A Decade Gone by – Best Games of the Decade

30.Thief 3: Deadly Shadows

“It is not an easy thing to see a Keeper…especially one who does NOT wish to be seen.”

When it comes to the stealth genre, there is none who can stand upto the Thief series. The series was the driving force for the genre introducing new elements and perfecting the fields of stealth mechanics like shadows and lighting effects. While, all the games in the series are brilliantly made, Thief 3 clearly stands out. Not only could Garret explore the city in the game rather than going from mission to mission, the game also offered some exciting new features like switching between FPS and TPS views, flattening against walls,etc. These qualities along with the improved lighting and shadow effects makes Thief 3 the ultimate stealth experience one can have and hence it quietly claims its place in our list.

29.Vagrant Story

“What is death? Is it the ruination of the flesh? Surely, that is death, but it is only one facet of the truth. True death… is the death of the soul.”

Vagrant Story was a surprise package from the Square stables. Not only did it do away with the tried and tested RPG formulas but also introduced some really exciting new gameplay elements. The game although is a RPG mainly focuses on planning out your moves and customizing your weapons to suit your needs. And more strange is the fact that it does not have any towns or merchant shops for you to explore! Yea, we know that’s kinda shocking but trust us, the game is a unique experience in itself and one which is not to be missed. The game also features a somewhat “cartoony” artstyle and visuals which compliments its theme and story. All these qualities makes Vagrant Story one of the finest RPGs of the past decade and anyone who has played it will second this statement.

28.Beyond Good and Evil

“CARLSON AND PEETERS!!!!!”

Beyond Good and Evil is one of the best gaming experiences the past decade had in offer but sadly it never received the commercial success or attention it deserved thanks to its competitive release date(Ubi’s own POP:Sands of Time and Splinter Cell released along with it). Not many gamers had the chance to play it and plans of a trilogy had to be shelved(although a sequel finally is on the cards!).

But all these facts do nothing to deny the fact that Beyond Good and Evil is a unique and satisfying gaming experience featuring a brilliantly woven story around some of the most lovable videogame characters to have graced the past decade. From the main female protagonist Jade to her loving uncle who resembled a boar,every character felt alive and you could feel a connection with them. Even though the game felt like a bit inspired from cult classics like Zelda, it didn’t fell short of offering enough variation in terms of gameplay and its unique and beautiful world added to the experience. BGE will certainly go down in history as one of finest games ever made which was ill-fated and could not ever achieve its true potential but that’s not going to stop us from acknowledging this gem and giving it a place in our list. You rock my world Jade!

27.Burnout 3: Takedown

“Here’s the lowdown…RISK = REWARD! Get it?”

Criterion Games made a deal with the Speed Demon. There can be no other explanation for the existence of Burnout 3: Takedown. How can a game make you plummet past at unbelievable speeds and yet make you feel in total control? We have no idea…but that’s exactly what Burnout 3: Takedown succeeded at. Burnout 3 crash landed onto the racing scene and changed the rules beyond recognition. Generally, racing games are all about taking the correct lines and hitting the apex. In Burnout 3, the correct lines were the ones where you didn’t end up wrecking your car and ramming your opponents was the right thing to do. Slamming your opponent into a pillar and watching their car slowly crumble away in slow motion…that never got old. This is how an arcade racer is done right folks. And remember, the wrong side of the road…is the RIGHT side.

26.Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

“One must die and one must live. No victory, no defeat. The survivor will carry on the fight. It is our destiny… The one who survives will inherit the title of Boss. And the one who inherits the title of Boss will face an existence of endless battle.”

It was mighty confusing why Kojima chose to go back in time to show gamers the birth of Big Boss, instead of finishing Solid Snake’s saga. After Playing Metal Gear Solid 3, we can’t really complain. Leaving the endless halls and corridors behind, Snake was now sneaking through jungles teeming with wildlife. The story was strong as well, weaving itself in real-life events and throwing unimaginable twists at players when they least expected it. Of course being a Metal Gear game meant stylish cutscenes reeking of high production values, extremely detailed levels and epic boss fights. Subsistence was also Kojima’s first foray into online multiplayer along with adding a new over-the-shoulder camera which has now becomes the standard for all succeeding Metal Gear games. Metal Gear Solid 3 is a genre in itself…Tactical Espionage Action. It may not be the best game in the series, that spot is reserved for Metal Gear Solid 1, but hey…its comes very, very close.

Next Page-Artistic beauty, online wildfire, the rock phenomenon and the devil himself

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10