This generation is coming to a close now. When I look back, it has been a pretty good generation with some games that have really stood out. Here I have listed the 20 games tnta really stood out to me this generation that I have played (in no particular order):
1. Demon's Souls (2009, From Software, PS3)
Demon's Souls is one of the biggest stand outs for me this generation. Where many games started dumbing down core gameplay mechanics, and making the game easier to be more accessible to a broader demographic; Demon's Souls did the opposite. This game was a challenging and unforgiving RPG, with a lot of replay value. As unforgiving as it was, it was still an exceptionally fun game, one that I ended up playing more than any other this entire generation, through multiple save games and new game pluses.
2. Alan Wake (2010, Remedy Entertainment, 360/PC)
Alan Wake is a game that stood out to me because of it's story telling. Sure the story itself was nothing original [spoiler] man and girlfriend happy, girl get's taken away, guy fights to get her back, it's same old [/spoiler] , but it was the way the story was told that really hooked me into this game from beginning to end. To me it was quite an original gameplay, that was fun and didn't tire too much; and there was the classic Remedy attention to detail, from television and radio broadcasts, to a rich backstory, the things we found in their Max Payne games from yesteryear. I am not sure how it looks on 360, but on the pc this game looks fantastic as well, lighting just looks perfect, textures are sharp, and the game is well optimised.
3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007, Infinity Ward, 360/PS3/PC (main platforms))
While this is far from my favourite Call of Duty game, one thing is for sure: this game stood out more than a lot of games this generation. When Activision released Call of Duty 4, it really changed the way multiplayer in first person shooters was done from then on. In fact nearly every fps (first person shooter) since it's release has at least borrowed elements from this game, if not straight up copied it in the multiplayer part. The multiplayer used a simple yet addictive levelling and unlock system, as well as fast paced instant action multiplayer that meant players of all audiences just kept coming back, game after game.
4. Wii Sports (2006, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii)
While I completely dislike this game, I do have to admit how much of a stand out it is this generation. This is the game that really brought families together to play on the games console, even the Grans, which is a massive feat by itself! The game itself is merely a simple collection of 5 sports that are best played with friends, but it is what was bundled with the Wii and showed people what the Wii was really about, this became a system seller even at the start!
5. MAG (2010, Zipper Interactive, PS3)
I know I am likely to get a lot of comments for including this one, but hear me out: this game is a stand out this gen! What Zipper Interactive managed to do here was a real achievement, this game was a first person shooter, with up to 256 player matches. What makes this even more impressive is that all this was without a single bit of lag! Even on my fairly mediocre internet I had back in the day! This game did get a lot of hate, sure it wasn't the nicest looking game in the World, and the animations were clunky, but when you actually played the game, it was a great game, and Zipper Interactive did well with supporting the game for a few years with regular patches and DLC before the community sadly died out, with Zipper eventually following in 2012 (RIP).
6. Portal (2007, Valve, 360/PS3/PC)
Portal really changed the game with 3D puzzle games. It introduced the Portal gun, a device capable of creating portals on nearly any surface, which created many many possiblities for creating Puzzles in. Not only was this game fun to play, it also had some positively challenging puzzles that really made you think. The sequel Portal 2 introduced somehow even more puzzle concepts improving in every way over the original.
7. Angry Birds (2009, Rovio, iOS/Android/PC)
I'll get this out in the open now: I hate this game. That being said it almost single handedly led the charge with cheap quick casual games on phones, especially the iPhone back in the day. The game took phone gaming by storm, and sold many many millions of copies at it's cheap price tag. The game in fact sold so many, that Rovio released quite a few more Angry Birds games that all played almost identically with a few minor mechanic additions here and there to fit the theme... sigh, I hate this game, but I guess good for Rovio for managing to create this gold mine.
8. Super Mario Galaxy (2007, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii)
How can I talk about stand out games without mentioning Super Mario Galaxy? This game was an incredible innovation on the Super Mario formula, adding new ways to play, and compelling mechanics when travelling between planets and galaxies. It also really attracted Nintendo's hardcore fanbase back to it's system, after going a while without any AAA games. This game sold millions and became one of the most critically acclaimed games out there, winning many awards.
9. Mass Effect 2 (2010, Bioware, 360/PC/PS3)
A sequel to the fairly highly acclaimed Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 improved in every way possible. With one of the most engrossing stories in games of this generation, and brilliant (yet admittedly limited) moral choices through the game; it really gained a hardcore following. While I would say the gameplay itself is pretty mediocre in terms of third person cover shooters (I'll say functional, it's fun, but does nothing new gameplay wise and doesn't do it as well as others out there), the story and story telling is what really attracted me and others to the game. There were also many quests to do on the side, secrets to find, and a very rich and engrossing game universe, full of races and creatures each with their own well thought out lore and World.
10. Uncharted 2 (2009, Naughty Dog, PS3)
To me this is one of the most amazing games this generation. If you are a gamer with a PS3, you must play this! Uncharted 2 is a very story focussed third person adventure game. Naughty Dog really created a master piece with this game: it grips from start to finish, has a really well thought out story [spoiler] admittedly with a mediocre ending, but not enough to ruin it [/spoiler] , and the visuals look fantastic and really show what the PS3 is capable of. Not only this, but the game is well polished, and is accompanied with a fairly good multiplayer section to get you a little more out of your money. This game won many game of the year awards and earned exceptional critical praise, and for very good reason!
That is 10/20 of my list of standout games for this gen. What are your thoughts on my first 10? What games stood out to you this generation? Comment below.
Peace.