Few developers had a handle on the architecture of the Xbox 360 hardware quite like Epic Games. They showed off the power of Microsoft's hugely popular console in its early days with the first Gears Of War, and then again showed us just how far we had come five years later, ending the trilogy with Gears Of War 3. Heavy-handed blockbuster action hanging off a framework of surprisingly poignant storytelling, the final chapter in Marcus Fenix's narrative was explosive and yet also sensitive and heartfelt. Well, sensitive and heartfelt in a very testosterone-fueled macho kind of way. This was the ultimate bromance. This finale was genuinely satisfying for those who had been following the war against the Locust Horde and the Lambent for years, and for gamers who didn't bother too much with the intricacies of subtle plot development, the multiplayer component here was even more aggressive and finely tuned than it had been before. New gameplay modes, more streamlined controls, better weapons and hugely improved graphics, all added to what was already considered the epitome of cover-based shooters? Yes please.
2. The Last Of Us - Sony PlayStation 3 (2013)
If you've been following the last console generation you would have heard a general consensus for the bigger picture: Microsoft's Xbox 360 was easier to develop for, while the PlayStation 3 had developers jumping through hoops and over hurdles to get the best out of Sony's hardware. The result was that the first few years of the generation saw many multi-platform releases coming out on top on the Xbox 360, even if just by the smallest margin. But time and perseverance undoes the most stubborn of knots, and by the time the next generation was ready to roll out, developers had unlocked the secrets of the PS3 and unleashed far more of its potential. The Last Of Us is a prime example of this new level of understanding of Sony's hardware. An unbelievable achievement both technically and in terms of narrative, most would agree that Naughty Dog's latest is pushing the 7th generation hardware to its limits. Gritty and dirty as the setting may be, the visuals still leave one spellbound - even more impressive when compared to what we're seeing on the 8th gen consoles so far. But it is the emotional depth of The Last Of Us which leaves a bite mark on the soul, beyond the amazing technical achievement... a masterstroke of character development in interactive entertainment, and a standout game of our generation.
Game-obsessed since the moment I could twiddle both thumbs independently. Equally enthralled by all the genres of music that your parents warned you about.
