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Games I Loved in 2018

Not Another Not-a-GOTY Countdown!

By Peter EllisPublished 5 years ago 12 min read
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I threw this together myself, are you proud, mum? 

Around this time last year, I threw a list of games together I enjoyed playing throughout the course of 2017. In the grand scheme of things it didn't do too well, barely scraped 20 reads and I wasn't very clear in what I was trying to do with it. I called it Games I had fun with, but some of the titles in the list (namely Hellblade) wasn't fun in the sense of joyfulness, but it was a powerful experience which I loved, hence the title change here.

Since then I've developed a larger audience on social media and improved in my abilities as a writer, so really I'm hoping if I headbutt the wall from this angle then maybe I'll get a better result. It was fun to do, so I thought why not? (The article about video games, not headbutting brick walls.)

As I stated in the subheading, this is NOT a Game of the Year countdown, but instead, merely a list of games that I played during 2018 and I happened to get a lot of enjoyment out of. That gives me the freedom to write about stuff I absolutely loved but wasn't actually released last year, in some vein effort to make up for not getting into this kind of writing sooner.

'Call of Duty: Black Ops 4'

BLACKOUT.

I'll start with the last video game I wrote a review for, the excellent Black Ops 4. As of the time of writing, it garnered a barnstorming three whole reads. In nearly two months. Yeah I'm not sure what happened there either.

So first of all, help me out and take a look yourself if you're someone who said they "definitely gave it a read" and subsequently didn't, ya filthy little liars.

Clearly, unlike my review, the game proved quite popular and seems to have won back a lot of naysayers believing that the franchise was now completely dead.

The decision to drop the campaign and replace it with a battle royale mode was brave and it paid off. 'Blackout' is easily one of the finest BR modes out there and is worthy of recommendation alone before jumping into the refined, genre-topping multiplayer and riotous Zombie mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 showed there really was some life in the old dog yet. However, I am looking forward to see how Infinity Ward give said dog the lethal injection with whatever they think can claw back their reputation this year. If it ends up being Ghosts 2, I may just have to set fire to every copy of it in every store I come across. If it ends up being Infinite Warfare 2, then they may as well set fire to every copy for us.

'Assassin's Creed Origins'

The desert has never looked so inviting.

Yes, you read that right. Yes, I'm fully aware Odyssey is already out, I got it for Christmas. I also got Origins for my birthday, and realised that in order to play with my Christmas present, I must first play with my birthday present.

So, for the last week and a half I have been burning through Origins like it's actually me trying to find shade from the Egyptian sun. Wow, I've been missing out. I've been away from the AC games for a few years now, Origins is like reacquainting with an old friend who you've not seen for a while and in that time they got rather attractive.

The Ancient Egyptian world is beautifully realised, it's very easy to just lose time gawping at the scenery until you're mauled to death by a hippo. Climbing the pyramids is incredibly fun, and using your trusty eagle, Senu, to scope areas out can provide great tactical advantages. Having seen some games outlets claim the game was less geared towards stealth. In terms of the combat, that's always been the case, it's at least more engaging than the 'counter=win' of the older games. I've found myself taking the stealth option almost always. Taking out guards one by one and stalking the Order of the Ancients like a top Assassin, I mean Medjay.

Seeing the series delve into some even more fantastical elements (like different gods, the afterlife/underworld) has also piqued my interest, now that they've seemingly stopped paying quite so much attention to the present day storyline, Ubisoft can throw all kinds of mad shit at the wall in the past. Thankfully, for me at least, nearly all of it sticks (and also doesn't leave a smell).

'Fortnite: Battle Royale'

Praise the tomato.

One of the games carrying over from last years' list is Fortnite. Unless you've been living as a hermit for the previous 12 months, it has taken over the world. The game I wrote about this time last January has changed and evolved tenfold.

We've seen insane changes to the map, weapons come and go. The story has gotten more ridiculous as the seasons have progressed. But one thing that's stayed the same is that Fortnite is just so much bloody fun to play. The constant support and updates has meant that nothing has truly broken the game (at least not for long) and the introduction of challenges in the Season Passes keep people coming back for more.

Fortnite has managed to bury itself into popular culture within the space of a year, I can't remember any phenomena quite like it in my lifetime. Seeing my aunties and uncles and various other family members try to 'floss' is something I'd love to unsee but it's just not going to happen any time soon.

It peaked in Season 4 and 5 for me, the superhero additions they implemented along with the Avengers: Infinity War crossover was some of the most fun I've had in video games full stop.

That being said, I've not played it as much recently, especially with Christmas and New Year out of the way, I think I've burnt myself out of it. I wouldn't even want to try and guess how many hours were spent not getting Victory Royales and instead being dropped off the map by a "friend."

'Red Dead Redemption' & 'RDR2'

Neigh.

The original Red Dead Redemption passed me by when it first released back in 2010. Yes, younger me was the worst. So, with the impending release of its juggernaut sequel-prequel, I felt I best find my finest stetson hat and polish the revolver off. It was time to get into some rootin' tootin' cowboy shootin'.

I decided to give PlayStation Now a try (Sony's Netflix for video games) in order to catch up on all the games I missed growing up and RDR felt like a good place to start.

I've yet to finish it, hence why I've so far only played the multiplayer component of its sequel. But by playing them almost side-by-side it's interesting to see how the sequel has built on the success of the original, and why the original is still so highly regarded and to some, Rockstar's magnum opus.

When you compare them to the majority of the games I play (and most games in general) the RDR series is on a much slower boil. The action isn't instantaneous and there are large portions without explosions. It allows you to look deep into the many wonderful characters that populate the dying Old West.

I look forward to learning how things come to be in the original after I begin my descent into the campaign of RDR2. Switching from the first game to the sequel gives me a feeling of how I can imagine Marty McFly felt when he went to 1955 and back. The original does hold up rather well considering it is now coming up to nine years old, but it pales in comparison to the staggering beauty of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The murky realism makes for a haunting but also quite relaxing experience with RDR2 Online, well, when you're not getting shot by some other asshole purely for looking at them funny.

While I struggle to gauge much enthusiasm for their real life counterparts, my love for my virtual horse, BoJack II (BoJack the First was "lost") borders on irrational. I brush his mane and pat him whenever I can, or if he's startled by gunfire. Just the other day, some random twat online killed him from atop a mountain and I couldn't revive him (I forgot I'd taken out insurance). After a moment of despair, I became yeehaw Jason Bourne and capped him in the head from where he sat, perched on top of the mountain amongst the fog. He didn't try again after that.

'FIFA - Pro Clubs'

More like Paulo DyBALLER am I right lads? I'll see myself out.

This year, I was convinced I was prepared to plough through The Journey and see not only the thrilling conclusion of Alex Hunter's story, but we'd finally get the story mode to FIFA worth talking about.

Then about halfway through the first few cut-scenes and the initial training match, I realised I really don't give a shit, so I went back to my favourite game mode, Pro Clubs.

While Ultimate Team remains the cashcow whose teats can never be milked enough by EA, it's Pro Clubs that still remains the most fun experience you can have on FIFA.

Despite there being absolutely ZERO changes between the mode on FIFA 18 and 19, it remains the pinnacle of digital football fun. Just imagine what it could be if EA actually invested in it? Blimey.

In 2018, me and my friends went on some historic cup runs, play with me at right back and not only that, but also somehow manage to win Division 1 while being Crystal Palace players. I'm also convinced that my Andros Townsend is the best custom-made pro player you'll ever see, before his amazing hair transplant that is.

He looks more like Andros Townsend than what Andros Townsend looks like Andros Townsend.

It was the stuff dreams are made of. Gone midnight, the game was level we needed a win to lift the trophy, only the dying minutes of the game remained. We get a freekick on the edge of their box, a quick routine straight off the training ground and the ball flies into the back of the net.

My memory of the goal is somewhat hazy, but what sticks in the memory is the sheer jubilation afterwards. I remember the cheers, the genuine fists in the air ecstasy. I can tell you that doing all of that at 1:30AM goes unappreciated by our parents, but they wouldn't understand how important and special Crystanbul II was to us.

Did I include FIFA on this list just to tell you we won Division one with a mid-table premier league team through choice? Absolutely. It was amazing.

'God of War' & 'God of War II'

Wait until you see my ANGRY FACE.

The other series I desperately needed to catch up with on PSNow was God of War. I will say right now, I haven't even got around to purchasing the latest one. Oi, put those pitchforks down. I didn't want to be tempted by it until I'd at least completed the original trilogy, alright?

I am amazed at how well these classic PS2 titles hold up. Their scope and quality are still top notch, even if Kratos himself is fairly one-dimensional, a demi-god who's literally escaped hell because he was too pissed off to die. At least with foresight I know he becomes a bit more interesting.

Regardless of the shortcomings of the lead, the original GoW games are incredible and timeless action games. The boss fights put some modern titles to shame even now when both games are nearly a decade and a half old. I look forward to see how it concludes in GoW3 Remastered and how things change further in the new reboot.

'Marvel's Spider-Man'

[Credit: Marvel]

Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man finally has another good video game. Not just a good game, but a damn excellent one and quite possibly one of, if not the, greatest superhero game ever made.

Web-swinging through a staggeringly realistic New York is one of the most genuinely exhilarating gaming thrills out there. The combat is frantic, combo-laden kinetic insanity. The choice to portray an experienced Peter Parker at the top of his game was a brilliant one. He's quippy, enthusiastic and never stops wanting to help others, even when he is struggling with his personal life, making rent payments and trying to salvage his relationship with Mary-Jane Watson.

It brings the thrill and sheer of being Spider-Man to your finger tips. Marvel's Spider-Man is worthy of recommendation for that alone. The fact it ended up being an incredible video game is the icing on a very lovely cake indeed.

'Life is Strange' / 'Life is Strange: Before the Storm'

Rachel Amber, Blackwell Academy's finest.

What can I say about these games that I haven't already said?

I've laughed, I've gasped in horror and I've cried absolutely buckets. Both games contain some of the most beautifully realised characters and stories I've ever encountered and affected me on such a deep, emotional level that I don't think anything can top it for that specific reason.

If you didn't already know, I managed to make an article on my experiences with both games and how they impacted on me as a person. For words on the original LiS, click this link here, for Before the Storm, click this one.

My relationship with these games isn't like any others I've played in my life, even with some of my favourites in Uncharted and The Last of Us.

I know they are two separate games, but I insist that they need to be viewed as one experience. They are like two sides of the same coin. Sure, one side may tell you what kind of coin it is, but you need both to understand the true value of it.

Also, at the time of writing, they're both heavily discounted on the UK PlayStation Store right now until the 18th of January. The first game's season pass is down to an outrageous £2.89, that's less than a Tesco meal deal and therefore inexcusably essential. You can also pick up the deluxe version of Before the Storm for only £6.19. Considering it only finished early last year, that's also an absolute steal.

What games did you enjoy?

Let me know! I'm an avid gamer but I can chat rubbish about pretty much anything. The best place to talk is over on Twitter, if you want to follow me, my handle is @PM_Ellis1. Any likes, retweets etc are greatly appreciated!

Want to fund my next big article? Send a tip below, it all helps progress my career as a writer. I'll be back very soon with a special series of articles which will be a lot of fun. Stay tuned!

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About the Creator

Peter Ellis

27// Published author and blogger.

Currently editing my debut novel⚡ Looking for a rep.

View my work via the link below! ⬇

https://linktr.ee/pm_ellis

He/Him 。◕‿◕。

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