The Best Games of the Seventh Generation

[Hawki]

Recently, a thread was made for the best games of the current generation, one which I, and a number of others, struggled to answer. So, I've decided to see what people say about the seventh. However, I'm going to actually define the generation, at least as far as the criteria is for this thread:

-The game has to be released between the years 2005 and 2012 (ports from previous generations don't count, but simultanious releases with eighth generation hardware is)

-The game has to be released on PC, the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, or PSP.

-I'm going to try and nominate one game per franchise, but others can nominate multiple ones if they so desire

-The definition of "best" is at your own perogative, so don't feel you have to include something groundbreaking for the sake of it

-I'd advise a maximum of ten games, but feel free to add more/use less.

So, with that said, what are, in the scope of personal experience, my top ten games of Gen. 7:

10) Battlefield 2

Sneaking right in, is Battlefield 2. Sneaking, as in, both just making the top ten slot, and being released in 2005. Not the first nor the last Battlefield game I've played, but the best, IMO, and also notable given the amount of features it added from Battlefield 1942; another fun game, but one I feel Battlefield 2 surpasses. Just a shame that the servers are no longer up. But what stops it from getting any higher is, among other things, the lack of a proper campaign.

Though no-one seemed to mind back then...

9) Killzone 2

Yep, it's another "2" game, and already I feel this is going to shift some eyebrows. I get the sense that Killzone isn't a franchise that many look favourably on here, especially since Guerilla has wowed everyone with Zero Dawn. Still, I quite like the Killzone franchise, even though I've only played KZ1/Liberation/2.

So, why does Killzone 2 get here? After all, the story is weak, the characters are bland, and it commits the sin of being grey and brown. It also commits the sin of being a bit more generic mechanically as well - the original Killzone had a very clunky feel in both its movement and gameplay, but still a feel that felt unique. Killzone 2 follows more in the footsteps of Call of Duty.

But, it does it exceptionally well IMO - yes, I love the gunplay. I love the greys and browns, because they're greys and browns that add to the oppressive atmosphere that permeates the entire game. Helghan is, well, hellish. Not Doom hellish, Killzone hellish - the sense that every inch is being paid for in blood, if not by you, then certainly by the ISA as a whole, in a war where neither side can claim the moral high ground. Other games have done oppressive atmospheres well, no doubt, but Killzone does it in a way that, while not entirely unique, feels different and emerging enough to get it here.

8) Diablo III

Battlefield 2 slipped in by being released in 2005. Diablo III slips in by being released in 2012. Similar to Killzone 2, this is probably going to turn a few heads as well. In terms of sheer fun factor, I was inclined to rank Diablo III higher, but it is the third installment in its series. The best installment, IMO, but the third nonetheless. I've discussed why I hold Diablo III in high regard ad nauseum, so I'm wary of repeating myself here, but in this game, we have a combination of good combat, a good story, a good world, a good atmosphere, and good mechanics. "Good, not great," is how I suppose this game could be described, but then, I could never call any of the previous Diablo games "great." Not even D2, which everyone seems to love but me.

So, Diablo III, you earned your place. I'm just sorry that you don't get more love.

7) Dead Space

Ah, here we get to the good stuff. Now, if I was factoring in the 'fun factor,' I might have switched this with Diablo III, but I feel that Dead Space should be higher, if only because it's a new IP. Diablo III had two prior games to refine its mechanics, Dead Space, inspiration from sources aside, managed to hit the ground running. Running, as in, "help me! Help MEEEE!" Yes, I was scared by the necromorphs, thanks for asking.

So, Dead Space is survival horror in space, and survival horror done well at that. Sense of trepidation, sense of vulnerability, good worldbuilding, good story, good customization, etc. It wears its influences on its sleeve, but does a damn good job with those influences.

6) Gears of War 2

This is another game I agonized over placing with Dead Space, for similar reasons with Diablo III. Gears of War is a sequel, Dead Space isn't. Dead Space arguably has more 'meat' to it, but Gears of War 2 wins for the fun factor. Gears of War 2 has the better characters, Dead Space the better atmosphere. Dead Space has more customization for its weapons, Gears of War has a wider variety of weapons.

Still, Gears of War 2 wins out, because like it or love it, Gears of War is what a lot of people think of when you mention "cover based shooter," with greys and browns thrown in. And yes, I do like it. I like it more than any other Gears game, and the franchise lost its mojo after it, even if Gears 4 recovered some of it. So, story's decent, characters are decent, the game's less challenging than its predecessor, but it keeps you moving. And, above all else..."Horde Mode." That's all I have to say.

5) BioShock

Fun fact, I'm playing BioShock right now, so this placing could easily shift. On the other hand, BioShock seems to be a critical darling, so I shouldn't need to explain why it ranks here. But, I will say that while I don't think that BioShock is the intellectual masterpiece many make it out to be, it's still a game with intelligence nonetheless. It at least wants to explore concepts of libertarianism and the drawbacks of an unregulated society, even if it doesn't explore them deftly (quick, take a shot every time the word "parasite" is mentioned). The gunplay is fun. Tedious at times, but fun, and a case where regenerating health would have ruined the game. So, overall, it's fun. It's a game that reaches for the stars (or surface of the sea), and at least takes a breath of air at the end of it.

4) Halo: Reach

I pondered if I should have switched places with BioShock here. Fifth installment vs. first, and all that. BioShock is arguably the more 'meaty' game in that its story is better, its characters are better, and its campaign is longer. Heck, Halo: Reach is only the #2 Halo game in my eyes.

Still, Reach does take the #4 spot for me, for a number of reasons. The primary reason is its overall feel. Remember my rationale for Killzone 2, and its feeling of oppression? Now take that feeling, apply it to a game where you know that no matter what you do, you're fated to lose, and take a scenario where things start bad, and get worse, and worse, and worse. BioShock isn't without atmosphere of course, but Reach, I feel, surpasses it, in as much that it's atmosphre tinged with melencholia. Rapture, by all indications, was a bit of a shithole even before Fontaine screwed things over. Reach's place in Halo canon was well established by this point, so living through its fall, well, it's done excellently.

It also helps that the gunplay is as solid as ever, and they've brought in the Halo: Combat Evolved health system, and that it's bolstered as a bookend to the Halo series. Well, it did before Halo 4 was brought around, but let's just say that Halo 4 had a cold day in hell in making this list. So, in a rare case, it being a sequel is what elevates it in my eyes. Or prequel, technically.

3) Xenoblade Chronicles

Alright, admission time, I played the 3DS version, but that's a port of a Wii game, so...shadup. It counts. Of note, in a way, I actually would rank Halo: Reach higher (5/5 vs. 4/5), but I feel that Xenoblade deserves a higher spot. Yep, Reach's status as a sequel/prequel both hinders and helps it here.

Because Xenoblade isn't without faults. The flow of the story is inconsistent, there's a lot of grinding, and the world is absolutely bonkers. Course, it being absolutely bonkers is also a plus point, because...well, Xenoblade's world is insane, but it's also one of the most creative settings I've seen in any medium. It's got the subtlety of a brick in its themes (similar to BioShock, take a shot every time "god" is mentioned), but, still, the themes are done well enough. Add in a great cast of characters and some good customization, and, well, yeah. Xenoblade is here.

2) StarCraft II

Okay, kinda cheating. StarCraft II gets the #2 spot as an agregate of the base game and all its expansions, even though all of said expansions were post-2012. It would almost certainly get on this list if I had to just place Wings of Liberty, but Heart of the Swarm, and especially Legacy of the Void, put it here.

So, what can I say about StarCraft II, a game that took six years to make, was released twelve years after its predecessor, had a storyline that spanned over one game and two expansions, capped off the entire saga, had three separate campaigns longer than almost any other RTS, coupled with an excellent multiplayer, good modding, co-op missions, and what else? All I can say is it's "fekking awesome." I mean, sure, I could nitpick, but, really, there's no need. There's every reason that SC2 comes in at no. 2.

1) Mass Effect

More than any other, I expect to see this on people's entries. At least going by the eighth generation thread, people seem to like RPGs. Not that I don't like RPGs (there's three of them on this list), but I've never been as into them as others, and certainly not of the WRPG variety.

Still, Mass Effect deserves this place, and I shouldn't have to explain why. Excellent story, excellent characters, excellent use of a player character that actually feels like an individual regardless of imput, and perhaps more than any other thing, an excellent world. Because I've mentioned how other games on this list have worn their influences on their sleeves, some more subtly than others, but of them all, Mass Effect feels the most vibrant, and the most fleshed out. Not that it's without its influences, but above all, it feels genuine. That this is a setting that functions.

Is it flawless? No, not really - the Mako is a drag, the gunplay is weak, and it takes awhile to fully kick into gear, but at the end of the day, I feel Mass Effect gets here just on the merit of its story. And that's pretty impressive in my book.

 

[Zhukov]

The Last of Us (Came out in 2013, but fuck yo rules man.)

Great story, compelling characters, great acting, very pretty, brutal understated combat that fit perfectly with the setting and tone and redefined my standards when it comes to melee animation.

The Mass Effect series trilogy.

Fun setting, good use of lore, my favourite cast of characters in all of gaming, good combat in the third one, the cross-game save import/continuity thing was great.

The Walking Dead

It made me cry.

Portal

It was perfect.

Bioshock series.

Imaginative with interesting stories and great visual design.

Amnesia The Dark Descent

Simple but excellently designed and paced horror, the way it should be done.

Journey

Gorgeous, engaging, atmospheric and joyful. Great music. Outstanding and elegant implementation of multiplayer that manages to deliver the enjoyment of sharing a game while eliminating the downsides of encountering the random drooling dumbfucks that plague gaming.

Mirror's Edge

Distinctive and compelling visual design and a fresh take on platforming.

 

[stroopwafel]

1. Demon's Souls
Really took me by surprise how awesome it was considering I never really could get into Fromsoftware games. However Demon's Souls is like the 'Resident Evil 4' of action-RPG's. Who would've thought? The wholly authentic world and sinister atmosphere also worked in the game's favor. Nothing I can say about it's spiritual successor Dark Souls that haven't already been said a thousand times before..so yeah.

2. Dead Space 2
It's like Resident Evil 4..in space! Considering RE4 is one of my all-time favorite games I had an absolute blast with DS2. The previous game was really good as well but felt kind of floaty in the action department and lacking the weightier gameplay of the sequel.

3. Deus ex Human Revolution
I love this game's emphasis on near future sci-fi portraying this compelling mix of dystopia and a world filled with unlimited technological potential. The core story about Adam Jensen and the attack on Sarif industries(and the greater conspiracy behind it) was also really good and kept me immersed. It also had good gameplay for it's time(MD felt decisively clunkier so I guess the formula ages quickly) but really it was the phenomenal world building that really set this game apart.

4. Mass Effect 2
Never played the original but this game kept me hooked. Every mission that involved members of your cast had some unique story that was really entertaining almost without exception while this whole Reaper threat provided a cool framework of impending doom. The gameplay was also pretty enjoyable even if it was fairly standard. ME3 just didn't really have that magic for me.

5. Dishonered
Like Deus ex this game had an incredible sense of place, like Dunwall could have actually existed in a different place and time. Screwing around with all the different skils and abilities was really fun as well. The slightly cartoonish visuals were also a treat but really it's Dunwall that makes me remember this game.

Some of my other favorites from last gen would include: Vanquish, Fallout 3, Fallout NV, Singularity, MGS4, The Darkness, Splinter Cell Blacklist, GTA4 & 5, Last of Us, FEAR2, Farcry 2, Metal Gear Rising, Shadows of the damned, Spec Ops The Line and probably some others I forgot.

 

[Saelune]

I will let Cry answer for me.

 

[ChupathingyX]

10. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Sequel to my favourite game of the 6th gen, Mercenaries 2 had a lot to live up to, and it succeeded to an extent. It made a bunch of improvements to the original, and still retained the same, good core combat components and humour. That said, it still felt like a step back from the first in many ways, creating a largely inferior experience to he first, but in the end it was still a Mercenaries game.

9. No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise
One of the most stylish games I've ever played, and one that just seeps with imagination. The characters and bosses are all distinct and memorable, with a nice variety of game mechanics and fantastic music, both inside and outside of combat.

8. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
The fighting game that made me like fighting games. The mechanics weren't too hard to wrap myself around, the combat and controls were smooth, it was stylish as fuck, and it featured the Persona 3 and 4 characters which I had already come to know and love. Playing with friends was a lot of fun and the single player story was also pretty decent.

7.Deadly Premonition
A game so bad it's hard to hate. With an amazing protagonist that carries the weight of the whole story and cast on his shoulders, and does so in hilarious stride, Deadly Premonition was a wild and unforgettable ride from start to finish. Filled with awkward animations, confusing concepts, rough graphics, numerous glitches, and other strange design choices, DP was a game that never failed to confuse and entertain (sometimes unintentionally) and I'm so glad that I played it.

6. Valkyria Chronicles II
The first VC was a refreshingly unique and entertaining experience with a large likeable cast of characters available to use in an imaginative gameplay system. The sequel (and I know this is a heinous thing to say) improved upon many aspects of the first, including core gameplay features, the role of the support cast, and an amazing quantity of content. The reduction in graphics, segmented battlefields (though featuring some pros), and relatively weaker main cast of characters soured some aspects of the game but that didn't stop it from becoming by far my most played PSP game.


5. Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time
My favourite post-Up Your Arsenal R&C game and one that is filled with whimsical humour, colourful worlds to explore, very solid platforming and shooting gameplay, a likeable cast, and beautiful graphics.

4. Dawn of War II
I loved the first game, and loved the second just as much, but for many different reasons. The introduction of certain CoH mechanics improved the game, the factions were all fun to play, the campaign was entertaining enough, and the multiplayer modes, both competitive and Last Stand, were a joy. While the reductions to unit variety (but certainly not reduction in voice acting quality) and overall playable factions was a shame, it was still a really enjoyable experience.

3. Dark Souls
After the neat experiment that was Demon's Souls, Dark Souls opened up a whole new wonderful world and series that still keeps entertaining me to this day. Set in a fascinating world that I never tire of diving into and picking out every detail I can find, Dark Souls provides endless replay value. The combat is solid, the level and weapon system allows for lots of experimentation, the bosses, for the most part, are memorable standouts (with some unfortunate black spots) with amazing music more often than not. Combined with the interesting multiplayer mechanics, both PVP and co-op related, Dark Souls is a game that even after all these years never stops feeling new.

2. Fallout: New Vegas
An RPG with great characters, entertaining stories and decent gameplay that made experiencing all that enjoyable. I absolutely love the world of New Vegas; all the characters (especially the companions), factions, politics, humour and society really made the world feel alive, and I was constantly looking for more quests to satiate my curiosity. The wide variety of weapons was great, and the game even featured one of the very few crafting systems in games that I actually liked which is impressive. The DLCs in particular are among the best I've ever played in a video game and serve as one of the few gold standards in that regard.

1. NieR
Featuring the most lovable and well rounded main cast of characters, a great supporting cast, enjoyable story, entertaining dialogue that perfectly shifts from funny banter to depressing pathos (supported by a very well done dub), a fascinating and unique use of video game mechanics to enhance the story, and a beautiful soundtrack. Gameplay was choppy at times and many gameplay aspects were unpolished and rough, but it was overall unique and groundbreaking experience for me.

Honourable mentions go to Red Dead Redemption, Metal Gear Rising, Sengoku Basara 3, 100% Orange Juice, Drakengard 3, Blood Bowl, MGS4, Valkyria Chronicles, Resistance: Fall of Man, Dynasty Warriors 8, Bayonetta, Dragon's Crown, CoD4, and CoD: Modern Warfare 2.

 

[Amigastar]

Nice pick, Starcraft 2 for second place OP. I've always had my issues with starting SC2 (steep learning curve, strong competition etc) but now since a few days i'm really having fun tackling the game.

 

[bjj hero]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
IW rocked modern shooters with this. The story had awesome spectacle, Im sure everyone remembers the campaign fondly, guilles in the mist, the AC130 mission, when the bomb goes off. Lots of people copied it but it had a massive impact that has shaped FPS games since. The multiplayer was also tight with load outs and perks that may feel jaded now but at the time it was a breath of fresh air.

Bloodbowl: Ive sank thousands of hours into this. It is one for the enthusiasts and very neiche but its let me play in online leagues and meet people from all over the world. This has created friendships for me, Ive drank with coaches from around the world at different events because of this. A faithful interpretation of the board game.

Mass Effect:
Yes, the ending upset a lot of people (not me) but they created a world and charecters we cared about and we followed them to the ends of the universe. Ive played through all 3 games multiple times.

Xcom enemy unknown:
Great game, making turn based strategy cool again. Managing your research and base building against the mission. I still get cold sweats from the first time you meet the horrible chest bursting aliens. Lost almost a whole squad to those bastards. I still get satisfaction from kidnapping aliens for a good probing.

Batman: Arkham Assylum
Tight story, awesome atmosphere and the chance to be batman. An amazing game and the showdown with Mr Freeze might be one of the best boss fights ever.

 

[B-Cell_v1legacy]

STALKER SoC - one of the best and most atmospheric FPS of all time. and possibly best game of last gen era.

Crysis 1 - It was a game that was ahead of its time in both graphics and gameplay. was probably graphic king when it was released and gameplay was refreshing from most shooters of that era.

Deus Ex HR - Greatest come back of old classic last gen. absolutely amazing game in every aspect and bring back Deus Ex. sadly original and HR are only Great Deus Ex games. IW and MD suck compare to them

Metro 2033 and last light - They are basically linear Stalker but with excellent story and atmosphere.

lets to be honest. last gen was not that good. i highly prefer this gen. because games are getting back to its roots of late 90s and early 00s.

 

[CritialGaming]

Honestly I can't even remember when games came out, so ill just do a top 10 for games in the 360 ps3 era.

10. Bayonetta - one of the greatest spectical games ever made.
9. The Witcher 2 - A great adult RPG, that set the stage and the president for one of the greatest games ever made.
8. Portal - One of the only games ever made that can truly be labeled "flawless"
7. SKyrim - because...well it's fucking skyrim man.
6. Minecraft - look love it or hate it, this game became a fucking phenominon. There is no denying it deserves a spot here.
5. Red Dead Redemption - The greatest cowboy game ever made. It somehow made a desert not a shitty place to set a game.
4. Mass Effect 2 - it did what Mass Effect did....only better. It also didn't have a shit ending.
3. Batman Arkham Asylum - The game that started an entirely new and overly copied combat system. Props to that.
2. Dark Souls - You Died.
1. Call of Duty: Moderen Warefare - let's be honest. This game set the new standard for FPS games.

THE KING: World of Warcraft - The game that became a fucking mainstay in the MMO universe. A game so powerful it has yet to be defeated.

(Note: The list isn't in any particular order despite the numbers. Except WoW. WoW is the best game to come out last gen Period)

 

[McElroy]

LoL of Legends - it's free and induces rage and flamewars. The best "TV-esport" right now, though requires knowledge of the game beforehand.
Crysis 1 - looks better than your mum.
Portal and Spec Ops: The Line for having good stories.
Mass Effect 1 - better known as Mako Effect.
Angry Birds.
FlatOut 2 & Ultimate Carnage - wrooms better than your mum & dad.
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - drugs, God, bodily functions, wholesome family fun, explosives.

Dead Space was good when it came out but it hasn't aged as well as my other entries and it also has a game-breaking VSync bug. Just for the record: I listed one game per genre.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

1) Bayonetta
A flawless game in my opinion. The combat is arguably the best in the business with quite an innovative mechanic, the dodge offset. The dodge offset mechanic allows you to continue a combo even when dodging so you don't have to start over again. I really can't believe such a mechanic hasn't become a norm in other spectacle fighters. The story and characters fit the tone of the gameplay like a glove as well, it's all so deliciously cheese-y.

2) Vanquish
Yes, the best 2 games of the 7th generation were both made by Platinum and both came out the very same year, 2010 was quite an amazing year in gaming, no year since then has produced anywhere near the quality of these 2 games. Vanquish is still easily the best 3rd-person shooter ever made. The main thing that separates Vanquish from every other 3rd-person shooter out there is that it gives you the ability to stay out in the open without needing to take cover if you're good enough at the game. In fact, the game takes off points for every second you do use cover. The story and characters are not quite as fun as Bayonetta but the game still comes off as basically Red Dawn set in space. The main characters are basically having a gravelly voice contest and there's still plenty of cheese to eat up.

3) Metal Gear Online 2 (MGS4's online component)
MGO2 is easily the best online shooter I've ever played, and I hear I will soon be able to play it again on PS3 WITHOUT custom firmware. MGS4 has the most mechanically sound 3rd-person shooting controls, which is obviously most important for an online shooter. It's also quite amazing how every mechanic from the single player translates perfectly and amazingly well to the online environment from CQC and putting enemies to sleep. MGS4's SOP system also revolutionized multiplayer shooters by being able to link up with teammates to share skills along with being able to reveal enemies. There's a valid counter to everything, most shooters that borrow from MGO2 don't understand how to implement the mechanics properly and a lot of gamers feel games have cheap "wall-hacks" nowadays. Even MGO3 failed horribly at implementing such mechanics. The best online mode ever is MGO2's Team Sneaking where one team is invisible with a tranq pistol and knife when the other team is visible with access to lethal guns.

4) The Last of Us

The Last of Us (Came out in 2013, but fuck yo rules man.)

How is TLoU not in the 7th generation? Anyways, I can write paragraphs detailing how bad Naughty Dog's 3rd-person shooter controls are (no camera sensitivity option for one), but TLoU is still an amazing game. The gameplay while flawed due to the controls is still exhilarating and extremely tense. There's just something about nailing a bow and arrow headshot while having to lead the target and accounting for arrow drop. The switch to Ellie at one point was a genius move as you felt far more vulnerable even though Ellie had a much stronger melee than Joel. Of course, the story and characters carry much of the game and they are as good as advertised.

5) Batman: Arkham City
The pinnacle of the Arkham series quite easily IMO. Arkham City felt like a fitting close to The Animated Series. The core story was great even though some side details didn't really make sense (like what happened to those infected citizens?). The Arkham combat system was as fresh and well done as it ever was. The added beatdown mechanic along with the ability to quickly use gadgets in combat really added to combat system while keeping it fresh (for the time being). The open world of Arkham City was a good size, it only took a couple minutes to go from one end to the other, you really got to know the ins and outs of the city. The Riddler puzzle trophies are a lot of fun to complete, unfortunately Arkham City does have too many collectibles like many open world games. The Arkham series sorta pioneered what has become known as Ubisoft: The Game in many respects.

6) Uncharted 2
Another Naughty Dog 3rd-person shooter with average at best controls makes the list. Uncharted 2 is basically as good of an Uncharted game that can be made. The set-pieces are still the best in the series and also the most interactive. That train level is still amazing, the very small sequence of a shootout in a falling building is great, the tank sequence, and more. The level design and variety of all each and every encounter is what makes Uncharted 2 so special, every section feels fresh and different. The only thing to improve was the rather generic villain but Harry Flynn sorta fills that hole. Every other Uncharted game I would rate no higher than a 5/10, but Uncharted 2 is the only good and the only great game in the series.

7) Dishonored
Arkane Studios is probably my favorite working dev in the industry right now. The amount of player creativity allowed by the mechanics and openness to their level design is easily tops in the industry. Many people complained about how easy Dishonored is, but that's not the point of the game; the point of the game is for the player to be creative and utilize all the tools Arkane gives you to have your own unique experience. Just checkout any Dishonored Youtube video by StealthGamerBR to see what amazing things are possible using the game's systems. Dishonored's world is also thick with detail from the use of whaling oil and the heart that tells you secrets of all the characters. Dishonored is basically a combination of Thief, Bioshock, and Hitman.

8) Portal 2
I'm not the biggest fan of the 1st Portal mainly because it's like 90% tutorial and most of the that tutorial is pretty basic and boring, thinking with portals isn't THAT complex. Sure I enjoyed it well enough and it was worth its value because it was never pretending to be a full-on game. Portal 2 is the full-on experience I wanted after playing the 1st game. The humor is hilarious and the puzzles are top-notch.

9) The Walking Dead: Season 1
This is still easily Telltale's best game. The amazing connection Lee and Clementine have will be remembered as much as any classic movie. There's really not much to say about the game as there's really no gameplay and the writing is what makes the game.

10) Mass Effect Trilogy
I think I would score other games higher than Mass Effect from the 7th gen as it definitely has flaws but it is easily going to be one of those games I'll always remember. Very very few games I actually consider role-playing games because very very RPGs actually focus on role-playing. At least half of the Mass Effect experience is role-playing. There's quite a few great characters and story moments across the series. I shot a beloved character in the back because they didn't listen to a direct order, what other game has near an interactive moment like that? I didn't hate the ending as much as most, it was disappointing for sure but if you actually thought your choices were going to have such drastic affects on the ending, you only set yourself up to be extremely disappointed. All the "big" choices in the series were always tangent to the main storyline from the geth to the krogans. The main storyline has to funnel every player along because real branching main storylines are a huge undertaking from a writing standpoint. I also loved how the questing was, every quest was important and impactful. Instead of having hundreds of quests, there are around 30 well-done quests.

 

[Danbo Jambo]

10. Divinity 2: TDKS - Very rough round the edges with some of the character classes poor to play as, I still had an absolute blast playing this as a battle-mage. The humour in the game adds to it big time, and the ending is one of the best I've ever seen.

9. Batman: Arkham Origins - Way better than City for me. Far deeper, fleshed out, and a wonderfully memorable cut scene in the middle where the Joker "falls in love".

8. Dead Space - Something about this game is really grounded. I didn't find it scary, more than anything I found it satisfying. The whole thing has been fine tuned to a tee, and the superb gameplay combined with the superb atmosphere defo gave us a AAA game that actually delivered.

7. Fallout 3 - Supposidly the game that ruined Fallout, I just don't get how. Loads of actually interesting things to do in a very atmospheric and well crafted world, and the VATS system gave me something fresh & different. Not quite up there with Morrowind, but still a hell of a lot of fun to be had.

6. Saints Row 4 - As good as sandbox games get. Take everything, put it all in a blender, go totally OTT and indulge every indulgence you can, and ejaculate it all into one game. Boom.

5. Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Not quite the original, but damn, damn close. Wonderful cyberpunk music & atmosphere that really immersed me.

4. Xcom: Enemy Within - Superb reboot. The vanilla game was good, but Enemy Within on Classic mode seems to have a superb balance which just can't be beat. Xcom 2 was OK, but still not up to this bad boy's level.

3. Mass Effect 1 - Just amazing. After being reared on 70's programs such as Buck Rogers & Battlestar Gallactica, and obviously the Star Wars films, I finally get to play out being a space explorer again. Haven't been satisfied as much with such an experience since of Buck Rogers:Countdown to Doomsday. Some of the atmosphere created by the worlds & music was totally stunning. And even though it was a minor thing, THANK GOD A GAME WHERE I'M NOT WASTING HOURS SEARCHING FOR AMMO AND CAN JUST CONCENTRATE ON KILLING AGAIN!!! Perfect balance between RPG aspects & combat for me.

2. Dragon Age Origins - Was a very tough choice between this & ME1, but this just shades it simply because I fell in love with the characters so much. Garrus was awesome, but Morrigan, Alistair & Ogren just oozed quality and the banter between them throughout was superb. I even really liked the combat which gave me a real tense feel, despite what people say about it being "slow" (loads better combat than DA:2 for me). Yes there was a genericness to it, but everything was just done so bloody well it didn't matter. And boy some of that music was just stunning.

1. The Witcher 2 - Just a superb game all-round, better than it's much praised sequel IMO. Takes some getting into, but it has to be my most replayed game ever, and the depth which the story choices give itis unreal, especially the fact that the whole 2nd chapter plays out entirely differently with each choice. Tight story, memorable distinctive characters, even the combat which is often criticized was something I thoroughly enjoyed on Dark mode. Amazing game.


Honourable mentions go to:

Prototype, Mini Ninjas, Tomb Raider, The Last Remnant, Nier, Dark Souls 2, Risen 2, The Saboteur

 

[Casual Shinji]

The Last of Us - It doesn't get much better than this when it comes to linear, story-focused, action games. A milestone for presentation and performance, and a nearly flawless masterclass in how to add action without disrupting or contradicting the story and/or characters. With an ending that's fucking perfect.

Journey - It's hard to put into words why this game is so good, since there's hardly any gameplay or narrative. It's just a calm and soothing... journey. Also the music, yeah, that's pretty too.

inFAMOUS 2 - An improvement over the original in every regard. Makes you feel like a superhero, though not an impervious one, but gives you the tools to be IF you know how to use your powers creatively. And that's the one thing that makes this game (as well as the original) so much fun; You get to be creative with superpowers, and feel like a badass as a result.

Uncharted 2 - The interactive summer blockbuster at its very best. Paced nearly perfectly, and just expertly crafted popcorn fun.

Dark Souls - If Berserk was a game, this'd be it... for now.

Batman: Arkham Asylum - Batman: The Animated Series, but with a mature rating and kick-ass brawling. What more needs to be said.

Portal - Pretty much genuis all around, and a game that actually is funny instead of trying to be funny, like the sequel.

 

[BlueRose64]

It's really hard to narrow This down. The PS3 Generation was a ruddy good one.

1. Dark Souls

I'm shit at games, and I can't stand tough difficulty. I just get too damn frustrated and I always play on Easy mode when I get the chance. So it says quite a lot that Dark Souls is my favourite game of the PS3 Gen. Maybe it's not nearly as hard as everyone says it is, or maybe its just because it's designed so well, but in any case I've completed this game dozens of times and I'm still not bored. Some of the best melee combat in the business, an intoxicating world, fascinating lore and incredible bosses.

2. Mass Effect 2

It's Seven Samurai in space basically. True, the main story about stopping the Collectors is fairly weak, but the real focus is on your brilliant unique squad members, there personalities, back stories, hopes and dreams, etc. This game has given us some of the greatest and most memorable characters in gaming, from the icy cool assassin Thane, to the fast-talking Mordin to the galaxy's ultimate bro Garrus Vakarian (yes, I know he was introduced in ME1, but you can do sex with him in ME2). Throw in Martin Sheen's brilliant performance as the Illusive Man and a jaw-dropping final mission, and ME2 is easily my favourite of the series.

3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It seems like it isn't cool to like Skyrim anymore, especially when it gets compared to the likes of Dark Souls and The Witcher. True, the combat isn't great, but I love Skyrim because of its size and the sheer freedom it gives you. You can create almost any kind of character and role-play them however you want. You can even ditch all the world-saving malarky and just live as an honest joe farming potatoes. I'm more about impaling people with Ice Spikes.

4. Dragon Age: Origins

I just love the whole race and origin selection thing. This is another game I've replayed dozens of times, with no two playthroughs being the same. It's great how the choices you make can have a real impact on the outcome of the story. Heck, you can even kick the whiny young guy out of your party and replace him with the villian. It definitely helps that DA:O is packed with fascinating lore that nerds like me just love to get lost in. Great cast of characters too.

5. Castlevania Lords of Shadow.

A big beautiful dark fairy tale full of vampires, werewolves, zombies, fairies and Patrick Stewart. A smooth combat system, gorgeous visuals and locations, an engaging heart-tugging story, fantastic boss battles, solid voice acting and easily one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard in a videogame.

Honourable Mentions: Fallout 3, Oblivion, The Last of Us, Vanquish, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Drakengard 3, Journey, The Walking Dead, Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty 4

 

[Zhukov]

...even though Ellie had a much stronger melee than Joel.

She actually doesn't.

Her stealth attack is quicker, but it's also pretty noisy.

Her basic melee is weaker. (As you'd expect from a skinny teenage girl compared to a robustly built adult male.) Joel can stun-lock dudes with his punches. Ellie takes continuous damage while shanking someone in melee because they fight back the whole time. On the hardest difficulty she'll lose most of her health in a single melee, while Joel can potentially walk away from a melee completely unscathed.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

2005 to 2012 eh? Alright I'll give it a go!
...
This is going to be in no particular order.

Super Mario Galaxy. The Nintendo Wii was the one home console from gen-7 that wasn't HD-capable and yet when I played Super Mario Galaxy, the presentation definitely felt to be HD caliber. Aesthetic aside, Super Mario Galaxy nicely marries open 3D environments with level-based Mario platforming. It took me a while to really get into the game without being affected by mild motion sickness but once I was able to wrap my head around the game I was hooked until I beat it. This game is incredibly stylish and one of the few Wii games that used the motion controls in a way that I didn't find to be too invasive.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. This game plays a lot like Symphony of the Night which is objectively the best game of all time. So this game obviously gets a place on my list. It's let down a little bit by its touch screen gimmick but this was a very early DS title so that is to be expected. Other than that, I like how this game expanded somewhat off of Aria of Sorrow. Overall I like this one a bit more than Aria.

Halo: Reach. Halo 2 is a half-baked pie and Halo 3 felt like it was missing a lot. Halo 3 also featured the worst level in the franchise (up to that point). Halo 4 (which I think goes beyond the year 2012 but I'm gonna ***** about it anyway) is made of boring robot monsters and rehashed Covenant aliens to fight only now they soak up bullets and plasma and lasers like shiny, blooming, sponges. Halo Reach is the one game in the series after the original game that I truly, truly enjoyed. I liked the story even though the main plot is heavily hinted at (if not spoiled outright) if you've played any other Halo title but the ride to get from the beginning to the end of the narrative is a lot of fun. Halo Reach has a lot of great vehicle combat sections and not a single mention of The Flood; those factors alone make Halo Reach the best game in the whole franchise as far as I'm concerned.

Final Fantasy IV (DS): I don't know if this one counts since it's a remaster...or is it a remake? Well it's essentially the same as the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom Final Fantasy game but with 3D graphics and voice acting. There were apparently some tweaks made to the RNG but these appear to have made certain factors (like random encounters and item drops) a bit harsher than the original and GBA releases of this game. Despite its difficulty I wanted to put this game in my top list from last gen because I loved the presentation and gameplay. It doesn't seem to be as loved as 6 or 7 but Final Fantasy IV is one of my favorite titles in the series and this version specifically is the one that I prefer playing. It's also portable and there aren't really any overt touch screen gimmicks so there's a couple of other bonus points in favor of it.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: I'm choosing Asylum over City based on my latest playthrough of the HD version. I loved Asylum because of how insular it is and how I felt like I was playing what could have been a really good Batman event comic. Arkham City is bigger but I feel like it's a little bit bloated and honestly, the combat in this series started to grate on me in the first game and just got worse for me as the series went on. Asylum felt like it was just big enough though. I liked finding the character dossiers and the riddler trophies in this game a lot more than in future titles too.

Saint's Row 2: This is by far the most fun crime sand-box I played on the 360 and PS3 back in the day. Saint's Row 2 gives you the freedom to create a character who's utterly unique to you the player. Completing side quests unlocks great buffs up to game breaking buffs which is something I greatly appreciated considering how games seem to have shunned cheat codes this generation (because Trochievos). The game was silly but there were quiet and serious moments in the plot too which made everything seem a bit more realistic and made it easier for me to really empathize with the cast. I also really loved the call-back to the original once you beat the main game. Main game aside though, Insurance Fraud and Septic Avenger make this my favorite in the series.

Crackdown: This isn't a crime sandbox, it's a crime-PREVENTION...crime-PUNISHMENT sandbox. The main gimmick of this game is to systematically take out criminal organizations by taking out hideouts, taking out made men, taking out lieutenants and eventually taking out organization heads, usually by throwing them off of high things. Your playable character travels the city by jumping like The Incredibly Hulk and climbing buildings (again, like Hulk) and collecting...collectibles to increase your jumping, climbing and running abilities. You can technically drive but it's a lot more satisfying to just Juggernaut your way through the game. I had a lot of fun with this game early on in the 360's life.

Red Faction: Guerrilla. This is neither a crime nor crime punishment sandbox but a red sandbox because it takes place on Mars. The main selling point of this sandbox is the ability to destroy structures with high-impact weapons like bombs and your trusty hammer...and vehicles. There aren't too many structures to destroy but there is enough here to make you really lament the fact that this concept was never expanded upon in the following Red Faction. Overall, this wasn't a GREAT game but it was a really entertaining game if only to see how the physics engine would screw up.

Portal: This is universally accepted as the best puzzle game to have launched in years so I'm following the crowd here. It's short but sweet, it's memorable and it paved the way for another good puzzle game. 1st-person puzzle games aren't exactly common so at the time this one did seem really unique and even today there aren't many games like it that were as loved...maybe Stanley Parable but that's not very close as a second.

Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans: This isn't just the best JRPG on the DS, it's the best JRPG to have launched between 2005 and 2012, if not beyond. The story actually starts on the Dragon Ball side of things, since everyone seems surprised that Goku has grown to be a full-sized adult and married Chi Chi. The art style in the game nicely captures that anime but since I'm not as familiar with Dragon Ball as I am with Z, I don't know how closely it follows those later arcs. The combat style is turn-based but it strongly encourages experimentation since using special attacks can cause them to fuse into far more powerful attacks. The game ends after the fights between Goku and Vegeta, teasing a sequel that will never happen because Monolith is working on an RPG with boring combat mechanics.
...
Also you can fight Broly in this game.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

1) I'm doing a Top 20.
2) It's a collage. No order.
3) And I'm disregarding the random 2012 cap like every other sensible poster that's including The Last of Us.

Yes, the best 2 games of the 7th generation were both made by Platinum and both came out the very same year, 2010 was quite an amazing year in gaming, no year since then has produced anywhere near the quality of these 2 games.

Technically Bayonetta came out October 2009. It was localized in 2010.

 

[American Tanker]

I'm just going to try to list some of my favorites with why I like each one...

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: I've seen this one pop up a few times already in this thread, so another one on the bandwagon. I honestly feel this was the turning point for Call of Duty: The franchise hit its peak, and ever since has become ever more Michael Bay in efforts to be more spectacular. But despite the spectacle, none of them live up to this. The game itself is just right in a way that no CoD game has been able to match.

Burnout Revenge: So I played it on PS2, but it counts because it's in the right time period and was released on 360 at least. Anyway, it's Burnout taken to the logical extreme of its aggressive arcade racing style, with Traffic Checking being just an extension of what makes Burnout what it is. Crashbreakers in the middle of a race? Why not? Blow your rivals off the track for satisfying instant revenge.

Blazing Angels II: Secret Missions of WWII: I'll be amazed if anyone's even heard of this one... I personally really like the Blazing Angels games for the fact that, while they use a "roll then pitch" style of flight, they still offer the use of a simplified "arcade" style of control. It makes the game feel somewhat more realistic without actually needing me to use the actually more realistic control style. But the reason I'm putting the sequel here is because of the fact that it adds so many unique weapons and abilities to so many well-known World War II warbirds. It's almost like a mashup of historical war films crossed with pulp-style DieselPunk straight out of Crimson Skies or something. And considering my favorite air combat game of all time is Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, that's a good thing.

Colin McRae DiRT 2: Off-road point-to-point racing around the world in all kinds of different vehicles. This game is just the perfect point between a full simulator like Gran Turismo or Forza where you have to set ten million things in nanometer increments to shave milliseconds off your race times, and total arcade madness like Ridge Racer or San Francisco Rush where there are no tuning options at all and the vehicles have no real weight to them. Plus, well, I just prefer off-road in general.

Spec Ops: The Line: "Do you feel like a hero yet?" I could talk for days on this game. This was a real eye-opener for me. Really hit me with its story in ways I didn't really expect. Let's just say that you MUST walk into this one blind. Just take the entire intro at face value. The game hasn't really begun until the scene with the mortar... Those who've already played this game, you know what I mean. The rest of you, well... "Gentlemen, welcome to Dubai."

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron: I really enjoyed this game's prequel, War for Cybertron, but anyone with any sense will tell you this is the better game, by far. With more gameplay variance based on which bot you were playing as at the time, more weapons, better level design, hell, I'd say FoC had the better soundtrack too. And Peter Cullen still voicing Optimus Prime, as he should. Damn, what are we gonna do when that man dies? Optimus will never sound right again.

Mass Effect 1: I understand the sequels made great improvements upon the game's combat and other mechanics, but I'm just going to say that ME1 just feels like more of a role-playing game, while the sequels feel more like action shooters with RPG elements tacked on. The degree of character build customization was much greater back in ME1, and you really felt more in control of Shepard's actions and dialogue. Personally, I just feel like ME1 is, despite some of its shortcomings, just the better game of the trilogy. Andromeda? Sorry. That game does not exist. BioWare ceased existing around the time Drew Karpyshyn left the studio, along with all the other major talent they used to have.

Fallout 3: I understand that I am committing an act of extreme heresy by insinuating that I prefer this game over New Vegas. But the truth is that I just never got around to playing NV, so just hold off a minute, please. Anyway, well, it's a vast open Wasteland to explore, with characters to meet, monsters to kill and equipment to salvage. Setting up a character build is actually a lot simpler than you would expect, though; Intelligence governs how many Skill Points you get to allocate into your various Skill ratings that determine how well your character does things each time you gain a Level. As such, it's just a matter of "What am I willing to gimp myself in to gain more Intelligence?" But there's a broad variety of weapons and armors, at least, so you can choose what you like. Limited customization(only the PC's face, gender and hair, really), but I'm fine with that.

Far Cry 3: I'm just going to say that Vaas really makes this game, and it is admittedly dull without him. But it's also worth noting that the game is still solid all the way through, even after Vaas is no longer a part of it. I'd explain, but spoilers. At any rate, it's a very fun sandbox FPS. I understand some people are put off by things like crafting and resource harvesting, but FC3 has that stuff mostly as a side bit. Of course, with all the upgrades he can fashion, Brody becomes a bit of a walking armory. Dozen each of frag grenades and Molotov cocktails? Check. Probably over a thousand rounds of ammunition for various firearms? Check. Six RPG-7 rockets and a dozen 40mm grenade rounds? Check. Quiver with thirty arrows? Check. Demolitions satchel with six remotely detonated C4 charges and six proximity mines? Check. And I don't think that's all of it. Guy's going to get back problems from all that, on top of whatever psychological crap and drug addictions he's going through.

Zen Pinball 2: What the hell, a pinball game? Hear me out. Zen Pinball is just a framework which Zen Studios develops virtual pinball tables within, featuring all kinds of animations and effects that would be impossible on a real table. ZP2 features a massive array of different tables with all kinds of themes, ranging from licensed tables based on properties from Marvel Comics and Star Wars or other video games like Portal or Fallout or Street Fighter, or a number of original tables like "Secrets of the Deep" and "Biolab" and "V12" and even one based on the real life mad scientist himself Nikola Tesla. They all play very well and look very nice. I'd love to start a thread on this game asking about other user's favorite tables. I'm a bit of a table collector myself. At least, for this game, anyway.

 

[RedDeadFred]

1. Mount and Blade Warband - My favourite game of all time.

2. Skyrim - Mostly because of mods.

After this the order doesn't really mattter.

3. Borderlands 2 - Extremely fun gameplay, fun humor, and a pretty damn good story actually.

4. Dark Souls - If the whole game was as good as the first half, this would probably be number 2.

5. Dishonored - A great stealth game with a surprisingly fleshed out world.

6. Assassin's Creed Black Flag - The pirate game I've always wanted.

7. Fallout 3 - Mods.

8. Oblvion - Because fuck you, I'm putting both on the list.

9. Bastion - I cried.

10. Mass Effect 2 - Easily my favourite in the series. Suicide Mission was an excellent ending.

11. (ya I'm going further) Civ 5 - Ridiculously addictive. Also, mods.

12. Halo 3 - The last Halo game I played. The Covenant is one of my favourite levels in video games.

Probably more that I didn't think of. 1 and 2 are ahead of the rest while the others are all pretty close and the order would change if you asked me to write it out again.

 

[BrawlMan]

1) Bayonetta
A flawless game in my opinion. The combat is arguably the best in the business with quite an innovative mechanic, the dodge offset. The dodge offset mechanic allows you to continue a combo even when dodging so you don't have to start over again. I really can't believe such a mechanic hasn't become a norm in other spectacle fighters. The story and characters fit the tone of the gameplay like a glove as well, it's all so deliciously cheese-y.

2) Vanquish
Yes, the best 2 games of the 7th generation were both made by Platinum and both came out the very same year, 2010 was quite an amazing year in gaming, no year since then has produced anywhere near the quality of these 2 games. Vanquish is still easily the best 3rd-person shooter ever made. The main thing that separates Vanquish from every other 3rd-person shooter out there is that it gives you the ability to stay out in the open without needing to take cover if you're good enough at the game. In fact, the game takes off points for every second you do use cover. The story and characters are not quite as fun as Bayonetta but the game still comes off as basically Red Dawn set in space. The main characters are basically having a gravelly voice contest and there's still plenty of cheese to eat up.

Glad to see another Platinum fan! Though only problems with Bayonetta 1 were some of the out-of-place QTE in certain sections (mainly in early parts of the game) and that whole hurling Jubileus in to the sun gimmick on Hard and Infinite Climax. Otherwise, a better Devil May Cry 5, with Bayonetta 2 being 6, than DmC (2013). And the reboot actually copied some mechanics from Bayonetta; mainly the otherworldly environments out to kill you, and a dodge that slows down time and adds a damage buff to your attacks. Everything else you said rings true.


10. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor

9. Contra 4

8. Burnout Revenge

7. No More Heroes

6. Mad World

5. Vanquish

4. F.E.A.R

3. Rayman Legends

2. Metal Gear Rising

1. Bayonetta

note: will edit in my reasons later.

snip

I did not know you were fan of Dragon's Crown or Catherine. If they ever port DC over to the PS4, I would not mind; I lack a PS3.

Out of curiosity, why do you have God of War III on your list?.