Not All Girls Are Noobs

Day 4: A Game that Makes You Sad

Hmmm I mean there are definitely scenes in games that make me sad, but I don’t know if there is a game, in particular, that makes me sad. I guess the game that comes to mind that made me cry big time was Halo Reach. *****Spoilers Ahead!!!***** Every time Jorge throws me off of the ship… and Cat just suddenly gets shot in the head… Man, those moments were just heartbreaking. I didn’t even like Cat for most of the game, but I definitely cried when that happened. Even though it is a tragic story, I think it is the best story in the Halo franchise.

30 Day Video Game Challenges

Female Shepard  beat out Lilith in the last set, let’s see who wins between Madison Paige and Kat!

http://micropoll.com/t/KEmvUZBsyI

I would like to take some time to talk about my favorite games of this generation. As I have mentioned before, I started playing games again last year after a hiatus so that I could, you know, get into college and stuff :) But now that I am back, I am continuously surprised and in awe of how amazing some games are. How far not only the graphics but the storytelling and the characters have come. Gaming is now bigger than Hollywood. And that is something that should be recognized and respected. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite console games that I have played of this generation so far:

*Please keep in mind that this is my personal list of favorites.

10. Heavy Rain - Now there are people out there who feel very strongly about this game in a negative way, even going so far as to say it is not a video game. But I loved Heavy Rain precisely because of its uniqueness. I don’t think that every game has to involve shoot outs or alien battles. In the case of Heavy Rain, it was the mystery and the control we had over some of Ethan’s actions that made this game for me. This could have been a movie, but instead, the creators decided to make the audience interactive and even crucial to the ending. No, I don’t think all video games should be made like Heavy Rain, but I don’t think any medium should be completely the same. This game added even more variety to the gaming industry and that is why it makes my top ten list.

9. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - In general, I don’t think that Lego games get enough credit. This had to be on my list mainly because of how many hours I have played this game. When I first bought my PS3, me and a friend played this game until seven AM. It started as a joke, but then we actually played that long. And guess what we did when we woke up? That’s right, we played more Lego Star Wars. This is a game for any Star Wars fan and its a great way to introduce younger players to the franchise and to video games in general. It’s fun. It’s addictive. It’s Star Wars.

8. Bioshock - I have admittedly not finished this game, but that is actually a plus and here is why: It is so effectively scary that I cannot finish it! If only they made horror films and thrillers in Hollywood like this game. I know the story, I went online and spoiled myself, but I can only play in like 30 minute intervals. I love the look of this game, the steampunk and the underwater city of Rapture. And I like how the ending is affected by how you play the game (I am a RPG girl remember!). I really hope I have the guts to finish it one day. And then maybe I can play the second!

7. Batman: Arkham Asylum - I kind of feel like this is self explanatory. YOU GET TO BE EFFING BATMAN AND GET TO RUN AROUND ARKHAM ASYLUM. Yep. ‘nuff said.

6. Fallout 3 - The premise around this franchise is just so intriguing that I knew that this game had to be good. And it didn’t disappoint. You have all the freedom that Bethesda usually gives you, but with a fantastic main storyline to play if you want to. I personally enjoyed trying to find all the vaults and compare them to each other. My favorite was Vault 112. What I love most about this game is that there is no wrong way to play it. Whether you decide to beat the main storyline first or just explore for hours, you are guaranteed for some super mutant fun :)

5. Fable III - Okay before everyone starts yelling at me… yes, I liked Fable III more than the the previous two BUT let me just say why (and remind you that this is my personal list). As we all know, as awesome as Fable was, it had flaws - a lot of flaws. It promised us total control, but didn’t deliver. I liked Fable II a lot. A lot! But I felt like there was still not enough control. And this might be a very girly point, but I just wanted to control how my character looked. I didn’t wait to wake up one morning with blond hair because I did a good deed. Although Fable II had a better storyline, Fable III was more addictive and gave more instant gratification. Also, I love gnomes.

4. Halo Reach - Why is this game not getting the award attention it deserves? FINALLY a Halo game with a great, emotional storyline. The graphics were clearer and sharper than any other Halo game in the past and we were given great characters like Jorge and Kat. I played this game all the way through twice in four days. This is by far my favorite Halo and I am proud to say so. Great job, Bungie!

3. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - I have so much love for this game. It is a modern Indiana Jones, but around 20 hours long. Drake is like Indy, but a little more relaxed and easy going (As a friend pointed out to me, “Not going through World War I will do that to you”) and the leading ladies are sassy and bad ass in their own ways. I am normally an RPG girl, which you will see when you get to my number 1 and 2 slots, but I could not stop playing this game. Although the villains were pretty simplistic, the storyline was compelling and better than any action-adventure movie I have seen in recent history. You get to fight in temples, moving cars, and oh yeah, in a building while it is crashing to the ground! The action, mystery, and smart ass comments never stop in this game and I cannot wait to play the next one.

2. Mass Effect 2 - This game is basically perfection. The story is incredible - complex, morally ambiguous, mysterious, full of action, romance, and climaxes - and the characters are so layered and unique. I am just so in awe that we can have characters like Thane Krios, Garrus Vakarian, and Mordin Solus all on one ship. BioWare does not just give us a bunch of planets, they give us different solar systems, each with their own unique looks, histories, and customs. Shepard, who I played as a female, can really be played in so many ways. You can go straight renegade or paragon or do whatever you like. There are so many decisions along the way, it really is up to you. I have played more than 100 hours of this game and I plan to play another 80 when it comes out on PS3.

1. Dragon Age: Origins - I am the biggest fan girl for this franchise. I have played it through three times, two of which were 80 hour play throughs. I own an I love Alistair t-shirt. I have read the David Gaider novels. I have it for both PS3 and Xbox 360 and will be getting it for PC soon… I am obsessed with this game. So you can imagine my surprise when I looked on twitter or different forums and found that not everyone loved this game as much as me. People bitched about the graphics or how whiny Alistair is or (most commonly) how you could have gay elf sex. My question to people is, What the hell is wrong with that!? We have a game where species and gender does not matter in romance. Gay Elf Sex is equality. Yes, the graphics could have been better on console, but I don’t think they were as bad as people say and come on people, that story was incredible! Finally we have a complex villain! Loghain was a hero in Gaider’s novel, The Stolen Throne, and he isn’t just some twirling mustache bad guy. He just couldn’t get over past prejudices. He couldn’t look at the big picture and join with the Orlesians against the Darkpawn because in the past Orlesian soldiers raped his mom in front of him. Okay, sorry, fan girl moment. Obviously I loved this game. It really did transport me into a world that I wished I lived in and isn’t that the point of video games? Isn’t that the point of storytelling in general? Never was the dream broken for me and that is why it is in my number one spot.

Also… Alistair = Perfection. Okay I’m done haha Just had to put that in there.

So those are my top 10 games of this generation. I can’t wait to see what is coming next for I am sure that I will be blown away.

Congrats to Mass Effect 2! Now for the second set of Round 2, which I mentioned last night.

http://micropoll.com/t/KEmvUZBscf

Sorry this is long over due, y’all! Call of Duty: Black Ops inched out the win against Just Cause II, thanks for voting! This means that it will be facing Halo Reach in set two of Round 2 in a couple of days! In the meantime, continue to vote for either Mass Effect 2 or Red Dead Redemption here!

And the second part of set 3 in Round one. Vote!

No upsets in this set, Mass Effect 2 victories in both polls. Congrats Thane and Mordin :) Let’s move on to set 2!