There's a reason first-person puzzle games far and wide are constantly compared to Portal — though a brief adventure, its gameplay, tone, writing, and structure so cohesively work together to create one of the most memorable, challenging, and fascinating puzzle games around. Arming players with the now-iconic Portal gun and the devastating - and lethal - wit of Glad0s, Valve guided players through a fantastically orchestrated and escalating set of physics-based puzzles that ended with one of the most memorable end-credits songs of all time.
But for as great as its puzzles are, and the way they take the simplicity of two portals you can shoot almost anywhere into such fascinating territory, it's also Portal's world-building that equally makes the game such a memorable touchstone. What can you say about the definitive fighting game, the game that has spawned countless imitators, acolytes, and sequels?
While exceptionally balanced, the imaginative design and high-end graphics for its time helped set it apart. Street Fighter II became perhaps the first fighting game global arcade smash and it is still celebrated today. Mario's move out of arcades and into the Mushroom Kingdom changed our hobby and our industry as we know it, setting off a chain of events that shaped gaming as we know it today.
Super Mario Bros. Its influence cannot be overstated. Example: literally everyone reading this can hum its theme song, right now, from memory. Now it's playing in your head again. You're welcome.
A small child falls into the world of monsters and suddenly finds themselves the target of an ancient grudge that calls for their death. Undertale puts the player in a unique situation; where you'd usually kill everything in your way, Undertale gives you the option to spare every monster you meet, though it never requires it. Every monster killed or spared alters something in the world, whether it be another monster wondering what happened to their friend, an opportunity for a hilarious date, or a slightly easier time with a specific monster's bullet hell battle.
Undertale is jam-packed with emotion, charm, and determination to show that your actions make a difference, no matter how small you think they may be. But its ambitious story — of religious and scientific schisms, of dreams and reality, of idiot gods and nightmare newborns — is told not in the overwritten prose favoured by Lovecraft but by an exceptionally savage third-person action game. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki wanted every slash inflicted by its arsenal of gruesome weapons to feel as if you were fighting for your life.
As is usually the case, his design works flawlessly. So much story is embedded in the dilapidated hallways and shuttered rooms of Rapture, a decaying underwater labyrinth that demands to be investigated. I still think about three moments in The Last of Us at least once a week. That dissonance struck me, but made so much sense.
The Last of Us marries its storytelling with its gameplay, and nothing made me feel more than that last moment. That sense of reality is what helps you empathise with Geralt, understand the world, and really understand how bad things have gotten when the crazy shit starts popping off.
An RPG with enough complexity to satisfy the urge to tinker, but enough character never to feel impersonal, Wild Hunt is a staggering achievement no matter how you look at it. Its story deftly balances cosmic threat and family drama, its choices feel truly meaningful and world-changingly effective, and it looks gorgeous in its own grubby way.
Even its two DLC expansions are among the best ever released. Few games had more of a buildup prior to their release than Halo 2, and even fewer managed to live up to them in the way that Halo 2 did. Master Chief taking the fight with the Covenant to Earth was epic, action-packed, and visually stunning on the original Xbox. Sure, the campaign didn't so much end as much as stopped, but the shocking reveal of the playable Arbiter and his story that mirrored the Chief's was a twist no one saw coming.
Furthermore, and perhaps even more importantly, Halo 2 was the killer app for Xbox Live. It brought the party system and matchmaking hopper concept to consoles, instantly making every other online console game look archaic in its infrastructure by comparison.
Of course, it helped that the multiplayer gameplay was, well, legendary. It has devilish new enemy patterns, new bosses, and fantastic new equipment. Symphony of the Night is much more than just a fun side-scroller with an awesome twist, though. Art, animation, sound, gameplay, design… even replay value, thanks to multiple playable characters, all come together perfectly for one unforgettable experience that hits every note it needs to.
Supergiant has released a string of incredible action games since its foundation, but Hades is all at once its best game, one of the finest takes on and best introductions to the roguelike genre, and a fresh, vibrant, and beautiful take on Greek mythology.
As the son of the titular Hades, Zagreus, you'll try escaping the underworld again and again and again, and Hades makes that Sisyphean task constantly rewarding and not just because Sisyphus is actually a character. Hades places as much an emphasis on the wide array of powers you earn every run, which allows for so much variety in how you approach a run, as it does on permanent progression, either in unlocking weapons, overarching stats, and more. But it doubles down on those rewards, with new bits of story, character development, and lore being just as important to every death and rebirth as the mechanical knowledge and upgrades you unlock.
That's bolstered by a suite of incredible voice performances, fun twists on Greek myth, and a fantastic soundtrack that makes each attempt at breaking free memorable. Turn it on and pick a street. Analyse it. Look at the asphalt, worn and cracked; punished by the millions of cars that have hypothetically passed over it.
Look at the litter, the graffiti. No game sells over million copies by accident. Mario 3 earned a place on my list of favorite games way back in , and 25 years of gaming progress have yet to dislodge it. So much of what we consider so quintessentially Mario — the suits, the boos, the overworld — all actually originated here. Its twisting plot, a cast of memorable characters, and sheer depth of choice combine to create an experience that begs to be savored in a world riddled with crime, poverty, and violence.
And, somehow, it manages to make all of this fun and, surprisingly often, funny. A gorgeously designed isometric RPG that makes you think at every turn of its richly detailed streets, Disco Elysium is truly a unique experience, and one that will surely live long in the memory of any who have, for many years to come.
Half-Life 2 forever changed our expectations for what a first-person shooter could be. Its richly imagined world and wonderfully paced gameplay is a delight, never letting up and brimming with invention.
We get to set Antlions on our enemies and in which we play fetch with a robot Dog. In short, it is a truly memorable piece of game design. Its slower pace allows us to binge on the world like a virtual museum but, when the lead starts flying, it puts the wild back in the west and then some. Few games manage the level of uncompromising detail as Red Dead Redemption 2 does. Do we need to discuss the horse balls again? Mario games are synonymous with fun and innovation, and perhaps Mario 64 is the best example of the latter.
It was still recognisably Mario — he collected mushrooms and ran and jumped his way to success, but he was forever changed. He could now long jump, triple jump, and backflip. While the underlying challenge remained the same and the locations were reassuringly familiar, the shift in perspective changed everything. Mario 64 might now look a little blocky but it remains bold and brilliant, too. Where Mass Effect set the stage for a futuristic Milky Way, Mass Effect 2 let you explore and experience so much more of it.
As Commander Shepard, I traveled the galaxy on the best recruitment trip I could have wished for, and experienced possibly one of the most heart-wrenching stories — but whether or not the game ends in tears is entirely up to you. The planet Zebes is atmospheric, oppressive, and extremely lethal.
But then you start to look more closely. The parasite-riddled dead soldier outside of an early boss room. The crashed, half-submerged alien spaceship that may or may not be haunted. What makes it truly special is its genius combination of puzzle-solving, atmosphere, storytelling, exploration, game design, and gameplay.
This iteration of Hyrule was more than just moving between enemy-filled screens, it encompassed everything an immersive experience should be: a vast open world that teased you with secrets hiding just beyond your reach, begging you to come back with new and inventive tools.
Portal undoubtedly came out of nowhere and shattered the mold, but Portal 2 took that raw and incredible concept and managed to shape it into a more polished and impressive package. It cranked the dials up on just about everything that made the original so special. The mind-bending puzzles, the surprisingly dark story, and the ridiculous humor that balanced it out - each piece of that picture was refined and refreshed to build a sequel that actually surpassed the ambition of an already extremely ambitious game, making something both familiar and altogether new.
It gave us a deeper look into the wonderful world of Aperture Science without completely dragging all of its mysteries out into the light. Couple that with a seriously good co-op campaign and even a full-on custom level builder and sharing systems added post-launch and Portal 2 has stayed the high bar by which all first-person puzzle games should be measured, even nearly a decade later. Super Mario World is a relatively simple game to describe.
Super Mario World is the crescendo to the slow build in technology and game design that started with Super Mario Bros. We dare you to make a better game: Puzzling, but not opaque; tough but not intimidating; beautiful, funny, joyful, and universally recognizable. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild eschewed the semi-linear, borderline predictable path of the 3D Zelda games before it in favor of a bold, crazy new approach: let players do what they want, how they want, and in whatever order they decide.
By marrying an open-ended approach to quest structure with the ability to freely explore a vast, beautiful, intriguing world with little specific regulation, the 3D Zelda game template was shattered about as fast as the average breakable weapon in Breath of the Wild. Portal 2. Super Mario World. Zelda: A Link to the Past. Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Our first refresh since features some big changes.
Borderlands 2 Have you played Portal 2? YES NO. Was this article informative? In This Article. The highly anticipated sequel to 's Game of the Year, Portal 2 is a hilariously mind-bending adventure that challenges you to use wits over weaponry in a funhouse of diabolical science. Mild Language, Fantasy Violence. Release Date. There's a good chance you missed one of these. These are seven of the hardest to find or obtain upgrades that require the Speed Booster or Shinespark upgrades.
IGN Logo Recommends. Pokemon Legends: Arceus Matt Purslow Science Adele Ankers 9. Only time will tell. Starfield Jared Moore Jackson as Nick Fury, sans eye-patch. The first Tony Hawk game was a trailblazer.
The sequel was excellent. But the third game in the series refined the gameplay to new levels; levels that, graphics, aside, really have only barely been surpassed since. For decades now, Mario Kart games have yielded more thrills per lap than any other racing game franchise.
But which one is the best ever? With the introduction of 3D tracks, drivers could now encounter changes in elevation, bridges, walls, pits, and longer courses overall. The four-player multiplayer matches represented some of the finest party gaming experiences ever had on a console. Game design god Shigeru Miyamoto had been at Nintendo for five years before hitting the jackpot with this platforming pioneer.
Donkey Kong featured bright, colorful graphics, a simple but engaging storyline, and, at the time, a unique gameplay mechanic—jumping. Yu Suzuki aimed high — perhaps too high — when creating Shenmue, but even when it failed anyone up for driving a forklift for 45 an hour? In a galaxy full of Star Wars games, the emperor of them all is still this RPG that debuted on the original Xbox. Perfectly capturing and expanding the Star Wars universe in a story that took place 4, years before the rise of the Empire, KOTOR fleshed out great characters and a compelling storyline with one of the better plot twists in gaming history.
With breathtaking visuals, innovative design, and a poignant, original plot about an outcast boy on the run, Ico instantly carved out a unique place for itself in video game history. Perhaps the most important fighting game ever, Street Fighter II ignited the arcade brawling game boom of the 90s.
Plus the huge twist ending hits you like a ton of bricks and still has us debating the meaning. With beautifully brutal action, an enveloping Greek mythology universe, and some of the finest cutscenes ever, Kratos and God of War came charging hard onto the PS2 in Slaying baddies with the Blades of Chaos still yields the kind of naughty satisfaction that makes you almost feel a little guilty.
Game director Shigeru Miyamoto gave gamers a plethora of goodies to discover, including the power of flight, opening up the level design to new heights.
From the wide new slate of enemies to the joys of donning a raccoon suit, the third was indeed a charm. The cute platformer genre seemed to be forever destined to the memory bin until Media Molecule created this breakthrough game for the PS3. Selling more than million copies over more than two decades, the Madden series is an institution. But picking one year as the best ever is nearly impossible, as the game has become infamous for making marginal annual advances. Blizzard certainly took its time 12 years in getting out a sequel to the excellent original, but StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty turned out to be well worth the wait.
This sci-fi themed real-time strategy affair delivers a deep and satisfying single-player experience, top-notch multiplayer thrills, and extremely polished presentation and visuals. After decades of feeble attempts, the previously impossible was achieved in an amazing Batman was created. First of all, dragons.
But besides that, this devilishly deep fantasy action RPG bested Oblivion by streamlining the combat system and minimizing the frustrations found previously with leveling up your character. What World of Warcraft has been able to do is untouchable. Grossing well more than 10 billion dollars since its release in , WoW is the all-time cash king of video games.
It might not be the prettiest pony in the stable, but this MMORPG knows how to evolve and keep you hooked like no other game.
With that plastic mini-Gibson in your hands, any marginally musically-inclined gamer could feel like Eddie Van Halen. For decades it seemed video games had to involve fast-paced action or fantasy-filled stories. Then came The Sims, and people everywhere were deciding which room to put the virtual toilet in.
Looking to feel like a kid again? Play either of the two Galaxy games. With eye-popping colors, surprisingly deep gameplay, a bevy of engaging worlds to explore, and that trademark blinding speed, Sonic quickly became a sensation and major system-seller for the Genesis.
From the addictive hook of ring-collecting to the quirky and funky soundtrack, the game is still a platforming piece of perfection. One of the greatest sequels in the history of all sequels, let alone gaming. Everything that was great about Pac-Man was made better with the missus, from different mazes and warp tunnels to tasty bouncing fruit and the faster pace as the game went along.
Pac-Man was also the first female protagonist in an arcade game. Along with sick thrills like parachuting and jet packing, for the first time in the GTA series, an RPG-like element was added to the mix in San Andreas. Of the three PS2-era GTA games, this one holds up the best, but it had the least amount of heavy lifting to do. Refined excellence.
This Golden Age-era sequel to Galaxian has been an arcade mainstay for decades thanks to its simple but satisfying gameplay. Letting your ship get captured so you can eventually reclaim it and double your firepower remains a thrilling expedition, and those Challenging Stages… man, we could live on those.
But it was the hyper-tight controls and gameplay mechanics that still stand up and make this the best fighting game ever. Perhaps the finest example of a game being truly what you make of it, Minecraft became a worldwide phenomenon by letting players build everything from modest huts to a life-size recreation of the Taj Mahal—no goals, just go and build. The crude graphics are understandably hard to get past for some, but the creative freedom is astounding.
The first arcade game ever to consumer quarters like a ravenous T-Rex, Space Invaders was also one of the first games to feature shooting.
Yes, imagine that: There was a time when there were no such things as shooter video games. Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. An entirely new gameplay mode which supports 2-player co-operative play online that is unique from the single player story campaign. Special Ops pits players into a gauntlet of time-trial and objective-based missions.
Rank-up as players unlock new Special Ops missions, each more difficult. Missions include highlights from the single player campaign, fan favorites from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and all new, exclusive missions. Setting a new bar for online multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer delivers new capabilities, customization, gamestates and modes, including: Create-a-Class Evolved.
Riot Shields. Perk Upgrades. Bling Dual Attachments. Accolades Post match reports. His vengeance against the gods of Olympus far behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the lands of Norse Gods and monsters.
It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same. As mentor and protector to a son determined to earn his respect, Kratos is faced with an unexpected opportunity to master the rage that has long defined him. Set within the untamed forests, mountains, and realms of Norse lore, God of War features a distinctly new setting with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters, and gods. Build your skills, earn respect, and show that you've got what it takes to Go Pro.
No time clock, no constraints. Pro-specific challenges. Evolving levels. Interact with other skaters. Multi-player modes. Customize your game Your career is what you make of it. In a large American metropolis, a man named Dante, a private investigator of the supernatural, is seeking revenge for the death of his mother and brother.
The world is waiting, for Dante is no ordinary man, and with his father's sword in hand, he must enter the demon realm and avenge mankind. Mixed with explosive action, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare also delivers special effects, including use of depth of field, rim-lighting, character self-shadowing, real time post-processing, texture streaming as well as physics-enabled effects.
Infinity Ward deployed a dedicated team from the start to deliver a new level of depth to multiplayer. Building on the hit "Call of Duty 2" online experience, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's new multiplayer provides the community an addictive and accessible experience to gamers of all levels.
The industry football standard returns featuring the Houston Texans, new player face and body technology, the ability to create your own team with custom helmets, uniforms, and stadiums, and a new training mode that let's you learn from Madden, the master himself. Platform: 3DS. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D takes the best-reviewed game of all time for a brand-new experience.
Now in 3D all of the graphic textures and colors have been vastly improved, taking advantage of the considerable graphic power of the Nintendo 3DS system.
As such, this title represents a perfect entry point for players new to the Zelda franchise. Playing the Ocarina Link needs to play the eponymous Ocarina of Time many, many times over the course of the game.
This involves a specific series of button presses to play one of the twelve songs in the game. In the original title, you would need to assign the ocarina to an item slot, then likely review the button prompts to your song, then play them from memory. The Nintendo 3DS version has the ocarina constantly available on the Touch Screen, and playing with the button prompts for each song right in front of you.
Enhanced Game play While the greatest care has been taken to preserve the classic game play and story, a number of new features make this the definitive version of this extraordinary game.
With multiple scenarios cast along a single story thread, and many different endings, each replay can result in an entirely new adventure. In addition, a brand new battle system makes combat smooth and innovative by introducing an element field system and combo system that gives the player unparalleled flexibility in their fighting options.
The elimination of random battles also quickens the pace of the game, and places the choice of where to battle in the player's hands. With character designs by a famed Japanese illustrator and music by the original Chrono Trigger composer, Chrono Cross features visuals and sounds that bring its magic to life. Help Madeline survive her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of TowerFall.
The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it's potentially suicidal.
Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience. Gears of War blends tactical action with survival horror and thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet.
Lead war hero Marcus Fenix and his fire team as they face the onslaught of merciless warrior fiends. A revolutionary tactical combat system and breathtaking, high-definition visuals from the Unreal Engine 3 immerse you in a horrifying story of war and survival. Voice recognition and real-time lip synching heighten the experience. The battlefield is a lethal place. To survive, suppress your enemy with blindfire, take cover in interactive environments, or use weapons and teammates to outwit your foes.
Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. With no true Emperor, the gates to Oblivion the equivalent of hell in the world of Tamriel open, and demons begin to invade Cyrodiil and attack its people and towns. It's up to you to find the lost heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy all of Tamriel.
In keeping with the Elder Scrolls tradition, players have the option to experience the main quest at their own pace, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the vast world and make your own way.
Numerous factions can be joined, such as the thieves or mages guilds, and each contains its own complete storyline and the chance to rise to the head of the faction and reap further rewards. Oblivion features a groundbreaking new AI system, called Radiant AI, which gives non-player characters NPCs the ability to make their own choices based on the world around them.
They decide where to eat or who to talk to and what they say. They sleep, go to church, and even steal items, all based on their individual characteristics.
Full facial animations and lip-synching, combined with full speech for all dialog, allows NPCs to come to life like never before. An empire-building turn-based strategy game. Your tribe begins with a Settlers unit and has no knowledge about the surrounding area. As you found new cities and explore the surroundings, you may find hostile barbarians, villages, and other competing cultures.
Rage through 32 single player levels and 6 deathmatch levels of sheer terror and fully immersive sound and lighting. Arm yourself against the cannibalistic Ogre, fiendish Vore and indestructible Schambler using letal nails, fierce Thunderbolts and abominable Rocket and Grenade Launchers. As Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's single player campaign unfolds, the player is introduced to new gameplay at every turn — one moment you are fast-roping from your Black Hawk helicopter after storming into the war zone with an armada of choppers, the next you are a sniper, under concealment, in a Ghillie suit miles behind enemy lines, the next you are engaging hostiles from an AC gunship thousands of feet above the battlefield.
Initially conceived as a floating symbol of American ideals at a time when the United States was emerging as a world power, Columbia is sent to distant shores with great fanfare by a captivated public. What begins as a fresh new endeavor of hope turns drastically wrong as the city soon disappears into the clouds to whereabouts unknown.
The player takes on the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young lady imprisoned there since her childhood. He develops a relationship with Elizabeth, enhancing his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky.
DeWitt has to learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of a myriad of new weapons and abilities. Halo 3 is the third game in the Halo Trilogy and provides the thrilling conclusion to the events begun in "Halo: Combat Evolved. The Master Chief is returning to Earth to finish the fight. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands - an object who's secrets have yet to be revealed.
Earth's forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief's AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind - a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant.
This is how the world ends This sequel to Ninja Gaiden supplies a new story and new missions, plus two more difficulty settings and cinematic cut scenes that provide background about the protagonist. Ninja Gaiden Black also incorporates the additional content from Hurricane Packs 1 and 2 and includes unlockable content such as the original arcade version of Ninja Gaiden.
Ninja Gaiden Black includes online features for keeping track of karma points on the online leader board. Characters and environments are rendered in high definition 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Six-button controls for the game return, with a host of new special moves and features integrated into the input system.
Street Fighter IV also incorporates state of the art online match making and worldwide online gameplay. Mixing classic genre-defining game mechanics the franchise is known and loved for with all-new, never-before-seen gameplay systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to fans the world over.
With the inclusion of Capcom's latest advancements in new generation technology, Street Fighter IV promises to deliver an extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honoured art of virtual martial arts. New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan's wildest imagination, including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the revenged-fueled Ultra Combo system. Classic Street Fighter characters recreated for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of Street Fighter II.
New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more. New gameplay elements provide new challenges for both newcomers and the most seasoned Street Fighter pro. Online gameplay features, including instantaneous online challenges, versus mode, tournament mode, and world wide online gameplay. A combination of exciting platforming action, wild power-ups, and charming Mario style has made Super Mario Bros.
Your mission is to rescue the Mushroom Kingdom monarchs who have been transformed into animals by Bowser and his mischievous offspring, and in the process save the princess kidnapped by Bowser. Traverse eight huge worlds and encounter fun minigames and frantic boss battles as you explore the first Mario game to use an overworld map. Join a graffiti crew, stamp your territory and protect it from rival taggers, but watch out for the angry cops! You are Snake, a government agent on a mission to regain control of a secret nuclear weapons base from terrorist hands.
Lightly armed and facing an army of foes, Snake must avoid firefights in order to survive. If Snake can locate them he can utilize advanced hardware, ranging from silenced pistols to ground-to-air missiles. Enemies react to sight and sound - so stay quiet and stay in the shadows. State-of-the-art graphics: textures, transparencies, models and explosions. Taut, gripping story with multiple endings - a truly cinematic experience.
Something's rotten in the Land of Dead and you're being played for a sucker. Meet Manny Calavera, travel agent at the Department of Death. He sells luxury packages to souls on their four-year journey to eternal rest. But there's trouble in paradise. Help Manny untangle himself from a conspiracy that threatens his very salvation. Coming Soon. Essential Links. Resident Evil helped push the survival-horror genre into the mainstream, but Silent Hill 2 is quite possibly the best representative of the genre.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is on this list for two reasons. Its fantastic cel-shaded visuals and responsive gameplay made it an absolute joy to jump into. Just when you thought nothing could possibly be more fun than playing an anthropomorphic raccoon with a penchant for thievery, Sucker Punch decided to throw in more playable characters a turtle and a hippo that each offered fresh takes on the heist gameplay.
While shooters were just starting to become really popular on consoles and online console gaming was still in its relative infancy, Zipper Interactive pushed the envelope by creating a stellar realistic, tactical, online, team-based shooter that let you step into the muddy boots of a US Navy Seal. Soulcalibur as a series has lost its luster over the years, but there was a time when it was one of the fighters to beat.
Soulcalibur 2 is one of the pinnacles of the franchise and making things even better was the fact that each platform had an exclusive character. One of the best superhero games ever made, Spider-Man 2 is a great licensed movie title and a superb Spider-Man game.
To be honest, all of the Splinter Cell games on PS2 are worth playing. They took a darker approach to the stealth gameplay that was made extremely popular at the time by the Metal Gear Solid series.
The third entry, Chaos Theory, doubled down on the darkness by allowing Sam Fisher to be a lot more lethal when previous games were more anti-confrontational and focused more on knocking enemies out.
The most impressive thing about Suikoden III was its mature story told in a unique way. You saw the events of the game through three different viewpoints, swapping between characters and being able to view events from multiple sides. Yet, just about all fans can agree that the first Tekken Tag Tournament was just what the series needed to keep fans engaged. Tag team battles and a bunch of multiplayer minigames made for a tight fighter and oddly fun party game.
While it did have its issues, there was no denying that popping this disc into your console would lead to a good time. A deep story and solid gameplay made owning a PS2 in a special experience. You may have noticed that there are a lot of Rockstar titles on this list, but they were truly on top of their game in the early s. Tackling the classic film of the same name, Rockstar created a gritty world that was beautiful to look at while also capturing the despair of the film.
A cheesy story, great visuals, and rapidly blasting away at your TV with a GunCon 2 controller was a great way to spend your after-school hours. TimeSplitters 2 is quite possibly the best shooter of its generation. Its art style stood out among the competition, it was one of, if not the , smoothest shooters on the PS2, and its multiplayer rivaled anything else on consoles.
Although, it did lack online functionality. The Tony Hawk series was becoming a bit dull after four entries and it was time for Activision to mix things up. Full of awesome competitions, tons of customization, and a world waiting to be tricked on and you have easily one of the best entries in the entire franchise. Now if only they decided to give us a third game…. What could be more fun than playing as a boomerang-wielding Tasmanian Tiger?
Very little it turns out. Players are tasked with collecting magical talismans throughout the world in order to free the other Tasmanian Tigers. With a range of different boomerangs to use to your advantage and 16 different levels to fight your way through Ty the Tasmanian Tiger was a fun, albeit rather easy platformer and a hidden gem on the PS2.
The story revolves around two characters, Silmeria and Alicia, trapped in the same body. The two must work together to stop a catastrophe that would cause a war between humans and gods. Valkyrie Profile 2 let players explore its world and towns much more than the first game, and featured an engaging and fast-paced combat system.
It really just improved on everything the first Valkyrie Profile did, while translating the series into 3D. It was fast, challenging, and downright entertaining as your screen lit up with various types of enemies and you pulled off sweet combos and abilities.
Virtua Fighter 4 on PS2 maintained the precision fighting but was a bit more accessible for newcomers, while also reworking evades to be both more rewarding and punishing. It also got rid of the different stage designs from its predecessor to keep things fair at all times.
You could create your own team by choosing from a respectable pool of options and their powers would work together to create new effects. Boss fights were epic and the multiplayer component was great.
The Yakuza series is a truly special one. It combines a serious narrative with just the right amount of humor and tight action gameplay. The second entry on the PS2 brought more romance and a much-improved fighting engine which made for one of the best experiences of controlling Kiryu. Connect with us. Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies.
Dead to Rights. Final Fantasy X.
0コメント