BEST GAME OF ALL TIME: Single-Player

I know it doesn't seem like a good time to crown the best game of all time, as a more appropriate choice could have been "best game of 2006" or "best next-gen game so far." Go to other game websites for that malarky. I want to talk about the best of the best! There are two categories in video gaming: single-player and multiplayer...and the goals achieved in each category have grown to be very different. A great multiplayer game must be balanced, have a lot of variety in available play choices, and it must be online. A great single-player game must be long, at least somewhat emotionally resonant, and epic as hell.
Although my choices are rather recent games, they are the cream of the crop. What is the best single-player game of all time?

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess


I can't stop talking about this game. I can't stop listening to the soundtrack. I can't stop creating Zelda-related posts. And even though I beat the game a long time ago, I still can't stop aimlessly wandering around the ins and outs of Hyrule, slicing and dicing through every bad guy that gets in my way. Everyone respects me. No one can defeat me. I am the ultimate badass of Hyrule. If you haven't played this game, you don't know that:

• Link has two, possibly three girlfriends in the game (and he flirts with even more ladies)
  
• There is a surprising twist at the end of the game that solidifies this Zelda title as having the most interesting characters with the coolest story arcs
• There are some very non-Zelda like weapons Link gets his hands on
• Wolf-Link can talk to every animal in Hyrule (including Epona)
• Tingle is unfortunately not in the game
• A hundred other weirdos are in the game
  
• Each dungeon has more creativity and artistic style than most whole games, with just the right amount of challenge to never become frustrating
• It is the longest Zelda game (I beat it in 45 hours, but I will never be completely finished with the save file)
• It is the best Zelda ever, and also the best game ever.

BEST GAME OF ALL TIME: Multiplayer

I know it doesn't seem like a good time to crown the best game of all time, as a more appropriate choice could have been "best game of 2006" or "best next-gen game so far." Go to other game websites for that malarky. I want to talk about the best of the best! There are two categories in video gaming: single-player and multiplayer...and the goals achieved in each category have grown to be very different. A great multiplayer game must be balanced, have a lot of variety in available play choices, and it must be online. A great single-player game must be long, at least somewhat emotionally resonant, and epic as hell.

Although my choices are rather recent games, they are the cream of the crop. What is the best multiplayer game of all time? The soon-to-be-dethroned (by its sequel):

Halo 2


Halo 2 is the absolute best first person shooter you can play on a console. From the controls to the graphics, to the sound, to the user-friendly interface, to the variety - this game has everything. It is also the most complete online experience you can play on a console. These two important elements combine in what could have already been an awesome offline single-player PC game to create the ultimate play-all-night-until-your-eyes-dry-out multiplayer experience. I predict that the only game to top Halo 2 for best multiplayer game this decade will be Halo 3.

Jack Bawler

24 is such a soap opera.

The Next Rainbow Six

I never got into an R6 game until Vegas, which I can't seem to put down. In the midst of all my excitement, I once said this game has little to no room for improvement - it's perfect! I must have been too preoccupied with the tear gas that was burning my eyes, nose and throat to find any faults with the game. I have come up with some ideas for the next Rainbow game that are sure to make it an absolutely perfect experience.

• This game needs some unlockable humor. Add an optional paintball mode à la Goldeneye. Add some interesting, but not ridiculous outfit options like a tuxedo.
• Add the ability to shoot out lights. I don't care how Splinter Cell that sounds, because anything that adds more tactical depth will make it more realistic.
• Ability to have more than one custom face per gamertag, and more character customization options in general.
• While observing in multiplayer, add the option for the right and left bumpers to change view: third person (default), first person, and free camera.
• Add a Melee knife for stealthy silent kills. What kind of knife you ask? It would have to be the Microtech Halo III knife, of course.
• More guns, better balancing.
• Only allow the host to kick players while in the lobby - it really sucks when a pissed off host kicks the players of the winning team seconds before a 20 minute match ends.
  
• There should be no loading after changing gametypes on the same map.
  
• I want the bathrooms to actually have mirrors in them (Prey had mirrors, mind you).
  
• In the story campaign, there should be a level where the main character is somehow poisoned, and movement and vision are psychedelically askew (à la Yoshi's Island: "Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy").
• Have at least some of the game take place in New York City...what if the game took place right after the events of September 11, 2001?
  

The Lost Planet Review

A few months ago, I had a sad feeling in my heart that Lost Planet wouldn't be nearly as good as Gears of War or Rainbow Six: Vegas. I was correct.

Graphically, Lost Planet almost equals Gears. It's a beautiful (looking) game, but the multiplayer just sucks. The single player is pretty good fun, but it's extremely frustrating and there's no co-op. I'm lazy, so enough with the fluff.

• The worm boss is cool
• The graphics are purdy
• The cutscenes are nauseating
  
• No splitscreen multiplayer
• Multiplayer sucks anyway though
• There is still hope for (another) patch
• Gears is better
• Rainbow Six: Vegas is way better than both Gears and Lost Planet

Photospace!

I couldn't resist posting this little video from New Years.