Last-gen systems (feels weird calling it last-gen) are leaving us with plenty of great games to experience, and there's no doubt new-gen systems will do just the same. As more and more people adopt these new consoles, our old consoles will eventually be phased out. But before you pack up that Xbox 360 or PS3 and put it away for good, there are a couple of games I feel should be played before fully moving on to your shiny new console. Some of these are games that while critically adored, didn't exactly find a huge audience. Underrated, if you will. As such, I'll refrain from listing games practically everyone has played, like GTA V and Uncharted 2. Let's get started.
Spec Ops: The Line
I've expressed my dislike about military campaigns in games before. They simply come off as too generic and boring with a nonsensical plot. So I wasn't initially interested in Spec Ops. Months after the game released, a friend of mine offered to lend it to me and I accepted. I didn't care for the game but I figured it would be good for a couple of achievements. It certainly started off as generic, but the story eventually became so much more. What started off as a simple reconnaissance mission unraveled into a pretty dark story where you actually, over time, begin to question the morality of the game's "hero," voiced by the always great Nolan North. The game's ending proceeded to blindside me with one heck of a twist ending. Don't wave this game off like I did. Play it.
Alan Wake
This game could very well be the definition of a cult classic. After a lengthy development process, Alan Wake released to great reviews. Unfortunately, Alan Wake released alongside a little game known as Red Dead Redemption, a game that more than deserved the heaps of praise put upon it.
The premise to Alan Wake was simple but quickly turned complicated: an acclaimed author struggling with a bad case of writer's block goes on vacation with his wife to a quiet little town called Bright Falls, hoping to gain a little inspiration for his next book. What follows is a fascinating story based on the forces of light and dark, with gameplay revolving around the use of a simple flashlight. The story ends on a huge cliffhanger, and whether or not we'll find out what happens next is unknown, as developer Remedy has moved on to Quantum Break. Here's hoping for a proper sequel somewhere down the line.
Halo Wars
I wrote a blog recently about my love for this game and how much it deserves a sequel, so I won't go too much into this one. But if you are a fan of Halo or a fan of real-time strategy games, or both, then play this game. And if you like it, join me in the wait for a sequel.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Hard to say whether this game can be considered underrated right now as it released just a month ago. But due to it's lengthy development time and the fact it released in a month filled with high profile releases such as Titanfall, Dark Souls II and Infamous: Second Son, it's entirely possible this game was simply forgotten. Regardless, if you haven't played this game, do so, especially if you're a South Park fan.
Not only is it a solid RPG, but it's filled with references to the show's long history. From the Underpants Gnomes to the Crab People. It's all there. And in case you didn't think the show's signature humor would translate well to a video game, you're wrong. It was written and voiced by Matt Stone and Trey Parker and as such, it is one of the funniest games I've played in a long time; right up there with Portal 2. Kudos to developer Obsidian for successfully making this game look and feel like an episode of South Park.
Max Payne 3
This game probably isn't considered underrated. It sold well and reviewed great. But I consider it underrated in the sense that as great a game it is, it didn't receive the acclaim it deserved. It was my personal game of the year for 2012 and I completely understand why it didn't win the award from any major publications, as Mass Effect 3 released in the same year. But I was shocked to see it didn't win any major awards.
Max Payne 3 follows the title character, Max Payne, through his quest in Brazil to save the wife of his employer, whom he was supposed to protect. Max is quite possibly the most tragic character in gaming history. Death and pain follow him wherever he goes. His alcoholism and addiction to painkillers surface constantly throughout the game's story. This game's third person shooting mechanics have become my favorite of the genre, featuring the always awesome Bullet Time. Slowing down time while in a dive give the game a great movie-like feel. Coupled with an excellent soundtrack, Max Payne 3 had everything I could ask for in a game. I could rave on and on about it. It's truly one of my favorite games of all time.
Anything I missed? Thoughts on these games? Let me know in the comments!