The games listed below are strictly my favorite video games of the last five years. Missing from the list are MMORPGs, RPGs, and PS2 & PS3 exclusives because I don't play RPGs and I don't own a playstation.
Honorable Mention -
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater (N64): HORSE games with friends were a right of passage during the 2000 summer.
- Rock Band (360): Probably the only game on this list that the female readers have played.
- Virtua Tennis (Dreamcast): Still my favorite game from the most underrated system.
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii): Good platform game but lacks multi player for extended replay value.
#10 - Bioshock (360)
Simply put, Bioshock has the best campaign mode of any game this decade. Combining a first person shooter with Ayn Rand principles leads to a deep and enthralling story.
#9 - Shogun: Total War (PC)
Outside of Red Alert, this is my most played real time strategy game. Shogun: Total War takes place in 16th century Japan where 8 different war lords are battling for control of the island nation. Each war lord has a specific advantage on both the battlefield and in unit production. What made the game especially deep was it's historical accuracy. You interact with Western European countries, Christian missionaries, and Western weapons; guns. If you are ever bored and have $10 I recommend running to your local Gamestop and start your quest to be Shogun.
#8 - Halo Wars (360)
I have to admit that this pick is a reach and might backfire on me in a couple of years but screw it. I have only owned this game for a few short months but it has instantly become one of my favorite games on Xbox 360. Halo Wars is the first RTS (Real Time Strategy) game to be built solely for the console. Ensemble Studios did an incredible job of keeping the controls simple while not dumbing down the game.
#7 - MVP Baseball 2004 (Xbox)
EA's last professional baseball game is still the best that's ever been made. MVP's controls are mapped extremely well and the game play flows perfectly. Pitching and hitting mechanics are easy to learn but also very deep. One of my fondest memories of freshman year is my no hitter against Greg in game 7 of the "World Series", thrown by Kerry Wood of course.
#6 - Gears of War (360)
Gears of War was the first true next generation game. The graphics are still a benchmark for current games while also containing one of the better story lines in video game history.
#5 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Multi-platform)
What separates Vice City from other Grand Theft Auto games is look and sound of the game. Taking place in the 1980's, Rock Star studios uses hits like Billie Jean to really immerse the player in the culture of Vice City. Just a fantastic game.
#4 - Super Smash Brothers Melee (GQ)
This game can be summed up by a good friend and former roommate, "Oh what a surprise you pick the juggernaut, I mean Samus. He has a travelling smash attack that crosses the entire level." Can anyone guess who this is?
#3 - Halo 3 (360)
Two years after its release Halo 3 is still the most popular game on xbox live. Besides having a lengthy campaign, Halo 3's multi player options provide a virtually endless replay value. With the ability to edit maps, game types, and highlight reels Halo 3 is a standard to which any multi player game must be measured.
#2 - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Activision's first step out pf WW2 resulted in one of the greatest video games of this or any generation. Call of Duty 4 plays at a dizzying 60 frames per second and does so without any glitches or lag. Call of Duty 4 is a marvel both visually and technically.
#1 - Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox)
Not a whole lot needs to be said about the greatest FPS of all time. Halo revolutionized not only first person shooters but also multi player games in general. Some of the best times of my freshman year were spent playing pre-dinner capture the flag games against my G4 hall mates.
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater (N64): HORSE games with friends were a right of passage during the 2000 summer.
- Rock Band (360): Probably the only game on this list that the female readers have played.
- Virtua Tennis (Dreamcast): Still my favorite game from the most underrated system.
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii): Good platform game but lacks multi player for extended replay value.
#10 - Bioshock (360)
Simply put, Bioshock has the best campaign mode of any game this decade. Combining a first person shooter with Ayn Rand principles leads to a deep and enthralling story.
#9 - Shogun: Total War (PC)
Outside of Red Alert, this is my most played real time strategy game. Shogun: Total War takes place in 16th century Japan where 8 different war lords are battling for control of the island nation. Each war lord has a specific advantage on both the battlefield and in unit production. What made the game especially deep was it's historical accuracy. You interact with Western European countries, Christian missionaries, and Western weapons; guns. If you are ever bored and have $10 I recommend running to your local Gamestop and start your quest to be Shogun.
#8 - Halo Wars (360)
I have to admit that this pick is a reach and might backfire on me in a couple of years but screw it. I have only owned this game for a few short months but it has instantly become one of my favorite games on Xbox 360. Halo Wars is the first RTS (Real Time Strategy) game to be built solely for the console. Ensemble Studios did an incredible job of keeping the controls simple while not dumbing down the game.
#7 - MVP Baseball 2004 (Xbox)
EA's last professional baseball game is still the best that's ever been made. MVP's controls are mapped extremely well and the game play flows perfectly. Pitching and hitting mechanics are easy to learn but also very deep. One of my fondest memories of freshman year is my no hitter against Greg in game 7 of the "World Series", thrown by Kerry Wood of course.
#6 - Gears of War (360)
Gears of War was the first true next generation game. The graphics are still a benchmark for current games while also containing one of the better story lines in video game history.
#5 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Multi-platform)
What separates Vice City from other Grand Theft Auto games is look and sound of the game. Taking place in the 1980's, Rock Star studios uses hits like Billie Jean to really immerse the player in the culture of Vice City. Just a fantastic game.
#4 - Super Smash Brothers Melee (GQ)
This game can be summed up by a good friend and former roommate, "Oh what a surprise you pick the juggernaut, I mean Samus. He has a travelling smash attack that crosses the entire level." Can anyone guess who this is?
#3 - Halo 3 (360)
Two years after its release Halo 3 is still the most popular game on xbox live. Besides having a lengthy campaign, Halo 3's multi player options provide a virtually endless replay value. With the ability to edit maps, game types, and highlight reels Halo 3 is a standard to which any multi player game must be measured.
#2 - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Activision's first step out pf WW2 resulted in one of the greatest video games of this or any generation. Call of Duty 4 plays at a dizzying 60 frames per second and does so without any glitches or lag. Call of Duty 4 is a marvel both visually and technically.
#1 - Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox)
Not a whole lot needs to be said about the greatest FPS of all time. Halo revolutionized not only first person shooters but also multi player games in general. Some of the best times of my freshman year were spent playing pre-dinner capture the flag games against my G4 hall mates.
9 comments:
It's criminal that no Tiger or FIFA game is listed on here, with special consideration to the last 2 NHL games.
FIFA? I won't even dignify that with an answer.
I love Tiger, my favorite Tiger game is whatever one Deano had. There were some epic skins battles back in the day but my favorite Tiger is the first one that came out for the PC in 99. It missed the list by a year.
And the best NHL game of all time is Wayne Gretzky 3D hockey, I don't recognize any other hockey games.
Definitely agree with Vice City being on there, easily my favorite GTA game and also had the best video game soundtrack of all time.
is there a reason "halo wars" is on here twice...
and that MVP game was rigged. steroid users were on that cubs team. and no way in hell could of kerry wood pitched as a starter in the post-season. rematch anytime, any place, any day.
Greg - Fixed the Halo Wars issue.
And MVP rigged? Are you serious?
MVP... solid choice.
A solid list top to bottom, but I have to protest that there is not even one racing game on the list. I would def. put Project Gotham 2 in my top 10--a game that combines a very advanced physics engine, arcade elements that give it a level of gameplay depth beyond any other racing game I've played, a great sense of speed, and some of the prettiest graphics you can find on an original Xbox game.
I would also give at least an honorable mention to Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, which represented the high mark for that series and for all stealth-action games, in my opinion. The single player gameplay was very refined—great controls and plenty of strategic options for the player. But the game separated itself from other stealth games with an extremely innovative and addictive multiplayer. It’s a crime that Ubisoft hasn’t replicated it on the Xbox 360 platform.
Fallout 3 should be on there. Play it if you haven't.
this is Shaun by the way. i sometimes read your blog via marks gmail statuses.
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