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DBoy

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The Ten of Twenty-Ten

It's that time again. Time to reveal my top 10 favorite games of 2010. Make no mistake, it wasn't easy to pick 10 games from the remarkable list of titles that were released this year and, after many hours of deliberation, these are the 10 games that stood out from the rest.

Please keep in mind that this is my list and mine only. Criticism is always welcome, as long as it is constructive.

 10. Halo: Reach 
 “The Covenant have landed on Reach! The Covenant have landed on Reach!” Unforgettable words which set the tone for one of the most memorable battles in the history of video games. Bungie’s association with the Halo franchise came to an end this year with their final love letter to their fans, entitled Halo: Reach, and as far as love letters go, this one was pretty damn sweet. Yeah, OK, it’s still Halo, but it’s bigger, stronger and faster than previous installments from the series and it delivers on every front. From the gripping campaign to the stellar multiplayer, Halo: Reach is a fantastic farewell from the guys at Bungie that will be hard to surpass. Danke Schön, guys! 
 
9. Deadly Premonition 
Outdated gameplay. Ugly graphics. Useless in-game map system. All of these signs would lead us to believe that Deadly Premonition is a bad game, right? Surprisingly, that’s not the case. It could be the game’s (unintentional?) dark humor that makes it stand out, or maybe it’s special agent Francis York Morgan’s (you can call him York, everybody does) zany inner monologues / conversations with his alter-ego Zach that makes him such a memorable character, or probably it’s the well-crafted story and a cast of unforgettable characters that make Deadly Premonition stand out amongst a sea of big-budget titles this year? It’s hard to say really, but one thing is for certain, this is one game I will never, ever forget. 
 
8. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX 
It amazes me to see that Pac-Man, a video game character from the early 80s, is still going strong today. Sure, he’s still gobbling up power-pellets while avoiding those annoying ghosts, but now he does it in bright, colorful, ever-changing mazes, while pulse-pounding beats resound throughout. Chomping away at a “ghost train” Is quite exhilarating and never gets old, no matter how many times I do it. Playing this game quickly becomes an addiction you’ll have trouble shaking, especially if you’re going after high scores and best times on the leaderboards.   Pac-Man CE DX is a wondrous sensory overload that always leaves me craving for more. 
 
7. Heavy Rain 
“How far would you go to save the ones you love?” If you think Heavy Rain’s tagline is just for show, you’ve definitely not played this breathtaking interactive drama. Even if the story isn’t all that great, the interactive gameplay drew me in like very few games have before it. From mundane tasks like driving a car or taking a shower, to life-threatening situations, the player is consistently involved, as he needs to think twice before making decisions, since it might alter the game itself. Playing through all four protagonist’s side of the story is engaging and nerve-wracking all at once, making for an extremely enjoyable film-noir experience that cannot be missed. 
 
6. NHL 11 
NHL 11 breaks new ground with the Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), where you use player cards to build up your own team. This new mode brings new life to the franchise and makes collecting cards very addicting. The addition of the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) adds more depth to games modes such as Be a Pro and Be a GM. Online has also been tweaked, making it more fun to play in the EASHL (EA Sports Hockey League) and against friends. Add to the mix broken sticks, board-shaking hits and a pretty decent soundtrack, and you have yourself the very best hockey game ever created. 
 
5. Red Dead Redemption 
Rockstar San Diego took a very big risk when they decided to make Red Dead Redemption. It takes some really skilled people to create an open world action-adventure western video game that appeals to today’s audience. But hey, this is Rockstar we’re talking about here. Red Dead Redemption features a beautiful open world setting and a wonderful cast of characters, headlined by the game’s protagonist John Marston, and a superbly written story with a shocking ending (or, should I say, endings) that left me in awe. Add to that a bunch of entertaining side missions and activities, along with a pretty decent multiplayer component, and you have yourself one hell of a game. 
 
4. Rock Band 3 
To be honest with you guys, I haven’t played any of the “pro” features in Rock Band 3, and I haven’t tried out the keyboard. In fact, the only thing I do in the game is sing. With that said, why in the hell would I put Rock Band 3 at number four in my favorites of 2010? The song list, for one, with 83 songs out of the box. Add to that all of the downloadable content already available, plus some of the songs from the first two games, and that makes for one amazing lineup. There’s also the streamlined menu system, which makes it easy to navigate to wherever you need to go. Rock Band 3 is a comprehensive, thorough and enjoyable entry in the series and easily the best one yet. 
 
3. MLB 10: The Show 
The name of the game is pitching. We’ve heard that saying time and time again in baseball. I took on MLB 10’s Road to the Show mode as a pitcher this year and thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it. On higher difficulty levels, pitching becomes quite challenging and, sometimes, quite unforgiving. However, the way it is implemented in Road to the Show is incredibly well done. The graphics are strikingly gorgeous as well. The online might be a little laggy and the commentators annoying, but that doesn’t prevent MLB 10 from being my favorite sports game of 2010. 
 
2. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 
Assassin’s Creed II was my favorite game of 2009, and I couldn’t wait to see what Ubisoft had in store for Ezio in this direct sequel to last year’s blockbuster hit.   I was pleasantly surprised to see that Brotherhood keeps with the same gameplay style as its predecessor, while tweaking the combat and parkour to make it just right.   The city of Rome is absolutely beautiful in all of its grandeur, the story is superbly written and the characters are brilliantly portrayed. It’s great to discover a bit more about Desmond Miles and his ancestor Ezio, as he strives to build the Assassin’s Guild.   The multiplayer component doesn’t feel tacked on at all and is quite enjoyable and exciting. Bundle all of that together, and you’ve got a great, great game in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. 
 
1. Mass Effect 2 
What is there to say about Mass Effect 2 that hasn’t already been said before? The game’s story sucked me in like no other this year, while making me care a whole lot about its wonderfully intricate and engrossing characters. In fact, after I had lost 3 of my crew during my first play through, I felt incredibly bummed out and sad that I had failed them. Speaking of play throughs, Mass Effect 2 is the only game I played through twice this year, DLC included (and yes, I saved the entire crew then). With a comprehensive inventory system, refined gameplay mechanics such as planet probing and great looking and varied planets to explore, amongst many other things, it all comes together to make Mass Effect 2 a memorable joyride through the deepest confines of space… and beyond.
 
 Noteworthy mentions
 
Alan Wake 
Great story, interesting characters and bone-chilling atmosphere is what made Alan Wake so special. The combat, however, left to be desired, but gets points for being different from other shooters on the market. 
 
BioShock 2 
This sequel is no where near as engrossing and endearing as its predecessor was, but BioShock 2 still has the same great gameplay, while adding its own intriguing story. 
  
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 
The guys at Criterion games sure knew what they were doing when they decided to take on the Need for Speed franchise. This cops vs. racers romp is a blast to play, especially online. 
 
Singularity 
You don't see Singularity mentioned in a lot of 2010 games lists this year, but in my opinion, its story and gameplay set it apart from the Call of Duties and Halos of this year. I enjoyed it quite a lot. 
 
Civilization V 
It's still a Civilization game, but Civ V's tweaked gameplay, along with its exquisite presentation, make it the best one yet. 
 
Mafia II 
An interesting story, great characters and a wonderful soundtrack made Mafia II quite good. Now, if the gameplay would have been just a bit better... 
 
Fable III 
Hey, I liked it, OK? 
 

 Thank you for reading and don't forget to leave me some (constructive) comments on my list. Have a great 2011, filled with more exciting and thrilling games! 

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