10. Red Dead Redemption - Riding Into Mexico
Up until I reached this point, Red Dead Redemption had been a so-so game. I was going through the motions, I was flying through the missions, I had met the characters, but I felt no real connection. Suddenly I found myself drifting down the river separating Mexico and the U.S. All while scrambling for cover as Irish was telling me his drunken stupors may be the reason we are being ambushed by one-hundred angry banditos. After being defeated many times by some cleverly thrown dynamite, I was a little more than frustrated when finally reaching the shore. My mood was swayed a little when Irish fondled a few horses, and as he rode off I gazed out onto my new-found beautiful scenery shining in the light of the setting sun. Finally, it was time for the typical ride off into the sunset. Out of nowhere I heard the strumming of an acoustic guitar, and the entire world around me went silent. Suddenly it was just me, the perfectly lit landscape, and the lovely vocals of a certain Jose Gonzales. In his lyrics, I recognized the struggle John Marston was going through, how truly far he was from his family, and everything he was fighting for. In that moment the game truly became art. In that moment I completely fell in love with this game, and every coming mission. (Though ironically the Mexico missions are now my least favourite parts of the game, while the beginning is now especially great.) This moment was game changing; it was perfectly placed, and completely unexpected. It is no wonder it was one of the most talked about gaming moments of 2010, and stands unforgettable in my mind.