The 20 Best Games of the Generation

There have been a lot of impressive games in the lifespan of the current generation of gaming consoles. The Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 has certainly seen some excellent games and these 20 are what I believe to be the best.

20. Gears of War 2

The second instalment of the Xbox exclusive franchise Gears of War was undoubtedly the peak of the trilogy. Again the game casts you as COG soldier Marcus Fenix and his squad in their battle against the Locust, who threaten to destroy the planet. The game mixes fantastic gameplay, epic story, likeable characters and outstanding boss battles to create this excellent game. The game also introduced Horde mode an incredibly fun multiplayer mode.



19. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

The only core Metal Gear Solid game this generation Guns of the Patriots certainly lived up to the Metal Gear Solid name. This game saw the return of Solid Snake who due to rapid ageing does not have much time left. He must stop the evil plans of Ocelot with the time he has left. Although the story has become a bit muddled the game still tells an interesting tale leading to an intense standoff and the gameplay is an all time high for an MGS game.


18. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is what I believe to be the high of the long running FPS franchise. Although it does not have the stellar visuals of Battlefield 3 I feel as if the destructible environments are more key here and it's wider range of vehicles. Also the single player in this is trumps beyond that of it's successor and gives the game even more value.



17. Dishonored

Dishonored is one of the most unique games I have ever played. Set in the steampunk city of Dunwall you are cast as supernatural assassin Corvo the former guardian of the Empress who has been wrongly accused of her murder. Corvo sets out to lead a revolution against the corrupt government. What makes this game so good is the amount of ways you can reach and assassinate your target, you could go in guns blazing but the game is better when you methodically plan a stealth attack.


16. Borderlands 2

The sequel to the highly acclaimed FPS Borderlands, Borderlands 2 fixes nearly everything wrong with it's predecessor and therefore delivers us an amazing game.  Set five years after the events of the first game the sequel gives us four new characters to play as: The Assassin, The Siren, The Gunzerker and the Commando. Your character must battle the evil Handsome Jack.


15. Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain is the Playstation 3 exclusive title from Quantic Dream. Less of a game and more of an interactive drama Heavy Rain tells the story of four protagonists during the kidnap of one of the characters son. The game's gameplay features are not particularly fun to play with, however it is the gripping story that makes this game a must play.



14. Fallout 3

The first Fallout game from Bethesda was an undoubted triumph. The game takes place far in the future after a nuclear war and the game is set in a post apocalyptic version of Washington D.C which sees you play a character who leaves the Vault for the first time in his life. The game boasts incredible open ended gameplay and levelling system as well as an engaging storyline and 100s of hours of potential playtime.



13. Far Cry 3

The third instalment of the Far Cry series takes the game back to it's original tropical setting. The game puts you as the young, arrogant and rich Jason Brody who is kidnapped by the mentally unstable Vaas along with his friends. Brody must do what he can to free his captive friends. Like Fallout 3 the game is an FPS open world adventure allowing to roam Rook Island as you please. With fantastic gameplay, memorable characters and stunning visuals Far Cry 3 was a highlight of this generation


12. The Walking Dead Game

The episodic adventure game based on the popular graphic novel and T.V series scores 12th on the list. Set in the graphic novel universe The Walking Dead casts you as Lee Everett an escaped convict. Lee's main priority is to protect Clementine a little girl he meets at the start of the apocalypse. Much like Heavy Rain the game is more interactive drama with players making decisions and moulding conversations to make Lee their own character.


11. Portal 2

Portal 2 is the second instalment of the Valve developed puzzle franchise. The game is again set in Aperture Science set many years after the first game Chell awakens to find Aperture overgrown and GLaDOS reactivated. The game includes some very well designed puzzles thanks to the gels introduced in the game. The dialogue is genuinely funny in this game with comedian Stephen Merchant lending his vocals as personality core Wheatley. The game also includes a very fun co-op mode.


10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The second instalment to the Playstation exclusive franchise Uncharted 2 makes into the top ten. Again starring Nathan Drake Among Thieves improves upon it's excellent predecessor. The cover shooting mechanics are improved upon as well as the stunning visuals.The game includes some of the best set pieces I've experienced in gaming with a great opening and a brilliant train shootout. The game also introduced multiplayer into the franchise which is incredibly fun and addicting.



9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Out of all the games in the list I have probably spent the most time on the fifth entry in The Elder Srolls series. Set 200 years after Oblivion the games main story sees you battle the dragons that are starting to reappear throughout Tamriel. However there are hundreds of other things to do in Skyrim as well as the main quest, such as join the number of guilds in the region. Although the combat is still slightly clunky it remains satisfying and also adds an improved levelling system to boot.


8. Bioshock Infinite

Some may argue that the original Bioshock is better than the recently released Infinite, however I personally prefered the latest outing in the series. This is because I prefer the setting of Columbia a city in the clouds that remains beautiful throughout Infinite's story. Although some may argue that Infinte's gameplay gets boring and tedious I felt the excellent story made up for these problems, and it certainly pays off after the jaw dropping ending.


7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

One of the most revolutionary games of this generation, the original Modern Warfare is where Call of Duty became the blockbuster franchise it is today. Although it does have a brilliant single player campaign the multiplayer is where Modern Warfare shines. Modern Warfare perfected the controls for an FPS game which made the game simple to learn and play. The game features interesting and diverse maps as well as creating balanced weapons and decent class system. It's a testament that people are still playing the game almost seven years after it's initial release.


6. Assassins Creed 2

The first of the Assassin Creed games to star Ezio was the peak of the stealth series. The origin of Ezio's story as Master Assassin begins with a tale of revenge. In the game you are able to explore various Italian cities during the Renaissance era. The game fixed most of the problems of the original with varied missions and a more likeable main protagonist.



5. Batman Arkham City

The sequel to the highly acclaimed Batman Arkham Asylum, Arkham City further improved upon it's fantastic predecessor. Set not long after the events of the first game Arkham City sees the Dark Knight inside Arkham City a walled off area of Gotham used as a prison. The game is open world and allows you to complete side quests. The sequel also improves upon the combat allowing you to use more gadgets in the middle of a fight.


4. The Last of Us

The Last of Us is the apocalyptic survival horror game from Uncharted developer Naughty Dog. Set after a fungal disease strikes turning people into zombie like creatures the game follows Joel and Ellie as they struggle to survive. The game tells an emotional and gripping story from start till end and creates a beautiful relationship between the two characters. It also features stellar gameplay with the player able to choose stealth or guns blazing route.



3. Red Dead Redemption

The Western open-world epic from Rockstar was an unbelievable success. You are cast as old outlaw John Marston who has been forced by the FBI to take out his former gang members. Including an incredibly emotional and compelling story as well as a huge map and fantastic gameplay the game is one of the best the PS3 and Xbox 360 have to offer.




2. Mass Effect 2

The second instalment of the amazing space epic trilogy, Mass Effect 2 is definitely a game you need to pick up before the launch of the next generation of gaming consoles. The game again sees you play as Commander Shepard in his fight against the Reapers. You must recruit a squad of the best assassins, soldiers and engineers to carry out the 'suicide mission'. The game greatly improves the gameplay of the original and even further improves on an already great story offering up even more choices that will affect the plot massively.



1. Grand Theft Auto V

The most recent release of the blockbuster crime series is the franchise's best. Set in San Andreas once again, you play the game as 3 different characters: Michael, Franklin and Trevor as they perform a series of daring heists.The game fixes the dodgy driving and shooting of GTA 4 and improves even more in the visuals. The game has plenty of potential playtime with Online providing even more fun.

Top 7 Movie Trilogies

7. The Bourne Trilogy

The original Bourne trilogy starring Matt Damon was an exciting, thrilling ride which has given Bond a serious run for it's money. Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne an ex-CIA assassin who is suffering from extreme amnesia. The trilogy sees Bourne trying to discover his past and his clashes with the CIA. All three films are brilliant with intense action scenes and captivating story, but series concluder Ultimatum is the best in the trilogy.



6. Indiana Jones 1-3

The first three films of the iconic Indiana Jones saga are one of the most game changing and brilliant ever. Before the fourth instalment in the series the Indiana Jones franchise was considered one of the perfect film series. Starring Harrison Ford as Indy each film feels different with Raiders of the Lost Ark being widely recognised as the best of the three. Harrison Ford portrays Indy amazingly with making a character who could've become very annoying extremely likeable.





5. The Godfather Trilogy

Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's epic book seems like a match made in heaven. Coppola clearly understood the books themes of family, and immigration. Part 1 is a masterpiece whilst the second film expertly continued the story of Michael Corleone. The only thing stopping this from being further up the list is the rather underwhelming Part 3 which had it's fair share of problems, which tarnished the Godfather brand slightly.





4. Back to the Future Trilogy

It's hard to find a person today who hasn't watched at least one Back To The Future film. Still one of the most popular film franchises 23 years after the release of Back To The Future Part 3. Michael J. Fox's fantastic performance of Marty McFly really makes these films. The second film's more futuristic version of Hill Valley was brilliant, whilst the Wild West setting of 3 breathed some fresh air into the series.






3. Toy Story Trilogy

Compiled of three of the best animation movies ever made Pixar's Toy Story Trilogy is one of the best and most consistent film trilogies ever made. The film tells the story of a group of toys who come to life when their owner isn't around. Each three of the films are amazing but series concluder Toy Story 3 remains my personal favourite.





2. The Dark Knight Trilogy

Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy is by far the best adaptation of the Caped Crusader ever made. Although The Dark Knight is clearly the best of the 3 each have fantastic stories and very well realised villains. This may have been helped by the fact that the casting was spot on for each character with Heath Ledger as The Joker remaining one of the best casting decisions ever





1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Peter Jackson's adaptation of the popular fantasy book trilogy is the best film trilogy ever made. The stunning attention to detail, immersive world, fantastic casting, brilliant special effects and highly emotional and epic story all make The Lord of the Rings Trilogy the best ever made. You have to admire how Peter Jackson made each character feel fleshed out despite having to switch between them constantly.

Breaking Bad Saul Goodman Spinoff Confirmed

A spinoff of the T.V series Breaking Bad has been confirmed by AMC.

The series titled 'Better Call Saul' will act as a prequel to the show and will focus on the life a Walter White's lawyer Saul Goodman before he became the meth lords defender.

According to AMC the series will 'focus on the evolution' of the lawyer before he meets Walt. It is not known when the series will air or whether Bob Odenkirk is reprising his role as Saul.

Top 15 Most Anticipated Films of 2014

15. 22 Jump Street

22 Jump Street is the sequel to 2012's hilarious 21 Jump Street. The sequel again sees Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return again going undercover, this time in college. The film will release June 13th.









14. Transcendence

Starring a cast including Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman and Cillain Murphy and a directorial debut from Nolan's right hand man Wally Pfister, Transcendence is an exciting prospect. The film's story revolves around a dying scientist (Depp) who manages to put his mind inside a computer, and he acquires knowledge that makes him all powerful. The film will release 18th of April.

13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the first of Marvel's two movies of 2014. This film will tie more closely into S.H.I.E.L.D and will bridge the gap between the first and second Avengers. The films trailer definitely raised my expectations for the film and the inclusion of a familiar face from the last Captain America will bring a very interesting element into the film. The film will release April 4th.


12. How To Train Your Dragon 2

The first How To Train Your Dragon was one of the best animated movies of recent memory, so I am eagerly anticipating the second instalment. The film will see the entire voice cast return including Jay Baurachel, Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett. The film will release June 13th.




11. Gone Girl

Gone Girl is the film adaptation of the popular novel. The story is centred around Nick Dunne who when his wife goes mysteriously missing becomes prime suspect for killing her. Nick will be played by Ben Affleck and his wife Amy will be played by Rosamund Pike, the film will also be directed by Se7en and Fight Club director David Fincher. The film will release October 3rd.



10. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

2011's Planet of the Apes reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes was an excellent modern take on the classic franchise with fantastic visuals. The film we'll see nation overtaken by apes led by Caesar (played by Andy Serkis) threatened by a band of human survivors, which could lead to an all out war between the apes and the humans which will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species. The film is scheduled to release July 18th 2014.


9. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

2014 will finally see the long awaited sequel to 2005's Sin City with A Dame to Kill For. The film will be based on the second graphic novel in the Sin City series. The film will see the return of Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and Jessica Alba and will see new cast members in the form of Josh Brolin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film will release August 22nd 2014



8. The Hobbit: There and Back Again

The Hobbit: There and Back Again is the third film in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy. Little is known about the third film so far, but the film is set to explore Bilbo and the dwarves journey home from Smaug's lair and will probably see a face-off between the heroes and the evil Necromancer. The film is set to release 19th December 2014





7. The LEGO Movie

The LEGO Movie is an animated feature based on the world renowned toy brand LEGO. The film sees a regular guy named Emmet mistaken for the Master Builder, the one who can save the universe. The film will see Emmet, with the help of the wizard Vitruvius and the Justice League, battle the evil Lord Business who wants to destroy the universe by gluing it together. The film features incredible voice talent with stars such as Jonah Hill, Morgan Freeman and Will Ferrel lending their vocal chords to the project. The film will release February 7th 2014.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy

The second of Marvel's films for 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy looks the more interesting of the two. The film sees a group of various aliens fight cosmic threats together. Actors starring in the film include Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and Michael Rooker. The film will introduce the more cosmic themed part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guardians of the Galaxy will release August 1st 2014.


5. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1 is the first part of the conclusion to the popular Hunger Games franchise. Without spoiling anything the third film will see the final stages of the revolution against the Capitol. Part 1 of the final Hunger Games film is set to release November 21st 2014.



4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the sequel to last years successful Spider-Man reboot. The film sees Andrew Garfield return as Peter Parker/Spider-Man as he continues to adjust to his crime fighting life and relationship with Gwen Stacy. Spidey will face new foes in the form of Electro, Harry Osborn and The Rhino. The film is set to release May 1st 2014.




3. Interstellar

Interstellar is the highly anticipated next movie from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan who's previous directorial efforts include The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception and Memento. The film also includes an all star cast with stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon taking centre stage. Details on story are pretty scarce and no trailers or posters have been released as of yet ahead of its 7th of November release date next year.

2. X-Men Days of Future Past

Acting as a sequel to both 2011's excellent X-Men: First Class and X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Days of Future Past is sure to be a thrilling ride. Days of Future Past is based on the comic of the same name and will see all our favourite X-Men return on screen with Fassbender and McAvoy returning as younger Magneto and Professor X. The film's villain Bolivar Trask is played by the talented Peter Dinklage. The film will release May 23rd .




1. Godzilla

The reboot of the monster looks to be shaping up as a brilliant movie. The film will tell the origin story of the classic movie monster but will also feature two other monsters in addition to Godzilla. Described as a "very compelling human drama" the film focus a lot on a young U.S Marine played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The film is scheduled to release May 16th next year.


If you enjoyed the article please +1, tweet or like it, if I missed out any movies coming out in 2014 please leave a comment and I may add it to the list.

Games of the Generation: The Walking Dead

As we move closer to the release of the next generation of gaming consoles the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One every week I will be looking back at the games that stood out as my favourite during this generation, this week I will be talking about the emotional adventure game The Walking Dead. 

A popular T.V show and Graphic Novel is was only a matter of time before the zombie apocalypse drama was converted into a video game. People were skeptical when it was announced that Telltale was working on an episodic adventure game based on The Walking Dead. The previous efforts of the developers were pretty lacklustre, with games based on Back to the Future and Jurassic Park failing miserably. Who knew a licenced episodic adventure game would become the Game of the Year.

The game comes from the perspective of Lee Everett, who at the start of the game is being transported to prison, convicted of murder. After the apocalypse breaks Lee encounters a small girl named Clementine. In the course of the 5 episodes we see Lee and Clementine's struggle to survive.

The game features different gameplay to most zombie games. This is no FPS or cover based shooter. The game instead focuses on more puzzle esque gameplay with lots of quick time events. The puzzles are very simple

so if you are not the most talented at figuring out puzzles they will not hamper your time with the game.

However the gameplay is not the strong point of The Walking Dead, it is the story and the characters. The relationship between Lee and in particular Clementine is brilliantly believable. The game lets you choose your own way of conversation and make important choices, which means that the game feels tailored by you. The game's story is very emotional and you actually feel something when a character dies.

If you haven't played The Walking Dead you are missing out on one of the best games of the generation.
Buy The Walking Dead here (U.K)
Buy The Walking Dead (U.S.A)

Elysium Review

Director: Neill Blomkamp; Screenwriter: Neill Blomkamp; Starring: Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, William Fichtner; Running Time: 109 Minutes (1 hour 49 minutes); Certificate: 15

When released in 2009 Neil Blomkamp's District 9 was a breath of fresh air in a cinema world full of uninventive reboots, remakes and sequels. So fans of the film were pretty excited when Blomkamp announced a return to the sci-fi genre with Elysium, but does the film manage to live up to the hype? Although the film is slightly more generic than District 9 it's a thrilling piece of cinema with fantastic performances from Matt Damon and Sharlto Copley.

The film takes place in a futuristic Earth which is plagued with disease, and pollution. The richest of Earth's population abandoned Earth and travelled to a utopian space station named Elysium. The movie centres around Max played by Matt Damon. After an accident at work Max is left suffering from radioactive poisoning, which means a ticket to Elysium is the only hope Max has left. To gain this ticket Max has to work as a mercenary and is fitted with a robot nervous system to improve his fighting skills.

Max's story may not be as gripping as Wikus' journey in District 9, however Matt Damon's excellent performance still keeps you hooked. Max is different from most action heroes through his obvious terror at dying, whereas John McLane and Rambo throw themselves into combat without any real worries. This makes the character of Max much more believable. Jodie Foster is decent in the role of Jessica Delacourt, the woman basically running Elysium, but doesn't really add anything to the role. But then we have Sharlto Copley who steals the show. Copley plays Kruger an agent employed by Delacourt to prevent any problems Elysium may have down on Earth. He is a chilling villain for the film and one of the few movie villains of recent films that is quite frightening.

The film does not have all that many action scenes but when there is they are usually plagued with shaky cam problems. It seems to be a common mistake to use this feature in the films I've seen recently, with Kick-Ass 2 being the most blatant offender. Which is quite disappointing because it makes the highly anticipated face-off between Max and Kruger slightly underwhelming. However the action scenes are pretty rare which means it's not such a massive problem in the scheme of things.

The special effects in the film are great, which adds to the highly detailed world Blomkamp has created. This frightening vision of the future feels real and sucks you in to the universe.

Elysium is probably the best film I've seen this Summer, it's thought-provoking story, brilliant performances, and incredibly realised world is enough to warrant your attention.

I give Elysium a 8.5 out of 10

Deep Silver wants to continue Metro franchise

Deep Silver has expressed their intention to continue the horror FPS series Metro. After acquiring the brand in January following the dissolution of THQ they released the second game of the series Metro Last Light which gained critical and commercial success.

CEO Dr. Klemens Kundratitz told Joystiq that "While it launched in a very dry space in the gaming calendar this year, it still got a lot of attention."

"Our ambition is to absolutely continue with that brand and we will also, in the next phase, look to making it more accessible for a broader gamer audience."