James' 5 Underrated Games of Last Generation

The next generation of gaming is here whether you like it or not. Now is time for reflection and thinking back on what it was we loved about the Wii, 360 and PS3. If you haven’t already seen, we have lists from Joe, Ryan and Neil on their favourite games of last generation, so go check them out.

But my list is going to be a little different, instead of my favourite games overall, I’m going to give you a list of five games you may have missed that kept me entertained. I could talk about Fallout 3, Fable 2, Assassins Creed II or Dead Space til’ the cows come home, but let’s look at something a little different. None of the games on this list got particularly bad reviews, nor were they poorly marketed. These are games I enjoyed, that I feel either didn’t sell well enough or were overlooked by a lot of people.

Honourable Mentions

I want to start with a few games that aren’t in this list, but that are on equal footing. Both Kane & Lynch games were fantastic in my honest opinion - specifically the more gritty, brutal second installment Dog Days. Brütal Legend didn’t make it, but with its awesome old-school metal-infused world and great, if flawed, RTS/third-person gameplay it’s definitely one to pick up cheap now. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, was another surprise for me; giving me the most fun I’ve had in a 40K game since Fire Warrior for the PS2. And finally Prototype. This game seemed to either just fail miserably, or generally interest no one. But for me, the open world mayhem and zero morals portrayed by the protagonist in this game hooked me from start to finish.  

So, let’s get this started. And where better to start than my most recently played game on the list. This game is one that came from a developer who, to me, will be sorely missed after their eventual collapse this year. This developer is actually a huge part in this list; three out of the five games are published by them, and it just goes to show that maybe had the games not been overlooked, they may not have disappeared at all.

Darksiders

This game came to me as part of the THQ Humble Bundle. I myself had skipped over it up until this point, for no real good reason. I had never got round to it and well, you know how it is. After getting this bundle it was the first game I played; being in a game drought at this point for me personally, it came at a perfect time.

From the moment I picked it up it oozed quality and love. You play War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and you’re accused with starting the end of the world a tad prematurely. The environments are great, along with the way this game feels to play. It’s naturally weighty which, given War’s short stocky build and over-the-top weapon set, seems a perfect fit. The gameplay is a mixture of faster paced spectacle-fighters such as Devil May Cry and adventure titles such as Zelda.

The story kept me coming back for more, while the gameplay kept me wanting to play just a little bit longer. With this pretty much dirt cheap everywhere, it’s a time to pick it up if you haven’t already.

Red Faction: Guerilla


I would love to know exactly what this third-person action game did to be considered so average by so many. Almost everyone I meet tells me how boring this game was. Yet I can tell you right now, with certainty, it’s one of the most overlooked games of last generation.

With destruction on an unparalleled scale, this game takes what you think you know about destruction in games and shows you a new level. The story wasn’t very good and the game was very ‘brown’, but this doesn’t change how much FUN it was. Blowing up supports and watching huge structures buckle under their own weight, crushing enemies beneath, is an experience few other games give on an open world scale. Even the multiplayer was a good amount of fun.

Given, Alec Mason wasn’t exactly the most thrilling protagonist, but I remembered his name without having to Google it. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will.

Metro 2033

You’ve probably heard how amazing Metro: Last Light is by now, but I bet you didn’t play the original. How do I know? Because it was something of a cult hit. Based on a book by the same name, you play Artyom, a citizen of the metro.

You’re tasked with going through different stations, in the post-apocalyptic Moscow metro, all boasting differing leaders with differing ideologies. This makes for a roller-coaster ride which blends together minor elements of stealth and FPS gameplay. It’s very linear, but the story is more than enough to keep you interested. The twist is that some of the bullets you pick up are ‘military-grade’ and are considered currency. So your choice is use them instead of your normal ammo, for a quick damage boost, or save them to better kit yourself out at the next station.

There’s also a paranormal element, but I’ll leave you to discover that when you buy the game...right?

Dante’s Inferno

By now most of you’ve played a Dead Space game and most likely loved it. Well what if I was to tell you the makers of Dead Space also made a God of War clone? Well yeah they sure as hell did, and it was fantastic.

Sure, it’s a blatant rip of God of War. Yeah, it’s not probably as good as GoW, but it’s fun! As Dante, you traverse the nine circles of hell to find your wife who was murdered. The ensuing massacre of Hell's minions - including 8 over-the-top bosses - manages to be an extremely fun, blood splattered time. As you descend further and further into Hell, the aesthetic gets darker and more bleak, which is one of the game’s strong points.   

I really don’t know how else to sell this to you. I can’t say fun again, for the fear of sounding like a clown on speed, so I’ll leave you with this pearl of wisdom: If you liked GoW and Dead Space, BUY THE DAMN GAME.

Mafia II

Now I know what you’re thinking; who wants to play a GTA clone set in the 40s? And you’d be right, that would be pretty awful. It’s lucky then that this game is not a GTA clone, but a fully fledged experience that does things on its own terms.

The city of Empire Bay is lovingly crafted in huge detail, and yet it’s used as a background for most of the game, a set if you will. Yet, this is what makes Mafia II so fantastic; it’s basically a huge Hollywood gangster blockbuster, with all the trimmings. When you’re dropped off home for the first time in a snowy main street of what could be any street of New York in the 40s, and Dean Martin’s ‘Let it Snow’ is playing, there is an actual feeling of playing something quite special. I would suggest picking it up in the Steam winter sale, at a reduced price to boot, just to let this have maximum impact as we enter the final days of the year.

The characters are all amazingly well acted, the story is reminiscent of any old gangster flick,  the game is a considerable length for your money and the music works perfectly with the setting; all leading to a great atmosphere with which to engross yourself in the world.  What more do you need to know?

The End of a Generation


And so that’s it for another generation. We tear up and wave goodbye to our old consoles as we run alongside the train car, catching their fluttering handkerchief; caught so gently by the wind, as they attempted to dry their own eyes at the sight of us standing on the platform, awaiting greatness...

It’s a time of sadness, but also of great triumph. All you reading this managed to get through the generation that Demon/Dark Souls was released. The game which threatened to have every gamer smash their own head open with only a blunt controller. So consider it a victory and never forg...what? Dark Souls 2?...good god.