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An inside look at some of the all-time best video games
WITH RECENT BIG-NAME releases such as Modern Warfare 2 and Final Fantasy XIII, video game aficionados are dusting off their consoles and retreating into their homes to immerse themselves in the virtual world of gaming once again. Keeping this seemingly massive increase in video game popularity in mind, we’ve compiled a list of Fulcrum favourites for campus gamers. Whether you’re amazing or an amateur, check out our list of killer games any serious player has got to try.
Metal Gear Solid
1998
PlayStation
WHEN KONAMI’S METAL Gear Solid was released in 1998, a vision of the full potential of video games was realized. A watershed in almost every aspect, this game not only gave birth to, but also immediately popularized the now lucrative genre of stealth and spy gaming. However, this is a minimal footnote in comparison to its other accomplishments. The game broke new ground in both gameplay and visuals, but, more importantly, it completely revolutionized the storytelling and cinematic scale within the video game medium.
The dense, layered narrative is as dark as it is intelligent. It blends the real with the fantastic, splicing nuclear war with spirituality, morality, and science fiction through a vast array of exciting plot twists. Its characters are both compelling and frightening, and they feel like real people. Metal Gear Solid presented the potential and perhaps the pinnacle of storytelling in video games. This attribute, when supplemented by a cinematic quality that (at the time) rivalled and even surpassed the best of Hollywood and independent cinema, made for a revolutionary addition to the gaming world. With its engrossing story and cutting-edge graphics, Metal Gear Solid is a prime example of artistry in the gaming world.
—Mike McCabe
Tekken Series
1994–2009
Arcade, WonderSwan, PlayStation, PSP, PS2, PS3, Game Boy Advance, Xbox 360
TEKKEN IS THE quintessential combat game. Developed by Namco, the fight game revolves around a fictional martial arts tournament. An addictive and competitive game, Tekken has been at the center of many hardcore gamers’ lives from its creation in 1994, right up to the release of the latest instalment, 2009’s Tekken 6. The first two editions were designed for arcades and the PlayStation. Though popular, the lack of technology available to designers held Tekken back from realizing its full potential. It was not until Tekken 3—with the new PlayStation 2 processor—that the characters were really able to take shape. They became more realistic and detailed, with more curves and a less blocky outline; there were also 15 new characters and a major increase in the number of potential moves and combinations.
Praised for their faster game play, Tekken 3 and Tekken 4 represent the definitive classic fighting games. The characters included more dimensions, not only graphically but also psychologically—the story mode, for the first time ever, explored the characters’ motivations to be part of the Iron Fist tournament. Extra mini-games included bowling, volleyball, survival mode, and an all-new adventure mode. The strongest characters were the ones with the largest repertoire of attacks and fastest recovery times. Unlike 2D fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, Tekken allowed the player to sidestep to avoid attacks.
Though not the only combat game series, Tekken has long been the most popular—and for good reason. Tekken is a terrific video game and packs a killer punch.
—David Davidson
Super Mario Series
1981–present
Arcade, NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, N64, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Wii
THE MARIO SERIES began with the iconic character’s first appearance as “Jumpman” in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. Mario’s famed first appearances in his own storied series were in the 1983 release Mario Bros., a standard arcade game, and again in 1985 when Super Mario Bros. became available on the infamous Nintendo Entertainment System. With Super Mario Bros. being one of the first conventional 2D side-scrollers and Super Mario 64 emerging as the definitive 3D platform game, Mario has a trademark on innovation.
The Mario franchise as it stands today has sold over 210 million games, making it the highest-selling video game franchise of all time. This is perfectly understandable given the release of such titles as the memorable Mario Kart series and, more recently, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. The franchise has even spawned a live-action movie called Super Mario Bros., which made the plumber and Luigi, his brother and sidekick, come to life for fans.
Though the appeal may seem puzzling to many, Mario—along with his various pals and enemies—is arguably the most recognizable character in video game history. The Super Mario series has constantly been evolving to keep up with new systems and the demands of players since the very beginning. Here’s hoping that fans haven’t seen the end of their favorite moustached man.
—Jesse Kelly
Half-Life 2
2004
PC, Xbox, Xbox360, PS3
“THE RIGHT MAN in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up, and smell the ashes...”
With those words from the mysterious G-Man, players were thrown into the post-apocalyptic world of Half-Life 2. Set about 20 years after the original game, on an Earth overrun by a powerful alien empire called the Combine, you play as Dr. Gordon Freeman, a scientist tasked with leading the fight against the planet’s evil overlords.
The game is remarkable for a number of reasons. For one thing, it’s stunningly atmospheric and immersive—the entire game takes place from Freeman’s perspective, from the moment you arrive in the deteriorated, Eastern European town known as City 17, to the explosive finale. Beyond this, the game is extremely varied, including two extended vehicular sequences and elements taken from straight-up first-person shooters, survival-horror games, squad-based combat, and more. Add all this to fantastic pacing, good design, and an epic plot, and you have the recipe for one hell of an experience.
Luckily, if you haven’t played Half-Life 2, it’s still widely available. In fact, it can be purchased for just US$19.99 from Steam, Valve’s digital distribution software, at steampowered.com. Trust me, it’s well worth the price—this is the perfect first-person shooter. —David McClelland
Mass Effect Trilogy
2007–present
PC, Xbox 360
SPACE TRAVEL—IT has been the focus and desire of mankind since its discovery. But while we wait for NASA to figure out how to travel at light speed, Edmonton-based developers Bioware have produced the perfect game to tide us over: their epic space opera, Mass Effect.
Since the discovery of ancient ruins on Mars containing complicated new technology, humans are now able to travel to the far reaches of the galaxy and explore the worlds hidden within. Alien races, political struggles, human colonization, and stigma are just some of the major themes that define Mass Effect, though the destruction of the universe itself is the main plot driver. Though the concept may seem clichéd, Mass Effect has an incredible storyline that makes the playing experience extraordinarly engaging.
You play Commander Shepard on board the SSV Normandy, a Human Alliance vessel. Humanity is in its infancy as a galactic race and needs to assert itself. You are a tool for performing the task, as you have the confidence of the alien-led governmental body known as the Citadel Council. As with most games, it is your job to save the galaxy.
What makes Mass Effect unique is the immersiveness and grandeur of the storyline and gameplay. Bioware has not just created a living world but a realistic and tangible galaxy. Travelling the galaxy is a task in itself; you will spend hours just exploring unchartered planets. Character development is excellent, forcing the player to make difficult decisions that come with far-reaching consequences. Each decision the player makes is carried forward throughout the three games, thus creating a different experience for each play-through and for each gamer. While other games have tried the “choose your own adventure” storyline, Mass Effect is one of the only games to get it right. The game is really affected by how you play, and players can see how their choices manifest themselves—unlike some others games that promised the same type of playing experience (we’re looking at you, Peter Molyneux). With all the classic action and RPG elements present, the Mass Effect games are some of the best. If you haven’t tried them yet, Mass Effect 1 and 2 are available in stores, with the third and final installment in the series due sometime in 2011.
—Rob Suttie
