Top 10 Next-Gen Games.

[Captain Vegetable]

Originally posted by Tyler_Durden
No, that's what I was going for. You have a nice list, but you didn't tell us why you like the games! Unacceptable!

Oh! That's what happens when you only read the last page of a thread.

Here, this is better:

Rez - I don't know what it is about this thing, as everything it does some other game does better, but when you put it all together, with the awesome music, excellent play control, and philisophical references, it's like buttah!

Suikoden III - I haven't finished it yet, but man is it refreshing! Great story, great character design, great music, it's got it all. AND it's a challenge!

IIDX 6th - Dog$ recomended this to me, so out on a limb I went with the purchase of an Asian PS2, IIDX Controller, and the game...that's $400 US dollars to play a stinking music game! But I don't regret it at all! Best import purchase I've ever made! If you get the chance, do it! It's tough to learn, but fun the whole way through.

Blinx - What can I say...I like the guy. His game is simple enough, with a bare bones story and no really real "time manipulation," but the control is spot on, the challenge is there, and the design is marvelous! I hope we see a sequel.

Ico - Just freaking jaw-dropping.

Maximo - One of the best platformers this side of an SNES, Maximo didn't get the attention it deserved. I'm glad for the sequel, and hope it does better.

Metroid Prime - It's METROID!!! On my GameCube!!!

Gitaroo Man - I need to pledge my support for this game as well. If it wasn't for IIDX, this'd tippy-top the charts as far as rythm games go. As such, it runs a very, very, very close second.

Super Mario Sunshine - I was one of the complainers about this at first, but recently I revisited it and found everything I had initially not liked just melted away. Thanks, Nintendo!

Grand Theft Auto III - It's still fun! I love that!

[SonofdonCD]

(***WARNING- LONG POST AHEAD!***)

I'm not sure if I'm gonna have 10 games, but anywhoo.....

In no particular order:

Panzer Dragon Orta- No words are needed to describe it's greatness. Best On-Rails Shooter.

Halo- Same as above. Best Console FPS.

Metroid Prime- I knew it would rock. To all of you playa haters out there: TOLD YOU SO!!! Best GC game, and the best Nintendo game in quite a long while for me.

Jet Set Radio Future- Awesome soundtrack, spectacular graphics, superb control, and I don't care what anyone says: better gameplay overall.

GTA III- Haven't played Vice City yet, but if it's got the same gameplay, sprawling and lively city to explore, and same "Play at your own pace (aka play seriously or blow stuff up)" mentality, then I'll be one happy gamer once it's in my possesion. (PS, I played the PC rev., but it shouldn't really matter, corect?)

Splinter Cell- I can't believe I almost forgot about this one. Beauty of a game, with the depth of gameplay to exceed it's beauty. MGS, move over.

Now here are games that would be included if the DC is included.

Shenmue II (Shenmue included)- Epic. That's the only word I need to describe this game. Especially after seeing the biggest cliffhanger of an ending in any game ever. If this game doesn't continue, I would be heavily crushed.

Skies of Arcadia- While not the most original, best with story or gameplay; what this game does do, it does oh so right. This game just exudes "CHARACTER" in an anti-Square way that puts a smile on your face, and makes you want to root for the good guys for a change. Great graphics and music can't hurt either.

Sonic Adventure 2 (SA1 included)- Sonic in 3D seems like a hit or miss thing with the "True gaming public" (since some don't like the phrase "Hardcore"), especially SA2, but both games were a showcase for the system. Great graphics with speed up the ying-yang (and little to no slowdown to boot), diverse and fun gameplay (again, hit or miss, though) and lovely soundtrack (yet again, hit of miss). Even tWo decently thought-out storylines, especially for what's essentially a platformer. Good stuff.

PSO (any version)- TOO ADDICTING!!!! That is all.

Games I WANT to play, and might fill in/replace certain games in my list:

Shinobi- Big Shinobi Fan here.
VF4- VF was always a fave of mine. Mind you, I'm not that good
Rez- Saw a friend play once. Need to experience it firsthand.
Sly Cooper- Played demo, had fun. 'Nuff said.
Ico- Heard too much praise to let it pass.
Kingdom Hearts- Seems interesting enough.
Contra: Shattered Soldier- While not the biggest fan, I do like my Contra every now and again.
Star Fox Adventures- Same as Kingdom Hearts.
Steel Battallion- Too excessive not to experience.
Time Splitters 2- Loved me some GE on N64. Map editor, I'd love to recreate some GE/PD levels myself .
Fatal Frame- I like scary games.
Devil May Care- STILL have yet to play this game.
Final Fantasy X- While FF7 & 8 were mediocre to okay, 9 seemed interesting enough. I'm willing to give Square another shot to redeem themselves with me.

I haven't really played too much new games. I've picked up older DC games when most people had brand new, shiny PS2s and GCs and XBs. And now I only own X-Box, mostly for money and time constraints. But partially cause, even though I read up on it constantly, I'm just not the same gamer I was pre-January 31st, 2001. Call it a lame excuse, call it "Growing up", call it whatever; but a piece of me just isn't as excited anymore. Unfortunately, that same piece of me buys games. Why am I still here, you ask? I don't know.

Go figure. (Not that anyone will CARE about my feelings towards the current gaming scene.....)

[Ste-Von]

In no particular order:

Ico-Amazing asthetics, beautiful graphics, simple but ingenious gameplay.

Metroid Prime-The best looking game ever, perfectly polished, addictive, the sense of exploration and discovery is unmatched by any other Next-Gen game.

Halo-Great story, awesome looking environments, great AI, and the most fun I've ever had playing a multiplayer game.

Final Fantasy X-The mature syle of FF8 with gameplay that's actually pretty damn good, and the speech adds so much to the game.

Tekken 4-I'm gonna catch a lot of shit for this one, but it's my favorite fighting game. Good backstory, great characters and moves, beautiful graphics, and incredibly deep (if slightly unbalanced) gameplay.

Eternal Darkness-Incredibly original, with some of the best use of sound I've heard in a game, and some truly creepy moments. Using so many different characters with interconnecting stories was very cool.

Frequency-Fun, challenging, and incredibly addictive, with a great song selection and fun split-screen or online.

Splinter Cell-The trial and error gameplay was somewhat annoying, but I loved the tension of sneaking around with the risk of being seen, and the lighting and shadows were the best ever in a game. Oh, and it was a whole hell of alot better than MGS2.

Yeah, it's only 8, but I can't think of 2 more that I feel strongly enough about to put on here, so I guess I'll update this when I think of them.

[Kinopio]

Originally posted by StriderKyo
And since that's like the 3rd mention of WotS, I'm getting kind of interested in that, too...maybe if I see it cheap I'll grab it. (Agh! Too many games already!)

Do it. Screw those other games.

[Punky Skunk]

Call it a lame excuse, call it "Growing up", call it whatever; but a piece of me just isn't as excited anymore.

Believe me, it's the games.

[StriderKyo]

Originally posted by SonofdonCD

Now here are games that would be included if the DC is included.

Shenmue II
Skies of Arcadia
Sonic Adventure 2
PSO

Since those games are all on the Xbox or Gamecube, I'd say they count for this list too

I haven't really played too much new games. I've picked up older DC games when most people had brand new, shiny PS2s and GCs and XBs. And now I only own X-Box, mostly for money and time constraints. But partially cause, even though I read up on it constantly, I'm just not the same gamer I was pre-January 31st, 2001. Call it a lame excuse, call it "Growing up", call it whatever; but a piece of me just isn't as excited anymore. Unfortunately, that same piece of me buys games. Why am I still here, you ask? I don't know.

Track down this month's OPM demo disc. Find a friend with a PS2, and then tell me there's nothing exciting going on. There's a couple of seriously mindblowing games on there - ZOE 2 and Xenosaga in particular. You will be a believer!

[SonofdonCD]

Originally posted by StriderKyo
Track down this month's OPM demo disc. Find a friend with a PS2, and then tell me there's nothing exciting going on. There's a couple of seriously mindblowing games on there - ZOE 2 and Xenosaga in particular. You will be a believer!

I never said the current scene wasn't exciting at all. Merely that I'm not as excited by it. I'm just kinda passive on games now. I don't get as excited by anything now, not even most Sega games. Wait a sec..... who am I lying to?!?

X-Box is cool and all, and I do enjoy it, but it's no DC yet.

Nintendo hasn't wowed me at all yet, with the exception of Prime.

With the exception of a few games, I'm the least interested in getting a PS2 right now.

Let's just say a part of me died with my DC, and now I'm a whole lot pickier with what I choose to spend my money on. I don't have the time nor money to buy games I'm only "mildly" interested in. They have to be the cream of the crop, and if not, then it's not worth it to me right now.

Besides, I did say it was also a time/money restraint, didn't I? If I had as much cash to blow as everyone else here seems to, then maybe things would be different.

Maybe not, though.

[Diff-chan]

Nah it wouldnt, because then you just buy an assload of games that you never play.

Uhhh games are just games.

If you dont play them as much anymore, who gives a shit? Games are just another hobby. Enjoy life and the one or two games you do happen to like. Dont look for some fucking "magic" that you think old games had, cause they didn't, and you're not gonna find something that's not there.

I probably play games now about as much as I did when I was ten or twelve (maybe 10 hours a week?), which incidentally coincides to when I enjoyed them the most. Basically I dont look for any satisfaction now from today's games or anything magical from my games, but I do think I like them more than when I was.

If part of you died with your DC, its time for a new hobby man.

[Tain]

IIDX 6th - Dog$ recomended this to me, so out on a limb I went
with the purchase of an Asian PS2, IIDX Controller, and the
game...that's $400 US dollars to play a stinking music game! But I
don't regret it at all! Best import purchase I've ever made! If you
get the chance, do it! It's tough to learn, but fun the whole way
through.

You know... That's completely true. Knowing nothing but Beatmania PC sims, I picked up a JPS2, IIDX 6th, and the controller, and it was completely worth it. I don't think I've made a better purchase, and within a month, IIDX 6th has climed very high on my favorites list. This game needs a domestic release or something.

I'm downright amazed that this game (series) recieves so little attention, especially on these boards.

[gameoverDude]

Not in any order:

Psyvariar Complete Edition: Ported from the Taito G-Net, it's a good shooter featuring the Buzz system (you scrape bullets to fill your energy meter so that you can level up). Getting your ship to the next level leaves it invincible for a couple moments so you can run over a dense cluster of bullets to buzz some more or ram into enemies. Timing is essential on destroying bosses... destroy them too soon and you lose an opportunity to milk them for more Buzz points, but wait too long and they self-destruct their current form.

Shinobi: A very different Shinobi but still good. The shuriken blast and the double jump have made it over nicely. Wall walking and lock-dashing add to it along with the Tate kills.

Rez: Take what's good about Panzer Dragoon and throw it into a "Tron on acid" world. Like RayForce, more lock-ons in one sweep means more points. The art style and the dynamic music make this quite an experience.

Virtua Fighter 4: Taking away the E button is a good move, since it keeps things simple (the 8-way movement system here is a lot better). Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution will likely edge it out.

DDR MAX: Because it's DDR. Enough said about that one.

Gitadora: Guitar Freaks is a good Bemani game, but the real star of this one is Drummania.

Energy Airforce: Taito's jet combat game has a steep learning curve at first, and you've got License tests to pass before you can play Mission mode. An arcade mode is included to help you get the hang of things. It supports the Hori Ace Combat 04 stick.

Time Crisis II: The arcade game is already good. This time, Namco outdid theirselves with a shitload of extra features- such as completely enhanced graphics, twin gun mode, and simulations of Quick & Crash and Shoot Away 2. The Mission Mode offers some real challenges.

Space Raiders: This is what a next-gen Space Invaders should be like. Bullet patterns are sometimes manic like a Cave shooter, but you can now roll through them with the right timing. Grenades and Special Attacks let you really ruin the alien bastards' day.

Contra: Shattered Soldiers: This one gives the series a considerable nudge away from the perdition it experienced on the 32-bit systems.