Eight More Games I'd Play If I Owned the Other Consoles (in no particular order)

A year ago, almost to the day, I posted a blog about games bearing the title, "Thirteen Games I'd Play if I Owned the Other Consoles." If you want to read it, you can see it here:
http://adamsblogaboutstuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/games-id-play-if-i-owned-other-consoles_23.html

The basic premise is simple. I own a Wii. And, I love it. I play the Wii all the time, and I have an absolute blast while doing so. You'll find no complaints here; the Wii is a great console with great games and I love it. But, being an active member of the video gaming community, it's impossible not to take notice of some of the great games out on other consoles as well. I'm not saying I'm disappointed in the Wii; I love it to death. But with three great consoles on the market, and some awesome gems on all of them, you're going to miss out no matter what your choice (unless you can afford to own all three, of course. Which I can't.)

In the year since I posted that blog, not much has changed. Well, with one notable exception. That exception is the library of incredible games on the other consoles that I would love to taste! So a year later, I've compiled another list of games which, given the opportunity, I would love to get my hands on.

Oh, but first, a quick update on two of the games from my previously entry. In my previous entry, I mentioned that I would love to play Portal if I owned another console. You can cross it off the list - shortly after writing that, I broke down and bought it off steam. It lagged a little on my computer, it wasn't gamebreakingly bad. I loved the game, and I've played all the way through multiple times (most of the times were in one sitting!)

I'm also now the proud owner of Bioshock! I bought that from Steam a couple months later during a sale, when it was only a few dollars. Unfortunately, I haven't had as much luck with the lagging thing. It runs terribly on my PC. So even though I own it, I still haven't played much of it. Heh...

So anyway, you came here to see a list, right? So enough talking, here are eight more games that I'd play if I owned the other consoles. (Please note that these are not necessarily games that came out in the last year, though several are. They are just games that weren't on the last list. Entries are in no particular order.)


1. Blur
Playstation 3, X-Box 360

Would it be wrong of me to say that there are some genres that I just don't like? Probably. Fortunately, that's not true, at least for me (except maybe sports games, but they don't count.) I'll give any genre a chance. But if there was one, it might just be racing games, especially street racers. I'm not a big fan. You just drive around, and that's about it.

One way to cure that is to turn the cars into go karts, replace the streets with exotic locales, and give the participants some wacky weapons.

That's right, while I don't care for Burnout/Need for Speed/Gran Turismo/etc. style racers, give me Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing and you'll have to pry the controller from my hand.

Blur, from what I gather, is basically a cart racer with realistic tracks and vehicles. Or, is it a street racer with weapons? I don't know, but since it seems to combine the two premises, I figure it would be worth checking out.

2. Assassin's Creed
Playstation 3, X-Box 360

I can't believe this game didn't make it onto the last list. How would you classify this game? Adventure? Stealth, perhaps? Maybe a combination of the two? Stealth games are interesting to me. They all have the same premise, but unlike most genres, it seems like each one has it's own unique set of gameplay elements.

Assassin's Creed basically makes you a ninja. Not like fighting ninja, but the way historical ninjas actually were. That is, sneaking around town and taking down targets silently and efficiently.

The premise alone is interesting enough to make me want to check it out. The fact that it's spawned a successful series is also great news. It seems like lots of fun, with a creative execution that I wouldn't want to miss.

3. Dead Space
Playstation 3, X-Box 360

Another game that could have made onto last year's edition. The reason it wasn't? Well, I didn't know about it. I mean, I'm sure I'd heard of it at one point, but it wasn't Extraction came out, followed by talks of Dead Space 2, that I began to ask the question, "what is this 'Dead Space' you speak of?"

Well, it's a survival-horror game, set in outter space! Sounds cool enough, eh? Survival Horror is a cool genre. Take it and set in space? Instead of going through a dilapidated mansion or foggy city streets, you're walking the halls of a space ship. Instead of experiments or the occult, you've got alien monsters. And did I mention, there's a special emphasis on dismemberment?

It's got sci-fi, it's got horror, it's got flamethrowers. What more could any nerd like me ask for?

4.The Darkness
Playstation 3, X-Box 360

Released in 2007, The Darkness is a first person shooter based on a comic book series. To me, the thing about First Person Shooters is that, there has to be something more to them than just shooting people. There are a lot of FPSes out there nowadays. I'm sure they're all great in their own right, if you're a fan of the genre, and I'm not saying that I have anything against the genre. It's just that, I prefer something with a little more than just shooting things.

I had never heard of this game or th estory until a couple months ago. I was reading a write-up on a game website, probably GamesRadar or Destructoid, about emotion in video games, and they made a reference to this game. Apparently, there's a scene in which your character is forced to watch his girlfriend be murdered. That's deep.

That kindof thing is right up my alley in a video game. A dark story with some real emotional substance. If the gameplay is as good as the story (which, judging by its reviews, it is) then I think The Darkness could carve itself a place among my favorite FPSes.

5. Shank

Playstaion Network, X-Box Live Arcade

Now, we start to get back into more recent titles. Released about a month ago, Shank is a side-scrolling beat 'em up/run 'n gun. Maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've seen, it looks like it has a bit of an old school vibe to it. And that's awesome. Some reviews weren't exactly favorable, but they did give the game enough credit that it doesn't worry me.

The visuals are another cool aspect. In Screwattack's review, Bryan said the game looked like it could come from Adult Swim. I have to agree. The cartoony look, coupled with the brutality, kind of reminds me of Metalocalypse.

It available in X-Box Live Arcade, and I think the title suits it. Looking at the game, it just screams "arcade" to me. Everything about the gameplay is a perfect match for the quarter-munchers of old. It might have some issues, IGN and Gametrailers are to be believed. For an adrenaline packed time waster, though? I can easily forgive some difficulty issues (that might actually be a bonus) and an occasionally awkward hit detection.

Add in a multiplayer mode, and Shank looks to be an action-packed old-school-style assault that I would leave me with a smile on my face.

6. Splinter Cell Conviction

X-Box 360

When Splinter Cell started off eight years ago, my first instinct was, "pshaw! Metal Gear Rip-Off!" Then I played it and, well, I was unimpressed. I can't say why, it's been so long that I don't remember exactly what it was that I didn't like about the game. I tested the sequels as they came, and I wasn't sold on them, either.

I don't like the series. I don't know about Sam Fisher (I'm surprised I even know his name) and I don't really care, either. So what does Conviction have that appeals to me? Well, by all accounts, it shouldnt' appeal to me at all. Except that when it was released, just for the heck of it, I watched a couple video reviews.

They blew me away. I loved everything I saw. I loved the action, I loved the color changes, I loved the words on the buildings. I loved the way Fisher moved, and they way he did what he did. Watching the videos, it didn't just seem like a game. It made me feel like I was special operative. And that was just the videos!

Imagine how playing the game must be? It could go either way, of course. It might not even be as good as it looks. But still, there's something about Conviction that just might make me a fan of the series.

7. Alan Wake

X-Box 360

If you haven't gathered it by now, I like games with a good storyline. Alan Wake has just that. A terrifying storyline that evolves in an episodic manner with twists and turns to spare. It's been called a landmark in video game storytelling. But that's not the only reason this game stands out to me.

Skulking around in the dark and facing down enemies with the power of your flashlight. I've seen gameplay footage of Alan Wake making his way through a misty forest. It reminds me of the original Night of the Living Dead, or another old cult zombie flick. And who wouldn't want to play through that? It's horror, it's story, it's awesome!

Wow, this whole list has been kind of dark and grim. What say we finish the list with something a little happier?

8. 3D Dot Game Heroes
Playstation 33D Dot Game Heroes. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it? I remember seeing the preview when it was announced. My first reaction was, "what the heck...?" And could you blame me? At a glance, it's a pretty weird looking game.
As the details game out, it runs out to be a Zelda clone. Well, "tribute," but basically yeah, a clone. I was a little reluctant at first to accept it. It was when I saw he game in action during ScrewAttack's Out of the Box segment on it that I fell in love with the game.
I love the old school, 2D Zeldas. I've been playing video games for my whole life, and there are few games that have as much nostaliga and memory attached to it as the original Hyrule adventure. If 3D Dot Game Heroes is a proper homage to it, then why would I not love it?
The game is bright, happy, fun, nostalgic, clever, and unique. It's forged from something I love. In a list of games I'd love to play given the chance, I see no reason why this would not be there.

You see, there are some things I love in video games. When thse things come together, they create a joyous experience. Just because I own and love one console, doesn't mean the perfect combination of qualities can't come together on another one.
What do you think? Are these good games? Are there games you think I would like that didn't make it on the list? What games would you play if YOU owned the other consoles?