This was an amazing year to have either an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, the reason for combining these two top 5 lists was because so many of the games that came out were available for both systems simultaneously. For judging this list: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 games were judged based on their exclusivity at the time of the release, any game released on both the 360 and PS3 are judged in a separate list: “the top 5 multi-console releases” which are judged at the bottom of this post.
Top 5 Xbox 360 Games of 2010
5. Limbo
One of the darkest games of the year is also one of the most beautiful. Clever puzzles accompany a morbidly beautiful black and white silhouette style that really makes this 2d platformer distinct.
4. Fable 3
The best in the Fable series. The tried and true Action-RPG gameplay is expanded with an incredibly rich variety of quests which include becoming the king of Albion. The voice work is as endearing as ever with actors such as John Cleese, Ben Kingsley, Simon Pegg, and Stephen Fry filling in the roles of major characters. Those looking for a good swashbuckling action RPG should look no further.
4. Alan Wake
Alan Wake combines a fun and entertaining narrative and with a creepy atmosphere that will cause you to be unnerved even hours after playing. Great puzzles and satisfying action round out one of the best action adventure titles on the Xbox 360, just don’t expect hours and hours of gameplay. This is a good candidate for a weekend rental, though the experience will stay with you for years.
2. Halo REACH
Halo Reach takes the series back to its roots, with more balanced multiplayer and an excellent single player campaign. Along with improved weapons balance and one of the best single player campaigns in the Halo series you get a robust level editor with Forge and an entertaining co-op mode with Firefight.
1. Mass Effect 2
Hands Down the best game of the year, It’s coming to the PS3 this month (and is available on PC if you have top of the line gear) so you have no excuse not to play this game. Everything about this Action RPG is amazing: the graphics, the voice acting, the branching story, the controls, the customization, just…. everything. Go buy this game and play it through at least twice. It will change the way you look at video games as a narrative medium.
Top 5 PS3 Games of 2010
5. 3D Dot Game Heroes
It’s a lot like The Legend of Zelda thrown into a bizarre 3D filter. It has some of the most addictive old school Action/Adventure style gameplay but with customizable characters and weapons. If you have been itching for some Nintendo era game play with a crazy retro art style you should check this one out.
4. Modnation Racers
Customization seems to be the most popular feature in games this year and Modnation Racers has it in spades. Customize everything from your car to your character to the stages and take your customizations online. It takes much of what made Little Big Planet an experimental blast, offering nearly unlimited maps and character skins thanks to a thriving online community. Also, the racing mechanics are great fun, think of it as Sony’s Mario Kart.
3. Resonance of Fate
This game is not for the casual gamer, nor for those who still wish to hold onto a shred of their own sanity. Resonance of Fate is a JRPG with an innovative (but somewhat complicated) battle system and a story that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Though this may sound like a bad combination for most, if you have grown up with quirky JRPGs and want a game that is both challenging and (unintentionally?) hilarious, this is a must play. Forget the boring slog that is Final Fantasy XIII and pick up this wonderfully odd jewel instead.
2. Heavy Rain
Remember the days of “Full Motion Video” Cd-Rom games? Remember how crappy they were? Well Heavy Rain is the interactive movie game that these “Full Motion Video” games wished they were. It takes all of the elements of a great Noir detective movie and lets you control the actions and decisions of the characters. Heavy Rain finally gets this type of game right. The graphics, voice acting and atmosphere along with an intriguing control system, push boundaries in interaction within a video game narrative.
1. God of War 3
Hands down the best God of War title ever released. The controls are incredibly tight, the boss battles are intense, and the graphics and art direction really show off what the PS3 can do.
Honorable Mention
Gran Turismo 5
I used to be a huge fan of Gran Turismo, and this game brought back memories of why I love this simulation series, but also why I hate it. It’s an amazingly well done simulation with every car, every course, constructed down to the finest detail. If you are a car buff or hard core racing fan then this is the game for you. An amazing technical achievement, but can be boring to those who aren’t into cars.
Top 5 Multi-Console Games
5. Super Street Fighter IV
Best fighting game of the year next to Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom. Where Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom is more of a button masher, Super Street Fighter IV takes a little more strategy and finesse to master. The game plays amazingly on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 but if you want to keep up with online combatants, then you will probably want to buy an arcade stick (believe me your thumbs will thank you).
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops
It’s Call of Duty, you know what to expect if you’ve played Modern Warfare 2. This time the single player campaign takes place during the Cold War. The multiplayer has everything you would expect from a Call of Duty title but with a few tweaks making it even more enjoyable. Also of note is Zombie mode, which has a hilarious back story involving a time machine, probably my favorite mode and a welcome return to the series.
3. Vanquish
What if Contra was done in 3D? Well that pretty much sums up Vanquish. It is both intensely fun and insanely difficult. Like many Japanese made games the story is incomprehensible and the dialogue is hilariously awkward, but that’s part of the fun! The great controls owe a lot to Gears of War but the level design more resembles that of the old school shooters from the 16-bit era with wave after wave of enemy robots topped off with an over the top boss battle that requires pattern recognition as much as it does shooting accuracy.
2. Bayonetta
Another Japanese import with some seriously intense action. Shinji Mikami, the developer of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry (which inspired every new action game from God of War to the new Castlevania) redefines the action genre here by punching the speed and density of the on screen insanity up to 11 and tweaking the controls to allow nearly infinite combinations to eviscerate the enemy. Some of the most fun you can have with a video game this year.
1. Red Dead Redemption
This is the greatest western video game ever made; and next to Mass Effect 2, the best game released in 2010. If you love video games you must play this, no question.
Honorable Mention
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 has the largest track listing of any music game available and the ability to play real instruments in Pro Mode. The fact that you can learn to play an instrument, and have fun doing it, makes Rock Band 3 one of the most innovative music game experiences of all time. Those who are burned out on music games will probably not find anything new to bring them back, but those of you who can’t get enough of the music game genre will have plenty to love here.
