1. Bioshock
Its pitch black and only the glow of the flames light up the night sky. In the distance is a lighthouse. You enter the building thinking youre safe a huge mistake. The plane wreckage does not compare to the devastation and danger lurking beneath the waves. As you enter Rapture you realise this is a video game city like no other. Few locations have such depth and character the underwater setting and art-deco styling are magnificent but this is a city with more than just style; it is a city with a story. Andrew Ryan created the city free from government and religion and filled it with the worlds brightest minds and most creative thinkers. Things started well but the power-void, generated by an absence of authority, soon led to a rivalry between Ryan and Frank Fontaine. By the time you visit the city its remaining citizens have been largely ravaged by ADAM: stem cells that gave their owners the ability to improve themselves. The civil war and the ADAM addiction broke down the underwater society. Without the important maintenance Rapture is beginning to crumble. The city and the story are second-to-none. The twist towards the end was actually quite surprising and perhaps the only weak point was its ending the disappointing boss battle against Fontaine. One of the major complaints about games in recent years has been that there hasnt been enough original content too many games are relying on trusted formulas. Bioshock gave us a new setting and a multi-layered story that brings it to life. Have I missed any of your favourite games from the list? Do you disagree with Bioshock being number one?