Game of the Decade

[A.G.]

Well, 2000 - 2010 is almost over. What would you say is the game of the decade? Maybe even top 10 of the decade.

I think games should be looked upon for the imact they made on the gaming industry, not just how good the game itself was. As such, three games that come to my mind are:

Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty
Halo: Combat Evolved
Uncharted 2

MGS2 was a huge way to start the decade. It was really the first game that looked and played REAL. Halo did a huge amount for multiplayer shooting. And let's face it, when it comes to linear adventure games Uncharted 2 is a smash hit.

[The Mad Jackyl]

God of War, Metal Gear Solid 2, Halo, Grand Theft Auto III, The Sims, Portal, Guitar Hero, Half Life 2, Wii Sports...

...yet, the most pervasive and culturally influential of them all...World of Warcraft.

[cernex]

I'll say Grand Theft Auto III and Metal Gear Solid 2 are right there in the "top of the decade" games, since both actually sparked HUGE amount of interests on their respective genres and inspired a lot of imitations (or "homages", depending on whom you ask). Examples of the "sandbox" genre would be quite silly, while on the stealth genre... well, you have Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed, just to name a few.

HOWEVER, I do think that the most important game of the decade that literally sparked a whole new era when it all comes down to the genre itself (let's not forget GTA III and MGS2 are sequels) was none other that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Really, think about it.

EDIT:

Nov 16, 2010 13:27:43 GMT -5 A.G. said:

And let's face it, when it comes to linear adventure games Uncharted 2 is a smash hit.

Sorry, but no, just outright no. Uncharted is nothing else and nothing more than a game that mixes tested-and-proved gameplay elements from other franchises. It's a fun game, I'll give you, but nothing even CLOSE to the importance of the games that, you know, actually INVENTED those gameplay mechanics to begin with... like Prince of Persia, Tomb Rader, Halo, Gears of Wars, and Shenmue, just to name a few (QTE were NOT invented by God of War, people)

[A.G.]

Sorry, but no, just outright no. Uncharted is nothing else and nothing more than a game that mixes tested-and-proved gameplay elements from other franchises. It's a fun game, I'll give you, but nothing even CLOSE to the importance of the games that, you know, actually INVENTED those gameplay mechanics to begin with... like Prince of Persia, Tomb Rader, Halo, Gears of Wars, and Shenmue, just to name a few (QTE were NOT invented by God of War, people)

True, Uncharted games don't have much to call their own, but maybe that's the point. They have ALL those things tied together. Instead of focusing on one or two elements, like other games, they tie them all together into one complete package. Not many games can claim that. You're getting stunning cutscenes, fluid gameplay, solid controls, good online mode, terrific voice acting and cinematic presentation, and gameplay variety. How many games can claim all that? Not many.

Sorry, I can't agree with you. What makes Uncharted (specifically the second one) so great is that it took everything great in games from the last 10 years and put it in one stellar package. I can't think of another game that really sums up a decade of gaming as well.

[cernex]

Nov 19, 2010 17:42:56 GMT -5 A.G. said:

Sorry, but no, just outright no. Uncharted is nothing else and nothing more than a game that mixes tested-and-proved gameplay elements from other franchises. It's a fun game, I'll give you, but nothing even CLOSE to the importance of the games that, you know, actually INVENTED those gameplay mechanics to begin with... like Prince of Persia, Tomb Rader, Halo, Gears of Wars, and Shenmue, just to name a few (QTE were NOT invented by God of War, people)

True, Uncharted games don't have much to call their own, but maybe that's the point. They have ALL those things tied together. Instead of focusing on one or two elements, like other games, they tie them all together into one complete package. Not many games can claim that. You're getting stunning cutscenes, fluid gameplay, solid controls, good online mode, terrific voice acting and cinematic presentation, and gameplay variety. How many games can claim all that? Not many.

Sorry, I can't agree with you. What makes Uncharted (specifically the second one) so great is that it took everything great in games from the last 10 years and put it in one stellar package. I can't think of another game that really sums up a decade of gaming as well.

We just hold the game on different regards, pure and simple. I just care for originality on a game a little more, being honest, and you know what's worse? Plus,maybe you liked the finalized product more than I did (scratch the "maybe", now that I think about it), but, I personally thought the elements it took weren't as masterfully handled as they were on the game that originated them... the gun-play felt clumsy, the ducking system was sloopy, the plataforming was a bit too easy... I mean, I HONESTLY thought that the other games did what they were supposed to do brilliantly, while Uncharted just tried to do a lot "good enough", and that just isn't for me.

To put it simple: For me it was just bland all over. You say it is a "complete package", I say it is an "incomplete package that lacks anything original", :3

Also...

You're getting stunning cutscenes, fluid gameplay, solid controls, good online mode, terrific voice acting and cinematic presentation, and gameplay variety. How many games can claim all that? Not many.

It's called Metal Gear Solid 4, xD

[A.G.]

Well yeah MGS4. LOL I was trying to keep Metal Gear out of it.

[fgdj2000]

I agree with cernex, I felt the controls weren't nearly as tight as many make them out to be. However, the overall experience still feels good. Overall the UC games are an excellent tech demo for the PS3.
The game I'd like to add to the ones named before is Resident Evil 4. It introduced the Over-the-shoulder camera, that many games have adopted today and also brought QTE's into the mix, which many adopted. It not only revamped Resident Evil, but the entire action genre. In addition Grand Theft Auto III for its introduction of the open world genre as we know it today. World of Warcraft for making MMO's popular.
Note, that neither of these games are among my personal favorites, but they had a huge impact on the industry.

[Cerberus_0408]

Yeah. cernex and FGDJ have it perfectly. UC totally revolutionalised the entire shooter style of gaming. You can interact with the environment, including ledges and swimming etc. What's more, it's not like a usual shooter where you have an objectives menu; you have to actually look for what you need.

Counterstrike was also a great game, despite being released on the PC (I'm a console gamer), because it really emphasises the need for tight teamwork. BF also used this formula, combined with vehicular activity. As for CoD... well, we all know what that became; it has to die off sooner or later.

I also like to add HALO WARS to my list. It was a f...cking fun game, even though it wasn't FPS. We all know how Halo would work if all the games were shooter, but thankfully that isn't the case. Command and Conquer on a galactic scale will be guaranteed to keep you stuck in sh*t for hours (no pun intended).

[fgdj2000]

What about Shenmue? Actually, this was the game that introduced quicktime events as we know them today and even the term "quicktime event". However, Resident Evil 4 and the original God of War popularized it.
I also stand by World of Warcraft as kids from my school, where I work, still play it today after 11 years!!! That's mindboggling! Imagine kids in 2004 playing Final Fantasy VI or the original Doom and thinking it's cool!