Since everyone is going nuts with making lists about what was super awesome/shitty in the past 10 years, why not make our own? I was thinking about the games that had the heaviest impact on you and/or gaming. I'll go with my choices and I might even justify some
12 - Halo/Gears of War/Call of Duty
Just because they proved that games can get enough money to start their own little countries in Africa. Call of Duty as a franchise jumped 3 billion dollars with the latest installment (which grossed $550 million one week after release, worldwide). That just goes to prove that the gamind industry is in fact an industry with all the good and bad that comes from that.
11 - The Sims
Another franchise. One I really don't like but I can't proceed without mentioning. The Sims played a pivotal role in making gaming more appealing to a wider demographic. Released early in 2000 it started the decade on a casual note.
10 - Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos + The Frozen Throne
Blizzard just asserted total dominance with this in the RTS genre. I mean Starcraft was a jewel but Warcraft III appears more well-made because of the experience that Blizzard had with the games in this sphere. The fact that the game (along with Starcraft, of course) is still played around the world talks volumes about the different aspects of the game.
9 - Diablo II + Lord of Destruction
I'll admit that I never was much of a Diablo fanatic but even I played this Blizzard classic. Its the hack-n-slash which everyone thinks of and wants to copy. Whenever I play a click-on-a-guy till he's dead game I think of Diablo. Maybe Diablo III will play the same role as Diablo II in the new decade?
8 - Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge
Westwood was almost bankrupt when they delivered amazingly - Red Alert 2. Seriously, this game is the original Westwood Studios' swan song. They were never the same after EA. Sure, they delivered with C&C3 but this is a class game with a classy expansion. From the cheesy live-action cutscenes to the awesomness of the soundtrack to (spoiler) Yuri getting eaten by a tyranosaur (end of spoiler) it was a top-notch game in every aspect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQfH9JNomJY
Just lovely
7 - WoW
Yeah. It came to this. I don't like WoW but it had and still has an incredible effect on the MMORPG genre. It has enough subscribers to start its own nation and boy has Blizzard milked them hard. Not a big fan but definitely one of the big games of the decade.
6 - Mass Effect
Sci-fi made into a good game which isn't hard to understand and is more opened up to the general audience? Pretty awesome? Hell yeah! No interactive space battles? yeah... Still one of the more awesome games that instantly got loved.
5 - Hitman/Splinter Cell series + Thief II: The Metal Age
The stealth games that are pure fun with a healthy dose of keyboard-breaking moments of annoyance. Agent 47/Sam Fisher/Garett all share what I like in characters - cold determination to see things through to the end but they also have their nuances that makes each unique. Silent Assassin rating for the win I say.
4 - Half-Life 2 (The entire Orange Box)
This one does not need justification. It's too cool not to play. Beating headcrabs with a crowbar. And thats not the best part. Portal is the cherry on the cake.
3 - GTA goes 3D (3, Vice City, San Andreas, IV + Episodes)
I haven't played the Stories nor Chinatown but why would I need to? GTA III, Vice City, San Adreas and IV are each amazing. Each packs an incredible story and enough content to make the cities in which you're rampaging seem real. Each packs something unique and I think that if you missed either you should try them. Play IV first. It takes itself way too seriously and appears way too gritty for a normal GTA game. Doesn't stop it from being A+ material, tho.
2 - Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
If you haven't played it, please do. I consider this one of the most sophisticated RPG's to ever grace us. The premise is awesome, the characters are awesome, the story is awesome and what I like most about it - conversations don't seem forced, they're fluent and go amazingly well with the incredible voice-acting. Combat is a bit of a downer, however. Still think its a must-play. If not for interest of vampires, at least to see what vampires really are. Not like that ahem T**light shit.
1 - Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn + Throne of Bhaal
Best RPG ever? Can't say but it is one of the best, hands down. If Bioware ever capture the essence of this game and put it into another they might make another classic (Dragon Age was good but not Baldur's Gate good). This game just has it all - humour, epic story, characters, great setting and an antagonist who is beyond awesome. I consider Jon Irenicus the Darth Vader of video game. Amazing game, you have to see it.
I couldn't have written about all the games and I'm sure I've missed a lot that deserve to be on an all-decade list. So... go ahead, lemme see what you think
12 - Halo/Gears of War/Call of Duty
Just because they proved that games can get enough money to start their own little countries in Africa. Call of Duty as a franchise jumped 3 billion dollars with the latest installment (which grossed $550 million one week after release, worldwide). That just goes to prove that the gamind industry is in fact an industry with all the good and bad that comes from that.
11 - The Sims
Another franchise. One I really don't like but I can't proceed without mentioning. The Sims played a pivotal role in making gaming more appealing to a wider demographic. Released early in 2000 it started the decade on a casual note.
10 - Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos + The Frozen Throne
Blizzard just asserted total dominance with this in the RTS genre. I mean Starcraft was a jewel but Warcraft III appears more well-made because of the experience that Blizzard had with the games in this sphere. The fact that the game (along with Starcraft, of course) is still played around the world talks volumes about the different aspects of the game.
9 - Diablo II + Lord of Destruction
I'll admit that I never was much of a Diablo fanatic but even I played this Blizzard classic. Its the hack-n-slash which everyone thinks of and wants to copy. Whenever I play a click-on-a-guy till he's dead game I think of Diablo. Maybe Diablo III will play the same role as Diablo II in the new decade?
8 - Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge
Westwood was almost bankrupt when they delivered amazingly - Red Alert 2. Seriously, this game is the original Westwood Studios' swan song. They were never the same after EA. Sure, they delivered with C&C3 but this is a class game with a classy expansion. From the cheesy live-action cutscenes to the awesomness of the soundtrack to (spoiler) Yuri getting eaten by a tyranosaur (end of spoiler) it was a top-notch game in every aspect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQfH9JNomJY
Just lovely
7 - WoW
Yeah. It came to this. I don't like WoW but it had and still has an incredible effect on the MMORPG genre. It has enough subscribers to start its own nation and boy has Blizzard milked them hard. Not a big fan but definitely one of the big games of the decade.
6 - Mass Effect
Sci-fi made into a good game which isn't hard to understand and is more opened up to the general audience? Pretty awesome? Hell yeah! No interactive space battles? yeah... Still one of the more awesome games that instantly got loved.
5 - Hitman/Splinter Cell series + Thief II: The Metal Age
The stealth games that are pure fun with a healthy dose of keyboard-breaking moments of annoyance. Agent 47/Sam Fisher/Garett all share what I like in characters - cold determination to see things through to the end but they also have their nuances that makes each unique. Silent Assassin rating for the win I say.
4 - Half-Life 2 (The entire Orange Box)
This one does not need justification. It's too cool not to play. Beating headcrabs with a crowbar. And thats not the best part. Portal is the cherry on the cake.
3 - GTA goes 3D (3, Vice City, San Andreas, IV + Episodes)
I haven't played the Stories nor Chinatown but why would I need to? GTA III, Vice City, San Adreas and IV are each amazing. Each packs an incredible story and enough content to make the cities in which you're rampaging seem real. Each packs something unique and I think that if you missed either you should try them. Play IV first. It takes itself way too seriously and appears way too gritty for a normal GTA game. Doesn't stop it from being A+ material, tho.
2 - Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
If you haven't played it, please do. I consider this one of the most sophisticated RPG's to ever grace us. The premise is awesome, the characters are awesome, the story is awesome and what I like most about it - conversations don't seem forced, they're fluent and go amazingly well with the incredible voice-acting. Combat is a bit of a downer, however. Still think its a must-play. If not for interest of vampires, at least to see what vampires really are. Not like that ahem T**light shit.
1 - Baldur's Gate: Shadows of Amn + Throne of Bhaal
Best RPG ever? Can't say but it is one of the best, hands down. If Bioware ever capture the essence of this game and put it into another they might make another classic (Dragon Age was good but not Baldur's Gate good). This game just has it all - humour, epic story, characters, great setting and an antagonist who is beyond awesome. I consider Jon Irenicus the Darth Vader of video game. Amazing game, you have to see it.
I couldn't have written about all the games and I'm sure I've missed a lot that deserve to be on an all-decade list. So... go ahead, lemme see what you think
