We're nearing the end of our Last-Gen Heroes series, but that doesn't mean our readers have any less to say about the games of the last eight years.
I haven't run a roundup post for a little while, and our readers over at the Talk Amongst Yourselves blog have been busy. Here's what everyone's had to say:
- Rathorial gives a nod to Gears of War 3, saying that Epic achieved excellence through iteration.
- Zarnyx writes a lovely tribute to all the composers who gave us such great music over the last console generation.
- Rathorial also gives a heroes nod to pre-loading, as well as the other many boons of digital gaming.
- Damsonrhee gives his Xbox 360 a last-gen zero. Womp, womp.
- Aiden Ryan recognizes Namco for doing a great job localizing their Tales games on console.
- GiantBoyDetective calls DJ Hero a Last-Gen Hero, and I gotta say, I kind of can't believe I never managed to really play this game. Always wanted to.
- Aestevalis pays tribute to Fragile Dreams, describing it as a cool game that isn't without a few faults.
- Rathorial bags on the numeric progression that went along with the "RPG Elements" that were added to so many games this gen.
- Isaac Davis honors qualitative rewards like in-game treasure maps in Red Dead Redemption and Assassin's Creed IV.
- Rathorial returns for another post lamenting contextual actions, which he says reduced interactivity.
- Brandon Taylor says that YouTube was a hero of the last gen, making it much easier for us to share our gaming experiences with one another. Great call, man - I totally agree.
- Quiddity says that Infamous 2 demonstrated that while the "platformer" as we've come to know it is dead, it still lives on in some ways. Really liked this game.
- While WingZero351 calls out hype, in general as a last-gen zero.
- Pibbles rightly points to PlayStation Plus' instant game collection as a significant last-gen hero, and I gotta say I agree.
- And DocSeuss takes down Max Payne 3's overblown production values and cutscenes as a zero.
- Zarynx says that Atlus was a last-gen hero, unlike a certain other Japan-based publisher whose name rhymes with "Bare Phoenix."
- Meanwhile Pink Zapper Helmet argues that Wii Sports is one of the greatest games ever made. Bold statement.
- Yourmotherisaclassylady makes the argument that GameStop was a last-gen zero. I have a feeling there are some others who'd back you up on this, YMIACL.
- General McFist says that rabid console fanboys and fangirls are the zeroes of this gen (or really any gen). What? There are rabid console fanboys and fangirls? I had no idea.
- TwinTurbo2 says that The Pinball Arcade was a last-gen hero. I too have a fondness for this game, and really liked watching how they recreated those classic tables.
- Mash Naylor says that the LEGO games went from silly platformers to seriously open world. They really did undergo a metamorphosis this gen, didn't they.
- Cimeas appears to be doing his/her own retrospective, but hey, let's include this defense of Mass Effect 2 anyway.
- DocSeuss says that Uncharted 2 "hurt gaming immeasurably." Okay, Mr. Dramapants.
- Peter Tieryas says that Heavy Rain was a last-gen hero - it certainly was one of the most talked-about games of the generation, that's for sure.
- Rathorial has some nice things to say about Red Faction: Guerrilla, a game that offered some excellent destruction.
- And to close out on a positive note, Dexomega writes a super cool tribute to game developers around the world, who he says are the true last-gen (and every-gen) heroes.
For reference, our other two roundup posts are here and here.
Thanks to everyone at TAY for writing such great Last-Gen Heroes posts over the last month. It's been a treat to look back with you.
Last-Gen Heroes is Kotaku's look back at the seventh generation of console gaming. In the weeks leading up to the launch of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, we'll be celebrating the Heroes—and the Zeroes—of the last eight years of console video gaming. More details can be found here; follow along with the series here.
To contact the author of this post, write to kirk@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter @kirkhamilton.