Games that will Define this Generation

Every single video game generation has had its watershed moments that people point back to when they discuss them at any length, for better or worse. Super Mario Bros. on the NES revived an industry that E.T. for the Atari 2600 had left for dead. Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis/Mega Drive spawned the first legitimate console war across school yards everywhere. An ill-advised betrayal spawned Nintendo’s greatest competitor when they decided to work with Philips rather than Sony for their proposed Play Station SNES CD-ROM add-on.

It goes on and on, and the current cycle has been no different. Each of the three home consoles have spawned flagship titles that people will discuss for years to come.

Here’s where we discuss those games. Let’s go!

LittleBigPlanet

Like any game out there, LittleBigPlanet has its detractors. “Waaah!”, they’ll cry. “I pay $60 so I don’t have to build my own game!”

Well, those people are simply missing the point. First of all, you don’t have to create anything — the levels created by Media Molecule are amongst some of the most cleverly-designed in any platformer. Secondly, there are over two million user-created levels waiting for you that an extremely enthustic creator community have already put together. Believe you me, there’s plenty for you to do without having to build anything.

But while the creation process takes some learning, everything necessary to build elaborate levels and machines is there, and creators have built things that we’re willing to bet even Mm couldn’t have anticipated. Despite being published soon after the game’s launch, The Azure Palace is still a favorite of many who play the game. The Little Big Computer functions as a very simple calculator, but seeing the components that make it work are absolutely mind-blowing.

The game has already spawned a couple of copycats, from Sony’s own ModNation Racers to EA’s recently announce Create (subtle, huh?), and even the PSN exclusive Joe Danger. But while those games are playing catch-up, LittleBigPlanet 2 promises to take the creation genre to an insane new level. The ability to make games of different genres — such as simple RPGs and RTSs — makes the original game seem archaic by comparison.

So say what you will about the floaty jumping, but we’ll be busy downloading the next big thing.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

It’s safe to say that this game is better than Way of the Warrior. However, this game has so many fantastic things going for it that we’re having trouble figuring out exactly where to begin.

For starters, the production value for the game is absolutely astronomical. No corners were cut — the graphics are still in the pantheon for consoles this generation, while the story is as well written, acted, and directed as any action movie to come out in 2009.

Readers Comments (11)

  1. No Modern Warfare 2? It defined how bad a game can be when you don’t have a beta.

    Great list. 😀

  2. lawl^

    Great list. I’d add in Demons Souls as well 😉 I’d kill to be able to play Reach and SMG..

  3. This list will have to be updated once GT5 comes.

  4. No God of War III? That game was amazing.

  5. i hawe to correct you, lbp now has ower 3 milion levels
    but otherwise i agre with ewry single word
    aldow i myself would put gow3 on the list because 10 years from now people are gona look back an see it as the game that spawned many new action titles
    i mean seriously, werent you amased when fighting Posidon, did youre encounter with Kronos also made you question if this is for real, and killing Hades was like one of the most satisfiing moments in videogames(dam i hated that bastard)

  6. No obivion???? it was the biggest and most amazing open world RPG ever! its been out for almost 5 years and no game has come close to it exept fallout 3 (which was made by the same developer lol)

  7. Doominator99 has to wake up play some real games

  8. Well, I’m surprised Heavy Rain isn’t there considering how fresh and innovative it is.

  9. victorgodamnsullivan September 1, 2010 @ 15:24

    Mass Effect 2 should have really been on this list.

  10. It’s not out – but it will be The Last Guardian

  11. @ comments 4 & 5 — Why would God of War III be on the list? I mean, it looks fantastic and plays very well, but beyond that… it’s hardly “genre-defining”. The game was simply a very enjoyable button-masher. Nothing more, nothing less. Something like, say, Bayonetta would probably be a better example.

    Nice list, Joe. Can’t say there’s one game up there I’d disagree with 😉

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