By IWG Games Team
Last generation saw a welcome rise in unique storytelling, enriching gameplay and ultimately some of the most engaging and unforgettable gaming experiences to date. If, like most of us, you still can't afford a next-gen console then why not take a gander at some of last gen's most compelling contributions? We've visited a wide range of genres during our search, and here are our eight final choices.
Last generation saw a welcome rise in unique storytelling, enriching gameplay and ultimately some of the most engaging and unforgettable gaming experiences to date. If, like most of us, you still can't afford a next-gen console then why not take a gander at some of last gen's most compelling contributions? We've visited a wide range of genres during our search, and here are our eight final choices.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
'Welcome to the madhouse, Batman!' By Paul Robert Scott
The number of good superhero games can probably be counted on one hand. So to get a superhero game that’s not only good but brain-shatteringly brilliant is something that no one could have ever predicted. Nevertheless from the very first trailer of Batman: Arkham Asylum there was a sense that Rocksteady Studios was bringing us something very special. In the end, not only were we given stunning visuals and excellent gameplay, but also a story that was worthy of any graphic novel. For the first time players could feel as though they were Batman in every respect, whether that is in solving riddles with keen observation, swooping down from rooftops to beat up a gaggle of crooks, or even stealthily stalking your prey from high above as you wait for an opportune moment to take them down.
At the same time, the wealth of extras to be discovered means that one play through will never be enough and there is plenty to found for ardent Batman fans and newcomers to the series alike. The game never treats the player like they are being spoon fed only the information they need to know and you always get a sense that there is a huge amount of history behind what is seen. By all rights this would be a great game even without having anything to do with the Dark Knight, but with him and his Rogues Gallery we finally have an experience that brings the comic book page and the gaming world together seamlessly.
The number of good superhero games can probably be counted on one hand. So to get a superhero game that’s not only good but brain-shatteringly brilliant is something that no one could have ever predicted. Nevertheless from the very first trailer of Batman: Arkham Asylum there was a sense that Rocksteady Studios was bringing us something very special. In the end, not only were we given stunning visuals and excellent gameplay, but also a story that was worthy of any graphic novel. For the first time players could feel as though they were Batman in every respect, whether that is in solving riddles with keen observation, swooping down from rooftops to beat up a gaggle of crooks, or even stealthily stalking your prey from high above as you wait for an opportune moment to take them down.
At the same time, the wealth of extras to be discovered means that one play through will never be enough and there is plenty to found for ardent Batman fans and newcomers to the series alike. The game never treats the player like they are being spoon fed only the information they need to know and you always get a sense that there is a huge amount of history behind what is seen. By all rights this would be a great game even without having anything to do with the Dark Knight, but with him and his Rogues Gallery we finally have an experience that brings the comic book page and the gaming world together seamlessly.
BioShock Infinite
PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
'We swim in different oceans but land on the same shore...' By Ben Mapp
The BioShock series returned in 2013 with a title which followed in the dramatic gameplay style of its predecessors but then expanded on it, like every great sequel should. Infinite is set many years before the original BioShock and, because of the various time/space anomalies caused during your playthrough, it should not really be considered wither a prequel or a sequel.
Infinite steers well clear of the established mythology of the series, with the setting instead of 1912 and in the floating city of Columbia. As well as some stellar voice-acting, insanely beautiful visuals and some seriously addictive (albiet simple) gameplay, Infinite features some of the most unforgettable characters in a game where - despite the political strife, intense violence and scope involved in the main campaign - the main focus is always on you and your companion, a mysterious young woman by the name of Elizabeth, who is a Disney Princess in her own right, and also has the ability to occasionally manipulate time and space.
Although Columbia is explorable through conjoined maps, these regions are often so vast that exploratory gameplay is necessary to progress. This really gives you the amount of immersion required to fully integrate yourself with the floating structures, and rivaling cultures, that the gorgeous city of Columbia has to offer.
The BioShock series returned in 2013 with a title which followed in the dramatic gameplay style of its predecessors but then expanded on it, like every great sequel should. Infinite is set many years before the original BioShock and, because of the various time/space anomalies caused during your playthrough, it should not really be considered wither a prequel or a sequel.
Infinite steers well clear of the established mythology of the series, with the setting instead of 1912 and in the floating city of Columbia. As well as some stellar voice-acting, insanely beautiful visuals and some seriously addictive (albiet simple) gameplay, Infinite features some of the most unforgettable characters in a game where - despite the political strife, intense violence and scope involved in the main campaign - the main focus is always on you and your companion, a mysterious young woman by the name of Elizabeth, who is a Disney Princess in her own right, and also has the ability to occasionally manipulate time and space.
Although Columbia is explorable through conjoined maps, these regions are often so vast that exploratory gameplay is necessary to progress. This really gives you the amount of immersion required to fully integrate yourself with the floating structures, and rivaling cultures, that the gorgeous city of Columbia has to offer.
Deadly Premonition
PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
"Zack, there goes the civilized world." By Graham Osborne
I’ll admit, this game is probably as far from being influential as we are to discovering cold fusion, and I’m predominantly plugging it in an attempt to get a sequel to sate my desire for this game. But dammit, if there isn’t something influential in that!
Deadly Premonition, by all rights, should not work. The graphics are almost reminiscent of the PS2 era and the voice-acting and driving controls are clunky. Yet beyond all that, lies so much heart and love that it’s impossible to be angry at the game. The story is the long lost cousin of Twin Peaks, and whilst you may guess the villain of the piece long before the reveal, it constantly plays with what you know, making you question what seems real (the game focuses heavily on the surreal and fantastical). Ultimately, the game creates a state of curious madness, all the parts of the enterprise don’t work individually, but put together, it becomes so much greater than the sum of its parts. All the characters are unique, with their own little quirks and routines, after playing this game, going back to the bland, gruff, macho protagonists of other games leaves you with a hole, wanting more of that crazy universe.
I’ll admit, this game is probably as far from being influential as we are to discovering cold fusion, and I’m predominantly plugging it in an attempt to get a sequel to sate my desire for this game. But dammit, if there isn’t something influential in that!
Deadly Premonition, by all rights, should not work. The graphics are almost reminiscent of the PS2 era and the voice-acting and driving controls are clunky. Yet beyond all that, lies so much heart and love that it’s impossible to be angry at the game. The story is the long lost cousin of Twin Peaks, and whilst you may guess the villain of the piece long before the reveal, it constantly plays with what you know, making you question what seems real (the game focuses heavily on the surreal and fantastical). Ultimately, the game creates a state of curious madness, all the parts of the enterprise don’t work individually, but put together, it becomes so much greater than the sum of its parts. All the characters are unique, with their own little quirks and routines, after playing this game, going back to the bland, gruff, macho protagonists of other games leaves you with a hole, wanting more of that crazy universe.
Journey
PlayStation 3
By Vanessa Hague
Probably the game which redefined the Indie genre and brought Indie gaming to the forefront better than any previous game before it. In a game lacking of dialogue and also not having the option to communicate to other players via mic, only through a series of character generated sounds, Journey managed to redefine many things. A co-op game where the journey together as players is the focus, experiencing a story without flashy cut-scenes and dialogue and with a musical score that earnt a video game's first ever Grammy nomination; Journey can hold it's own amongst some of last-gen's biggest titles. Whilst a relatively short game overall the experience you'll have the first time you play, journeying through the story with an unknown partner and both reaching the end, is one that will truly stick with you.
Probably the game which redefined the Indie genre and brought Indie gaming to the forefront better than any previous game before it. In a game lacking of dialogue and also not having the option to communicate to other players via mic, only through a series of character generated sounds, Journey managed to redefine many things. A co-op game where the journey together as players is the focus, experiencing a story without flashy cut-scenes and dialogue and with a musical score that earnt a video game's first ever Grammy nomination; Journey can hold it's own amongst some of last-gen's biggest titles. Whilst a relatively short game overall the experience you'll have the first time you play, journeying through the story with an unknown partner and both reaching the end, is one that will truly stick with you.
Mass Effect (Trilogy)
PC, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3
"Make your peace with the galaxy." By Graham Osborne
Mass Effect is a very divisive series. In one camp are the RPG enthusiasts, and in the other are the Action/Shooter aficionados. Mass Effect manages to combine the two in such a way that enables the best of both worlds, yet which still annoys both bases.
The first game had many RPG elements in it (choosing weapons and armour for your crew, leveling up, etc) and whilst the second and third games phased that out slightly, focusing more on the action aspects, they remained a core component throughout. Mass Effect was influential due to the Development Team (Bioware, also known for the Dragon Age series and Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic) building a rich backstory to the game universe, which was told through the in-game Codex. The games themselves received mixed reviews, with the ending of Mass Effect 3 being considered one of “the biggest ass-pulls of the generation” they are still rather enjoyable to play. A useful addition to the games marketing was the “SexBox Scandal” perpetrated by Fox News, with the game being claimed as “hardcore alien pornography”. Ultimately, the accusations came to nought, but the free press helped propel the games further into the public eye.
Whether you liked them or not, Mass Effect is one of the most popular franchises to sell on the PS3 and Xbox 360, it’s just a shame that they ended on a bum note.
Mass Effect is a very divisive series. In one camp are the RPG enthusiasts, and in the other are the Action/Shooter aficionados. Mass Effect manages to combine the two in such a way that enables the best of both worlds, yet which still annoys both bases.
The first game had many RPG elements in it (choosing weapons and armour for your crew, leveling up, etc) and whilst the second and third games phased that out slightly, focusing more on the action aspects, they remained a core component throughout. Mass Effect was influential due to the Development Team (Bioware, also known for the Dragon Age series and Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic) building a rich backstory to the game universe, which was told through the in-game Codex. The games themselves received mixed reviews, with the ending of Mass Effect 3 being considered one of “the biggest ass-pulls of the generation” they are still rather enjoyable to play. A useful addition to the games marketing was the “SexBox Scandal” perpetrated by Fox News, with the game being claimed as “hardcore alien pornography”. Ultimately, the accusations came to nought, but the free press helped propel the games further into the public eye.
Whether you liked them or not, Mass Effect is one of the most popular franchises to sell on the PS3 and Xbox 360, it’s just a shame that they ended on a bum note.
Minecraft
PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
"missingno" By Anne Marie Beach
Generation after generation of consoles we've seen a trend of developers striving to push the graphic capabilities of consoles to their limits. Developer Mojang dared to challenge that concept with the release of Minecraft, a sandbox game where the player can control nearly anything within the world.
The game has so far sold over 34 million copies across multiple platforms and consoles worldwide, so you'd be lucky to find someone who hasn't at least heard of it. The game defies a generation of games where beauty and story was the driving factor, this is what makes Minecraft so very unique. The graphics are simple and the gameplay can be anything you want. What makes the game define an entire console generation is just how open the world really is. Players are allowed to create anything from the most basic shelters to whole cities and giant castles from their favourite movies and TV shows, if they should so choose. The possibilities for creation and imagination are endless. In a world where games boast of the latest graphics, stories, and add-ons, one can really appreciate the simplicity of Minecraft and the presence it has created in the larger gaming community.
Generation after generation of consoles we've seen a trend of developers striving to push the graphic capabilities of consoles to their limits. Developer Mojang dared to challenge that concept with the release of Minecraft, a sandbox game where the player can control nearly anything within the world.
The game has so far sold over 34 million copies across multiple platforms and consoles worldwide, so you'd be lucky to find someone who hasn't at least heard of it. The game defies a generation of games where beauty and story was the driving factor, this is what makes Minecraft so very unique. The graphics are simple and the gameplay can be anything you want. What makes the game define an entire console generation is just how open the world really is. Players are allowed to create anything from the most basic shelters to whole cities and giant castles from their favourite movies and TV shows, if they should so choose. The possibilities for creation and imagination are endless. In a world where games boast of the latest graphics, stories, and add-ons, one can really appreciate the simplicity of Minecraft and the presence it has created in the larger gaming community.
Portal 2
PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
"Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!" By Ben Mapp
Developed by Valve Corporation as a direct sequel to Portal and a sort-of continuation of their long running Half-Life series, Portal 2 was released in 2011. The game is set an indeterminate amount of time after the first game and supposedly long after the events of Half-Life 2.
Whilst not much is given away in terms of what condition the surface world is in, other than the fact that it is 'still' there after the Combine's invasion, the story once again follows silent protagonist Chell in her quest to escape the Aperture Science testing facility. The gameplay follows lovingly in the steps of its predecessor and introduces various new elements to the puzzle-solving too, such as a more in-depth storyline, more characters to interact (such as Stephen Merchant's Wheatley) as well as experimental gels which you can manipulate and use to your advantage. Thankfully it was decided by the developers to extend the game time by a good few hours, dwarfing the original Portal's three-hour storyline by a mile. Portal 2 is also an exceptionally funny game, featuring clever comedy and awesomely-timed gags which keep you motivated as you play through. Saying much of anything else will no doubt spoil the experience to the uninitiated, so I won't. But if you haven't already given this game a try - then you absolutely should before you take the jump over to next-gen!
The game also features a completely separate multiplayer campaign with new characters, a new storyline and an array of new puzzles to solve and progress though!
Developed by Valve Corporation as a direct sequel to Portal and a sort-of continuation of their long running Half-Life series, Portal 2 was released in 2011. The game is set an indeterminate amount of time after the first game and supposedly long after the events of Half-Life 2.
Whilst not much is given away in terms of what condition the surface world is in, other than the fact that it is 'still' there after the Combine's invasion, the story once again follows silent protagonist Chell in her quest to escape the Aperture Science testing facility. The gameplay follows lovingly in the steps of its predecessor and introduces various new elements to the puzzle-solving too, such as a more in-depth storyline, more characters to interact (such as Stephen Merchant's Wheatley) as well as experimental gels which you can manipulate and use to your advantage. Thankfully it was decided by the developers to extend the game time by a good few hours, dwarfing the original Portal's three-hour storyline by a mile. Portal 2 is also an exceptionally funny game, featuring clever comedy and awesomely-timed gags which keep you motivated as you play through. Saying much of anything else will no doubt spoil the experience to the uninitiated, so I won't. But if you haven't already given this game a try - then you absolutely should before you take the jump over to next-gen!
The game also features a completely separate multiplayer campaign with new characters, a new storyline and an array of new puzzles to solve and progress though!
The Last of Us
PlayStation 3
"Swear to me that everything you said about the Fireflies is true." By Luke Kirby
As if repeatedly being called a masterpiece and high-scores across the board wasn’t enough to validate it, I feel that The Last of Us deserves a mention.
This game is special is because it showed the importance of how a well-crafted story, coupled with great character-development, can make a game truly special. In that regard this truly is a masterpiece; I genuinely cared for the characters throughout and found myself totally gripped by their story and how their progression to their goal.
It also did something that differed from the various other post-apocalyptic type games that I’ve played, where not everything was dark and brown but lovely visuals were shown off of a world where nature had overgrown, taken over buildings and everything else man-made. The game looked stunning on the PS3 so I’m looking forward to replaying the game on the beefier PS4 to do the game aesthetics the justice they deserve.
As if repeatedly being called a masterpiece and high-scores across the board wasn’t enough to validate it, I feel that The Last of Us deserves a mention.
This game is special is because it showed the importance of how a well-crafted story, coupled with great character-development, can make a game truly special. In that regard this truly is a masterpiece; I genuinely cared for the characters throughout and found myself totally gripped by their story and how their progression to their goal.
It also did something that differed from the various other post-apocalyptic type games that I’ve played, where not everything was dark and brown but lovely visuals were shown off of a world where nature had overgrown, taken over buildings and everything else man-made. The game looked stunning on the PS3 so I’m looking forward to replaying the game on the beefier PS4 to do the game aesthetics the justice they deserve.
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