special guest blog by Scott Thurlow
As a disclaimer: many might notice this list is frontloaded with the newest gen console games for the most part. This is because they are the best looking and playing. The older gen, ie. xbox and ps2 had some quite good games, but the genre really picked up with the second gen/third gen of those consoles.
1. Halo
[franchise if I can get away with that. includes: Combat Evolved, 2, 3, and ODST]
Halo was THE first person shooter [FPS] for a while. It started off the online multiplayer versus craze and each sequel was a welcome addition and improvement upon the last. It became the standard against which all future games like it were measured.
2. Fallout 3
[along with all the downloadable content released after the game itself]
Combined an amazingly detailed and depicted post-apocalyptic world with fantastic gameplay, story, and allowances for character customization. 100 + hours worth of game time.
3. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The new and current king of online FPS. Basically perfected the genre in Halo’s wake. It will be interesting to see what the next big FPS is after this game.
4. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Hands down the best superhero game ever made. The player truly feels like they are the Batman. The story and detailed elements from the Batman mythos included are icing on the bat cake.
5. Bioshock
A sleeper hit that became a classic, combines solid FPS action with a storyline way more intelligent than any game has the right to be, complete with surprising moral twists.
6. Grand Theft Auto 4
[includes the DLCs for Lost and Damned, Ballad of Gay Tony]
Best of the GTAs by far. Rum rampant in a digitized Manhattan while following a movie-quality gangster/mafia plot.
7. Half-Life 2
Not only was a great game itself, but was also a blueprint for the FPSs that followed in its footsteps, i.e. Halo and CoD. A deserved classic.
8. World of Warcraft
Not sure if further commenting about WoW is necessary. Even if you’ve never played it you’ve surely heard of it. Largest and most popular MMORPG in game history.
9. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Like playing an Indiana Jones movie, the quality of this game has to experienced to be appreciated.
10. Little Big Planet
Innovative way to get players to interact more directly with the game software, giving casual and hardcore gamers alike a way to create, edit and alter the game levels and style itself and share the mods via online linkup.
Not one mention of Super Mario Galaxy? I understand this is a top 10 list, and maybe it didn’t make your cut, but not even an honorable mention? It was an amazing game that defines what the Wii is capable of doing.
A truly great reunion. Nice going everybody.
the enw GTA was by far the best, after 200 hours of gameplay i am still at it