Surprised at no Mario Galaxy or Zelda mentions but the list is a good list of games.
You are looking at the style, not the substance. It's clear why you're so keen on Galaxy
And again, the creepy "all hail game X" wouldn't really be so terrible in isolation. You're going to get some reviewers, even some very professional reviewers, who have an unabashed love for something. It's more that the dominant reviewing media seems to be inclusive of just these writers.A good illustration of both points is Eurogamer's recent ocarina retrospective. The genesis of the piece starts from the truism that Ocarina is, and always will be, the best of all time and just goes to town with literally meaningless (seriously, read it) homilies to its unquestionable greatness. There is no analysis in there whatsoever.
Journey? Come on...
Much as I'm a fan of Tim's rants, they are oftentimes a bit too rant-y for my tastes. They feel like the travel section of videogames mixed with twenty or so years of bitterness. I like reading them, but they're also reads, and it's hard for me to sit down and escape my own hallucinations about games. Sort of a, "actual conversations about design are hard, ya know?" Tim plays it off all very jovially and I love him for that, but I do find myself distracted by his wordiness at times. Or maybe, thinking about things that aren't games (which might actually be a better way to write about games in the first place).
I suppose what I would really like to read are the stories of a writer playing a game, and I get some of that from a variety of writers; I just feel that it's not really a consistent thing from any of them. Though maybe that speaks to how poor most games are, as I think being able to tell a story from an experience is a result of that experience also being memorable enough to have a story to tell. There are really only a handful of games I can go into any great detail about, and a whole horde of games that I've played and couldn't tell you the first thing about aside from scant details that you could probably glean from a back-of-the-box scan.
Though at the same time, I feel like games of the generation might be selling the generation a bit more than it's deserving of. Just the consummate critic in me I guess.
Magic Mushroom said:No, I'm fine with people disliking the game, but if you decide to write about that, you better do a good job at the writing. Also, disliking a game doesn't automatically validate a review. I forgive him because of his Bulletstorm review though.
'How much' game. Now there's a lark.Yeah, I sometimes feel that if he could rein it in a bit it would be much more effective. And sometimes he overreaches. I read his MGS2 piece recently for the first time as was disappointed in how empty it was (although this is relative - he still discussed the game as postmodern, which is well beyond what you would get from most reviews.
I agree with your point about the experience of games. I think a long shadow is still hanging over games reviews of discussing the technical aspects, and describing 'what' and 'how much' game you are getting.
I read this post without the context and immediately knew you were talking about Tim.Yeah, I sometimes feel that if he could rein it in a bit it would be much more effective. And sometimes he overreaches. I read his MGS2 piece recently for the first time as was disappointed in how empty it was (although this is relative - he still discussed the game as postmodern, which is well beyond what you would get from most reviews.
I agree with your point about the experience of games. I think a long shadow is still hanging over games reviews of discussing the technical aspects, and describing 'what' and 'how much' game you are getting.
I can see what you mean about his writing style. But I don't think disliking a game validates his review - I think the substantive points he makes 'validate' his review.
The hell is Journey doing there?
Where is Super Mario Galaxy
lol
The Journey is one the most talked about and praised games during this generation, that will keep being influential, so it's not a bad choice at all, even if some didn't enjoy it, A very good choice for this list.
Yep, and yep.It was? And is?
The hell is Journey doing there?
Where is Super Mario Galaxy
lol
8 of the 9 listed so far are available on the PS3. That's pretty impressive.
Yep, and yep.
I'd say it's about quality, popularity, and influence. And when you look at that, the fact Fallout 3 made it over New Vegas is a no-brainer.And it was way, WAY worse a game. Is this list about the most influential or best games?
What game better sums up the meteoric rise of artistic indie games this gen than Journey?
It's likely to be number one on thier list, but then SMG may not be artistic or emotional enough for EG.
Skyward Sword, imo it's the best Zelda ever made. However, since there is only one spot left and SMG is the best game of the generation, Eurogamer obviously disagreed on that .Which Zelda qualifies as one of the best games this generation?
I'd personally go with Braid, but Journey is a fine choice.What game better sums up the meteoric rise of artistic indie games this gen than Journey?
I think its too soon to even start talking about how "influential" it might end up being.
I thought you were referring to 'talked about and praised'.
Portal 2?
Portal was just a demo, an appetizer, portal 2 really delivers.
I'd actually be surprised at this point.Guys, Super Mario Galaxy is tomorrow.
It was? And is?
I'd personally go with Braid, but Journey is a fine choice.
I'd actually be surprised at this point.
The generation had six platforms, and there's nothing in this list to suggest anybody played more than one since the consoles came out.
Any idea if this list is ordered? Or is it just at random?
Thanks to a neat quirk in the voting results, numbers five to ten were tied - we'll be bringing you each of them in no particular order this week, with a rundown of the final five starting next Monday.
I agree with all of these choices, despite never having played Spelunky or Dark Souls. Will definitely be checking those two out as soon as possible. I'd put Wipeout HD on here, but it seems that people just don't remember that game. Journey is a fine choice, and is my personal Game of the Generation.
Any idea if this list is ordered? Or is it just at random?
Not to mention that 6 of the 9 are multiplatform games that they could've played anywhere (that they're available).World of Warcraft is not on PS3. Since they are obviously doing console generation + PC, there were actually seven systems to consider, they must have played at least two of them (PS3, PC).
World if Warcraft came out a year before the Xbox 360 and two years before PS3, so that's why I said since the consoles launched they haven't looked at anything else.World of Warcraft is not on PS3. Since they are obviously doing console generation + PC, there were actually seven systems to consider, they must have played at least two of them (PS3, PC).
I think Fallout 3 is the odd one out to be honest. As someone who doesn't play fighting games SFIV didn't do much for me, but I understand its significance.
Yeah, I can get on board with this. Fallout 3 is such a chore compared to Fallout New Vegas that it's really a testament to how huge a gulf there is between developers.Fallout: New Vegas took the fun of the FO3 and made it suck less everywhere else.
The only platforms that are 'missing' from this list are Nintendo platforms. Understandable given that it's 'best' games and not 'best selling' games.