Favorite Game of Last Gen

My vote for the best game of last gen (360/PS3/Wii) goes to...

For me, it's easy. Nothing compares to Fallout 3 and exploring the Capital Wasteland. I'm sure it helps that I'm a post-apocalyptic nut, but the D.C. Wasteland is probably my favorite game setting... ever. I also really dug the V.A.T.S. combat system. Being able to target a huge mutant's gun-wielding arm and cause him to drop it was very satisfying. The combat system helped set Fallout apart from the run and gun FPS and made it more RPG-like. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would argue it's the best open world sandbox game ever. I could get lost in my own little world while exploring the highly detailed Wasteland. I recently played it in its entirety again, this time on PS3, and it's every bit as good as I remember. (I hit Platinum in 60 hours!) It really is a living, breathing place. And boy oh boy, I cannot wait for Fallout 4. 

Here are a few others that were noteworthy:

Oblivion - Sure, Skyrim is more polished, but Oblivion really set the stage well. For the record, I enjoyed the guild quests a LOT more in Oblivion than Skyrim. The Dark Brotherhood was one of the creepiest and most unsettling thing I've experienced (right up there with Silent Hill 2).

Bioshock - Ah, Rapture. How you blew me away with your amazing setting. Seriously, Rapture is my second favorite game world after the Capital Wasteland. Playing, I really felt like I was under the sea. I wish I could say I had a similar experience with Columbia in Bioshock Infinite. Even though it was obvious I was in a city in the clouds, it didn't leave as much of an impact. 

Super Mario Galaxy - There have been several revolutionary Mario games and this one is no different. It basically took what Super Mario 64 did to revolutionize the 3D game world and made it 10x more awesome. 

Also of note: 

Wii Sports - Hey, it brought many families together. I remember one Thanksgiving, my grandmother was even Wii Bowling. Good memories!

Rock Band - I don't even want to try to calculate the number of hours my husband and I have spent playing Rock Band. It left such an impact, it made Craig learn to play guitar and I now have my own set of drums. Take that, Chad Kroeger. 

All in all, I'd say we've had an amazing 8 years of games, and I can't wait to see what this next gen brings us!

Why I Love My Playstation Vita

I really love my Vita. 

I bought it this time last year when amazon had an amazing gold box deal on Black Friday. In the year since I've had it, there have been some great games. I love the 2 Ninja Gaiden ports, Sly Cooper, Soul Sacrifice, Persona 4, Killzone: Mercenaries, Tearaway, and all the indie games. As I was writing this blog, IGN just happened to post something similar that is also worth a read. 

One aspect that I absolutely love is that Playstation+ supports the Vita each month just like it does the PS3 (and now the PS4). I've gotten Uncharted, Gravity Rush, Wipeout, Rayman Origins, and so many more games for free with my subscription. Plus, they just released Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath and Soul Sacrifice all for free with a subscription. Not to mention all the indie games they add for free or at a discounted price. And they give killer sales on downloadable games. Several months ago, I bought Little Big Planet and Touch My Katamari for real cheap. Sony really brings the A-list titles to PS+. 

Regarding the indie games, the Vita is such a great console for stuff like that. I just finished Limbo, which was amazing. I'd love to design a simple and elegant game like that. And I'm also playing Lone Survivor and Guacamelee. I thought the old school graphic look would get in the way in Lone Survivor, but it adds a lot of charm. Sure, these are usually ports from other platforms, but who cares? Thanks, Sony for bringing them to me because I otherwise would likely not experience these games. 

And now there's Tearaway. If you own a Vita and haven't played Tearaway, you are missing out. It is the most innovative platformer I've played in years and has the best use of touch controls ever. Period. Take that mobile gaming. And it has a most endearing story. 

If you've been on the fence about buying a Vita, now is the time, especially if you have any interest in a PS4 and remote play. I will get into more at a later date once I've had time to really use that feature. But there are so many great games available for the Vita now and it'll only get better with more support.