Ladies and Gentlemen: It’s a tie!
Interestingly the two games I consider the best of 2010 are absolute polar opposites in terms of technical prowess and polish.
First up, Heavy Rain is without one of the most technically amazing games I have ever played. An unravelling mystery with jaw dropping graphics and environments, its storyline draws you in and refuses to let go. On my first go, I literally played it for 5 hours straight. I had to turn it off, for the sake of my long suffering girlfriend, only to have the overwhelming desire to turn my machine back on for another go. Eventually she admitted she too was getting sucked in and wanted to know more, so I turned it back on!
Heavy Rain is certainly cinematic. At times it feels as if you are not playing a game at all, merely interacting with a story. Perhaps something it has been criticised for, it doesn’t matter. The characters are so three dimensional because of the stellar voice acting and script it feels like a movie. It’s precisely the kind of games that need making in the 21st century.
The other…oh boy! Deadly Premonition is the kind of game that you probably shouldn’t like. Set in a small town of Greenvale an FBI detective is sent to investigate a serial killer. Our protagonist, Agent York is an arrogant and generally unlikeable character. The other NPCs and townsfolk have an awkward relationship with FBI Agent York, not really knowing what he is about. The cut scenes are comedy gold due to the badly written / translated storyline and genuinely offer laugh out loud moments. The storyline is a nonsensical mess and the voice acting is wooden and awkward when compared to the likes of Heavy Rain. Remember I was talking about cinematic storylines, jaw dropping graphics? Well, that doesn’t really apply here. It looks and feels like a ten year old Dreamcast game. But that’s part of the charm. Some games have lost the point as the technology has improved. Games are supposed to be entertaining and fun. Despite some of its foibles and technical shortcomings Deadly Premonition does just that. Its self aware, completely ridiculous and low budget. But it has a strange unshakeable charm. It takes me back to an age where gaming didn’t take itself too seriously and wasn’t trying to be anything but a game. This might sound contradictory considering my other choice. They are both as good as each other. One cost millions to make, the other probably about £500. It doesn’t matter, they are both absolute gems.
Other honourable mentions:
Enslaved: oddessy to the west
Castlevania: Lords of shadow
Lost Planet 2 (yes, I liked it! I think I am alone on this one)
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