Best game of this generation?

[Apathy Wind]

This place is dead so I thought I'd throw out a topic.

What do you think is the best game so far of this console generation (by console generation I'm referring to Wii, PS3, 360, and whatever came out on PC during those systems' spans. I suppose you could include the portables as well - ala DS, 3DS, PSP)? And more importantly why do you think said game was so great? Feel free to list runner's up and/or honorable mentions if you wish - just be sure to explain your fandom. I'm interested to hear peoples opinions on this - particularly considering the 'rebirth' of the fighting game during this period.

[Foxhole]

When I try to think of the various factors that go into making a game to be the greatest of its generation, it reminds me of how if you fold a piece of paper fifty times over it will reach from the earth to the sun.

It's not something my mind can really fathom.

My choice however, is predictable, Uncharted 2 hands down. Not only did it provide me with one of the best single player experiences I've had ages, it also gave me a multiplayer experience that I couldn't stop playing until they patched to the point where it started to lean towards sim instead of arcade. And in spite of the bitter taste it left, it didn't stop me from hitting 40 again with a new PSN account, with a higher K/D ratio too....

The original Uncharted left me hoping for a sequel. Uncharted 2 left me begging, salivating, and praying for a sequel.

[Persona]

Although this isn't an accurate answer, I felt the need to say that there isn't any new generation game I felt was the best (or even great for that matter). Out of the consoles/portables you mentioned, if there was any best game for me, then it would most likely be from the DS library. There's just so many great games on the DS where I can't even think of a best game for me.

As for consoles like PS3/360, I felt they're a big disappointment compared to earlier generations (I'm still playing with my DS and PS2). I'm sure there's a Wii game where I would probably select as my best game but I don't have a Wii but I know that Nintendo always makes great games.

But yeah, I would be a tad bit surprised if anyone could easily name a best game for this generation when it's kind of obvious that older generation is just better in almost every way. Either I'm too old for games now or it's because new generation kids seem to judge games from graphics alone these days.

P.S. If you had PS2 in the list then I would vote for Dragon Quest VIII. Although it has its flaws, it was the only game for like the past 5 years where I played it and felt like I was playing a game as fun as the NES days but with modern graphics. I felt like I was a kid again. And this is coming from someone who can't stand RPGs anymore (since they're so slow paced).

[Fuu]

TF2 counts? PC.

I haven't played many ps3 games yet, i guess Demon's Souls because it does things differently. I find the generation rather underwhelming and i don't feel a real step forward, minus the mainstreamed online. I'm hopeful Dark Souls/ The Last Guardian will step the game up thought.

[SonicTempest]

I'm loathe to lump PC stuff into a specific 'generation' since it's hard to put down a cutoff when one ends and the other begins, lol. Assuming that by this generation we mean 2005 when the Xbox 360 came out...

I hesitate to pin down a single winner but if I had to pick it'd be one from this list:
- Crysis
- Bayonetta
- Uncharted 2
With a provisional spot for Vanquish once I actually play it and rave about how amazing it is.

[0style]

Look at all of these long answers...

cod... trollolol

I liked MonHun Tri for the longest time, it had nice music and was addicting because it had the addictive rare drop aspect to the game. :( I agree with Oro's UC2 points.

[Shiny]

It's a close one to me.

Uncharted 2 was great; it taught me how to love again. At first I thought Nate was a douchebag and never played the first one, but after the hoopla here I decided to give it a try. Very engaging and gorgeous game. And then the multiplayer was also addicting.

But also I have a soft spot in my heart for NBA 2k11. With getting Michael Jordan on the front of the game (besides the money it took to get him on it), 2k was making a statement. That this would be the bestest basketball sim ever. And considering I've been playing basketball video games since Tecmo NBA Basketball and Hoops, it is. The Jordan Challenges were fun, and very nostalgic, to see Jordan go shot for shot with folks like Nique, Larry Legend, Magic & co. Then the modern teams were also good. It is not without its quirks, but I've probably played that just as much as anything else I own.

But UC2 wins, because I got to play with my ON brethren.

[Gojira]

My list of candidates:
Uncharted 2
Mass Effect 2
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Lost Odyssey

This is a list of games that compelled me to continue playing them long after I'd actually done the minimum requirement to complete them. Uncharted 2 compelled me with its multiplayer, but the single-player, while a fun page-turning novelty, didn't really bring me back to it. Muramasa was just a beautiful game and unlike other Vanillaware titles it didn't get repetitive enough to bore me. Lost Odyssey was probably the most unexpected, since on the surface it looks like such a plain and uninteresting game, but the spirit and balance of a good JRPG, along with the excellent short stories of Kaim's past ended up making it a memorable experience.

Overall though, what impressed me the most was Mass Effect 2. Putting aside the fact that Bioware fixed everything I didn't like about Mass Effect 1, it was just an incredibly rich experience, finely written, acted and executed with enough RPG elements to be a fun RPG. After I'd finished it and done every possible sub-task available, I started the whole thing again without letting anything carry over. The last time I did that in any game was Final Fantasy 6.