5 Great Games You May have Missed this Generation

This holiday, the launch of the Wii U will be upon us, hailing the start of a new generation of consoles. Additionally, its expected that Microsoft and Sony will both be making some sort of next generation console announcement, meaning the next Xbox and PlayStation could launch as soon as Holiday 2013. However, before we leave behind our current crop of consoles, I recommend dusting off your controllers, and pick up a great game you might have missed.

[prototypeknuckles]

only played enslaved and darksiders
darksiders was great
enslaved was okay

[ShinMaster]

I didn't miss those games. I chose to pass :P

Ha I sound like an ass. But I played a couple of these and could not bring myself to continue any further.

[prototypeknuckles]

its okay that exactly how i feel about some games.

[Gaming101]

lol Exactly, I played enslaved and darksiders too and had the same reaction, although darksiders was extremely derivative, got boring at times, puzzles were tedious to figure out at times, the only things it did right were what it "borrowed" from other games, other things like ripping of Portal's portal gun shooting blue and orange portals, I mean come on, they really had no original ideas.

[SilentNegotiator]

Correct title: "5 mediocre games you may have missed this generation"

Seriously, this has to stop. The same 10 or so titles always appear in lists like these. They're MEDIOCRE games that got the attention they deserved as MEDIOCRE games.

Enslaved's combat was incredibly plain, the game was short, and the ending was goofy.
Alan Wake was short, failed at horror, and copy-pasted Steven King with ads slap-dashed into it.
Xenoblade was booooooring.
Darksiders sold just fine and doesn't really belong on this list - it's combat was just sort of "okay" and it stole its ideas left and right, but it was ultimately an decent title.

[Ducky]

^ You have a very odd definition of 'mediocre'

[SilentNegotiator]

@FatOldMan

Short, unoriginal, boring combat....not at all "odd" descriptors of mediocre games like the ones of this article's list.

[Ducky]

^ The games are, in the author's opinion, great games.
Now you show up and think that you can correct the author, simply because you have a different opinion.

Sorry to say, but if you find Xenoblade to be boring, then that doesn't make it mediocre... and calling that game mediocre is an odd statement.

A game being short is somewhat of a fact, although I'd disagree that AlanWake is short, it seems to be of typical length, not sure of Enslaved. A game being short isn't really a bad thing.
As for a game being unoriginal or boring, that is mostly an opinion and doesn't make for a proper measuring stick because no matter how great a game, there'll always be someone who'll find it unoriginal or boring.

At the risk of making this comment long, I'll add that I recently played Spec Ops:The Line. It was a short game, with rather boring combat. It copied elements from existing works of literature. It satisfies your criteria for mediocrity, but I would disagree in calling it a mediocre game, because it was well thought out game, and gave me an experience unlike any shooter before it.
Similarly, AlanWake was an interesting experience and while I've yet to play Enslaved, it does look like an interesting game.

My definition of a mediocre game is one that fails to provide any new experience. A game which can be substituted with a different game that can do everything better and then some. I don't think the games in the list fall under that category.

tl;dr bla bla bla

[Spydiggity]

alan wake is almost a perfect length, it has an interesting story, and the combat is what resident evil should be. lotta dodging and good reflexes. great atmosphere too.

i've played alan wake about 3 times. i can't say that about too many games. mgs4 and uncharted 1 in this generation are the only other two games i can say that about.

i never beat enslaved, but i really enjoyed the time i spent with it.

darksiders wasn't memorable at all. and mark hamill is the biggest ham in the voice acting industry.

[ThanatosDMC]

Same here. Tried it and didnt like it. Wasted money.

[Spenok]

Sounds like you missed out on some very good games. Oh well though, everyone has their own opinions.

[HebrewHammer]

Since when was Alan Wake on PS3? LOL

[brish]

It was on the ps3 in a dream i had. Then I woke up! ;-)

Seriously, I wish it was on the ps3.

[IAMvideogames]

Thanks for pointing out the simple error. Though it seems as if Wake is the type of game that would've done well on the PS3. Oh well.

[Infernostew]

The closest I got to playing Alan Wake on ps3 was using my DS3 in the PC version. :/

[Spenok]

It was originally supposed to be on the PS3 as well, however that was canceled a LONG time ago. Maybe that's where they got that information from?

[joab777]

I've played those and Alan wake, which was brilliant if it only had an end. My problem isn't missing games up until this year, but keeping up now. Amazing rpgs are killing me. But, everyone, especially RPG fans should play and support kingdoms of amalur and dragons dogma, 2 amazing rpgs that r more than worth the money. Dragons dogma is actually quite astonishing with it's endgame content and unique multiplayer. Now, I just need to finish so I can play darksiders 2 which looks to b another long rpg. I can't wait.

[bubblebeam]

@Gaming101

Lol, your name might suggest you know something about games. If you did, you'd know that the game "Prey" had the portal based puzzles, before Portal did. So, either way, someone copied someone who copied someone.

[showtimefolks]

enslaved i thought was pretty good and so wanted a sequel since a lot of things could have been improved on.

Darksiders i really want to play and will buy soon since if you have played darksiders than you will get a level 5 armor in darksiders 2 but if you finished darksiders 1 than you will get some even more awesome

so there is incentive to play the 1st, i wish more publisher would do that

[TheLastGuardian]

Rayman Origins
Twisted Metal
Outland
The Sly Collection
Resistance 3

^ must play gems

[Relientk77]

I enjoyed Enslaved

[Wingsfan24]

Enslaved has to be one of my favorite games this generation. It's one of the only games that you could really feel a relationship grow between the two characters.

To the guy below mentioning it being an Uncharted wannabe, have you thought that maybe Last of Us is taking some cues from Enslaved?

[srcBFMVBMTH]

"have you thought that maybe Last of Us is taking some cues from Enslaved?"

That's highly unlikely. More like I Am Legend.

[Relientk77]

Thats true, Enslaved was really good in showing the connection and relationship between Monkey and Trip evolve. Very good

[Wingsfan24]

I'm not talking about the environmental aspects and infected. I'm talking about the connection between the characters.

[srcBFMVBMTH]

Oooh, okay. Now that I could see.

[Kingdom Come]

Well, Enslaved's Lead Designer is working on The Last of Us...
http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[M1am1U]

Enslaved did a great job at developing characters and making you care about what happened to them. I enjoyed the game very much.

[oldfriend86]

I enjoyed Alan Wake, but it started to feel like Deadly Premonition gameplay...and I'd rather play that game.

[ShinMaster]

True dat.

[Jio]

Enslaved wasn't the best game, but it was really refreshing. I liked it.

[NeoTribe]

Enslaved was complete garbage. Glad that game bankrupted them so we don't have to see a sequel. Uncharted wannabe is all it was.

[Jio]

There's a reason you only have one bubble.

[spacedelete]

I have to agree with NeoTribe. Enslaved had a good story but the gameplay just plain sucked. Also the terrible ending even ruined the story. the game deserved to flop.

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

Why because it was an action adventure game? There were tons of games like Uncharted before Uncharted. There's gonna be even more after Uncharted. I doubt the developers were trying to leach off of the success of UC. The things that make up UC are elements that make up the genre as a whole.

[Lord_Sloth]

I chose to pass on most of them. Enslaved wasn't bad but it wasn't great so I opted out.

Alternately, I see no mention of Folklore or Valkyria Chronicles...This saddens me.

[HebrewHammer]

FOLKLORE! This.

[Knushwood Butt]

Folklore was pretty good.

Not perfect, but pretty good.

Was one of the few games that really made good use of the Sixaxis too. Remember that??!! I mean, seriously, all DS3 pads still have that functionality built into them, but NOBODY ever uses it any more.

[spunnups]

Folklore's the best game off the top of my head NOBODY has played, i was near the very end....then my FAT PS3 decided to die!!

[WeskerChildReborned]

Alan Wake is for PS3? I don't think so.

Anyway, i played Darksiders and it was pretty fun. The rest i haven't got to play though.

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

Lol. That's what I thought. Weird, right?

[ApolloTheBoss]

I'll admit: I stopped halfway playing darksiders when I bought it cuz I was interested in another game at the time. Then I found out darksiders 2 was coming so I decided to finish it up and I'm so glad I did the ending was awesome.

[ThaMobbFinest]

Enslave was to cheesey and Darksiders should have been an Xbox 360 exclusive because that s*** was wack.

[chazjamie]

enslaved was one of the worst games i played this generation. irritating gameplay, to the ugly graphics. I tried to see pass this, because apparently the story was oscar worthy. but no, those two cretins should of just died.

[srcBFMVBMTH]

I liked Darksiders. I'm really looking forward to Darksiders 2. The puzzles kinda bored me though (especially those portal puzzles) but the combat was good and the story was awesome. Just wish the boss battles were a little more epic.

Played a little bit of Enslaved but I think Ninja Theory should've worked on Heavenly Sword 2 instead of Enslaved IMO.

[amaguli]

Darksiders was great.
Enslaved was meh.
Alan Wake was interesting.
Xenoblade Chronicles was beyond great.
Sin & Punishment, I didn't play it.

[Tsukuyomi]

True enough Enslaved had its problems but it was a fun adventure.

[attilayavuzer]

How about The Darkness? One of my favorites this gen hands down

[bubblebeam]

One of the best games ever made IMO. It actually evoked emotions within me that I had for the characters more than once. Excellent game.

The second was fairly decent, but it lost the "feeling" of the first.

[tiffac008]

Enslave was okay.
Darksiders was just not my cup of tea.
Sins & Punishment I missed :/
Alan Wake was okay (I'm a chicken for horror games)
Xenoblade was fantastic

I would mention Valkyria Chronicles though

[Ganzi]

I would actually mention Old World Blues. I have no idea what the statistics are on how many people got it, but it was absolutely the funniest game I have ever played (expansion or no).

[AIndoria]

Valkyria Chronicles. Seriously, how many times do I have to say this before people finally go and play that damn game? GET THAT GAME!

[Hicken]

There are other games that could be mentioned, but I think Valkyria Chronicles is THE best game that most people have not played. The only thing wrong with Valkyria Chronicles is that its sequels aren't full console releases.

[fredrikpedersen]

YES! I loved Enslaved!

Also, Vanquish and Singularity needs to be on that list =)

[Mkai28]

I agree, Vanquish should be on the list instead of Darksiders in my option. Alan Wake, I believe is the best out the list. The story is that good and graphics is up to par.

[Ramas]

Enslaved super good game, loved it alot.

[TheDivine]

Enslaved was one of the best most memorable games ive played. I loved the platforming (for those that hate it was exactly like uncharted), loved the characters and voice acting, and loved the story most of all. I like a good story over everything else and Enslaved and Alan Wake both delivered in spades. 2 of the best games of the gen imo. Xenoblade was also a gem. Loved it.

[TheMasterShake]

Enslaved is ass

[chrisgay]

Alan Wake was sublime. I would have loved to pick up Enslaved, but there was no PC release and I don't own a console for the time being. Love Alex Garland and I plan to pick it up sometime.

[Roccetarius]

Enslaved wasn't a great game. The gameplay was simple and mediocre, the story wasn't worth playing for either. Those who finished the game will know why.

That game was trying to dumb down a story from a greater book. I will say that the actor behind Trip was great.

Darksiders is one of the best games i've played. It was a more mature Zelda game with its puzzles and simple but enjoyable combat. I could see why people thought of Portal at endgame, but it was fitting for a game like that.

[GTRrocker666]

The main character reminded me of the lead character/bus driver from the honeymooners tv show for some reason.

"To the moon Alice!"

That guy. Don't ask me why.

[coolbeans]

Comparatively to other hidden gems, it sold fairly well after the PC release. Within the stretch of two days, Remedy said the steam purchases already broke even with the cost it took to retool it for that platform. AW and American Nightmare seemed to be doing well during Steam's Summer Sale.

[GTRrocker666]

Vanquish was good

[ChunkyLover53]

I've played all of them, loved Alan Wake and Darksiders.

[InTheZoneAC]

Darksiders is a good game, no doubt.

Enslaved is ok at best. I got it for cheap so I've been meaning to beat it some day, too busy playing good games like Battlefield to have any time to play this.

Those other games I haven't played yet, but they don't appeal to me...at all.

If this article said 5 good games you missed like Brutal Legend, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Vanquish, Bulletstorm, and Socom Confrontation(after all the patches this was by far the best online shooter without respawn. Hackers then ruined the end of it's life.) then this would've been a good article.

I also don't see too many playing Dead Rising 2, Just Cause 2, Mirror's Edge, Rage, Motorstorm Apocalypse, Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction/A Crack in Time, Infamous 1/2, Darksiders, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1/2. Some other solid games worth full price.

[CanadianTurtle]

I seriously hope everyone here doesn't think that Xenoblade Chronicles is a mediocore game. Believe me, its damn good. Unless you're not into JRPGs, then its fine.

But Darksiders was fun for me. Enslaved was okay, I just didn't like the artstyle and weird character designs.

[greenlantern2814]

title correction 4 crappy games and 1 ok game you did not miss

[brettyd]

Enslaved is a terrible game, its not underrated its crap.

[Summons75]

How could anyone remotely enjoy the pile of garbage that's called Enslaved? Terrible gameplay, story, characters...just another reason why Ninja Theory sucks honestly.

Darksiders was great, can't wait for number 2

Alan Wake was great, again can't wait for the sequel

Sin & Punishment was fun

Xenoblade was alright, story was good and characters were enjoyable, but the gameplay could have been seriously worked on. The AI was unresponsive and was no help in actual combat, was really hard to play through because of the bad gameplay. Still enjoyed the story though.

[FreshRevenge]

I don't see why people are so negative about Enslaved? I enjoyed the game. I thought it had a good story. Today's gamers are expecting too much from games today? The combat was simple and it didn't need to be extravagant. The characters were very entertaining.

[InklingGirl]

Did no one play Folklore?!

[R_aVe_N]

I am sorry in my opinion Enslaved was complete trash. The characters where horrible, storyline was really weak. The only thing the game had going for it was it was a good looking game world wise.

Darksider was very fun to play but I found it lacking storywise.

Alan Wake was a very intersting title but failed to deliver in the fun factor though.

Xenoblade was beyond good one of the best Wii games EVER.

[Dreambox]

Own them all except Alan Wake.

Enslaved is amazing, it's a shame people didn't buy it.

[samrtk]

I loved every minute of Enslaved. Great story, great characters, great inspired-work.

[ziggurcat]

enslaved, darksiders, and alan wake are all great games.

@ summons75: awww are you one of the butthurt DmC reboot whiners? is that why you hate ninja theory so much?

[BrianC6234]

I'm so tired of the Enslaved hype. Enough already. It's not a great game. And it was too much money for what you got. Maybe make the price $29.99 instead and don't charge for the DLC.

[MadLad]

Alan Wake is easily one of my favorite releases this generation.

One of my favorite games ever, really.

[noxeven]

Get rid of sin and punishment and replace it with binary domain then we got a good list

[iliimaster]

enslaved was a good game despite my hate for the developers i got the game used just to stick it to them darksiders i am currently enjoying

[Spenok]

So what does it say about me that I own and have played all of these? lol

[mochachino]

Those were good games, not great ones.

[TitanUp]

played all those except the wii games