I'm a sucker for storytelling. I'm convinced that a well-told bad story is much better than a poorly-told good story.
I have a great deal of respect for writers that can tell big, dramatic, serious-business stories but at the same time don't shy away from throwing a bit of lulz here and there. Any story that dares to not take itself too seriously scores a good deal of points in my book from the get-go.
I think gaming has an exciting potential for a totally new form of narrative, but only in recent years it's started to be properly exploited, looking for a method unique to games instead of shoehorning techniques from other media.
I'm a huge detractor of photorealism in gaming. To put it bluntly, I think this medium needs more artists and less graphics technicians. In the words of Oscar Wilde: “I fucking hate vulgar realism in gaming. The man who could render a photorealistic spade should be compelled to use a real one. It is the only thing he is fit for.”
Something like that, I'm quoting from memory.
My point is, Crysis will look outdated and even ridiculously awkward in a couple years, but Psychonauts will stand the test of time forever.
I have this insane, unexplainable love for Russian games (and by "Russian" I also mean the post-Soviet states). I don't know what it is, but I just seem to love them at first sight, almost unconditionally; even though more often than not they're universally hated.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines -- My favorite game of all times. No AAA title could ever scratch the heels of this broken game that killed its developer.
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition -- The most beautifully balanced game in years. A game with such complexity you need to study for it.
Fallout 3 -- It's not comedy but it dares to not take itself too seriously, and for that I adore it. Plus, the _best_ mod community.
Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams -- Proof of how high a game's story can aim, and succeed. Reaches down and messes with every emotion like nothing else.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time -- You don't need a huge, convoluted story to make a storytelling masterpiece. Character development at its best.
Mass Effect 2 -- I'm usually not big on "cinematic" games, but boy, do these BioWare guys know how to write a story.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl -- Unbelievably immersive and atmospheric gameworld. It takes therapy to flush The Zone out of your head.
