World of Warcraft

Title: World of Warcraft
Platform/Game Type: PC - MMORPG
Date First Played: August 2005

Thoughts: I've played a few MMOGs and World of Warcraft is by far the most polished. The thing that stands out for me is the concrete-ness of the world. It feels real beyond the generic fantasy trimmings of Guild Wars or Ultima Online. I'm not sure why yet, but I think the art style has a lot to do with it.

Why I stopped playing it: I haven't stopped yet. ;)

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Online Co-op

Title: Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Online Co-op
Platform/Game Type: Xbox - Stealth/Action, Co-op
Date First Played: August 2005

Thoughts: This is the first online co-op game that I've played through Xbox Live that really seems unique from it's single player component. Cooperation is a requirement. There are situations that must be faced by the players as a team. Also, the sense of immersion is really superb, leading to excellent levels of tension and release. Having your actual voice affect the game world is nothing short of spectacular. On the down side, it's pretty hard.

Why I stopped playing it: I haven't stopped yet, but I suspect that when I do, it will be a combination of difficulty and finding a co-op partner.

Star Wars: Republic Commando

Title: Star Wars: Republic Commando
Platform/Game Type: Xbox - Squad-based Shooter
Date First Played: May 2005

Thoughts: Republic Commando did a fantastic job of making the player feel like part of an elite squad of commandos. It was easy to pick up and immediately feel competent. The interface, which used contextual cues/actions, felt seamless and immersive. Finally, the transmedia nature of RC really enhanced my enjoyment of the final Star Wars movie, which included little references to the game and vice-versa. After seeing General Grievous in the movie, my memory of having him in my sights in the game became much more vivid.

Why I stopped playing it: I finished it. Multiplayer didn't really interest me, so finishing the main campaign was enough.

God of War

Title: God of War
Platform/Game Type: Playstation 2 - Action
Date First Played: March 2005

Thoughts: This simple, linear game demonstrated the power of easy combos and fluid animation. Much like the recent Prince of Persia games, the player character is a pure pleasure to control. Plus, the sheer amount of brutality in this game is almost gleeful.

Why I stopped playing it: I finished it. It should be noted that I haven't gone back to play on harder difficulty levels. The promise of unlockables isn't enough for me to play through the same content again.

Guild Wars

Title: Guild Wars
Platform/Game Type: PC - MMORPG
Date First Played: June 2005

Thoughts: Guild Wars was interesting to me first and foremost because it didn't have a subscription fee. This figured into the decision to play that I made with a friend and my brother. It struck me as rather generic. However, the simplicity of play was pretty compelling.

Why I stopped playing it: I don't know if I've stopped for good yet. I've definitely tapered off in favor of other pursuits (not the least of which is World of Warcraft). Basically, Guild Wars didn't offer a world that felt real and specific to me. Plus, dying was a bitch.

Breakdown

Title: Breakdown
Platform/Game Type: Xbox - First Person Shooter & Action/Adventure
Date First Played: June 2005

Thoughts: This game stayed relentlessly in first person perspective. Even non-interactive cutscenes just tugged your view to the appropriate place, forcing you to watch but never pulling out of the first person point of view. This was fairly effective, giving an immersive feel to the game. Fist fights were particularly visceral. The use of hallucination events was effective in creating a sense of narrative mystery and curiousity.

Why I stopped playing it: Despite some innovative touches, Breakdown was a pretty pedestrian experience. The pacing was slow, and there wasn't enough action (or other events like the hallucinations). Ultimately, other games won out in the competition for my time.