Since this blog is all about gaming I figure I can give you a more in-depth look at my very favorite games.
1. Uncharted IP, PS3
- Ok, this is actually two games now with the release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves but I really can’t split them up. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was probably the first game I got on the PS3 that truly justified my purchase of the system. I have not only played through it at least twice, but it’s also the first game that made me interested in actually going after collectibles. And this girl really just can’t resist a good puzzler, gun play, or zombies, which Drake’s Fortune was full of.
Uncharted 2 took what was already a good game with solid game play and did what was seemingly impossible: made it even better. The graphics are also absolutely gorgeous and the humor is spot on, thus making this game even better than the original. I really don’t say that lightly. It also once again proves that there are very, very awesome games that are linear in nature, as opposed to the open world I grew fascinated with in Grand Theft Auto III. And while there are no Nazi U-boats in this one, there are crazy zombie creatures, as well as copious amounts of stealth game play (I love to slink around in the shadows). Within 2 days of release I had already beaten it and at this writing am currently on my second run through, this time on hard. And this time I intend to pet every yak in that Nepalese village even if it kills me.
2. Ico, PS2
- This is, by far, one of the prettiest game I have ever played on the PS2 – and quite possibly on any platform. It is incredibly short, but I have no problems at all running through it again. The soundtrack adds to the ambiance of the surroundings and the puzzles are a lot of fun to solve. This is a truly underrated game.
3. Shadow of the Colossus, PS2
- Made by the same people who developed Ico this game is just as pretty and just as fun to play. I put this behind Ico only because when I think of incredibly pretty and immersive games I always think of that one first. The giants all have to be beaten using their own weaknesses and a good deal of the fun of the game is to find the most efficient way to do so. The surrounding lands are gorgeous and interesting to explore whether on horseback or just walking around. Argo, your horse, is one of the best sidekicks in a game ever.
4. Simon the Sorcerer, PC
- This one is an oldie-but-goldie game. The humor is fantastic and the graphics look good even after 15 years. The sound is nothing to write home about, but it goes well with the game and switches up for some of the different scenes. Check out my review for screenshots.
5. Grand Theft Auto IV, PS3
- This game was one of the most anticipated games of 2008 and it had good reason to be. The controls were revamped (drastically when it came to driving) and a cover system was added that is a lot like the system in Uncharted and Gears of War. The scope of the city was absolutely incredible and the detail in the game was astounding. The multiplayer aspect was also a huge boon to the series as it had very few places left to go in order to be a fresh game. Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized the way we thought about gaming, I think GTA IV will revolutionize the way we look at sandbox gaming with multiplayer.
This should give you a general idea of what grabs me when I play a game. I love a pretty game, but if the game isn’t fun to play the beauty doesn’t really help it much (case in point: Genji: Days of the Blade).
This list may change over time as more games come out or as I play older games I have forgotten about and realize they are just really, really cool.
