Saturday 28 May 2011

most interesting games


BioShock – 2007 (Xbox 360/PC/PlayStation 3)
Not only does the chilling, distinctive underwater 50s city of Rapture make BioShock an utterly immersive and spectacular first-person shooter, but the game’s narrative challenges video game conventions, providing an incredible twist that ensures its status as a thinking man’s FPS and modern masterpiece. 

Braid – 2008 (Xbox 360/PC)
Braid undoubtedly has a high barrier to entry, but if players are patient with this short platformer then they’ll experience one of the most thought-provoking and intricately created video games ever made. Whatever you say against it, you cannot dispute that people will be talking about Braid for many years to come.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – 2007 (Xbox 360/PlayStaton 3/PC)
Is there a better, tighter, more entertaining modern first-person shooter? CoD4’s single player campaign offers action, atmosphere and some politically charged, dramatic moments, but on top of that its online level-based multiplayer remains the best example of its kind, thus making it the most complete FPS made to date. 
Civilization II – 1996 (PC)
The danger with including Civ II on this list is that it might be impossible to put it down and try the other 29 games. This classic turn-based strategy game eliminates messy micromanagement but perversely offers up a huge amount of choice to its players in their quest for world domination, whether it’s through diplomacy, war or simple monopoly. An addictive triumph everyone should try. 

Dance Dance Revolution – 1998 (Arcade)
People wrongly point towards Wii Sports as the first physical video game. Not only didDDR get their first, but it did it so much better. The game eats up coin after coin as players put down their pride, step up onto the stage and throw themselves into the foot-tapping gameplay. Whether through the original or more modern iterations, DDRremains a unique and incredibly fun experience.

Play first person shooter video game tournaments online for real cash.
Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – 2006 (Xbox 360/PC/PlayStation 3)
It was a toss-up between this and Fallout 3 – both couldn’t be on the same list. Fallout 3 may be the better game, but Oblivion is the better representation of sandbox gaming, its scarily huge fantasy world a sinkhole of time that still eats up the lives of dedicated questers. The only problem with putting it on this list is that by the time you’ve finally done everything to do, you may well be dead.
Final Fantasy X – 2001 (PlayStation 2)
Is that “Not Final Fantasy VII” I hear you say? Well, Final Fantasy VII may arguably have been the better game for its time, but X remains the overall zenith of the series, a summation of all the lessons learnt along the way throughout the many years. In short,Final Fantasy X is the glorious epitomy of the J-RPG genre., its colourful world, emotional story and deep gameplay a must for this list. 

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – 2002 (PlayStation 2/PC/Xbox)
It was tough deciding which GTA game to include in this list, with San Andreas and GTA IV the main contenders for a place. I decided to go with GTA III: Vice City, but in truth any of the GTA games from III onwards would have done. Vice City’s ostensible personality, its memorable characters, and the uniqueness of its 80s setting nudged it ahead as the sandbox crime game of choice. 

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec – 2001 (PlayStation 2)
Again, it was tough to choose between this and Gran Turismo 4, but the formula feels tighter in 3, and for me it remains the best driving game ever made. That’s not to say it’s more fun than Burnout Paradise, which easily could have made this list, but it is a greater simulation, and for those who care about that kind of thing (and sales suggest there are loads), you can’t do better than Gran Turismo 3

Lemmings – 1991 (Commordore Amiga/PC)
Placing you in the control of hapless, hopeless and sometimes suicidal little critters,Lemmings is challenging and incredibly fun video game. It would be fitting for Lemmingsto be pictured underneath the dictionary entry for “timeless”, and as such it’s not surprising that an updated port of the game will be released for the iPhone and iPod Touch this year, 18 years after its release.
MGS4
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – 1998 (Nintendo 64)
If you die without having playing Ocarina of Time, then you’ve died without having truly been a gamer. Its early 3D graphics may not stand the test of time like Wind Waker, butOcarina of Time is still the best Zelda ever made and the best adventure game ever made, most notably offering players an impact upon a game world that most games still fail to replicate. Best game ever made? Maybe.

LittleBigPlanet – 2008 (PlayStation 3)
Sackboy may have failed to take over the world quite like Media Molecule and Sony would have hoped, but for all the problems that plagued LittleBigPlanet’s release, it still offers something special that everyone should at least try. As soon as you play the game’s amazing first few levels, knowing that the game’s level creator could be used to create them yourself, its magic becomes obvious.
Mario Kart DS – 2005 (Nintendo DS)
Again, in terms of an all-out fun racer, it was a tough toss-up between this and Burnout Paradise, but it would have been a sin to not include at least one handheld exclusive on this list, besides which Mario Kart DS is one heck of a game. Its gameplay is the modern iteration that’s closest to the addictive quality of the SNES original, and while its online has become tarnished by snaking issues, Mario Kart DS is an absolute blast to play with friends.
Metal Gear Solid 4 – 2008 (PlayStation 3)
The problem with including MGS4 on the list is that it’s nothing without having played the previous three games in the series. Simply put, it’s so good that despite this qualifier it fully deserves its place. The MGS series has always been synonymous with experimental, unconventional moments and impressive production values, but MGS4 adds on top of all of that some resoundingly enjoyable core gameplay. No other high-profile series challenges game convention quite like Metal Gear Solid does.
Neverwinter Nights – 2002 (PC)
Oblivion is the perfect represntative of sandbox W-RPGs, but BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights shows how to empower the player within a classic , linear tale. Add on top of that a translation of D&D mechanics without the nerdy mess, and a deep campaign creator to allow wannabe Dungeon Masters to spin their own virtual tales, and you have a classic bit of PC gaming.
Resident Evil 4
Pac-Man – 1980 (Arcade)
What’s there to say about Pac-Man that hasn’t been said? Not much, so instead I’ll mention that I did consider putting Pac-Man: Championship Edition on the list, given that it’s the best of the recent flux of modern remixes of classic video games. For all the gloss of Championship Edition, the original remains more addictive, and of course more significant as a part of gaming history.
Portal – 2007 (PC/Xbox 360/PlayStation 3)
It would have been very easy to just say The Orange Box instead of Portal, and frankly if this list is influencing your purchasing decisions then you absolutely should buy The Orange Box instead of just Portal. Nonetheless, Portal is the standout game in that package, and the standout game of its year. Its unique first-person puzzle-based gameplay is wonderfully complimented by the dark humour of GlaDOS, the psychotic computer hell-bent on your destruction. Portal is short, sweet and original, a brilliant and iconic video game.

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