Epic Default Productions

I heard a quote on NPR the other morning that got my brain working overtime.  Guillermo del Toro, director of many great movies, said “In the next 10 years, there will be an earthshaking Citizen Kane of games.”  Although I have not made a determination on whether his statement is correct, in either the sheer elegance or time-frame of said game, I did wonder, “What video game(s) out today would come close (or maybe even meet) the criteria of Citizen Kane?”

First, I should probably qualify this question.  What makes a Citizen Kane video game and why use that movie as the benchmark?  The reason why that movie is named is because it is highly rated.  Although for some it may not be the best movie ever, it is considered by many a masterpiece, able to withstand time’s dangerous grasp.  The cinematography, direction, scripts, and actors in Citizen Kane make for one elegant movie.  The qualifications for a video game cannot be the exact same as a movie.  The two mediums, while having similar qualities, do not behave or interact with the viewer in the same way, the basic concept can be achieved.  For the qualifications: a video game should have a complex and captivating storyline which is still easy to follow; a visually artistic style; a gorgeous and captivating musical score; a concept that does not solely rely on a single characteristic of the video game for a games stature (not a genre, but a single quality of the video game that holds the game together, think murder and GTA);  character development which is complete and engrossing; game-play that doesn’t feel like playing, but more like interaction with the events laid out before the player; and the ability to withstand the test of time.  These qualifications can seem broad, unachievable, sometimes confusing, and grandiose, though I believe this will force the best of the best to shine.  On top of all of the stipulations presented here, I have also decided to force myself to look at individual video games only, not series, since taking the “Zelda” or “Final Fantasy” way out would serve to only cheapen the objective.  Just as Citizen Kane is only a single movie, I too shall only choose single games.

As I do not wish to turn this article into a long series of adoration-ridden reviews, I shall simply list video games that could possibly be considered the closest we have to Citizen Kane video games.  I will probably miss a few fantastic video games here, and for those video games I apologize; some video games that may be considered fantastic by some I have left out due to their lack in once category or another.  In no particular order they are:

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Super Mario 64

Super Metroid

Dragon Warrior

Chrono Trigger

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Metal Gear Solid

Resident Evil 4

Final Fantasy VII

All of these video games, in some way, shape form or fashion, have multiple characteristics that make them worthy of being held up as possible candidates for being the penultimate of achievement in video game creation.  They all are fantastic games that deserve to be in the proverbial hall of greatness of video games.  There is one game that I have not mentioned that one could rather easily argue is the current Citizen Kane of video games.

Final Fantasy VI

Without spending the next twelve paragraphs gushing over its greatness, I will say that this game is the best of the best.  Remembering that it was released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo (called FF3 in the states) this game was state-of-the-art at the time.  Every single one of its facets excelled beyond what anyone would have ever expected.  If you have never played this game, you are missing out on a work of art that draws you in and holds you tightly throughout the course of its story.  While it may not be the Citizen Kane video game that has been prophesized, I believe that out of the current games available today, FF6 is the closest there possibly is to perfection.

I now present you the opportunity to discuss my opinions and reveal your own.  Comments are ready below, and the forums stand willing to receive your nerd-rage.