With less than two weeks until the Playstation 4 launches, the sun is setting on the current generation of consoles. As such, we here at Critically Sane have sat down and came up with the fifty games we felt were our collective favorites. Some of these titles defined the generation for us, while others were just damn fun to play. One thing they all have in common though is that they are all great games in one way or another and deserve to be on this list. Today we continue the countdown by revealing games 20 through 11.
20. L.A. Noire
Somehow, out of the awful workplace that was Team Bondi, after a much-needed rescue mission by one of Rockstar’s dev teams, a truly compelling noir detective story was born. L.A. Noire may not have had perfect gameplay, but its storytelling, facial animations, and interrogation set pieces were all at the highest standard. For players seeking something truly different from any other game on the market, in a genre absent of quality games, L.A. Noire was a standout title.
~ Tony Odett
19. Far Cry 3
For those seeking an explosive open world adventure, Far Cry 3 was the ultimate experience. The game encouraged insanity (and played on the theme not only in the wild action, but in the storyline and characters as well). The ability of players to approach situations however they chose, whether sneaking around, going in guns blazing, or lighting the whole world on fire made this game a can’t-miss experience.
~ Tony Odett
18. Crusader Kings 2
Paradox Interactive had long been making quality strategy games when Crusader Kings 2 finally thrust the company into the public eye. With compelling RPG elements, an eye popping map, and excellent timing (Game of Thrones really put people in the mood for something like this) CK2 was a breakthrough title. Somewhat easier to play than Paradox’s other titles, this was game is an excellent gateway drug to the wonderful world of their particular style of strategy.
~ Tony Odett
17. Dark Souls
Dark Souls may have been a niche title, but that didn’t stop its dedicated fans from shouting praises from the rooftops. This was the ultimate hardcore title- difficult and punishing, where players died in multitudes, whether killed by the game’s challenging monsters and traps, or by invasions by other players. It was also deeply rewarding to see your character finally beat those difficult portions, and to watch your character grow and develop under extreme pressure. This was the best title of the generation for those with the desire for the greatest test of their gaming skill.
~Tony Odett
16. Halo 4
After Halo: Reach I worried for the Halo franchise. With series creator, Bungie, having moved on to new creative endeavors, Microsoft left the series in the hands of their hand-picked in-house studio, 343 Industries, a company that while loaded with talent, was untested when it came to game development. Turns out there was nothing to fear because 343 got it right, delivering a memorable campaign, a fun co-op experience and the tried and true Halo multiplayer, albeit with a few tweaks to make it their own. All these things combined helped to create one of the best shooters of this generation and sets expectations quite high for the next entry.
~ Chris Scott
15. Tomb Raider
In the whole “raid tombs, epic 3D platformer action game” genre, Tomb Raider was the title that started it all . But one of those other games (Uncharted) took the formula to a new level, and the Tomb Raider series just kept chugging along its normal path. Until the Crystal Dynamics reboot, that is. 2013’s Tomb Raider told a superb story about one young Laura Croft, and her epic adventure escaping an island she was shipwrecked on. The pacing was stellar and the visuals were astounding. Laura’s transition to the current-gen was a little late-blooming, but either way, it was a great sendoff for the generation as a whole.
~ Don Parsons
14. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
38 Studios may been run into the ground by its management, but that didn’t prevent the developer from putting out one of the best RPGs of the generation. With a beautiful complex world built upon the theme of fate, this game was a hallmark of design, featuring solutions to many problems that had plagued the genre for years. The fate system allowed players to respec their characters if they were bored, inventory was smartly and efficiently managed, and combat was weighty and interesting. Kingdoms of Amalur was a triumph, even if the studio was a failure.
~ Tony Odett
13. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Rocksteady designed this fantastic formula that blended stealth and action into a single game, and as it turned out, the game just happened to have Batman in it, giving it a solid push. Batman: Arkham Asylum took the industry by storm when it released, giving gamers a satisfying Batman game that had very few flaws, and a lot of perks. The voice acting and storytelling, in particular, were top caliber. Playing as Batman, you didn’t have to play stealthy, but you wanted to because, well, you were Batman.
~ Don Parsons
12. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
At one point in time , World War 2 shooters were all the rage. And then Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare came out and sparked a new-found interest in both modern day shooters and online multiplayer. The single player was noted for having an exceptional story, and the multiplayer defined the shooter landscape for years to come. The online model was built around a level up system that just kept people coming back, and the maps are still some of the studio’s finest works.
~ Don Parsons
11. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was a fine game that took the Tomb Raider formula and updated it for this generation. Its sequel, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, blew the doors off the train and redefined what we expect from one of these games. Buoyed by a strong narrative, believable characters and the best visuals Naughty Dog could squeeze out of the PS3 at the time, Uncharted 2 became the high water mark for action-adventure games that even the latest Tomb Raider copied (to great effect).
~ Chris Scott
Come back tomorrow for the reveal of games 10-1.
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