16. Uncharted Franchise
The cinemas have Harrison Ford and a greedy bastard in George Lucas helming Indiana Jones while gamers have Nathan Drake, Sully, Elena, and even more supporting charming characters. Its up to you to decide whether or not Drake is actually just a closet psychopath that thrives on killing but one thing is for certain, every quest for riches and treasure he embarks on is a thrilling and memorable experience rivaling Hollywoods best. Seriously there is no greater equivalent to playing a movie than this franchise, and I sincerely mean that as an accomplishment. Uncharted has inspired an entire generation of developers but as hard as they try, none can top the masters.
15. Heavy Rain
Does David Cage make movies or games? That seems to be the reoccurring million dollar question feverishly debated upon, but that doesnt matter here because no matter how you slice it, Heavy Rain is almost overwhelmingly emotional. Whether its the whodunit mystery of a child serial killer presented, engaging in extreme life threatening tests to save your son, or simply trying to keep all four protagonists alive, Heavy Rain oozes a new breed of storytelling in gaming; Interactive Drama. There are times you fail or make a wrong decision in video games but realistically, we're too lazy to go back and replay a section for a desired effect. Heavy Rain makes you immediately quit to the dashboard before it can save if you mess something up or do anything that may put your son in danger. There is nothing quite like the adrenaline and exhilaration that comes from trying to successfully pass dangerous tests like driving a certain distance in oncoming traffic because you know you're one step closer to a rescue if you succeed. Failure or a character death won't give you a game over either but rather a different and most likely less happy outcome. 22 different endings and brutally dramatic tough choices only furthered this intensity.
14. Final Fantasy VII
Widely considered to be the best of the best in this world renowned fantasy franchise, and to some the very best game of all time, what can I say? I too love the characters and heinous silver haired maniacal villain Sephiroth. There are very few moments in gaming that can match the depression instilled from Sephiroth brutally murdering Aeris; the loveable poor flower girl. The dialogue surrounding this unexpectedly depressing scene from Cloud is also nailed in ways that make the player want to cry too. Even more-so, very few moments match the final epic confrontation with the harrowing and pulse pounding One Winged Angel theme blasting over the showdown. There's a hero for the ages in Cloud and an unforgettable villain in Sephiroth. It wasn't just a game about the hero and villain either as Final Fantasy 7 offers rich and engaging back stories to every character in the game from the vampire Vincent to the awesome talking doglike creature Red XIII. It's not surprising at all that's there multiple spinoffs ranging from games to movies from this classic.
13. Lost Odyssey
Yes, Im putting Lost Odyssey over masterpieces such as Final Fantasy 7 with no regrets. This is a game where an immortal man named Kalm who has lived for thousands of years keeps going along as everyone he cares about expires. Some of his more depressing events witnessed in life are documented in the game and are so elegantly written that I fully admit I shed a few tears. Theres also a scene in the game where his daughter dies right in front of him to further emphasize his tormenting. The character of Kalm is is essentially in never ending and constant torment leaving you hoping for some sort of flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes immortality is a curse.