30) Half Life 2 (all episodes included, on Xbox 360)
This FPS shows off the journey of an ordinary man under extraordinary circumstances. This man is Gordon Freeman, the so called, “one-free man.” This designation is quite special. Many games feature heroes that are going to save the world, and all that jazz. But few games feature a character of messianic proportions. This ideology surrounding one average guy is almost crazy. And yet it makes for an interesting distinction, to say the least. What's more interesting than him, however, is the world that Gordon Freeman inhabits, and the characters that surround him.
It's the future, and earth is enslaved. Half Life 2 doesn't focus on some ultimate space marines, or super-powered men of might, ready to save the day. It shows off typical scientists, and simple freedom-fighters. A resistance built up from normal men and women, desperately trying to survive. And what are they trying to survive, exactly? No one knows for sure. That's the mystery behind it. Who are the combine? Who or what leads them? What about the G-Man? Well...we don't know. Will we ever know for sure? I doubt it. Oh well, the lack of details lets us focus on Half Life 2's fantastic sense of atmosphere, great gun play, cool physics, and some of the best/creepiest zombie-type enemies I've ever seen in a game. I'm on my third playthough of the game right now, and it may not be the last one. If only we could continue this adventure. Sequel please!
29) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Wii)
Light and darkness. Good and evil. Moth people and ink blob people. Metroid Prime 2 focuses on all of these things and more. Take notice; MP2 is further down the list for a reason. It isn't the best Metroid I've ever played. Do you know what drags it down? Well, you probably do, if you've played it. The beam ammo system comes up first. As I see it, the primary weapon in a Metroid game should never be limited in use or supply. The power beam is weak, so no one wants to use that. Meanwhile, the light, dark, and sonic beam all use up ammo, so puts pressure where there should not be. Then comes backtracking. No, I'm not saying backtracking is bad, in and of itself. But how you backtrack can be bad. Looking for sky keys is obtuse, and almost requires a guide, for pete's sake. One more important draw back are the environments. Many of them can be bland, compared to other Metroid games, and the dark world can become a tedious obstacle for exploration. When Metroid is concerned, never allow something to get in the way of exploration, besides natural item progression.
So, that's all the bad stuff. What does MP2 get right? Everything else. Okay, next game!...Alright, fine, I'll explain: The atmosphere is fantastic. (Yes, I keep bringing up atmosphere in games. That's because atmosphere is important, and the games that do it right become my favorites.) The other power-ups are great (especially the almighty Screw Attack, I'll use it to kill everything). Then you get a great sense of rivalry and tension between Samus and Dark Samus. Going back to environments, yeah, you'll get bland things. But some places more than make up for it. For example, there's the technotronic masterpiece, Sanctuary Fortress, or the underwater wonderland, Torvus Bog. There's also a great many puzzles to encounter, and they're always done in a smart way. Plus, there's some more great music. Sometimes, a sequel can't meet up to expectations, but it can still be an awesome game regardless. This is exactly how I see Metroid Prime 2.
28) Shadow of the Colossus (Playstation 2)
With the impending re-release of this game coming, in HD no less, now is a great time to remember this wondrous work of gaming art. Yes, I said game and art in the same sentence. That's because some games are art, with this game being one of them. This one is all about the experience it provides. How does this game make you feel? What moods and thoughts do this game reflect? It is certainly an acquired taste, as far as games go. Not many games commit themselves on such an intimate focus. 16 bosses, killing little lizards for stamina, horse riding barren lands, and exploring barren lands until you find the boss. That's it, that's what this game has you do. But it all works so well!
Each colossus displays its own unique characteristics. No battle is exactly alike. They all have their own quirks and personalities. Nevertheless, they will all go down, if you have enough skill. But is that really a victory? I'm not so sure. Most games make you feel good about the things you defeat. That isn't the case here. Every glorious take down of a colossus is poisoned with this feeling of regret, or sadness. This soon becomes a growing concern, as each kill causes the main character to become darker and sicker. What is this quest doing to him? Is killing these colossi really going to help Wander, in this bargain he has made to save the one he loves? While this question is mostly answered at the end, it still kind of bothers you as you keep playing. Such an experience isn't for everyone, but if you can appreciate this game for what it is, you will never forget it.
27) Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
This is a game that goes to show that gameplay is the most important thing, when it comes to games. The gameplay here is tighter than the belt on a fat girl's waste. SMG2 (haha, that acronym looks like a gun sequel) takes everything from the first game, and improves it to a perfect polish. The level design is top notch. The normal controls work 99% of the time, and the collecting works just fine for a 3-D platformer. Not too much, not too little. A few things drag down the experience, though. A couple power-ups, the spring and the rock, control quite badly, and don't make the best use of their abilities. The worst part, however, is the flying sections with the parrot. Those simply control like butt, and are difficult for all the wrong reasons.
There is something about this game that I will remember for a long time. Something almost magical. That something is in the galaxy called Slimy Spring Galaxy. Or, rather, the end of it. This is a seemingly ordinary galaxy, with hardly anything going for it, at first. No nostalgia, no epic space odysseys, no nothing. That is, until you come to the end of this murky, underwater place. After swimming past tentacle hazards, boos, and surviving in these murky depths, you finally come near the surface. It's like a tunnel, and you keep swimming, and swimming. Then, as you finally reach the surface, and take a breath...you see it. You come up to the surface to find a glorious sunset. And it's just beautiful! There is no music, just simple ambiance. Trees and flowers dance by your feet, and decorate the surroundings. A wondrous sky, filled with clouds, and touching hues of red, orange, and white stretches all around you. The true magic of it all is difficult to explain. It was a subjective miracle, as far as I'm concerned. But that's the kind of thing gaming is capable of, and that's what puts this game on my list.
26) Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES)
Almost every Donkey Kong Country game is going to make it on my list, and for good reason. These games are timeless masterpieces of 2-D platforming goodness, showing off good music, clever level design, and an atmosphere that almost no platformer can match. The third trip to this country can certainly lay claim to such a heritage, but ultimately fails to own that territory. DKC3 did some new things, and kept some old. Sometimes this works perfectly. But it ended up making the game merely great, instead of unimaginably fantastic.
The level design doesn't really take a hit. It's just as top-notch as the other games. DKC3 also gets my vote on the coolest secret world in any platformer. Underwater volcanoes that you can't find normally? Yes! Then there's the music. While some think it is inappropriate, dark, or otherwise bad, I always found it to be pretty awesome. There is the matter of the new playable character, Kiddy Kong. His gameplay is great, but his character is annoying, so that's a double-edged sword. As a whole, DKC3 is an elite among other platformers, but it is kind of the middle child, so-to-speak, when it stands next to its brethren.
25) Mario Kart Wii (obvious system is obvious)
Here it is, folks, my favorite kart racing game. It beats Mario Kart 64 in everything but nostalgia. Considering both games objectively, this game is better at nearly everything. Better music, more/better stages, more characters, a trick system, online racing (that actually works!), more driving options (bike/kart), and pretty much anything you can think of.
The only thing that Mario Kart 64 truly owns MKWii at, is the battle mode. No Nintendo, I don't want team deathmatch only, and I don't want to have infinite balloons. That just takes away the fun, and strategy! Besides that, MKWii is superior. Heck, MKWii even has remakes of old MK stages, from many different games. So, you could say it's more than one MK game! Come on people, you know it's true! Ignore the item spam, and realize that Mario Kart Wii is the best kart racing game so far.
24) Halo: Reach (Xbox 360)
Bungie's final Halo game was certainly one of their best. You can tell they really put their heart and soul into making this game. There is an unbelievable amount of content in this game. You get the campaign, then Fire Fight. Online multiplayer, in all of its glory. Custom games, and all of their crazy options. Then you get to edit and create with the evolution of Halo 3's Forge, in Forge World. Finally, there's the Theater mode, letting you observe in-game screenshots and movies you've recorded, so you can never forget that awesome shot, that despicable cheater, or that hilarious fail. Throw in a dedicated armor unlocking system, and you've got a ton of bang for your buck.
The campaign is not too shabby. It's a pretty serious one, and has plenty of awe-inspiring set pieces. Something of note was the little space-battle Bungie threw in (cool stuff, there should have been more). Firefight is just about as great as it was in ODST, but there's way more options, modes, and fun things to do. (Infinite rockets and online play? Oh yeah!) Multiplayer finally gets some significant twists and upgrades to make killing in Halo exciting again. The loadouts allow for customization, choice, and some variety. It's a shame that they aren't better balanced yet, and some end up being more popular than others. To be honest though, the reason Reach isn't at the top isn't so much because it's Reach's fault. It's my fault. I simply don't have as much excitement for Halo as I used to. After playing hundreds of hours in Halo 2, then playing at least a couple hundred more in Halo 3, plus ODST, my Halo love is just about dried up. At this point, it's best for me to take a good break, and come back for more soon. And believe me, when you have as good a game as Halo: Reach, I will be coming back for more!
23) Super Monkey Ball (Gamecube)
The main mode of Super Monkey Ball is one of the simplest takes on the platformer genre I've ever seen. It's also one of the hardest, and requires a meticulous amount of skill. You got a monkey in a hamster ball, and you got to get him to the goal at the end of the level. Naturally, this level usually ends up being a complicated maze. Some levels require a crazy amount of speed. Others require a very steady finger, and force you to walk across a line that seems like it's only as thick as a piece of hair. A few levels are a brain-busting combination of both. The themes of the levels are highly imaginative, entertainingly fun, and demonstrate the most nostalgia. (Confession time: I couldn't beat the game without an action replay cheating device.)
This game was pretty much split in half. One half was maze-focused. The other was focused on zany multiplayer minigames. They were acceptable at the time, but are too simple nowadays. There was a racing game, a fighting game (monkeys with boxing gloves), a different take on the game of darts, and a few alterations on popular sports, like bowling. I would say that the original Monkey Ball has the best, and most memorable mazes. On the other hand, it has the less enjoyable minigames.
22) Super Monkey Ball 2 (Gamecube)
I might as well talk about the second game, while I'm at it. I really like both games a whole lot. But they're better for different reasons. I'd say Super Monkey Ball 2 does minigames much better. Each game from the first comes back, and gets upgraded somehow. Racing became a crazy battle against 12 monkeys, and tons of items. Monkey Fight turned into an outright melee, making use of items and tense stages. Monkey Target took the darts idea further, and allowed the use of synchronized monkey teammates, and corresponding flight formations. (Haha, boy that sounds funny!) Then, it added fun new games, like Monkey Shot (an on-rails shooter), Monkey Soccer, and a golf game that went from silly mini-golf in the original game, to an actual golf course that was almost as good as full-fledged golf games.
It would seem that in order to get such good minigames, something had to give. That something was the single player mazes. You wouldn't think so, at first. There were two modes now, one being arcade, the other being story mode. And sure, arcade mode was almost exactly the same as the first. But the story, meanwhile, was silly nonsense. The mazes themselves were less enjoyable, and memorable. (I think it had something to do with how each one began with a “starting area.” This took away some of the creativity.) I guess the original did some things better, while the sequel was better at other things. Nevertheless, both games were equally great.
21) Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
You know what? Valve knows how to make good FPS games. It's pretty much a fact of life. Having said that, here comes another one, creating a focus on co-op that no other FPS can match. You have to rely on your teammates to win this game, end of story. I think that's great, though. While many FPS's are making you work against each other, L4D2 helps bring you and your friends together, amid bloody zombie carnage. How sweet!
Speaking of carnage, this game gets it right. Really right. The addition of melee weapons truly brings you closer to your violent side. A slashing axe, and a clanging frying pan have never felt so satisfying. Naturally, the guns are just as great. The Desert Eagle is loud, and capable of spilling every bit of a zombie's lower intestine. Or making their head explode, it all depends on where you aim. The weapon variety is almost perfect (flamethrower, please).
As of the time of this list's creation, the game has pretty much become a combination of the first and second game. Going by that, it's pretty obvious why the first game isn't going on the list. I appreciate what you did, Left 4 Dead 1, but the king of the zombie apocalypse is here.
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