Many people now are talking about how games like Halo 3 or Resistance are being pumped out to make millions based off advertisements and multiplayer. While this is true, it also seems to me that there are MORE great storyline games coming out as well. With this in mind, here are the best storylines of the past 5 years in my mind.


--Spoilers Throughout--


Half Life 2(and all of its episodes) - Man, you want to play a game and wonder what the hell is going on this is the set of games for you. The intrigue alone at the end of each game/episode is enough to make me want more of this game than just about any other. Not to mention the fact that the relationship with Alyx, and the way she is presented, makes her my favorite character in all of video games. This game, in my opinion, is simply one of the most engrossing and riveting games ever made.

Portal - Along the lines of Ico, this game doesn't tell you too much about the storyline, and doesn't have to. You're a test subject trying to get away from your testing facility. There is basically one character, the computer, but the character is developed very well, and the setting is also great. From the somewhat hidden areas that you can get to that have writing on the wall like other subjects went crazy to the infinitely famous end song, this is a wondrous game all around. And wow, any game that can make me care about a metal box is a work of genius. I probably stood with the box for like 10 minutes before dropping it in. Go Valve. Its also HILARIOUS.

Beyond Good And Evil - I think they jumped into it a little fast( the game practically started with you finding out that the government was currupted), but it was a great storyline. A group of people have made it their personal duty to reveal the truth to the public. The characters are also very well done(the main 2 anyway). And, of course, Jade is one of the best characters in gaming. I think she is probably right around where Alyx is in my mind.

Bioshock - This has been done in depth quite a lot, but Ill put out my thoughts as well. As much as I give this game shit for basically being a stylistic ripoff of Fallout, it was fantastic in its own right. The idea of giving the player choice didn't matter too much in the actual progression of the game(saving or not saving the girls doesn't drastically change the game, and the endings are pretty lackluster either way), within the storyline the idea of choice was very well developed, although mostly because of the greatest scene in video games, ever. When the protagonist finds that he is basically being brainwashed by the "good guy" that he is listening to and that he is powerless to stop it. Andrew Ryan then forces you kill him, against your own will, through a cutscene where he uses the magic words "would you kindly." Simply Brilliant.

Mass Effect - I'm pretty sure the fact that I loved this game's music has swayed me on the topic, because its music was wonderful, but I absolutely loved this games storyline. Touching on many concepts including corrupt agents in CIA type agencies, mind control, mercy for previous actions(the alien scene reminding me of The Ender's Game Series' Xenocide), and secret research(the mind control plant). It also has great characters developed(both good and bad), and each of them has their own way of doing things. From Saren in reality trying to do the right thing to the varying "do the ends justify the means" type of questions that different crew members answer differently. And, I thought that the whole Reaper idea was awesome, and unfolded in a great way.

Some other greats include KOTOR, Metal Gear Solid 3, Shadow Of The Colossus, and God Of War.

Funny that 2-4(whether you count Episode 1/2 as seperate games) games from my list are in one package. If you don't own The Orange Box go get it now.

Well, after actually looking at what games have been released in the past few years I think I'll retract anything I said about games becoming more mindless.