30 years of the greatest games
To start, the game has to grab my attention.
Then, it takes a lot of my easily interrupted brain to make me want to finish it.
To actually go onto complete a game and be happy I did, that's very rare indeed.
Here are all of the games (in no particular order) that have created an experience for me that I still remember.
You'll probably see a trend with me and sequels I think.
Then, it takes a lot of my easily interrupted brain to make me want to finish it.
To actually go onto complete a game and be happy I did, that's very rare indeed.
Here are all of the games (in no particular order) that have created an experience for me that I still remember.
You'll probably see a trend with me and sequels I think.
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- DirectorCasey HudsonStarsShohreh AghdashlooMaggie BairdAdam BaldwinAfter being revived from death and having to join a pro-human organization without a choice, Commander Shepard must assemble a team, battle a new threat, and make tough choices in order to save the galaxy from total annihilation once more.Initially I tried playing the first title but it just always felt clunky and slow. For whatever reason I decided to try the 2nd (due to all of the accolades the 1st received).
It clicked. Mass Effect 2 started with a far stronger story, and built a universe that I wanted to explore.
The characters, the visuals, the stars, the story.
Just majestic. - DirectorKen LevineStarsTroy BakerCourtnee DraperKiff VandenHeuvelA man is sent to the flying city of Columbia to find a missing girl. However, upon arrival he discovers that the city, its people, and his objective are all not what they seem.You might see a trend with my list here... as I'll spend my time explaining why the original titles didn't grab me (like Mass Effect, the original Bioshock(s) etc) and why this one did..
I could see what the original games were trying to do. The ambience, the visuals, and the story. But they just didn't resonate with me, and overall they just came across too animated and ultimately hollow.
However, Infinite just clicked with me.
From the opening scene to actually traversing the world. I was hooked (pun intended!). The story of Booker and Elizabeth just drew me into a corrupt and fascinating world built on faith and prejudice.
While the action was relatively linear, I found the shooting simple and fun. With the story and acting building to a fantastic finale that just made me rethink the game over and over (in a good way).
An honourable mention goes to Dishonoured. Similar in parts by it's utopian setting and 1st person view. It was stronger by it's open world/ sandbox and ability to build multiple options for each goal. However for me, Bioshock Infinite, although simpler in it's options was more focussed in it's idea and direction. So I was comfortable to be on 'rails' more. - DirectorAmy HennigBruce StraleyStarsNolan NorthEmily RoseClaudia BlackAfter being tracked down by Harry Flynn, Nathan Drake goes on a quest for Marco Polo's lost fleet. However when things take an unexpected turn for the worst, Drake must rely on those closest to him in order to find the Cintomani Stone.I always wanted to play this game - and I forced myself to play through the 1st so that I could (hopefully) enjoy the 2nd.
Uncharted 1 was actually a very difficult slog for me. Like so many freshmen projects, the idea was there but the balance and execution wasn't quite right.
The characters were fantastic, but that was about it. I was never really a Tomb Raider fan (I found the story bland, the shooting bad, and the relic hunting just OK), so I wasn't looking for just another variation.
It had a relatively passe story, and unbalanced shooting mechanics (too many bad guys + bad controls = frustration and boredom). After completing the first game I was actually put off playing this as I felt so deflated after forcing myself to finish it.
One day, I was a little bored and thought, well, I may as well see what this one looks like and then I can actually play it properly in a few months when I'm not feeling so bitter.
I never put it down.
From the opening scene (one of the best opening scenes for a game I've had) it just absolutely blew me away. Everything was fixed from the first.
The movement, the shooting mechanics, the story, the graphics, the sound, the acting. Everything was just beautiful.
This, this felt like I was playing the first four Indiana Jones movies in a game - and just when I thought I had nearly finished it, I was gifted with even more levels that never felt tacked on or unnecessary.
An absolute masterpiece, and a game I've finished countless times, and probably will continue to.
Honourable mention: I was so excited to play the 3rd installment that I guess it could have never lived up to what I hoped for.
While Uncharted 2 was perfect for me, where else could they go with 3? The backstory was wonderful, and the 3D made my eyes bleed (in a good way), but there was just no way that they could have the same leap in game from the 1st to 2nd, as the 2nd to 3rd. At least not on that generation of consoles....(bring on 4!!) they improved the animation, added some further effects, and essentially tidied up the game. However, unlike Mass Effect 3, Uncharted 3 wasn't aiming to close off a large sprawling trilogy, instead it was simply another instalment and because of this I haven't added it to my 'must haves'.
I just finished 3 again, and realised that while it had some memorable moments, as a whole it didn't really click as much as 2.Essentially it felt like DLC for 2. - StarsShawn FontenoNed LukeSteven OggThree very different criminals team up for a series of heists and walk into some of the most thrilling experiences in the corrupt city of Los Santos.if you don't like flawed characters then you're probably going to hate this game at least thrice..
So let's start with why I hated GTA IV (4), just in case you're like me, didn't like it and apprehensive at 5..
I'd played the first 2 on my old 486 when they had initially been released, and enjoyed the silliness of them but I had secretly always hoped for a 1st person open world.
The 3rd, and Vice City I managed to play a little on a friends Xbox (I had initially bought the console, gotten bored and then sold it) and I thought, yeah they look fun. One day I'll have time and play them properly.. I never really did, and sadly by the time I got to them they had aged too much for me to care.
I had played some of the variations on my GameCube that I thought were OK (True crime series) simple enough to direct me where I needed to go, but open enough to make me feel like I had control, but the fourth GTA never really looked that welcoming. It just didn't grab me, but I thought it'd had so many great reviews, it just had to be good right?
So I got the fourth. It was the PS3 version and grinded through an hour or two.
I hated it.
The graphics were muddy. The driving mechanics were clunky (probably the consoles fault), and the story. Well I just found it contrived and hollow. I just hated the over the top accents, and the 'I'm here to be a better person' but 'I will kill anyone for money' characters.
Later on, I got sleeping dogs and thought. "Wow, this is what I actually expected for GTAIV. Maybe it's just a graphics thing?".
So maybe I just need the modded version of 4 instead?
I bought GTA 4 on a steam sale, added the latest and greatest mods and played it.
Bored, and unimpressed, I stopped at the same place.
A few years later, I saw the trailer for GTA V and straight away I knew, that's a story I want to play.
I've always liked the disturbed, broken but real characters you can have from hedonistic situations (a la Californication, and Heat) so I couldn't wait. This time I would wait for the PC version, and hope that it didn't disappoint.
When I found out that GTA V was being released with a 1st person option.. I couldn't believe it. I mean I can play 3rd persons and enjoy them (see Naughty Dog games above) but I really like to be immersed in worlds, and that means 1st person for me. Including losing out on all of the 'helpful' ways 3rd person cameras can help.
So... I was going to wait until summer sales for GTA V... but thought... nah, I'll treat myself. I'm sure it'll meet my expectations as I knew what I was looking for... and boy was I right.
I played the whole thing in 1st person. Who wants to waste time with a 3rd person view? (Note: I've read a lot of garbage that commiting crimes in 1st person turns kids into psychopaths... but it is an adults game and anyone can imagine gruesome images. It doesn't mean they're going to do it in real life - OK rant over).
This time the driving (in car) was perfect, while the visuals, the visuals finally showed me why I didn't care in GTA IV. This time, I really felt like I was driving in a real world. This time, I happily wasted hours driving from point to point because it felt real.
I loved the gameplay, and loved the stories and acting.
My only gripe is that I wish that Franklin's character was a little less naive (in a way he is similar to Nico from GTA IV) and a bit more complex, but I still loved this.
With GTA V for this generation, I finally feel like we are moving into the open world game play that I always dreamed of. - DirectorCasey HudsonStarsJennifer HaleMark MeerKimberly BrooksEarth is under attack by a monstrous race of gigantic living ships known as the Reapers. Even if Commander Shepard could unite all surviving species in the galaxy, only a miracle could save them. Then again, Shepard did come back from the dead.Bigger, prettier, and grittier than the 2nd. All of the game mechanics and visuals were improved with the last in the Captain Shepard trilogy.
Unlike a lot of people who were disappointed in the conclusion, I loved it.
It's relentless and oppressive, and for me the ending was the only way to go. Building up decisions and a unique back story prior to this is what makes the world so great, and as they say it's the journey that is the most interesting.
Having (what may only feel) like restrictive options to conclude the saga, well, that's just life.
In other news, I've been trying to finish the 1st game now (after adding all of the additional visual mods etc). It's still OK, but just hasn't really grabbed me. I think I'll end up finishing it so that I can continue that character into the 2nd and 3rd when I play again.. in anticipation of 4 :D. - DirectorNeil DruckmannBruce StraleyStarsTroy BakerAshley JohnsonHana HayesIn a hostile, post-pandemic world, Joel and Ellie, brought together by desperate circumstances, must rely on each other to survive a brutal journey across what remains of the United States.I was expecting great things from this game but I have to be honest, I never truly got to play it properly as I was too scared about not experiencing it correctly.
After Uncharted 2 and 3, I was just ecstatic to see what direction Naughty Dog would take me.
From the beginning I knew it would be different. Slower, more thoughtful, and most likely more jarring.
The opening scene only had one place to go, and I was hooked. I finished the first few chapters, put the controller down and told myself that I would return to play the game properly when I had time, and the mood was right.
I never really came back. I would grab an hour or so here and there over the course of a year (which is normal for me), and it wasn't until I was half way I realised I had to just play it through to the end properly.
Still the overall game was magnificent. I won't say that there weren't some bland points to the game, but ultimately the sacrifices and story just drove home a wonderfully thought out and beautiful swan song for the PS3. - DirectorShigeru MiyamotoA plumber named Mario and his brother Luigi travel through the Mushroom Kingdom to save the princess from the evil Bowser.I remember having a dodgy version on a modified NTSC machine that I played in PAL.
We didn't have A/V plugs so at the time I couldn't get the audio to work properly..
It meant that I still have memories of having nightmares because I played this game so much without sound and I still loved it.
I loved it more once I heard the music and sound :D - DirectorKensuke TanabeMario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad enter a mysterious door to save the people of Sub-Con from the evil frog Wart and his minions.I know that this wasn't really a Mario Bros game (some other game where they just modified the sprites to be Mario characters for the US markets). I mean, tt was pretty obvious when you were picking up turnips (?) and carrying them around.
But.
This is actually my favourite Mario bros game ever.
Yes, Super Mario 3 was magical and amazing, but 2. 2 will forever be the first game where I worked out every single hidden warp I could. All by exploration and within a game that really rewarded me to try different things.
It was also one of the first games I had played, where different characters actually had different skills, and weren't just classified by their colours. - DirectorShigeru MiyamotoTakashi TezukaKing Koopa has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, taken over all seven kingdoms in the Mushroom World, and put his seven kids in charge of all of them. It's the Mario Brothers to the rescue.Mario Bros 1 grows up! Who can ever forget their first racoon suit, or the giant levels!
So many games (including Mario bros sequels) have copied from this.
A true masterpiece, and a game that still holds up. - DirectorJean-François DugasBlade ZavierStarsElias ToufexisStephen ShellenAndreas ApergisAfter a shadowy black ops team kidnaps several scientists security manager Adam Jensen was sworn to protect, he must harness the power of his new-found cybernetic augmentations to save their lives.Yes I played the first one, and no it didn't click (zzz OK OK you get it).
But fast forward a decade or so and this is the game that I wanted.
When you combine Blade Runner noire with first person mechanics, throw in some dark undertones, and pretty cool upgrades - and you have a game that really works.
I can't wait for the next sequel!! - StarsJohnpaul WilliamsRyu, Ken and a roster of six international newcomers compete to get the chance to take on the evil dictator M. Bison, the leader of the Shadaloo organization, who plans to brainwash the best fighters to work in his organization.
- StarsDaniel PesinaRichard DivizioCarlos PesinaSeven martial artists from Earth must battle in sorcerer Shang Tsung's super secret tournament.
- DirectorEd BoonJohn TobiasStarsRichard DivizioHo-Sung PakCarlos PesinaWhen emperor Shao Kahn invokes a Mortal Kombat tournament rematch, Raiden gathers his Earthrealm warriors and takes them into Outworld.
- DirectorAnne L. CoulombeJoe Della-SaviaOn this title from EA was explored a new generation of soccer games. With better graphics for the age and new game play features, the fun factor reached new levels and the game also, provided new ways of games and kinds of tournaments. Was one of pioneer.Prior to Fifa 95 I'd played pretty much every single football game. From 2D (Kick off, sensible soccer) to 3D (Actua soccer anyone?).
Fifa 95 was the first that felt like a real football game. Even though it was made by Canadians (although, I had loved the NHL series so it makes sense), and called soccer. - DirectorAlexey PazhitnovDifferently shaped blocks descend into a 2D container. The blocks can be moved and rotated, and must be sorted into the rest of the blocks on the fly.
- DirectorShinji MikamiKuniomi MatsushitaStarsPaul MercierCarolyn LawrenceRino RomanoSix years after the events in Raccoon City, Leon Kennedy, now a federal agent, is sent to a rural part of Spain to rescue the U.S. President's kidnapped daughter, Ashley Graham from a sinister cult.
- DirectorJustin BullardSean HorneBlade ZavierStarsWill Yun LeeEdison ChenKelly HuAsian-American cop Wei Shen goes undercover in Hong Kong to infiltrate a Triad organization. However, he is soon torn between his duty as a police officer and the organization he helped rise through the ranks.
- A spacecraft known as the Vic Viper must defend itself from the various alien enemies, in this horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game.
- Commonly considered as one of the most influential video games of all time, the goal is to defeat wave after wave of descending aliens with a horizontally moving laser cannon to earn as many points as possible.
- StarsTerri BrosiusHelen DunsmoirAustin GrossmanAboard a space station in a cyberpunk vision of the year 2072, a security hacker attempts to hinder the plans of a malevolent artificial intelligence called SHODAN.
- DirectorChris ParkerChris 'Crispy' BrionStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneMona MarshallAs the New Kid, discover the lost Stick of Truth, and earn your place at the side of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny as their new friend.
- DirectorJohn CarmackTomohiko SatoStarsKevin CloudDavid KoserubaChristopher MurveyIn the future, an unnamed marine fights for survival on a space station on Mars where the Union Aerospace Corporation accidentally opened up a physical portal to Hell.I'll be brief on this.
While Wolfenstein 3D was was meant to be mind-blowing, I remember disliking it as I felt sick gliding across repetitive rooms and corridors.
It was with Doom however, that it all clicked.
It took everything that worked in Wolfenstein and made it better.
I absolutely loved this when it came out, and was immediately immersed in the sounds, sights and gameplay (and replayed the shareware first episode several times!).
I do think it peaked at Doom 2 though, so... please... stop making them as each iteration seems to be the same now (walk in empty room, grab ammo, door locks, lights go off, be amazed that demon appears, kill demon, repeat). - DirectorJeff TunnellStarsKimberly GreenwoodRoger EmmertSher AlltuckerAmerican WW1 pilot and adventurer Jake "Lucky" Masters is hired to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a rich businessman who's being held somewhere in China in the fortress of a local warlord. A ninja agrees to help Lucky.
- DirectorGreg RoachStarsRuth AguilarJoyce AnastasiaA. Russell AndrewsPrivate Drew Griffin has discovered the truth behind his mission on the hostile planet AJ3905. Now he must learn about this new alien world and its inhabitants and make a fateful choice.
- DirectorAdrian CarrStarsChris JonesBarry CorbinKevin McCarthyIn a neo-noir post-WWIII future, an old man hires Tex Murphy, a witty mellow private detective, to find his friend, a former government scientist. The clues lead Tex to a serial killer, NSA and an ominous project called Pandora.
- DirectorGreg RoachStarsDavid DuchovnyJordan Lee WilliamsGillian AndersonYoung FBI field agent Craig Willmore is assigned to find Mulder and Scully as they've gone missing during their latest investigation into the paranormal.
- DirectorJo LaneStarsMatthew KingRandall BergerTiffany LambInnocent-looking dame Carol Klein hires down on his luck hardboiled private dick Scott Anger to find her brother, since she hasn't heard from him for some time. Anger learns that his case is connected to some murders and a bank robbery.
- DirectorDavid CageStarsDavid GasmanPaul BandeySharon MannA man is forced to go on the run after he unwillingly becomes involved in a series of supernatural crimes that have haunted New York City.I originally played this on the Xbox.
The opening started with the creator explaining what he was trying to do with the game, and I was hooked.
Beginning as a crime noir mystery, the two halves are relatively different however overall I loved the way that I felt that I was involved in a true interactive story. It was also good to see that someone wanted to evolve from the earlier adventure games I loved as a child. - DirectorDavid CageStarsPascal LangdaleJacqui AinsleyJudi BeecherAs a child goes missing, his father tirelessly works to rescue him, while a journalist, an FBI agent, and a private detective try to identify his kidnapper known only as the "Origami Killer".All the mistakes that Fahrenheit made, they resolved with Heavy Rain. Including removing any supernatural elements.
A true highlight of the 'interactive movie' genre. - DirectorJonatan SöderströmDennis WedinA surrealist video game that dives into the mind of an assassin living within the neon gloss of the late 1980s of Miami.Looking at it from the outside, it seems violent albeit with very crude graphics.
But essentially it's a frenetic puzzle game accompanied with an intensive, hypnotising, throbbing soundtrack that sounds like Drive.
Just mind-numbingly addictive. - DirectorFrançois CoulonCory DavisStarsNolan NorthChristopher ReidOmid AbtahiSet in modern day Dubai, massive sandstorms have buried the city. As Capt. Martin Walker, you're sent in to find any survivors and learn what happened to the original rescue and evacuation team led by Lt. Colonel John Konrad.At first it felt like an Uncharted clone. Same voice, same setting (desert), same 3rd person, and same(ish) game mechanics.
But after 20 minutes or so I realised it was completely different.
There was no humour, and a very dark undertone.
Essentially an action shooter that tries to be a little deeper, and take a little from Apocolypse Now.
Play it if you want a little more from your shoot-em-up than COD delivers. - DirectorJohn RomeroStarsJ.S. GilbertMatt MarkDavid LockeMankind discovers the secret of 'slipgates' called teleporters. However, they're misused by some strange force code-named 'Quake', which uses the slipgates to send hordes of warriors to earth to take over the whole world.So Doom started my love of first person. And Quake well that just made my mind explode.
My favourite game at the time, I have so many fond memories of it. Everything about it at the time was fresh and new to action and fantasy genres. I still remember popping in my Prodigy CD instead of the game audio and playing each level to my own music.
I then jumped over to Turok and Goldeneye on N64. Which while a lot of fun, never were able to replicate the excitement I had at Quake. - StarsFrank BuschmannTiago LeifertAlan McInallyExperience the emotion of scoring great goals in Fifa 14. Fueled by EA Sports Ignite engine, Fifa 14 will feel alive with players who think, move, and behave like world-class footballers, and dynamic stadiums that come to life.Essentially this could be any Fifa game since the early 2000's.
Each one just superficially enhanced than the one before.
Each one with the same bullsh*t flaws.
If a team beat me because they were better, it'd be OK.
A reason for me to improve, or to fix mistakes.
However, instead you just get beaten by a terribly flawed AI that just intensifies and basically cheats to make it harder for you (usually at the 45, 65, and 90min marks...)
And yet, most people in passing the game wouldn't notice.
The fact that to notice these flaws takes many, many hours of game time, indicates how bloody addictive and vested that players like me get.
So, I'll complain. I'll moan. But I'll still play.
Although now I just play with bronze/ silver teams, as when I lose it's because they're not very good.. but strangely enough, now I lose less...
Before you ask, yes, I also play PES.
**Update
Since playing FIFA 16, I think I can say that they've finally started to fix some of the kinks. The game feels a lot more possession and counter based (which is far more realistic) and the build up is slower and more methodical. Add to this a few more smarts, and a direct pass (finally!), this may be the start of an improved and less frustrating game experience.
PES 16 on the other hand, while not bad to look at, suffers from repetitive commentary, and an overall arcadey but clunky feel. Well, for me it does. - DirectorBrendan McNamaraStarsAaron StatonMichael McGradyAdam J. HarringtonCole Phelps, a war hero and rookie cop, moves up the ranks and solves dark cases in 1940s Los Angeles.Start with the intriguing character elements of Heavy Rain, sprinkle in some of The Dame was loaded, build it in a GTA type world, add L.A. Confidential scripts, fantastic acting, and some (sometimes quite freaky) brilliant facial capture and you have L.A. Noire.
Combining all of my favourite elements of gaming and film, L.A. Noire is an homage to Crime Noir and all of the adventure gaming I used to love.
It brilliantly captures the mood and tone of a corrupt 1940's L.A. and lets you work through many types of cases from patrol to homicide and more.
Depending on what you're looking for I can see how this might be hit or miss with some people.
Plot and character driven, it might feel a bit slow.
The surroundings, while realistic, can feel empty and less detailed than other open worlds - and on that note, it's not really open world.
And the story, depending on what type of mystery you're looking for may or may not grip you.
However for me, this definitely stands as one of the greatest games of the last decade - and I really really really hope that Rockstar (or whoever else might grab the rights) decide to create a sequel, hopefully using the tools learnt from Max Payne 3 and GTA V.... something a little dirty harry mixed with heat... but, if not, this still hits the spot! - DirectorSylvain BernardShea WagemanStarsRoger Craig SmithKristen BellNolan NorthDesmond Miles is trained to become a modern-day Assassin through the resurrected memories of ancestor Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who uncovers a massive Templar conspiracy in Renaissance Italy leading to the new Pope.
- StarsJames McCaffreyJulian RebolledoFrank RodriguezThe ex-cop turned private security guard for a wealthy family in Sao Paulo, Brazil finds himself thrown into a new deadly conflict.I loved the first two games, especially the graphic novel tones but ultimately they weren't as memorable as this iteration.
Two of my favourite movies are Man on Fire, and Elite Squad... so when you have a game that looks this pretty and is essentially a combination of those movies there's no way I'm going to miss it.
Just a brilliant game. It's dark, broken characters and corrupt world just ooze style.
If only the actual movie was anything like this... if only.