This is the continuation of my countdown of the top video games of the decade.
#29: They Have a Guitar. We Have The Band
Game: Rock Band
System: Xbox/PS3/Wiiventually
Year: 2007
Sales: Over 4 million
With Guitar Hero conquering the guitar game charts, things became very interesting. MTV purchased Harmonix, which was responsible for the first two Guitar Heros. With this, Harmonix makes THIS game, going up against what they USED to make, which is now being made by Neversoft. Rock Band essentially has all the energy and difficulty of the first two Guitar Hero games, but now with vocals, drums, and bass. It was the wholesome experience, and with licensed music to boot. Then add the downloadable music, which increased the replay value of this sucker infinitely. Rock Band definitely did not hit the sales numbers of Guitar Hero, but definitely made a dent in the competitor’s sales, and made a good amount of money for itself. But it did begin the downfall of music-based video games.
#28: Wii Conquer The Mainstream, One Fat*** at a Time
Game: Wii Fit
System: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2008
Sales: Over 22 million
America is still in its little “Healthy Eating” stage, which consists of well-paid and healthy people telling America that we as a nation are getting too fat. But with wholesome, organic, and healthy products costing an arm and a leg, how on earth can we become as fit as those on television? There is always surgery, it’s definitely helped THEM. Or, you can focus on Wii Fit, the closest thing in gaming to exercise as you can possibly get. Wii Fit nailed the obese mainstream right on the head with its subtle-exercise marketing campaign, promising fun gameplay while losing weight. While Wii Fit should not be a replacement for an actual gym workout, it’s still a healthier alternative to sitting and mashing buttons. Notice that the Wii itself looks slimmer than the Xbox 360 and PS3. Coincidence? Or mega-pre-planned marketing?
#27: Adult Link Has Returned
Game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
System: Gamecube/Wii
Year: 2006
Sales: 7 million copies
Wind Waker was a fun game indeed (except for the ending) but one thing is for sure, we wanted Dark Link back. Not really Dark Link, but a more mature Link, one that resembles more Ocarina of Time/Majora’s Mask rather than Phantom Hourglass/Wind Waker. Nintendo must have listened, and then on E3, all hell was unleashed when the trailer came out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRgyQhPWgE). Unfortunately though, it would be two years before we actually received it. Nonetheless, Twilight Princess was an excellent return to the gameplay heights that was OoT and Majora’s Mask—even if it missed the mark by a little. With the Wii being a device that not even Nintendo had yet figured out how to fully utilize, the best of Zelda is potentially yet to come. In the meantime, this Zelda reigns as a great adventure, a spectacular experience, and proof that there is no bigger adventure franchise within 100 miles.
#26: Gran Turismo Has Been Dethroned...For Now.
Game: Forza Motorsport 2
System: Xbox 360
Year: 2007
Sales: 4+ million
One of the most anticipated titles during the launch of the PS3 was Gran Turismo 5. Today, it is STILL one of the most anticipated titles of the PS3 (It had been delayed again). In the span of those three years, a competing franchise rose to the challenge of taking over, and ultimately, has become the best-selling racing sim franchise this generation. The game is darn good as well, with impressive visuals, realistic gameplay, and plenty of depth. As a matter of fact, since Gran Turismo 3 have we seen such realistically fun racing gameplay. While Gran Turismo 5 looks like the cream of the crop in terms of visuals, they may need to tweak some things if they plan on being as good overall as the racers the 360 has been releasing—especially this one.
#25: Cheap Budget + Good Gameplay = Impressive Sales
Game: Wii Play
System: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2007
Sales: Almost 26 million copies
Pop Quiz: What is the best-selling non-bundled video game of all-time?
Grand Theft Auto? No.
Pokemon? No.
Super Mario Brothers 3? No.
Answer: Wii Play. That’s right boys and girls, starting the top 25 is a video game that has smashed the record books as the biggest-selling game not to be part of a system bundle. It comes with a controller, but the selling point is the price. At a mere 50 bucks, you get a video game, and also a Wiimote. This game is more than just cheap fun, it’s a cheaply made game that resulted in incredible profits. The success of this game paved the way for dozens of companies to create affordable, cheap, yet fun games. Mega Man recently has gone 8-bit: it’s cheap, but it’s tough, and fun. Now Xbox Live, Playstation Store, and WiiWare is chock full of these cheaper games that didn’t require as heavy a budget, but more emphasis was placed on the gameplay. The result is that this is the first generation in gaming history in which the price range can go from a mere 5 bucks (NES Virtual Console, DSWare) to over 100 dollars (DJ Hero).
#24: Survival Horror Moves Up a Notch
Game: Resident Evil 4
System: Gamecube, Wii, PS2
Year: 2005
Sales: Nearly 5 million copies
Resident Evil may not be the first of the survival horror franchises, but stands as the best of them all. Resident Evil 4 is the game that turned the franchise upside-down, resulting in some old-school fans leaving, and plenty of new-school fans joining in. Resident Evil 4 is totally different in tone and style; it’s a lot creepier than it is scary. And, it’s a bit more action-packed than the PSX/GC classics. But the graphics, presentation, usage of sound, pacing, and gameplay all took giant leaps forward, making this the best Resident Evil of them all. Being part of the infamous Capcom 5, this could have propelled Gamecube to much better sales, but then everyone learns the PS2 is getting the same game—and with more. Nintendo gets its revenge by selling an extra million with the Wii edition, while Resident Evil 5 doesn’t quite match up to the other Resident Evils in terms of sales.
#23: The Final Fantastic Football Game
Game: ESPN NFL 2K5
System: PS2/Xbox
Year: 2004
Sales: Almost 3.5 million
Remember when this game nearly topped Madden? Shipped at an extremely cheap $20, ESPN NFL 2K5 was a spectacular sports game that was not only impressive to watch and play, but was 30 dollars cheaper than the biggest competitor, which was EA. Because of this, EA purchased the NFL license, literally forcing Sega to stop making NFL games. Then EA buys out the ESPN name. This crippling blow was a legal monopoly, and ever since then EA had lowered their efforts to making a superior game since there was nobody that can go up against them. This was the cruelest gaming business move of the 2000s, and its presence can still be felt today. We have this amazing game to thank too, because of the potential that was presented in its final installment.
#22: The Last Good Madden
Game: Madden 2004
System: Xbox/PS2/Gamecube
Year: 2003
Sales: Over 5 million
Before the hoopla in 2004, 2003 was owned by EA and Madden. This franchise reached its peak in this installment, as the improvements and additions were too incredible to avoid. With Michael Vick in the cover, we were treated to a smooth sports sim with dozens of options, even the ability to manage sports stadiums and change the prices of hot dogs. The animations were detailed; the gameplay modes were extensive and deep, and even the soundtrack was good considering its EA. Madden would never be the same, especially with the pitiful 2007 installment.
#21: And So, The DS is introduced
Game: Super Mario 64 DS
System: Nintendo DS
Year: 2004
Sales: 8.4 million
When the DS was announced, we really weren’t sure how to react. It was big, it was two screens, and didn’t look as slick as the GBA SP. Super Mario 64, the flagship title of the N64, would return as the flagship title of the handheld. This game would display what the DS is capable of, and how far these gimmicky things would go before we get bored. The verdict: the DS was something special, and the potential was barely even touched with SM64 DS. It was the N64 classic, but with much more, including multi-player. The theme of the DS and the Wii was for people to join together and play together. With Super Mario 64 DS, the beginning of Nintendo domination was just around the corner.
#20: Snake, You’ve Met Your Match
Game: Splinter Cell
System: Xbox (Then PS2 and Gamecube)
Year: 2002
Sales: Over 5 million copies
Metal Gear Solid was a great stealth game, but the plot was a bit over-the-top, the cinematic scenes were a bit much, and I just wasn’t that overwhelmed. Tom Clancy one-ups Snake with Sam Fischer, and Microsoft finds its own version of MGS with the vastly superior Splinter Cell. This game set the bar in terms of game physics, lighting, usage of sound, and overall stealth gameplay. You needed patience to win this, blasting everything in sight will not lead to victory, ever. Splinter Cell remains one of the more underrated games out there because it quietly delivered the blockbuster experience: an extensive storyline blending with intense moments in gaming.
#19: The Future of Mario is here, and it’s Happening Now.
Game: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
System: Nintendo Wii
Year: 2009
Sales: 9 million---in three months
There will be pundits and critics screaming at how high this game is, especially since it has not been out half a year yet. But look at the numbers: 9 million copies in three months. That’s three million copies a month. If it can continue in this insane rate (which is impossible), it could catch the best-selling game of all-time by the end of this summer. Despite the impossibility, there is a strong chance this game will become one of the 15 best-selling games ever by the end of 2010. A new generation of gamers has risen and have accepted Super Mario, and its evident with the positive reaction and strong sales. This Mario adventure isn’t the best, most special, or most challenging, but the crazy multi-player mode and massive amount of levels more than make up for it. The Wii’s domination continues, and this is just more evidence as to why Nintendo’s comeback to the top is official.
#18: The Last Big PC Game
Game: World of Warcraft
System: PC
Year: 2004
Sales: 12 million, excluding the 12 million expansion copies
PC used to be way up there with console gaming back in the 90s. But, somewhere along the lines, consoles became the top choice for games. Nonetheless, PC still had a griphold on the MMORPG industry, which is exactly why World of Warcraft became such a hit. The game is undeniably addicting, undeniably massive, and has an undeniable amount of variety in its gameplay. This is easily the best installment in the franchise, as you know you are doing something right when you hold over 60% of the MMORPG subscribers online. Just saying.
#17: Micro$oft Is Still Alive Thanks To This
Game: Halo
System: Xbox
Year: 2001
Sales: 6 million
Halo was the flagship title of the original Xbox. Halo would be the best-selling game for the Xbox for the next several months, and literally was what kept it afloat during Microsoft’s slow start in the gaming market. This video game redefined first-person shooters and production value towards a gaming device. With an epic soundtrack, epic gameplay, and an overall epic feel, Halo would become one of the most important games in the last 15 years for multiple, multiple reasons. While the latter installments focused much more on multi-player than anything else, Combat Evolved remains a gem to this day, with many imitators and few successors.
#16: In The Midst of the FPS Madness, We Forgot One…
Game: Half-Life 2
System: PC (Then eventually Xbox)
Year: 2004
Sales: 5 million total
Like previously stated, with PC gaming on the downward spiral, there are a good amount of neglected games on the PC---even though they usually wind up on consoles regardless. Half-Life 2 however is a game that should have never been overlooked, simply because it’s one of the best FPS out there and introduced the gaming world to a fantastic new physics engine, as well as introduce many graphical innoventions being used today. Valve was put on the map with this gem, and to this day there are few games that can look as good as Half-Life 2. But for the PC pundits, 2007 was a bad year, because one of the last excellent PC games went to the Xbox 360 and the PS3. And for those who think that some wouldn’t be personally affected by this, try picturing a Nintendo fan realizing that the next Zelda will be for the Xbox. Won’t end well.
#15: Would you kindly...
Game: Bioshock
System: Xbox 260, PS3, PC
Year: 2007/2008
Sales: Almost 3 million
In the midst of all the Halo Killers and wanna-be Halo Killers, the Xbox 360 releases a game with the style of Fallout, the intensity of Halo, the craziness of Killer 7, and a plot that seems straight out of a George Orwell archive. This incredible video game rose out of nowhere and not only became the Game of the Year in 2007, but is frequently hailed as one of the biggest and best games played in a very long time. The graphics, music and sound are what stand out in this gem, as you are transported to a very unique world underneath the water. It’s a type of game you’ve never played before, and one you are willing to play over and over again. While the sales don’t match those of other blockbusters, its impact on mature gaming remains felt.
#14: The Halo Killer has arrived
Game: Modern Warfare (Call of Duty 4)
System: PSWii60
Year: 2007
Sales: Over 14 million
After the major success of Halo, competitors (especially Sony) desperately attempted to create that big game, that ONE game that would conquer the world and becomes the first synonym for ultimate shooter. Timesplitters failed, Killzone failed, Geist massively failed, Lost Planet failed, and many others just didn’t receive the glory and praise of Halo. Call of Duty was always lingering since the PS2 days, and with part 4, finally took the throne. Modern Warfare was a re-invention of the Call of Duty franchise, and a totally fantastic one at that. The single-player mode remains one of the best in the history of the FPS genre, and the multi-player mode stands out as something absolutely special. This game was intense, has nearly-flawless graphics, and we even have a professional film composer in the school of Hans Zimmer (Harry Gregson-Williams) providing the soundtrack. The game felt like a Michael Bay movie (in his better days). After the release of this game, it became extremely obvious: Halo is no longer the high-and-mighty franchise it used to be; with Gears of War, Bioshock, and this gem, the Halo franchise was going to have to do more to receive new fans.
#13: Biggest. Sandbox. Ever.
Game: Grand Theft Auto IV
System: Xbox 360/PS3
Year: 2008
Sales: Almost 14 million
Vice City and San Andreas were the biggest games in the history of the PS2-dominated era. So of course the fourth installment was going to be hotly anticipated by Sony gamers. But, in one of the biggest business decisions in history, Rockstar decided to work for Microsoft as well, destroying the one main franchise that made the PS2 a must-own. Sales of the PS3 have yet to recover since this blow. That alone pits this game into the top 20 in terms of importance.
As for the game itself, well, it’s quite massive. The perfect scores it received all over the place online was met with controversy, because after all, it didn’t deliver quite as much a change as GTA III did when compared to part II. Some can argue, why mess with perfection? Others argue, why do other games receive flack for being the same and this one doesn’t? GTA IV is proof that the rating system is flaws, since essentially its just like GTA III except grander in scale. Despite that, we have a game so rich on gameplay details that you can find something new every time you play it for the next year or so. The soundtrack is incredible, the voice acting is grand, and the overall experience of running around a seemingly-endless overworld makes this a realistic, modern-day Elder Scrolls. Grand Theft Auto IV follows all the right footsteps, even if the pathway remains the same.
#12: The Ultimate Skateboarding Experience without Getting Hurt
Game: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
System: N64/PSX/PS2/Xbox/Gamecube
Year: 2001
Sales: At least 6 million
Arcade-style sports games do not happen often at all (disappointingly). After NBA Jam and NFL Blitz, there really wasn’t a sports game with the arcade edge invading consoles. Pro Skater enters the realm and video game history. This franchise is easily one of the most successful of all-time, even if the latter installments have been failing miserably. Everyone has their choice for top Pro Skater, for me I’d say part 3 was the series at its peak of success, being a hit in 5 different consoles. Add in the addicting gameplay, excellent level design, crazy depth, great underground soundtrack, and fun multi-player mode, and you have yourself an instant classic that remains to be matched in its genre.
#11: Guitar Hero II Put Them On The Map. This made them Mainstream.
Game: Guitar Hero III
System: PS3/Xbox 360/Nintendo Wii
Year: 2007
Sales: Over 15 million
While Guitar Hero II started the rockolution, Guitar Hero III put the franchise on the news and on the top of the charts for an extensive period of time. This game would sell over 3 million copies in three different systems, despite the crazy price. The soundtrack here was the most superior, because of the fact that most of the music is original recordings (or recordings strictly for the game). Guitar Hero III pretty much mocked Rock Band as it continued to sell, even on the Nintendo Wii (Usually Third-Party Hell). This game has the most memorable difficult song in the series (Through the Fire and Flames), and is known for its amped-up difficulty and variety in music. What other game can give you Weezer, the Sex Pistols, and Slayer in the same soundtrack?
Guitar Hero III was GH at its peak in popularity, success, and praise. World Tour started the downward spiral as it tried competing against Rock Band 2 and failed, and then Guitar Hero 5 had too much variety to even be enjoyed. Now, there are too many music games, and not one of them can quite matchup with the one-two punch of Rock band and Guitar Hero III back in the fall of 2007.
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Oh noes! We are about the Top 10! I shall hand you a few clues about what will be featured in the top 10 games that helped shape this previous decade in gaming:
1) The #1 game comes from this generation
2) 8 of the 10 come from Nintendo…deal with it
3) The other two come from the Playstation 2
4) Three of the games come from the year 2000—very early in the decade
5) My personal favorite game of the decade is NOT #1
6) Combining the sales of the top 3 video games equals to over 110 million copies
7) The best-selling fighting game of all-time, the best-selling RPG of the decade, the top-selling video game of the PS2/GC/Xbox era, and the best-selling game of all-time can be found here
The final installment shall come soon. Very soon.
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