TOP 10 FAVORITE GAMES

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Ezra Carroll
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1 A BOOK BY BRANSON HATCHER TOP 10 FAVORITE GAMES CONFESSIONS OF A PLAYSTATION FANBOY:

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HONORABLE MENTIONS SPIDER-MAN 2 SLY 2: BAND OF THIEVES SSX 3 THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES 1. BULLY 2. NFS: HOT PURSUIT 2 3. THE LAST OF US 4. TES V: SKYRIM 5. MGS 3: SNAKE EATER 6. MGS 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS 7. GRAND THEFT AUTO V 8. JAK 3 9. R&C: UP YOUR ARSENAL 10. STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT ALL COPYRIGHTS ARE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS

#1 BULLY YEAR: 2006 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR GAMES BULLY puts the player in the shoes of 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, a young trouble maker forced to attend the fictional New England

3 #1 BULLY YEAR: 2006 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR GAMES BULLY puts the player in the shoes of 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, a young trouble maker forced to attend the fictional New England boarding school, Bullworth Academy. The game garnered serious controversy prior to release, due to Rockstar s reputation for graphic content. That controversy, however, was revealed to be warrantless when the game hit the shelves. Eleven years later, there are still few titles that can boast as much character as BULLY. A truly engrossing environment with truly unique characters provide for countless hours of endless fun. BULLY never gets boring or feels stale. It is a true classic, and quite possibly Rockstar s most underrated gem. I can t count the number of hours I ve lost in this title. And that number is only set to grow, seeing as how I still regularly pop it into the console. I never have, and doubt I ever will, genuinely enjoy another game as much as BULLY. 2

4 #2 NEED FOR SPEED: HOT PURSUIT 2 YEAR: 2002 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: ELECTRONIC ARTS NEED FOR SPEED: HOT PURSUIT 2 is all about hot, fast, expensive cars. The player is given the option of playing as either an exotic car street-racer, or the police officers pitted against them. From back in a fabled era when Electronic Arts actually cared about the customer, it was a game my by car lovers, for car lovers. The player is given the virtual keys to over twenty different high-performance vehicles to do with as they please, on almost as many unique tracks. HOT PURSUIT 2 is a shining example of a nearly perfect formula for a racing game. Released when I was just 7 years old, this title was my first introduction into the world of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and the like. I solely credit this game for my love of cars, which has only continued to grow to this day. 4

#3 THE LAST OF US YEAR: 2013 & 2014 (REMASTERED) PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 & PLAYSTATION 4 (R) DEVELOPER: NAUGHTYDOG THE LAST OF US received over 200 Game of the Year awards from multiple highly

5 #3 THE LAST OF US YEAR: 2013 & 2014 (REMASTERED) PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 & PLAYSTATION 4 (R) DEVELOPER: NAUGHTYDOG THE LAST OF US received over 200 Game of the Year awards from multiple highly respected publications. All of which it rightfully earned. The game is set in the year 2033, twenty years after a viral outbreak of a parasitic fungus destroys humanty. The game follows the journey of one of the few remaining survivors, known only as Joel, a tired and battered old man with a heartbreaking past, as he escorts a young girl named Ellie from Boston to Salt Lake City in the hopes of finding a cure to save mankind. The story, the characters, and the emotion contained within this game cannot be overstated. THE LAST OF US is truly one of the most gripping, heart wrenching tales ever told through the medium of video games. It changed the game, so to speak, for linear gameplay, and left a mark on the industry that will never be forgotten. To this day, THE LAST OF US is the only video game that ever made me shed a tear, and it did so on more than one occasion. It changed my life in a very subtle, but lasting way. It made me see just how powerful video games can be as an art form. 6

#4 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM YEAR: 2011 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 DEVELOPER: BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM is one of the more recent projects from RPG master Bethesda.

6 #4 THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM YEAR: 2011 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 DEVELOPER: BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM is one of the more recent projects from RPG master Bethesda. It is the fifth chapter and seventh stand-alone title in Bethesda s most popular original series, THE ELDER SCROLLS. Since 1997, THE ELDER SCROLLS have been a collection of fantasy role-roleplaying games filled with knights, magic, sorcery, dragons, epic quests, fantastical creatures, etc. All the hallmarks of the true fantasy/adventure genre. SKYRIM is the most popular ELDER SCROLLS release to date, and it s easy to see why. Bethesda perfected their own brand of RPG with this title, building off the 14 years of experience. Set in the province of Skyrim, in the mythical world of Tamriel, the player is given the power to create their own character and shape their own path. There is never a shortage of adventure to be had. The theme of Norse Mythology, mixed in with the series own lore, gives the game a real sense of personality that never grows stale. Since acquiring it on its release day, November 11, 2011, I have logged over 1000 collective hours of gameplay with multiple different characters. SKYRIM is not my first ELDER SCROLLS title, but I do believe it is my favorite. It is truly a masterpiece of gameplay. 8

#5 METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: KONAMI METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, the third installment in video game master Hideo Kojima s eclectic

7 #5 METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: KONAMI METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, the third installment in video game master Hideo Kojima s eclectic stealth/action series, METAL GEAR SOLID, puts the player in the shoes of FOX operative, Naked Snake (a.k.a. Big Boss), in 1964, as he traverses Soviet territory in the hopes of finding and disarming a superweapon that threatens to plunge the world into chaos. METAL GEAR SOL- ID, exlusive to PlayStation at the time, was, and still is, one of the most popular properties for the console family. The game s creator, Hideo Kojima, is a paragon of storytelling. Few franchises have such an deep, interwoven story a story that spans over 50 year timeline through 15 different games. METAL GEAR SOLID 3 is the prequel to all of them; where the whole story begins. Masterful storytelling combined with masterful gameplay provides for not just a game, but an experience. 10

#6 METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS YEAR: 2008 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 DEVELOPER: KONAMI METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS is the final game in the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise.

8 #6 METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS YEAR: 2008 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 DEVELOPER: KONAMI METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS is the final game in the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise. Taking place in 2014, fifty years after the events of METAL GEAR SOLID 3. The player takes on the role of Solid Snake, a clone of super-soldier Big Boss (a.k.a. Naked Snake). In 2014, war is a well-oiled machine controlled by nano-technology. Humans enhanced by nano-machines are the foot soldiers of Solid Snake s arch-enemy, and twin clone, Liquid Snake. METAL GEAR SOLID 4 is Solid Snake s final battle against his nemesis. I ve played through this game over a dozen times and every single time it gets better. Creator Hideo Kojima once again packed his game full of endless content that never ceases to impress me. Just like MGS 3, this one is an experience. 12

#7 GRAND THEFT AUTO V YEAR: 2013 & 2014 (REMASTERED) PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 & PLAYSTATION 4 (R) DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR GAMES The fastest selling entertainment product of all time is a serious honor to

9 #7 GRAND THEFT AUTO V YEAR: 2013 & 2014 (REMASTERED) PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 & PLAYSTATION 4 (R) DEVELOPER: ROCKSTAR GAMES The fastest selling entertainment product of all time is a serious honor to be able to claim. And GRAND THEFT AUTO V is the game that owns that claim. GRAND THEFT AUTO is Rockstar s most popular franchise, and one of the most controversial properties of all time. Rockstar has a history of seriously raising the bar with every new edition of GTA, and GTA V is no different. The story follows three characters, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, as they team up to pull off enormous heists in the fictional location of Los Santos, San Andreas. Constant action, brutal violence, and hilarious satire never cease in Los Santos, where the player is given free reign to do as they please. GRAND THEFT AUTO is endless fun and appeals to every type of gamer. It s eaten up so many hours of my life I can t even count. Plus, the online feature adds a whole other level of fun to be had. Even approaching 4 years post-release, 10 million people, including myself, still log on to GRAND THEFT AUTO ONLINE every week. The GRAND THEFT AUTO franchise has changed the gaming industry in truly meaningful ways, and without a doubt will continue to do so into the future. 14

10 #8 JAK 3 YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: NAUGHTYDOG JAK 3 is the third installment in NaughtyDog s JAK & DAXTER series. In this installment, the titular character, Jak, has traveled far from his innocent platformer roots, to a much grittier and action-packed style of gameplay. The player takes control of Jak and his smart-mouthed, marsupial-looking comrad, Daxter. The game perfectly blends action/adventure and platform-style gameplay for an overall product that perfectly represents the way games evolved during PlayStation 2 generation. The mere thought of JAK 3 fills me with that particular type of nostalgia that only video games can muster. Many hours of my childhood were spent enjoying the great story and depth of this game. The JAK & DAXTER series is one of the defining PlayStation franchises and is loved by many, just like me. It is a true testament to how far NaughtyDog has come as a developer. 16

#9 RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: INSOMNIAC GAMES RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL is the third installment of Insomniac Games s most famous and

11 #9 RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: INSOMNIAC GAMES RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL is the third installment of Insomniac Games s most famous and beloved franchise. Argued by many to be the best game of the series, UP YOUR ARSENAL took the nearly perfect 3D platforming format of the RATCHET & CLANK series and expanded upon it in great new ways. The player takes the reigns of Ratchet, the title s titular character, as he teams up with his pal, Clank, and the ecclectic/foolish Captain Qwark, as they hunt to find and destroy Dr. Nefarious and his evil plan. Just like JAK 3, simply thinking of UP YOUR ARSENAL fills me with all sorts of warm fuzzies. It s a game I poured so much of my childhood heart and soul into this game, and I plan on replaying the entire thing all the way through someday. Someday soon. 18

#10 STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: PANDEMIC STUDIOS The premise behind STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT is simple: allow the player to relive their favorite battle

12 #10 STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT YEAR: 2004 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 DEVELOPER: PANDEMIC STUDIOS The premise behind STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT is simple: allow the player to relive their favorite battle sequences from the Star Wars Franchise. (A premise so simple, yet EA still managed to screw it up.) That simple formula, though, became one of the most successful Star Wars games of all time. Ask almost anyone who was a gamer during the PlayStation 2 generation, and they will tell you how much fun they had playing BATTLEFRONT. The best part of the game for me, and, I suspect, for many others, was the ability to play as the badass bad guys in white armor: Storm Troopers. Star Wars is easily the biggest entertainment franchise in the world, so it s only natural that a game with such a simple but perfect formula would sell hugely. BATTLEFRONT was the go-to game for my friends and I whenever we would hang out. It s one of the few games out there that can truly say it allows for endless fun to all demographics. It is one of the defining games of the PlayStation 2 generation, and will no doubt continue to be cherished for generations to come. 20

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