Our Top 8 lists make a triumphant return this week and I’ve decided to do this one up a little differently than normal. While most of our readers cry about how we never included other consoles exclusive titles, we’re going to do so now. We may represent PlayStation, but I guess it’s only fair to let the other guy compete for our spots in the Top 8 countdown. We’re also going to start listing the Top 8 in reverse order and start off at number 8. This Top 8 is all about those franchises that have been going on for a little bit too long now and it’s about time the developer and publisher behind the title give it a rest. It’s almost as though the team behind the scenes aren’t comfortable creating something new and fresh this generation and instead look forward to feeding us the same title we’ve been playing for the last 10 to 15 years.
Chances are, if you’re a gamer and you have a favorite franchise, this list will piss you off and I think that’s just something you need to deal with on a personal level. When it gets to the point that you’re trying to shove soda down our throats while advertising a game that has already had far too many iterations as it is, it goes too far. When we walk into a retail outlet and the opportunity to buy clothes for your over-produced titles is there, it’s time to think of a new IP. Let’s try and push gaming forward with something new and exciting. Watching a video game legend have to wear hand me downs year after year is getting a little tiring. If you don’t understand the point of the list by now, you’re a lost gamer. So without much else to say, let’s start the list.
8. Grand Theft Auto
Alright Rockstar, we get it. Killing hookers and driving over people while creating riots on the streets of some random city is a good time. Great. We’ve only had the opportunity to do this 5-6 times now throughout different iterations and spinoffs. After Grand Theft Auto 4’s disappointing replayability experience, it’s time to do something different. While we applaud you for picking up PS3 exclusivity through The Agent, we’re hoping that you plan on disappointing everyone and not announcing a Grand Theft Auto 5 – and if you do, it better be set in some exotic city like Tokyo, where the opportunity to provide a refreshing atmosphere is abundantly clear. Also – If you bring out another, don’t shortchange the consumer by cutting off all of the fat of the title. Did you see Saint’s Row 2? They left the fat on and because of it, it left a lot of stuff to do after the main story line. Learn from that.
7. Metal Gear Solid
Hey Kojima, we love you, we really do, but enough is enough. Metal Gear Solid 4 was your masterpiece. It lasted me 15-20 hours and I watched every cut scene as though it was the new bible of gaming. You did it. You earned your lifetime achievement award in the gaming industry and now it’s time to do something great for your supporters and create something new. We’re not asking for the next Mona Lisa of gaming, but at least give us something that we haven’t been playing for the last 15 years already. Snake is a good dude, but there is only so much badassness we can believe before it gets to the point where this guy should be dead already — if not from the years of smoking, from the definite show down against enemies who don’t look to be slowing down in general. Do you know who another famous badass protagonist is? Rambo. He went over the hill too, it wasn’t pretty. Either bring Zone of Enders back for everyone or jump ship and create something fresh.
6. Guitar Hero (Does not include World Tour)
This can be thrown in with the entire “Evil Empire” of gaming article I wrote earlier. Guitar Hero has been milked to death and it’s getting a little old. What’s even worse is after releasing a blockbuster hit like their rip-off Guitar Hero World Tour (Rock Band which is appropriately named beat you to it and you should have conceded), the company still felt the need to create Guitar Hero 5 and then not allow any of its songs to be backwards compatible with World Tour. Great call, Activision. You guys have the business model down to suck in the stupid gamers to a T. However, it’s only a matter of time before they realize they’re buying the same damn game (right?) for the last 5 years. Let’s get a new IP together and start a new milkfest. We all know the company is capable, after all, it has two more titles in the Top 5 alone.
5. World War II Call of Duty
Let’s do this thing. Killing Nazis is popular and nobody hates killing one, except maybe the Germans. Seriously though, when we found out that you were forcing developers to stick with the World War II theme instead of allowing them to grow creatively, it made us a little sick. Anyone who is trying to prevent gaming from evolving and offering something new to the gamers who spends countable millions of dollars (we don’t you don’t count it all) on your product is unjustified. Modern Warfare has proven that you can change the formula and still sell millions, hasn’t it? Just think, your own ridiculous greed almost prevented you from ever reaching that point with Infinity Ward. You owe them an apology at the very least and who knows what Treyarch could do if they were given a choice to develop out of the tired realm of the 1940s. It might end up working out in the end.
4. Tony Hawk
In case you haven’t heard, Tony Hawk Ride is going to release for a lot of money and come with a skateboard you actually stand on to play. Let’s forget the fact that it’s ridiculously overpriced and will probably sell next to nothing because its competitor Skate offers a much better experience for over 50% less money. We can also forget the fact that Tony Hawk has been slowly dying off the gaming shelves for the past three years. Believe us, you’re not revolutionizing skateboard games by adding in the skateboard peripheral. I don’t know if you missed this or not, but snowboard peripherals beat you to this punch and they sold very poorly. Welcome back to reality. Let’s turn this positive energy into something productive, like a new title!
3. Tomb Raider
Lara Croft, thank you for your service. We loved your treasure hunting abilities. We loved your archeological problem solving skills. And, we loved the way your butler would follow us around into every room of your ridiculously oversized mansion. However, there comes a time to step aside, retire the guns, and just get married and pop out a few kids. It’s probably not your thing, but you should make it your thing. In case you haven’t noticed, most of us have been cheating on you with a younger, sexier model named Nathan Drake. He’s everything you used to be and he’s doing nothing but improving upon himself. It’s time you take that nap and pass the crown down to the new King of treasure hunting and thievery.
2. Halo
Fanboys prepare to take up arms. We get it. You’ll keep buying this garbage no matter how many there are. $60 expansion pack? Who cares?! Ship two million! Is that Mountain Dew with Master Chief on it? Let’s buy four cases. Holy crap, is that a Master Chief helmet that will result in my discs being loose, creating massive amounts of scratches on them so that I can’t even play on launch night? Big deal. It’ll look fantastic next to my life-size replica cutout. Great. Yes, we understand there is a whole universe created for Halo and plenty of novels to continue this franchise for the next 20 years in 15 different iterations. It’s old hat by now. When you get to the point that you’re willing to spend $60 for a 4-hour campaign, you’re a little over the top. It’s time to put down the controller and realize what is being done to you. Stand up for something new and fresh, Bungie sure as hell is. They’re tired of making Halo games. Halo: Reach you say? Yes. It’s coming. It’s also going to be the last Halo title that Bungie develops considering their desire to create a new and improved IP. Surprising? Hardly. Only the fanboys want this series to continue. Don’t worry, you’ll always have Red Vs Blue to fall back on.
1.Super Mario
If there is ever a king for this list, it’s that fat little plumber who enjoys pasta, pizza and princesses. Of course, Mario has started to look like he’s getting in better shape over the years and he’s done so by working out and saving princesses in about 1,000 different games. It’s not overkill anymore, it’s just annoying. I’ve never seen a more iconic character continue to deliver on a mass scale. This guy could be released on a game full of nothing but glitches and technical issues and people would buy 15,000,000 copies of it within the first year. Mario isn’t really a plumber, he’s an entrepreneur worth billions. However, despite all of that, it’s time for Nintendo to create something new. I understand the man behind Mario tried that with Wii Music and failed immensely, but that doesn’t mean you give up. Go back to the drawing board and bring us that next Mario. Show us you’re capable of delivering something new. The saddest part about this all is that now that you’ve run out of spinoff ideas, we’re starting to go back to just remaking the old games with light twists to them. It doesn’t have to be like this Mario. You’re better than that. Go home to the wife and kids and show someone else the path to the spotlight. We, as gamers, won’t mind. I promise.
@ RiotPirate
I feel you, but the fact still remains. What have HALO done to push the genre? the answer is: Absolutely nothing!
In respects to Killzone 2, Crysis, and great FPS I haven’t named. They have at least pushed something in an aspect, weather its graphics, game play, and or storytelling. Honestly, I (and many a like) would like to see progression in any company.
(Let me throw something on the board) If a company is not advancing in their game development. (to me) It looks like the company is showing signs that they are losing their love for their work. They would eventually just release games that use the same engines, same models, same textures ect.
With a talented team like Bungie , I’m sure they can create another great hit. I for one would like to see what they can cook up.
Look, if you are one of the ten year olds who stood in line on launch night for the Halo expansion I feel sorry for you. That franchise should have died at number two, number three sucked big time and ODST, don’t even get me started. Then again you fanboys are such idiots they could crap in a box and slap halo on the cover and you would buy it and probably play with said fecal matter. Probably even brag about it to your friends.
I have to say that I enjoyed that list. Do I agree with all of the point? No. I love my MGS. I do thinkj that pretty much every game there should be toned down on though. Guitar Hero should die though!
I still enjoyed your list good job
Resistance needs to die. It was a good launch title, never a great game, and the second installment was very meh.
But GTA and MGS? Have to disagree with you big time on those two. The latest iterations were the best yet, for me and, it seems, many other gamers too.
Spot on with Tomb Raider. Lara Croft has been dead so long she’s starting to stink up the place. As for Halo, how long until Halo Kart…..? ;o)
what the hell are you thinking?! Mario and MGS? lol were u drunk writing this?
Hahahah you FONY always funy.
GTA4 was amazing dude. And as for Mario??? Mario Galaxy was top notch.. game of the year and all that. I totally agree about halo though (Yaaaawn, blink, blink).
Singstar should be on this list…… oh, and Buzz (shudder)
You’ll probably never read this but whatever, doug.
You don’t know me, I don’t fit in a steriotype, okay? I’m extremely far from being obese, actually.
Anyway, Clearly, you just felt like being an ass and then joking about it, must feel better than actually admiting you are one, eh?
Mario? WTF! I don’t agree at all. As for the rest of the list I agree. Except instead of killing of MGS maybe they should just create new characters and evolve the game play some.
@ EXTRA – you might want to brush up on your knowledge of the gaming industry. Final Fantasy has been out for a good few years more than Pokemon yet Final Fantasy has currently sold a pathetic 80 million games in it’s lifetime whereas Pokemon has topped 190 million.
I won’t post the sales figures of Elder Scrolls or Fallout, etc……i don’t want to embarass you too much. You really are one sad soul if you think 80 million is better than 190 million. Pokemon Pinball is better than most Final Fantasy games.
@David
I think you’re confusing quality with sales. Wii Sport has outsold every single title this generation. That hardly makes it the best title released in the last 3-4 years, right?
Pokemon has a much larger demographic in that they can sell to the teenagers/young adults who grew up on the game as well as to the kids from this generation of life. Where as Final Fantasy is more of a Teenager/Young Adult title that has a much slimmer demographic to sell to.
It’s truly not a fair comparison.
of course no mention of final fantasy needing to die. what a shock
@ The Dean – Wii Sports doesn’t count because nobody “Buys” the game. It gets shoved in your face when you buy the Wii console wether you want it or not.
I agree that not every game that sells in the tens of millions can be considered “AAA” (Wii Play for example) however most of them are. If Pokemon was simply a fad there’s no way it would have lasted this long selling in the numbers that it does. On average only one franchise has sold more copies per game than Pokemon and that’s Gran Turismo……..which isn’t bad company to be in.
Wii Sports can also be purchased. Not all of those sales are free.
Who would want to buy a game they already have? Everyone who buys a Wii gets Wii Sports included, what possible reason could they have for going out and buying it again?
You really need to keep up after you give that other guy so much grief for being ignorant about gaming. Used Nintendo Wii consoles do not come with Wii Sports. Furthermore, how about Wii Play’s sales figures? Lol. I could go on forever with this debate and still come out on top.
@David….yet again
You are a moron to believe that sales determine a products quality. Just as the Dean said…and owned you…wii sports and let me add wii fit has out sold many great titles on all systems. So does that mean those two games are the greatest? The answer is no. Allow me to further break it down to you, there are far more kids in the world than adults. So therefor products aimed at kids will always sell better than products aimed at adults. You really need to think before you make a comment for you’re just making yourself look bad.
P.S. I forgot to say what matters when comparring one product to another is the overall experience. In the case of games you would look at sound and picture quality, character design and controls, and how well the story and replay value is. I’m sure you can add more to that list of categories but if you compare these categories in pokemon to any other rpg such as FF, Fallout, Farcry, etc. you’ll find that all of these games offer more than pokemon does. Also as I stated before, the only pokemon games that anyone will put up there with the other top rpgs are the first ones, RED and BLUE version. Those were the only 2 original titles on the gameboy (which the title mainly plays on) and everything else was basically the same with a few changes, and I mean a few. Pokemon reminds me of Dynasty Warriors. They both do the ‘release the same game but add this’ routine, and I’m sorry but that automatically disqualifies it from being the best of anything.
I agree on all of them, except two.
Tomb Raider: This franchise has the potential to revive itself, plus I’ve never gotten the oppertunity to play a Tomb Raider game, so I want the franchise to continue.
Super Mario Bros.: Are you out of your minds? This is Nintendo flagship franchise that keeps innovating itself. You can nearly guaranteen a great game from this franchise. Their is a reason why Super Mario Galaxy is considered one of the best games of this generation. Also, the franchise is far from dead, Nintendo killing off Mario will probably not happen until Nintendo dies. What about Pokemon? Now that franchise needs to go, it’s basicilly the same thing with new graphics and Pokemons to catch. Putting this at the #1 spot is practically disrespecting Nintendo.
It’s good, but Super Mario Bros. should not been in there at all. Edit the list and replace the #1 spot with Pokemon or Sonic the Hedgehog, even thought I don’t want to see the hedgehog in his grave yet.
mario? you’re an idiot
@ The Dean – I think it’s you who needs to pay attention – i mentioned the sales figures of Wii Play BEFORE you did – LOL i think you need some reading glasses, go back and read my earlier posts PROPERLY before posting. I could go on with this argument all day and still come out on top – just how many copies of Wii Sports do you think have been “Bought”??? If you think the answer is anywhere NEAR 25% of all copies then you’re an idiot.
@ Extra – Are you mentally retarded? You just said that games aimed towards kids ALWAYS sell more than games aimed towards adults – so please tell me why Spongebob Squarepants has not outsold Grand Theft Auto. You really don’t know a single thing about the games industry, do you? ROFL – now who looks bad??? Oh and yes, i DID think Wii Fit was one of the best games of this generation. As for Wii Sports – The Dean already made a fool out of himself by implying that most of the copies have been store bought – unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 3 years you know that’s just stupid.
Another thing – if Pokemon simply was the “Same game but with a few minor changes.” like you said then don’t you think it WOULD have died long ago???
I look forward to your reply – especially the part where you apologise to everyone on this forum for saying that games aimed towards kids ALWAYS sell more then Grand Theft Auto or other adult games such as Call Of Duty – LMFAO!!!
Lol — Wii Sports Resort can only be BOUGHT. It has 100% sales. It does not come with the console.
Jesus.
Are you stupid? We were talking about Wii Sports, NOT Wii Sports Resort – pay attention.
Jesus.
Someone can’t read. Wii Sports Resort was specifically mentioned. Way to go.