[10] Gears of War 3, XBOX 360
-Unlike the tradition established in the movie industry, video game sequels (and, in this case, threequels) often seem to eclipse the quality of their predecessors. Gears 3 is a prime example of this. The fine-tuning and polish in both the campaign and the streamlined multiplayer attest to the acumen of developer Epic Games. While Gears 1 and 2 are excellent in their own right, the improvements offered in Gears 3, along with its surprisingly moving story, make it the definitive game in the series.
[9] Batman Arkham Asylum, XBOX 360
-Rocksteady saved Batman. Batman Arkham Asylum revives the Dark Knight from an appalling legacy of undeniably poor video game outings. Batman is the perfect character to be the star of a video game, and Rocksteady should be given the key to Gotham City for bringing the legendary crime fighter to life in Arkham Asylum. The game portrays Batman the way he should be represented: not only as a badass martial arts expert who can wipe out entire rooms of henchmen, but also as a resourceful and intelligent strategist, who adeptly uses his gadgets and the environment he finds himself in to outsmart and outwit his foes. Rocksteady also gets major props for the fidelity of the Arkham Asylum setting: a grimy, gritty place that feels so far detached from the outside world that it becomes clear that Batman is the only hope for stopping the inmates from running it.
[8] Super Mario Galaxy, Wii
-The fun factor of the Mario series' characteristic silky smooth platforming is enhanced by clever gravity effects in Mario's first foray into space.
[7] Grand Theft Auto IV, XBOX 360
-Look past the carjacking and brutality, and you will find a vibrant setting brought to life by the complex, interwoven story lines of Liberty City's most colorful residents. It is easy to feel sympathy for protagonist Niko Bellic, a man of Eastern European descent, who leaves his homeland in an attempt to escape his troubled past and to forge a new life for himself in the states.
[6] Bayonetta, XBOX 360
-Unlike many other games, Bayonetta does not pretend to be a movie or a sophisticated piece of artwork. Instead, it proudly flaunts the fact that it is a video game, and that its sole purpose is to deliver fun. A perfect control scheme and graphics like no other game make Bayonetta one of the most unique and gratifying experiences of this generation.
[5] Limbo, XBOX 360
-Of all the games I have played throughout my entire life, Limbo conveys a sense of place like no other. Its spare, lugubrious environment of black and white gives rise to a gripping sense of isolation. With no script or cinema, Limbo harkens back to a time when games demanded that players use their imaginations to fill in story elements.
[4] Bioshock, XBOX 360
-I was locked into the world of Bioshock for three straight days. It was one of those games that I just couldn't get enough of. Built on the philosophical premise of Ayn Rand's social philosophy, Bioshock is an intelligent adventure that uproots many of the familiar traditions of first-person shooters. The real star of Bioshock is its setting, Rapture, an underwater city of destroyed beauty that is dark, haunting, and overflowing with intimate secrets demanding the player's attention.
[3] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
-A marked improvement from its predecessor, Oblivion, Skyrim marks another success for developer Bethesda. An enhanced, streamlined leveling system and a nearly inexhaustible amount of content make it so easy to get lost in the world of Skyrim.
[2] Red Dead Redemption-Developer Rockstar Games is the master of the open world genre. In Red Dead Redemption, the developer ventures westward from the bustling cityscapes of their Grand Theft Auto games to a western landscape peppered with serene plains, snow-capped mountains, and towns filled with outlaws and desperados. Red Dead Redemption delivers one of the most emotionally charged stories in video game history, one filled with colorful characters, large doses of humor, and one of the most surprising -- and satisfying-- endings you will experience in videogamedom. Drawing from the most revered of western literature and films, the world and story of Red Dead Redemption exude the best components of their source material, creating a sense of isolation, and the subtle existential feelings that arise from the tremendous sense of place that the game expertly depicts. It's not the raucous gunfights that necessarily capture the spirit of Red Dead Redemption for me; rather it was the sense of wonder that I was overcome with as, I, for example, witnessed the enchanting palette of hues radiating from the sunrise as it slowly crept over the horizon, my horse racing through open plains of remarkable beauty. Moments like these are what I think about when I reminisce about Red Dead Redemption, a game that I would consider to be a transcendent masterwork, an ideal example for demonstrating how games are evolving from trite, disposable diversions to fully realized and compelling worlds rife with emotional appeal.
[1] Mass Effect 2
-Mass Effect 2 is the definitive game of this console generation. As Commander Shepard, you investigate the widespread disappearance of colonists from locations across the galaxy, while at the same time assembling a crew of companions to accompany you on your mission and working to uncover the motivations of Cerberus, the dark and enigmatic organization that brought you back from death. Mass Effect 2 challenges you with weighty moral dilemmas, demanding decisions that will not only impact your own character and his crew, but will ultimately penetrate an entire galaxy. Seeing your weighty moral decisions have a profound influence on an entire game world represents a revolutionary feedback system, unrivaled by any other game, past or present. Commander Shepard is your character, an individual whose moral identity-- forged in the original Mass Effect (if you played it)--is further developed by the path you choose for him. Do you give into your passions and destroy anyone and anything that obstructs your mission? Do you recognize a moral responsibility to protect the galaxy from the deadly reapers and accordingly commit to righteous action at every turn? Or, perhaps you recalibrate your character's moral compass, choosing a path distinctive from your choices in the original game. Mass Effect 2 offers players an abundance of interesting options, handing them full control over the fate of their character, his crew, and the galaxy at large. All this control over the game world would not be so fulfilling, however, if it weren't substantiated by a compelling story and characters worthy of your guidance and protection. Luckily, Mass Effect 2 legitimizes this tremendous sense of agency with a world and characters that are easy to care about. As Commander Shepard, you want to preserve the lives of all your crew members (who, by the way, can perish if you falter in the execution of your mission), and you want to see your mission through. You truly get the sense that you are at the heart of the galaxy's fate: you are the force that will determine everything. This is a story with meaning, with character, with purpose, and it challenges players in ways to which they are not accustomed.
Ultimately, Mass Effect 2 has a palpable enduring power. Upon seeing Shepard's mission through to completion, I realized that it was this idea that my actions and choices had real weight, real influence, is what made Mass Effect 2 so different from any other game. This is a game that moves far beyond genre traditions, empowering players with an incredible sense of freedom and choice. Where other games often build barriers around the player to ensure smooth and simple functioning of core gameplay mechanics, Mass Effect 2 blows open doors for him by constantly presenting decision-making scenarios, which -- depending on the individualized choices of the player -- can completely alter the course of the storyline. Mass Effect 2 is a game that will be talked about for years and years, and will sit atop many a gamer's all-time favorite list. Boasting a heavily considered design that demonstrates an incredible attention to detail, Mass Effect 2 is without a doubt my favorite game of this generation, and one of my favorite games of all-time.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, 3DS*
Mass Effect, XBOX 360Borderlands, XBOX 360
Deus Ex: Human Revolution, XBOX 360Heavy Rain, PS3
Halo Reach, XBOX 360
Donkey Kong Country Returns, Wii
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wii
New Super Mario Bros Wii, Wii
Resistance: Fall of Man, PS3
NBA 2K12, XBOX 360
MLB 11: The Show, PS3
Crysis 2, XBOX 360Super Meat Boy, XBOX 360
*Would have made the list, but since it's a remake, I decided to leave it off. The original Nintendo 64 version is my favorite game of all-time.
1 comment:
No Halo 3?
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