Best of 2010
PREFACE:
I have yet to play Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Fable 3, or Fallout: New Vegas. I have plans to play these games, so this list is subject to change.
List items
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Red Dead Redemption was the game I had been waiting for Rockstar to make. They came close with Bully, and even closer with Grand Theft Auto 4. But with Red Dead Redemption they created the character based, story focused, open world action game that this generation of consoles needed. John Marston and his quest are thoroughly engaging from start to finish and create a universe that is deeply satisfying to explore and live in. But out side of its narrative and atmosphere, Red Dead Redemption also plays well. The action in Red Dead is always exciting, whether you're behind cover or facing off in a duel. And the gun play is so slick you feel like you're in a spaghetti western through out the whole experience. Rockstar's humor and social commentary is also worked in that gives it an extra layer of quality. But it's Red Dead's story that ultimately caries it to victory, as it breathes life in to a protagonist that is flawed but so easy to like, and it's creation of a world that is just as exciting as it is scary.
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As far as a sequel to 2007's Mass Effect could have gone, Mass Effect 2 simply could not have been any better. In terms of pure scale and scope, there are few games that even come close to Mass Effect 2's size, and that magnitude helps it create a sense of something real. Throughout the games story you feel as if it has real consequences on a real universe. Of course, player choices just add to that pressure, making you think about every single action and possible outcome that could come from each crucial decision you make. But this is a game first, and Mass Effect's action is amazing from top to bottom. Bioware's decision to ditch the awkward role-playing shooting from the original game, in favor for a Gears of War style cover based shooting system was genius. It's this action and basic role-playing sensibilities that make Mass Effect 2 such a great game and amazing middle chapter in what should be a solid trilogy.
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Like its name implies, Limbo creates a dreamlike state, in which nothing is clear. It's this feeling of isolation and confusion that makes this game so damn special. It's also amazing that a game with very little story is so emotionally involving. The whole game's dark atmosphere creates such sympathy for a main character that never utters a word or even reveal his face outside of two white eyes. Limbo also boasts solid platforming and ingenious puzzles that make for an amazing experience unlike any other.
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Heavy Rain is almost a turning point for interactive entertainment. I struggle to really call it a game, since so much of it is minor interactions that create something that you watch rather than play. But that's not to say you aren't in control. Heavy Rain's player controlled choices are designed so well that you need to really stop and think about what it is you want to do. But that's because you actually care. You care about the characters and the ultimate outcome of the narrative. And that's understandable since each one of Heavy Rain's four protagonists are interesting and well developed from top to bottom, and carry a story that would feel shallow without them. But Quantic Dream succeeded in making a story based experience that is easily one of the most memorable of this console generation.
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World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is one of the most exciting games of the year, but it's also one of the most heartbreaking. Exciting in that you get to see a world that you've known for years in a whole new way. Heartbreaking because this world has been decimated. Coming across a favorite location that has been reformed for the better is awesome, but coming across a favorite that's been destroyed is devastating. And while that's all great, the new low and high level content is also amazing. The new level 80 zones are the most inspired yet, and are incredibly fun to explore and quest in. The new story based low level content is also quite good, boasting inventive quests with great cutscenes that keep the narrative moving. Cataclysm is rare a case in which the apocalypse is welcome.
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The first piece of substantial Dragon Age content is also some of the absolute finest RPG gameplay found this year. Awakening's story may have been lacking in a few areas, but this lengthy expansion pack to an already amazing game is a welcome addition to the ever expanding Dragon Age universe. The new boss encounters are fun and offer a nice change from the traditional Dragons and Demons found in most high fantasy RPGs. But it's quantity of stuff that makes Awakening so exciting, from tons of new skills, quests, ten new levels, and companion characters. Even though it doesn't add much in terms of new styles gameplay it's all of the new things Bioware added in Awakening that make it a successful expansion pack.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops has a fun single player mode. It also has a decent co-op zombie mode. But what Black Ops has in spades is addictive as hell multiplayer action. With its plethora of its new attachments, weapons, perks, maps and challenges Black Ops further establishes that Call of Duty will eventually rule the world. And since like a billion people play this game, you'll never be lonely again.
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The original God of War games are two of my absolute favorite PS2 games, so my expectations for the first God of War for this generation of consoles were sky high. For the most part God of War 3 lived up to these expectations, in creating more brutal action in which Kratos rips people in half in glorious 1080P high definition. If it ain't broke don't fix it, and Santa Monica studio seems to understand this, making God of War 3 almost identical to its predecessors. The lack of gameplay ambition is instead replaced with an epic scale, great level design, and sweet new weapons and powers. The only real problem is the last 10% or so of the game, its conclusion and easy final boss fight are both lacking and very disappointing, given that this game crescendos to and incredibly high point only be smacked down by lame writing and design. But other than that God of War 3 is a successful game, even of Kratos could use one of those stress balls.
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The original Bioshock is one of my favorite games of all time. Its exploration and experimentation based action created something new and exciting all the way back in 2007. But it was really Bioshock's amazing narrative that made it so influential and incredible. Bioshock 2 retains all of Bioshock's gameplay innovations and adds a bunch of new stuff as well. And while it does create an engaging story, it simply feels smaller when compared to the original game. Surprisingly, the result is a game that's still awesome. Who would have guessed that Rapture would still be fun to plunder and explore, and that killing splicers and Big Daddies would still be so damn satisfying. Bioshock 2 may not be perfect, but it's certainly a satisfying sequel and a well made follow up to one of the best games of the generation.
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Remedy's love for all things Steven King shine through perfectly in their long awaited hype-machine, Alan Wake. Alan Wake creates a world of isolating darkness and terror that sucks you in and keeps engaged. The action in Alan Wake is also great, making you feel overwhelmed, but not hopeless. The dodge mechanic is a little awkward, but it's incredibly satisfying to fill a dark one with buckshot. It may not be the game that Remedy originally intended it to be, but Alan Wake is a focused action game that shows that style can go before substance.
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