Top Ten of the Decade: Part 3

5.Mirror’s Edge (2008)
For me, a videogame has never captured the feeling of movement and momentum like Mirror’s Edge. In the right hands, Faith moves around the city with a freedom that is utterly addictive. I won’t say the game didn’t have faults. Yes, it was tough in places, some people found the viewpoint off-putting and the cut-scenes looked awful, but Mirror’s Edge offered so much. With an art style that was incredibly unique, Faith’s world felt open and oppressive in equal measures, but everything could be overcome with free running. Mirror’s Edge is about movement above everything, about creating a world in which there’s no need to pick up a gun when you can flow around your enemy. Why take the stairs when you can run up the walls and flip over the handrails? Although I’ve finished the game several times I still find myself going back and trying to find faster lines through levels or the time trials.

4.World of Warcraft (2005)
There is one major reason as to why World of Warcraft is in my Top Ten, and that is playing with a friend. I discovered WoW, like many, after hearing how captivating and deep it was. So after pushing one of my closest friends into playing it, we both ventured into Azeroth together. The thrills came from chatting to each other in-game about loot drops and partying up with guild mates and raiding for those epics drops. Nothing else ever really mattered when WoW was booted up – just me, a good friend and however many more quests until we next “dinged”.

3.Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
Born in 1982, I was a child of the 80s. I can still remember watching my mum dance to Karma Chameleon at weddings and the pride that the song that was number one when I was born was Come On Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. It’s this sense of nostalgia that is evoked in Vice City. Cheesy music, Miami Vice suits aplenty and cars and speedboats made Vice City the place to be for an 80s child now grown up. Taking cues from Scarface and Carlito’s Way, Vice City had every nuance from gangster films that I grew up on: the drugs, the women, and the treachery. Rockstar has never bettered Vice City in my mind; there is nothing better than cruising around this place in a bright red sports car, listening to Spandau Ballet on your way to the next drugs heist.

2.Fable (2004)
17 times. 17 times is how many times I completed the original Fable and its uncut version, The Lost Chapters. At the time there was nothing better than playing as The Hero and venturing around Albion, a place that felt like an homage to Terry Pratchett’s imagination. Growing from a child to an old man in a game was relatively new to me, and the story that Lionhead had weaved through the game was interesting and twisted its way to a fantastic, albeit inevitable, conclusion. Along the journey I ate crunchy chicks for a demon door, and drank enough beer to make me stagger around the inn and vomit in a corner. I played as a good guy and an evil bloke, I collected the weapons, I cast all of the spells and I saved the world a lot.

1.Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
Is that Patrick Stewart? It is! It’s bloody Patrick Stewart! Oh, he died. I have to save the world… not sure from what yet, but I definitely have to. Damn, this is a long dungeon. But, ah, this looks like the door out. Yes, I’m sure about my character, but I will make a save file here so that I can create more. Wow, now that looks impressive, this is certainly the next generation of gaming. Where’s my map? Where do I go now? Damn, I can pick the flowers! Oh, that cave looks interesting. I really should get on with the main quest. This city is huge; I can literally go everywhere! What happens if I kill that person? Oh, crap, I’d better reload. I don’t want everyone after me. Ooh, a portal! To where? Those demons look bloody tough, I’m a little scared. Ha! Take that, demon! I win. So does the game.

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