In the past I've put my whole list of the Top 10 games of a given year on one blog post, but I've written a bit more about why I though each game was so awesome than in previous years. Anyway, I'll split my list up into four parts, 10-8, 7-5, 4-2, and #1. So here's the first part of the list of my Top 10 favorite video games of 2010:
10. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Lords of Shadow is a criminally underrated game that got scores that were much lower than what this AAA action/adventure game deserves. It's not an old-school Castlevania experience, but who cares? The game is a ton of fun thanks to awesome production values, a great story, tried-and-true gameplay, colossal boss battles, and a lengthy quest. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow isn't revolutionary, but it's one of the most refined action/adventure games of this generation, and its interesting aesthetic, and st.yle ensure it's unlike anything else you'll play this year. I think to sum up the greatness of Lords of Shadow best, I will quote the guys at Penny Arcade who deemed it as being "for pimps only." I could not agree more.
9. Alan Wake
Alan Wake, on the merits of its story, and characters alone easily gives it a place on my list. Alan Wake starts off by fooling you into thinking it has a legitimate survival horror plot, but that couldn't be more wrong. What you end up getting is a sort of horror-comedy that simultaneously satirizes Twilight Zone, or Twin Peaks-esque horror stories while delivering some real scares. Thanks to excellent writing, and characters, the game has its own quirky sense of humor, and there are some poignant storytelling moments. But, of course, I haven't even mentioned the gameplay. The mechanic of using your flashlight to weaken enemies, the finishing them off with a few bullets works very well, and creates plenty of tense situations. It's too bad the game is so underappreciated; Alan Wake is a really remarkable game because it pushes video game narrative forward in it's own quirky way.
8. BioShock 2
"Unnecessary", I imagine, is not the kind of word game developers want their project associated with, but it's easy to think that there's no real need for BioShock 2 - until you've played it. BioShock 2 improves upon many of the core mechanics of the original title, and by casting you as a Big Daddy, delivers much more visceral action. The story is also truly excellent; by crafting a much more personal tale, the things that the player is fighting for are more apparent, thus giving the narrative a lot of driving force, and the story is even oddly touching. The multiplayer options are also quite impressive since the more strategic gunplay isn't sacrificed in favor of run-and-gun action. The original BioShock wasn't broke, but 2K Marin fixed it anyway, and the result is a much more refined, complete sequel, and one of my top games of this year.
That's it for now. Look out for my number 7-5 picks tomorrow.