[quote name='Jimbo Slice']I have a problem ranking stuff that is in the middle, but stuff that is absolute cream of the crop (SotN, FF7, Resident Evil 4) I have no problem ranking.[/QUOTE]
I can tell you what games I think are cream of the crop, but I have problems saying "Resident Evil 4 was #2 all time" and "Final Fantasy 7 was #6 all time". They're different genres, so I feel out of place trying to rank them against each other.
Now... on the other hand, within a series, I can spout lists of ranking all day.
[quote name='zewone']SotN > Super Metroid
RPG elements all day.[/QUOTE]
Hell yes -- like, all the different weapons and drops and loot... Metroid was a few different weapons and then you just ran around grabbing capacity increases. Not that it's bad, but the variety and random loot nature of SOTN plus the experience element -- just great.
The "spells" were kind of a nice touch too, since you could randomly discover them at any time, provided you had the requirements... weapons with special attacks and abilities... blows my mind.
The only games to come close after SotN were the Sorrow games (Aria/Dawn); Circle of the Moon wasn't bad either -- probably more along the lines of what Simon's Quest should've been.