2010 gave us many great games. So many in fact that choosing a top five was no easy task. Special mentions go to the games that didn't make the top five - BioShock 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Fable 3, Deadly Premonition, plus many more. However, there has to be one game that consumed us more than any other, delivering an 'experience' and not just a game. Here's our top five games of 2010:
5. Alan Wake (Xbox 360 / Microsoft)
Alan Wake was my most anticipated game for many years, so it was a huge relief that when he finally arrived he didn't disappoint. Mixing great narrative with survival horror elements, it was a joy playing through the episodes. Sure, there's plenty of running around a forest with a torch, but the stunning visuals and decent combat helped make Alan Wake my fifth personal favourite of the year. I just hope Microsoft and Remedy decide a sequel is in order, and one that develops the character and adds more variety. Pressure Microsoft!
4. Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360, PC / EA)
Personally I enjoyed the first Mass Effect slightly more than this sequel - The Mako was awesome and it felt more RPG than action. Having said that, Mass Effect 2 is nothing short of fantastic, with some top notch shooting action, great missions and awesome characters. I even enjoyed scanning planets. If Mass Effect 3 can find an equal balance between what the first two offered, then it'll be sitting higher up the list in next years game of the year article that's for sure. No pressure BioWare!
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Xbox 360, PS3, PC / Ubisoft)
Assassin's Creed 2.5 this could be called, but that didn't stop it from being awesome. Our second outing with Ezio, this time in Rome, turned out to be 20 hours of gaming bliss. There was so much to do around Rome it never became a chore, and who can argue with assistant assassins? There was also decent multiplayer too. There were so many improvements over my game of the year 2009, AC2 that Assassin's Creed 3 has become one of the most anticipated games ever. No pressure Ubisoft!
2. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360, PS3 / Rockstar)
Red Dead Revolver may have passed us all by without leaving any footprints, but Rockstar got it exactly right for the sequel. Red Dead Redemption is what you get when you take Grand Theft Auto and set it in the wild west: Instant success. With characters and a story we've come to expect from Rockstar, Red Dead made its mark earlier in the year and has succeeded in being one of the best of 2010... regardless of zombies.
1. Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360, PS3, PC / Bethesda)
So it was full of bugs and glitches so what, so were Fallout 3 and Oblivion and to this day I look back at those two epics with very fond memories. I have the same thoughts for New Vegas also. Despite the flaws, New Vegas delivered an outstanding adventure that topped Fallout 3 in many ways. A new interesting location, a much better story, and all the awesomeness we wanted from the wasteland. It was a very close call, but New Vegas just manages to take the top spot this year. All eyes are now on Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. No pressure Bethesda!
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