- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360, 4/5/2011)
Personally, I’d have gone with Halo: Reach. That game already looked good, but the space battles totally put it over the top. Regardless, Gears deserves a spot on the list. The on-stage demo looked fantastic, there is no question that the game will be huge, and there is every reason to believe that it will be good, too. A solid number ten.
- Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (PS3, Xbox 360, 4/19/2011)
Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought to include this, and I’m not entirely sure the E3 hype machine really threw its weight behind MvC3. That said, is there any doubt about how fun this game will be? With a more stylized presentation and more manic fighting action than Super Street Fighter 4, this has got to be the fighting game to beat for the foreseeable future.
A tough one to call. It looks vastly superior to its predecessor in every conceivable way (and in several more ways that I had not conceived). I absolutely want to play it. But, again, when I think of E3 2010, this is not the first (or, um, the eighth) game to come to mind. Still, highly anticipated.
- Fallout: New Vegas (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 10/19/2010)
They completely lose me here. I know a lot of people loved the last one. Those people are probably going to love this one just as much. Hopefully, New Vegas will be more technically sound than its predecessor. Me, I’ll probably be playing Fable instead, just like last time.
- Killzone 3 (PS3, 2/28/2011)
Yes, absolutely. The last game was nearly great. This one could go all the way. More varied environments, jetpacks, and 3D. Plus drop dead gorgeous graphics, and even Move support for those so inclined. A no-brainer for the sixth spot.
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 11/16/2010)
Damn straight! Brotherhood just looks better and better every time I see more of it. As if the setting and mechanics weren’t compelling enough on their own (and they are), the latest Assassin’s Creed is going to bring something truly fresh to the multiplayer space. Can. Not. Wait.
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 5 (PC, 9/21/2010)
I totally understand why Civ deserves a spot on the list, though it admittedly falls outside my normal gaming routine. Fresh engine, tweaked mechanics, and one of the greatest pedigrees in the history of games. Right on at number four.
- Rage (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 1/4/2011)
I’m surprised it ranked this high, but then again, it may well turn out to be a modern classic. Id is actually making this game (its first new property in how many years?), and the id Tech 5 engine is just stunning. Spot number three? Sure. I look forward to seeing more of Rage.
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii, 2011)
I’ll bet a lot of you thought this was going to be number one. There is ravenous hunger for this game, the first Zelda developed completely for the Wii. A gorgeous art style, a bold new control scheme, and full orchestral soundtrack combine to realize every Zelda fanboy’s wildest dreams (and, yes, that includes me). I wish I was playing it right now.
- Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac OS X, 2011)
Of course. Easily the most surprising part of Sony’s E3 press event, Portal 2 tops the list in grand fashion. More GlaDOS, more devilish puzzles, more marvelously euphemistic nomenclature (Thermal Discouragement Beam? Yes!), updated Source engine, and more GlaDOS? Sign me up. The cake may have been a lie, but Portal 2 looks like the real thing. Say it with me now: “I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster.”
There you have it. Now it’s your turn, Ranters. What games deserve to be on this list? What games have no business being anywhere near it? Tell us what you think in the comments below. (I’ll get you started: where the hell is Rock Band 3?)
