Steve Gibson of Gearbox Publishing, the publishing arm of Gearbox Entertainment, took to the stage at PAX East to announce details on a variety of new games and partnerships.

One new partnership is with Hopoo Games, a three-person development team behind the upcoming Risk of Rain 2, a robot co-op shooter followup to the multi-million selling Risk of Rain.

The game is a roguelike built around brutal combat and the tantalizing promise of more, and greater, loot; the sequel is set to bring the series forward with high-quality 3D graphics.

Starting today, those interested in Risk of Rain 2 can download an Early Access version of the game via Steam for $19.99. Those who do will receive a free copy to gift to friends.

The launch trailer is below.

Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition

Gearbox Publishing is also working with developer People Can Fly to bring the acclaimed Bulletstorm to the Nintendo Switch this year. The game is currently eying a summer release, with Gibson stating he and his team are working hard to ensure it meets that deadline. 

Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition will include the full single-player campaign from the original Bulletstorm, along with the Duke Nukem add-on and all existing DLC. Gibson also promised fans this will be a high-quality version of the game, with current framerates surpassing what the team already hoped for.

A remastered edition of Bulletstorm, called Bullet Storm: Full Clip Edition, released in 2017 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The Full Clip Edition also included the Duke Nukem Bulletstorm Tour. 

We Happy Few Season Pass and DLC

Gearbox also provided details for the first expansion to We Happy Few, called, They Came From Below. The DLC is set to launch on April 4. 

NPCs James and Roger take center stage for a brand-new We Happy Few story. Gearbox offered an overview of the campaign:

Wellington Wells stands besieged by a robot uprising, but the mechanized menace isn't the only thing threatening to tear the pair apart. Play as Roger and team up with your boyfriend James to Find Dr. Faraday, explore a vast underground laboratory, and discover the source of the robot invaders before it's too late!

They Came From Below is but one DLC extension planned for We Happy Few, with two more coming at some point in the future.

Players can purchase the Season Pass to get access to all DLC as it releases for $19.99, or each can be purchased separately for $7.99

Trover Saves the Universe and Astroneer

Gearbox also announced new partnerships that will let them bring physical editions of highly-anticipated indie games like Trover Saves the Universe, from the minds of the Rick and Morty creators, and Astroneer to players sometime later this year.

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Be sure to check out our other Gearbox at PAX East coverage, including the Borderlands 3 announcement and other reveals in the Borderlands universe.

According to recent reports, Cliffy B's LawBreakers (LB) isn't doing very well. It maybe one of 2017's biggest flops. The title is a pay-to-play first person shooter with a strong emphasis on gravity manipulation during battle. It was released worldwide for PC and PlayStation 4 just a week ago, on August 8. 

LawBreakers is a title where two teams of five players compete against each other in an arena-style battleground. These teams align with either the law or the breaker factions. As of right now, players are able to chose from nine classes and four game modes. 

Despite being well-received by critics and reviewers, the game's player counts have actually decreased after each open beta session. Two days after release, the active players numbered at just 3,000. Reportedly, this indicates more than a 50% drop in players since the first open beta in June. And according to Steamcharts, the peak number of players for the last 24 hours was a mere 1,550.

This is very concerning given Cliffy B's track record with games. To compare, let's look at the release of Gears of War (GoW). This third-person shooter was released in 2006 for the Xbox 360, and was very well received. Since its original launch, the game has gotten an updated re-release for the Xbox One as well.

Gears was released to very positive reviews and praise from players, much like LB. Within two weeks of release, Gears of War sold one million units. 2 months later, over three million units were sold. But unfortunately, the same simply isn't true for LawBreakers in spite of its similar positive reception at launch.

It's not entirely clear yet why LB is not doing as well. Cliffy B laid a lot of the same groundwork for LawBreakers as it did for Gears of War. Both games saw a big marketing push, though arguably Gears of War got the upper hand in that regard after its memorable usage of a popular song. But it's also worth noting that while LawBreakers was available across a number of systems, GoW was published by Microsoft and pushed heavily as an exclusive selling point for the Xbox 360.

That sort of extra attention pushed Gears into popularity, while LawBreakers got left behind, floundering with a marketing campaign that consisted more of on-site ads and promoted Tweets than actual engaging content. 

Is marketing attention the only thing that put LawBreakers in the ground? Of course not. There are a number of other things that could have gone wrong. And if we're honest about it, this isn't the first time a Cliffy game hasn't been successful. 

In 2011, we saw the release of Bulletstorm for the Xbox 360. This first-person shooter stuck heavily to Cliffy's visceral design aesthetic and insanely chaotic combat. But five months after its release, developer Epic Games announced that it had failed to make a profit -- even though, much like LawBreakers, the title got positive initial reviews from fans and critics alike.

Bulletstorm also had a respectable marketing push that included advertisements on major networks and commercials featuring a few Hollywood actors. Yet, it still failed. Why? The answer isn't clear. But it is interesting that this pattern of positive reviews and poor sales has carried across multiple Cliffy titles. Maybe Cliffy's games can only sell as exclusives instead of multi-platform titles? It's possible that the extra bump from Microsoft really did make all the difference.

As of now, Cliffy B doesn't seem to be worried about the title's slow start. But I'm not so optimistic in regards to its performance and player numbers. 

What's happening with LawBreakers feels very similar to what happened with 2016's Battleborn. Another stylish shooter in the same vein as LB, this game also saw a steep decline in its playerbase shortly after launch -- probably because its release date fell so unfortunately close to the juggernaut arena shooter that was Overwatch.

If you ask me, new shooters like LawBreakers have huge hurdles to jump over these days, and very few will make the leap and stay afloat. We live in a post-Overwatch world, after all, and only a free-to-play competitor like Paladins has been able to keep up with Blizzard's entry in the genre.

The shooter scene is already oversaturated with all kinds of shooters -- from gritty historical experiences like Battlefield 1 or Call of Duty: WW2 to colorful arena shooters or frenetic experiences like Quake, capturing players' attention with a new IP is no simple matter. And unfortunately, it seems like LawBreakers just didn't innovate (or market) enough to capture as much attention as it needed to in order to stay alive. 

Lots of good games have ultimately died in spite of their general quality and respectable launches. We've seen it time and time again. And although it's too early to chalk up LawBreakers as a loss -- as new maps and modes are still set for release -- things aren't looking good. 

The decline in players will obviously be a focal point for both the game's developer and its publisher, Nexon. But if they're making any business decisions in that regard, they're being tight-lipped about it. 

Cliffy B has been in the business for years and he's been down this road before. So I'm sure this is familiar ground despite his past successes. LawBreakers is a stylish game, and it would be a shame if it goes quietly into the night.

Gearbox and People Can Fly have decided to do a Nukem thing: they are releasing Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition on April 7, 2017.

The game will be released for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Steam, and will feature a playable Duke Nukem.

So What Part Does Duke Nukem Play, You Ask...

This new release of Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition has some new features. One of them being "Duke Nukem's Bulletstorm Tour" which let's you play through the entire campaign as Duke Nukem. There is also a full new script, as well as brand-new lines from the original voice of Duke.

If you pre-order Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition now you can save 15% on your order and get the Duke Nukem Tour for free.

Hail to the King, baby! Pre-order Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition and receive the Duke add-on, plus 15% off the title https://t.co/cPYhOQT3Xt pic.twitter.com/FsfBWNmgRp

— Bulletstorm (@Bulletstorm) March 27, 2017

But Don't Just Order For Duke Nukem

This new version of Bulletstorm includes new and exclusive content, including a new Overkill Campaign mode, new Echo Maps, and much more.

A Little Background on Bulletstorm

Bulletstorm takes place in the 26th century. The universe, run by the Confederation of Planets, is completely different from what we know now. Our main character, Grayson Hunt, is the leader of a group called Dead Echo -- a black ops team.

One day, he is given orders from his commander, Star General Sarrano, to kill a man named Bryce Novak. Novak, as it turns out, was actually a civilian reporter who documented civilian deaths caused by Dead Echo.

When they realize they have been tricked by Sarrano, Hunt and his team desert and go on the lamb as they hide from Sarrono and his goons.

Ten years later, Hunt has become the commander of a ship that includes his former team members -- Ishi Sato, Rell, and Doc Oliver. One day, on the planet Stygia, he sees Sarrano's battlecruiser, the Ulysses, and must make a dire decision: will he go after the commander who betrayed him, or will lead his team to safety?

Video games (just like movies) tell elaborate stories, build characters and use dynamic effects and shots. It's an immersive medium and before long, you're emotionally invested. You're right there in the game. Dialogue is such an important part of said immersion and (again just like movies) video games have fired off some awesome and memorable one-liners/quotes. Most of the time they're generic action and dramatic one-liners but every now and then, a little piece of gold finds its way out...

With that said, here are some of the funniest one-liners and quotes that are sure to put a smirk on that face of yours!

Duke Nukem Forever

The Duke

*Looks in the mirror*

"DAMNNN, I look good..."

Don't deny it. Whenever any of us played as the Duke, our inner narcissist couldn't be kept down for long and a smile slowly creeped its way across your face. How could it not after hearing that line? Then again, now that I think of it, I laughed at A LOT of his one-liners...

Portal

Portal P.A Announcer

"If you need to go to the bathroom after this next series of tests, please let a test associate know because in all likelihood, whatever comes out of you is going to be cold. Only temporary so do not worry. If it persists for a week though, start worrying and come see us because that's not supposed to happen."

Portal is jam-packed with sarcastic and humorous quotes/one-liners. It was hard to narrow it down but the P.A Announcer made me smile first. While GlaDos always holds a place in my heart, she won't be seen on this list.

Assassin's Creed II

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

"Your sister seemed quite satisfied with the 'handling' I gave her earlier."

Ahhh, the good-old mum and sister jokes. For being as old as they are, still pack quite a punch when used. Seriously, it hurts. Just look at how easily the Pazzis are angered when Ezio uses the above line on them! Ubisoft know this too and young Ezio is a typical, "your mum" kinda guy...

Left 4 Dead

Zoe

"Free copy paper? Sweet!"

What else could put your mind at ease when facing a zombie apocalypse? Guns? Water? Food? Defendable shelter? No! COPY PAPER! Left 4 Dead's Zoe shares STG's enthusiasm for the little things in a zombie apocalypse when she yells out her one-liner, in the copy room. Bless Zoe, you go girl.

Postal

Player

"Hey I'm just exercising my second amendment rights here, you fuckin' communist."

This insane game made absolutely no sense but who cares? The violence and gore made sure you never had a chance to think about that. What I did notice, however, was the player's one-liners. Most notably, the above one. My drink nearly came out of my nose when I heard this gem. Yep, apparently shooting and killing people is just exercising your right to... shoot and kill people? Otherwise, you're just a filthy communist aren't you?

South Park: The Stick of Truth 

Cartman

"If you have a fucking better name for them then fucking say it Clyde!"

There's something about Cartman spitting the dummy at people that's just so damn funny. He's everyone's favourite, evil, little shit. Stick of Truth was (finally) a fantastic South park game and the entire game made us here at STG lose ourselves laughing but when Cartman gets angry and says this to Clyde during the tutorial, it's hard not to laugh let alone smile.

Spec Ops: The Line

Robert Darden (The Radio Man)

"Geez man, where's all this violence coming from? Is it the video games? I bet it's the video games."

Yeah, I'm totally sure it's the video games and not the fact that you play as a highly trained, special forces soldier, trained to kill, dropped into unknown, enemy territory, are constantly attacked and have some tough decisions to make along the road. Definitely the video games...

Brutal Legend

Eddie Riggs

"Oh man... don't tell me I've been slaying hot girls this entire time!"

Eddie Riggs is your average, mediocre roadie who gets transported to a heavy metal dimension. Using his extensive knowledge of 'the metal', Riggs leads the inhabitants of this heavy metal heaven turned hell in a revolution against the dastardly General Lyonwhite. After seeing the face of one of his foes, Eddie immediately pauses mid-fight to ask himself the same question every man would. 

Marvel VS Capcom 3

Deadpool

*Everything he says in this game.*

We couldn't narrow it down with everybody's favourite merc, Deadpool. He's just too damn funny so instead we decided to just tell you to go out and play the game already! The great thing is when he actually talks to the player through the game and mentions the fact he knows he's in a fighting game. Absolute gold...

Sonic Colours

Sonic the Hedgehog

"No copyright law in the universe is going to stop me!"

This one made the list because it was unexpected, yet also feels personal. It transcends the game and touches on a real issue many gaming channels and platforms seem to suffer. You tell em', Sonic...

Uncharted 2

Nathan Drake

"Yeah good luck pal. That's almost impossible to... Oh, you did it... nice."

Nolan North is a great voice actor and the most recognised voice in gaming today. He does a fantastic job as Nathan Drake and can even get his disappointment and envy across the microphone. Being proven wrong is never funny but when you are, at least give the person credit. Real, genuine credit. Don't be like Nate, the jealous douche.

Assassin's Creed II

Mario Auditore

"It's a me, Mario!"

This joke is so old now but it seems to continue to get used. This one-liner was made famous by the super plumber himself and has been seen/heard/used almost everywhere in the world! It comes to no surprise that Ubisoft threw this little piece of chuckler homage in. I feel like I've heard this somewhere before...

Bulletstorm

Trishka Novak

"Yeah!? Go fuck yourself! You shit piles give chase, I WILL kill your dicks!"

Bulletstorm tough girl Trishka is a Final Echo mixture of sassiness and, well, extreme violence. You meet up with Trishka as she is getting sexually assaulted by one of the planet's denizens. Trishka can definitely take care of herself , as she proved as your companion in Stygia. You get the feeling she's got something to prove though and the one-liner she fires off above tends to prove it. Time to start working on your trash-talk Trish...

Conker's Bad Fur Day

The Great Mighty Poo

"I am the great, mighty, Poo and I'm going to throw my shit at you."

Now the line itself isn't actually that funny, but if you really want laughs then turn to a classic comedy method; turn it to song! The Great Mighty Poo serenades Conker on his Bad Fur Day (see what I did there?) and scored an ashamed little giggle from me. Guys really don't need much for comedy, do we?

Mortal Kombat

Boon & Scorpion

"Toasty!"

And:

"Get over here!"

The two most iconic one-liners that came from Mortal Kombat way back in the 90s secured their place in pop-culture, still being referenced and used today. These two quotes will ALWAYS wrestle a sub-conscious smirk from your face.

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby Wolf

"Urggh. This shit will kill ya'."

*Takes puff of his cigarette*

Bigby Wolf is the protagonist in Telltale's The Wolf Among Us. He's the tough, emotionally withdrawn, whiskey drinking, cigarette smoking, wise-cracking, bad-ass tasked with solving a series of murders of fairytale characters in 1986 Fabletown. Again, Bigby (short for Big Bad Wolf) has a lot of great one-liners that made us smirk. Soda will kills you but your cigarettes won't, eh Bigby? Classic fairytale irony at its best.

Far Cry: Blood Dragon

Sgt. Colt

"I fucking HATE tutorials and this one is TERRIBLE!"

The 80s have made a comeback everywhere and Far Cry: Blood Dragon is no exception. Blood Dragon is an 80s-induced trip back in time to Hollywood's sci-fi and action films. Sgt. Rex Colt is a cyber commando in the near future of 2007 in which a nuclear war has destroyed the globe. One typical 80s best friend betrayal later and a revenge plot is set in motion. We all dislike most video game tutorials as much as the next guy (or gal) and Colt confirms this notion. You go Rex...

That's it for this listicle! We hope you enjoyed the article and found a few things to entertain you. Please leave a comment with what you think is your favourite quote in video games and don't forget to check out our channel and links!

Having recently watched the X-Ray kills of Sniper Elite 4 has reignited my love of slow-motion death. Whether it's just simple slow-mo, like in Max Payne or Enter The Matrix, or full bullet time like in Sniper Ghost Warrior, even going as far as Sniper Elite with an X-Ray system showing organ explosions and bones shattering, I cannot get enough.

Don't watch... the dead man says.

I can see right through you

I've always had this morbid fascination with seeing slow-motion death. Watching my bullet(s) slowly travel towards the final victim, or if I'm sniping I get a moment of excitement when the camera smash cuts to the gun's barrel. It tells me I've just made "the shot" and I can sit back for a second and watch my work. It only gets better when I can follow that bullet through the body of my enemy, and bask in the gory glory of perfection.

It might be me, but I would love to see more games embrace the bullet time. Quantum Break seems to be using the same style as Max Payne 3, it gives you a stylish slow-motion scene of a man getting shot. But then Remedy are the creators of the original Max Payne games, before Rockstar took the reins with the 3rd in the series, so I'm not surprised that system is in there.

What could possibly go wrong?

The major issue with a kill cam system is how it breaks up the flow of the game, and that can be an issue for many people; stopping them from doing anything by dynamically triggering a cutscene. I understand exactly why this can be annoying. If you're firing from far off you may forget exactly where you were due to the long bullet travel time, or you may just want to fire off a few quick shots at multiple targets.

This can be somewhat fixed by making the right stick be speed changer, where clicking it in makes time go normal speed. This should overcome most of the issues with this, but if anyone really doesn't want to watch their bullet in slow-motion there should be an option to turn it off.

This is what went wrong.

Films have tried, films fall short

The Matrix is arguably the most famous film for making bullet time, but does it put you in the action? Nope, games have always had the jump on films for making you feel like you are the character, that any actions you take are yours and yours alone. Having a kill cam that activates when you have done something just makes it feel special -- even if it's set off for every last enemy. You never really know how many combatants enter the arena, so you never know when the kill cam will show.

Bullet time, chill time

Kill cams, above all, look cool while making you think you are cool. By activating when you have just made a skill shot it gives you a sense that you have done that. As long as there is the ability to change the speed, to speed up during long travel time for shots, and slow down to watch your target drop, and devs add the option to turn kill cams off and ensure people who don't like them don't see them, I would love to see more kills cams in games.

Do you have strong feelings for or against kill cams? Or do you just not care? Why don't you care? Let me know in the comments below.

That wraps up our analysis of the least inspiring quotes that video games have to offer. Let us know which one you thought was the best and which ones we missed that should have been included! For a look at the opposite side of the coin, don't forget to take a gander at our roundup of the most inspiring quotes in all of gaming.

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“Soon, pitiful worms! Soon I will rule, and your lives will have their doneness setting turned to... darkest!”

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“Have you ever tried to indulge an all-consuming urge to kill when you don't have opposable thumbs? Or hands? Or anything other than a bread slot? You'd have a lot of pent-up anger too!

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-- The Toaster from Fallout: New Vegas expansion Old World Blues

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This may be the one and only game featuring a genocidal toaster who is genuinely unhappy to learn the world was already destroyed in a nuclear Armageddon before he could get around to annihilating all life.

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“We broke it. Yes, we were naughty. Completely naughty. So, so very sorry. But just between you and us, it felt quite good.”

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“We get it, its a slacker thing. What next? Video store clerk? Screenwriter? Whatever it is, we are so not paying for it. Poor, poor, Us, stuck with a L-O-S-E-R like you!”

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-- King Of All Cosmos, Katamari Damacy

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The King Of All Cosmos destroys the whole universe and nobody says anything, but if The Prince makes one little mistake the string of berating comments arrives. He's really not a very good dad.

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“How low can you get? I love it! All right, I'll help you. Nothing to lose but my life.”

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-- Setzer, Final Fantasy VI

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Way to put it all in perspective Setzer. His philosophy here after being swindled and convinced to fight a world spanning empire is what I like to call "optimistic nihilism."

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Nobody's d*ck's that long. Not even Long Dick Johnson, and he had a f*cking long d*ck. Thus, the name."

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-- Cass, Fallout: New Vegas

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Even surprassing "your face looks like my butt," there is some truly bizarre dialog in the Fallout series when characters try to explain concepts in ways the Courier or Vault Dweller can understand.

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“I'm afraid that if you were to remove that... I would be naked.”

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-- Fall From Grace, Planescape: Torment

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When's the last time a succubus gave you a gentle reminder about how clothes work? I'm sure you all heard this little voice acted gem in a totally innocent way when you were trying to give Grace's bodice to another character in need of some armor, right?

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“Sh*t, the hell you so calm about? You bustin' up my rhythm."

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-- Barret Wallace, Final Fantasy VII

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You always had a way with words Barret, and you have the honor of being the very first video game character I ever saw use a curse word on my television screen. Congratulations!

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“Hey Kinzie, you wanna f*ck?”

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-- The Boss, Saints Row 4

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Geeze, Boss, buy a girl a drink first? The Boss doesn't waste any time on romance in this iteration of the series. Guess that's what happens when the earth has been destroyed and you're becoming the new Neo messiah in the Matrix. In Boss's defense though, the line totally works, although Kinzie does punch him first.

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“The last time a big naked dude said he could help me, it did not end well.”

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-- Pierce Washington, upon meeting naked Oleg, Saints Row The Third 

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Pierce is a continuing source of comic relief in the series, but there's a darkness to his need to be funny. Pierce has SEEN THINGS.

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“You'd find that lady luck was actually a hooker, and you were fresh out of cash.”

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-- Max Payne

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Before wowing us with his quote about needing passion for life to be worth living, our tortured detective was also spinning some low grade noir analogies.

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“Please note that we have added a consequence for failure. Any contact with the chamber floor will result in an 'unsatisfactory' mark on your official testing record, followed by death. Good luck!”

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“Well done. Here are the test results: You are a horrible person. I'm serious, that's what it says: 'A horrible person.' We weren't even testing for that. Don't let that horrible-person thing discourage you. It's just a data point. If it makes you feel any better, science has now validated your birth mother's decision to abandon you on a doorstep.”

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-- GLaDOS, Portal and Portal 2

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For being an all-seeing AI with total control over your environment, GLaDOS sure is passive aggressive.

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“You have died of dysentery” 

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-- The Oregon Trail

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It doesn't get much more succinct that than, does it? What kid who grew up in the late '80s or early '90s didn't get a screen like this a couple of dozen times in computer lab?

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“Suck the tears off my d*ck, you ugly mud f*ckers!”

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-- General Sarrano, Bulletstorm

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I know there's somebody out there who desperately wants this profound quote inscribed on their tombstone. This character from the ridiculous Bulletstorm is a foul-mouthed drill sergeant that would put R. Lee Ermey to shame, and this is actually one of his less offensive quotes. He always knows exactly what to say to let people really know how he's feeling.

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“Real bad asses eat chocolate chip cookies. Wait a minute... those aren't chocolate chip cookies... those...are...RAISINS. Why do bad things happen to good people?”

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“BURN ALL THE BABIES!”

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“That's right. Twin sisters, man. Hhhahhhhhh. Take 'em. Take 'em take 'em take 'em take 'em”

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-- Tiny Tina, Borderlands 2

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Tina Tina accomplishes the impossible – she is both more psychotic and more entertaining to listen to than Vaas from Far Cry 3. She also makes me genuinely terrified of 13 year old girls. She alternates between disturbing sexuality towards stuffed animals and an intense lust to blow up trains and bandits. There's too many good ones to pick, so just listen to all of them together below!

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“Some trees flourish, others die. Some cattle grow strong, others are taken by wolves. Some men are born rich enough and dumb enough to enjoy their lives. Ain't nothing fair”

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-- John Marston, Red Dead Redemption

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Talk about a downer! It's like all those "you are in control of your own destiny" quotes from our most-inspiring article, but taken down the bleakest path possible. Maybe John's a nihilist... or just a realist.

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“You know what? Your face looks like my butt.”

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-- The Vault Dweller, Fallout 3

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There are a horde of hilarious dialog options to be found in the Fallout series if you try all the different perks and varying stat builds (give either Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas a try with no points in intelligence and see what happens). This one, only available with the Child At Heart perk, fell a little flat.

After taking a look at some of the most inspiring and unexpectedly thought-provoking quotes across gaming, we'd be remiss if we didn't head the opposite direction. There's plenty of major downers in any given storyline to offset those uplifting moments.

Should it be any surprise that there's some truly cringe-worthy text and hilariously offensive quotes to be found in the zany, outlandish world of gaming? What's interesting is that in quite a few cases, the least inspiring quotes and the most inspiring quotes actually come from the same games.

After trudging through a deluge of horrifying (and OK, frequently quite amusing) lines of dialog, we've found all the best of the worst on display in the following slides. Have fun in the filth, and don't forget to fill out the poll at the end to let us know your favorite!

That is my top 5 most unappreciated games of the last generation.

Would you agree with the list? All the titles mentioned in the list are those of games which I have played. There may be many others out there which I am simply not aware of. Do you know of any titles from the last generation that are highly unappreciated? Why not share them in the comments?

1. Bulletstorm

I loved People Can Fly as a developer before they had even begun developing Bulletstorm after their awesome old school FPS title Painkiller. When Bulletstorm was released, it was a must buy for me and it was one I certainly didn't regret.

It was everything that I love about the '80s and '90s action movies but in a video game. It was ridiculous, over the top, action-packed, gruesome, and had more swearing than I could say in several months. The addition of the skill shot system that encouraged the player to kill enemies in the most imaginative and gruesome fashion possible with each weapon available was fun as hell to use.

If there was ever a logical reasoning for this being so unappreciated, it was most likely due to it's multiplayer having no competitive mode. As of July 2011, Bulletstorm had sold just under a 1,000,000 units a number far below what would be expected of such a fantastic game. It was a game with solid combat that was something different to the norm and still remains one of my favorite games of all time.

2. Shadows of the Damned

Shadows of the Damned was an extremely weird game, to say the least, perhaps even too weird to the point that it put players off the title. When I say weird, this game was completely off the rails to the point it was as if the developers just let their imagination fly.

It was gruesome, completely over the top, full of references, dark and sometimes immature humour, tons of swearing, never took itself serious, and I loved every minute of it. It had a bit of that old school '90s action adventure to it both in combat and in collecting of gems for upgrades. Sadly, despite critics giving the game good review scores, it sold very few copies by general AAA standards. Only 24,000 units were sold in America, Xbox and PS3 combined and 9,145 unit in Japan within a week of its release.

After the sales, it was announced that there will most likely not be a sequel to this great game. It is a shame as I would love to see a sequel developed for the current generation consoles.

3. Lost Odyssey

It bewilders me as to why Lost Odyssey was such an unappreciated game. It has one of the most wonderful stories of any game and a beautiful world to go with it. I admit it's combat system and mechanics was somewhat dated by general RPG standards of its time and at times felt a bit stale, never the less it was a most enjoyable and original IP.

If there was ever a game I would love to have a remake for this video game generation, Lost Odyssey would be it. Despite being a good game and highly praised by critics, it didn't sell very well by typical AAA standards. It sold only 104,417 units in Japan as of 17th February 2008, several months after its release, and sold only 348,000 units in America by 2009.

4. Blue Dragon

Blue Dragon was one of the first games I remember playing on the Xbox 360. A good old-styled JRPG in the veins of Final Fantasy, with an interesting story and wonderfully designed world. Despite its character development and combat being somewhat dated, it was overall a very enjoyable title with plenty of hidden secrets to find.

Upon release, it was received with very mixed review scores. Some being in the 70s while others in the 40s, 50s or 60s. It sold just under 200,000 units in America. Despite this being the goal for sales of both Microsoft and developer Mistwalker, I feel that Blue Dragon deserved so much more than both the scores and sales that it received.

5. Duke Nukem Forever

There is no denying that Duke Nukem Forever was not a great game. It had its issues such as long loading times, graphical glitches, dated graphics, bad level design, and it just tried too hard to be controversial. The reason I defend it is that from a game that had a development hell of thirteen years - was Duke Nukem Forever, ever going to be a great game?

Despite it's obvious issues it nevertheless caught the essence of Duke Nukem beautifully and it was great to take on the role of the '90s-style, over the top, egotistic, one liner, action hero after so many years without a Duke Nukem first person shooter. Upon release, Duke Nukem Forever received an average score of 50% or below. The game sold only 376,300 units upon its first month of release, half the initial expectations of the developer and publisher.

The last generation of video games certainly had many fantastic titles. There are however numerous great titles that simply didn't get the attention or sales that they deserved or were undeservedly disliked. Here are our Top 5 Most Unappreciated games of the last generation.

1. The Gravity Gun - Half-Life 2

I realize that putting the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator - more commonly known as the Gravity Gun - at number one in a list of game weapons may seem a bit lazy, but there are plenty of good reasons why it beats all others to become the greatest video game gun of all time.

Firstly, much like the Super Shotgun in Doom 2, it’s one of those guns that is mentioned almost straight away during conversations about the game it appears in. And considering that Half-Life 2 is possibly the greatest single-player shooter of all time, it’s a testament to the gun’s quality that it’s so often singled out as one the game’s best elements.

Secondly, it was the immensely popular Gravity Gun that influenced the physics-based gameplay present in titles such as Bioshock, Dead Space and, most famously, Portal. 

And, of course, it’s simply a brilliant Half-Life 2 weapon. In addition to being able to move/throw objects, it can also release an energy blast that forcefully propels a targeted object backwards. Everyone who's played the game remembers the joy of throwing an explosive barrel into a group of combine soldiers, or blasting a saw blade into one of Ravenholm’s many zombies.

But the Gravity Gun reaches peak awesomeness once it becomes supercharged after exposure to the Citadel’s Confiscation field. Not only can it now pick up and punt any organic matter (i.e. bad guys), killing it instantly, it can also move much bigger, heavier objects.

The fact that the Gravity Gun is still regarded as the greatest video game gun of all time, eleven years after Half-Life 2’s release, speaks volumes. More than just a weapon, this gun is a tool, a toy and one of the biggest influences on a generation of similar game weapons that followed.

2. The Super Shotgun - Doom 2

The grandaddy of all video game shotguns and arguably still the best incarnation of the double-barreled weapon. Doom 2’s super shotgun actually made you pity all those demons, but not enough to stop you shredding them like blood-filled balloons. The BFG may be the most powerful weapon in your arsenal, but nothing matches the feeling of the Super Shotgun.

The rhythmic click-snap-bang of the firing and reloading sequence is mentally ingrained on all those who played the game - few weapons use sound in a way that invokes such feelings of power. It may seem like it takes an eon to reload, but that's the price you pay for having such a monstrous gun. And from what we've seen so far of the new Doom game, it appears that Id Software is set to introduce a new, even more awesome Super Shotgun to the world.

3. The Cerebral Bore – Turok 2, Turok: Rage Wars, Turok 3

Have you ever thought that a sharp projectile ripping through a person’s body just isn’t a gruesome enough way to kill someone? If so, maybe you should seek help; but you may also be able to satisfy your bloodlust by trying out Turok’s Cerebral Bore, one of the most brutal guns ever seen in video games.

This weapon works by locking onto the brainwaves of a nearby target. Once fired, the homing projectile will seek out the enemy and attach itself to the hostile’s head, killing them by drilling into their skulls and exploding once it reaches the brain.

Even with Turok’s very dated graphics, the site of an enemy’s blood and brain tissue pouring out of the projectile’s suction channel isn’t for the squeamish. The noise of the drill adds to the effect, and the explosion – which decapitates the unfortunate target – is the icing on the blood-covered cake. Truly one of the coolest and most imaginative guns of all time.

4. The Railgun - Quake II,III,IV

Quake’s Railgun is an absolute monster of a weapon, but one that takes a fair bit of skill to use proficiently. It's essentially a sniper rifle without the scope that fires depleted uranium shells. Its awesome killing power and perfect accuracy making up for the painfully slow firing speed.

The Railgun is excellent against some of Quake II’s monsters; it can even take out the Makron, supreme leader of the Strogg, with 20 direct hits. And nothing beats that feeling when a few bad guys line up perfectly, enabling one Railgun shot to travel through them all.

But where this weapon really comes into its own is in Quake III Arena. Hitting another player in this multiplayer-focused game may not be the easiest feat, but achieving it means instadeath for them and a great sense of satisfaction for you.

5. The Experimental MIRV - Fallout 3

I realise that classifying a shoulder-mounted launcher that fires eight miniature nukes at once as a ‘gun’ may be pushing it, but it’s not the only weapon on this list that takes liberties with the term. Anyway, it’s absolutely awesome, and whether it’s a gun or a terrifying weapon of mass destruction, it deserves a place here.

Fallout 3’s experimental MIRV is a unique version of the Fat Man (mini-nuke launcher) that essentially turns it into shotgun able to deliver eight nukes simultaneously. The MIRV deals more damage than any other weapon in the game, as you would imagine. Using VATS with this beast so you can watch the carnage unfold in glorious slow motion is truly wonderful.

6. Flak Cannon (Unreal series)

The trouble with a lot of shotguns in video games is that they all fire a similar type of ammo. The Flak Cannon from the Unreal series changed this by introducing a gun that uses ionised flechettes as projectiles. This gives enemies on the receiving end of the Flak Cannon the same sensation as having a bucketful of hot coals blasted into them, which is never a nice experience. Using this gun is simply one of the most enjoyable experiences in video games.

The flechettes are launched in a spread pattern that can bounce off walls, or as frag grenades that radiate the terrifying ammo in all directions - although managing to hit anyone with this secondary fire mode is another matter. And the cannon works perfectly within the short corridors and verticality of Unreal Tournament 99's levels.

7. The Golden Gun - Goldeneye

It's surprising to think that the third biggest selling Nintendo 64 game of all time, Goldeneye, was originally designed to be a Virtua Cop-style on-rails shooter. Thankfully, someone believed that making a brilliant free-roaming FPS on a console in 1997 was possible, and so the legendary Goldeneye was born.

One of the coolest and most memorable weapons from the game is the Golden Gun, made famous by assassin Francisco Scaramanga in James Bond’s The Man with the Golden Gun (played by Christopher Lee, the real-life step-cousin of James Bond creator Ian Fleming). In the game, this weapon requires a reload every time it fires a single bullet, but that bullet kills with one hit. Very handy in the solo missions and even better in multiplayer. In fact, an entire multiplayer scenario - The Man With The Golden Gun - is based around the weapon.

8. The Flailgun - Bulletstorm

Personally, I really enjoyed Bulletstorm, although its lack of depth has resulted in it being called the video game version of Pacific Rim - shallow, but fun.

One of the most enjoyable, OTT weapons in the game is the Flailgun - a weapon that manages to brings together death, destruction, and comedy. This fantastic example of badassery fires two grenades linked together by a chain. The grenades explode after a few seconds, but can be detonated quicker by the player. Is it sadistic to laugh as an enemy frantically tries to escape a chain wrapped around their neck, only for the grenades to explode and turn their head to mush? Probably, but maybe they deserved it.

You can even use the Flailgun to turn an enemy into a human bomb by wrapping them up in a projectile and kicking them into a crowd. If all that still isn’t enough for you then there’s an alternate fire mode that superheats the chain itself, causing it to cut through bad-guys like a hot chainsaw through squishy butter.

9. Winchester 1887 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Call of Duty Online.

By their very nature, video game shotguns are intense powerhouses of death. But sometimes they can be so insanely powerful that their very use could be considered a war crime.

This was the case with Call of Duty’s Winchester 1887, a gun that was initially so overpowered, Infinity Ward had to release two patches to fix it. With its beautiful, lever-action reload and magnificent stopping power, few shotguns could match the original Winchester 1887.

10. Duplet Shotgun with Quad-barrel attachment - Metro games

Why are games set in post-apocalyptic futures so much fun? Because of the home-made weapons. The Duplet is one such gun - a firearm built from scratch in the Metro's tunnels. It may have been put together by a depressed, drunken Russian, but it still has enough stopping power to make a Nosalis think twice about eating you.

Despite the limited ammo capacity and slow reloading time, once you have the quad-barrel upgrade for this shotgun you’re ready to take on the worst this radiation-soaked world has to offer. With four barrels firing simultaneously, nothing offers more close-range firepower in a single blast.

“Guns don’t kill people,” so some NRA members like to claim. These folk obviously haven’t played many video games, where digital guns have been responsible for the deaths of billions of people... and monsters, of course.

Virtual ethics aside, there have been countless video game guns over the years that have made even the most ardent anti-firearm pacifists jump up and yell “YES! Eat hot fiery death, mother*******!,” while blowing the head off yet another henchman who probably only works for an evil corporation because it pays well and has a good health plan.

So what video game guns are regarded as the best? Which are the weapons that stick in your memory more than the actual game itself? Bringing together firearms such as shotguns, sci-fi rifles, and miniature nuke launchers, here are the ten greatest guns in video game history.

Like Buzz Buzz, this article has met its end. 

Did I leave out any of your favorite forgotten gaming gems? If so, let me know in the comments!

Image source: Destructoid

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 (2010)

For me, the most disappointing entry of this list. 

Developed by Ninja Theory, this action-adventure platformer was a re-imagining of the classic story, Journey to the West. If you don't know the story, its the same story that was used to inspire Dragonball. The player controls Monkey, performed by mo-cap king Andy Serkis, as he and his companion, Trip, must journey across a post-apocalyptic environment.

The gameplay incorporates various elements such as close-combat and platforming traversal. Additionally, the player can occasionally play as Trip in order to solve certain puzzles or get through difficult obstacles.

So what happened?

Despite receiving critical acclaim from critics, Enslaved failed to meet Namco's sales goal of 1 million units. Due to this, a planned sequel was cancelled. Although its 730,000 sold units is admirable, it does not look like we'll see another adventure with Monkey and Trip anytime soon.

Sad.

Image source: Destructoid

Shadows of the Damned, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (2011)

Developed by Suda51 and his studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, this strange and quirky third-person shooter is highly inspired by horror films. The player controls Garcia Hotspur, a Mexican demon hunter who literally goes through Hell to save his girlfriend. However, he's not alone; Garcia is accompanied by his smart-mouthed, shape-shifting companion known as Johnson.

Shadows of the Damned plays as a standard shooter except with the added ability of Johnson to turn into different weapons on the fly. Also, Garcia must solve various "darkness" puzzles in order to make it through Hell. The game received mostly high praise with its humor and gunplay variety citied as its main high points.

So what happened?

It's no surprise the game only managed to sell 24,000 units in the United States. Often titles, such as Shadows of the Damned, are unfortunately easily overlooked by gamers. It seems Suda51 and his quirky creations have a very niche audience.

Image source: Bloody Disgusting

Sleeping Dogs, PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 (2012)

Developed by United Front Games and Square Enix London, this open-world action game focuses on Wei Shen, an uncover Hong Kong police officer who is attempting to infiltrate the Triads.

The gameplay is similar to Grand Theft Auto in that Shen can procure different vehicles, carry different types of guns, and free-roam the massive city of Hong Kong. However, Sleeping Dogs does emphasize melee combat a la Arkham Asylum. Ultimately, the game was well-received by critics who enjoyed exploring Hong Kong as well as the variety of gameplay elements.

So what happened?

This one is a bit weird. Although the game did sell reasonably well, selling 1.5 million copies in total, publisher Square Enix labeled the game as a flop along with other titles Tomb Raider and Hitman. 

Perhaps Square Enix was expecting the game make GTA-like numbers, failing to make realistic projections for this title and the others. It's unfortunate as this will likely hinder any possibilities of a sequel.

Image source: Hidden Gem Games

Remember Me, PC, PlayStation 3, & Xbox 360 (2013)

Developed by Dontnod Entertainment, this action-adventure science fiction game focused on memory hunter, Nilin, as she attempts to recover her lost memories. 

The gameplay consists of a variety of elements including platforming and beat 'em up. Although the gameplay wasn't that highly praised, except for the innovative Memory Remix segments, critics did enjoy the game's story, main character, music, and overall design.

So what happened?

It is likely the lukewarm reviews of this game attributed to its poor sales. Despite this, however, Dontnod is planning a sequel. After completion of their episodic drama, Life is Strange, Dontnod plans to begin work on Remember Me 2. Let's hope they improve on the faults of the original and hold onto the Memory Remix segments.

Image source: Video Game Writers

Bulletstorm, PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 (2011)

Developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games, this crazy first-person shooter failed to deliver the sales of Epic Games' massive hit, Gears of War. Unlike Gears, the game relies heavily on humor. In fact, the game opens with our hero, Grayson Hunt, drunkenly shooting an enemy spaceship causing the events of the game to be set into motion.

The core of Bulletstorm's gameplay was the "skillshot" system. This system relied on the player to kill enemies in creative ways to garner points to increase their overall score. Overall, the game was a critical success as its innovative "skillshot" system and shooting mechanics were often praised. 

So what happened?

Selling just under a million copies, Bulletstorm failed to turn a profit for Epic Games. In turn, a planned sequel for the game was canned. With the success of Gears of Wars, its unusual how Bulletstorm did not garner the attention of gamers.

Image source: Cinema Blend

Armed and Dangerous, Xbox (2003)

Definitely the most overlooked game on this list, Planet Moon Studios' third-person comedic shooter is virtually unknown to gamers. The game centers around a thief named Roman and his group of ragtag thieves known as the Lionhearts.

Although marked down for its linearity, the game received high praise for its hilarious writing, clever weaponry, and use of destructible environments.

So what happened?

It's hard to find a reason as why Armed and Dangerous was not embraced by gamers. The game did receive very little marketing and it is likely the game's British style of humor did not translate well to American gamers, but it still does not explain why this little gem is so unknown.

Image source: IGN

Vanquish, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (2010)

Developed by PlatinumGames (yes, the people who made Bayonetta!), this fast-paced third person shooter let gamers assume the role of Sam Gideon, a DARPA agent with a slight resemblance to Solid Snake. 

The gameplay was centered around Sam's Augmented Reaction Suit (ARS) which allowed for interesting gameplay mechanics. Sam's suit could slow down time to allow for extra time to kill enemies, boost him quickly across the battlefield, and incorporate different types of weaponry. The game's innovative mechanics awarded it high praise from critics.

So what happened? 

Although its sales were not as disappointing as other titles on the list, Vanquish simply became overlooked by gamers. PlatinumGames' other title, Bayonetta, overshadows this innovative and fast-paced shooter. However, Vanquish was released alongside Fallout: New Vegas which could have allowed for it to fall off of gamers' radar.

Image source: Euro Gamer

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, Xbox (2005)

For this title, developer Oddworld Inhabitants, decided to develop a first-person shooter instead of the more familiar puzzle games featuring their mascot, Abe. The game focuses on Stranger, a bounty hunter, on the quest to capture various outlaws for cash.

Much different than its predecessors, Stranger's Wrath focused on its shooting mechanics. In fact, one of its more prominent features was that of live ammunition. Stranger could load crossbow with various weird creatures to inflict different types of damage on his enemies. The game received tons of critical praise citing its impeccable, creative design and fun gameplay.

So what happened?

On initial release, Stranger's Wrath did not sell many units causing the PlayStation 2 version of the game to be cancelled. The creator of Oddworld, Lorne Lanning, citied poor marketing as the cause of this game's poor sales. 

However, a HD release of Stranger's Wrath was released in 2011 allowing gamers to try out this crazy first-person shooter that they probably missed the first time around.

Image source: Euro Gamer

EarthBound, SNES (1995)

Of course, nowadays a lot of gamers have heard of EarthBound, but how many have actually played it during its initial release? EarthBound is an RPG released for the SNES developed by Ape and Hal Laboratory. EarthBound centers on a group of kids joining together in an effort to save the world from the evil Giygas. 

EarthBound is definitely different from its RPG brethren through its use of quirky writing, humor, and utilization of traditional RPG elements set in a more real world environment. For example, instead of gold, hero Ness must access his bank account to retrieve cash sent to him by his distant dad. 

So what happened?

EarthBound, also known as Mother 2 in Japan, was primed for success with Nintendo providing a $2 million dollar marketing campaign for the game. The campaign reflected the game's quirky sense of humor by boldly proclaiming "this game stinks" and including smelly scratch and sniff cards with each game copy. 

However, despite Nintendo's efforts, EarthBound failed upon initial release selling around 140,000 copies. The bizarre marketing campaign as well as poor reviews from critics, remarking on the game's cartoonish graphics and humor, could have possibly been the cause for EarthBound's initial failure.

Although, the game does now have a strong cult following among gamers. In addition, EarthBound was also recently added to Nintendo's eShop store.

Image source: Game Church

Psychonauts, PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox (2005)

Psychonauts is a platformer created by legendary video game designer, Tim Schafer and his studio, Double Fine. The game focuses on Raz, a young boy with powerful psychic abilities, who joins a summer camp designed for kids with similar psychic abilities. Of course, not all is what it seems at Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, when Raz discovers a mischievous plot brewing in the confines of the camp.

Psychonauts was highly praised by critics for its writing, characters, humor, and highly imaginative design specifically the varying unique themes of each level. It is often cited as one of Schaefer's more memorable creations.

So what happened?

Unfortunately, much like Schaefer's other titles, this one had a hard time finding an audience. Upon initial release, the game had sold fewer than 100,000 copies. However, in recent years, Double Fine has acquired the rights to digital distribution for the game allowing gamers to experience one of Schaefer's best quirky titles. 

Image source: Giant Bomb

Sometimes great games can fall under our radar or become overshadowed by the release of bigger, more popular titles. The following is a list of games that were overlooked by most gamers. I've limited this list to commercial releases, choosing to exclude indie games as they already have a limited market. 

Image source: Giant Bomb

There are loads of video games released every year. Some meet critical acclaim, become franchises and spawn sequels, while some fall through the cracks.

Let's take a look at some of the games that made an impact on a smaller scale.

5) Shadows of the Damned 

Way too many games today follow the dark and gritty tone. When that style works, it works well. However, games that don't take themselves to seriously are an adventure on their own.

Shadows of the Damned was released by developer Suda 51, a studio who has a track record of weird, but fun, action games. Damned was a story about demon hunter named Garcia Hotspur who travels through the depths of hell to get his girlfriend back.

It's a wild ride filled with lots of sex and penis jokes all while making sure the subject of hell and death isn't to brooding. The product itself took a lot of gameplay style cues from Resident Evil 4 and, although it wasn't a critical success, still garnered a cult following.

4) Bulletstorm

After a long day at work it's good to come home and unwind. Some people read, others exercise and a few play mindless shooters.

Bulletstorm is an extremely over the top shooter developed by Gears of War developer Epic Games. It stars a soldier named Grayson Hunt who's tasked at taking down someone for something... the action is the real star here.

Grayson has an ace up his sleeve in that he wields an energy whip. Using it he can latch on to any object or enemy and fling or slam them into the ground. Using that ability and slamming a ton of dudes into the ground or blasting them into the air is a heck of a lot of fun. It's a shame Bulletstorm was overlooked. 

3) Singularity

Innovation can make or break a game. Sometimes it catches the public eye, like Super Mario Galaxy, and sometimes not so much. 

Singularity is a first person time warping game developed by Raven Software. You take control Captain Nathaniel Renko as he wields a power glove that is able to turn back or move forward time.

Games have used time travel before as a main mechanic, like Prince of Persia: Sands of Times but Singularity incorporated it into a fun puzzle style setting where you'd have to age objects, making them crumble to allow your passage, or turn back time on broken down bridges making them suitable to cross. Singularity would probably work better in todays market now that more unique style Indie developed games are growing.

2) Enslaved: Odyssey To The West

Enslaved will go down in history as the best game nobody played. With such a compelling story and tight combat system, it's practically begging for a remastered release.

Taking place in the far future where machines have taken over the world. The protagonist, Monkey gets tethered to a runaway girl named Trip against his will. She promises him freedom if he escorts her to a specific place.

The cut scenes along with the voice acting and facial animations were so subtle yet powerful in their performances, it's hard to believe Enslaved went largely unnoticed. Since we live in the age of reboots, most of them being unwanted, Enslaved deserves a second chance. 

1) X-Men Origins: Wolverine The Game 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine the game is the best movie tie-in game in recent memory. It's so good that it trumps movie. 

Mindless action and over indulgence is key in this Wolverine game as you take control of the popular X-Men mutant and slice and dice any enemy in your way. Even though it carries the same name as the 2009 movie, it has very little to do with it and actually expands upon Wolverine's origin. Hack n' slash games are a dying breed and Wolverine might have been one of the finest. This game is such an adrenaline rush you feel unstoppable.

In Hollywood there is a long list of sleeper hit movies that, over time, do gain enough attention to get recognized by the masses. Even after 14 years we're getting a Zoolander sequel, and that movie was definitely a sleeper hit. These games and many others could meet the same fate. 

1. King Caineghis

Fire Emblem series

You stick this man's hair and beard on a face--any face--and it is instantly king. Doesn't matter what kind of king. King of anything. Maybe king of everything. All I know is, no matter what your race, creed, or power level, you would do well to kneel before King Caineghis.

In his kingdom, the land is populated by people who can transform into giant saber-toothed weretigers, and they pick whoever's mightiest to be king. I like to imagine that when ol' Caineghis walked in all casual and declared himself king, they judged him worthy just because he looked so much like a damn lion. Who would argue with hair that awesome? That word is a tad overused, but I mean it this time: his hair fills me with awe.

Screw that talking boat guy: this is the REAL King of Red Lions.

Honorable Mentions:

Hugo, from Final Fight and Street Fighter series

Raiden, Metal Gear series

Darunia, The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time

Augus, Asura's Wrath

Bruce Wayne, Batman: Arkham City

Eddie Riggs, Brutal Legend

2. Lars Halford

Brutal Legend

Why hello there, heavy metal Jesus. You're looking godly this morning.

That PC master-race-looking marvel up there is known only as Lars, King of All Mankind. Because of course he is. I'm convinced. Aren't you? Are you seeing this man? Are you partaking in the feast of the eyes that is gazing awestruck at Lars' divine, angelic tresses, as I am? Who could look upon those golden curtains of majesty and NOT declare him king?

He spends the game fighting against the armies of General Lionwhyte, whose ridiculous super-powered hair graces the title image of this list. It is a just war: when it comes regal heavy-metal hair, there can be no pretenders. Follow his hair to glorious victory!

3. Dalton

Chrono Trigger

Even through pixels, his hair is majestic. For those of you with no imagination, I added the official art on the right.

That is a haircut fit for fearsome wizard-king of Dalton's caliber. It just goes with him. You see that cape? The cape is pretty cool by itself. You see that cascading waterfall of kingly locks across his mighty shoulders? That's awesome too. But there is something about the combination of flowing cape and hair that is just not to be f*cked with. Then you add the eyepatch and, well, it's time to go home. Just go home. You're not topping that.

Well, maybe except for...

4. Grayson Hunt

Bulletstorm

Gray has the exterior of a violent, drunken scoundrel, with the heart of an even more violent, drunken scoundrel. He's got about as much respect for the finer things in life as he does for unexploded human testicles. But his hair is perfect.

The guy is a potty-mouthed, murderous psycho who spends all day shooting the balls off of other murderous psychos, and somehow finds the time and patience to care for that luscious mane of his. How does he do it? Why does he do it? Heck if I know.

All I know is that the guy's whole life makes me jealous. He's a space marine and a space pirate. He has a cyborg sidekick. He gets to lay waste to a hell-planet full of mutant freaks and get paid for it. And to literally top it all off, he's got flawless Wolverine hair.

5. Guile

Street Fighter series

There are some legendary characters that are instantly identifiable even through their silhouettes. One is Batman's cowl. Another is Sonic the Hedgehog's quills. And still another is Guile's towering, majestic crew cut.

As one of our finest Americans, Guile knows that a war where you can't look good is a war not worth fighting. But Americans can't not fight wars; that's blasphemy! So Guile always looks good.

Lord knows it ain't easy: he's got an army of challengers to kick in the tonsils, and that'll give anybody flyaways. But curb-stomping fascists and destroying the ozone with hairspray is what Americans do best, and Guile is the real American hero.

Hey man, don't hate on a guy's hair just because it's fabulous.

You've got to respect a man who can maintain a standard of hair care that exquisite in a video game world. When you're fighting slimes, surfing through sewers, or somersaulting across Hyrule all day, it's hard to avoid getting a few split ends. This list is in honor of the happy few fellas who dare to look beautiful and kick ass at the same time. Because you're worth it.

1. Ayla

Chrono Trigger

Surprised that a girl beat out all those manly party-boys on this list? Don't be: Ayla is so bro-tastic she puts them all to shame.

Let me set the stage here: you and your party warp back to 65 Million B.C., and the first thing you see is a statuesque blonde cave girl pummeling a pack of velociraptor mutants with her bare hands. When the dust clears, she immediately throws a huge cave party in your honor, complete with crazy dancing, giant prehistoric grillables, and suspiciously intoxicating "soup". We see her drain about eight man-sized bowls of it.

Afterwards she spends all day helping you partially dismantle an evil dinosaur empire by--you guessed it--beating up more dinosaurs. Then she goes back to her village presumably to party some more. And tomorrow: more dinosaur ass-kicking.

That is her life, ladies and gentlemen. An endless cycle of having awesome cave feasts, killing dinosaurs, and repeat. She's a wild Triassic bombshell. She's a walking extinction event. She parties big, fights big, and she's got a big heart for friend and foe alike. She does nothing, absolutely nothing, halfway or halfhearted. She is generosity, courage, and adventure personified. In other words, the perfect drinking buddy.

I think I'm in love.

Runner-Ups

Pigsy, from Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Conker the Squirrel, from Conker's Bad Fur Day

Augus, from Asura's Wrath

The Iron Bull, from Dragon Age: Inquisition

Zeke Dunbar, from Infamous 1 & 2

Sergeant Johnson, from the Halo series

2. Uncle Pey'j

Beyond Good and Evil

For those of you who don't remember the cult masterpiece that is Beyond Good and Evil, that crazy flying pig-man up there is the first and greatest sidekick in the game, good old Uncle Pey'j. That's him leaping through a third-story window to butt-slam an alien.

He's got boisterous personality, a mysterious space-outlaw past, he's a genius inventor and mechanic, and the branch leader of an inter-galactic rebel organization. But even as Chief of the Hillyan IRIS Network, he'll still a fun guy to hang around. He'll go treasure-hunting, he'll go hovercraft racing, he'll go alien-fighting, cop fighting, monster fighting, robot fighting, any kind of fighting from here to across the universe.  And he'll definitely take a load off with you at the Akuda Bar downtown. No matter what happens, Uncle Pey'j will have your back. I love this guy this so much.

3. Darunia

The Legend of Zelda series

That rock-hard barrel of awesome up there is one of the original video game party animals: Big Brother Darunia, Boss of the Gorons and King of all Dad Bods.

Since he's from a mostly E-Rated series there's only so much drinking and debauchery he can get away with on screen, but just look at that grinning mug of his; that's the face of a man who'll drain a few barrels of Hyrule beer and go smash a dragon's skull in as a weekend hobby. But the best part about Darunia isn't his own strength; brotherhood and friendship are pretty much his theme, for life. He's always looking out for others, making sure his people are safe and happy. He's a fantastic guy all around. I'm just not sure I could keep up with him.

4. Gray

Bulletstorm

How would any of you like to party with a space pirate?

Captain Grayson Hunt always pairs his drink with mayhem and mass carnage. He doesn't just get drunk before and/or after carving his way through a planet's-worth of bloodthirsty psychos; he'll toss back a few during. He's the kind of guy who enjoys the challenge of committing genocide while impaired.

If he sounds too intense to have a good time with without getting slaughtered, don't worry about it: under Gray's grizzled, violent exterior beats the heart of a man who cares deeply about his friends. He'll watch your back to hell and back, or at least let you borrow a neat gun. Murdering's always better with friends, after all. And lots of space booze.

5. Nate and Sully

Uncharted Series

Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan. Globe-trotting, swashbuckling, world-saving treasure hunters extraordinaire. If you're ever lucky enough to sit down with these two over a couple of cold ones, you're either planning the heist of the century of having a toast for the adventure of your lives.

And when things get hairy with the locals, boy do these fellas know their way around a bar fight. The first scene of Uncharted 3 features this scrappy pair in an epic bar brawl against pub full of London thugs. Well-used to fighting against impossible odds, these two lovable scoundrels are always up their eyeballs in adventure. 

Man, this list made me depressed. Know why? Because as long as I live, I'll never meet anybody cooler to drink with than some of my favorite video game characters. And chances are, neither will you. When will you clear out a goblin's nest and celebrate in a tavern with any of your friends? Or better yet, drink and kill goblins at the same time? Not going to happen, my friends.

But a guy can dream, can't we? That's why I put this list together in honor of the boys and girls of video gaming I'd love to share a brew with, whether in celebration of a quest well done or just fueling up on liquid courage for demon-slaying ahead. With drinking buddies like these, I'd say yes to anything. Anything.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

Bulletstorm, the over the top, toilet humor filled, blockbuster shooter was developed by People Can Fly; a Polish studio that were then bought out by Epic Games, developers of Gears of War and the Unreal Engine.

People Can Fly then became Epic Games Poland, however they've announced today that they've returned to their original name, People Can Fly (they missed a trick not being called People Can Fly Again).

The studio are still working with Epic Games on Unreal Engine 4 and the upcoming Fortnite, however they've confirmed they're also working on their own 'entirely new' unannounced project. Bulletstorm 2? Yes please!

Despite Bulletstorm being published by EA, PCF have themselves listed as the developer and owners of the IP on the Bulletstorm website, indicating they're able to pursue a sequel if they wished.

A statement on their blog read:

“We, as a People Can Fly team, are extremely excited about new possibilities ahead of us,” said Wojciechowski. “We’re going to work on a new game, while continuing to partner with Epic and use UE4. We’re grateful to Tim and the whole Epic team for our long and successful collaboration.”

Cliff Bleszinski, currently of Boss Key Productions but formerly the Lead Designer at Epic Games, had this to say about the news.

Bet you money PCF is working on a Bulletstorm 2 Kickstarter.

— Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) June 24, 2015

It's always a possibility that PCF have decided to create a brand new IP and let Bulletstorm be the standalone great that it was, but we can hope can't we?

There you have it, a new excuse to invite your friends over and play some games (as if you needed another one). Have suggestions for drinks or games to play these with? Sound off in the comments!

Stay thirsty my friends! 

Confusion - Adventure Games

Older adventure games are infamous for their obtuse puzzles and hard-to-find key items resulting in extreme pixel hunting. Now that we are adults, let’s replay the most frustrating parts of our childhood like an adult can!

The Rules:

Choose an older adventure of your choice (GOG.com has a plethora of great titles) and play. Whenever you encounter some cryptic hints, obtuse instructions, or illogical puzzle, bottoms up! For every five minutes you cannot progress, have another drink!

The Drink of Choice:

The peppermint of a Starry Night shot will open your sinuses and maybe help induce an epiphany. I doubt it though. But hey, at least you will be having fun being stuck right? 

Dead Nazis - Wolfenstein: The New Order

Who doesn’t enjoy Nazi killing? The Nazis have been around since the birth of gaming, but The New Order actually gave us personal reasons to perpetrate violent acts against the Nazi regime. You could play any WW 2 shooter, but why not play the great The New Order?

The Rules:

A Nazi dies; you drink! Whether the Nazi dies in a cutscene, by your hands or someone else’s, it matters not. All that matters is whenever Nazi blood is shed, bottoms up!

The Drink of Choice:

Why a Dead Nazi of course! Is there a more fitting drink for this? I think not. 

Tower Time - Ubisoft games

At this point, Ubisoft games have become so predictable; they can be predicted far in advance of release. A key mechanic of each Ubi game revolves around capturing a watchtower of some sort. This mechanic started in Assassin’s Creed, and has been present in nearly Ubisoft game since. So let’s take advantage of it!

The Rules:

Boot up the Ubisoft game of your choice. Whenever you capture a watchtower, radio tower, or whatever the hell it’s called now, drink! It doesn’t get much easier than this!

The Drink of Choice:

 Instead of a bottled drink, mixed drinks would be better for this game. Bloody Marys and Painkillers would be an ideal choice, since this event happens often, but not enough to justify a bottled brew. 

Bug Hunt - Bethesda games

Besides creating huge sandbox worlds for players to explore, Bethesda is known for their bugs. Holy crap the bugs are strong with these games. I understand it’s impossible to eliminate every bug in a huge game world, but it seems reasonable to expect less bugs in their games than Starship Troopers.

The Rules:

Before you start, you and each of your friends choose a drink. The first person to spot a bug has the other participants take the drink they chose. After each drink, new drinks are chosen and the controller is handed off to another player. Before you know it, you’ll be more interested in finding bugs than treasure.

Witchin’ Time - Bayonetta

I love Bayonetta. I absolutely love the ridiculous over-the-top nature of the combat and enemy design as well as the nonsensical story. One of the main mechanics is the use of Bayonetta’s hair. She uses her hair to empower her attacks, so powerful attacks leave her with less clothing. Did I mention her clothing is her hair? It’s a bizarre title to be sure.

The Rules:

Another simple one here, whenever Bayonetta’s clothing becomes slightly revealing, you drink. Needless to say, you’ll be surprised how many drinks you’ll have downed within the hour.

The Drink of Choice:

Again, you’ll want a bottled beverage for this one. If you desire, you can hand off the controller between combat pieces and stages so you can spectate and drink, because spectators must play the game too! 

Hatred - Call of Duty

We have all been playing a multiplayer game of sorts and then it happens: the toxic player show up. If they aren’t criticizing you for every move you make, they are hurling racist, sexist, and bigoted insults at you and others for no discernible reason except to make everyone as miserable as they are. So why not try to make it slightly enjoyable?

The Rules:

I named CoD as the go-to game because of its popularity and notorious community. However, you can play any multiplayer game of your choice. Play as you normally would, or play nice if you are a toxic person. When the toxic players show up and start doing their thing, you drink every time they say something nasty. They called your mother something I can’t repeat here? Drink. Hurled a racist insult at someone on a team? Drink. Criticizing your play style despite your score being higher than theirs? Drink. Soon you’ll be happy to hear them open their mouths and spew their spiel.

The Drink of Choice:

Since you’ll be drinking fast and often, you’ll want your favorite bottled beverage for this one. Personally, I would take a Dos Equis Lager, a Smirnoff of some sort, or a chilled cider. The choice is yours to make! If you want to play nasty, you and your friends can alternate deciding the drinks before rounds. This way you can finally get your friends to drink that disgusting oatmeal stout you love. You monster.

Battle Royale or Duel - Rock Band

Ah Rock Band. It remains one of the greatest party games ever made. So why not use it as a way to show your friends how awesome you are at it?

The Rules:

This can be played with as many people as you wish and have the instruments for, or you can rotate. First, the roles of guitarist, drummer, etc. are placed in a hat, and everyone draws a role. Starting with a song of “Easy” difficulty decided by the host, play the song. The person with the highest points decides what the losers drink. The winner of the round also delegates roles for the next song, decides the next song, and the difficulty. Keep playing until you can’t!

You can also play this with only two people, if you just want to get that one friend inebriated. Rock and roll all nite!

I Wanna Die - I Wanna be the Guy

I Wanna Be the Guy is legendary for its unrelenting difficulty that will have even the most veteran players curled into the fetal position and sobbing after a short play session. This is a game that has no rules and constantly breaks the rules of all games you have played. You can die on the bloody map screen for goodness sake!

The Rules:

This is as simple as it gets: you die; you drink. Yep, that’s it. Once you explode in a cloud of pixelated blood and gore, bottoms up! If you can last more than ten minutes at this one, I salute you!

The Drink of Choice:

Since you will be dying and drinking a lot, you want something deceptively smooth and enjoyable to help calm your nerves after each death. The chocolate milk taste of a Nut’s ‘n’ Berries or the smoothness of a Buttery Nipple. Either way, you’ll at least enjoy the dying, until the next day anyway. 

The "F" Bomb - Bulletstorm

Any chance to write about Bulletstorm is a win in my book. In fact, I just wrote about how awesome it is, and why you should play it! As I mentioned in my piece, the game contains a lot of swear words. A LOT. Enough to make sailors blush and Samuel L. Jackson feel uncomfortable. So how does this translate to a drinking game? Actually, it is quite easy.

The Rules:

The rules are really simple. Whenever you hear the “f” word or a variation of uttered by our potty mouth characters, you drink. This includes all characters though, not just our main character. So whenever that enemy curses you and you reply with an equally appalling swear, two drinks to you my friend!

The Drink of Choice:

Since swearing is not always a good thing, an ideal drink would be something bitter and not very enjoyable by itself. Tequila neat would probably be the best option, unless you like that nasty stuff, in which case a substitute would need to be found. Before you know it, you’ll have been broken of your own swearing habits!

Errand Boy- Every RPG made

Everyone’s favorite part of a RPG is when in order to make progress on a quest, we must scratch someone else’s back and do them a favor for some contrived reason. You may be a Grey Warden, a Spectre, a Witcher, or some other powerful character; it does not matter though. At the end of the day, even the most powerful of RPG characters must bow before the power of the errand quest.

The Rules:

Any RPG will do. Simply play until you encounter a quest where you must perform an errand for some NPC in order to progress. You must drink upon encountering and accepting the quest and upon completion, this way of playing helps dull the sharp edge of frustration.

The Drink of Choice:

There are several shots which could make for an excellent companion to this one. The B-52, Breakfast, and Chocolate Cake shots would be my go-to picks. If you want to play with the grownups though, you could instead use a Three Wise Men or Four Horsemen shots to ensure quick inebriated questing! 

We all love games, but sometimes our video games can also double as other forms of entertainment. I began to wonder, could I come up with some drinking games which are played with video games? Why yes I can! I’m not a big drinker, but I have a drink every now and then. After brainstorming this list though, I think I need to have a party! As always, please game and drink responsibly!

These ten titles are only a handful of underrated and overlooked games out there.

What are your overlooked favorites? Sound off in the comments below!

Second Sight

Imagine playing a stealth title where you had the powers of telekinesis, astral projection, and more instead of gadgets and guns. Welcome to Second Sight! While the player does have firearms at their disposal, the game strongly emphasizes stealth and smart, tactical decisions to stay undetected. Ever wanted to pull a guard’s gun from their hand with telekinesis and then use a tranquilizer gun to subdue them? Here you can! Sam Fisher has nothing on John Vattic.

The game follows John Vattic, a skeptic to psychic abilities who awakes without his memories and psionic powers! The player helps guide Vattic on his path to regain his memories, and stop an evil plot which seeks to use human guinea pigs bestowed with psychic powers as military weapons. Developed by the team at Free Radical Design, the game was a welcome departure from their fantastic FPS Timesplitters series.

Contact 

You have to love Grasshopper Manufacture and Atlus. Grasshopper develops some of the most bizarre games and Atlus seems to publish something for everyone. If there is a niche, Atlus has ya covered. With that said, I am not sure which niche the developers had in mind for Contact. The game is an RPG, but it is so different from every other RPG I have ever played.

The game follows Terry, a young boy who is enlisted by a professor to help repair the professor’s spaceship. However, there are two separate plots at work here. The game follows Terry and his adventures, but the game also includes a separate storyline for the player themselves as well. The professor actually directly addresses the player on multiple occasions and aims to keep them a secret from Terry. Needless to say, it is a different tale, and the fourth wall has never been shattered this much sans Deadpool’s presence in a game. Another interesting aspect to the game was how experience was gained instantaneously whenever an action was performed. Took a hit? Your defense increases and so on. It was not uncommon to grow stronger during a battle, gaining an edge on your foe.

The game can be difficult to track down, but if you are interested, it is one of the most unique games you can find to date.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

This game is absolutely stunning. No really. Watch the video above you and see this game in action. Words do not do this work of art justice. With its anime-inspired, watercolor art aesthetic, the game looks like a painting come to life. With a combat system revolved around taking your opponent’s weapons and armor and utilizing it against them, it made for a different tempo from other games.

I do need to include this disclaimer though. The game is inspired by the Book of Enoch. So if you are sensitive to religious content, themes, etc., you might not enjoy this as much as I have. However, if that does not bother you, you are in for one gorgeous treat!

Bulletstorm

Ah Bulletstorm, the definition of glorious excess and irreverent. This is a game that turned heads for its great, arcade-inspired shooting and kept your attention with one of the most gleefully puerile scripts in all of gaming; it’s terrific stuff. Hell, there’s a female in the game who tells the main character, “I will kill your d***.” Since the developers are based in Poland and English is not their first language, they asserted they did not realize how crude the game was, and they added the gratuitous language because it sounded funny, hearing Steve Blum using language that would make a sailor blush while sliding to get that skill shot makes for a great time.

By using a point-based system to unlock upgrades and weapons, the game encourages experimentation and originality when dispatching foes rather than simply having another boring game of Whack-a-Mole with guns. With tight controls, guns that are fun to use and have a sense of power, the shooting in Bulletstorm never gets old. Did I mention you get to set a giant, mechanized fire-breathing lizard upon your foes? Oh yeah, that happens. And Steve Blum! What else could you possibly want?

Hard Corp: Uprising

Sigh. What the hell Konami? Besides canceling Silent Hills and Kojima leaving after MGS5 is finished, Konami has also allowed Hard Corps: Uprising to be the last entry in the Contra series for four years now with no signs of another entry. Hard Corps delivered what we have come to expect and love from Contra: lots of enemies, gigantic bosses, challenging gameplay, and tight controls. What Hard Corps added was some maneuverability to the player’s repertoire of tricks. With the addition of double jumping, dashing, and projectile deflection, the added mechanics allowed the players to do more than previous entries. The addition of co-op made for double the fun and double the deaths. Any fan of Contra and side-scrolling shooters should give this one a try!

ilomilo

Let’s get this out of the way: this game is doggoned cute! There I said it! Happy now? I never thought a game could be considered “cute”, but here is the perfect example. Your task is to reunite Ilo and Milo, two friends separated by various obstacles and complications. It’s harder than its cute, patchwork visuals let on. With multiple characters to control, crazy physics, and wide playing areas to traverse, the game certainly scratched the cerebral itch. Now give it a shot and get sucked into its adorable world!

To the Moon

I recently mentioned how To the Moon was one of only two games to ever make me shed a tear. Boy did it! The tale of two scientists helping a dying man to achieve his dying wish is one of the most touching narratives in gaming and is accompanied by one of the best soundtracks in the business. I really don’t want to talk about the game too much in fear I’ll give something away. Just devote the three to four hours it takes to complete the game and enjoy!

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Launching for the Xbox 360, Condemned was a unique title for Microsoft’s new console. The game followed FBI agent Ethan Thomas on the trail of a serial killer. What made the game stand out, besides the crime scene investigations, was the combat. First person brawling has been done before, but has rarely been done well or turned out enjoyable. Condemned was one of the few that managed to be well done and enjoyable to play.

By having the combat unfold in first person and in melee range, the fighting felt visceral and intimate. You weren’t detached by using a firearm to snipe hapless enemies from a distance. You were fighting tooth and nail for your life while wielding whatever weapons were found in your environment. You also were usually locked into combat with less than four enemies, further adding to the intimate feel of the brawling. Monolith really delivered something great with this one; just skip the sequel. It jumped the shark three times in a row and then circled back to eat the shark after it had finished its aerial acrobatics.

Spec Ops: The Line

Spec Ops: The Line has one of the best narratives in gaming. Period. The game was a brilliant subversion of military games and our obsession and voracious appetite for them. The strange thing is critics and people “got” Hotline Miami’s message about violence, yet the underlying meaning in Spec Ops seemed to go largely unnoticed, despite both titles releasing a mere five months apart from one another. In fact, many reviewers focused on the lackluster multiplayer instead of the narrative or mechanics at work. 

Spec Ops: The Line is not a game you enjoy. In fact, it is a demanding piece of art to endure, yet it is worth it in the end. There are four endings to the game, but one of the developers was quoted as saying a fifth ending was possible when the player cannot take any more and simply stops playing. Sunshine and lollipops this is not, but rarely do we play games which actually ask us hard questions and force us to examine ourselves.

The Darkness

Released in 2007, The Darkness was an adaptation of the popular comic series published by Topcow Comics. Developed by the talented team at Starbreeze Studios, The Darkness delivered a slick, dark shooting experience with some satisfying demonic powers to utilize against your enemies in the mob. What really makes the game memorable to me is the character of Jenny.

She is the main character Jackie’s love interest in the game, but is actually more than a cliché female character. The relationship between the two also manages to elicit emotions from the player other game romances cannot. There is a part in the game where you are at her house and have the option leave. If you leave, nothing happens, and the plot and game continues. If you opt to stay however, a special moment occurs. However, rather than anything sexual occurring, Jackie and Jenny cuddle on the couch and make convincing small talk while To Kill a Mockingbird plays on the television. It is something far more intimate than loyalty missions and countless conversations have ever done. The game is also a great shooter too; so it’s a win-win!

Did I mention Mike Patton (of Faith no More, among countless other projects) did the voice of the titular Darkness with no sort of voice software or editing? You know you want to play it now.

We all know some underrated games. Games we feel did not get the attention they deserved or a fair shake at the time of their initial release. With that in mind, here are ten games you really owe it to yourself to play if you have not. I guarantee you will not regret it!

While this is wishful thinking, I believe Fallout 4 could be improved with some of these additions or tweaks. At the end of the day, we all want Fallout 4 to be the best game it can be. Who doesn’t want to have a better game?

What changes or improvements would you like to see in Fallout 4? Agree with my list or think I have had too much Quantum Nuka-Cola? Sound off in the comments below!

More Radio!

The radio in Fallout 3 was brilliant. It kept the player op to date with events happening in the world and also alerted players to the consequences on their actions. We got awesome oldies music to boot! The problem is, again, it got repetitive rather quickly. After hearing “Butcher Pete” for the umpteenth time and Three Dog telling me about the results of a quest I completed hours ago, I had to turn off the radio.

Fallout 4 can fix this by adding more music, dialogue, and even stations! It would be cool to tune into different stations broadcasting from different parts of the world and hear each region’s take on events. Each region could even have their own music they prefer to hear over the airwaves! The stations could even have rotating DJs the player or others can eliminate if they don’t like what the DJ says. The possibilities are nearly endless with this; so it would be great to see Bethesda do more with the great foundation they have. 

Serious Quality Assurance

Bethesda, we need to talk. Your bugs are killer. No, not the mutated, mean-eating ones, the game-breaking ones. Yes, Fallout 4 will be an open world game and trying to kill every bug in one of those is like trying to fight a forest fire with a water pistol. However, you could try to eliminate more of the serious bugs. As much as I enjoyed Fallout 3, there were several times when character dialogue would glitch, quests could not be completed, or I fell through the game world and was lost in a hellish, blank landscape. Let’s not forget about those game freezes too!

A lot of these issues may be rectified with the improvements we have had in technology since, but also Bethesda should use a new engine from the one used in Skyrim (they really should). With improved technology and a better testing process, players could enjoy Fallout 4 with fewer frustrations from the technical hiccups. Also, we should not have to download gigantic day-one patches for our games in order to play proper properly... but that is a can of worms for a later date. 

More of the Gallows Humor

The opening to the original Fallout finds two armed men standing over a kneeling, bound prisoner while “Maybe” by The Ink Spots plays in the background.  The men shoot the man in the head and shoot him again once he falls; one of the men laughs during this process while the other turns towards the camera and waves. This opening perfectly captures the essence of Fallout in less than four minutes and gives you a sense for the pitch black humor that lies in wait.

Fallout 4 needs to retain the humorous elements. The humor is an important part of the franchise as it usually a sharp contrast to the horrors around you. There were moments in Fallout 3, but there could be more. The game does not need to be a comedy game, but the addition of the dark humor helps keep the dreadful world from wearing on the player’s spirit too much. 

Step Up the Quest Design and Writing

Bethesda should be developing this cooperatively with Obsidian. If there is one thing Obsidian can do well, it’s quest design and writing. The writing in New Vegas was terrific (remember Think Tank?), and the quest design was fantastic to boot.

By stepping up the writing and quests in Fallout 4, the characters would be better, and players would have more memorable quests to discuss with their friends long after adventuring in the harsh world. Who doesn’t want to see Obsidian work on another Fallout entry? 

A More Interesting World and Locations

Fallout 3 had a far more interesting world than Oblivion or Skyrim, but it still managed to get repetitive before too long. While we had some interesting places such as Tenpenny Tower, Vault 108, Rivet City, and Andale, the majority of the world blended together after some time save a few exceptions. Again, this was a problem New Vegas addressed with more varied and distinct locales such as the Big M.T. facility, Novac, Jacobstown, and New Vegas itself among others.

The problem is Bethesda’s worlds are usually so large, they get repetitive quickly. So why not make a smaller, more interesting game world with more depth and variety? Or do what Obsidian did and just populate the large world with more interesting places? Bethesda can make some interesting places to explore, so why not focus on making a better world instead of a bigger one? Bigger is not always better. Also, more snow! Don't you want to build a snowman?

Weapons, Please!

Fallout 3 had some interesting weapons like the Experimental MIRV, alien atomizer, Mesmetron, gauss rifle, and the auto axe to name a few. The problem is a lot of weapons were variants of a type and not very distinct from one another. I might be using a unique Blackhawk revolver, but it looks the same as a normal .44 magnum revolver. Weapons should be more distinguished from one another.

Also, we are in a sci-fi universe, so why not more imaginative or zany weapons? The alien weaponry and plasma arms were cool, but surely we can do more? Take Red Faction: Guerilla and Armageddon for instance. In those titles we had Singularity Grenades, Nano Rifles, Napalm Lasers, and Mr. Toots for crying out loud! Granted, those games are set in the far future, but we could have something similar in the new Fallout games. Or even just alternate fire modes like the firearms in Bulletstorm. It would be great to see the developers go hog wild with some inspired designs that are fun to use.

The Combat Needs Work

Let’s be honest, Bethesda’s strong suit is not combat. At its best, it’s mediocre and boring; at its worst, it’s floaty and unsubstantial. The V.A.T.S. system was a brilliant way to mask the dice rolling and calculations under the hood in a way for newer players to grasp and led to dropped jaws as countless heads exploded. The problem was, when not using V.A.T.S., the guns felt like toys which fired air bullets. Sure, I saw the enemy explode in pieces, but the gun never conveyed the power I saw onscreen.

New Vegas helped by allowing iron sights (pay attention Bethesda!) and the weapons felt a bit more substantial and weighty. It was not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. For substantial combat, Bethesda could take notes from Bulletstorm, Hard Reset, and the Souls franchise. The weapons need to feel more substantial and satisfying to use. Really though, the entire combat system could use an overhaul to differentiate itself from The Elder Scrolls series. Maybe more tactical options?

Don’t Forget Your Roots

Since the release of Fallout 3, we have seen the release of Wasteland 2, Pillars of Eternity, and Divinty: Original Sin. All three of these titles were funded on Kickstarter by fans; all three are made in the vein of the classic CRPGs of old; and all three have been met with a positive reception from critics and players alike.

Contrary to the mindset of the AAA publishing world, there is very much a market for an RPG that challenges the player in gameplay and doesn’t feature a Hollywood voice cast.

Bethesda could incorporate aspects of the CRPG experience like the additional, optional difficulties of New Vegas without eliminating the mainstream appeal of their games. Wasteland 2 featured a harsh world where everyday survival was a bitter battle day in and day out which fits given the game’s bleak tone and setting. Fallout 4 doesn’t have to be as difficult as Wasteland 2, but it could bring a harsher world to players who desire it.

Learn From New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas was a more divisive title than Fallout 3 due to the amount of bugs. I never thought I could play a game with more bugs than a Bethesda title, but holy mutated roaches Batman! New Vegas had more bugs than the Wasteland ever will, which is a damned shame because it is a superior title to Fallout 3 in so many ways.

If you could endure the bugs, or simply find the fantastic mods from the community that helped with the problems, you were in for an apocalyptic delight! More interesting quests, fantastic writing, stronger characters, added depth of combat and mechanics, and a plethora of imaginative weapons were just a few of the improvements New Vegas made on the Fallout 3 foundation. Bethesda would be wise to learn from what Obsidian did with New Vegas going forward with the franchise.

This will probably be mentioned a few times going forward. You were warned!

We have all heard the rumors: Bethesda will show Fallout 4 in some form at this E3, be it a trailer or gameplay. The hype and anticipation for this rumored reveal has already reached astronomical heights.

With the possibility of information on a new entry in the venerable RPG series, I think now is a great time to discuss some ways Fallout 4 can improve upon its predecessors and make for an upgraded experience in the nuclear wastes.

Equip your plasma rifle and don your power armor; we’re venturing into the unknown. Keep an eye peeled for Deathclaws!

What do you think about my crazy ideas? Which of your favorite bands would you like to see work on a game soundtrack? Let me know in the comments below! 

The Pogues with Shane MacGowan

As much as I enjoy Flogging Molly, The Dropkick Murphys, and other Irish/Celtic punk bands, there is no topping The Pogues, especially with Shane MacGowan on vocals. Along with fiendishly clever lyrics laden with black humor, The Pogues also had a knack for taking traditional Irish music and reformatting the folk songs to fit their punk sound, making the old new again. Look no further for your Irish punk fix!

Dream Game:

An interactive, multiplayer drinking game. I know you didn't see that one coming.

Mastodon 

Like their namesake, Mastodon is a mammoth in the metal world. Despite only being around for 15 years, the band has racked up countless awards and success for their music. Starting out as sludge metal, the band has added progressive elements, which make for one trippy and fantastic live performance. Known for immaculate musicianship, jaw-dropping drumming skills, and killer solos, Mastodon has become a fan favorite and metal mainstay.

Dream Game:

Their more progressive songs would be a great fit for the Escher visuals of Monument Valley or Antichamber. For their heavier stuff, a new Painkiller or Bulletstorm with Mastodon doing music duties would be pretty damn great. 

Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman

Nothing quite says over-the-top like Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album series. However, many people fail to recognize the massive influence Jim Steinman had on the two Bat out of Hell albums he composed. Meat Loaf encapsulates grandiose and overblown at its best, and the music is glorious for it. No one else could pull off performances like Meat Loaf does or the compositions Steinman effortlessly unleashed upon the world. Given the overblown nature of some games, they are practically begging for collaboration with these two.

Dream Game:

Racing along at breakneck speeds, causing vehicular mayhem and crashes in Burnout while Meat Loaf blares over the speakers would be a suitable match. Honestly though, is there anything Meat Loaf does not go well with?

Weezer

While Weezer’s newest album was a solid return to form, they have made some lackluster ones lately as well. As solid as any new albums may be, sadly, Weezer will never be as great as their peak as they were with Blue and Pinkerton. Blue was a masterwork of alternative power pop. With introspective and honest lyrics of being nerds, being rejected, and dealing with an alcoholic, Blue was a welcome departure from self-obsessed music at the time.

For the follow up to the catchy, hook-filled Blue, Rivers Coumo went into self-imposed isolation and poured his being and soul into music. The result was Pinkerton, a startlingly, and at times, disturbingly honest release filled with anguish and loathing. Needless to say, the album was reviled upon release. Rivers went into a deep depression and subsequent Weezer releases returned more to the sound of the Blue album. In the following years, fans and critics realized the masterwork of Pinkerton and have clamored for a return to the sound.

Dream Game:

Titles full of teen angst such as Life is Strange and Gone Home would be a perfect fit for the Weezer of yesteryear. 

The Big 4 and Exodus

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax are the bands commonly referred to as The Big Four. The Big Four are known for pioneering thrash metal and bringing it into the limelight. Although Exodus is not considered to be a part of The Big Four, they deserve to be recognized with the rest for their work in the genre. Do I really need to explain why having these bands working on a soundtrack would be amazing?

Dream Game:

Let them have a crack at Devil May Cry and watch the sparks fly. Very metal indeed.    \\m/

Needtobreathe 

I’ll be honest; Needtobreathe is on here simply because Bear Rinehart singing in a game would be bliss. Seriously, this guy is insanely talented with one of the most passionate and soulful voices around. I had the privilege to see this band perform live not long ago, and I was blown away. While Bear’s vocals are great, the entire band comes together to create a beautiful harmony which is heaven for your ears. This is a band you want to see live if you possibly can.

Dream Game:

Let these guys make some vocal tracks like Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett did on Transistor, and you have a match made in musical heaven. Maybe even put Darren working with these guys since Bastion had such strong country, frontier-like sounds. I’m drooling just imagining the possibilities. 

Devin Townsend 

Devin Townsend is one of the hardest working and talented people in music today (not to mention possessing one of the best set of vocals cords around). Devin formed the beloved Canadian extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad way back in 1994. Despite being a hugely influential metal band, Devin also did solo work on the side which was vastly different from SYL’s catalog. When SYL disbanded in 2007, Devin began working on his solo career in earnest and has released nine albums since, on top of producing, remixing, and working on countless other albums. Thankfully, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The most striking thing is how varied his catalog is. His work with SYL sounds completely different from his solo work. However, even his solo work is incredibly varied.

Dream Game:

His album Ghost would be the perfect fit for a zen-like puzzle game, whereas Deconstruction would be right at home being the soundtrack to a gonzo, over-the-top action affair like Bayonetta. 

Modest Mouse 

Modest Mouse remains one of the quirkiest and interesting bands in independent music 22 years into the game. After 22 years, vocalist Isaac Brock still possesses a remarkable energy with a delivery few others can match. Besides having a unique vocalist with Brock, Modest Mouse has also embodied quirky with their music. While they are classified as indie rock, there is no other band that does what Modest Mouse pulls off effortlessly. Couple unique rhythms and sounds with thought-provoking and usually less-than-sunny lyrics, and you have an exceptional musical cocktail.

Dream Game:

Pair this band with the demented geniuses at Dejobaan Games and you have a winner!

Meshuggah

Sweden has proved to be a most fertile land for metal. At The Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquility are only a few of the legendary bands Sweden has given rise to over the years. In fact, these three bands were pioneers of a new style of metal called the “The Gothenburg Sound” which was named after the city where these bands were living when they became noticed.

Unlike their melodic counterparts, Meshuggah is about as far from melodic as it gets. Known for their odd time signatures, rapid tempo changes, and jazz fusion elements, Meshuggah has stayed true to their roots and delivered uncompromising, extreme metal on each of their releases. A gargantuan beast in the underground world, Meshuggah is not for the faint of ears.

Dream Game:

They could make one hell of a soundtrack for a precision platformer. Meshuggah + Super Meat Boy!

The Sex Pistols 

While The Sex Pistols are not the only punk band nor are the necessarily the progenitors of the "punk" sound, but The Sex Pistols were perhaps punk personified. We are talking about a band from the U.K. who wrote a song ragging on THE Queen. They also refused to attend their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only did their music tap into a vein of anger, the band themselves embodied the rebellious, punk spirit (as self-destructive as it was). The band only recorded one album, but that one album has proven to be one of the most influential albums not only in rock and punk, but music as a whole. 

Dream Game: 

The punk world of Sunset Overdrive would have been a perfect match for The Sex Pistols. 

Game music has seen a wonderful evolution along with video games themselves. From the simple polyphonic scores of the NES to the fully-orchestrated works we have today, game soundtracks have evolved as much as games. There are an innumerable amount of talented composers working to produce lovely soundtracks. While I love the music we have now and the works composers produce, I can't help but wish some of my favorite bands would score or contribute to some game soundtracks as well. Stewart Copeland has worked on the Spyro series; so why don't more bands give it a shot?

As with all lists, it's hard to narrow down candidates (especially when you listen to as music as I do), so I tried to focus on the bands who might deliver something special and unique. Are you ready to go down the rabbit hole of dreams?

Most can agree that anything done by Tim Schafer is a winner in any book. Brutal Legend is no exception. This third-person action-adventure game by Double Fine Productions and Electronic Arts for Xbox 360 and PS3; it's just plain fun.

Tim Schafer was inspired to create the game from his own past musical experiences. The game features the character of Eddie Riggs, voiced by and modeled after Jack Black, a roadie who is transported to a fantasy world inspired by the artwork of heavy metal album covers. Eddie becomes the world's savior, leading the humans against a range of supernatural overlords using a battle axe, his Flying V guitar that can tap into the magical powers of the world, and a customizable hot rod.

The game also features voices of real-life heavy metal musicians including Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford and other celebrities such as Tim Curry, as well as more than one hundred metal songs selected by Schafer for inclusion in the game. It's definitely worth playing for its humor and music love.

Team Fortress 2 is a team-based, multi-player FPS video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is a sequel to the original mod Team Fortress. It was first released as part of the video game compilation in The Orange Box for PC, Xbox 360, and then later on PS3.

Team Fortress 2 focuses around two opposing teams, Reliable Excavation & Demolition (RED) and Builders League United (BLU) competing for a combat-based principal objective. These characters are hysterical in every way possible, which is why it makes it a must-play on my list. I'll only share a few.

Characters and Classes:

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• The Scout: a fast-talking, cocky, baseball fan and street runner from Boston, Massachusetts, who practiced running to "beat his maddog siblings to the fray."
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• The Pyro: a mentally unstable pyromaniac of unknown origin or gender, completely clad in a fire-retardant suit and a voice-muffling gas mask.
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• The Demoman: a black, one-eyed Scotsman who drinks heavily and hails from Ullapool, Scotland.
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• The Heavy: a stereotypical Russian character originating from the USSR, heavy in both figure and accent. Obsessed and affectionate with his guns,  and he loves his enormous mini-gun that he affectionately refers to as "Sascha".
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• The Medic: a German doctor from Stuttgart with little regard for the Hippocratic Oath, responsible for keeping his teammates alive. He keeps doves as pets, one of which is named Archimedes.
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Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts. It was the second game of the Monkey Island series, following The Secret of Monkey Island.

The game centers on the wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood. After defeating ghost pirate LeChuck in The Secret of Monkey Island, little is known of what happened between Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley. The sequel involves Guybrush's attempts to find the mysterious treasure of Big Whoop.

Characters:

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• Guybrush Threepwood: The protagonist, a "mighty pirate" and thrill-seeker
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• Elaine Marley: Governess of Booty Island and Guybrush's love interest
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• LeChuck: The antagonist, Guybrush's sworn enemy
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• Largo LaGrande: LeChuck's old first mate whom Guybrush must overcome
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• "Voodoo Lady": A mystical woman who assists Guybrush on his journey
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• Wally B. Feed: An eccentric cartographer
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A lot of the humor in this point-and-click adventure game are the lines, references, and music to many of the LucasArts films found throughout the entire game. They are well placed and in good fun.

I didn't know what to expect when I first heard about this game, but I'm glad I played it. Castle Crashers is a side-scrolling, beat 'em up game developed by The Behemoth and Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360, PC and PS3. The game is set in a fictional medieval universe in which a dark Wizard steals a mystical gem and captures several Princesses. Four Knights are charged by the King to rescue the Princesses, recover the jewel, and bring the Wizard to justice. Simple enough, right?

This cartoon marvel is funny, and I mean it. The four Knights encounter several enemies along the way which include other Knights, multiple encounters with a cyclops, a giant "cat-fish," and alien invaders! You can also find animal companions for your character that assist you in battle, improve your character's attributes, or provide another special ability such as increased treasure earned from defeated foes. The game supports cooperative gameplay for up to four players, either locally or online.

I highly recommend this game more than anything. The mini-games are just as fun. Don't let the cartoon look fool you though, since you are chopping off heads!

Bulletstorm is a first-person shooter game made by People Can Fly, Epic Games, and Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. The game is known for its sense of style and humor by rewarding players with points for performing increasingly insane and creative kills. Bulletstorm doesn't have competitive multi-player modes, but does have a cooperative online play as score attack modes.

The game focuses on combat using firearms and melee attacks. There are various firearms available. The game places heavy emphasis on kicking enemies and using the energy leash. The game's unique features is the "skillshot" gameplay system. It rewards the player for killing opponents in the most creative and destructive ways possible. This can be from killing an enemy in mid-air, to pushing an enemy into a carnivorous plant, or executing an enemy after shooting him in the testicles.

The more complicated or unusual the skillshot, the more points players acquire. The points are used to purchase weapons and upgrades. The weapons are unlocked at set points throughout the game, and after a weapon has been "re-armed" by purchasing it, a "charge shot" for the gun is unlocked at another set point. The humor is in the names the game comes up with for these skillshots and the lines said by the characters throughout the game.

Deadpool is an action comedy beat 'em up game based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The game is developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Former Deadpool comic writer Daniel Way (one of my favorites) created the game's plot, and Nolan North voices Deadpool. The game is true to Deadpool's humor and to the comic series.

As Deadpool progresses, new combos become available. The 'M' rated game breaks the fourth wall, and Deadpool verbally interacts with the player based on skill and progress. Deadpool is armed with both guns and swords. He can also access giant hammers, plasma guns, and a range of other alternatives. A small number of teleportation moves are possible as well. As he slowly falls apart while sustaining damage, players must avoid further damage in order to recover.

The humor in this game is nothing short of what we expect from Deadpool and you won't be disappointed in that regard.

South Park: The Stick of Truth is an outrageous, hysterical RPG by Obsidian Entertainment in collaboration with South Park Digital Studios and released by Ubisoft for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

True to the American adult animated television series South Park: The Stick of Truth follows The New Kid, who has moved to into town and becomes involved in a role-play fantasy war involving humans, wizards, and elves, fighting for control of the all-powerful Stick of Truth. The game quickly escalates out of control, bringing them into conflict with aliens, Nazi zombies, and gnomes, threatening the entire town with destruction.

The humans are led by Wizard King Cartman who make their home in the Kingdom of Kupa Keep (a makeshift camp built in Cartman's backyard). Among them are:

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• Paladin Butters
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• Thief Craig
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• Cleric Token
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• Clyde
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• Tweek
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• Kenny--who dresses as a princess
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The humans' rivals are the Drow Elves, who live in the Elven Kingdom (Kyle's backyard) of King Kyle.

Among them are:

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• Warrior Stan
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• Jimmy the Bard
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The game also features all the classic South Park characters:

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• Randy Marsh (Stan's father)
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• Mr. Garrison
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• Jesus
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• Mr. Mackey
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• Al Gore
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• Mr. Slave
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• Sentient turd Mr. Hankey
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• Stan's Uncle Jimbo
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• City Wok owner Tuong Lu Kim
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• Terrance and Phillip
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• Underpants Gnomes
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• The Goth kids
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• The Crab People
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• Timmy
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• Scott Malkinson
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• Kevin Stoley
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I promise this is a game for fans of South Park and doesn't leave any details of the show out. Everywhere are hidden memories from past episodes. This is NOT a game for kids. If you're looking to laugh your a$$ off, this is definitely the game for you.

The Portal series is a gem! Portal is a single-player first-person puzzle-platform video game developed by Valve Corporation. The game was released as a bundle package called The Orange Box for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Portal 2 is the sequel to the incredible Portal (2007) for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and PS3 which allowed for co-op.

The games are comprised of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player's character and simple objects using the "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device", a device that can create interspatial doorways between two flat planes. The player's character is named Chell, and she is challenged by an artificial intelligence named GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System) to complete each puzzle in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, using the portal gun with the promise of cake and counseling when all is completed. The game's unique physics allow momentum to be retained through portals, requiring creative use of the portals to maneuver through the test chambers.

In Portal 2, players take on the role of Chell once again in the single-player campaign, as one of two robots--Atlas or P-body--in the cooperative campaign, or as a simple humanoid icon in community-developed puzzles. The game includes a two-player cooperative mode. Both player-characters are robots that can control separate portal guns and can use each other's portal. The color scheme is different for each character. One is blue and purple, the other orange and red.

These games are at the top of any gamer's list when it comes to hardcore fun. GLaDOS is a character all her own with every sarcastic remark that makes you want to scream "BI$#%!" The other characters in Portal 2 are just as funny and when in co-op mode playing as Atlas and P-Body is quite amusing. These are a must-play to any list!

What can I say about the Borderlands series? Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are truly fantastic games and are among my favorites just from the characters alone. Thank you 2K for Claptrap!

Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are both action RPG first-person shooter games by 2K Games and Gearbox Software for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Each game centers around the player selecting one of four characters (Borderlands 2 gives us bonus characters) known as Vault Hunters, each having unique special skills and proficiencies with certain weapons.

In Borderlands we meet:

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• Mordecai the Hunter
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• Roland the Soldier
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• Lilith the Siren
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• Brick (a Berserker)
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In Borderlands 2 we meet:

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• Axton the Commando
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• Maya the Siren
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• Salvador the Gunzerker
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• Zer0 the Assassin
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• Gaige the Mechromancer
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• Kreig the Psycho
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In Borderlands we meet characters we love (Dr. Zed, Mad Moxxi and Claptrap) and along with the old; meet some new ones in Borderlands 2--Tiny Tina is one of my favorites! The DLCs are fun, hysterical and tough. They don't make it easy for you, so be sure to bring along a friend or two.

We all love our video games, and there is nothing better than a game that has us in stitches from laughter. Here's a list of 10 games that are guaranteed to make you laugh while enjoying great game time.

Conker: Live & Reloaded is a hilarious action-platform game developed by Rare and exclusively released for the original Xbox in 2005. The single player mode is a remake of the 2001 game Conker's Bad Fur Day for the Nintendo 64 that includes new stages. This includes a new multiplayer mode utilizing Xbox Live. Multiplayer consists of different game modes such as Capture the Flag or the standard Deathmatch modes.

Conker is full of fun, crude behavior, booze, funny songs and great characters that'll leave you in stitches from all the laughter.

Shadows Of The Damned (June 21st, 2011) Rated M

Developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and Published by EA

This psychological horror-comedy is one of my all time favorite Goichi Suda games. Not many games showcase decent relationships, especially when the heroes girlfriend is a psycho. Add in some punk rock elements and some awesome boss fights and what is there not to love? Plus I loved the ending of the game, tugs on the heart strings a little.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (March 9th, 2008) Rated T

Developed by Ad hoc Development Team and Published by Nintendo

While I do not agree with some of the character choices (mainly because they are annoying as all hell) I believe Brawl has been the best foot forward for the franchise. Seeing as Super Smash Bros. just gets better and better; its like fine wine. Gets better with age. This fighter is the premier fighting game for the Wii, and is the main reason to own one as well.

Serious Sam 3: BFE (November 22nd, 2011) Rated M

Developed by Croteam and Published by Devolver Digital

If you like old school FPS games, then Serious Sam is the right choice for you. Lots of enemies, huge boss fights and guns. Lots and lots of guns. The final level of Serious Sam 3 took me 2 hours to beat. Not because I died, no. There was just a good amount of enemies headed my way. I mean, all you have to do is cross a desert canyon, its not like fighting over two-thousand enemies all hell bent on obliterating you is hard or anything. No, im not overexaggerating either. Literally. Over two-thousand enemies. In. One. Level. Its not just a crap ton of small ones either, OH NO. Good luck facing giant bio-mechanic rocket launcher aliens and fireball shooting demons.

Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3 (November 15th, 2011) Rated T

Developed by Capcom / Eighting Co. and Published by Capcom

One of the best fighting games to have come out in years. Although some of their character choices I did not approve of and could have done better with. The game as a whole is fun for anyone who is new to fighting games or experts who know character stats by heart. While the story is basically non-existent, you don't really buy a fighting game expecting an amazing, blockbuster story. You buy a fighting game to enjoy the FIGHTS! Am I right!?

Splatterhouse (November 23rd, 2010) Rated M

Developed and Published by Namco Bandai Games

A reboot of the classic "Splatterhouse" which was released in 1988. This super gory and hyper violent "B Horror Movie" game will please anyone who enjoys some cheesy horror movies. The executions in Splatterhouse were disgusting, raunchy and sometimes outright hilarious. Nothing like ripping a monsters spine out through its anal sphincter. If you want to enjoy some mindless violence with a cheesy "B Horror Movie" story, then you do not want to miss out on this.

Mirror's Edge (November 12th, 2008) Rated T

Developed by DICE and Published by EA

Take a first person shooter, and combine it with "Free Running" a risky choice back in 2008, but my god did it pay off. Although it was a short game, the experience of running through a concrete jungle in the eyes of a Free Runner was nothing short of amazing. Playing as Faith (who is not white, male, or a big breasted sex object) was a very nice and refreshing breath of air in the stagnant "white, male with short brown hair" protagonist dilemma. If you enjoy running for your life over street-wide gaps, and leaping off of buildings into helicopters then this is the game for you.

Metro: Last Light (May 14th, 2013) Rated M

Developed by 4A Games and Published by Deep Silver

Although the first game in the Metro series (Metro 2033) is a hidden gem, Last Light seemingly exploded onto the gaming scene. And pretty much blew me away. I really enjoyed the first game, but my god Last Light blew Metro 2033 out of the water and into deep space. Based in the world of the russian novel "Metro 2033" by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro: Last Light takes place  around six months after the first game and is the final installment in Artyom's story. A magnificent story of righting the wrongs you have made in the past, added with some survival horror elements. This shooter is why 4A Games is not to be trifled with.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning (February 7th, 2012) Rated M

Developed by 38 Studios / Big Huge Games and Published by 38 Studios / EA

The release of the first Kingdoms of Amalur game was bitter sweet, with the news that came soon afterwards. But having a game with art by Todd McFarlane and a story by R.A. Salvatore? Genius idea that was executed quite well. While we might never see another "Kingdoms of Amalur" we can always enjoy the first one. An excellent action RPG with hack and slash elements.

Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock (September 28th, 2010) Rated T

Developed by Neversoft and Published by Activision

The last Guitar Hero game ever (Well, so far) helped the series go out with a bang. Featuring one of the best on disc set lists ever in a Rhythm Game (including RUSH's 2112) And surprisingly a story. Yep, a rhythm game with a "Heavy Metal" esque story. I believe Warriors Of Rock was, is and always will be the best Guitar Hero that ever graced this earth. Plus I really love the final boss / song; Sudden Death by Megadeth. Fighting the Beast was well worth it.

Far Cry 3 (December 4th, 2012) Rated M

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Published by Ubisoft

Far Cry 3 has a great story that shows that there is an eternal struggle deep within the mind of every man. The game also has some really well done stealth mechanics, gameplay and beautiful graphics. I never got the chance to play the first two games in the franchise, but I feel that Far Cry 3 had the most and gave the most to the players. A must have for any adult gamer

Darksiders 2 - The Guardian Fight (Credit to HH Gaming for the video)

Darksiders II (August 14th, 2012) Rated M

Developed by Vigil Games and Published by THQ

Out of all the games featured in this list, this game is by far my favorite. The MUST HAVE game of last gen. Any other game fails compared to this masterpiece. Darksiders II is the perfect blueprint game when it comes to making sequels, and how to make them the right way. The story is magnificent, with smooth and fluid combat, and a fantastic soundtrack done none other than the master himself; Jesper Kyd. I cannot stress enough that this game is amazing. Fighting The Guardian for the first time? To say it was epic would be an understatement.

Dante's Inferno (February 9th, 2010) Rated M

Developed by Visceral Games and Published by EA

Dante's Inferno is basically a "God Of War" clone, but I believe that Dante's Inferno was a much better game compared to the God Of War series. I guess I just enjoy Christian Mythology more than I do Greek Mythology. Featuring some very visceral and disturbing enemies (LIke the boss in lust? I'll never look at nipples the same way again) and an epic story of struggle and redemption deep within the bowels of hell. 

Look and be amazed!

Child of Eden - Evolution (Credit to Buxenwolf for the video)

Child of Eden (June 14th, 2011) Rated E10+

Developed by Q Entertainment and Published by Ubisoft

Whether you are playing Child of Eden with the Kinect or with a controller, you simply cannot deny how beautiful and amazing this game is. Even though its a "Rail Shooter" I have spent countless hours playing this fantastic game. If you are a fan of new experiences and some good techno music, then this is a must have. Words don't do it justice, just take a look.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (October 5th, 2010) Rated M

Developed by Mercurysteam and Published by Konami

One of, if not the best Castlevania to date. Yep, sorry Symphony Of The Night fans, but in my opinion Lords of Shadow is the best Castlevania game ever. Seeing as it is a "reboot" of the franchise, Mercurysteam did a fantastic job. With epic visuals, awesome gameplay and a fantastic story that is bitter sweet. Not to mention some of the boss fights are downright incredible. Fighting Satan himself? SIGN ME UP!

Bulletstorm (February 22nd, 2011) Rated M

Developed by People Can Fly / Epic Games and Published by EA

Sick of playing the borderline "Rail Shooters" that are flooding today's market? Then go sink your teeth into Bulletstorm. Where if you want to kill, you're going to need some skills, and maybe thinking out of the box a little. Featuring some "classy" humour and an awesome Sci-fi "Pulp" story Bulletstorm is a must on my list. Nothing like kicking a guy into a giant man eating plant and racking up some points in the process. Bulletstorm is a fantastic game, that seemed to go under the radar, so much in fact that Epic Games said they made no money on it. Which is depressing, because I could really enjoy a sequel right about now. Call of Duty? Battlefield? Medal Of Honor? They all take a back seat to this game in my honest opinion.

Bayonetta (January 5th, 2010) Rated M

Developed by Platinum Games and Published by SEGA

Bayonetta is one of those games that is just amazing; nothing is more awesome than watching a Witch lay the smackdown on some angels and demons via her hair (which turns into a Dragon) or her heels, which have pistols on them. Easy to pick up and play, but the combat depth is there if you chose to use it. With some fast paced action combat, insane boss fights, and some "witch time" (aka bullet time) added in for good measure.

If you enjoyed the original Devil May Cry games, then Bayonetta is right up your alley, just with a flair of "sex appeal" and techno. Not just any techno though; upbeat and really "pop" sounding techno.

How can you not love this?

Rayman Legends -Dragon Slayer (Credit to Ruki185 for the video)

Rayman Legends (September 3rd, 2013) Rated E10+

This amazing platformer is a must have for anyone who enjoys some gnarly and epic old-school action. Featuring an amazing soundtrack by Christophe Heral and Billy Martin, with covers of actual songs. Like Trust's "Antisocial" and the song "Ram Jam."

Using the beautiful UbiArt Framework engine gives Rayman Legends a nice "home made" and "indie" feel that really captures what Rayman is all about. Not to mention epic boss fights! Having both extremely fun single player AND co-op, Rayman Legends will not disappoint if you're looking for some awesome platforming action. 

Disclaimer:

This list is in no particular order, and is based on games that I have actually played and completed. By "Last Gen" I mean Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii. All release dates and ratings are from North America.

I did not want to go for the outright obvious choices, so I went with my own.

Another great title by Starbreeze Studios and published by EA. Syndicate is a reboot from 1993 and is now a first-person tactical shooter laced with great weapons and fun co-op play. This is another game that went under many peoples radar and deserves a shot before the current generation of consoles officially ends.

Starbreeze Studios was known for it's awesome FPS The Darkness before making this emotionally startling and innovative title. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was published by 505 Games and utilizes the controller to really immerse you into the story. Post release of the game, the designer admits to true events directly inspired this gripping piece, this is my personal Game of The Year for 2013.

Humble Hearts, which is basically just an artist/designer named Dean Doddrill made, Dust: An Elysian Tail. A game that captured my heart and re-vitalized my faith in 2D action/platformers. Published by Microsoft Studios, this game has a very distinct look and feel to it. With combos into the thousands, this is a must play for anyone who enjoys the genre.

Bulletstorm is a fun FPS that has a distinct arcade feel, the kind where you get points for shooting a guy in the groin, and then finishing him off with a swift kick into a gigantic man-eating plant. This odd mash-up of a game comes from an odd pairing with Electronic Arts (EA) as the publisher, but People Can Fly and Epic Games actually made the product. If an abundance of foul language doesn't bother you, then this is just a fun shooter to have.

Valve self published and made one of the best, and unique first-person shooters (FPS) to date with Portal 2. This game has no real violence, just simply overcoming increasingly complex physics based puzzles. Hurling yourself across a room has never been so fun, and with a co-op buddy, the good times almost never end.

The Fallout series needs little introduction, but the latest entry from Obsidian Entertainment, Fallout: New Vegas has all the makings of what has made this franchise sell so well in the past. It's color's are a bit brighter than the normal drab environments associated with post-apocalyptic games. The gameplay as always is so much fun, and with multiple outcomes, the replay ability is almost endless.

High Moon Studios recreated my childhood in a playable format. From chapter to chapter you embody legendary Transformer's like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Starscream just to name a few. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron was published by Activision. And those multiplayer lobbies are just as busy now, as the day it launched.

Mistwalker and feelplus launched Lost Odyssey in 2007-2008 and was published by Microsoft Game Studios. This JRPG took around 40-50 hours to complete, and with a wonderfully written story and score to make it as smooth of a ride as the timed combat was. Be sure to grab this game if you see it.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is probably one of the most overlooked third-person hack-n-slash/shooter of the generation. The game is very basic in its story and graphic fidelity, but one of the funniest games around. For some reason it's greatly satisfying. Relic Entertainment created this underdog and was published by THQ (who's out of business now).

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is one of the best Role-Playing Games (RPG's) I've played in a long time. CD Projekt RED is the studio who developed The Witcher 2, and was published by several companies; Atari, Namco Bandai Games, Cyberfront, Warner Bros. Interactive, and Spike Chunsoft.This glorious game will see a sequel on next-generation consoles, so be sure to keep an eye out for it's release in 2014.