* 5 *
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Bethesda SoftwarePC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Original release date: March 20, 2006
The Elder Scrolls series has always been somewhat of a mystery to me. The first two games in the series were overlooked almost entirely, with its first claim to fame being Morrowind on the first Xbox. Morrowind was the primary example (at the time) of how a sandbox game should be done. Large, immerse lands, plenty of customization, and an eerie dark theme helped propel the game to legendary status. I remember Morrowind being the “go to” game if we ever got tired of playing capture-the-flag in Halo, and boy was that few and far between. So when Oblivion was announced, naturally I almost pissed myself . . . almost. Thinking of a large world similar to that of Morrowind’s, with all the bells and whistles that the 360 offered, was truly something to wait patiently for. And our patience was rewarded when Bethesda tossed the game into stores in early 2006. What followed was weeks upon weeks of immersion, more so than any non-MMORPG game I had ever played. Whether it was the improved battle system, beautiful musical tracks, or the real-time realism of each NPC’s daily life within the world, Oblivion showed, at the time, that it was at the pinnacle of modern gaming. Sure there were some bugs and glitches and occasionally you’d go through a dungeon that looked exactly like the previous one, but the positives well outweighed the negatives in this package; it’s aged pretty damn nicely too.
The Orange Box
ValvePC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Original release date: October 10, 2007
What happens when you take three amazing games (five) and put them together in one sexy package for 50 bucks? You get the greatness that is the Orange Box. I don’t know who from Valve thought of this, but whoever it was they deserve to be president of the damn company. Even before people got their hands on the game, they knew that this would be something special. In one package you have one of the best single player games of all time (Half Life 2) , an award winning multi-player FPS (Team Fortress 2), and the most innovative game of 2007 (Portal); how the hell can you wrong? You can’t, and with the solid Steam mainframe backing all three up, The Orange Box was and still is the best video game package deal of all time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go get some more Sniper achievements in Team Fortress 2.
* 3 *
Braid
Number None, Hothead GamesPC, PlayStation 3 (Arcade), Xbox 360 (Arcade)
Original release date: August 6, 2008
Once in a while things just get a little too stale, and we become way too used to the tried and true. Thankfully a little game calledBraid came and challenged our mercurial sides. Chilling, creepy, and brilliant in every way, Braid is easily the most innovative game of 2009 and possibly the best overall game as well. For those that don’t follow every big release out there or really live under a rock,Braid is the story of a young, suited man trying to save a damsel in distress within a world of devastating traps and anthropomorphic creatures. What makes the plot so fantastic is that it is intentionally ambiguous and leads you on in a unique, metaphoric way as you journey from stage to stage. You will accomplish this by getting from one side of the stage to the other, but in a unique fashion involving time manipulation. Now we’ve seen this mechanic fail before (cough *Blink* cough), but Braid does it in a way that will challenge everything you know about platforming. Though near the beginning of the game you will use this mechanic to merely re-correct your errors, later you will use it to accomplish specific goals that change from level to level. Believe me when I say there is nothing else like it out there, and for the mere price of 15 dollars, you’d have to be a fool not to pick it up . . . a fool I say!
* 2 *
Super Mario Galaxy
NintendoNintendo Wii
Original release date: November 12, 2007
Mario, oh Mario let me count the ways. That time in Super Mario World when we managed to beat Bowser on our very last life with no special items remaining, or the time in Super Mario 64 when we got the 120th star in the red coin rainbow level. Now before I become completely comatose with nostalgia it is imperative I announce my second favorite game of the year. Super Mario Galaxyraised a lot of suspicions prior to its release. Primarily because Sunshine, for many, was a bit of a let-down compared to its legendary predecessor Super Mario 64. Not everyone felt that way, but the lack of diversity in the level environments and the awful camera brought down the value quite a bit (also, I pray that they fired the voice actor for Bowser in that game — whoo-boy). Anyway,Galaxy completely evaporated those concerns and brought to us a platforming experience that was so polished and unique that you couldn’t help but get excited. Though the range of each planetary stage was small, Galaxy made up for it with brilliant controls and some tough platforming moments. All in all, there’s a reason this is the third highest rated game on GameRankings. Super Mario Galaxy is proof that when Nintendo gets Mario in his element, there’s not many other gaming franchises that can keep up with him.
Dragon Age: Origins
BiowarePC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Original release date: November 3, 2009
Yes, I’m aware that the game hasn’t even been out a month yet . . . but it doesn’t matter. Dragon Age: Origins is game that may suffer from a few technical issues here and there and may not be the most polished game, but its’ other facets allow it to shine above the title’s minor flaws. With plenty of customization and brilliant story-telling, Bioware really made me feel like I was in the world of Ferelden. Whether I was slaying the dark-spawn horde, engulfing the horizon with an inferno spell, or getting it on with the hot female lead Morrigan, Dragon Age kept me completely entranced within its 50+ hour adventure. Also, the in-depth “conversation” dynamic that Bioware is so known for is back again and better than ever. Having four or five options with which to answer someone truly gets you engrossed in your character, making you feel like you are that Elven mage or Dwarven rogue that has been called on to save the world from the Blight. And even though I’ve put 57 hours into this game, I still have the alternate backgrounds and the DLC to go through as well. All in all, Dragon Age: Origins is the most well-rounded title this generation and without a doubt, my number one game thus far.
There's mine folks, what are yours?
And by "gen" I mean anything from November 2005 - November 2009.
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