Next in my Video Game Awards comes the Top 5 Video Game Series of the Decade. These games are what kept fans enthralled game after game after game. Whether it was the gameplay, the characters, the story, or the action, these games are the best of the best.
5. Assassins Creed series: Ubisoft's most popular series to date, Assassins Creed began in 2007 with the release of Assassins Creed, which told the story of Desmond Miles, a young man born into the world of the Assassins and kidnapped by his family's sworn enemies, the Templar's. Using the Animus, Desmond is forced to relive the moments of his ancestors through stored memories in his DNA. Visiting famous historical time periods such as The Crusades and the Renaissance, Desmond is forced to locate the Pieces of Eden, powerful artifacts left by an ancient race of aliens that could be used for power, wealth, or to save the planet for global catastrophe. Desmond must escape with the help of another Assassin, Lucy, and help the Assassins find the Pieces of Eden before the planet is destroyed in 2012. The gameplay has been amazing, using swords, wrist blades, throwing knives, and guns to take out targets, save citizens of the era, and plus you get to visit famous cities and historical landmarks. This is the best action-adventure, historical game around, and I cannot wait to see what the series will bring next for Desmond Miles.
4. Rock Band series: Everyone wants to be a rock star. Now, thanks to Harmonix, they can. Beginning in 2007, Rock Band allowed players to become rockers, using controllers in the shape of their favorite instruments. Whether you wanted to be a guitarist, bassist, singer, or even drummer, up to four people were able to play at any given time. With millions of song available to play, players could play their favorite songs from their favorite bands, and play at famous venues. With releases that included band-centric games, including The Beatles: Rock Band, this is the most invested, fun, and wealthy music based video game franchises in the world.
3. Gears of War series: Ever since the locust invaded our consoles, Gears of Wars has been one of the bloodiest first person shooters around. Weilding anything from chainsaw guns to chained grenades, players stepped into the shoes of Gears leader Marcus Fenix, a soldier for the COG (Coalition of Gears), who was tasked by the human resistance to help the Gears fight the Locust, a monstrous race of creatures that emerged from underneath the surface and began a bloody war for domination. After two games, players fought battle after battle, hacking off limbs and enjoying commradery with Marcus's team, Dom, Baird, and Cole. Another great feature of the game was the intense multiplayer experience, with found up to sixteen guys going head to head with one another, blowing each other up and getting into blood filled battles. The non-stop action combined with the gore and horror of the monster movie madness, this game is truely unique, and one of my all time favorites.
2. Halo series: How does the world end? That's the question that fans all over the world asked when Halo 3 was released. This series follows Master Chief, the last of the super soldiers known as Spartans, in his fight against the Covenant, an alien race with a fanatic religious agenda. Through the first three games, players fought valiantly as the Master Chief, jumping from orbit above planets, shooting down monstrous zombies, blowing bases up, and going across the galaxy in an attempt to save the remaining few people of the human race. In the face of death and extinction, Master Chief fought for survival, and won. The last three games dealt with the events leading to the previous three games, following the paths of Spartans fallen before the Master Chief, and lone Orbital Drop Shock Troopers left to defend Earth. Featuring great voice talent, amazing special effects, dramatic music, and characters and stories that not only touched our hearts, but left players on the edge of their seats. The original game that started the first person shooter craze, and allowed Xbox to create the multiplayer experience, Halo is the true pioneer of the last decade, and a must play for the gamer in all of us.
1. Left 4 Dead series: Zombies have invaded pop culture once again. Beginning in 2008, Left 4 Dead had a basic premise, survive a zombie apocalypse and search for rescue. Rather than focus on intricate plot details, the game focuses on the characters, and throws complex and life like characters into various survival situations. Utilizing what makes all zombie movies great, players got a variety of weapons, and went head to head with the zombie horde. Whether you were blowing off a zombie's head with a shotgun, or hacking limbs off with a katana, players went through memorable settings and fought against fast running zombies, as well as mutated "special" infected, like the hunter, who can leap vast distances, or the Tank, who looks like a muscle head to the 10th power. Also utilizing the multiplayer experience, this game pits players against one another, whether you're a survivor or playing as a special infected, and get to fight one another until the end. This is the most fun, action packed, and popular video game series to premiere in the past decade, and has set the bar for future games everywhere!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Top 10 Video Game Characters of the Decade
When the world first played video games, the games were just 8-bit 2-D models with basic objects, save the princess, defeat the bad guy. Now, however, video games have become brand new narrative's for heartwarming, intense, horrific, and action packed story's that span galaxies and other dimensions. With the weight of the world on their shoulders, the characters of the past decade have grown so much, becoming heroes that had only been seen previously in movies or television. This is my list of the top 10 video game characters of the past decade, part of my video game awards. Warning, spoilers may be present in the following paragraphs. Be Warned, if you do not wish to see a spoiler or have not played the games mentioned before, do not read any further. Enjoy!
10. Andrew Ryan (Bioshock): "A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys". The infamous words spoken by Bioshock's main antagonist, or one of them, depending on your view. Andrew Ryan is the creator of Rapture, the underwater utopia created in the Atlantic Ocean. Having built it away from the laws of the Government in hopes of creating a civilization run by the hardworking people, rather than government, Andrew Ryan's dream city soon turned to chaos, sporting genetically altered people known as splicers and creepy little sisters who are guarded by metal beasts known as Big Daddies. With the chaos, however, Ryan still tries to maintain control, using the splicers to prevent the game's protagonist from taking control of the city. While his methods and goals may be flawed, or possibly evil, he has a major impact on the entire series, and spouts the words that will define the meaning of the entire game. Whether good or bad, Andrew Ryan is Bioshock.
9. Alyx Vance (Half-Life 2): Also known as Gordon Freeman's better half, Alyx Vance is the reason why fans have come to love the series. While everyone knows Freeman and his heroism, no one would no Gordon without Alyx and her brave, strong character that has helped both her and Gordon survive every attack the alien menace has thrown at them. Living in an apocalyptic world where an alien race from another dimension known as the Combine have taken over, Alyx and Gordon fight with the human resistance to liberate their world from the alien's and take back what's rightfully theirs. While sporting an unspoken romance between them, Alyx has shown great growth in the short time we've known her, taking care of her father, the leader of the resistance, making runs across an alien occupied city to free prisoner's and human citizens, and transporting stolen alien data to prevent another portal from destroying the world. Even sacrificing herself for the mission, we see her nearly die and come back again, defying death itself to save the day. Without Alyx Vance, there would be no Gordon Freeman.
8. GLaDOS (Portal): One of the decades most surprising hit games was Portal, a puzzle solving game that took place in the same universe as Half-Life. While the puzzles and gravity defying objectives were amazing, what made the game so lovable was the birth of a truly evil yet hilarious new villain, GLaDOS, (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System). GLaDOS is a artificial intelligence running a science facility known as Apeture Science. Waking the main character up as a test subject, GLaDOS puts you through death defying missions while promising you "cake". After being destroyed by the main character at the end of the first portal, GLaDOS is set to reappear in the sequel coming out next year, Portal 2. Dead set on getting revenge on you for killing her, GLaDOS is sure to set new deadly courses and clever witticisms by this time next year.
7. Alma Wade (F.E.A.R. series): Sporting one of the bloodiest, most deadly pasts in gaming history, Alma is the definition of evil, made by society. The daughter of a powerful scientists and head of a major company, she is taken by her father after it is discovered she harbors a disturbed personality and kinetic powers. Put into stasis and used as a means of birthing prototype soldiers that would theoretically be able to use telepathy to control soldiers in the battlefield, she is impregnated using genetic material from her father, and only brought out of sleep in order to give birth. This happens two times before finally her body fails, and she dies. When her body dies, she makes contact with her second son, Paxton Fettel, another great villain, and forces him to go on a killing spree in order to release her. Once released, her spirit, or psychic energy, unleashing a wave of terror and rage on the city of Auburn. Players control Point Man, the agent of the special paranormal government team F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), who must hunt down Paxton Fettel, stop Alma, and learn the secrets of this disturbed girl's past. While the game is one of the horror genre's best, Alma is one of the most terrifying little girls in history, giving girls like Samara from the Ring and that Grudge girl a run for their money.
6. Sora (Kingdom Hearts): A young boy who dreams of adventure and finding love with his best friend Kairi, Sora finds his world turned upside down when a sinister force known as the Darkness infects his world, separating him from Kairi and his other best friend, Riku. He learns he is the keyblade master, a warrior destined to repel the Darkness. Joining forces with Disney favorites Goofy and Donald Duck, Sora must save the worlds from the Darkness, stop a group of Disney and Final Fantasy villains, and find his friends before the universe is engulfed in Darkness. We see this boy grow into the role of hero, shunning the boyhood dreams in hopes of becoming the salvation of the universe. Making new allies, finding love, fighting evil, and risking his life and soul in order to save everyone, this boy does not become a man, but rather keeps that boyhood wonder and innocence in order to see the good in people, and recognize the evil where it lies. Sora is the definition of a hero.
5. Commander Shepard (Mass Effect 2): The leader of a human manned ship, Commander Shepard is the hero in the hit series Mass Effect. After saving the Citadel, a capitol planet in which all alien leaders convene, from the evil Saren from using the Reapers, an ancient alien race that destroys all sentient life in the galaxy every million years or so. In Mass Effect 2, players get to know Shepard a little better, seeing the natural leader that he is. After being killed in the opening scenes, he is resurrected by The Illusive Man, the head of a human controlled corporation who is seeking Shepard's help in stopping the Collectors, an alien group working for the Reaper's by taking human colonies across the galaxy. Players get to see Shepard become the leader of his ship once more, making allies with other aliens of all classes and positions, from scientists and soldiers to warriors and psychotic killers. He develops friendships with his crew, saves planets from various disasters, investigates crimes, and develops romantic relationships with members of his crew. With the fate of the galaxy in his hands, Shepard does a great job of being a balanced character, not perfect, but heroic nonetheless.
4. Paxton Fettel (F.E.A.R.): The son of F.E.A.R. villain Alma, Paxton Fettel is the cannibal leader of mindless soldiers he controlls using his natural psychic abilities. When first encountered, we find him hunched over the body of a security officer, where his mouth is covered in blood and he continues to eat pieces of the officers body. Besides a cannibal, however, Fettel is the complete opposite of the main character, Point Man. The Yin to his Yang. He is always appearing out of nowhere, killing key characters or helping his mother kill hundreds of people. Leaving a bloody path behind him, Fettel always appears to Point Man, spouting words of wisdom and trying to confuse Point Man as to who he really is. When it is learned later on that Point Man is the first son of Alma, and Fettel's brother, fans all around gasped, and it made Point Man shooting Fettel that much more ironic. In the upcoming F.E.A.R. 3, fans will once again be reunited with Fettel, as he has to work with Point Man in his spectral form in order to stop his mother, who is once again pregnant and on a warpath. Yes, he is the quintessential villain, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
3. Ezio Auditore (Assassins Creed 2, AC: Brotherhood): One of the best series of the past decade, Assassins Creed follows Desmond Miles, a born Assassin kidnapped by the Assassin Guild's enemies, the Templars. Although he himself has never been an Assassin, he holds genetic memories in his DNA, and knowing this, the Templars use a machine known as the Animus to put Desmond into the shoes of his ancestors, reliving key moments in his various ancestors lives to locate ancient artifacts known as Pieces of Eden. In the second and third games, the ancestor in question is Ezio Auditore, the face of Assassins Creed. The son of an Assassin, he is introduced to his destiny only because his father and two brothers are taken into custody by the Borgia, leaders of the Templars in Renaissance Italy, and are executed for false crimes. In hopes of taking revenge, we see Ezio go from vengeful son to natural leader and hero, killing all Templars who support the Borgia, and rebuilding the Assassin Guild so that their work can continue once more. As Ezio, players are able to travel across Italy, visiting famous cities such as Rome, Venice, and Florence, and meeting famous figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci and the Pope. Ezio is the best example of growth in a character, going from an arrogant boy to a grown man and hero of the people of Italy. Through him, we see the hardships and trials a hero must go through, and the corruption seen in Italy in the early 16th century. Ezio Auditore gives Assassins a good name.
2. Marcus Fenix (Gears of War series): In a world overrun by monsters and torn apart by war, humanity needed one man to become the face of hope, and give humanity something to believe in. That man is Marcus Fenix. A former prisoner of war during a planetary civil war, he is released during the Emergence of the Locust horde by his best friend Dom, and joins the Gears, soldiers of humanity set against the Locust. Putting their differences aside, all of humanity pulls together in hopes of stopping the monsters, and rebuilding their civilization. While fighting these creatures, Fenix must also be the best friend who helps Dom find his missing wife, while trying to learn who his father really was, after learning of experiments done by his father within in the Locust hive. With only his teammates and a gun in his hands, Marcus looks death in the eyes, and then punches it in the face, risking life and limb to stop the Locust. After losing so much and facing deadly odds, Marcus has again and again dealt crippling blows to the Locust. With the third game in the Gears trilogy due out next year, we will get to see Marcus's last stand, and the end of his long journey. Will he stop the Locust, and the mysterious knew creatures attacking both sides? If anyone can, Marcus will.
1. Master Chief (Halo series): If there were ever one man who was defined as the hero of all video games, Master Chief is that man. The last of a super soldier program known as the Spartans, Master Chief is humanities last hope of survival against an alien coalition known as the Covenant, religious nutcases who want to use the Halo rings to purge humanity and go on a religious journey. Master Chief knows from experience that the Halo rings are mass sentient purges that wipe all life from the universe so that a deadly alien lifeform known as The Flood cannot feed, kinda like zombies. Over the course of three games, Master Chief is seen jumping in outer space out of an alien ship, blowing said ship up behind him, and falling to earth and surviving in one piece. He takes an impossible situation and flips it around, defeating enemy onslaughts at every turn. Even after losing great allies and friends, Master Chief still manages to sacrifice all in order to defeat the Covenant, and even though he saves the galaxy, he and his AI companion Cortana are left behind, presumed dead, and is forced into stasis. While little is known about the man behind the mask, we know he is a hero by definition, and without him, Xbox itself would not have gotten the name it has over the past decade. He is the face of Halo, of Xbox, and of all heroes after him.
10. Andrew Ryan (Bioshock): "A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys". The infamous words spoken by Bioshock's main antagonist, or one of them, depending on your view. Andrew Ryan is the creator of Rapture, the underwater utopia created in the Atlantic Ocean. Having built it away from the laws of the Government in hopes of creating a civilization run by the hardworking people, rather than government, Andrew Ryan's dream city soon turned to chaos, sporting genetically altered people known as splicers and creepy little sisters who are guarded by metal beasts known as Big Daddies. With the chaos, however, Ryan still tries to maintain control, using the splicers to prevent the game's protagonist from taking control of the city. While his methods and goals may be flawed, or possibly evil, he has a major impact on the entire series, and spouts the words that will define the meaning of the entire game. Whether good or bad, Andrew Ryan is Bioshock.
9. Alyx Vance (Half-Life 2): Also known as Gordon Freeman's better half, Alyx Vance is the reason why fans have come to love the series. While everyone knows Freeman and his heroism, no one would no Gordon without Alyx and her brave, strong character that has helped both her and Gordon survive every attack the alien menace has thrown at them. Living in an apocalyptic world where an alien race from another dimension known as the Combine have taken over, Alyx and Gordon fight with the human resistance to liberate their world from the alien's and take back what's rightfully theirs. While sporting an unspoken romance between them, Alyx has shown great growth in the short time we've known her, taking care of her father, the leader of the resistance, making runs across an alien occupied city to free prisoner's and human citizens, and transporting stolen alien data to prevent another portal from destroying the world. Even sacrificing herself for the mission, we see her nearly die and come back again, defying death itself to save the day. Without Alyx Vance, there would be no Gordon Freeman.
8. GLaDOS (Portal): One of the decades most surprising hit games was Portal, a puzzle solving game that took place in the same universe as Half-Life. While the puzzles and gravity defying objectives were amazing, what made the game so lovable was the birth of a truly evil yet hilarious new villain, GLaDOS, (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System). GLaDOS is a artificial intelligence running a science facility known as Apeture Science. Waking the main character up as a test subject, GLaDOS puts you through death defying missions while promising you "cake". After being destroyed by the main character at the end of the first portal, GLaDOS is set to reappear in the sequel coming out next year, Portal 2. Dead set on getting revenge on you for killing her, GLaDOS is sure to set new deadly courses and clever witticisms by this time next year.
7. Alma Wade (F.E.A.R. series): Sporting one of the bloodiest, most deadly pasts in gaming history, Alma is the definition of evil, made by society. The daughter of a powerful scientists and head of a major company, she is taken by her father after it is discovered she harbors a disturbed personality and kinetic powers. Put into stasis and used as a means of birthing prototype soldiers that would theoretically be able to use telepathy to control soldiers in the battlefield, she is impregnated using genetic material from her father, and only brought out of sleep in order to give birth. This happens two times before finally her body fails, and she dies. When her body dies, she makes contact with her second son, Paxton Fettel, another great villain, and forces him to go on a killing spree in order to release her. Once released, her spirit, or psychic energy, unleashing a wave of terror and rage on the city of Auburn. Players control Point Man, the agent of the special paranormal government team F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), who must hunt down Paxton Fettel, stop Alma, and learn the secrets of this disturbed girl's past. While the game is one of the horror genre's best, Alma is one of the most terrifying little girls in history, giving girls like Samara from the Ring and that Grudge girl a run for their money.
6. Sora (Kingdom Hearts): A young boy who dreams of adventure and finding love with his best friend Kairi, Sora finds his world turned upside down when a sinister force known as the Darkness infects his world, separating him from Kairi and his other best friend, Riku. He learns he is the keyblade master, a warrior destined to repel the Darkness. Joining forces with Disney favorites Goofy and Donald Duck, Sora must save the worlds from the Darkness, stop a group of Disney and Final Fantasy villains, and find his friends before the universe is engulfed in Darkness. We see this boy grow into the role of hero, shunning the boyhood dreams in hopes of becoming the salvation of the universe. Making new allies, finding love, fighting evil, and risking his life and soul in order to save everyone, this boy does not become a man, but rather keeps that boyhood wonder and innocence in order to see the good in people, and recognize the evil where it lies. Sora is the definition of a hero.
5. Commander Shepard (Mass Effect 2): The leader of a human manned ship, Commander Shepard is the hero in the hit series Mass Effect. After saving the Citadel, a capitol planet in which all alien leaders convene, from the evil Saren from using the Reapers, an ancient alien race that destroys all sentient life in the galaxy every million years or so. In Mass Effect 2, players get to know Shepard a little better, seeing the natural leader that he is. After being killed in the opening scenes, he is resurrected by The Illusive Man, the head of a human controlled corporation who is seeking Shepard's help in stopping the Collectors, an alien group working for the Reaper's by taking human colonies across the galaxy. Players get to see Shepard become the leader of his ship once more, making allies with other aliens of all classes and positions, from scientists and soldiers to warriors and psychotic killers. He develops friendships with his crew, saves planets from various disasters, investigates crimes, and develops romantic relationships with members of his crew. With the fate of the galaxy in his hands, Shepard does a great job of being a balanced character, not perfect, but heroic nonetheless.
4. Paxton Fettel (F.E.A.R.): The son of F.E.A.R. villain Alma, Paxton Fettel is the cannibal leader of mindless soldiers he controlls using his natural psychic abilities. When first encountered, we find him hunched over the body of a security officer, where his mouth is covered in blood and he continues to eat pieces of the officers body. Besides a cannibal, however, Fettel is the complete opposite of the main character, Point Man. The Yin to his Yang. He is always appearing out of nowhere, killing key characters or helping his mother kill hundreds of people. Leaving a bloody path behind him, Fettel always appears to Point Man, spouting words of wisdom and trying to confuse Point Man as to who he really is. When it is learned later on that Point Man is the first son of Alma, and Fettel's brother, fans all around gasped, and it made Point Man shooting Fettel that much more ironic. In the upcoming F.E.A.R. 3, fans will once again be reunited with Fettel, as he has to work with Point Man in his spectral form in order to stop his mother, who is once again pregnant and on a warpath. Yes, he is the quintessential villain, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
3. Ezio Auditore (Assassins Creed 2, AC: Brotherhood): One of the best series of the past decade, Assassins Creed follows Desmond Miles, a born Assassin kidnapped by the Assassin Guild's enemies, the Templars. Although he himself has never been an Assassin, he holds genetic memories in his DNA, and knowing this, the Templars use a machine known as the Animus to put Desmond into the shoes of his ancestors, reliving key moments in his various ancestors lives to locate ancient artifacts known as Pieces of Eden. In the second and third games, the ancestor in question is Ezio Auditore, the face of Assassins Creed. The son of an Assassin, he is introduced to his destiny only because his father and two brothers are taken into custody by the Borgia, leaders of the Templars in Renaissance Italy, and are executed for false crimes. In hopes of taking revenge, we see Ezio go from vengeful son to natural leader and hero, killing all Templars who support the Borgia, and rebuilding the Assassin Guild so that their work can continue once more. As Ezio, players are able to travel across Italy, visiting famous cities such as Rome, Venice, and Florence, and meeting famous figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci and the Pope. Ezio is the best example of growth in a character, going from an arrogant boy to a grown man and hero of the people of Italy. Through him, we see the hardships and trials a hero must go through, and the corruption seen in Italy in the early 16th century. Ezio Auditore gives Assassins a good name.
2. Marcus Fenix (Gears of War series): In a world overrun by monsters and torn apart by war, humanity needed one man to become the face of hope, and give humanity something to believe in. That man is Marcus Fenix. A former prisoner of war during a planetary civil war, he is released during the Emergence of the Locust horde by his best friend Dom, and joins the Gears, soldiers of humanity set against the Locust. Putting their differences aside, all of humanity pulls together in hopes of stopping the monsters, and rebuilding their civilization. While fighting these creatures, Fenix must also be the best friend who helps Dom find his missing wife, while trying to learn who his father really was, after learning of experiments done by his father within in the Locust hive. With only his teammates and a gun in his hands, Marcus looks death in the eyes, and then punches it in the face, risking life and limb to stop the Locust. After losing so much and facing deadly odds, Marcus has again and again dealt crippling blows to the Locust. With the third game in the Gears trilogy due out next year, we will get to see Marcus's last stand, and the end of his long journey. Will he stop the Locust, and the mysterious knew creatures attacking both sides? If anyone can, Marcus will.
1. Master Chief (Halo series): If there were ever one man who was defined as the hero of all video games, Master Chief is that man. The last of a super soldier program known as the Spartans, Master Chief is humanities last hope of survival against an alien coalition known as the Covenant, religious nutcases who want to use the Halo rings to purge humanity and go on a religious journey. Master Chief knows from experience that the Halo rings are mass sentient purges that wipe all life from the universe so that a deadly alien lifeform known as The Flood cannot feed, kinda like zombies. Over the course of three games, Master Chief is seen jumping in outer space out of an alien ship, blowing said ship up behind him, and falling to earth and surviving in one piece. He takes an impossible situation and flips it around, defeating enemy onslaughts at every turn. Even after losing great allies and friends, Master Chief still manages to sacrifice all in order to defeat the Covenant, and even though he saves the galaxy, he and his AI companion Cortana are left behind, presumed dead, and is forced into stasis. While little is known about the man behind the mask, we know he is a hero by definition, and without him, Xbox itself would not have gotten the name it has over the past decade. He is the face of Halo, of Xbox, and of all heroes after him.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Top 5 most heartwarming couples in Video Games
While blowing people up and shooting zombies in the head is fun and exciting, another great part of video games over the years has been its evolution in storytelling. With that evolution, romance and relationships have become an integral part of the plots of our favorite video games. In the midst of the chaos and carnage gamers come face to face with in their favorite games, the romance of the characters make them that much more real, and lovable. Here are the top 5 video game relationships that have warmed my own heart, as well as those of the video game community. Beware, spoilers ahead. If you have not played the games and want to be surprised, go no further!
5. The Prince of Persia and Farrah (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time): In the first Prince of Persia game that followed the original 2-D adventure, players were introduced to the arrogant Prince of Persia, and the enigmatic and strong Farah, a princess on the opposite side of a war the Prince's father has been waging. When a mysterious hour glass housing the Sands of Time is unleashed, changing everyone in the palace save for these two into mindless zombies, these two opposing characters are forced to work together to stop the threat. As the game progresses, players see the Prince slowly becoming a true warrior and hero, and he and Farah begin to build a strong relationship, to the point where she reveals a secret word that no one but she and her mom know and which holds special meaning for her. When the Prince learns that the only way to stop the threat is to use the sands to go back in time to before Farah was captured, he does so, but in the process erases any memory she has of the Prince. When he stops the one man responsible for the threat, the Vizier, Farah is still reluctant to trust him, but with a smile, he simply tells her the one word she has never told anyone, leaving her to wonder who he is, while he is left to hold the memory of all they shared to himself.
4. Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance (Half Life 2): Throughout the mind bending game of Half Life 2, players immediately begin to feel the affects of the special bond created between the game's hero, Gordon Freeman, and his partner in stopping the alien threat, Alyx Vance, the daughter of the leader of the human resistance. In the game, Freeman was a scientist who was unwittingly used to do an experiment that would unleash a portal to another dimension, where bloodthirsty creatures crossed over and took over our world. After 20 years in stasis, Gordon returns to find the planet controlled by the aliens, and humanity on the verge of collapse, facing the alien threat and the humans who joined the aliens. Throughout the game, the two of them face overwhelming odds, constantly thwarting threats, only to meet new ones. At one point, in the DLC Episode 2, Alyx is stabbed and nearly dies at the hands of an alien Hunter, but thanks to Gordon risking his life in an alien hive, he is able to revive her, and together they face the threat once more. With rumors of an Episode 3 sill lingering in the air, we can only hope that players can finally see this unspoken romance come to bloom, and see these two deserving people finally able to reveal their love to one another.
3. Cloud and Aerith (Final Fantasy VIII): One of the most tragic love stories in video games, Final Fantasy VIII sees players are introduced to the now famous Cloud, a former SOLDIER and troubled hero. When a planetary threat emerges in the form of Sephiroth, another SOLDIER who unleashes an alien monster known as Jenova, who players learn is Sephiroth's mother. When Cloud's memories are made fuzzy and Sephiroth claims Cloud is a clone of himself, it is only with the help of Aerith, a flower girl who helps the resistance that he is able to gain his memories. Towards the end of the game, Aerith ventures into the forgotten city in hopes of finding a way to stop a meteor that is sent by Sephiroth to destory the planet. When she finds the way, Sephiroth arrives, and impales her in the torso. Aerith was the one who was able to make Cloud more likable, coming out of his moodiness and dark nature he used to mask his loving, caring side. When she is killed, Cloud is forced to release her into the lifestream of the planet, and it through her and the lifestream that the meteor is able to be stopped, but it does not diminish the painful reality that Cloud's true love is taken from him, making him continue along the path of the tragic hero.
2. Sora and Kairi (Kingdom Hearts series): One of my personnel favorites, the Kingdom Hearts series follows Sora, a young 14 year old boy who lives on an island with his family and friends, Riku and Kairi. On the island, players learn early on that it is an ancient tradition to give the one person you care most for a special fruit, signifying your love or affection for them. When Sora enters a mysterious cave, he begins to draw a picture of himself and Kari, and of himself giving her that fruit, expressing to the players his love for her. Before he can do this, however, the island is attacked by the Heartless, creatures from the Darkness. When his world is engulfed in Darkness, we learn that Sora is the Keyblad warrior, the chosen warrior to repel the Darkness. Sora then enters on a journey with Disney favorites Donald and Goofy in an attempt to free the other worlds from the Darkness, as well as locate Riku and his love, Kairi. Later in the game, when it is learned that Kari is one of the seven Princesses of Heart needed to open the door to Kingdom Hearts, Sora finds her lifeless body in front of a possessed Riku, taken over by the heartless leader Ansem. When Sora defeats him, he learns that Kairi's heart resides within his own heart, as does the hearts of all the Princesses. Knowing this, Sora turns the keyblade on himself, stabbing himself in the heart, and unleashing the hearts of all the Princesses and sacrificing himself. Upon waking up, Kairi watches as Sora disappears. Later in the game, Sora is returned to human form, and defeats Ansem in front of the door leading to Kingdom Hearts. However, in the last moments of the game, Sora and Kairi are seperated once again, returning her to her home island and restoring balance to the worlds. While Sora goes in search of Riku and a way home, Kairi finds the cave, and the picture Sora drew. The last image we see is Kairi drawing on the wall, and finished product showing herself also giving Sora the fruit, showing that she too loves him. Talk about romantic as hell, lol.
1. Dom and Maria (Gears of War): The saddest and most heartbreaking romantic relationship in video game history. Dominic Santiago is a Gear, a soldier in the fight against an monstrous race of creatures known as Locust. On the day of Emergence, when the locust first attacked their planet, Dom and Maria's children were killed. This in turned sent Maria down a downward spiral of depression that lead to her disappearing. Having known her since childhood and having been married since 16, Dom is desperate to find her. With the planet in turmoil due to the threat of the locust, however, he is forced to look for her while fighting the war. During the second Gears of War, Dom finally gets a lead on to where Maria may be. While on a mission to the underground city of the Locust, Dom and the game's hero, Marcus Fenix, Dom's best friend, venture into a prison camp where humans are tortured. Upon finding Maria, Dom is forced into reality, and sees that the happy ending he had hoped for is never going to happen. Maria has been tortured, and is haggard and unable to speak or recognize Marcus. She has been left nearly brain dead. Dom, furious and heartbroken, kisses her gently, tells her how much he loves her and how sorry he is to have arrived so late, and then forces himself to grant her peace the only way he can, by shooting her once in the head, ending her life and the torment the locust have put her through. Thus ending the desperate hope players had harbored for Dom, who had gone through hell with Marcus and the other Gears so that one day he and Maria could live in happiness once again.
Well, there you go, there is my top 5 favorite romantic couples. This blog is the first in a long series of video game related posts that I ultimately name my End of Year and End of Decade awards. I hope you enjoy them!
5. The Prince of Persia and Farrah (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time): In the first Prince of Persia game that followed the original 2-D adventure, players were introduced to the arrogant Prince of Persia, and the enigmatic and strong Farah, a princess on the opposite side of a war the Prince's father has been waging. When a mysterious hour glass housing the Sands of Time is unleashed, changing everyone in the palace save for these two into mindless zombies, these two opposing characters are forced to work together to stop the threat. As the game progresses, players see the Prince slowly becoming a true warrior and hero, and he and Farah begin to build a strong relationship, to the point where she reveals a secret word that no one but she and her mom know and which holds special meaning for her. When the Prince learns that the only way to stop the threat is to use the sands to go back in time to before Farah was captured, he does so, but in the process erases any memory she has of the Prince. When he stops the one man responsible for the threat, the Vizier, Farah is still reluctant to trust him, but with a smile, he simply tells her the one word she has never told anyone, leaving her to wonder who he is, while he is left to hold the memory of all they shared to himself.
4. Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance (Half Life 2): Throughout the mind bending game of Half Life 2, players immediately begin to feel the affects of the special bond created between the game's hero, Gordon Freeman, and his partner in stopping the alien threat, Alyx Vance, the daughter of the leader of the human resistance. In the game, Freeman was a scientist who was unwittingly used to do an experiment that would unleash a portal to another dimension, where bloodthirsty creatures crossed over and took over our world. After 20 years in stasis, Gordon returns to find the planet controlled by the aliens, and humanity on the verge of collapse, facing the alien threat and the humans who joined the aliens. Throughout the game, the two of them face overwhelming odds, constantly thwarting threats, only to meet new ones. At one point, in the DLC Episode 2, Alyx is stabbed and nearly dies at the hands of an alien Hunter, but thanks to Gordon risking his life in an alien hive, he is able to revive her, and together they face the threat once more. With rumors of an Episode 3 sill lingering in the air, we can only hope that players can finally see this unspoken romance come to bloom, and see these two deserving people finally able to reveal their love to one another.
3. Cloud and Aerith (Final Fantasy VIII): One of the most tragic love stories in video games, Final Fantasy VIII sees players are introduced to the now famous Cloud, a former SOLDIER and troubled hero. When a planetary threat emerges in the form of Sephiroth, another SOLDIER who unleashes an alien monster known as Jenova, who players learn is Sephiroth's mother. When Cloud's memories are made fuzzy and Sephiroth claims Cloud is a clone of himself, it is only with the help of Aerith, a flower girl who helps the resistance that he is able to gain his memories. Towards the end of the game, Aerith ventures into the forgotten city in hopes of finding a way to stop a meteor that is sent by Sephiroth to destory the planet. When she finds the way, Sephiroth arrives, and impales her in the torso. Aerith was the one who was able to make Cloud more likable, coming out of his moodiness and dark nature he used to mask his loving, caring side. When she is killed, Cloud is forced to release her into the lifestream of the planet, and it through her and the lifestream that the meteor is able to be stopped, but it does not diminish the painful reality that Cloud's true love is taken from him, making him continue along the path of the tragic hero.
2. Sora and Kairi (Kingdom Hearts series): One of my personnel favorites, the Kingdom Hearts series follows Sora, a young 14 year old boy who lives on an island with his family and friends, Riku and Kairi. On the island, players learn early on that it is an ancient tradition to give the one person you care most for a special fruit, signifying your love or affection for them. When Sora enters a mysterious cave, he begins to draw a picture of himself and Kari, and of himself giving her that fruit, expressing to the players his love for her. Before he can do this, however, the island is attacked by the Heartless, creatures from the Darkness. When his world is engulfed in Darkness, we learn that Sora is the Keyblad warrior, the chosen warrior to repel the Darkness. Sora then enters on a journey with Disney favorites Donald and Goofy in an attempt to free the other worlds from the Darkness, as well as locate Riku and his love, Kairi. Later in the game, when it is learned that Kari is one of the seven Princesses of Heart needed to open the door to Kingdom Hearts, Sora finds her lifeless body in front of a possessed Riku, taken over by the heartless leader Ansem. When Sora defeats him, he learns that Kairi's heart resides within his own heart, as does the hearts of all the Princesses. Knowing this, Sora turns the keyblade on himself, stabbing himself in the heart, and unleashing the hearts of all the Princesses and sacrificing himself. Upon waking up, Kairi watches as Sora disappears. Later in the game, Sora is returned to human form, and defeats Ansem in front of the door leading to Kingdom Hearts. However, in the last moments of the game, Sora and Kairi are seperated once again, returning her to her home island and restoring balance to the worlds. While Sora goes in search of Riku and a way home, Kairi finds the cave, and the picture Sora drew. The last image we see is Kairi drawing on the wall, and finished product showing herself also giving Sora the fruit, showing that she too loves him. Talk about romantic as hell, lol.
1. Dom and Maria (Gears of War): The saddest and most heartbreaking romantic relationship in video game history. Dominic Santiago is a Gear, a soldier in the fight against an monstrous race of creatures known as Locust. On the day of Emergence, when the locust first attacked their planet, Dom and Maria's children were killed. This in turned sent Maria down a downward spiral of depression that lead to her disappearing. Having known her since childhood and having been married since 16, Dom is desperate to find her. With the planet in turmoil due to the threat of the locust, however, he is forced to look for her while fighting the war. During the second Gears of War, Dom finally gets a lead on to where Maria may be. While on a mission to the underground city of the Locust, Dom and the game's hero, Marcus Fenix, Dom's best friend, venture into a prison camp where humans are tortured. Upon finding Maria, Dom is forced into reality, and sees that the happy ending he had hoped for is never going to happen. Maria has been tortured, and is haggard and unable to speak or recognize Marcus. She has been left nearly brain dead. Dom, furious and heartbroken, kisses her gently, tells her how much he loves her and how sorry he is to have arrived so late, and then forces himself to grant her peace the only way he can, by shooting her once in the head, ending her life and the torment the locust have put her through. Thus ending the desperate hope players had harbored for Dom, who had gone through hell with Marcus and the other Gears so that one day he and Maria could live in happiness once again.
Well, there you go, there is my top 5 favorite romantic couples. This blog is the first in a long series of video game related posts that I ultimately name my End of Year and End of Decade awards. I hope you enjoy them!
My Love/Hate Relationship with the Final Fantasy Series
As a dedicated gamer, it is hard not to recognize the Final Fantasy series as one of the most influential, accomplished series in the industry. Full of fantastic worlds, great characters, amazing cinematography, and stories that capture the hearts of its fans, Final Fantasy has engrossed fans for decades. However, this amazing series is not without its flaws. While I enjoy everything else about the game, one thing bothers me that I can't let go of: the gameplay.
Yes, that's right, the gameplay. For me, a game that is so rich in context and character is rare, and yet is is diminished because of the mechanics of the gameplay itself. The main problem I have is the battle structure of the games themselves. When one moves around in the worlds the game takes place in, rather than free for all fighting, you are forced into almost scheduled battle, where you and the computer take turns hitting each other. For me, this is just as slow and boring as watching football. You and the computer do battle, taking points with each attack you deal out or get blown, until you or the other die. For me, this is a dark spot on the game.
The creators of the series have integrated its characters into another series, one of my favorites, Kingdom Hearts. This game is similar in style, characterization, plot, and structure. However, it has the one thing that I found has been lacking in the Final Fantasy series, free form battles. Rather than having the battles set up, you are free to roam the world, and attack the enemy whenever you come across them. I feel that this is something that Final Fantasy needs to begin integrating. Even the latest game, Final Fantasy XIII, had one of the most intricate, detailed plots and relatable characters to boot, but the game mechanics left me frustrated and unable to get past the second half of the game. I know not everyone may feel this way, but I know some of you out there may agree with me, and I know for myself, the slow paced action of the series is frustrating, because everything else about the game is breathtaking. From the heartwarming and emotional plot, music, and characters to the all too realistic cinematic shown throughout, the stories told in this series are some of the most heartwarming I've ever encountered in a game. I just hope that the mechanics used in Kingdom Hearts can find their way into the Final Fantasy series some day, that way the games themselves will be complete.
Yes, that's right, the gameplay. For me, a game that is so rich in context and character is rare, and yet is is diminished because of the mechanics of the gameplay itself. The main problem I have is the battle structure of the games themselves. When one moves around in the worlds the game takes place in, rather than free for all fighting, you are forced into almost scheduled battle, where you and the computer take turns hitting each other. For me, this is just as slow and boring as watching football. You and the computer do battle, taking points with each attack you deal out or get blown, until you or the other die. For me, this is a dark spot on the game.
The creators of the series have integrated its characters into another series, one of my favorites, Kingdom Hearts. This game is similar in style, characterization, plot, and structure. However, it has the one thing that I found has been lacking in the Final Fantasy series, free form battles. Rather than having the battles set up, you are free to roam the world, and attack the enemy whenever you come across them. I feel that this is something that Final Fantasy needs to begin integrating. Even the latest game, Final Fantasy XIII, had one of the most intricate, detailed plots and relatable characters to boot, but the game mechanics left me frustrated and unable to get past the second half of the game. I know not everyone may feel this way, but I know some of you out there may agree with me, and I know for myself, the slow paced action of the series is frustrating, because everything else about the game is breathtaking. From the heartwarming and emotional plot, music, and characters to the all too realistic cinematic shown throughout, the stories told in this series are some of the most heartwarming I've ever encountered in a game. I just hope that the mechanics used in Kingdom Hearts can find their way into the Final Fantasy series some day, that way the games themselves will be complete.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
With the year of 2010 coming to an end, only a handful of games remain to be played. One of the last games of the year that was just released is none other than Assassins Creed: Brotherhood. The third game in the Assassins Creed franchise, the latest installment is full of great historical references, fast paced action, great cinematic scenes and beautiful scenery, and an addicting plot line that makes this a must have for the holiday season.
The game follows Desmond Miles, who is one of the few remaining Assassins in the year 2012. He and a small group of Assassins head to Italy, where they hide from the lurking eyes of Abstergo Industries, the futuristic company that is lead by the Assassins sworn enemies, the Templar order. Desmond and his companions are not just hiding, however, but are in search of a ancient artifact that they need in order to prevent a planetary disaster that could end all of humanity. Only by entering the Animus 2.0, a machine that is capable of sending the user into memories embedded in the DNA, can Desmond hope to find the artifact. Using the machine, players are reunited with Ezio Auditore, Desmond's Renaissance ancestor. Ezio is faced with rebuilding the Assassins Guild while liberating the people of Rome from the Pope's son, Cesare Borgia, who controls a large army of Borgia soldiers, members of the Templar Order.
The gameplay is stunning, with executions and assassinations improved so that players have a wide array of options for every mission. Also included are the addition of two weapon wielding, where players can stab a soldier with a sword and finish them off with a pistol shot to the head. Utilizing skills in stealth and combat, players can guide Ezio across the vast city of Rome, navigating intricate puzzles and finding clues that will unravel the mystery of the Templar's. Also included in the game is the ability to recruit other assassins, and as you upgrade their skills and abilities, you can send them all across Europe, completing missions to strike at the Templar order.
The best edition to the series is the multiplayer aspect. Making the large multiplayer experience a part of the games story, you play an employee of Abstergo Industries, and using an Animus machine, players use the memories of kidnapped Assassins and improve their skills so that they may become soldiers in the fight against the Assassins. Players can choose from a large array of characters from the Renaissance era, and must compete in missions that allow you to assassinate other players. The best part of this is that you are no longer trying to kill a computer, but rather another person, which makes their actions much more unpredictable, and that much more fun!
Overall, I have to say that this is my favorite game of the year. Full of rich history, great action, an intriguing plot, and lovable characters that I found were the only missing ingredient in the first game, I give this game a 10 out of 10, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great game to play this holiday season.
The game follows Desmond Miles, who is one of the few remaining Assassins in the year 2012. He and a small group of Assassins head to Italy, where they hide from the lurking eyes of Abstergo Industries, the futuristic company that is lead by the Assassins sworn enemies, the Templar order. Desmond and his companions are not just hiding, however, but are in search of a ancient artifact that they need in order to prevent a planetary disaster that could end all of humanity. Only by entering the Animus 2.0, a machine that is capable of sending the user into memories embedded in the DNA, can Desmond hope to find the artifact. Using the machine, players are reunited with Ezio Auditore, Desmond's Renaissance ancestor. Ezio is faced with rebuilding the Assassins Guild while liberating the people of Rome from the Pope's son, Cesare Borgia, who controls a large army of Borgia soldiers, members of the Templar Order.
The gameplay is stunning, with executions and assassinations improved so that players have a wide array of options for every mission. Also included are the addition of two weapon wielding, where players can stab a soldier with a sword and finish them off with a pistol shot to the head. Utilizing skills in stealth and combat, players can guide Ezio across the vast city of Rome, navigating intricate puzzles and finding clues that will unravel the mystery of the Templar's. Also included in the game is the ability to recruit other assassins, and as you upgrade their skills and abilities, you can send them all across Europe, completing missions to strike at the Templar order.
The best edition to the series is the multiplayer aspect. Making the large multiplayer experience a part of the games story, you play an employee of Abstergo Industries, and using an Animus machine, players use the memories of kidnapped Assassins and improve their skills so that they may become soldiers in the fight against the Assassins. Players can choose from a large array of characters from the Renaissance era, and must compete in missions that allow you to assassinate other players. The best part of this is that you are no longer trying to kill a computer, but rather another person, which makes their actions much more unpredictable, and that much more fun!
Overall, I have to say that this is my favorite game of the year. Full of rich history, great action, an intriguing plot, and lovable characters that I found were the only missing ingredient in the first game, I give this game a 10 out of 10, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great game to play this holiday season.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Dead Rising 2
Zombies have invaded once again. It's been years since the release of the groundbreaking game, Dead Rising, and zombies have become once again a part of the mainstream pop culture. With the release of the groundbreaking television show, The Walking Dead, zombies are on everybody's minds right now. And with that, it is no wonder that fans were so excited for the release of Dead Rising 2.
Taking place five years after the release of the first game, the plot follows motocross champion Chuck Greene, who has traveled to the resort city of Fortune City in Nevada to compete in the game show "Terror is Reality". He has taken part in this show in order to win the money necessary to get the drug Zombrex, which his daughter Katey needs in order to prevent her from becoming a zombie. After the show ends, Chuck emerges from an elevator to find the city overrun by a zombie outbreak. Taking his daughter, they run to the safety of a shelter. From there, Chuck has three days to uncover the mystery of the outbreak, which he has been set up for causing, while hunting down the real perpetrators, saving the survivors of the outbreak, and getting his daughter the medication necessary to keep her alive.
The gameplay is much faster and crisper than the original game, and the story and its characters are much more likable and allow the player to really delve into the plot. The addition of combo weapons, in which the player can combine any two items to create a new weapon, really adds to the fun that is Dead Rising 2. Another great feature is the multiplayer aspect, a first for the series, and story related. The multiplayer allows players to enter the game show "Terror is Reality", competing in dozens of new game modes to kill as many zombies as possible. Another great feature is that whatever money you earn in multiplayer, you get to keep in the single player story. I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for the developers truly made this game fun, intriguing, and action packed, all the way to the end.
Taking place five years after the release of the first game, the plot follows motocross champion Chuck Greene, who has traveled to the resort city of Fortune City in Nevada to compete in the game show "Terror is Reality". He has taken part in this show in order to win the money necessary to get the drug Zombrex, which his daughter Katey needs in order to prevent her from becoming a zombie. After the show ends, Chuck emerges from an elevator to find the city overrun by a zombie outbreak. Taking his daughter, they run to the safety of a shelter. From there, Chuck has three days to uncover the mystery of the outbreak, which he has been set up for causing, while hunting down the real perpetrators, saving the survivors of the outbreak, and getting his daughter the medication necessary to keep her alive.
The gameplay is much faster and crisper than the original game, and the story and its characters are much more likable and allow the player to really delve into the plot. The addition of combo weapons, in which the player can combine any two items to create a new weapon, really adds to the fun that is Dead Rising 2. Another great feature is the multiplayer aspect, a first for the series, and story related. The multiplayer allows players to enter the game show "Terror is Reality", competing in dozens of new game modes to kill as many zombies as possible. Another great feature is that whatever money you earn in multiplayer, you get to keep in the single player story. I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for the developers truly made this game fun, intriguing, and action packed, all the way to the end.
Halo: Reach
You know how it ends, but how did it begin? That was the question fans had when the announcement of the new Halo game, Halo: Reach, occurred. Released nearly two months ago, I have seen the story progress, and have to say I am truly impressed. The story was totally original, and each character was as intriguing as they were heroic. The gameplay was crisp, constant, and showed no glitches or faults that hindered the game whatsoever.
Being a prequel to the first Halo game, the plot takes place on the human occupied planet Reach, the last human planet standing in the Covenants path towards Earth. The titular character is Noble Six, a Spartan who takes the place of a fallen Spartan on Noble Team. Investigating a colony on the planet, the team discovers the Covenant, who have infiltrated the planet in search of something. You must fight the alien forces off, while uncovering the mysteries of the planet and the events that lead to the first Halo game.
With fast paced action, new, fresher weaponry, and the addition of armor enhancements, such as jet packs and sprinting capabilities, this game was truly unique. Another great aspect of the game was its multiplayer, which had a great many new game modes, and included the firefight mode introduced in Halo: ODST years before. With stunning scenary and visuals that make you feel like you are living in the game, I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for I found it just as fun if not more fun than the groundbreaking Halo 3. Remember Reach!
Being a prequel to the first Halo game, the plot takes place on the human occupied planet Reach, the last human planet standing in the Covenants path towards Earth. The titular character is Noble Six, a Spartan who takes the place of a fallen Spartan on Noble Team. Investigating a colony on the planet, the team discovers the Covenant, who have infiltrated the planet in search of something. You must fight the alien forces off, while uncovering the mysteries of the planet and the events that lead to the first Halo game.
With fast paced action, new, fresher weaponry, and the addition of armor enhancements, such as jet packs and sprinting capabilities, this game was truly unique. Another great aspect of the game was its multiplayer, which had a great many new game modes, and included the firefight mode introduced in Halo: ODST years before. With stunning scenary and visuals that make you feel like you are living in the game, I must give this game a 10 out of 10, for I found it just as fun if not more fun than the groundbreaking Halo 3. Remember Reach!
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