This is the Best Of The Decade awards, honoring the best video games that were released in the previous decade. Five games were selected as nominees from each year of the decade, 2001-2010, and of those five one was selected as the best video game of the year. Of the ten games selected as the best video game of the year, one will be selected to be the Best Video Game Of The Decade.
So, let's get started.
2001: Nominees- Final Fantasy X, Halo: Combat Evolved, Ico, Twisted Metal: Black, Paper Mario
We at the Redertainment Corporation Of America thought this would be an easy thing to put together. Then we looked at this year. Now we know what kind of challenge we signed up for. Even the games that weren't nominated (Gran Turismo 3, Grand Theft Auto III, Black & White) are games that continue to resonate and influence the current video game landscape.
However, we have to choose one. Hell, we said we were going to, so we have to. The best video game of 2001 is:
Ico. Yes, Ico. I know there are people gnashing their teeth and saying "HALO!!!" or "FINAL FANTASY X!!!" or, "THAT ONE GAME WITH PAINT IT (BLACK) IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", but we had to make a decision, and we chose what we felt was the best. Final Fantasy X may have brought voice acting to the Final Fantasy series, Halo may have been a legendary launch title for the Xbox, Twisted Metal: Black may have been the game that revitalized (for a short time) the Twisted Metal franchise, and Paper Mario may have brought Mario games into another dimension, but Ico is what we deemed to be the best. Ico is one of those iconic games, memorable games, one of those games that you keep long after you have beaten it, and is one of those games that you play over and over and over. For the lucky few that have been able to find it, Ico provides a gaming experience that is memorable, unique, and, most importantly of all, GOOD.
2002: Nominees- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowwind, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, The Legend Of Zelda: The Windwaker, SOCOM: US Navy Seals, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Have you ever seen Scarface? Well, even if you haven't, I bet you're aware of this:
Yep, that is the iconic scene from Scarface. Tony Montana sticking his face into a mountain of cocaine and then facing a group of heavily armed men. Scarface is a movie that, even if you haven't seen it, you are aware of it. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is widely believed to be hazily inspired by Scarface. Hell, this game even has a final penultimate scene where you're character, Tommy Vercetti, faces off against his own group of heavily armed men, except this time you survive, instead of dying like a bitch.
The best video game of 2002 is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
2003: Nominees- F-Zero GX, Final Fantasy X-2, Silent Hill 3, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Most people bought an Xbox to play Halo. Not me. I bought an Xbox to play one game: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. I have not regretted my purchase, either of the system or the game. KotOR is the game that got me sincerely interested in Western style role playing games. Final Fantasy X-2 and Xenosaga Episode I may be really gripping RPG experiences, but Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a truly unforgettable gaming experience.
The best video game of 2003 is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2004: Nominees- Fable, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Ninja Gaiden, World Of Warcraft
Of the games that were released in 2004, one stands taller in comparison to everyone else. This game revolutionized the way the general public thinks of online video games. This game continues to be played to this day. This game made Bobby Kotick the man he is today, which may ultimately be to it's detriment. Anyway, the best video game of 2004 is:
World Of Warcraft
2005: Nominees- God of War, The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, Psychonauts, Resident Evil 4
There are games that are acclaimed by critics and gamers alike that go on to sell like gangbusters. These games go on to have sequels made of them, again and again and again and again, untill all the wonder and magic is sucked dry from them and all you have left is a rotting rusk containing the memories of a past you look through with rose coloured glasses. Psychonauts is not one of those games. Psychonauts is a age that was acclaimed by critics then was largely ignored by the gaming public. Bastards. I know the fate that I laid out in the first part of this paragraph may seem like something to be avoided at all cost, but Psychonauts deserved the that fate as opposed to the fate it currently has. Please, if you see Psychonauts on sale, ANYWHERE, pick it up and PLAY IT!!!
The best video game of the year for 2005 is:
Psychonauts
2006: Nominees- Call Of Duty 3, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Final Fantasy XII, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Some would argue that this game should have come out on the Playstation 3. Some would argue that this game is one of the final great Playstation 2 titles to come out during that console's lifespan. Some might argue that this game is the last great title to come out of this series. Arguments aside, there is one thing that is not in dispute: Final Fantasy XII is a great game. Between the beautiful imagery, the unique gameplay mechanics, and the top rate story, Final Fantasy XII proved itself a successor to games like Final Fantasy VII, X, and VIII. The best video game of the year for 2006 is:
Final Fantasy XII
2007: Nominees- Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Crysis, God Of War II, Mass Effect, The Orange Box
The Half-Life franchise is one of the most acclaimed franchises in video games. For years people have been pining for more content from Valve in relation to this series, and continue to do so to this day. Team Fortress is an online game that, although better on the PC, continues to have a presence online within it's community. However, the game from The Orange Box that stands as the best in this collection is Portal. Alone this game constitutes one of the best games on the Xbox 360. Portal is unique in that, rather than being a first person shooter, this game is more of a first person puzzle game. Portal is as much a mental exercise as Professor Layton or Brain Age is. If Portal was a standalone release, it would be the game of the year. Combined with the other games in The Orange Box, this may be a serious contender for game of the decade. The best video game for 2007 is:
The Orange Box
2008: Nominees- Dead Space, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, Mirror's Edge
Dead Space is a unique survival horror experience, the likes of which haven't been seen since the original Silent Hill. Fallout 3 is a gripping role playing experience that introduced many gamers to a much acclaimed PC franchise. Grand Theft Auto IV is a triumph of story telling and gameplay. Mirror's Edge is the kind of game that many people have not seen before or since. All of these games have superb qualities to them, however Metal Gear Solid 4 is the one with many of these qualities and more. Metal Gear Solid 4 has top notch visuals, both in the cinematics and in the gameplay sections. Metal Gear Solid has a superb story, dealing with war, genetic engineering, and even hints of romance. The Metal Gear series has long been unique in favoring a game playing style that rewards avoiding confrontation, rather than running head on into a situation. Metal Gear Solid 4 exemplifies that manta. Metal Gear Solid 4 also has the unique distinction of being, in my opinion, the first great game released on the Playstation 3. The best video game of 2008 is:
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots.
2009: Nominees- Assassin's Creed II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Flower, Prototype, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
At the Second Annual Four Star Gaming Awards, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was chosen as the best video game of the year. So, it may come as a shock that we've decided to go another way with this year's choice. This is because, due to the glut of games released near the end of the year, our choice was a game we had failed to play in an expedient manner. Assassin's Creed was a game that received mixed reviews. People complained about the combat, the free running, the twist in the story, basically nit picked at every part of this game. Assassin's Creed II addressed all of these concerns. AC2 is the game that brought many people to this franchise. Assassin's Creed II brought a true freedom of movement that has been tried before but never accomplished to the level seen in this game. The best video game of 2009 is:
Assassin's Creed II
2010: Nominees- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Heavy Rain, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption
The winner in this category should come as no shock to anyone who read last week The Four Star Gaming Awards. Our opinion of this game, as well as other games, has not changed in the week between this award show and the award show we did last week. While our opinion may change in the future, as was the case with Assassin's Creed II, our opinion for the best video game of last year still stands. The best video game of 2010 is:
Heavy Rain
Best Of The Decade: Nominees- Assassin's Creed II, Final Fantasy XII, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Heavy Rain, Ico, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, The Orange Box, Psychonauts, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, World Of Warcraft
Of the games listed here, one sticks out. The rest of the games in this list have one things in common: They are primarily console based games. One of the games listed above is a PC game. Always have been and, as near as we can tell, always will be. This is the game that changed the way people think of online video games. This is the game that, despite the ever changing landscape of video games, continues to be played to this day. This is World Of Warcraft. Even people who have not played this game cannot deny just how good this game is. There is a reason why this game has the loyal following it continues to have. The Best Video Game Of The Decade is:
World Of Warcraft
When reached for a comment about this award, President of The Great Empire Of Activision, Bobby Kotick, sent the following statement:
It does not surprise me that we have won this award. The might and majesty of World Of Warcraft is something that cannot be denied by any rational person. World Of Warcraft, and the many subscribers it continues to have, made The Great Empire Of Activision what is it is today, and will continue to be for time and all eternity. I thank The Redertainment Corporation Of America for recognizing our greatness, and look forward to others recognizing the greatness of The Great Empire Of Activision, in all things and in all ways. Quote the Kotick, nevermore.
Well, that's all for the Best Of The Decade Awards. We at The Redertainment Corporation Of America look forward to seeing you at our next scheduled award show: The Fourth Annual Four Star Gaming Awards, scheduled to be held on January 2nd, 2012. Goodnight everybody.
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