TimeOut reviewer Peter Griffin looks at the best games of 2007 and the impact of the new consoles
KEY POINTS:
It's been a huge year for games, especially if you're in the core gaming demographic: 18-34-year-old males. The new consoles served up a wealth of titles in the first-person shooter mould - from the year's best seller Halo 3 through to the controversial Resistance: Fall of Man, Bioshock,
Mass Effect and Gears of War. Guitar Hero captured the imagination of casual gamers and the Nintendo Wii shone as a stylish alternative to the bulkier, higher-priced consoles. The Wii remote also proved to be more than just a gimmick, adding a new twist to action games. But the graphics grunt of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and high-powered PCs propelled the best games of the year to success. Here are Time Out's top picks for the year.
1. Bioshock
(R16) (PC, PS3, XBOX 360)
Ingeniously plotted, Bioshock opens with a plane crash that leaves you floating in the water, where you discover the entrance to an undersea city of amoral greed and genetic mutants. Both retro-looking and futuristic at the same time, it's sci-fi at its best, with great graphics and a storyline with plenty of depth. The best of its kind in a long, long time.
2. Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock
(PG) (PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
As infectiously playable as SingStar was in its early days. It feels weird when you first strap on that gaudy-looking plastic guitar, but before you know it, you're jamming away, trying to keep up with the fret work of the guitar masters. Ideal for the dexterous fingers of children and sure to spark guitar duels as it can get highly competitive. The franchise was given a great boost with the release of Guitar Hero III, which has a wealth of classic rock favourites, from Heart's chugging Barracuda to Slash's sublime heavy licks on Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses.
3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
(R16) (DS, PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
World War II missions are out, and modern, Tom Clancy-style warfare is very much in. The latest Call of Duty instalment is one of the most realistic action shooters ever. The gritty scenes are reminiscent of those CNN reports from various battlefields we've all seen. And while the single-player game is surprisingly short, a compelling story and the stunning visuals make up for it.
4. The Orange Box
(R16) (PC, Xbox 360)
A treasure trove of dark oddities nestle in The Orange Box, an attractively-priced greatest hits package that includes the futuristic classic Half-Life 2: Episodes 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal. Half Life 2 is an intelligent, unsentimental story that's loved by gamers worldwide. Episode 2 picks up the narrative and delivers another gripping instalment that's just the right balance of action and exploration. Portal is a short, but fascinating series of puzzle-solving missions, while Team Fortress 2 is the long-awaited new multiplayer component of Half Life and boy is it good.
5. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
(R16) (PS3)
A hunt for an ancient relic on a tropical island allows plenty of room for escapades of Indiana Jones proportions. The jungle environment is beautifully presented, contrasting the drab, foreboding settings we've grown used to this year. It's a rollicking adventure with plenty of variety and decent action sequences that pit you, explorer Nathan Drake, against an endless stream of bandits who are on your trail.
Other favourites: Halo 3, Gears of War, Crysis, Crackdown, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Heavenly Sword, Forza 2.
Most anticipated games for 2008: Gran Turismo 5, Grand Theft Auto IV, Spore (a new Sim City instalment), Metal Gear Solid IV, Killzone 2.
