Another "Best of the Decade" List

I know these are abundant right now, but I'm gonna start this blog with my picks for this category.  A couple reasons why:  It's fun, and viewing this list will allow you, the reader, to see if you're going to spend a lot your time agreeing with me, or thinking up clever ways to tell me why I'm wrong.

Take a look after the jump.





Best Traditional RPG:  Final Fantasy XII (PS2)

I just found out recently how controversial this pick is.  I can't believe how many people were so turned off by this game.  An ingenious combat system, likable characters, and a huge world all help to round out what I think is the best traditional RPG of all time.  This game took the standard formula and turned it on its ass.  Of course, I'm also a huge fan of FFIX, which I also found out is not a popular choice, but it was so simple and fun that I was drawn to it time and again.  Back on course, though.  FFXII was a beautiful experience that has not yet been replicated.


Runners-up:  Dragon Quest VIII (PS2), Final Fantasy IX (PS1)


Best Non-Traditional RPG:  Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Xbox)

As a fan of both Fallout 3 and Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, this was kind of a difficult decision in this category.  However, since Morrowind was the first of these I played, I had to pick this.  Unlike the other two, Morrowind throws you into the world with hardly a clue of who you are or why you're there.  It's unforgiving in a way that ES4 and Fallout 3 both baby you through a tutorial sequence before you're on your own.  And that makes it more rewarding.  When you figure out what Morrowind is all about, you're left breathless and in awe.  At least I was.


Runners-up:  Fallout 3 (Xbox 360/PS3), Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion (Xbox 360/PS3), Mass Effect (Xbox 360), Jade Empire (Xbox)



Best Adventure Game:  Shadow of the Colossus / Ico (PS2)

I'm going with the dual pick because, while SotC was the better game, Ico was released with little to no fanfare, and became a kind of legend that SotC could follow.  Both world's are so fully realized and immersive that it's impossible not to get wrapped up in them.  And even though the language spoken is not of this world, the emotion present in both games, especially SotC, is unbelievable.  If you've played this game, you know how you feel when a Colossus comes crashing down after you've felled it.  Both triumphant and regretful.


Runners-up:  Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess (Wii), Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64), Okami (PS2), Beyond Good and Evil (Xbox), Baldur's Gate II: Dark Alliance (Xbox, PS2)



Best Action/Adventure Game:  Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3/Xbox 360)

And I liked the first one.  This fully realizes what the first game should have been:  open world, involved story, and kick-ass assassin moves.  When you get between two guards for the first time and sink a hidden blade in both their necks at the same time, you get chills.  Not to mention the protagonist is extremely likable and exceptionally cool (I'm talking about Ezio, not Desmond, who was little lame).  I enjoyed every second of this game, and look forward to the next (final?) installment.


Runners-up:  Psychonauts (Xbox/PS2), Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3/Xbox 360), Uncharted 2 (PS3), No More Heroes (Wii), God of War II (PS2)



Best FPS:  Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Xbox)

Not technically a First-Person Shooter, but enough of it is to be counted, this game was unfortunately the last of the Oddworld series, a  group of fun games that went through a major overhaul with this game.  At the beginning, you are a simple bounty hunter trying to raise money for a simple operation.  This changes quickly, though, as you find yourself fighting to stop the genocide of an entire species.  The story recalls environmental themes while providing entirely original "ammo" in the form of cute little animals, some of which talk to you while loaded into your crossbow.  If you still have your Xbox and have not played this, do yourself a favor.


Runners-up:  Condemned: Criminal Origins (Xbox 360), Bioshock (Xbox 360/PS3), Perfect Dark (N64), F.E.A.R. (Xbox 360/PS3)


Best Wii Game:  No More Heroes

Up for its own category because it's not really competing with the current generation, I think the Wii deserves its own mention.  In my opinion, the Wii cannot come close to the Xbox 360 or PS3 in graphics or depth of games, but the games do provide a different kind of entertainment, all apparent in No More Heroes.  This game provides frantic action and a fun, quirky, adult story.  Violent and mature in a way that many Nintendo games aren't, No More Heroes provides a unique experience that couldn't be duplicated on the fancier systems.


Runners-up:  Resident Evil 4 (never played the GC or PS2 versions), Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, World of Goo

Best Multiplayer:  Baldur's Gate II: Dark Alliance (Xbox 360/PS2)

We're talking console here, remember, and from a guy who sucks at first-person shooters.  BGII provided hours of entertainment that could be enjoyed with someone in the same room.  What is a deep game in single-player mode becomes even deeper when you use skills and spells that complement those of your teammate.  Many hours were spent and beers were consumed during multiple plays through this game with my former roommate.  We knew how each other played and which skills to use when and where.  A dark alliance.

 
I also want to give a special mention to Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords and Final Fantasy: The Crystal Chronicles, both for the Nintendo GameCube.  These games employed multiplayer modes that allowed for the use of your Gameboy Advance as controllers with an extra screen.  An ingenious mode that unfortunately has been forgotten.



Runners-up:  Perfect Dark (N64), Guitar Hero: World Tour (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)


Best Downloadable Game:  Braid (Xbox 360, PS3)

Easily my top choice for this category, Braid provided a game with a simple concept, paired it with an incredible story, and made something deep, artsy, and incredibly playable.  I'm not going to say much about this game because you know it.  If you love it, you know why it's here.  If you hated it, it's probably because you thought the price was too high.


Runners-up:  Rez HD (Xbox 360), Geometry Wars (Xbox 360), World of Goo (Wii), Shadow Complex (Xbox 360), Super Stardust HD (PS3)


Best "Original" Game:  Little Big Planet (PS3)

A kind of weird category but I needed to include Little Big Planet, and other games that don't fit somewhere else.  This game starred a lovable little character in a fun game with a lot of replay value, and then added to it with an extensive, but still user-friendly, level creation tool.  Then it allowed you to share your creation with others over the internet, making the game, quite literally, infinitely replayable.  You can make your own collectibles, create your own enemies, and try to kill other players in innovative ways.  My only complaint is that more people didn't play my level.  I spent a lot of time on it.


Runners-up:  Katamari Damacy (PS2), Crayon Physics Deluxe (PC), Portal (PS3, Xbox 360)


Best Handheld Game:  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)

Not only the best handheld game, but also the best of the series as far as I'm concerned, and just because of the addition of a simple option, the "quick trip".  This ingenious solution allows you to fail a mission, and, instead of having to drive there all over again, dumps you right back where the real mission began.  To add, there were fun mini-games that take advantage of the DS's touch pad, and an interesting drug trade feature that allows you to explore a fully realized Liberty City on a tiny screen.


Runners-up:  Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA), Golden Sun (GBA), New Super Mario Bros. (DS)


Game of the Decade:  Demon's Souls (PS3)

Sure, this probably could have been at the front of most categories mentioned so far, but putting it here pretty much accomplishes that without me having to write about six different times.  Demon's Souls provides fully customizable character creation, unparalleled single-player fighting, an entirely original multiplayer system, and more, into a complete package that has more replayablility than any game I've ever played.  I've spent close to 400 hours on this game spread over six different characters.  Just when you think you've discovered everything the game has to offer, you discover the multiplayer, a mix of calling other PCs to help you defeat a boss, and PvP, that extends the replay value immensely.  Yes, it's hard.  Yes, you will die over and over again.  And yes, when you overcome a hurdle, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment unrivaled in modern-day video gaming.  I can't say enough about this game.


Runners-up:  Final Fantasy XII (PS2), Shadow of the Colossus (PS2), Okami (PS2), Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind (Xbox), Mass Effect (Xbox 360)


And just a few other categories that I think are worth mentioning:

Most Underrated Game:  Folklore (PS3)
Most Overrated Game:  Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, Xbox 360)

Best Game that Defies Categories:  Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)
Game that probably would have been Game of the Decade if I played it:  World of Warcraft (PC)


Anyone reading?  Did I miss anything?  It's a little different from other lists I've seen now that I look back at it in that there's a lot more games from older consoles.  Not to say I don't love my new stuff, but damn they made some good games this whole decade!