Paul Searle writes: "Once upon a time, Valve were my favourite computer game developer. Unfortunately, they are no longer so, thanks to their disappointingly long development cycles and monopolisation of the digital distribution market. Steam, arguably the biggest and best of all digital distribution networks, isn’t entirely free from DRM; SecuROM and SoftWrap are still prevalent on the online store, and SteamWorks forces players to be logged into Steam to play a game they own, even if bought from retail. Team Fortress 2 is still under development, and Half-Life 2: Episode Three is nowhere to be seen, right when Valve needs it to restore the public’s faith in their company."
Video games are no longer just a simple past time. Today's games are evolving into true works of art. Offering intriguing narratives, cinematic setpieces, and profound messages, games can entertain us for hundreds of hours.
I never got around to mass effect - I’m skeptical that it would hold up if I were to try it now
I would say it does. The combat is a bit shit for todays standards but everything else is great.
the first one is abit the odd one out but after u finished it, believe it it gets tremendously better and better
Jack writes: "Yet again browsing the latest offers in the Steam Spring Sale has led us to track down the very best. In terms of price to quality, we don’t think that it gets much better than this. Portal 2 is now less than a dollar, and if you haven’t got it already, now is the time to pick it up."
Portal deserves to be one of steams highest rated games... It's almost tetris levels of perfect game design.
Gotta love Steam. Just got Portal 2 for .97 cents CAD. Should have been $1.29, selected the bundle with Portal 1 and 2, which gets a 25% discount, already have Portal 1, so it removes the cost of that, and still applies the full 25% bundle discount to Portal 2. 90% + 25% discount.
That's sweet, I've been thinking about building a modest pc to play some oldies
Given the medium's wild diversity, this primer of the essential video games everyone should try is a good place to start.
I can't fk with this list. They missed on alot of games probably before the writers times. Also I know people loved some portal but I was never a fan.
Tomb Raider 1
Driver 1
Abe’s Odyssey
FF6
King of Fighters 94
Mortal Kombat OG
LINK 2 the past
Street Fighter 2
Resident Evil 1
Infinite but not the first two games? Witcher 3 but not the first two games?? GTA V but not literally any of the games before it??? Portal 2 but not the first? Also if you're going to play Shadow of The Colossus play the remaster and not the remake. Can't say I disagree with the list but my man it's all over the place.
I mean some sequels are objectively better and you don’t need to play the whole series.
But most of these games have a story to follow, sure you can catch up with a YouTube vid but where's the fun in that?
A list like this isn't telling you not to play the previous games if you want to. It's just giving you legendary games to play.
But tbh, you don't always have to force yourself to play every entry in a franchise to get to the better ones.
- The vast majority of Witcher 3 players never played the first 2 and had a great time. The first 2 games aren't in the same league.
- The GTA games are self-contained with the odd fun reference. You can easily jump into any of them.
- The Shadow Of The Colossus remake looks and controls better than the original (plus it has a 60fps option while the remaster is just 30fps). New players will enjoy it more.
- Portal 2 is a lot better than Portal 1 and takes the concept much further gameplay-wise. Storywise, Portal 1 is fairly light too. Not that you shouldn't play it but realistically ... you'd love Portal 2 whether you play it or not (at lot of Portal 2 players have never played 1).
Bioshock 1 is the only one I agree with you on simply because it's one the best games of all time and arguably better than Infinite. No other setting like Rapture.
Looking at the list, I'd recommend playing Uncharted 1 before 2 but no doubt, 2 is the legendary one you have to play.
I get it, but that's just my opinion on his opinion. I just think that before you play a sequel you should still play what came before it. Maybe it's just me but i find it fascinating playing through the first game in a series and seeing how it has evolved through its sequels. Like I said I don't disagree with the list, other than SoTC which I strongly believe the remaster of the original should be played above the remake.
Awesome list! Hot take on Fear (and it's hard af expansion Persaus Mandate!) Bioshock Infinite is stellar, so is the Witcher 3 and you nailed it by having Ocarina of Time. So many fantastic games! Gotta play 'em all! Next one on my list is Prey after I beat Dead Space 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction.
This article is pretty pointless. Valve have always been notoriously bad about release dates.
@Cajun
Yeah, Steam has changed a lot in the last 5 years.
but when they deliver...they deliver.
I haven't lost faith. I'm really excited for Portal 2, and the original Portal wasn't just a mini-game. It was an amazing showing of innovation with physics, and Valve's humor and wit. It's legit one of my favorite games ever, even though it was like 5 hours long. I mean, I fell in love with the companion cube.. and the cute little turrets.. I'm actually sitting in a Portal shirt right now.. Don't diss Portal, pal.
But, anyways, i guess if you're looking for only episode 3, I would understand losing faith.. but the Orange Box was so awesome, and I love the Left 4 Deads so much, and I am so super excited for Portal 2.... Valve still has my faith, but I do understand your pain. I guess I'm just trying to stay optimistic. They'll release it sometime, and in the meantime I'll just keep playing L4D and Portal.... and hopefully Portal 2 gets released next year. ... It could happen. Either way, the wait will be worth what they give us. Valve's quality is really indisputable.
I think "VALVe time" is a pile of crap. They have started to use it as an excuse. I agree, my faith has been hurt in them to some extent. While the games they have released since 2007 have been good, I really want them to release something that reminds me of the old days of VALVe.
thats a stupid reason......