as a child, then, due to traumatic experience, has you age into a grown individual.  Character development was also found here, though a bit limited due to a poor English translation.  The game featured an antagonist in the form of the church/religion, which I feel is still one of the few games to accomplish this in a successful manner without being preachy.  And you can turn into a dragon.  wewt!

#3  This was the very first game out of the series that I played, AND the very first rpg for me ever.  As such, it holds a special place in my heart.  Funny thing is, when I rented this from Blockbuster for the first time,  I could not, for the life of me, get past this first section...which was literally just clicking on a strangely-colored wall.  I didn't understand rpgs back then :(  I picked it up again when I was older, and that's when I really found joy in the game.  I loved the main character to bits, all the other characters had a lot of personality and backstory, and again the game featured this child-to-adult mechanic that I had not seen anywhere else.  Again, you could turn into a dragon, but this time you collected these jewels throughout the map/story that could help you turn into different elements of dragon, or even different types based on your party.  It was cool, and the story was well-crafted.  It competes with #4 as my favorites of the series.

#4  4 was a masterpiece in my opinion.  I loved every single bit of it, from the plot to the characters to the way they changed the dragon forms into embodiments of actual elemental god dragons that you had to find.  It felt like a lot longer of a story than it actually was, which wasn't a bad thing.  You followed two character-  Ryu, who was the essential hero meant to challenge the antagonist...and then the Antagonist himself, who didn't seem THAT bad, and of whom I felt more sympathy for, due to the fact that he turned 'bad' solely because of his experiences with those trying to kill him.  I really, really, liked this way of storytelling, and made the ending all that more epic once you confronted each other.  I won't spoil anything else, only show you the intro video to the game...because I had this sucker on repeat because it was soooo good.




#5 - Dragon Quarter -  This game gets a lot of slack for changing a lot of the traditional game elements the series had.  For one, rather than embrace the idea of turning into a dragon in battle, this one punished you for using it too long.  There was a timer that would keep track of when you went dragon, and once you reached 100%?  Game over, hardcore!  While I wished with all my heart that I could be all cool draggy rawr, that didn't mean that I disliked this game.  It just went a different path.  For example, the entire game was underground.  The goal was in fact to reach the surface, which, was pretty neat, even though it left the environment dark and depressing.  The characters again, were very good, actually featuring a talking main hero.  I didn't make it to the end of this one- the game is challenging, but I'm glad the series decided to experiment a bit with the nature of their game, even if it wasn't liked very well by the fanbase.

Another intro, cause I liked this one too xD

From best to worst, not counting MMOs or ones I haven't played (FFV).

1) Final Fantasy XIII

2) Final Fantasy XII

3) Final Fantasy X

4) Final Fantasy VIII

5) Final Fantasy VII

6) Final Fantasy IX

7) Final Fantasy VI

8) Final Fantasy IV

9) Final Fantasy III

10) Final Fantasy

11) Final Fantasy II - Excruciatingly bad gameplay.

Classic Mega Man! So, 1-10. (to be really specific, 1-6 for the NES, 7 for SNES, 8 for PS1, and 9 and 10 as digital titles)

#1: Mega Man 9

Versus Dr. Light!? Mega Man went back to 8-bit, and it worked out so well. The game's got a good challenge, great gameplay, very catchy music, great boss weapons, and the same old Mega Man charm. Not to mention some of my favorite robot master designs (Splash Woman, Hornet Man, Galaxy Man). It features some modes new to Mega Man, but since most are DLC I don't want to count them. But playing as Proto Man is pretty cool, even if I'm terrible at using him. I want to take off points for removing charging and sliding (for Mega Man) but I do worse as Proto Man so...

#2: Mega Man 4

Versus Dr. Cossack! Okay, I admit I'm a little biased towards MM4. It was the first Mega Man title I owned, but that was actual a double-edged sword. It had that "FIRST" charm to it, but at the same time, I got tired of it after a while, playing the other games was so refreshing after being "stuck" with only MM4. But when I go back to it, it's got that mysterious factor to it. Great variety of robot masters, including my all-time favorite, Pharaoh Man. Has some cool and diverse weapons. Introduces the Mega Buster, but I feel it's pretty balanced in this game.

#3: Mega Man 8

Versus Dr. Wily! The graphics have changed so much from the 8-bit games, and I welcome it. The music is pretty different from most Mega Man tunes, but it's enjoyable in it's own way. Has one of my favorite robot masters, Tengu Man! The voice acting in the US version is pretty corny, but I enjoyed it...mainly for the bosses, they have so much extra personality! One of the coolest things about MM8 is the customization. With a limited currency, you can buy upgrades for Mega Man, like faster sliding, faster climbing, faster charging, less recoil when hit, and even different Mega Busters! I love that laser. Also, this game introduces a cool new character, Duo! Not that he's featured much afterwards.

#4: Mega Man 3

Versus...???? MM3 was so ambitious and sadly, a lot of planned content was cut. It's still larger than most other Mega Man games, instead of having a long Wily Castle or two castles, it's got the Doc Robots, a cool idea that I'd like to see more (fighting imitations of bosses from past games in the series) Great music, great gameplay (okay, you know what, that's pointless to mention for classic Mega Man!) Shadow Man was always a favorite. Introduces Proto Man, one of the coolest characters still. Also introduces good ol' sliding and trusty Rush!

#5: Mega Man 7

Versus Dr. Wily! Like MM8, this game stands out for not using 8-bit graphics. The music is different but still memorable. Freeze Man is pretty cool (pun intended), and he's one of my favorite boss fights to fight without any boss weapons. Has some neat secrets, and some different boss mechanics, like boss resistances! Try out different weapons on the bosses, the results may surprise you. This is the game that introduces Bass! Who for some reason got to be a playable character before Proto Man. Eh. Oh, and the final boss is TOUGH. Probably the hardest out of any Mega Man game I've played (that includes most Mega Man X games, Mega Man Zero games, and Battle Network games)

#6: Mega Man 10

Versus Dr. Wily! Another retro game like MM9, but it's less like MM2 than it's predecessor. Some of the boss fights are pretty tough without the weakness weapon. Proto Man isn't DLC locked, so that's cool. For the DLC character, it's Bass! For some reason I can't fathom, I haven't downloaded Bass yet, as he's DLC I'll just pretend to not count him. I've always loved Sheep Man.

#7: Mega Man 2

Versus Dr. Wily! Most people's favorite classic Mega Man, and for good reason. A huge step up from it's predecessor, with more variety, more fair gameplay, refined gameplay, and some great music. Why is it 7th for me? Well, I love lots of the features added into later games that aren't in MM2. There's also lots of little things about MM2 that add up into something greater. There's several cheap instances, like bosses only vulnerable to one weapon and that doesn't include the buster. The final boss only being vulnerable to one weapon. Air Man sometimes being impossible to dodge. Heat Man's blocks...Things like that. I think it's a great game but I've always felt something was missing. Always thought Quick Man was cool.

#8: Mega Man 6

Versus Mr. X! I love the game's World Tournament Theme. Notice how each robot master represents a different country? It's something that gives MM6 it's own identity. Features some great music, and cool robot master designs (Knight Man!). Has "fake bosses", which give you less reward than the real boss. But...lots of enemies are kind of...bland, and the boss weapons aren't particularly exciting...This game also features probably my least favorite Mega Man boss. I believe it's Mr. X Castle stage 1, maybe 2, it's a boss on the wall that drops rocks on you. It's REALLY hard to beat without a weapon, and I think it's the only boss in the series that's vulnerable to the buster that I never beat with just the buster...Also, the charged shot got a little too strong by MM6.

#9: Mega Man 5

Versus Proto Man!? Music is good, boss designs are good, gameplay is good...but it's lacking something. Simple boss weapons like MM6, a few bland enemies, drags it down. It's got similar problems to MM6, but MM6 gets higher for having that World Tournament theme. Also, I don't immediately think of a favorite robot master when I think of MM5! On second thought, Napalm Man is pretty cool! This is the game that introduced Beat, but he was kinda overpowered, sucked some challenge out of the game.

#10: Mega Man

Versus Dr. Wily, for the first time! It started it all, but it hasn't aged as well the others. The gameplay is solid but less refined than the other games, Mega Man is slippery! It's got some really cheap moments, like the Yellow Devil (what a memorable battle though!), those platforms that move randomly and shoot you, and even those platforms in Guts Man's level. Still, the music is good and the robot masters are simple but effective in design. Which fits as they are first chronologically and storywise. Pretty challenging, try fighting Elec Man without his weakness!

Phew, that took way longer than I wanted it to! Maybe because I've never ranked Mega Man games before! To be honest though, depending on my mood I'd probably change the order, maybe a little, maybe a lot. They are all pretty good after all. (also, was listening to Mega Man music as I typed this up, big surprise!)

Is it just the top 5 in the series that we need to mention? I haven't played all that many series that reach this number, but all right, since many people have already gone into Final Fantasy, I'll mention my top 5 in that:

#1 - Final Fantasy VII

Super difficult for me to pick the favourite between this and FFVI, but since this was my first FF game and I completed it more than any others, I've decided it deserves to be at #1. Despite the rather bad early 3D graphics, this game not only excels at every other aspect, but it makes you completely overlook the bad graphics and get immersed in its setting regardless of that. It's also one of those rare games where I could actually tolerate grinding, because the battles were so fun that I didn't mind fighting on and on for ages. The soundtrack is easily one of my favourites in the series, and of course the story and characters are extremely memorable, and not only the main heroes, but many of the NPCs as well.

#2 - Final Fantasy VI

I was admittedly a pretty late newcomer to the FF series, a very late one. Despite that, I still ended up enjoying many of the older titles, and FFVI really stood out for me with its amazing characters, amazing soundtrack, and really really fun battles where each character was different. It also really blew me away with the way its plot headed at the halfway point in the game (those who played it will know what I'm talking about), because it was very unexpected and somewhat dark.

#3 - Final Fantasy IX

Now let me tell you something. I really find it hard to get immersed in whimsical settings with whimsical, cartoonish characters. So how on Earth did FFIX captivate me? I have no idea. Maybe because its story and characters were so well developed. It was quite unlike the other games in the series, and the whole cartoonish visual style is strangely alluring. In my opinion the most underrated game in the series.

#4 - Final Fantasy X

Beautiful visuals, great music, and a great battle system. The idea of finally being able to swap characters in battle is one of the best things to ever happen to the series and it also served as inspiration for me to do the same in my games. In addition to that, making each character effective against certain types of monsters added a whole new layer of strategy to the game. The only things I didn't like so much - the early stages of the game were a bit too cutscene-heavy, I wasn't fond of Tidus or Yuna as characters much, and I never cared for Blitzball. Other than that, great game and very enjoyable. I played it within the same month as I played FFXII, and FFXII failed to captivate me (even many hours into the game), yet FFX succeeded.

#5 - Final Fantasy VIII

Admittedly I have not completed it, but I played a significant chunk and enjoyed the gameplay a lot. Wasn't too fond of most of the characters, hence why this game isn't so high on the list for me, but the gameplay and music made it worth it.

Next series I'm going to do is Castlevania.