Lurker > Snake5555555555

Mass Effect 2

Played on: Xbox 360
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Genre: Third-Person Shooter/RPG

THE FIRST BLOCKBUSTER OF THE DECADE (GOTY 2010)

Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the most improved sequels of all time. It took a game, that was by most accounts a bit of a slog and at worse, a bore, and built upon that game's core concepts and amazing world building potential to craft a game that isn't greater than the sum of its parts, but is amazing because of those parts. The game literally starts off by exterminating the past: the original Normandy is destroyed, Shepard is pretty much killed off, and your old squad mates are nowhere to be found. In this baptism by fire, Mass Effect is essentially rebooted and given a chance to make a whole new first impression on the player, and it makes the most of it. Gone is the jank of simply moving your character, gone are the tepid, floaty shooting mechanics, and gone is a tedious checkpoint system that could waste whole sections of the game if you ever forgot to save. Mass Effect was reborn here, and with these new changes in effect, the stage was set for a fantastic, engrossing story you would never forget.

You could say Mass Effect 2 is about searching for the alien race known as the Collectors and investigating missing colonies, and you wouldn't really be wrong. But as anyone who's played the game can attest to, Mass Effect 2 is much more character driven than it is plot driven. The cast of squad mates in this game somehow has the most quantity AND quality of the series which is incredibly hard to achieve. Mass Effect 2 dumps all squad mates from ME1 save for Garrus & Tali (AKA the two best ones) and replaces them with a far more varied, interesting cast of characters. You've still got the main human dynamic with Miranda & Jacob replacing Kaidan & Ashley, and though Jacob ultimately isn't really that interesting, Miranda definitely steals the show with her femme fatale wiles and mysterious backstory, giving the player conflicting feelings on her trustworthiness. Fan-favorite, fast-talking Mordin rattles off scientific technobabble with an adorable charm backed up with a hard-edged level of combat prowess atypical of Salarians. One of my personal favorites, Thane Krios, not only gives us a first-hand look at a new race, but intrigues with his mix of assassination prowess and spiritual nature. Even Garrus & Tali get rebooted introductions better showing off their character traits while still showing growth from the events of ME1. Recruiting and getting to know the entire cast of ME2 is what makes the game so fantastic in my eyes, and by the time you reach the final "suicide mission" you feel so ingrained with these characters that the stakes feel incredibly tense, stressful, and above all, real. It's like having an extended family with how well you get to know everyone and you want to protect them in any way you can.

The dialogue system has been streamlined, with new paragon and renegade choices that can interrupt a conversation with an often devastating blow. These choices are cool, but can often be too unpredictable. Also, a lot of the lore dumps from ME1 are gone to make way for these, which isn't the worst change since I found a lot of those to be rambling and boring in all honesty, but having them around would've still been a good option for some conversations. Still, the new system fits the game's breezy style, and overall struck a nice balance of having meaty dialogues without feeling like your standing there for half an hour listening to the most boring lecture this side of planet Thessia.

All of the changes made to ME2 were ultimately for the better, because it's still the game I remember most and the game I always look forward to replaying the most as well. Choices feel like they actually have weight thanks to the expanded cast and a streamlined experience on the whole paces ME2 so well, because who the hell misses 10 minute awkward elevator rides and 20 minute loading screens to drive a weak-ass tank on planet Empty Wasteland. When I think of why I love the Mass Effect series, THIS is absolutely the game I point to, and past & future aside, why ME is still one of the most legendary franchises out there.


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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Laura
Michael
Babadook
Moana

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Played On: PS2
Release: January 19, 2010
Genre: Survival Horror

PSYCHOLOGY WARNING!

Okay, I promise this is the last game in this project actually released in 2009 instead of 2010! The PS2 version was released in 2010 and I didn't have a Wii at the time okay?! Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. It's a re-imagination of the first game in the series, and either a much praised entry or much maligned entry depending on where you look. In my view, this is easily the best post-Team Silent game though, and while yes it doesn't even come close to touching the original trilogy (what can?), Shattered Memories has enough of a unique voice to itself that I can't believe it isn't more universally liked, though knowing the SH fanbase, maybe I can believe it.

Shattered Memories doesn't play like any other game in the series, Team Silent or not. The game features no combat, one of the main points of contention, but I thought it was fine at the time & works even better as a precursor to the Amnesia-style of horror games that would go on to populate the decade. What's a little more unforgivable in my eyes is the lone enemy type you encounter from beginning to end, and the predictable nature in which you encounter them. Unlike other SH games, enemies are only encountered in the Otherworld here, and far-removed from the metallic rust & grime of other entries is a frozen landscape filled with convenient barricades and hallways to run through. Though the locations do end up getting more maze-like, each encounter plays out the same and I feel it was almost included just because the SH series needs a monster to go up against.

Luckily though, that's only a very small slice of the game. Most of the time is actually spent exploring the titular town, and these sections are where the game truly shines. You'll meet familiar faces and traverse familiar locales, but the game feels radically different from the original Silent Hill. In these locations, you'll find clues and mementos that build up a story that plays out in text messages, phone calls, photos, & voicemails. This is such a perfect fit for the series and the natural evolution of file collecting that goes way back to the genre's progenitors. One of the best stories takes place in Midwich High School, which includes an expanded role for Mr. Gordon, Alessa's school teacher mentioned in SH1 & 3, and the fallout of his affair with an underage student. Lisa Garland's re-imagination is also very powerful and kind of makes you feel like crap too. The way its all presented, and with you having to discover the clues with the tools you have is just all very engaging and keeps the tension & atmosphere high without relying on enemies.

The second huge part of the game consists of therapy sessions with Dr. Kaufmann. In these sessions, you answer questions or participate in little activities that change the town of Silent Hill. It's the kind of thing that is really neat the first time through, but easily manipulated on every subsequent playthrough. It's not quite the menacing (read: extremely cheesy) PSYCHOLOGY WARNING and the "game plays you as much as play it" as it promises but it's clever enough and is a good hook for getting you drawn into the game at least. And it does ultimately play into the mega final twist of the game you probably won't ever see coming.

For just a brief moment in time, Silent Hill felt fresh again, like it could reclaim its spot on top of the psychological horror throne. Alas, it was a one-off, and this would end up being the last truly good Silent Hill game we would ever receive (P.T. aside). We will return to Silent Hill again in two years (and believe me it is not pretty), but for now, let's take a second and remember a time when Silent Hill was almost a respectable franchise again.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Once Upon a Time

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Well it's getting a 4K re-release in like a week so it's a perfect time (along with Vanquish, another game I will be talking about very soon)!

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Bayonetta

Played on: Xbox 360
Release: January 5, 2010
Genre: Character Action

KICKING THE DECADE OFF WITH A BANG

In the years since the original release of Devil May Cry, the "character action" genre had struggled and floundered a bit in capturing the unique essence and vision of that series. While franchises like God of War stood shoulders with DMC in regards to popularity, it ultimately missed the mark on the replayability factor and awesome combo potential DMC had in spades. Of course, it took the original creator of DMC in the first place to reinvent the wheel of character action games once again, with the fantastic Bayonetta, technically released in 2009 in Japan but otherwise 2010 for NA (aka me). The bombastic, over-the-top nature of Bayonetta made even DMC3 look like a subdued survival horror game, and if there was a chance to be quirky, chaotic, or insane anywhere in the game, Hideki Kamiya and PlatinumGames seized that opportunity and cranked it as far as they could push it. With a combo list that could fill an entire encyclopedia, Bayonetta gave players so much room for experimentation, potentially making every single combat encounter in the game a wholly unique experience without much repetition at all. It may seem exhausting to some, but the short spurts with each individual battle ranked on its own merits gives the game an almost bite-sized feel that makes the game much more manageable. Or could you even turn on the automatic mode which gives you all of the spectacle with none of the effort; sure, it's looked down upon by some, but it's there and I'll admit myself it's a blast to turn it on, put on some music or something, and just chill to the gleeful carnage unfolding on your screen, while taking in the equally terrific Gothic atmosphere, which cannot be understated how important it is to both Bayonetta and character action in general (not just the Gothic part, just general atmosphere).

I fell in love with the original DMC thanks to its almost overbearing Gothic horror atmosphere, and it's such a vital part in contextualizing the action. The claustrophobic hallways of Mallet Castle with large enemy counts constantly makes you feel like the underdog despite your overpowered moveset, giving each battle a thrill that makes each action you perform feel extra badass, stylish, & meaningful. Similarly, Bayonetta's bible-accurate influences often pits you against gigantic, screen-filling enemies that fill you with simultaneous awe & horror, playing with your expectations on what a traditional angel is typical presented as. The battlefields make you feel small & powerless, but with the confidence of our main character and the knowledge of our arsenal giving us the right tools needed to conquer the day, we make it through regardless of the challenge. A great character action game constantly gives you this push & pull of tension, and it is what separates the great titles like Bayonetta from the pack.

I couldn't think of a better game to kick off the decade for me. It laid a new blueprint for pretty much every character action game to come out of the 2010s, and the fantastic underappreciated MadWorld aside, was the game that kickstarted PlatinumGames to become synonymous with kick-ass character action games and a level of quality almost unmatched in the entire gaming industry.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Because when the write-up bug bites you, you gotta bite back! I've amassed a loose chronological collection of some of the most notable games I've played throughout the decade, and I really just want a place to discuss them. This will be a more laid-back, casual topic, focused more on the meat of the games rather than trying to rank them or anything like that. Not all of these games are good, in fact some are pretty terrible, but I think that's the fun of it all. These are the games of the decade I've found the most interesting or have impacted me the most in any way, positively or negatively.

So, I hope you join me on these loose ramblings on the games that defined an entire decade for me. I think it will be a lot of fun! To add to the looseness of this project, if you want me to talk about any particular game I may have played, feel free to suggest it to me and I'll do it as the next write-up.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
https://imgur.com/MmrKwGZ - https://imgur.com/ntWVGyh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KME16n--VNc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnsQwvhuRiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ekykvdHpTs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs15djbCfqE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drf3LhQOFmM

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Resident Evil 2

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Mike
Lotso
-
Steve

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Imabikisou
Banshee's Last Cry

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Repeating this:
I Saw the Devil and Train to Busan are two all time classics.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Final Fantasy XV - End of the Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J8Xsf3f-OA

Final Fantasy VII - Trail of Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWV2KseKeo

Final Fantasy VII - Listen to the Cries of the Planet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBRAkpXTmCs

Final Fantasy X- Yuna's Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIw1sdmRyq8

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Parasite

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Any game by Kitty Horrorshow, Animal Village, & From Next Door thanks to my horror rankings.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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New album is pretty solid honestly.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Hollywood
Endgame

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Skye
Chris
-
Red

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jcgamer107 posted...

...Keanu Reeves was in Toy Story 4?

He was Duke Caboom.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Parasite
Uncut
Wick
Spider-Man

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Really cool to see Maximum Carnage on here!

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Not pretending at all here, I loved The Evil Within when it came out and I still love it now. I won't pretend it doesn't have issues, like the questionable letterboxing (even though it's now fixed) and a conclusion that drags on a bit too long, but it's one of the more true survival horror leaning games of the decade with memorable enemy designs and one hell of an engaging psychological story.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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The Outer Worlds

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ah yeah top 5 let's go

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Django
Hannibal
-
-
-

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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PrinceKaro posted...

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

I can't wait for this one

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XD

Snow White (Fables)

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Karate Kid (Val Armorr) (DC Comics)

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Tony Montana (Scarface)

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Man Evil Within & Hitman: Absolution don't belong anywhere near this list.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Oh, how did no one mention Ride to Hell: Retribution yet either!

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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ZenOfThunder posted...

This awful stealth action game that I think Konami published, it has the same artist who did the MGS stuff. "Last something" maybe?

Left Alive, it was published by Square Enix actually.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Hollywood
Wick
Avengers
Spider-Man

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Umbrella Corps

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Batman (Earth-43) (DC Comics)

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Homelander (The Boys)

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Midsommar
Marriage
Uncut
-

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
https://imgur.com/MmrKwGZ - https://imgur.com/ntWVGyh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBNqPzuECE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieP6aDFQf7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mhYtdvOuD8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNJQlvgoAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APgaGhowwns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_jKDc1iow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faAXsgrCGu8

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Ben
Rocket
Chloe
Octodad
John

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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1. Resident Evil Remake
2. Resident Evil 4
3. Silent Hill 2
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
5. Silent Hill 3
6. Spec Ops: The Line
7. Batman: Arkham Asylum
8. Haunting Ground
9. Max Payne 3
10. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Changed around a few things since the last time.


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Hopeful! I'm just excited to see my boy Black Mask fully realized on screen for the first time.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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At least I got eliminated in a tier that sounds like a horror track I would nominate.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Haha, you know I kind of like Kyle Schneider as a primitive/prototypical example of the multi-game arcs & set-ups Kojima would later be known for, especially the Cyborg Ninja identity. Here you have this minor radio support character from the first game brought back into an expanded and differing role from the first, back when stories in sequels in games weren't always top priority. It's just neat to me.

Jenny Blake (The Rocketeer)

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Seriously. So good!

Kyle Schneider/Black Ninja (Metal Gear)

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Marionette (Erika Manson) (Watchmen)

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Sleep
Marvel
Spider-Man
Ready

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Ugh I don't want to vote against either of these. Guess I'll just abstain.

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Deadpool
Eleanor
John
Terence
-

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Hollywood
Toy
Us
Wick

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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Outer Wilds

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Too much horror business, drivin' late at night
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