2010
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is the sequel to the almost unknown Red Dead Revolver that was released on the PS2 in 2004. Red Dead Revolver was a fun but hardly ground breaking game that was originally developed by Capcom but then scrapped until Rockstar games purchased it from them. It was quite unexpected then when Rockstar announced Red Dead Redemption to be a spiritual successor in February 2009. Of course with this announcement came great excitement as not only was it being developed by Rockstar but also the fact we were going to get to play cowboy in our own open frontier.
Being a Rockstar game, all the right things were there. A vast open frontier for you to explore, memorable characters, varied missions and beautiful graphics, but that’s not all. Arguably the most impressive aspect of Red Dead Redemption was the way it captured the lonesome, nostalgic spirit of the West, just like your favourite Clint Eastwood films. Sure, there’s plenty of shootouts and bar fights but the bits in between missions show you that Rockstar have managed to weave the essence of the Old West into this game. Riding off towards the sunset as the melancholy soundtrack plays will give you the feeling of being a true lone ranger in a lawless and brutal world that is also filled with an unparalleled beauty. The world of Redemption, from the rolling prairie to the bustling towns, is one that you can truly immerse yourself in. The side-quests and missions are all stellar but there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had in turning off the HUD and going on a ride to nowhere.
Rockstar added two new features to Redemption that made its world even more immersive. The first was a feature called Random encounters. As its name suggests, this was a feature that would create random events that you would come upon by chance. For instance, you may be making your way to the next mission when suddenly you hear gunshots. You scan the horizon looking for signs of life then head towards the sound. Upon getting nearer you may see a stagecoach being attacked or a man being attacked by wolves, how/if you intervene is entirely up to you. A bad guy may help the bandits rob the stagecoach and get a split of the money whereas a good player could take down the bandits and escort the coach to safety. These encounters vary greatly and make the world feel alive.
The second feature Rockstar implemented was the realistic eco system. The Old West is alive with flora and fauna that the player can use to make cash or aid themselves in some way. With over 30 different species of animals from Bears to Beavers and many different plants the player can pluck. Animals can be hunted for their pelts which can then be sold for cash and plants can be used to make tonics which have different effects on the player. A bit like the random encounters, the wildlife has it’s own encounters that really make it feel like it’s alive. Deer and other timid creatures will flee from you if the sense your prescience whereas Cougars will stalk you unseen then suddenly rip the belly from your horse and deliver you a killing blow before you’ve even pulled out your gun. Animals also react to one another realistically and there’s a clear food chain to be observed. Once I was looking down my hunting rifle at a rabbit as it ran across the sun scorched plain. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, a rattlesnake shot out a nearby bush and devoured the unlucky critter. Just another reminder that the West is Wild.
There are the main missions in Redemption that include a shootout on a moving train, launching an assault upon a heavily armed fort and one where you must defend yourself on a raft that is floating down a large river. There are also countless side missions that will distract you from your main missions including doing some ranching, bounty hunting (alive or dead is up to you), hunting, gambling and loads more to as you explore the Old West.
Redemption also features a fantastic multiplayer experience that is still going strong today. Players can explore the entire map together or enter into competitive games like Team Deathmatch and Capture The Gold. These modes are all great in themselves but Rockstar also released DLC that allowed you to play recreational games with your friends such as Poker, Liars Dice and horse racing. Other DLC packs included new missions to complete cooperatively and new character skins and weapons. Rockstar also released the massively fun and critically acclaimed Undead Nightmare single player DLC which was a tongue in cheek story where the undead start rising in the old west. The Undead Nightmare was full of new content including several new online modes such as Undead Overrun, where players must work together to take on an endless horde of Zombies.
As it’s name suggests, Redemption tells the story of an aging gunslinger called John Marston who has been forced by the government to take down his old gang in return for the freedom of his family and a pardon for his past wrong doings. Set in 1911, the dying days of the Frontier, Redemption hits all the right notes story wise as it tells the tale of a man who belongs to the last of a dying breed. Civilisation is being brought to the furthest corners of the frontier, whether it wants it or not and John must either change with the times or be destroyed by them. The story of Redemption is first rate and you will an emotional wreck by the end. Redemption was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including several Game Of The Year awards. Simply put, Red Dead Redemption is not only one of the best games this gen but one of the best games ever.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
I’m going to put my hands up and admit that when Nintendo announced Super Mario Galaxy 2, I wasn’t impressed. I’ve always thought Nintendo were on thin ice due to their reliance on reusing franchise that are decades old and Super Mario Galaxy 2 seemed like another way of saying “pretty much just DLC for Super Mario Galaxy”. I still think Nintendo are dangerously close to running purely on nostalgia but I will admit that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a damn fine game.
At a glance you may think that SMG2 is just a rehash of the original. After all it uses the same engine, similar controls and of course uses Bowser as the antagonist. Really this is the games biggest strength as using already existing formulas allowed the design team to hone the game and correct things from the first game that needed fixing. This design approach paid off ten fold and resulted in one of the best platforming games ever made.
In an effort to appeal to a wider audience, Nintendo have included hints and tutorials to help newcomers to the series. However Mario veterans need not be frustrated as the help fades away and the game becomes more challenging. The levels are also varied and individual, each with their own style. One minute you might be flying through a 3D world then the next you’ll be in 2D, a great nod to the early Mario games. It’s not just Mario you’ll be platforming with though, as Yoshi also features as a playable character. Although he’s restricted to certain worlds, Yoshi has his own abilities such as inflating himself to reach high areas or using his tongue to grab Star Bits. It’s clear that the developers put in and much care with Yoshi as they did with Mario based on how well he handles.
Knowing that their audience consists of both new comers and veterans, Nintendo have smartly made the game accessible and enjoyable for both. The core game itself is your average difficulty but there are plenty of collectables and challenges that will test even the most hardened gamers.
Before playing SMG2, I was unsure as to why the Mario series had endured for so many years. After playing it I understood perfectly. SMG2 embodies all the fun and innovative gameplay the Mario franchise has brought to us over the years and as far as I’m concerned it more than earns its spot on this list.
2011
Portal 2
The original Portal took the gaming world by storm. It was part of The Orange Box collection that was released by Valve as a way of apologising that Half Life 2 was so damn late. In terms of apologies it was like forgetting your friends birthday and making up for it by buying him his dream car.
After the massive success of Portal it was no surprise to anyone when Valve announced Portal 2 as its own game. It would have been easy for Valve to screw up Portal 2, after all Portal was only about an hour long so it was a lot easier to make in almost every way. Luckily though Portal 2 was every bit as good as the original and then some.
Portal 2 places you in the Gravity Boots of Chell, a test subject who is trying to escape the crumbling facility after the events of Portal. She is awakened by a Personality Bot called Wheatley who helps her as she uses the Portal gun to escape.
The original Portal was rightly praised for its humour and luckily Portal 2 is packed full of laughs. The lovable, if dim witted, Wheatley provides the most comic relief and is superbly voiced by comedian Stephen Merchant. Merchant delivers his lines flawlessly and more than once I found myself laughing out loud. The overseer of the facility, robot GLaDOS returns and offers her own laughs with her monotone voice that gives some great deadpan humour.
As for gameplay Portal 2 excels. Building upon the puzzles in the original, Portal 2 starts off simply enough but soon has you facing some genuinely ingenious puzzles. Some are very difficult to figure out but will often have fairly simple solutions that will leave you feeling a bit simple when you figure them out. Others are more complex and you will feel an absolute genius when you finally solve them. That said the puzzles are structured in such a way that you never get too frustrated or want to switch the game off. You are encouraged to experiment and learn from puzzles to help you solve the next one.
Not only is there the great single player but Portal 2 also features a fully fleshed out multiplayer. You and a buddy can team up together as two test subjects and complete a series of test chambers using your Portal guns. The great twist to this is that whereas in the solo campaign you can only make two portals, in multiplayer you can make four. This allowed the creators to make puzzles that wouldn’t be solvable in the solo portion of the game and thereby adds a whole new level of challenge to the multiplayer.
This would all be enough to make a great game but Portal 2 also includes a genuinely interesting plot that has different levels of immersion. You can just go through the obvious plot or you can take a little time to explore the facility and find clues that show what things were like before everything went crazy. It’s a testament to the superb writing and voice acting that you really care about the characters and what happens to them, despite the fact the game is essentially a comedy. The plot also includes some great twists and unexpected turns and the final showdown is incredibly epic and satisfying.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Based upon the book series of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the original Witcher was something of a sleeper hit back in 2007. It’s sequel, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings almost went the same way were it not for great reviews and loyal fans spreading the word of its quality.
On the surface The Witcher 2 may seem similar to many other fantasy RPG’s out there, the truth is that The Witcher 2 chooses to appeal to the more devoted fan base rather than a mainstream audience. The benefit of this is obvious as The Witcher 2 is a game oozing with quality.
Unlike many of it’s peers, The Witcher 2 is a mature game for a mature audience, both in its game content and its gameplay. Set in a fantasy land filled with fantasy races and creatures, you are put in the boots of a monster hunter who belongs to a group known as the Witchers. The world of The Witcher is filled with monsters and races you would expect to find in Lord of the Rings but sets it to a harsh, brutal and mature backdrop akin to Game of Thrones. There’s sex, violence, cursing and political intrigue that makes the land feel real as well as fantastical, but It’s not just the content that’s mature though. If you’re expecting the game to hold your hand all the way then you’re in for a shock. The game assumes you’re an intelligent, competent gamer and will not spell everything out for you. The story is long and complex with a variety of characters that all have their own agendas. Keeping your progress straight means that from time to time you will have to consult your trusty journal to keep track of all the threads. Combat is also tough and taking on five heavily armed guards is only going to end in your death. The game expects you to think before you go in swinging and you’ll have to mix magic attacks, potions and melee attacks if you want to stay in one piece. Some may find this off putting but as a jaded gamer I enjoyed playing a game that treat me like an adult rather than assuming I’m a caffeine fuelled kid who’s just killing time until the next shooter comes out. The difficulty also means victory is that much sweeter.
Despite being an RPG, The Witcher 2 doesn’t let you do much customization when it comes to your character but this really isn’t a bad thing. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a hardened monster hunter who finds himself caught up in powers far greater than himself. The real Role-Playing aspect comes in with the choices you make throughout the game. Unlike many RPG’s, these choices have very real consequences that can drastically alter the story line. Of course I won’t spoil it for you but the game opens itself up for multiple play-throughs. Not only does The Witcher 2 excel when it comes to story and gameplay but it’s also a treat for the eyes and ears. The game looks great on the Xbox 360 but if you’ve got computer powerful enough then The Witcher 2 is quite simply one of the best looking games around when it’s running on the highest quality settings. Just wandering through a forest is spectacular as the brilliant streaks of light penetrate through the dense green canopy above. The soundtrack is also stellar and is up there amongst the best video game soundtracks around. The voice acting, particularly for the main characters is spot on and the minor NPC’s all have some great lines of their own that adds to the immersion.
As I said earlier, The Witcher 2 is not an easy game but that’s not to say it’s crushingly difficult either. You are given the option of selecting a difficulty when you begin a new game and although selecting easy may make the game a little less rewarding, it’s still a nice option for new comers who are intrigued by the game but don’t want to get their ass handed to them every time they go into combat. This isn’t Dark Souls after all.
So if you’re a fan of fantasy and you’re looking for something a bit more challenging than Oblivion but more mature than Fable then you should certainly sharpen your sword and join Geralt in The Witcher 2: Assassin’s of Kings.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
If any game this gen could rival the hype and anticipation that surrounded Halo 3 then Skyrim would be it. Five years after the critically acclaimed Oblivion, gamers were sent into a frenzy of anticipation when Bethesda finally announced the next instalment to their franchise, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. In December 2010 Bethesda released an epic teaser trailer followed by the release date, 11-11-11.
It’s important to understand that even a hugely anticipated game like Halo 3 tends to only really mean anything to gamers. The anticipation for Skyrim became so great that upon its release it had become part of main stream culture. The phrase “Skyrim Widow” was coined by gamers partners in the weeks before Skyrim’s release and the famous dragon cry, Fus Ro Dah became a huge meme and was seen on posters, T-shirts and websites everywhere, and don’t even get me started on the “Arrow to the knee” fad. The point is that Skyrim became one of the most exposed games ever and entered pop culture alongside Mario or Lara Croft. There was a lot of pressure not to screw up….
Upon release Skyrim was met with critical acclaim and was arguably the best game of 2011 and one of the best fantasy RPG’s ever. Set in the colder climate of Skyrim, your quest revolves around the sudden reappearance of dragons and as the Dragonborn, only you can stop them. Everything you could ever ask for in a fantasy game is present and every play style is catered for. Do you want to be a mighty axe wielding Orc who defeats his opponents with brute force, a stealthy Wood Elf who uses cunning to sneak up and dispatch foes undetected, or a wise old wizard who can obliterate his opponents with destruction magic? The amount of freedom in this game is staggering and because of this it has great replayability in starting a new game with a totally different character with different strengths, abilities and weaknesses.
The levelling up system also got upgraded as this time around you are able to pick perks from different skill trees every time you level up. If you’re character is an archer then upon levelling up you can visit the archery skill tree and pick a perk that boosts this skill, whether it be slowing down time to take a shot or drawing faster. When you first start the game you’ll be a nobody who gets his ass kicked by bandits but it’s very satisfying to build your character up until he/she is taking on hordes of Goblins or mighty Dragons.
Every aspect of Skyrim is an absolute triumph. The graphics are great and you’ll find yourself just staring as the northern lights blaze across the sky or almost thinking you can feel the snow on your face as you make your way across massive glaciers. The audio is also superb as dialogue is well voice acted and the clash of weapons makes an authentic sound. The soundtrack to Skyrim is also masterful and similar to the epic Lord of The Rings soundtrack. I defy you not to feel a tingle in your spine as a Dragon descends upon you and the rousing battle music kicks in.
Another strong point is Skyrim’s longevity. The game has been out for almost two years and just the other day I was starting up a new character. I’ve easily put over a hundred hours into this game and still not come even close to seeing and doing everything there is. The depth is limitless and you’ll have a great time discussing it with your friends and swapping stories about your adventures. If I had to choose one word to describe Skyrim, that word would be EPIC.
Dark Souls
Dark Souls is hard. I don’t mean it’s challenging, I don’t mean it’s got a learning curve, I mean it’s god-damn, old school hard. The vast majority of people who try this game won’t make it much further than the first stage and fewer still with have the patience, skill and determination to make it right to the end. For many people this will be a controversial choice for a greatest hits list but those people just don’t know what they’re missing out on. Yes, Dark Souls is a brutal game but it’s also a beautifully crafted, superb experience.
Part of the beauty of Dark Souls is it’s less is more approach to the story and mythology behind the world you play in. You are a lone glimmer of light fighting to stay alive in a world covered in darkness, there’s really not much more to it than that. On the surface you have no back story, no real objective and the few friendly characters you meet reveal very little about themselves. And yet, if you scratch the surface, explore every nook and cranny and talk to every NPC, you’ll begin to discover clues about the world around you and it’s inhabitants. This is a game where you really decide your own level of immersion. If you want to be a heroic knight going round killing ugly bad guys that’s fine, but if you’re interested then there’s a lot more going on.
As I may have mentioned earlier, Dark Souls is seriously hard. There is no easy difficulty setting and this really isn’t a game for casual players. In Dark Souls you will die hundreds of times, the trick is in understanding that this is okay. I think one of the things that makes Dark Souls so great is that it takes the trends and conventions of recent gaming and turns it on it’s head. These days we’re used to more forgiving games that usually include a hard mode for the more serious gamers. What about the good old days when developers used to make games absurdly hard in order to cover up the fact they were short? Instead of spelling everything out for the mainstream audience Dark Souls will have you use your head. What makes Dark Souls so addicting is that it isn’t cheap. When you die it’s almost always your fault. These days we’re used to being the biggest badass in a game but in Dark Souls you’re pretty much at the bottom of the food chain. If you run in with your sword held high you’re only going to get killed again and again. In Dark Souls you need to proceed with caution and be aware of your surroundings. Even with this approach you’re still going to get killed a lot but rather than giving up, a wise gamer will learn from this, adjust his or her strategy and try again until victory is attained.
Although the world of Dark Souls is a dark and brutal one it’s also surprisingly beautiful and atmospheric. After all, only by going through the bad can we appreciate the good. It’s a strange, melancholy and beautiful feeling when after slogging your way through endless halls filled with gruesome monsters you come upon a balcony and stare off across a beautiful landscape that stretches for miles. It gives you time to pause and think that even in all the darkness, somewhere out there is hope.
It says a lot about a games quality that even when you’ve had your ass kicked for the hundredth time you still want to keep playing. The bosses are all creatively designed and each one is memorable in its own way. New areas fill you with a sense of dread and uncertainty as you battle new enemies and try to figure out their weakness. There’s also nothing quite as rewarding as taking down that boss that’s been slaughtering you repeatedly, or gaining a check point in the form of a shrine.
Although Dark Souls is mainly a single player experience there is a slight twist. You, along with anyone else who’s playing can leave hints on the ground that other players will find and read. Once I was navigating a dark catacomb when I read a note that said to watch out for an ambush. With caution I raised my shield and turned the next corner where I found a large skeleton waiting to behead me. Thanks to the note his blow deflected off my shield and I lived to die another day. Notes like these are scattered around the world and are a great way for players to help one another and serve to make you feel as though you’re not alone in your struggle. As well as hints you can also summon other players or be summoned yourself to work together to take down a particularly difficult boss. It’s not all team work though. Other players can invade your game and kill you. When the notification pops up telling you this has happened it’s seriously the tensest moments in gaming ever. If you lose the fight the opponent will take all your hard earned souls (in game currency also used to level up).
If you consider yourself a serious gamer then this is a title you should definitely check out. Put in the effort and you will be rewarded ten fold. Just prepare to die…
2012
Journey
So far all the games on this list have been big titles that were released in the physical format. It’s not just the expensive games that can shine, as indie game, Journey proved. The game was developed by Thatgamecompany who had a great reputation for releasing quality indie games in the past like the beautiful, Flower.
The game puts you in control of a nameless robed figure who’s only goal is to get to the top of a mountain that stands far off in the distance. The world you travel across is almost completely devoid of life except for a fellow player you might encounter. You are unable to communicate with the other players except by making your character emit a musical chime that can get their attention. This might seem too simplistic but the result is fantastic. You don’t need to even be able to speak the same language all you need to do is get their attention with a chime and together you can work together to solve puzzles and continue onwards. You would be surprised at how attached you can become to the other player and when you become permanently separated you will miss them. When you complete Journey, you are shown the gamer tags of the players you encountered which for some reason only makes the friendship better. Whilst I won’t ruin anything, I will say the plot itself is done in a minimalist style but its incredibly effective with different stages that will tug at your heart strings. The only actions you can do in Journey is jump and chirp. Again, this may seem far too restrictive but it works perfectly.
Journey is without doubt one of the best looking games ever made. You start off in a vast desert and upon your *ahem* journey will explore an abandoned city, underground caves, and a snowy mountain top. Every second of Journey is a visual feast for the eyes and the art style really enhances things in its own way. The architecture has an exotic feel to it that seems to take inspiration from the likes of ancient Babylon and the Aztecs.
The lack of dialogue in Journey means that you will spend a lot of time listening to the soundtrack as you plod ever onwards. Had the soundtrack been dull or repetitive this could have ruined the entire game. Fortunately the music is as beautiful as the visuals and fits the game perfectly. Composed by Austin Wintory, the soundtrack reached the top ten in the iTunes soundtrack chart in over twenty countries and sold over 4000 units in its first week. So what are you waiting for? Your Journey awaits.
The Walking Dead
When Telltale Games announced that they would be making their own episodic games based on the popular comics, The Walking Dead, I will admit that I wasn’t very interested. I don’t read the comics, I was feeling a little fatigued by the Zombie genre in general and, although I watch the TV show, the only thing I like about it is Daryl. Despite the rave reviews each episode got, I didn’t download the first episode until they’d all been released…and only then I got it because Microsoft gave it away free in the Xmas sale. What I’m trying to say is I misjudged Telltale’s The Walking Dead. After finishing the first episode I was so impressed I went ahead and downloaded all five episodes one after another. The Walking Dead: Season One is so good you should check it out even if you’ve never checked out any of the other Walking Dead media. In fact, even if you HATED the other Walking Dead media, you should still give this a chance.
I think the best thing about Telltale’s The Walking Dead is that it’s not about Zombies. What’s that I hear you cry? A game called The Walking Dead, based upon the popular comic book series about Zombies isn’t about Zombies!? Well no it’s not. It’s a story about a group of people trying to survive. The fact their world has gone to hell because of Zombies is a side note. They could be trying to survive after a massive earthquake or flood and it would still be great. The fact Zombies are involved is just an added bonus.
Killing Zombies isn’t what you’re going to love best about The Walking Dead. The best bits are the moments in between the action, moments where you interact with other survivors and learn more about them and the world around you. The real threat in The Walking Dead is more about keeping up moral, making impossible choices and generally trying to make sure you and your fellow survivors make it through another day.
You’re put in the shoes of Lee Everett, who at the start of the game is on his way to prison after being convicted of killing his wife’s lover after discovering her affair. Due to the Zombie outbreak, Lee never gets to prison and finds himself forced to work together with a small band of survivors to try and survive the outbreak. Early in the first episode, Lee finds a young girl named Clementine who’s parents have gone missing. Clementine takes a shine to Lee and so he becomes a father figure to her and her protector. I’ll keep things spoiler free but from here the plot takes many twists and turns over the five episodes (each about an hour long).
The interesting thing about The Walking Dead is your ability to interact with other characters and chose how much you want to tell them about your shady past. Revealing that you were on your way to prison for murder may make some people trust you less but other may appreciate your honesty and trust you more. During conversations you will be notified that characters will remember things you’ve said and these things may come up later on. This makes the interaction very interesting as you never know what may or may not be used against you later on. Every character you encounter is deep and well written. Some you’ll love and others you’ll hate but each one has their own point of view which you can understand even if you don’t agree with it. When characters die you will feel genuinely sad but equally when you manage to save them you’ll be so glad you were able to do so.
Another interesting gameplay feature is the choices you are forced to make in each episode. Some of them are (intentionally) trivial like who gets the chocolate bar you found but others revolve around life and death and your actions will have lasting consequences. The best choices are the ones that seem trivial but later affect the story in ways you could never predict. I won’t spoil it but one seemingly unimportant decision in particular had massive consequences on the entire game. The great thing about The Walking Dead is the way the story unfolds depending on the choices you make. This opens it up for multiple play throughs and you and your friends can have totally different experiences.
You can download each episode via PSN or Xbox Live or you can purchase a physical copy of the game which includes every episode. In fact why not wait a little longer for the Game Of The Year edition which includes every episode, the soundtrack and the bonus episode, 400 days, which bridges the gap between season one and the highly anticipated season 2?
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
New Leaf is the fourth instalment to the adorable Animal Crossing series where, you the player, can create and live in your own idyllic world. As the fourth game in the series, New Leaf improves and tightens everything good about the previous games and adds many new features which makes it arguably the best game of the series.
Although many characters and features from previous games return for New Leaf, things have expanded and evolved. The main new feature in New Leaf is the fact that you are also the towns Mayor. This allows you to have a greater freedom in customizing the world around you. You can grow your town buy building new features like bridges or houses and you can work on new projects that improve your town. This level of interaction gives you a great sense of immersion and will make you want to keep coming back to the world you’ve worked so hard to create.
Visually New Leaf has also improved. Your character is now more detailed which means you can now customize his or her clothes and features. The art style, like it’s predecessors, retains its colour and simplicity but adds more detail into the world. Characters also appear more varied and come in different heights and sizes rather than just looking like the same model with a different colour scheme. The charm is still all there but it’s evolved and expanded naturally without sacrificing the things that made it great in the first place.
The multiplayer in New Leaf is also perfectly executed. You can use the StreetPass to check out strangers houses and even purchase their designs and ideas. You can also play some really fun mini games with one another and you can even check out a “dream” version of their town. In this version you can rearrange or, if you’re so inclined, mess up their entire town without it having any effect on their real town. This is a great feature that allows the player to explore and create without messing up hours of work. You can of course show off your town without worrying that it’ll be a ruin when you return.
New Leaf provides you with years of content and an entire world for you to create, explore and expand. This charming game will draw you in and keep you coming back day after day. It’s not the sort of game you binge on for a week and then never play again. It’s a second life you can escape to during your lunch break or daily commute.
2013
The Last of Us
Naughty Dog were arguably the most successful developers this gen. At the start of this generation, they seemed to be pretty unassuming but by the end they are now a household name amongst gamers. They would hardly have been resting on their laurels if they’d only created the superb Uncharted games but no, Naughty Dog went even further and gave us one more gem before the end.
The Last of Us takes place in 2033. A post apocalyptic America that has been brought to ruin by a deadly fungal virus that turns infected humans into crazed, deformed, killing machines. To make things worse, the Government has gone into a state of military oppression and is resisted by a rebel group known as the Fireflies. You play as Joel, a middle aged man caught in the middle. Joel finds himself tasked with escorting Ellie, a young but smart teenage girl to a Firefly sanctuary. Your journey will have you trekking across a ruined America as you fight and stealth your way past the infected and human enemies.
What makes The Last of Us so supreme is without doubt the care and detail Naughty Dog has invested into it’s story. Many games these days use gameplay and graphics to get away with not fleshing out the plot and characters. This isn’t a huge crime but when it comes to The Last of Us, the story and characters are every bit as superb as the gorgeous graphics, engaging gameplay and the tight controls. The two main characters are Joel and Ellie. Joel is a man in his late 40’s haunted by memories of the past. As a young man Joel’s whole life was turned upside down when the virus first took hold and as a result he suffered a serious loss. Twenty years later Joel is tasked with escorting Ellie safely across America. At the age of fourteen, Ellie was born well after the world went to hell and can only imagine what life was like before the outbreak. Due to her youth and resilience, Ellie has a less cynical and jaded outlook on life than Joel and due to their superb voice acting and motion capture, it’s a genuine pleasure to watch the two interact with one another as their journey unfolds. Over the course of the game even the most hardcore gamer will grow attached to the two characters and at multiple times during the story you will find your heartstrings being pulled. Whilst Joel and Ellie may be the stars of the show, they are not the only memorable characters. Along their trek they bump into numerous allies and enemies all of whom are equally well voice acted and motion captured. There are also numerous collectables to be found such as newspapers and journals, all of which give you more insight into what exactly happened.
Even the best story would only do so much if they rest of the game was sub-par but this is Naughty Dog we’re talking about so as you can expect, every aspect of this game is sublime. The great thing about The Last of Us is its variety in gameplay. For the most part you are given freedom to tackle enemies in any way you like. Will you clear a group of bad guys by stealthing your way through with your lethal but silent bow or will you go in guns blazing? Ammo is scarce band usually best saved for harder encounters but the choice is completely up to you. Non infected human enemies aren’t as physically tough as the infected but they of course have more weapons at their disposal and are generally smarter. The infected are dumber but far more volatile and will disregard their own safety in an effort to take a bite out of you. As I said earlier, ammo is scarce in The Last of Us and you’ll need to scavenge the area and use scraps and everyday objects to create your own simple but effective weapons like Molotov cocktails, Shivs and melee weapons like spiked bats. You can also create items to heal yourself but some scraps are used for multiple items, forcing you to choose what kind of item you need most. Most of these weapons are best used with stealth since many enemies you’ll go up against are armed with better equipment. The stealth mechanic works beautifully and when you get spotted by an enemies it’s always your fault. At some points you will find yourself in tense shootouts and again this aspect of the game is flawless. After creating the run and gun Uncharted games, Naughty Dog knows a thing or two about gunplay and it shines here. Everything good about the shooting in Uncharted is here but it’s refined and honed so you’ll never feel yourself becoming fatigued or getting the feeling your playing another mediocre shooter.
It’s fair to say that The Last of Us is without question one of the best looking games ever made. Graphically the game feels like it’s running on next gen hardware and the environments are simply stunning. The characters animations, lip syncing and dialogue are all perfect and physical combat looks and feels just like it should. As I mentioned earlier, the voice acting is great but that’s not the only place the audio shines. The games soundtrack is so fitting as you wander through beautiful but ruined levels as the melancholy music tugs at your soul.
Once you’re done with the solo campaign you can hop online and share the experience with your friends. When you first start multiplayer you must choose a side, the Fireflies or the Hunters. From here you are tasked with building a clan of survivors up and keeping them alive for two weeks (in game). As you play death matches you will gain new items and materials that can be used to sustain your clan and improve it. Every so often you will be given a challenge you must complete or else you will pay a forfeit. At first the forfeits aren’t too bad but by the end of the two weeks they result in your entire clan being wiped out, forcing you to start again. This may sound basic but The Last of Us brings a fresh take on multiplayer in general and despite its simplicity it’s immense fun.
The Last of Us was an absolute hit with gamers and critics alike, some of whom even went as far as to call it the game of the generation. The game garnered numerous perfect scores from many well established reviewers such as Edge, Eurogamer, IGN and Destructoid. If you own a PS3 then you have no excuse not to go and play this game. You are missing out on a masterpiece.
Grand Theft Auto V
For many people, Grand Theft Auto: V was not only the most anticipated game of 2013 but also the last big purchase they would be making for their Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. In some ways, GTA V not only had to live up to the hype and expectation laid down by its predecessors but also had to be a worthy last hurrah for gamers on their aging console. There was monumental pressure on GTA V to remind us how far this generation has come and to give us a glimpse of the kind of excellence we could look forward to from the PS4 and Xbox One. Many game developers would fall short of this monumental task. Rockstar however, made it look easy…
There has never been a bad GTA game. Of course we all have our particular favourites but each GTA always expands and improves upon the previous one. The hype was of course huge for this game and only grew as the release date drew nearer. Fortunately, what Rockstar released was quite simply the best open world game ever and a technical masterpiece that fulfilled all our expectations and then some.
Returning us to our beloved open world of San Andreas, GTAV tells the story of not one, but three playable characters. There’s Michael, the aging bank robber unsatisfied with his life of luxury, Franklin, a young gangster with a mind for higher things, and Trevor, a wild maniac who lives on instinct. The story follows these three characters as they work together in order to pull off the biggest heist ever.
Graphically GTA V is just sublime. Not only does it look great but even when your flying low in a jet the world seamlessly unfolds without a moment of pop-in or screen tear. Epic sunsets will fill the sky as you drive cross country and in the city the nightlife will buzz with neon signs and slick cars. The radio stations return with genre specific stations with artists such as Queen, Rihanna and Black Flag. They’re not the only things that sound great as every character including Michael, Franklin and Trevor are voice acted wonderfully.
As promised, Rockstar have injected a little more of the fun and chaos that was missing from IV and missions will have you riding a bike upon a moving train, saving your son from gangsters and of course robbing banks. A great feature to the heists is the freedom you’re given in how you want to execute them. You can go in guns blazing but this will attract more cops which could in turn lessen your score. Going in with stealth will allow you to get more cash but you’ll also have to spend some in order to hire hackers and drivers who will aid your escape. Following the main missions is only half the fun though and there’s endless thrills to be had in just going crazy around San Andreas. Want to blow your hard earned money on strippers? Go ahead. Want to ride a dirt bike off the top of a mountain and parachute to safety? Be my guest. At times it can seem like the only real limit to GTA V is your imagination.
Rockstar should also be applauded for creating perhaps the most immersive, living, breathing world ever. It’s crammed full of tiny details you may not even notice after a hundred hours but they’re still there. Little things like the way other cars will flash their lights at you if yours aren’t on or the way causing a commotion will cause NPC’s to pull out their phones and take pictures. It’s clear Rockstar have gone to great lengths and spared no details and it really shows.
The other aspect of GTA V is its online multiplayer. Once you’ve created your online avatar, you a free to roam San Andreas with up to sixteen other players as you cause chaos, make money and take part in hugely fun matches and missions. When you first start, you’ll have no money in the bank and only very basic weapons to defend yourself with. As you play matches and explore you gain more money and will level up which unlocks new weapons and abilities. Money you earn can be used to purchase items like clothes and ammo but when you start earning the big bucks you can begin buying expensive cars and even houses, apartments and garages. It’s a great feeling starting off with nothing and eventually buying the most expensive apartment that’s on the top floor of a skyscraper that overlooks the city of Los Santos.
As I mentioned earlier, the multiplayer matches are absurdly fun and range from adrenaline fuelled street races, death matches and even two teams waging war in the skies as you fight one another in military jet fighters. GTA V’s online has almost limitless playability and Rockstar seem committed to updating it regularly, because of this I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the online community is still thriving for years to come.
Epilogue
So there you have it, just some of the biggest most enjoyable games we experienced on our Xbox 360’s, Playstation 3’s, 3DS’s and Wii’s. The past seven years have been some of gamings best years ever, so here’s to Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo for all the good times, and here’s to all the next gen consoles, may they enjoy all the success and awesome games of their predecessors.
By Thom Edwards
[Stay tuned for later this week when we crown the Top 10 Greatest Games of the Seventh Generation]
