4) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night... I suck at this game. I'm no good at all. However, I like watching other people play this game. There was a lot of ambition with this game, a lot of imagination, and it was first time that they used Metroid as an influence for Castlevania. Don't get me started on the soundtrack. It's incredible and it could be the best in the series. Tough call, because Rondo of Blood and Castlevania 4 are very good in their own merits. I can't play this game because I suck, but I know a good game when I see one.
3) Final Fantasy 9... It was a tough one between this and Final Fantasy 7 but I absolutely love Final Fantasy 9. I just played it recently and I was hooked. I love that Buzz Lightyear knight named Steiner and that little Orko named Vivi. The cutscenes were so good, that it pains me that this wasn't used for the movie that caused Square to be almost bankrupt. I felt more involved with the story and characters in this one, as well. Don't get me wrong, as Final Fantasy 7 also had great characters and an engrossing story, I just have a soft spot for FF9. It is my second favorite RPG behind Final Fantasy 4.
2) Metal Gear Solid... I remember playing the demo for this over and over. It was so much fun. When the actual game came out, I just couldn't stop playing it. It was one of the first games that introduced me to great voice acting. I think Snatcher for Sega CD was the other. Although future installments of the MGS series approved upon this game, this one still, to me, has one of the stronger stories and memorable villains. Why else would they use them again in other MGS games? I feel like the PS1 version is a little outdated now, but the voice acting and the experience always keeps me coming back.
1) Resident Evil 2... This game always had a major influence to me when it came to writing stories. I was absolutely enthralled with this game when it came out and it almost seemed too big where they wouldn't find ways to improve upon it in future incarnations. I really liked how you are hunted by that mutated doctor and later when Mr. X shows up and chases you, it gets really tense. They had two discs that came with it where you can play as Leon on one disc and Claire in the other. It was the only way to get the best ending. The ending was worth it, by the way. The game was a major improvement over the first Resident Evil, and even though I was late in the Resident Evil bandwagon, this game cemented my love for the franchise.