With weekly teases, leaks and official announcements about the battle of the 9th generation consoles due for release in time for Christmas 2020, the final death knell of 7th generation gaming can be heard ringing out loud and clear. Even second hand shops have stopped putting PS3 and Xbox 360 games on the shelves, so I thought it was time to look back at a very fond period for gaming and gamers – 2005 to 2013, roughly – when the technology of perfecting gameplay and storytelling in an ideal balance really came to the fore.
I reiterate that my 12 of the best lists on The Wasteland are never in a ranked order, and are a purely personal take on things, meaning glaring omissions may be because I have little or no knowledge and / or experience of something. So, please don’t come back to me with angry geek eyes that your favourite isn’t on there… although, you are more than welcome, as always, to point out what I may have missed.
In regard to this particular list, it is worth pointing out that I was an Xbox 360 player on the whole, so there is almost definitely a heavy bias to that console. Sorry about that… Also, I have avoided the minefield of comparing and including sports games, in favour of story based games with a narrative. Only one game per franchise too, in the interest of variety.
Hope you enjoy the list, and it gives you a nostalgic kick… dodge, punch, kill move. Shantih Kx
Valve – 2007
Originally a PC experience, Half Life 2 translated well to 7th Gen consoles right at the start in 2005; later being re-released as part of the ubiquitous Orange Box in 2007. It was the game that really nailed the 1st person thing (you never see Gordon Freeman’s face in game), and one of the first narratives to successfully utilise a companion / guide character to help move things along. To this day, one of the most playable and immersive experiences you can have whilst gaming. The sound design alone is legendary: every click and beep of the Combine still gives me chills. And as for Ravenholm… just don’t go there! An amazing story arc and learning curve, with an ambiguous cliffhanger to die for! Packaged with two mini add-ons that are also great, the myth of Black Mesa and City 17 live on with the much anticipated Half-Life: Alyx, released in 2020 on VR.
Ubisoft Montréal – 2009
The version of this super successful franchise that elevated it beyond the repetitive nature of the original, and, in a close run thing with the joys of being a pirate in Black Flag, still the best on 7th gen. Evolving from gameplay familiar in the Prince of Persia games, this title added a compelling backstory, a thrilling and often creepy conspiracy theory, with so many options of how to go about business to make it feel like a fully open world. The imagery of renaissance Italy is stunning, and hours can be spent just hopping around those rooftops in search of hidden rewards. Or simply pop into Leonardo’s for a chat. The main storyline is less than half the battle here, as no game has ever been more satisfying in simply working to rebuild your home or upgrade your clothes, weapons, or even your art collection! The assassination aspect is also pretty sweet! The growing annoyance of Desmond Miles aside, this is a bone fide classic of gaming history.
Rockstar Games – 2010
Many people would vote this effort as the best game ever released on 7th Gen machines, and I wouldn’t be quick on the draw to argue against that view. The adventures of John Marton in the Wild West of 1911 are really something else. A memorable and totally rewarding experience on every level. The open world isn’t infinite, but big enough to always be discovering something new. Which is as much fun to do as actually trying to advance the story element. Sit down for a game of cards, have a drink at the bar, or go hunting – wild animals or outlaws – you are 100% in control of the journey and to what degree you are good or bad. The side missions are as good as the main game, and the perfect learning curve of riding and shooting means that when you get really good at it, it feels amazing! Near perfect.
Eidos Montréal – 2011
Perhaps the least known title on the list, but still a firm favourite with those lucky enough to come across it. Also with roots in a groundbreaking PC game from 2000, it took another decade for the tech to be good enough to make the vision of a cyberpunk future where genetic enhancements create a new type of human a reality. As Adam Jensen, a man ripped apart and rebuilt in an astonishing title / intro sequence, you must decide which upgrades you will add as the game goes on, giving you a range of abilities from seeing through walls to shooting bullets out of your skin in 360 degrees! Designed to be a hybrid of stealth and combat, with a high level of puzzle and problem solving, it is such a satisfying game to get good at. The graphics were stunning too, for the time, utilizing a golden sheen to the world that is simply gorgeous! Never the same game twice.
Rockstar Games -2011
A quirky little treat from the peerless creators of the GTA series. Employing a sometimes imperfect motion capture system, that folded in a unique gameplay aspect of interviewing suspects and building a case based on their responses. At the best times it felt like you really were cracking a case, as a cop working his way up the ranks; it demanded instinct, patience and brains – a combo not always needed in gaming. The best part, of course, this being a Rockstar game, was the feel of it: the city of Angels circa 1950, in full film noire mode – the suits, the cars, the buildings, the light and the dark, the tawdry romances, and idea that underneath everyone had something to hide. Often a more pleasurable experience just to drive around than GTA, and, despite some frustrating aspects, a feel at the end of the storyline that you had been on a very interesting journey. Just try not talking out loud in the style of Humphry Bogart as you play!
Valve – 2011
I love Valve. I love Half Life. I love the fact that the original Portal game in 2007 was a side effect of working on the dynamics for Half Life, and in the meantime created a side story that puzzle solving fans not only enjoyed but took massively to heart! Portal games are deliberately stark and lonely. Playing them too long can begin to feel like playing a Commodore 64 game with no music – a little unnerving. To offset this the voice talent of Steven Merchant was brought in as a companion character, and the rest is gaming history. Sly and knowing from room one, very few things feel like an accomplishment as much as working out the mind and physics bending puzzles of Portal 2. It’s also fun to fail… fast paced play is not required… sometimes looking around and taking it all in can pay off big time. An exceptionally realised game, that thinks what you are thinking before you thought it.
Rocksteady Studios – 2011
Who hasn’t at least once wanted to growl at their own TV that “I am Batman”? In possibly the most vivid superhero game created on 7th gen, you want to do just that – more than once – as it begins to feel you actually might be… Batman! It’s just all there: the plethora of colourful villains to be taken down one by one; the skills and tech you earn and learn how to use; the dark edged backstory and relationships – replete with Easter eggs and in jokes, that even at one point allow you to pay respects to your fallen parents in the alley behind the theatre. The more you know about Batlore, the better it gets. The side missions are not just sketches here, and even taking down petty criminals makes you feel like the Dark Knight in full glory. Mastering every move takes time and effort, and you won’t crack it without some graft. An imposing proposition at first, but eventually one of the richest gaming experiences you can imagine. Oh, and those riddles! Almost more satisfying to crack than any room in Portal.
Bethesda Games – 2011
Glitchy as hell frozen over, but boy is it worth it! Once begun it feels like a fantasy nut’s wet dream, with an almost impossibly large landscape to explore, riddled with NPCs worth talking to, and a choice of quest lines allowing a unique journey on every level. The learning curve is superb, and at no point do you feel like there is nothing to do that you don’t want to do – a complete black hole of lost hours, simply completing one in a series of tasks that ultimately lead to total satisfaction. There were moments of such atmospheric grace that I literally gasped out loud, or jumped out of my chair in fear, as some creature leapt at me from the corner of a dark cave. Dragons done well are simply cool. And swordplay done well always beats a gun. Fantasy on a mythical level, just be prepared to lose two months of actual reality!
Naughty Dog – 2013
The first gaming experience to grab me by the feels and make me cry. At the time, the absolute pinnacle of integrating storyline and cut-scenes with gameplay. Never before had anything felt as important as surviving in this entirely believable future world. The characterisation and chemistry between Ellie and Joel was as engrossing as any high budget action film has ever managed, and the gameplay more than matched the atmosphere. Getting down to a few bullets and having to scavenge as if your life depended on it was a thrill beyond compare. Best played with the lights out and the sound loud; as immersive as anything ever got on 7th gen. And still probably the best story as a whole ever told in a game. Properly scary, and at times devastating on a human level. The one game I would insist non gamers try, if ever asked.
Square Enix – 2013
To reboot a stone cold classic of video game history and make it this good takes balls. Essentially it is an origin story for Lara Croft, who starts the game as an innocent if willing explorer, and has to learn all her skills from scratch. And scratched she is, in one of the most dynamic and exciting opening sequences I have ever played. The motion capture and unique gameplay engine means that the cut scenes blend seamlessly into the action you control, which I loved! There is always a sense of danger and mood within the island setting, and mastering the moves and gathering the salvage needed to advance is never boring or overly repetitive. In fact when you learn to use all of Lara’s moves to full effect, this is a thrilling game with serious depth. It promised much of what would become possible with the step up to 8th Gen consoles and gave the 7th a fine send-off.
2K Games – 2013
If pushed for an answer, I would say this was my favourite of all 7th Gen games. Why? Well, I just had a very personal relationship with it from the very first time I played it. The mood, the mystery, the music, the setting, the story, etc., etc. I loved how it took hours of play to even work out what the hell was going on, the best parts of the game unfolding like the petals of a flower. As Booker DeWitt, a man with a hazy past, and secrets to remember, the level of engagement is infectious. And when Elizabeth appears it actually feels a bit like falling in love! The first and so far only game to make me cry. The wonder of the gameplay is one thing, but the true triumph of this title was the story. The last half hour of playing will stay with you forever! As good as any movie. To date, I have played it three times all the way through.
Rockstar Games – 2013
Possibly the last great game released on 7th Gen consoles. It was a five year wait since GTA IV (which in many ways I actually prefer) and it was worth every minute. The revolutionary idea of playing not one but three characters, switching as your whims dictate, was a big step forward in gameplay. You can develop your relationships with Michael, Franklin and Trevor at your own pace, and by the time you have a favourite it will feel like they are the centre of the story, which inter-weaves with awesome smoothness however you choose to play it. The driving is better, the shooting is better, and the small details are simply extraordinary, as expected from Rockstar. Engrossing to play through once, but strangely doesn’t have a great replay vibe once the surprises have been seen once.
So, there we go. I hope you have enjoyed the list, and aren’t too angry your personal favourite didn’t make the cut. If you do have anything you’d like to comment in favour of the list or about something that is missing, please do get involved. Happy gaming till next time. Kx
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