Video games are becoming more and more an art form that is still struggling to be seen has a an equal among film and literature... there have been many games in our history, but few could be used has a testimony of high art class. While you check my list keep in mind I am not listing games by calling them "The greatest ever made" but just does experience that you might want to check.
The propose of this list is to help you guys turn your heads a little bit and give attention to some games than you might have not heard of has well has games you have heard a thousand times but maybe you have never tried out; this list in not in any particular order of preference:
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1. Star Wars: Rouge Squadron
"Factor 5" (now gone) made arguably one of the best Star Wars games out there with this little dogfight gem; set between episodes 4 and 5 of the saga, you play has Luke Skywalker has he leads the rouge squadron through a series of missions that each give a crippling blow to the empire. Aside from the challenging aspect of the game and great control of your ship, it´s impossible not to feel that you are being a part of the rebellion fighting the tyrannical empire when you are faced with multiple enemies. Has a star wars game is one of the most well made and well crafted; it may be often overlooked by star fox 64 has best the flying game of the N64 platform but it still feels like a great game.
2. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
Sonic the Hedgehog is a house hold name, the only mention of it should ring a bell to many and being associated has one of the greatest gaming mascots of all time, he is right up there with Mario has a big icon. Although some might argue that ever since his jump into the third dimension he has no longer been the same and many would attribute this failure to the infamous "Sonic 06" considered by gamers and critics has one of the worst video games of all time; while that is topic for another time I want to turn your attention to a 3D Sonic that is the undeniable proof that our little blue friend has what it takes to be a great icon again... Sonic Adventure 2 was originally released on the Sega Dreamcast (The last console Sega ever made before becoming a third party publisher) and while it was good, you get the best experience on it´s re-lunch on the nintendo gamecube and it was not only still has good but let you enjoy of all the goodies you had to work hard for previously to unlock has well has a few new tweaks. The story is quite memorable and that´s thanks to the characters who are good and don´t come across has obnoxious or annoying for the most part and the soundtrack is really sweet.
3. Goldeneye 007 (N64)
What´s important to note about Goldeneye is that (beyond the fame it still gets) it´s what it did for the shooting genera back in it´s day and what it did for FPS multiplayers. First person shooters used to be reserved for mouse and keyboard only but when developer Rare stepped in and made this game for the nintendo 64, it made everybody turn their heads and expand the genera, Goldeneye in not just that one game that everybody brings up on lists of "best FPS of all time", but also what it did for console players in general. What makes it worth playing now is not what it did for a whole industry back in the day, but because of how well it holds up even today, It might take some time to get used to only use one analog stick instead of the current "dual analog" style of modern gaming; I can´t say it won´t feel like a dinosaur to some but you can say you at least tried to give it chance...
4. The Last of Us
I am pretty sure that by this point you have heard everybody talk to death about how "awesome" this game is; that is "a masterpice" "the citizen kane of gaming" "one of the most monumental games ever made" blah blah blah... truth to be told guys, it´s credit is well earned and well deserved. Considering is a very resent game I will not talk about the story for the sake of not spoiling it to people who haven`t played it has of yet, although you might have heard of it or know of it by now I will say it´s well written, acted and animated conveying many emotions in moments where is hard to have it executed, to me is still a mystery and makes me wander how they made it. The wasteland where the game takes place is excellent with wonderful details around every corner and the interactions between the main characters Ellie and Joel are great showing a lot of well crafted human interaction that many would say "could not be possible to make in games", The Last of Us is proof of how wrong they are. If you have not played it yet, then get to it because has much has I think most of the big named reviewers out there (IGN, Gamespot, etc...) would be giving this game to much credit, there is nothing overhyped or overrated about this game at all... it really is one of the best in this modern generation of games.
5. Bioshock 2
More often than not we see that the judgement of some games can sometimes be misinterpreted or looked at in a different light; is easy to assume that there is malice in many things, the fact that Bioshock 2 was so "underwhelming" by many means that we can sometimes be very simple minded. The story is one about love, loss, conflict and redemption, is much less politic that the previous entry (or even it´s sequel) but I think is very obvious that it never was the intention to be a carbon copy of the first entry, Bioshock 2 is able to tell a story has emotionally driven and deep has any good product... The reason why it´s worth to try it out is because you will see a side of the world of Rapture you never really knew; that of it´s people, it´s inhabitants... witch is more often than not the story that we associate with the most in life, this game is one that has been judge in a more harmful way because the choice to make it was from the polishers and the developers were not the same from the previous entry, that of course bring new perspective to a world already created and imagined by one but is now enriched by the creativity of other... if you have been holding back because of it´s reception from fans; then try it because it most certainly is worth the time put into it.
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I though of putting "The Ocarina of Time" on this list but because of how it´s often remarked has the "greatest video game of all time" I feel like it´s not necessary to give it more credit or even the simple fact that it is on every list ever means you have heard of it, so instead, Take a look at this often overlooked entry in the Zelda franchise despite now days most seem to embraces it now. Wind Waker is one of the most pretty video games ever made, with a gorgeous visual style that still holds up well today, the new version of Link is really cute and so are the rest of the characters, they show more expression than pretty much every modern video game character. The main reason why i consider it important to mention is the fact that some still feel like this game is not dark or edgy has the entry that fans wanted but that should not be reason to turn the cold shoulder to this nice looking game.
7. Mirror´s Edge
Think "Assassin´s Creed" in first person with a futuristic-like setting instead of the historical ones; truth to be told, I feel like Mirror´s Edge has an excellent idea that, despite not being fully rounded, it made the whole experience much more new and fresh than many games that came out at the time... Simply put: Mirror´s Edge is a video game that was ahead of it´s time, but even being has good has it was (and still is) it didn't reach the level of praise or sales has most "successful" games do. Has a game itself I appreciate that the designers wanted to make it more about dexterity and the ability of the player to adapt and react to the environment instead of simple handholding; granted is not like the game does not have a hint mechanic where they highlight the object you can interact with but most of the time I doubt you will try to pitch these considering the game in general is very linear. The story is straight forward and treats the events that would usually feel misleading has insides on the characters rather than being pointless exposition, simply put, it knows what it is and is not trying to be anything else. I recommend you check this game out and see for yourself what I mean, because explaining what it feels like to play it is not the same has actually playing it.
8. Red Dead Redemption
"Rockstar Games" is well regarded for their "Grand Theft Auto" franchise with sells billions of units worldwide, each game lunches with hype and seems like each new entry it brings more sales; but I find their excellent game Red Dead Redemption far leagues better than their flagship franchise... This games fallows John Marston has he hunts down his former gang member... and that´s all I will say for the story because it would be a crime if I spill more here, it´s something that is just better to see for yourself. I can´t think of any game that has attempted the old west setting in any other video game, at least not with the success of this title, there is almost an infinite amount of activities available for you within the game world and is so refreshing to see it done right; I have always wandered why no other developer has attempted a western setting like this again? there have been games set in the old west but non of them being open world. RDR is one of the finest games of the 7th gen and is no surprise why it´s seen in several best games list. I am sure you have heard of Rockstar, so how about give a try to a game made by them that does not have the GTA logo on the cover?
9. Metroid Prime
I mention the Metroid Prime Trilogy before in one of my old posts and I remember I called it "one of the best collections ever on the Wii" and I stand by it. The first entry "Metroid Prime" became the best selling game on the gamecube system and it made great use of the first person mechanics to make the exploration of Tallon 4 that more immersive and engaging. One aspect that is something that even to this day still surprises me is the way the story is told, many games now days have cutscenes or in game events spilling exposition of events unfolding has you play... but Prime has you scanning information has you discover through the world; you scan lore and bits of information regarding what it´s going on; it´s up to you to pice together the information given to you. The game is about exploration and discovery, I love the sensation of loneliness you feel by exploring such a gargantuan planet, and you will feel alone when you see you are the only person on the planet that is not a carnivore alien or an space pirate... Metroid Prime is an adventure where you are this great explorer; Samus Aran is has mysterious has the game itself. Many modern games have somehow been touched by what this game achieved, I dare you not to spot any similarities with highly praise games of today. I am not just recommending it but also suggesting it, it really is an interesting game with many different layers of design that must be seen to be believed and after you play it; chances are you will understand what I mean.
10. Fallout 3
The post-apocaliptic setting is one that has been used a lot in this generation of games, in fact, I dare say the 7th generation is the one where we have seen the most amount of port- apocalyptic titles ever from FPS to strategy, pretty much every genera has been use for a post-apocalyptic setting, I bring this up because when talking about Fallout 3 I think is important to extend my thoughts with extensive perspective. Set after a nuclear war between the United States and China, the world is in pretty much gone, humanity is now starting over and is rebuilding the world it once inhabited, this is just the world where the main story takes place; the main story itself is solid and well told with a legit reason to do what you have to do, but the game itself is of course not asking you this, has you can be a complete bastard with anybody you see and go full evil if you wish, the interesting contrast I see with Fallout 3 is that no matter what you do (weather you are good or evil) the world is still in shambles. This being a game from Bethesda, Fallout 3 is massive with a whole world with it´s own societies trying to survive and plenty of secrets waiting to be discovered; the capital wasteland is a place you can get lost into. It sure is depressive but that is the kind of world it´s creators intended to make and if I had any saying in the matter they have succeeded very well... I can recommend Skyrim, but judging by what a critical and financially successful it was, I can pretty much guess you have played it by now, same accolades could go to the direct sequel to Fallout 3; Fallout: New Vegas, has much has I liked that game I can´t really say is better than FO3 because it´s just to similar in the end of the day, despite having a few minor differences.
While we are still on the topic, I will say that Fallout 3 is without a doubt my favorite video game of all time... I find this game to be so immersive and so grand that back in it´s day it blew my mind, I never thought a game like this could exist and so right then and there I fell in love with it... the replay value is high for me, even if I replay the game with the same character I still feel like I am experiencing a whole new game all over again. If this game is right up your alley pick it up and have it a go.
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I hope that I have been able to catch the attention of some of you with this list of games, I plan to do this again with movies and animus in the future soon... who know, I might even revisit games again with another different list, so until them if any of this games interest you and you are going to check them out, then I hope you enjoy them and have fun!
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