Best Of 2007: Top Ten Games Of The Year - Part I

Working as a writer of something you love, a task that is the sole reason to dedicate yourself to the craft, is a rewarding experience. Nights are spent in front of a glowing screen, words spilling out with excitement, and the satisfaction that at some point in those thousands of half-witted comments there’s a true gem. A critic, or “journo” as some like to call themselves, places himself at odds with the task of writing. Playing a video game, watching a movie or television show is the distraction that can keep the good writer from the page. Yet we spend our free time with a control pad in hand doing exactly what our editors are uninterested in, playing Call of Duty 4. We toil away late into the night to meet deadlines. And what we hope for is the chance to squeeze something that has real merit.

I mention this because I am not a game developer, but my imagination lends me to believe that things aren’t so different on that side of the page. Just as I am constantly struggling to find a balance of life and the written word, thousands of people (most who go unnamed and unknown) work late into the night to ensure we get our copy of Ratchet & Clank or Super Mario Galaxy when it’s expected. There’s a lot of hard work put in to developing a game, and while everyone can say that BioShock is a great accomplishment, precious few know why. Stephen King once said in an interview when asked how he writes, “One word at a time.” Like any work of art – and yes, video games are works of art – the video game comes to be one small step at a time.

Now we get to the moment in the year that I dread most, the “Best Of” listing. Look around at other lists and you’ll notice that critics are often short sighted. Whether it’s movies, television, or video games we often cite the experiences that are freshest in our minds. This is a damn good reason to be wary of such lists where a group, even a fine one like that at Blend Games, determines what the best thing to come out in the previous year was. It is my firm belief that there is no such thing as the “best” game of the year. After all these things are for our entertainment, and who am I to tell you that Wii Play isn’t the best thing to come out? The sales numbers indicate that a great number of people love the game, and the convenient Wii remote that comes with.

With that said we do have a list of the ten games released in 2007 that were exceptionally fun. Are these the best video games that were put out amidst the thousands released? I believe they just might be. Each one brought me great joy, and no matter where a game falls on the list it deserves to be recognized.

The year ends with a look to the past, and we begin with games ten through six on our list.

10. Crysis
PC


Sure sales of PC games have been in steady decline as gamers move on to the stability offered by consoles. Even our number 10, Crysis, was treated to poor sales numbers when it came out. But that can be attributed to the insane hardware required to run the title. Crysis offered PC players their very own FPS experience that once again reinforced the idea that a mouse and keyboard is a perfect setup for the genre. Too bad this is a game whose time is still at least a year away.

9. Halo 3
Xbox 360


Bungie’s finale to their space opera released back in September, and with it came a nearly pitch perfect single player and the best multiplayer experience in gaming. What is so amazing is that Halo 3 is indeed so great, but it only placed at number nine on our list. That takes nothing away from what Halo 3 is, a phenomenal shooter for 360 fans. The issue is that so many other great games came out this year, and ultimately Halo 3 is simply another entry in an old franchise.

8. God of War II
Playstation 2


Even if the PS2 didn’t have a whole lot of competition itself this year, SCE Santa Monica made sure it could hold it’s own against the onslaught of next-gen games. God of War II isn’t just an excellent sequel to the 2005 original—it’s a damn-near perfect action game and the perfect title to send off the PS2 with pace-perfect action, more boss battles and top-notch level design. If you want to know why the PS2 continually sells far more than the PS3, look no further than titles like God of War II in it’s library.

7. Assassin’s Creed
Xbox 360, Playstation 3


While there are a few storytelling hiccups scattered about the experience, Assassin’s Creed nevertheless delivered on the solid gameplay it promised. Not to mention provided the ability to swan dive from thirty stories into a three-foot tall bundle of hay. Maybe we should expect a Barnum & Bailey’s circus mod in the future? Altair’s adventures in assassination were a well honed adventure through the late 12th century, and in many ways was superior to what was done in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

6. Rock Band
Playstation 3, Playstation 2, Xbox 360


Sure, there are only 45 songs to start off with, but you know what? Every single one is as much fun as the next. Rock Band’s ability to offer such a balls-to-the-wall blast of a multiplayer experience consistently is a true testament to the game’s replay value—even without the string of downloadable content updates arriving. Harmonix went all-out in the presentation department as well, crafting a fine interface that lets anyone and everyone in on the game. It is far more fun to actually play in a band, but not all of us have the thousands of dollars and hours of practice time to make that a reality. Harmonix was able to craft an experience that is the most fun you’ll have in a group, unless you’re into being a freak. Gamers just don’t have time for that, but we do have time to play a Police song for our adoring fans.