Jak 2 is far better than Jak 3 and Mass Effect 2 is far better than Mass Effect.
5)Portal
I don't think any "best game ever" list is complete with out Portal. It is a perfectly executed masterpiece from start to finish. The gameplay, the writing, and the atmosphere flow together seamlessly. Portal is a beautiful constructed prince of games.
4)Rock Band 2
There hasn't been a game that I've sunk more time into or that's effected my life more. (I play drums in a real band because of Rock Band) and I just feel that Rock Band 2 is the peak of the series. 3 was fine but the pro instruments seemed a little like pandering. Also 2's on disk set-list was the best.
3)Record of Agarest War
This is the best Writing and Voice acting I've ever heard in a game. (albeit Japanese) The dialog is overwrought and campy like something Shakespeare would write if he was on mushrooms, but the actors delievery of the lines never lets the drama or intensity feel out of place while at the same time balancing the humor that's evenly delivered through out the story. And the turn based combat is pretty fun to. It's like chess meets Final Fantasy Tactics.
2)Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
If there are two things I love they're good writing and good acting. And this game has both of those in spades...But if there are two more things I love they're parkour and time control So that's 4 of my favorite things in the world all wrapped up in one elegant package.
1)Jak 2
So, so far in my top 5 list I've described one game as perfect, one as having a tangible positive effect on my life, one as the best example of my tow favorite things, and one as an elegant mix of my 4 favorite things, and yet Jak 2 is just better than those games. It's just a mix of everything, the great gameplay mechanics, the difficulty curve, the writing, but most of all I think it's the cutscenes. I love cutscenes, and I'm afraid that they're slowly but surely phasing out of gaming entirely in favor of in gameplay set-pieces. And a set-piece will never be as good a storytelling device than a cutscene. The cutscenes in Jak 2 brilliant. Short, snappy, funny, poignant, well directed, they kept a consistent tone, served as a wrap up for the previous mission and led you seamlessly into the next mission. I also really like Jak as a character, he joked, he smiled, he knew when to be stoic, he showed anger appropriately, he could hold his ground, he was awkward at times. He had emotional range. Which is just something that's lost in games now days. Did Naughty Dog dump their talented writing staff when they started making the Uncharted games?
Honorable mentions:
Dragon Age: Origins. Bioware, great writing, need I say more?
Left 4 Dead 2. Best multyplayer on the market, hands down.
Mass Effect 2. More great Biowareness
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando. Just plain fun
5)Portal
I don't think any "best game ever" list is complete with out Portal. It is a perfectly executed masterpiece from start to finish. The gameplay, the writing, and the atmosphere flow together seamlessly. Portal is a beautiful constructed prince of games.
4)Rock Band 2
There hasn't been a game that I've sunk more time into or that's effected my life more. (I play drums in a real band because of Rock Band) and I just feel that Rock Band 2 is the peak of the series. 3 was fine but the pro instruments seemed a little like pandering. Also 2's on disk set-list was the best.
3)Record of Agarest War
This is the best Writing and Voice acting I've ever heard in a game. (albeit Japanese) The dialog is overwrought and campy like something Shakespeare would write if he was on mushrooms, but the actors delievery of the lines never lets the drama or intensity feel out of place while at the same time balancing the humor that's evenly delivered through out the story. And the turn based combat is pretty fun to. It's like chess meets Final Fantasy Tactics.
2)Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
If there are two things I love they're good writing and good acting. And this game has both of those in spades...But if there are two more things I love they're parkour and time control So that's 4 of my favorite things in the world all wrapped up in one elegant package.
1)Jak 2
So, so far in my top 5 list I've described one game as perfect, one as having a tangible positive effect on my life, one as the best example of my tow favorite things, and one as an elegant mix of my 4 favorite things, and yet Jak 2 is just better than those games. It's just a mix of everything, the great gameplay mechanics, the difficulty curve, the writing, but most of all I think it's the cutscenes. I love cutscenes, and I'm afraid that they're slowly but surely phasing out of gaming entirely in favor of in gameplay set-pieces. And a set-piece will never be as good a storytelling device than a cutscene. The cutscenes in Jak 2 brilliant. Short, snappy, funny, poignant, well directed, they kept a consistent tone, served as a wrap up for the previous mission and led you seamlessly into the next mission. I also really like Jak as a character, he joked, he smiled, he knew when to be stoic, he showed anger appropriately, he could hold his ground, he was awkward at times. He had emotional range. Which is just something that's lost in games now days. Did Naughty Dog dump their talented writing staff when they started making the Uncharted games?
Honorable mentions:
Dragon Age: Origins. Bioware, great writing, need I say more?
Left 4 Dead 2. Best multyplayer on the market, hands down.
Mass Effect 2. More great Biowareness
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando. Just plain fun
