Writers Choice – Top 5 of 2010 (Biznitch)

2010 has come and gone, leaving us with a wealth of games – some great, some not so great. But who wants to celebrate the not so great games? We here at That Gamer Hub held our Game of the Year Awards in the final weeks of 2010, showcasing what we as a team thought were the stand-out titles of the year, as well as giving you readers the chance to vote on your own favorite titles.

But, one thing the results showed us (as well as the initial selection process for the games to make the list) was that everyone has their own, personal, favorite games. People commented on our forums and articles (and even commented on Twitter) about games they felt should have made the list.

So, what better way for us to show off our individual favorite titles from the year gone by than to let our writers talk about their own, personal, Top 5 Games of 2010. Each day, two of our writers will talk about their favorite games, and why they think they were to stand-out titles of the year. But, we’d also like to know what you’re favorite games were, so make sure you drop into the forums to tell us what games top your list!

Since the first tech demo was released to youtube 4 years ago, I couldn’t wait to get my sweaty paws on this title. The graphics seemed unsurpassed, truly showing off what the PS3 was capable of. But that was just the start. From the moment the disc hit my PS3 to the moment I put the controller down, I was memorized by Heavy Rain. Entranced. Captivated. Everything about this game struck a cord with me – from the sublime acting, engrossing story, photo-realistic graphics, breath taking score and, most importantly in my eyes, truly believable characters. Never before have I been so caught up in a story line, be it TV, film or video game, and never before have I felt truly emotionally attached to characters and situations. At one point I genuinely had to take a break after killing one guy, accidentally. I felt terrible for it – something I’ve never experienced in a game before. But this wasn’t a game – this was an experience, and one that everyone should fully indulge in. Although the sublime twist never changes (something you can predict, but refuse to acknowledge if you’re emotionally invested in the story) each path you take can change the outcome of the finale, and how you perceive each character.

I bet it’s no surprise that this ranks high up on my top games of 2010. What can I say about this fantastic gem that I haven’t already chronicled? Minecraft is, quite simply, Lego in video game form. You’re dropped into the middle of a fascinating land of various animals and raw materials, and are left to your own devices. From cooking dinner to constructing quaint cottages, epic mines and grand fortress’s, Minecraft’s only limitation is the players imagination. This game has come a long way since late 2009 when it was first conceived, but the addition of “Survival Mode” is what catapulted this masterpiece into gaming history, selling almost 1 million copies before the year closed. I will always remember those first few nights, confused an alone, struggling desperately to survive against swarms of creatures-of-the-night, praying for say.

Not bad, since it’s only just hit beta!

The story was ridiculous. The physics were woeful. The voice acting was truly atrocious. But that didn’t matter, because I was surfing onto of a frigging Jumbo Jet with an unsuspecting civilian Tuk-Tuk dangling from the back. This game was just pure fun. When other games strive for realism, Just Cause 2 let players loose in a phenomenally huge open-world sandbox – and a stunning one at that with unlimited grappling hooks, parachutes, a multitude of drivable vehicles (from cars, to bikes, to boats and even planes) and a primary goal to create “chaos”. From thick jungles to dense cities, swampy marshlands to barren deserts, snowy mountain peaks to expansive oceans – this game had it all. I spent hours cursing around this world, stealing every vehicle I could and blowing everything up in sight, and something tells me I’ll still be doing it deep into this year.

The first game was great. The second game, even better. The third? Outstanding. At first I was skeptical about the game, as it was released merely a year after ACII, but my mind was soon put at rest after picking up the controller. As well as having an enticing and well-paced story line (following ACII’s Ezio Auditore de Firenze) Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood once gain builds and improves upon the elements that worked in the previous titles, as well as adding a plethora of new features – most obvious of which being the multiplayer. The multiplayer experience is one I’ve never encountered before, encouraging you to blend seamlessly into your surroundings to stalk your prey, all the while avoiding your own pursuers. The beautiful open world keeps you coming back time and time again, with plenty of side missions and DLC to keep the single player fresh for a long time to come.

From vast open plains of desert to roam, wild animals to hunt, outlaws and bandits to bring to justice and mighty steeds to break in – this game really did deliver. What really made it an excellent experience was the array of interesting characters. From the sinister law-men of Black water, to the dodgy dealer Wes Dickens and even a crazy grave-digging hermit, Red Dead Redemption brought us the definitive cowboy experience we’ve all been waiting for. One thing that really made the experience one to remember was John Marston himself, and the enthralling story we lived through his actions. Months after wandering the deserts alone, I finally delved into the multiplayer which, as you’d expect from such a solid single player, doesn’t disappoint. And just when we thought we were satisfied, Rockstar released the Undead Nightmare expansion pack. This managed to bring whole new levels of fun to the game, with a story not only parodying traditional horror tales, but was never afraid to mock itself. A truly brilliant game, through and through.