20) Sonic Generations (Xbox 360)
Sonic the Hedgehog...Has there ever been a fall from grace so
famous? So harsh? So difficult to forget? Maybe. But you'll have a hard
time coming up with another example. This little blue guy used to be the
biggest icon, not just in gaming, but in general. He had commercials.
TV shows. A slew of popular and profitable Genesis games. He even gained
a reputation that was bigger then Mickey Mouse himself (go look it up,
it's true). But just like the fall of Rome, Sonic tripped up. Sega
released a slew of games that brought Sonic lower and lower. The descent
wasn't over until Sonic was placed in what most people recognize as one
of the worst games ever made. Talk
about rock bottom, right? How could he come back from that? Will he
ever? I can't answer that for everyone. As for myself? I say Sonic has
fully redeemed himself. He's loop-de-looped over his past and sped on
through!
He did that thanks to Sonic Generations. This game proved that
Sega still cared about their little blue mascot. And they knew how to do
justice to his 20 year legacy. The game focused on Sonic. 2 Sonics, to
be exact. The classic Sonic we all know and love, and the modern Sonic
who is the face of the franchise today. Using the game as a time-travel
vehicle, we were taken through Sonic's entire history. There were levels
dedicated to his glory days in the Green Hill Zone. Levels showing off
his unusual twists and turns in games like Sonic Colors. Sega even made
sure to look back at his worst moments by putting 2 game segments in
settings of Sonic '06. And Sega made it all better. The good places were
still good, and the bad places were changed into something better.
Classic Sonic framed these levels through a nostalgic lens, and brought
gameplay that we hadn't seen since the beginning. Modern Sonic threw
everything into high gear, and maintained Sonic's name as the fastest
thing alive. It was a well-made game. It was a worthy offering to the
monster known as the Sonic fanbase. It was everything it should have
been, and more. Sonic may not be out of the woods yet, but he's rolling
around them at the speed of sound.
19) [Prototype] (Xbox 360)
Prototype isn't the most beautiful game on the Xbox 360. It
isn't the longest. It isn't the best, nor the worst. It doesn't have the
best story (far from it). The characters could be better then they
turned out. Even the gameplay suffered from several flaws. Yet this game
made it on my list. Why is that? Because it is the best super-powered
open-ended game I've ever played. There are few games that allow you so
much freedom, and so much supremacy at the same time. Alex Mercer, the
main character, is an all-powerful force of nature. And once you've
played enough of the game, you're allowed to unleash every aspect of
that power. It's a regular power-fantasy on steroids! Who doesn't enjoy
something that cathartic? People looking for a deeper experience,
perhaps? There are other games that provide that. I'll respect Prototype
for letting me become the ultimate biological weapon, and all the fun
and chaos that brings. It is simple, demented fun. You get to
karate-kick a helicopter out of the sky. What the heck else do you want?!
18) Portal 2 (Xbox 360)
There are those who say that Portal 2 is inferior to the first
Portal. They say it went on too long, the puzzles weren't as good, or
that the jokes weren't as funny. Other people say the first Portal isn't
much of a game at all, compared to Portal 2. They claim that the first
game is more of a demo, then anything. You know what I think?
Portal 2 is fantastic. The comedic timing and sense of whimsy
are constantly maintained. New characters like Wheatley and Cave Johnson
are some of the best examples of character writing from any videogame,
ever. The story is a believable expansion on the world that Portal 1 set
up. It has splendid events that unfold nicely, and plot twists that
keep the player guessing, laughing, and maybe even crying. Even taking
the cynics into account, I can't imagine that many people would hate on
the co-op play. That is simply genius, and an absolutely perfect fit for
a game like Portal. This game expanded in every way expected, and in
unexpected ways as well. As far as I'm concerned, Valve can do no wrong
when it comes to game development. And this game continues to
demonstrate that.
What happens when I compare both games? I say Portal 1 and 2
are both great in different ways. Portal 2 is really, really amazing.
17) Plants vs. Zombies (Xbox 360)
The only example of a tower defense game you'll ever see on my
list, Plants vs. Zombies is quite enjoyable. It's easy to pick up, but
offers dozens of hours in content and strategy. After you learn the
in-and-outs of the game, there is nothing better then heading over to
endless mode. Choose your plant protectors, then dig in to fight the
zombie invasion! By the time you've set up your frozen watermelon
catapults, pumpkin-protected Wallnuts, and your corncob cannons, almost
nothing can stop you. Not even the Gargantuar. Despite the minigames
included with the main game, I can't say this game is the biggest, most
engrossing experience you'll find in gaming. It isn't the most
memorable, and it doesn't do anything revolutionary. But that doesn't
matter. Plants vs. Zombies has earned its place in the sun, on my list.
16) Mortal Kombat (Xbox 360)
Like a lot of gamers from the early 90s, I've got good memories
of the original Mortal Kombat. I couldn't really play them, myself, but
I enjoyed watching them. After the first 2 games, this franchise mostly
passed me by. I hadn't really heard about it, or payed attention to the
few tidbits that came my way. I'm not sure why. But it didn't really
matter, seeing as the franchise took a gigantic nose-dive in quality
after the original trilogy. I got my feet wet with the ridiculous Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. But that was a small sign of what was to come.
Mortal Kombat, AKA MK9, is the best fighting game I've played
in generation 7. I understand there is a certain stigma that comes along
with that. “Oh, you don't really play fighting games. MK doesn't count.
You have no skills. Bla bla elitism bla bla joy kill” Yeah, whatever
guys. This game is just more fun. Deal with it! The character selection
is stocked up well. And not with junk, most of the time. Many of the
characters have their own pros and cons, and are all powerful in their
own ways. Where other fighting games failed to provide an interesting
story to accompany their fighting (which is something I am very
disappointed about with Soul Calibur 4 and 5), MK provided. It's like a B
movie you can play! The game comes with everything else games should
have, as well. It's got plenty of different modes, online play, secrets,
cheat codes, and a butt-load of unlockables. It gets everything right,
and is a blast to play. I would question the controls, but I'm not sure
if it's the game's fault I didn't complete that uppercut, or my own
faults. (It's probably the game.) There's also the fact that every woman
in this game is a puffed-up barbie doll in skimpy clothes. But besides
those bust-ups, Mortal Kombat still earns a flawless Victory.
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