5 Games To Make Us Proud Of Our Industry
View Large ImageI'm only including future titles in this little rundown here, because I think we all are aware of the recent games that have made us very proud to be gamers. Titles like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Gears of War, LittleBigPlanet and many others have really given us the urge to drag random people in off the street, point to the screen and say triumphantly, "look at that!"
Well, here are five games that should have this very effect on us, and represent both the grown-up nature of video games today and the technical and artistic quality that make them special.
Heavy Rain
We've been excited about this one for almost a year now, and every time we see new media and information, our excitement level goes up yet another notch. This past week, we saw the latest "For Love" trailer and our jaws dropped yet again; we gave you both the video and commentary directly after the show, and most of you agree: this one is gonna be impressive. We've also pondered the possibility of a whole new genre for this title; something we'd like to call the "intellectual genre." It should represent another step forward in storytelling and CGI, and we're already proud of Quantic Dream based on what we've seen.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Everyone knows this game will be great, but the important thing to realize is that this really represents one of the first true cross-overs between movies and games. We have the professional voice acting that we need, we have the requisite action, but perhaps more importantly, we have the little things that might fool the uninitiated into thinking this is a theatrical movie. Here's a good example: check out this Chloe Trailer that popped up at GamesCom 2009, and watch Chloe's face from about halfway through; it's the facial reactions of a real woman with real emotions. We see that in Drake in other videos as well (watch the other Fortune Favors trailer) and this is only one "for-instance" of how far games have come...
Brutal Legend
Tim Schafer can do no wrong. That's all you need to know. He will invariably deliver a unique, entertaining experience that really can't be compared to any other title on store shelves. Brutal Legend will be yet another example of amusing originality that you won't find anywhere else; all you metalheads out there really ought to be intrigued. And even if you're not a fan of that music genre, you should still be respectful and appreciative of the idea and premise. It's something new and a damn good reason to be proud to be a gamer. For more info, feel free to check out the latest Developer Commentary and just try not to smile. The more we see projects like this, the more interested we are in looking down the road and into the future.
Gran Turismo 5
When it comes to realism and authenticity, there really is no equal. Forza 3 can try and I wish it the best of luck (I love great simulators), but I'm fairly confident it simply won't be on the same level as Polyphony's masterpiece. This is one game that will drop your jaw and make your palms sweat, both at the same time; it's all about becoming immersed in an interactive event that feels amazingly real. If it manages to come out this year, it'll give a guaranteed boost to the PS3 (although I'm not sure it needs it now) and make our eyes gleam with excitement. There's a reason why amateur and professional drivers use iterations of GT to train in the off-season and why there's simply no better option for car enthusiasts and gearheads everywhere.
The Last Guardian
There is a small but very vocal group of gamers who continually ask for more titles like ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. Well, they're finally going to get their wish next year, when we'll receive The Last Guardian, which looks downright fantastic from every angle. You can check out the latest trailer and how it stacks up to the early vid that got leaked; it's clear that some work has been done to the boy. This is going to be another singular experience; it's drenched with artistic beauty and it should feature what we'll assume is an engaging form of gameplay. It might even remind us of the good ol' days of Adventure games, as the aforementioned titles from Team ICO managed to do... Gotta love this.
The 6th Man Award: Whatever thatgamecompany's new project is
We don't yet know what Jenova Chen and the rest of the thatgamecompany team is working on, but we will bet our very last dollar that it'll be both innovative and oddly attractive in a variety of ways. After flOw and Flower, we've been sufficiently impressed with Chen and Co., and we've heard that this new project is "something we've never seen before." ...how come we're not surprised? Whatever this is, we'll be one of the first to buy it 'cuz we're absolutely convinced it'll be worth our time and money.
8/21/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (85 posts)
Jalex
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:09:11 PM
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As for 'Brutal Legend', I'm sure it will make a lot of people happy, though I personally find no appeal. Substitute that title with 'Mafia II', and you'd have my list.
5 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:21:55 PM
Reply
4 up, 1 down
Victor321
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:39:26 PM
By the way, your avatar's cute XD
Last edited by Victor321 on 8/21/2009 10:40:40 PM
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:45:02 AM
2 up, 0 down
Danny007
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:27:30 PM
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Last edited by Danny007 on 8/21/2009 10:29:02 PM
3 up, 0 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:47:21 PM
2 up, 0 down
kevinater321
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:24:53 PM
3 up, 0 down
DFogz
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:32:01 PM
3 up, 0 down
kevinater321
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:19:01 AM
1 up, 0 down
556pineapple
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:31:08 PM
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1 up, 0 down
mk ultra
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:37:02 PM
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3 up, 0 down
kevinater321
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:26:23 PM
4 up, 0 down
Victor321
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:51:17 PM
Sony right Kevinater ;)?
Last edited by Victor321 on 8/21/2009 11:51:37 PM
3 up, 0 down
eLLeJuss
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:04:15 PM
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Fl0w
Flowers
BUBBLES!! XD
4 up, 0 down
bebestorm
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:13:52 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:42:15 AM
2 up, 0 down
bebestorm
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:08:39 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:58:48 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:59:45 PM
4 up, 0 down
kevinater321
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:32:47 PM
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1 up, 4 down
Jawknee
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:52:16 PM
6 up, 0 down
kevinater321
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:20:50 AM
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 9:23:44 AM
1 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 6:02:28 PM
From my understanding, Shadow of the Colossus and ICO did no pre-rendered CGI cut-scenes. Taking that into account we can "try" to say that what we saw in The Last Guardian could be the gameplay in itself.
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kevinater321
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 9:14:15 PM
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Ricochet
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 10:44:50 PM
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sunspider13
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 11:39:16 PM
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U2AT is a day one buy for me, hearing Claudia Black's voice in that E3 trailer made up my mind right then and there. Plus it's the Indy game we should have.
Tim Schafer's Psyconauts was awesome, however I'll be passing on BL. Can't stand Jack Black.
GT5...what more do i need to say? Nothing I tell you!
The Last Guardian and U2AT are the two games that I'm looking forward to. After playing Ico and Shadow of the Colossus these people can do no wrong.
4 up, 0 down
Alienange
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 11:34:15 PM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:01:08 AM
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6 up, 2 down
tes37
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 9:47:15 AM
* I'm not dogging the other ones though *
Last edited by tes37 on 8/22/2009 9:49:11 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 11:03:14 AM
2 up, 1 down
Banky A
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:37:14 AM
You're right!
5 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:07:38 AM
2 up, 3 down
Alienange
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 11:44:33 PM
How you gave it thought and came up with Brutal Legend over GoWIII is completely beyond me.
2 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:40:18 AM
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But Ben, supposedly Forza 3 is very realistic too and Le Mans drivers has given it praise.
I'm kind of worried, coz' FM3 does look good. People like the look of it's customization and vehicle damage + roll overs.
o_O
2 up, 3 down
Highlander
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:44:31 AM
3 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:09:41 AM
I meant that Forza had big (kind of arcady') destruction physics so more non-hardcore people would like that for fun.
And there's those guys who love to put decals and paint jobs on their cars, which GT has never done but I hope they don't.
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 9:11:24 AM
Last edited by Jawknee on 8/22/2009 9:13:11 AM
3 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:07:04 AM
5 up, 1 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 6:05:31 PM
1 up, 0 down
Kai200X
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:45:06 AM
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Scarecrow
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:54:05 AM
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Not everyone likes metal ( I love metal by the way ) And since its most important portion is the music I don't see it in this list as something everyone should be proud of
I'd replace that with littlebigplanet or something
EDIT: They took out Dio, wtf? Seriously, they failed the game right there for me.
Last edited by Scarecrow on 8/22/2009 1:54:41 AM
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godsman
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 2:46:05 AM
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I think the list should include MAG. It's a game worth breaking the
barrier of online multiplayers.
Heavy Rain is definitely innovation to gaming. That 10 hours of gameplay can easily be replayed to see all possible outcomes of each route.
Uncharted is pushing the console graphics to the top. It's amazing how high quality the game is. It easily stole the prize as the best graphics at E3 09. That nailed shut everyone's mouth that PS3 is inferior to "other" consoles.
GT5, I don't think it's really pushing the PS3 engine potentials, just because the fact that it can so easily achieve 1080p and 60fps i the PS3 early ages, while other games struggle to run smoothly on 720p. Although I could be wrong, please explain if i'm wrong. But the shear content breaks all racing records and deserve a spot on the list.
2 up, 0 down
Random_Steve
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 4:28:00 AM
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2 up, 7 down
Fatcat3788
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:04:52 AM
3 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:12:00 AM
I don't know what genre of games you like but Team Ico's stuff always have great art design.
^_^
5 up, 0 down
Random_Steve
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 2:15:22 PM
0 up, 1 down
Banky A
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 11:07:23 PM
But I'm sorry to hear that ;)
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___________
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:05:09 AM
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if theres anything that the industry should be proud of its wolfenstein 3D the first FPS than doom the first horror FPS than half life the first FPS to raise the bar so high after 3D.
than mortal kombat, and metal gear solid with its in depth storyline and stealth gameplay.
i miss MGS1 where it was play or death.
that was a true stealth game none of this if your found who cares BS.
i want a true stealth game, revolving arround stealth and forcing you into stealth.
but sadly the 2 daddys of the genre have sold their soul.
MGS and now splinter cell conviction.
splinter cell use to be strictly run in kill everyone and leave with no one knowing you exist.
now its meh go in kill everyone how every you want, guns blazing no stealth required.
try that in chaos theroy see how long you last.
sure you can use it if you want, but the mechanics are not there anymore.
its no where near as stealth driven as it use to be
0 up, 5 down
bearbobby
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:08:43 AM
1 up, 0 down
Naga
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 7:54:13 AM
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You kid right?!
Uncharted 2 obviously looks like one of those titles that will be unmissable if the last game was great Uncharted 2 will go way beyond Uncharted.
Brutal Legend looks alright but it really depends how great the gameplay is hopefully it isn't like Dynasty Warriors
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:05:59 AM
2 up, 0 down
bearbobby
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:21:03 AM
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Uncharted 2 will be a must buy, just hoping there's more exploring and platforming involved rather than the constant firefights from the first one. I don't mind shooting pirates or whatnot, but the sh** has to make sense. Why did I just solve that puzzle to empty a room full of water to get into a room that's been sealed off for years, only to find pirates waiting around the next corner? Did they have a backdoor? lol
GT5 will look stunning and I'm sure will handle very well, it should really deliver what Polyphony's fans are craving.
Brutal Legend is where I hesitate. I don't mind Jack Black, he has a certain charm, and Tenacious D will rock your f**kin' socks off! I appreciate Metal for it's very technical riffs, and I can see it being a big draw for this game. However, I've seen very little gameplay that didn't remind me of a normal hack n slash. Though I have no doubt the story will be fun and interesting, I need more info before I get on board. :)
Last edited by bearbobby on 8/22/2009 8:21:53 AM
2 up, 0 down
BlinkBoy
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:29:05 AM
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1 up, 0 down
mick
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 8:42:53 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:05:32 AM
2 up, 0 down
tes37
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 9:33:42 AM
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Ben, I would need a little help dragging random people off the street, they are rather fat in my neighborhood.
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 10:04:33 AM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 11:09:02 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Ultimadream
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:20:41 PM
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2 up, 1 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:38:35 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 4:06:21 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:57:00 PM
1 up, 0 down
Squirreldriver
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:42:37 PM
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I love that 5/6 are PS3 exclusives, this will be a good year indeed.
1 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 4:05:41 PM
5 up, 0 down
tlpn99
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 2:38:54 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Kangasfwa
Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 5:56:11 PM
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Schafer has the king-midas touch when it comes to games. Nice to (finally) see someone else who recognizes his talent.
And since Double Fine makes the opposite of what came before it, we're guaranteed another original, fun game next time around.
1 up, 1 down
Alienange
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 12:05:31 AM
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The other four games are bang on though. Any one of them is street person worthy. Big time.
5 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 10:18:46 PM
1 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Sunday, August 23, 2009 @ 7:25:43 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Robochic
Reply
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:01:41 PM
Heavy rain looks amazing the more and more I see and hear about this game the more I want it.
The last Guardian haven't heard much about this game, but will check the trailer out.