Unfiltered Smoke

Ed. note – We’re kicking off our decade under review with Matt Jones’ look back on video games. Take it away Matt!

by Matt Jones

I’ll admit my bias right off the top. I don’t own a 360, and I never owned an original Xbox. I’ve played the systems, but I’ve never really delved into an Xbox game for more than a few hours. So, to be fair about the whole thing, there are lists of the top 10 best selling Xbox and Xbox 360 games after the main list. Hopefully, this will provide some unbiased Xbox coverage, as I claim no authority there.

Honourable Mentions –

Final Fantasy XII, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns, God of War, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Mario Kart Wii, Metal Gear Solid 2, Metroid Prime, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Portal, Power Stone 2, Resident Evil 4, Shadow of the Colossus, Super Mario Sunshine, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Wii Music, X-Men Legends.

10 – Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii – Nintendo – 2008)

Nintendo perfected the formula for their bare bones fighter series with the 2008 installment. While the fights themselves are as chaotic as ever, it’s the vast scope and plethora of game play styles that edged this into the top 10. The addition of the “Subspace Emissary” story mode was great as well, for two primary reasons. First, the simplistic controls and moves tranfered well to a platformer/beat-em-up scenario. Second, half the cutscenes are the most epic thing you’ve ever seen, the other half are the most hilarious. Moments like Princess Peach giggling at Solid Snake’s super-serious demeanor are both funny and wonderfully true to the characters themselves.

9 – Batman: Arkham Asylum (360/PS3/PC – Rocksteady/Eidos – 2009)

It’s almost hard to believe this game exists. After a ton of games that ranged from decent to terrible, it took until earlier this year for a great Batman game to appear. Within the hallowed halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must use combat, stealth and, of course, a multitude of gadgets to take control back from The Joker. A dark, sometimes disturbing journey into the heart of madness.

8 – Soulcalibur II – (PS2/Gamecube/Xbox – Namco – 2002)

In the 90’s, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat dominated the fighting market, while 3D fighters were just starting to establish themselves. By the 2000’s, SF vs. MK ended in a double KO and 3D fighters like DOA and Tekken came to the fore front. However, it was Soulcalibur II that did it best. With responsive, crisp controls, an easy to pick up fighting system and memorable characters, SCII secured its place as one of the best fighters of all time. Soulcalibur III and IV have since been released and are both excellent games, but other than the inclusion of a create-a-fighter option neither has topped SCII.

7 – Burnout 3 (PS2/Xbox – EA/Criterion – 2004)

Accessability. Where straight forward racers like Colin McRae or Need for Speed can be tough for some players to get in to, and slapstick racers like Mario Kart can be too chaotic, Burnout strikes a great balance. With straight racing, takedown challenges and crash junctions, there’s something for everyone. Not really good at racing? Ok, play some crash junctions – you just need to know how to crash. The 2009 sequel Burnout Paradise might have been here instead, due to its great graphics and free-roaming nature, but the lack of a true crash mode kept it off the list.

6 – Katamari Damacy (PS2 – Namco – 2004)

The game play in Katamari is brilliant in its simplicity. It’s basically “rolling up snowballs: the video game.” But that basic concept engenders very intuitive and enjoyable game play. It’s also the most un-apologetically Japanese thing ever. But that’s definitely not a bad thing. Quirky and hilarious, this game hides a deeper commentary about consumerism and overuse of resources. But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is rolling up bugs and shrubs then cats and bikes then cars and houses, all the way up to skyscrapers, mountains and the very landmasses themselves.

5 – Mega Man 9 (PS3/360/Wii – Capcom – 2008)

“Back to basics” doesn’t even begin to describe Mega Man 9. By taking many steps down the evolutionary ladder in terms of graphics, Capcom put all their effort into game play, enemy and level design. With a crippling learning curve, this game will kick your ass. It’s a retro freak out, with all the old classics (like “disappearing, reappearing blocks”) and plenty of new twists. You won’t believe it’s not 1989 again.

4 – Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Gamecube/Wii – Nintendo – 2006)

Twilight Princess brought beautiful graphics and presentation to a Hyrule similar to that of the classic Ocarina of Time for the N64. For that alone, Twilight Princess is a great game. Throw in more equipment, excellent dungeon design, an epic soundtrack and an intriguing story, and you have one of the greatest games ever. I also love that after all the craziness you go through, the last battle is just a straightforward, badass swordfight. It feels so damn pure.

3 – Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3 – Konami – 2008)

As with all the previous Metal Gear Solid games, this still feels like a movie, and the stealth game play is as engrossing as ever. There is some innovation, but in this case it’s just a matter of sheer quality. Everything in this game is done perfectly. There’s really nothing more to say than that.

2 – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2/Xbox/360/PC – Rockstar – 2004)

It was at this point that the Grand Theft Auto series really became about more than just mindless slaughter. All the options of the sandbox world of San Andreas make the game as violent, or as mundane as you like. Runs gangs, have drive bys, and seize all of the power; or buy properties, earn money by driving taxis, ambulances, and fire trucks, and go on vigilante missions. San Andreas also adds many more RPG-ish elements, and just like a real person, you have to watch how much you eat or you’ll get fat.

1 – Super Mario Galaxy (Wii – Nintendo – 2007)

Following Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine directly in terms of game play, Galaxy is a triumph of design. Every level holds many intricacies and secrets, and provides a variety of challenges. For completionists in particular, earning all the Stars in the game is a monumental undertaking with many seemingly-impossible tasks. It’s a game of incredible tension, and incredible satisfaction when you finally accomplish your goals. Bottom line, Super Mario Galaxy is the most fun I’ve had playing a game this decade.

Xbox-

· Halo 2 (8 million)

· Halo: Combat Evolved (5 million)

· Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (3.005 million approximately)

· Fable (3 million,[17] may include PC version)

· Project Gotham Racing (2.5 million)

· Grand Theft Auto Double Pack (1.701 million approximately)

· Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (1.58 million approximately)

· Counter-Strike (1.5 million)

· Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (1.46 million approximately)

· Need for Speed: Underground 2 (1.44 million approximately)

Xbox 360 -

· Halo 3 (8.1 million)

· Gears of War (5 million, may include PC version)

· Gears of War 2 (5 million)

· Grand Theft Auto IV (4.324 million approximately)

· Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (4.172 million approximately)

· Call of Duty: World at War (3.35 million approximately)

· Halo 3: ODST (3 million)

· Forza Motorsport 2 (2.674 million approximately)

· Fable II (2.6 million)

· Assassin’s Creed (2.285 million approximately)

It’s clear from the sales that the largest portion of Xbox players likes their first and third person shooter games. Based on rave reviews, it stands to reason that, had I played them, there would been representatives from the Halo, Gears of War or Call of Duty series on my list.