End of XBOX 360 and PS3 ERA - Your favourite games/Hidden Gems

[Monty]

We are nearing the end for both the XBOX 360 and PS3. While games will still be released for another few years after the launch of the XBOX ONE and PS4, most games will also be made available for the new consoles as well.

So, as the title suggests, what are some of the games/series that will stand out the most over the last 7/8 years? Which games do you think will stand the test of time? Are their any hidden gems that you think people need to know about? Share, because both consoles had some wonderful outings.

And for the fun of it, why not share a game or two that you wished lived up to your expectations.

I'll start it off (no particular order).

1. Spelunky - I was and still am completely attached to this game. I can still go back 6 months after originally getting this and waste a good hour. I was so happy when I originally finished this, but that was not enough to keep me satisfied. Great download.

2. Catherine - Available for both the PS3 and XBOX 360, Catherine might be ranked in my top 2 favourite games of this generation. Usually puzzle games are just that, a puzzle. But this game incorporates the most bizaare story I have ever seen. And after just watching Twin Peaks, I'm all about bizaare. I've just got back to this game after finishing it about a year ago, and I still love the absolutely looney story. To me, a must own.

3. Oblivion - I don't like putting entire series down, that's just me. So even though Skyrim is a superior game, Oblivion is what started everything; which is also why I didn't put down the Mass Effect series. This is the first and only game where I went to trade it in 4 years ago, and my wife (who doesn't play games) said, "Don't you dare! Even though you don't play it anymore, that game is amazing."

4. The Walking Dead - Although chapters 3 & 4 were not terrific, this episodic series was absolutely phenomenal. And I have to say, it was the very first (and only) time I teared up playing a video game. There are some video games that tell a fantastic story; but the one thing I didn't really get before this was feeling an emotional connection to the characters.

5. Left for Dead 2 - I played this game solidly for about 4 months straight. It is the first gift that I had been given in years that I actually found a use for (ok, not totally true). This is still the only game that I have enjoyed playing online with complete strangers. Online play is something I completely get tired with, as players are generally selfish (sports games) and have a terrible attitude. However, in LFD, you are thrown into an environment where you HAVE to work as a team. You know that if you don't help your "friends" out, you are as good as dead. It is the first and only game that made me enjoy online play.

6. Portal - Second game is far superior, but it's the first that hit me like a ton of bricks. Like Oblivion, this is one of the few games my wife would sit down and watch me play. It is such a fun game to play. Honestly, this may be the best game of the current generation. It will be looked back on in 20 years as a genre defining game.

7. Heavy Rain - I absolutely love story driven games. And although Heavy Rain was not without it's flaws, I loved what it managed to achieve. It is definitely at the bottom of my list of favourite games, but the multiple storylines and characters was something that hadn't been done properly or successfully in the past. I honestly loved what they set out to achieve.

8. Limbo - Like The Walking Dead, this game made you feel something. The success being that it made you feel something without any narration or known story.

To me, although there are some truly terrific games on this generation (I know there are some I haven't mentioned, ie: Red Dead), this generation will be remembered for the quality of downloadable games. It was absolutely amazing how some of the best games were made by small studios on a limited budget.

Let Downs:

LA Noire: So much hype and promise, it was just a huge letdown for me.

Braid: I could not get into this game. Probably because I got stuck on one puzzle for about 2 days and just quit. Didn't get the hype though.

[Apples]

1. GTA

2. Red Dead Redemption

3. Uncharted

4. Batman: Arkham City

5. Bioshock

[Xbox]

My top 10 in no order (except #1):

1) Call of Duty 4

2) Halo 3

3) Gears of War 1

4) Fallout 3

5) Burnout Paradise

6) Call of Duty: WaW (Zombies only)

7) Saints Row 2

8) Skyrim

9) Dead Space Trilogy

10) Fallout: NV

Those are the games I loved, with CoD 4 as the undisputed number 1.

[Monty]

My top 10 in no order (except #1):

9) Dead Space Trilogy

Don't know how I missed the original Dead Space. I seriously got scared more than a few times during the first game. The second game was a bit more of a letdown. I loved the claustrophobic feeling of the first. I still haven't played the 3rd game.

[c00kies]

We are nearing the end for both the XBOX 360 and PS3. While games will still be released for another few years after the launch of the XBOX ONE and PS4, most games will also be made available for the new consoles as well.

So, as the title suggests, what are some of the games/series that will stand out the most over the last 7/8 years? Which games do you think will stand the test of time? Are their any hidden gems that you think people need to know about? Share, because both consoles had some wonderful outings.

And for the fun of it, why not share a game or two that you wished lived up to your expectations.

I'll start it off (no particular order).

1. Spelunky - I was and still am completely attached to this game. I can still go back 6 months after originally getting this and waste a good hour. I was so happy when I originally finished this, but that was not enough to keep me satisfied. Great download.

2. Catherine - Available for both the PS3 and XBOX 360, Catherine might be ranked in my top 2 favourite games of this generation. Usually puzzle games are just that, a puzzle. But this game incorporates the most bizaare story I have ever seen. And after just watching Twin Peaks, I'm all about bizaare. I've just got back to this game after finishing it about a year ago, and I still love the absolutely looney story. To me, a must own.

3. Oblivion - I don't like putting entire series down, that's just me. So even though Skyrim is a superior game, Oblivion is what started everything; which is also why I didn't put down the Mass Effect series. This is the first and only game where I went to trade it in 4 years ago, and my wife (who doesn't play games) said, "Don't you dare! Even though you don't play it anymore, that game is amazing."

4. The Walking Dead - Although chapters 3 & 4 were not terrific, this episodic series was absolutely phenomenal. And I have to say, it was the very first (and only) time I teared up playing a video game. There are some video games that tell a fantastic story; but the one thing I didn't really get before this was feeling an emotional connection to the characters.

5. Left for Dead 2 - I played this game solidly for about 4 months straight. It is the first gift that I had been given in years that I actually found a use for (ok, not totally true). This is still the only game that I have enjoyed playing online with complete strangers. Online play is something I completely get tired with, as players are generally selfish (sports games) and have a terrible attitude. However, in LFD, you are thrown into an environment where you HAVE to work as a team. You know that if you don't help your "friends" out, you are as good as dead. It is the first and only game that made me enjoy online play.

6. Portal - Second game is far superior, but it's the first that hit me like a ton of bricks. Like Oblivion, this is one of the few games my wife would sit down and watch me play. It is such a fun game to play. Honestly, this may be the best game of the current generation. It will be looked back on in 20 years as a genre defining game.

7. Heavy Rain - I absolutely love story driven games. And although Heavy Rain was not without it's flaws, I loved what it managed to achieve. It is definitely at the bottom of my list of favourite games, but the multiple storylines and characters was something that hadn't been done properly or successfully in the past. I honestly loved what they set out to achieve.

8. Limbo - Like The Walking Dead, this game made you feel something. The success being that it made you feel something without any narration or known story.

To me, although there are some truly terrific games on this generation (I know there are some I haven't mentioned, ie: Red Dead), this generation will be remembered for the quality of downloadable games. It was absolutely amazing how some of the best games were made by small studios on a limited budget.

Let Downs:

LA Noire: So much hype and promise, it was just a huge letdown for me.

Braid: I could not get into this game. Probably because I got stuck on one puzzle for about 2 days and just quit. Didn't get the hype though.

The Walking dead is a silly game for the fact that any decisions you make make no difference in what happens, which is weird for it trying to be a decision based game.

LF2 isn't bad, but not a game I'd play by myself.

Heavy Rain looks like fun, and I heard that characters dying makes a difference in the story. I wanted to pick it up a few months ago, but didn't see any used copies (used to be tons of them)

I enjoyed the Limbo demo, but don't know what to expect from the full game,

Journey was raved about, but I didn't buy it seeing as all the videos on it showed nothing of what you actually did (other than run in a desert).

I did enjoy the Uncharted series, number 2 was my favorite.

MGS4 was also a fun game to play, and it allowed you to eat supper during its cut-scenes.

Hot shots golf: Out of Bounds is lots of fun too, but I wish they had more single modes, such as mini golf, versus (instead of facing a boss at the end of each level), and tournament. HSG3 and 4 were more fun for this reason.

LBP was also great, especially with other people.

Infamous was great in its decision based execution, especially in the 2nd game.

I know I'm missing a lot right now, but I'm in a hurry lol.

[Heretic]

I have a PS3 and use it mainly for BD movies and Netflix.

Have a few games, some COD, Rockband 2, and a couple of others...

[Aladeen]

[Captain Aerosex]

Red Dead Redemption, Halo 3, Bad Company 2, GTA IV were my favourites.

[Rey]

Many bust, but i think a surprise decent game was Tomb Raider. Expected it to be terrible, wasn't that bad.

Don't own a xbox, but there's a few more interesting ps3 exclusives coming out soon. Beyond is probably the most interesting, coming from the Heavy Rain devs. Hope they don't overdo it, like they did with Fahrenheit.

[Baka]

No love for the Mass Effect series? Despite the riot inspiring ending it was quiet a captivating series to play.

Borderlands also deserves a mention.

[ChuckNORRIS4Cup]

The orginal Left 4 Dead was way better then the 2nd one. I just didn't like all the new things they added for Left 4 Dead 2, plus I found the actual gameplay play more sloppier then the 1st one. The 1st one seemed really smooth and easy to control, plus you can't beat the level No Mercy, one of the best campaign levels ever.

[Master Mind]

A game that got greatly overlooked I though was Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Best game of the generation imo.

And I never understood all the hate for Duke Nukem Forever. Certainly not as bad as most reviews said. The gameplay itself was pretty fun with some good jokes. Just shouldn't be hated on because of how long it took to make. That and getting compared to other FPS games.

[Guest]

I can't name favourites, there's a lot of games this gen I really enjoyed.

Vanquish and Binary Domain are the best games no one played this gen IMO

[Almighty So]

NHL best game ever

[ChenWei91]

Even tho I'm basically a PC elitist, I did play a lot of my PS3 back in the day.

1. Demon Souls

2. Dark Souls

3. Metal Gear Solid IV

4. Little Big Planet

5. Grand Theft Auto IV

6. BRAID

7. Fat Princess

8. Wipeout

9. Pixel Junk

From 6-9 is really just HO...

[Specter's Vengeance]

Red Dead Redemption will go down as the best 360 game I've ever played. I enjoyed many other games including GTA IV with expansions, Max Payne 3, Skyrim, Halo 4, Battlefield: Bad Company 1 & 2, and many others. However, no other game hit me as hard emotionally as Red Dead did. Going into Mexico for the first time riding into the sunset towards Chuparosa with the song far away by Jose Gonzalez was unbelievable. In case you dont know which one Im talking about, this should spark your memory.

Spoilers ahead to those of you who have not played or finished the game:

Rockstar has a way of creating a remarkable setting. The final stanza of the game with John Marston's stand off with the law was unreal but depressing. Becoming Jack and getting revenge for the death of his father was a great way to cap off an amazing game.

Its worth mentioning the wacky expansion also. Zombies in a western?! haha weird but it somehow worked.

[HC20.0]

Left 4 Dead & Left 4 Dead 2

La Noire

Halo 4

[MikeyBoy44]

I was surprised we haven't seen kingdom hearts 3 yet!

My favorites were

Demons souls series

Halo series

Batman Arkham series

Saints Row series

Lots of others I thought were good but not really worth mentioning.

[Xbox]

Don't know how I missed the original Dead Space. I seriously got scared more than a few times during the first game. The second game was a bit more of a letdown. I loved the claustrophobic feeling of the first. I still haven't played the 3rd game.

I actually found DS2 scarier than the original! Both are frightening though. I beat all 3. The 3rd one is awesome, but the least scary of the 3. The isolation feeling wasn't there.

[Everybody Hates Raymond]

Spec Ops: The Line, Alan Wake, and Sonic Generations were good under the radar games