Games of the Decade: Part 3

Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents
2005-2007




Life can be pretty tough sometimes but it’s distinctly less so when you have a trio of male cheerleaders giving you a boost when your spirits are flagging, or at least that’s what the Ouendan games have taught me. The great thing about the three games in this recent series is that they steadily evolve the core mechanic while updating the track list in a way that feels right. The two Ouendan outings, released only in Japan, steer clear of western-style songs found in Elite Beat Agents for the most part but provide zanier stories to accompany the infectious tap-and-drag-to-the-beat mechanic. What I appreciated most was how I knew that failure was my own fault. And with level after level of increasing difficulty, there’s a lot of learning – and failure – to be had.

Further Reading: Review

Rez
2002




Five minutes in a darkened room with the volume way higher than it should be is all you need to convince yourself that Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s music shooter is among the best games of this or any decade. Building chains and losing yourself in the thumping electronic soundtrack satisfies your senses and numbs you to the few flaws the games does have, as you delve deeper and deeper into your electronic host en route to the core. More and more people argue that games need to be recognized as art, and with games such as Rez around, making the argument is that much easier.

Further Reading: Video Interview

Samba De Amigo
2000




For sheer, unblemished fun, it doesn’t get much better than Samba De Amigo. From the vibrant art to the rattle of the sturdy maraca controllers, Sega’s gorgeous arcade cabinet oozes joy, inviting you to relieve yourself of your inhibitions for a few minutes and give yourself over to the infectious songs in the eclectic soundtrack that includes obvious Latin American songs from the likes of Ricky Martin, a sprinkling of pop-punk tracks and everything in between. With arcades nearly a thing of the past, the best you’ll be able to do now is the Dreamcast release or last year’s Wii follow-up.

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
2000




Looking at this year’s Tony Hawk Ride it’s easy to forget what amazing games this series used to produce. The first took over my life and had my avoiding social engagements in order to play more but it was the arrival of the second game in the series that really showed how fun virtual skateboarding could be. The introduction of the manual, such a small thing, completely altered the game and turned it into the quest for the biggest combo. So why this particular one? Simple. Neversoft was still keeping the experience relatively close to reality (and I use the term relatively loosely) and it was before the more-hardcore-than-thou story segments in the Underground games started getting rammed down our throats. The visuals in this have not aged well but even now it is worth going back to see just how much of a leap forward this game was.