Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Arts and Entertainment > Top Ten Games of the Decade

Top Ten Games of the Decade

Mekel James, Staff Writer

 

It’s been an amazing 10 years for Video Gamers, we’ve come a very long way in terms of graphics and innovative game play since the beginning of the new millennium. It’s hard to even remember what video games were like in the last millennium, but it’s not difficult to think about all the great games we’ve seen in the last 10 years. From the expanse of phenomenal MMO games and sandbox games on the X-box and the various Playstations, the leaps in video games came not only in graphics but also in the attention paid to story, morality and yes, even beauty. To wrap up this decade of gaming, I’ve decided to select what is in my opinion, the top-ten games of this passing decade.

#10: Wii Sports by Nintendo (Nintendo Wii/2006)

Come on, who hasn’t played Wii Sports? This is the game that came packaged with the console and demonstrated to almost everyone that the Wii was meant to be interactive with the player. Whatever you do with the Wiimote in your hand is accurately reflected in the game, be it Tennis, bowling, baseball, golf or boxing. Wii sports was truly the game that made people want the Wii. Yes, it is simply that addicting to play. Go grab a couple friends and play some Wii Sports, I promise you it wont be a dull party.

#9: Ninja Gaiden by Tecmo Team Ninja (Xbox, PS3/2004-2007)

Considered by many gamers as the single hardest action game to ever be released, Ninja Gaiden (pronounced Guy-Den) is a revival of a franchise started back on the NES in the 1980’s. The new Ninja Gaiden went for one thing and one simple thing alone: pure unadulterated, visceral action! Never before had an action game given you such control of your character to do whatever you wanted to towards your enemy than Ninja Gaiden has. This game delivers the pain in whatever form you want it to. This game is also very bloody so it does warrant a rightfully deserved M (mature) rating.

#8: Marvel VS. Capcom 2 by Capcom (Dreamcast, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360/2000)

The year 2000 marks the creation of what is still considered to this day, one of the most revolutionary 2D (two dimensional) fighting games to ever be made. The worlds of Marvel’s Superheroes and Capcom’s fighting game franchises collide to decide which brand is the greatest. With more than 50 selectable characters to choose from in 3-on-3 matches, the levels of creativity and insanity escalate to new heights.

#7: Double Dragon Advanced by Atlus (GBA/2003)

Double Dragon Advanced is the reimagining of the classic series from the 1980’s that was based on Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” and the “Fist of the North Star” manga series staring twin brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee, masters of the fictional “Sousetsu-ken” (Twin intercepting fist) martial art. The game took the classic side scrolling beat em’ up formula of the 80’s and incorporated a lot of new features such as blocking, counter/reversals, running attacks and tag-team moves. DDA surpasses the original in every way possible expanding the previous four levels to a grand total of nine levels incorporating a little something from every entry in the series to date masterfully. The homage to Bruce Lee is displayed the most in this classic entry from the artwork, stances, attacks, etc. All you Bruce Lee buffs will love this game.

#6: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker by Nintendo (Nintendo Gamecube/2003)

“The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” tells the story of what has become of the fictional world, Hyrule, since the downfall of franchise villain Gannondorf. The way the creator, Shigure Miyamoto, designed the games’ world using the then brand new artistic style of cell shading (using three-dimensional graphics to replicate cartoonish style) was simply amazing and gave a real sense of adventure that can bring out the kid in you. The game play took the formula established in the classic “Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” that set the bar for all adventure games and took it up about 100 notches and made the game one that every gamer should own no matter whether they are hardcore or casual gamers.

#5: Kingdom Hearts by Square-Enix (PS2/2002)

Square-Enix once again won over gamers’ hearts everywhere with the creation of its newest franchise in collaboration with Disney and its intellectual properties. Kingdom Hearts is an Action-Adventure RPG that incorporates the stat heavy game play of Final Fantasy along with the intensity of action games along the lines of Capcom’s Devil May Cry series so you get a game that’s not only easy to pick up and play but also with a surprising layer of depth added to it. Kingdom Hearts has been the most successful series that Square-Enix has released since Final Fantasy and the Chrono games.

#4: Resident Evil 4 by Capcom (Gamecube, PC, PS2, Nintendo Wii/2005-2007)

RE4, this game changed the direction of not only Resident Evil, but also the survival-horror genre not to mention inspiring games like Gears of War and DarkSector to imitate the behind-the-back camera angle and gunplay. RE4 saw Leon face new monstrosities and things that seem not of this world such as the “Las Plagas” (the new virally infected parasite) along with the “Ganados” (villagers). Combined with tight game-play and a superbly written story, RE4 is easily 2005’s game of the year and also easily out does the current RE5.

#3: Final Fantasy X by Square-Enix (PS2/2001)

Final Fantasy X was the first RPG to feature full voice acting and life-like realism (for the time) in character designs along with a plot that fleshes out over the course of the game that completely enraptures you and guarantees the water works to flow at the end due to the fate of Tidus, the main character.  The way in which the characters develop along with the plot that easily parallels with real life themes such as love, religion, politics and friendship is simply amazing. Easily one of, if not, the best Final Fantasy’s ever made with game play that has yet to be rivaled by any RPG to this day.

#2: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, PS3, Xbox 360/2007)

A game set in a medieval-like world with knights, kings, wizards and demons, Oblivion is simply a must have game. As with almost all “Elder Scroll” games, you start off as an amnesiac prisoner that must embark on an epic journey to save the world. The game is considered an Open-world RPG based on the fact that it does have a main plot but it doesn’t force you to stick with that plot; countless missions and side stories exist within this game. The level of customization options in this game are ridiculous and you also get to create your own character! Yes, you heard me right, you create your own character in Oblivion. You have control of the facial structure, hair style-color-texture, skin color, height, weight and race (numerous races live in this game), which means you have the creative freedom to do whatever you want.

#1: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots by Konami/Hideo Kojima (PS3/2008)

The last in the Metal Gear series and also one of the most controversial, “Guns of the Patriots” (which I will from here on refer to as simply “Guns”) was the most anticipated game of the decade. Gamers had been following the tales of black ops soldier “Solid Snake” for 20 years, and this last entry was one that went out with a bang. The story is filled with surprises and you never know what’s going to happen next, however, you are constantly made aware of the fact that the series’ star, Snake, is merely a man and not an invincible super soldier. Creator Hideo Kojima made Snake this way to remind the audience of the frailties of humanity, military soldiers and also the sheer chaos that is war. Kojima’s philosophy on war and military is expertly translated onto your TV screen as you can’t help but feel how helpless Snake is becoming. Spoiler Alert: Also revealed is that Snake has been nothing more than a pawn throughout the entire series.  Which makes you wonder… in the end, who are the real heroes and villains?

Some honorable mentions are:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Tekken 6:Bloodline Rebellion, Soul Calibur IV, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Gears of War 2, Halo 3, God of War 2, Devil May Cry 4, Golden Sun, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Boktai, Shinobi, Street Fighter IV, Resistance, Killzone, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Brain Age, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, NFL 2K series, Hoku to no Ken, Okami, Super Mario Galaxy.

And there you have it folks, the top 10 games of the decade worth ever penny you, invest in them and will be games you will remember for years and years to come. This will forever be known as the decade when games became more than just games.