With The Seventh Generation Coming to an End...

[Miss Layton]

Personal opinion, lads. With the seventh generation of consoles coming to an end, can you look back on the last eight years or so and say which games are either the best of the lot or - if nothing else - the most significant in gamer culture?

What do you think? Personally, I'd pick out titles like 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Dark Souls, Skyrim, BioShock and Portal in terms of either.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I think Mass Effect might have actually supplanted Halo as THE Sci-Fi series for Microsoft.

Sony's flagship is Metal Gear Solid.

Wii had Mario.

Other notables include: Heavy Rain, Bioshock (all 3), Mirror's Edge, Forza, Blazblue, etc

 

[Terminate421]

I think Mass Effect might have actually supplanted Halo as THE Sci-Fi series for Microsoft.

You're serious, right?

Dude, The Halo franchise can practically buy a nation in terms of it's sales. Microsoft make that happen with advertisements up the fucking ass, much to our disgust. Besides, I don't remember 2xp on Mountain Dew and Dorito's for a mass effect promotion

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I think Mass Effect might have actually supplanted Halo as THE Sci-Fi series for Microsoft.

You're serious, right?

Dude, The Halo franchise can practically buy a nation in terms of it's sales. Microsoft make that happen with advertisements up the fucking ass, much to our disgust. Besides, I don't remember 2xp on Mountain Dew and Dorito's for a mass effect promotion

Halo is predominantly bought by fratboys after a new multiplayer shooter. It's a device rather than a game. I'm talking in terms of story focus. The demographic might be bigger but the coverage is far less so for Halo than for ME.

I say Microsoft because the first never came to PS3 and so the impact was far less on that side.

 

[shrimpcel]

Bioshock, Portal and Team Fortress 2 (even its trailers are famous come on)

 

[Terminate421]

Halo is predominantly bought by fratboys after a new multiplayer shooter. It's a device rather than a game. I'm talking in terms of story focus. The demographic might be bigger but the coverage is far less so for Halo than for ME.

The sales for Halo 4 indicate a 3.1 million amount at launch on just the Xbox while Mass Effect 3 sold 1.85 million on all platforms. I'm not going to be using this as a reason for debate at all. I'm just going to face palm at the most ignorant statement I have just read since that senator lady said games are practice for mass murderers to use.

I love how apparently it is the Halo games that are what only frat boys buy and how it has nothing to do with Microsoft making a console exclusive. It apparently is a money making device, unlike every other game ever which is made to be a video game. Does this mean that Uncharted is immune to the "frat boy multiplayer status", does Killzone have that as well? This must be a thing that only people who don't even play multiplayer must see them as.

You've never played a Halo game, fucking fact. I can tell. A reading a wikipedia page won't convince me otherwise. Even then, the whole story aspect behind these games I find superior to Mass Effect at times. That's right I said it, Halo can have better story telling elements than fucking Mass Effect, does that make me a Frat boy that buys a "device" for when I need a new multiplayer game? Apparently to people like you it does.

 

[Tom_green_day]

I think Mass Effect might have actually supplanted Halo as THE Sci-Fi series for Microsoft.

I'm going to have to agree with this. Mass Effect is probably the greatest series I've played this generation, and not just for Microsoft. If I was to introduce someone to gaming, it would be with this series.
If not, something from Bethesda; Skyrim and Fallout 3- they are just the apex of gaming for me. Huge, immersive worlds, interesting and lovable characters, great music etc. They showed gameplay and story can easily go hand-in-hand and both be fun.
Lots of people are saying Bioshock- not sure if this is just them being pleased with Infinite, but I wasn't even aware that the original was that popular. People I know who have played it weren't too fond of it.

Portal and Team Fortress 2

As far as I'm aware, TF2 is quite underground in the grand scheme of things, I know maybe 1 person that plays it. I think any game that is an exclusive to one platform can't really define a generation- just my opinion though.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

-snip-

Tone it down would you? I'd appreciate that if you don't like what I say you'd keep your language civil. Disagreeing with my points is fine as I recognise that I'm wrong in some things, for instance somebody mentioned Uncharted and God of War as flagships for Sony which I'd forgotten about and now agree with, but I really find it hard to take you seriously when you act the way you do.

Also I've played 3 Halo games. That would be a fact. I think facts may differ from your 'fucking fact's but hey, I respect subjectivism. More power to you for being wrong and proud of it.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

As far as I'm aware, TF2 is quite underground in the grand scheme of things, I know maybe 1 person that plays it. I think any game that is an exclusive to one platform can't really define a generation- just my opinion though.

Nah, dude, I play it all the time, and there's a ton of people on it constantly. Sure it's not WoW or SCII Online numbers, but it's still pretty huge. It's also not really exclusive as I also have the Xbox Version, it's just that Microsoft demanded Valve make all their DLC and updates come with a mandatory price tag, instead of how Valve likes it (no price tag on the update itself, and only an optional price tag on the DLC).

OT:

Nintendo really changed a lot of things with this Generation. The Wii brought motion controls to consoles, which can be implemented correctly in the right hands (Otherwise it's a gimmick). However, the DS proved just how fun Touch Screens can be, and by doing so, introduced a new way to play games.

Sony might have had a bad launch, but they're still selling PS3's, and they will keep selling them. However, it's cost them huge amounts of money and has put them into deep financial trouble, and the next gen will determine whether they will survive or die.

Microsoft actually has the most meh-est console. Sure, you can get almost any game on it, but, in the grand scheme of things, what does it have to offer in and of itself? Halo and Gears of War. Every other exclusive was subpar to us or underperforming to them. I really hope Microsoft tries to add some more exclusives next generation, or else it will be another meh-ish console.

No comment on PC's.

Games I liked from Last Gen: Super Mario Galaxy 1+2, Kirby Canvas Curse, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, New Super Mario Bros+Wii, Halo 3, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Spore, Rock Band 1+2+The Beatles: Rock Band, Guitar Hero 3+World Tour, and Team Fortress 2.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

The game that defines this generation? Rock Band. It's overpriced, it relies heavily on gimmicks, and it's entire price model is based around selling you a full price game, premium "toys" to play it with, and constant DLC. That pretty much sums up the 7th gen to me.



Also, Dead Rising. Cause, you know, I love that game.

 

[Delerien]

Minecraft maybe?
Many really big games like Starcraft II were not really defining for anything. Sure Starcraft II is a great strategy game, but only because it has so much of its predecessor.
Mass Effect may have a huge influence on RPGs in the future but it's best known for its end and might just end up as a warning example.
Portal could've paved the way for a bunch of modern day puzzle/platformers but i haven't really seen any which have caused a stir, except Portal (2).
Right now i really can't think of one game that would stand out amongst all others, so i will just list a few games which i thought of as remarkably good or influential, besides the ones already mentioned.
Bioshock, Dark Souls, DotA/LoL, Arma 2(DayZ)

This is a lot harder than i thought, i think i'm just gonna leave it at that, even though this list is obviously far from complete.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Halo is predominantly bought by fratboys after a new multiplayer shooter. It's a device rather than a game. I'm talking in terms of story focus. The demographic might be bigger but the coverage is far less so for Halo than for ME.

WHOA WHOA WHOA, hold on a second.

First off, I am not a frat brat. They are my natural enemies, and the very association is SLANDEROUS, good sir or madam.

I've been a Halo fan ever since I first played Combat Evolved back in 2002. I have bought every Halo game in the franchise except Halo 4 (because the fight was finished, it did not need to start up again), including Halo Wars. I purchased the special edition of Halo Reach so I could get Dr. Halsey's personal journal. I have read a fair number of the Halo novels that have been published.

I have NEVER bought anything Halo related for the multiplayer. Ever. I bought them for the story and the universe it's set in. Seeing how successful the Halo novels have been, I'd say it's a safe bet that there are plenty of others that share this sentiment.

Back on-topic, I'd say that this generation has had plenty of excellent games. While this generation has seen the rise of some reprehensible practices by the industry (Day-1 DLC, always online DRM, "Free to Play" games that are "Pay to Win"), there have also been some beneficial ones as well ("Free to Play" games that aren't "Play to Win," Kickstarters, increased community support like Steam Workshop). My personal favorite games this generation are Team Fortress 2, World of Tanks, Skyrim, the Batman Arkham games, Borderlands, Killing Floor, Halo: ODST and Halo: Reach.

 

[BrotherRool]

This console generation has been hugely influential and pretty good all things considered.

So the biggest thing to happen to this generation is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, if you're thinking about anything else, retract your statement. CoD4 changed the face of the industry, attracted whole new markets of people and changed, for better or worse, the way people make shooter forever.

Then I'm thinking maybe Just Dance, or someother party game for the Wii was probably a big deal also reaching entirely new markets.

Minecraft showed just how powerful indie games can become, the Double Fine adventure kickstartered kickstartering. Uncharted created a new type of game which is finally showing up. Arkham Asylum showed that licensed games don't have to suck (again). DDO and Lords of the Rings Online introduced the idea of not paying for video games.

Angry Birds some how managed to become a pop phenomenon for no reason. The Old Republic signalled the death of big subscription MMOs. Mass Effect became the most dominant RPG of all time, the Witcher brought CD Projekt into the forefront. Dark Souls started a new genre. Saints Row became the sign that the sandbox genre had become official. GTA IV is the best selling game of all time.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution brought back the 'Thief' genre of games, Katawa Shoujo introduced oodles of people to visual novels. League Of Legends really established the MOBA genre and is taking e-sports up another notch.

Gears of War made cover-based shooting a thing.


I've missed a lot but those are the games released in the last 8 years that I would describe as really influential, I'll make another post as to which games were my favourite and personally significant later on.

 

[viranimus]

Ill go with Diablo 3 and Sim City 5, along with mandatory voluntary compliance from Steam, EA, Sony, MS, Etc in what is essentially the gaming industries war on gamers. A war that has seen the 7th gen hand us our asses and we do not look to fare any better in the 8th.

This is far more culturally significant for gamer culture than specific titles.

 

[shrekfan246]

Lots of people are saying Bioshock- not sure if this is just them being pleased with Infinite, but I wasn't even aware that the original was that popular. People I know who have played it weren't too fond of it.

Portal and Team Fortress 2

As far as I'm aware, TF2 is quite underground in the grand scheme of things, I know maybe 1 person that plays it. I think any game that is an exclusive to one platform can't really define a generation- just my opinion though.

You seem a little out of touch with the gaming community, so I feel like I should inform you that -

1) The first Bioshock was critically and commercially lauded (it's still got a higher review average than Bioshock Infinite)
and
2) While TF2 is mostly (probably overwhelmingly so) played on PC, it's not exclusive -- And it's one of the highest daily-played games on Steam.

OT: For me, Mass Effect is probably my favorite IP to come out of this generation and one of my favorite all-time franchises, so I'd go with that for a singular pick. Portal, the Bioshock franchise, the Souls games, Batman: Arkham, Mirror's Edge, and Sonic Generations are other titles I'd mention, as well as Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Mark of the Ninja, and Dishonored for showing that yes, there is still a place in the industry for games that heavily emphasize stealth.

 

[Tom_green_day]

1) The first Bioshock was critically and commercially lauded
2) While TF2 is mostly (probably overwhelmingly so) played on PC, it's not exclusive -- And it's one of the highest daily-played games on Steam.

1. I'm not denying it was popular, I'm just saying that regarding people who I know in real life, it wasn't the Bioshank Redemption.
2. I'll admit I did not know that Portal and Team Fortress 2 were even released on any platforms other than PC, but I guess that says something about the coverage.

Completely forgot in my OP, but would CoD count? I know this isn't it's first generation, but it's arguably the generation where it came into its own. MW2, Black Ops, Black Ops 2, these are all really popular (among people who have played them at least) and zombies mode is even more popular than many proper zombie games.

 

[shrekfan246]

1) The first Bioshock was critically and commercially lauded
2) While TF2 is mostly (probably overwhelmingly so) played on PC, it's not exclusive -- And it's one of the highest daily-played games on Steam.

1. I'm not denying it was popular, I'm just saying that regarding people who I know in real life, it wasn't the Bioshank Redemption.
2. I'll admit I did not know that Portal and Team Fortress 2 were even released on any platforms other than PC, but I guess that says something about the coverage.

Anecdotal evidence doesn't really hold up on the internet.

I don't play Team Fortress 2 myself, and almost nobody I know outside of The Escapist plays it either. But that doesn't mean it's not a widely-known and far-reaching title. I bet Valve makes all kinds of cash off of selling hats.

Completely forgot in my OP, but would CoD count? I know this isn't it's first generation, but it's arguably the generation where it came into its own. MW2, Black Ops, Black Ops 2, these are all really popular (among people who have played them at least) and zombies mode is even more popular than many proper zombie games.

Yeah, I'd say it's pretty arguable that CoD counts. It routinely outsells almost every other game franchise around, I think only Diablo III and possibly Starcraft II have managed to actually keep up with it. While it's not so widespread now, there certainly was a period a few years back when every other publisher wanted to get a piece of that success pie, too. Fortunately it seems like only EA is left hanging onto that pipe dream. Unfortunately they hold the reigns on a lot of genuinely good IPs...

 

[Signa]

The game that defines this generation? Rock Band. It's overpriced, it relies heavily on gimmicks, and it's entire price model is based around selling you a full price game, premium "toys" to play it with, and constant DLC. That pretty much sums up the 7th gen to me.

Wow. That point works on so many levels, I can't even begin to come up with another game that comes close.

It doesn't help that the only console-centric games I can think of actually enjoying this console cycle was Bioshock and Borderlands. 8 years has been a long time, so I'm sure I'm forgetting some good ones, but if they didn't stand out in my mind, then were they really that good?

 

[BrotherRool]

Okay my personal defining games for this generation, (that come out on a console)

Red Faction Guerilla - Sandbox blowing buildings up is fun. So many varieties of tactic. I remember smashing into support struts with a sledgehammer, climbing in them, planting explosives everywhere and then running out and pulling the trigger. Why didn't they make a proper sequel for this game? It had obvious flaws that would have been so easy to fix

Alpha Protocol - I have never seen a game before that took choice so seriously and was so malleable. AP is like a toy where it's fun to try pushing different buttons and seeing what happens.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - I loved the way it looked and the way gameplay changed so drastically. One minute helping local rebels in a foresty area, next stalking a lone spy through rainy Paris streets. The microwave corridor and the last boss fight with Liquid Ocelot are some of my most powerful gaming memories today

Heavy Rain - Crud story. The fact that the game still isn't crud demonstrates the power of this type of gameplay. Why don't other comes copy it? The closest any game got to was the Walking Dead and in terms of quicktime events, choice and mechanics, Heavy Rain blows the Walking Dead out of the water. Can you imagine what TWD would have been like if the button presses had been designed with the same genius that Heavy Rain button presses were? Somehow they managed to make pushing buttons feel exactly right for someone ducking under a barbwire fence or drinking a glass of orange juice


Uncharted 1&2 - These games are really fun rides from start to finish. The cold start with Drake wounded and freezing in a train wreck hanging off a cliff in 2 is still one of the most brilliant game openings ever

Little Big Planet 1&2 - The world needs more games like this

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Incredible visuals, conversation battles and the flexibility of the systems are genius

Batman: Arkham Asylum - Recreated the feeling of being Batman

Valkyria Chronicles - A super unique RPG with a battle system that encourages very real tactics, taking out sniping towers to cover the open field that you then run a scout through to secure defensive positions for the shocktroopers etc. Gorgeous visuals and a story that did a lot. I wish the sequels had come out on consoles

inFamous 2 - A game that did everything unexceptional perfectly. Incredibly strong story, fun meaningful combat. Everything was perfect

The Walking Dead - Emotional

So congratulations to Sony for supporting 8 games that are not only really class but do some incredibly interesting and unique things. If I didn't restrict to consoles Katawa Shoujo, To The Moon and Bastion would show up too