Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2017 18:58:45 GMT
Hey another one of these bc I'm bored.
Sidenote: I hold the position that Interactive Stories should be considered a separate medium from games as they're fundamentally different(basically comes down to, games have systems to engage with in some ways, Interactive Stories do not. i.e. The Walking Dead is literally just a story, there are no systems to engage with, therefore it's an interactive story, not a game. On the other hand, Wolfenstein: The New Order, despite being a linear narrative driven game, does have a system you can engage with within the story(shooting nazis), therefore it's a game. This is just a distinction I personally hold, but basically, that's why no Telltale games or walking sims are on my list here.
10. Uncharted 4
To be honest, this is simply because I was running out of games that I really, truly loved and just had to think of something to put at #10. It's more than likely I'll remember something else later that will replace this. Not to say it isn't good because this is a damn good game. Action packed and full of loveable characters, and absolutely gorgeous. I just find myself thinking more of the whole and not any specific moments. I remember the feeling.
9. The Last of Us
So, to be completely honest, The Last of Us has never quite clicked with me the way it has for a lot of other people. I'm not in love with Joel or Ellie as characters, I like them a lot, but... yeah. The game is beautiful and the gameplay is intense with really good stealth elements, and specific scenes are real standouts, so it definitely belongs on my list, but, just, y'know, at #9.
8. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
Figured I should probably represent Assassin's Creed? So, obvious choice is Black Flag. I love this game. The characters, the setting, the story, it's all great. As is the naval combat and, y'know, I'm a fan of all the typical Assassin's Creed stuff on top of it. It's just an excellent pirate story with a lot of heart, and a great game.
7. Hotline Miami
Counting both of them. So, I'm a bit of an outlier in that I do care about the story, but the text itself and of course all of the metatextual weirdness that surrounds the series. But if I'm honest, I just love the gameplay. It's just so addictive and fun no matter how many times I revisit either game. The music and the visuals are incredible and really just add the cherry on top to this series.
6. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
The more I think about it, the more the main story of Wild Hunt comes off as kind of... weak. Not bad, but just a little flabby. A little flat. Still, the characters were great, there were some great choices, and of course, the sidequests. Add to that a massive open world actually worth exploring, and you've got an amazing game.
5. Wolfenstein: The New Order
To be honest, I couldn't decide if this should be ahead of Witcher and HZD, or behind it, and I just eventually settled on sticking it in the middle. I love the characters and the writing in this game above all else, which was a big surprise for me the first time I played it. I love the story driven by these intense beats, it almost creates a rhythm to the way the plot plays out. And the gameplay is good.... I mean, I'm not much into shooters, so whenever I could I played it as a stealth game, but it was honestly a damn good stealth game, and the shooting was still pretty fun.
4. Horizon Zero Dawn
Like Witcher but with a more interesting setting, an infinitely better main story, and some of the best gameplay of any game I've played, period. Seriously, I love the gameplay in HZD, it's... just incredible. I love the variety, the complexity, and just the sheer fun of it. But again, my main focus is story, and this game does that in absolute spades of worldbuilding. It takes a ridiculous concept and creates a world that justifies it completely, filled with amazing characters and some surprisingly emotional moments.
3. Transistor
This is a game that deserves to be examined the way literary texts are. The thematic depth to this story and world is insane. Honestly, I still find myself thinking about Transistor, the ideas presented in it, the characters, the world, the plot and narrative structure, and how it all fits together. Add to that a complex and rewarding combat sysem and Supergiant's absolutely phenomenal art and music.
2. Pyre
This should honestly be tied with Banner Saga, but since Banner Saga 3 is coming out, I know Banner Saga, in the end, will deserve the #1 spot. I love everything about this game. The characters above all else, but also the astounding soundtrack, art, worldbuilding, story, gameplay... there's not a single element of Pyre that didn't absolutely blow me away. This game is so unique, so different from anything else. Just... wow.
1. The Banner Saga
The Banner Saga, both games in the trilogy so far, is a series that any time I play one of the games, I feel completely emotionally drained. And there's really nothing else that's able to do that to me. I mean, I cried four times while playing Pyre, but Banner Saga just... leaves me feeling empty. It makes me feel responsible, it puts the weight of a dying world on my shoulders, and the stress that the characters feel, I feel. Yeah yeah, I guess there's gameplay, but honestly, I barely even care about that. Everything that went into the story of The Banner Saga is just... so emotionally affecting to me... I couldn't imagine anything else being at the top of my list.
Sidenote: I hold the position that Interactive Stories should be considered a separate medium from games as they're fundamentally different(basically comes down to, games have systems to engage with in some ways, Interactive Stories do not. i.e. The Walking Dead is literally just a story, there are no systems to engage with, therefore it's an interactive story, not a game. On the other hand, Wolfenstein: The New Order, despite being a linear narrative driven game, does have a system you can engage with within the story(shooting nazis), therefore it's a game. This is just a distinction I personally hold, but basically, that's why no Telltale games or walking sims are on my list here.
10. Uncharted 4
To be honest, this is simply because I was running out of games that I really, truly loved and just had to think of something to put at #10. It's more than likely I'll remember something else later that will replace this. Not to say it isn't good because this is a damn good game. Action packed and full of loveable characters, and absolutely gorgeous. I just find myself thinking more of the whole and not any specific moments. I remember the feeling.
9. The Last of Us
So, to be completely honest, The Last of Us has never quite clicked with me the way it has for a lot of other people. I'm not in love with Joel or Ellie as characters, I like them a lot, but... yeah. The game is beautiful and the gameplay is intense with really good stealth elements, and specific scenes are real standouts, so it definitely belongs on my list, but, just, y'know, at #9.
8. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
Figured I should probably represent Assassin's Creed? So, obvious choice is Black Flag. I love this game. The characters, the setting, the story, it's all great. As is the naval combat and, y'know, I'm a fan of all the typical Assassin's Creed stuff on top of it. It's just an excellent pirate story with a lot of heart, and a great game.
7. Hotline Miami
Counting both of them. So, I'm a bit of an outlier in that I do care about the story, but the text itself and of course all of the metatextual weirdness that surrounds the series. But if I'm honest, I just love the gameplay. It's just so addictive and fun no matter how many times I revisit either game. The music and the visuals are incredible and really just add the cherry on top to this series.
6. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
The more I think about it, the more the main story of Wild Hunt comes off as kind of... weak. Not bad, but just a little flabby. A little flat. Still, the characters were great, there were some great choices, and of course, the sidequests. Add to that a massive open world actually worth exploring, and you've got an amazing game.
5. Wolfenstein: The New Order
To be honest, I couldn't decide if this should be ahead of Witcher and HZD, or behind it, and I just eventually settled on sticking it in the middle. I love the characters and the writing in this game above all else, which was a big surprise for me the first time I played it. I love the story driven by these intense beats, it almost creates a rhythm to the way the plot plays out. And the gameplay is good.... I mean, I'm not much into shooters, so whenever I could I played it as a stealth game, but it was honestly a damn good stealth game, and the shooting was still pretty fun.
4. Horizon Zero Dawn
Like Witcher but with a more interesting setting, an infinitely better main story, and some of the best gameplay of any game I've played, period. Seriously, I love the gameplay in HZD, it's... just incredible. I love the variety, the complexity, and just the sheer fun of it. But again, my main focus is story, and this game does that in absolute spades of worldbuilding. It takes a ridiculous concept and creates a world that justifies it completely, filled with amazing characters and some surprisingly emotional moments.
3. Transistor
This is a game that deserves to be examined the way literary texts are. The thematic depth to this story and world is insane. Honestly, I still find myself thinking about Transistor, the ideas presented in it, the characters, the world, the plot and narrative structure, and how it all fits together. Add to that a complex and rewarding combat sysem and Supergiant's absolutely phenomenal art and music.
2. Pyre
This should honestly be tied with Banner Saga, but since Banner Saga 3 is coming out, I know Banner Saga, in the end, will deserve the #1 spot. I love everything about this game. The characters above all else, but also the astounding soundtrack, art, worldbuilding, story, gameplay... there's not a single element of Pyre that didn't absolutely blow me away. This game is so unique, so different from anything else. Just... wow.
1. The Banner Saga
The Banner Saga, both games in the trilogy so far, is a series that any time I play one of the games, I feel completely emotionally drained. And there's really nothing else that's able to do that to me. I mean, I cried four times while playing Pyre, but Banner Saga just... leaves me feeling empty. It makes me feel responsible, it puts the weight of a dying world on my shoulders, and the stress that the characters feel, I feel. Yeah yeah, I guess there's gameplay, but honestly, I barely even care about that. Everything that went into the story of The Banner Saga is just... so emotionally affecting to me... I couldn't imagine anything else being at the top of my list.