The DP Challenge
The DP Challenge is a research project in which you play and analyze the top 100 games ever to hit your console(s). At the end of this project, I hope to be a better writer with a host of ideas for my own projects. I anticipate that I will learn more from the games that are in genres that I don't usually play or simply from games I wouldn't usually pick up than from the games I love. I'm looking forward to that education!
Information on the DP Challenge can be found at: http://www.dpfiles.com/dpfileswiki/index.php?title=THE_DP_CHALLENGE
**Note: As it takes a long time to evaluate 100+ games and new games are constantly being rolled out, my top 100 list continually changes. There will undoubtedly be discrepancies in the numeric rating of my list. As I catch them, I'll try to update them, but, I want to play all of the great games, so I know I'll be changing the list often.
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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Game InfoPublisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Neversoft EntertainmentPlatform: PS2Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Players: 1ESRB Rating: T (Teen)Release Date: April 8, 2003Intro: It’s not what the intro does; it’s how it does it. Splinter Cell tells
the story of two agents sent in behind enemy lines and captured. You
are then introduced to Sam, who will be sent in to rescue them. For a PS2 game, the pine cone and tree graphics blew me away. But here’s why Splinte... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, April 9, 2011,
In :
Sports
#84 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 Game InfoPublisher: EA SportsDeveloper: EA SportsPlatform: PS2Genre(s): GolfPlayers: 1-4 PlayersESRB Rating: E (Everyone)Release Date: September 22, 2003Intro:A
random golfer introduces the game as an EA Sports game with their
familiar motto: “EA Sports: It’s in the game.” In one scene, it’s a
famous golfer on a green. In another, it’s a golfer in motion capture
gear. The load screens gradually give way to DMX’s “Y’all Gonna Make Me
Lose M... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, February 28, 2011,
In :
Car Combat
#58 Twisted Metal: Black Game InfoPublisher: SCEADeveloper: Incognito, Inc.Platform: PS2Genre(s): Car CombatPlayers: 1-4 PlayersESRB Rating: M (Mature)Release Date: June 18, 2001Intro:There really isn’t much of an intro to the game. The beginning strains of Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones plays as cars careen and crash at the end of a street, which takes us directly to the load screen. Getting Going:Players
are given a choice of advancing through arenas in Story Mode, choosing a
car... Continue reading ...
Heavy Rain Game InfoPublisher: SCEADeveloper: Quantic Dream Platform: PS3Genre(s): AdventurePlayers: 1ESRB Rating: M (Mature)Release Date: February 23, 2010Intro:The
camera pans across a man lying face down on the edge of a bed in
nothing but boxer shorts. Sun streams through the window. As the
camera moves in closer, the player takes control.Getting Going:The
player is prompted to get Ethan up. From there, various controls will
be explained as Ethan moves about the room and, eventu... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 21, 2010,
In :
Sports
#41 NHL 2002 Game InfoPublisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: EA SportsPlatform: PS2Genre(s): Major League SportPlayers: 1-8 PlayersESRB Rating: E(Everyone)Release Date: September 24, 2001Intro: A
brief montage of players hitting shots and showing off plays against a
windowed backdrop. A rotating puck on the left side shows team symbols,
giving players a window into the world of ice hockey.Getting Going:Players
choose a team from a list of familiar teams and world teams. Players
can choo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Wednesday, October 27, 2010,
In :
Survival Horror
#95 Dead Space Game InfoPublisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: EA Redwood ShoresPlatform: PS3Genre(s): Survival HorrorPlayers: 1 PlayerESRB Rating: M (Mature)Release Date: October 13, 2008Intro:Dead Space
begins with a video message from Nicole to you, Isaac, apologizing and
wishing you could be together. When the message is through, you return
to reality and find that you’re on a spaceship destined for a mining
vessel that sent out a distress call. It’s the ship that Nicole is on.
N... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, October 23, 2010,
In :
Racing Genre
#100 Burnout Legends  Game InfoPublisher: EA GamesDeveloper: Criterion GamesPlatform: PSPGenre(s): RacingPlayers: 1-4 PlayersESRB Rating: E10+Release Date: September 13, 2005Intro: Burnout Legends fades in to high-speed driving action ending in a high speed crash. Getting Going: The
player is prompted to create a profile and then may select from World
Tour, in which they can race and crash around the world; Single Event,
in which they can set up their own races and crash events; Multip... Continue reading ...
#87 Shadow of the Colossus Game InfoPublisher: SCEADeveloper: SCEIPlatform: PS2Genre(s): Action/AdventurePlayers: 1 PlayerESRB Rating: T(Teen)Release Date: October 18, 2005Intro: Poignant
and ethereal, the 10 minute intro simply shows a young man on his horse
traveling through the countryside. It is only when he arrives at his
destination that we see the girl and find out the reason for his travel.
The graphics appear misty, adding to the mood. The game is told in a
made up language th... Continue reading ...
#100 Metal Gear: Portable Ops Game Info Publisher: Konami Developer: Kojima Productions Genre(s): Action AdventurePlatform: PSP Players: 1-6 Players ESRB Rating: M (Mature) Release Date: December 5, 2006Intro:A
slideshow intro of screenshots gives way to a story-establishing cut
scene. We become aware that this will be the story of Big Boss/Naked
Snake and exactly what the mission is about. Getting Going:You
ha... Continue reading ...
#7 Red Dead Redemption
Game Info Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, ShooterPlatform: PS3 Players: 16 ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release
Date:
May 18, 2010Intro:
A scarred gunslinger
walks on the docks between two important-looking men. It is unclear
whether he is under arrest, to be hanged, or to help. None of the men
say anything. He carries a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, June 28, 2010,
In :
Sports
Madden NFL 2004 Game InfoPublisher: EA
Sports Developer: Electronic Arts - Tiburon Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Sports, Football Players:
8 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Release Date:
August 11, 2003
As has become my usual with franchise
games, I will not write a complete dissection of Madden NFL 2004.
It is similar to Madden NFL 2003 in too many ways. The intro
begins the same as in 2003 and leads directly into the main menu, where
players will immediately choose a team. After the game saves and t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, June 28, 2010,
In :
Sports
Madden NFL 2003 Game InfoPublisher: EA
Sports Developer: Electronic Arts - Tiburon Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Sports, Football Players: 8 ESRB
Rating: E (Everyone) Release Date: August 13, 2002
Intro: There
is no real intro to Madden NFL 2003 at all. The EA Sports logo
pops up with a voice-over that says "EA Sports. It's in the game.",
followed by a virtual football player who says the same thing. The main
menu then comes up, overlayed by a save message. It's an effective
beginning which keep... Continue reading ...
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence Game InfoPublisher:
Konami Developer: Kojima Productions Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Third-Person Action Players:
8 ESRB Rating: M (Mature) Release Date: March
14, 2006 I'm not going to dissect this game thoroughly simply
because the main game is actually an extended "director's cut" of
SnakeEater. The 2 disc set here also includes copies of Metal Gear
Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Solid Snake. In addition, Kojima
Productions has added features such as the Hidden... Continue reading ...
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Game InfoPublisher:
Konami Developer: Kojima Productions Platform:
PS3
Genre(s): Third-Person Action Players:
16 ESRB Rating: M (Mature) Release Date: June
12, 2008 Intro: Before the game even starts,
there is an odd commercial for a workout video and one for a weapons
company. Metal Gear Solid 4 then launches with Snake ruminating
on the fortunes of war. We find him in the back of a truck, traveling
with other soldiers, and moving through a battle-... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, May 31, 2010,
In :
Racing Genre
Burnout Paradise Game InfoPublisher:
Electronic Arts Developer: Criterion Games Platform:
PS3
Genre(s): Racing, Driving Players:
8 ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) Release
Date: January 21, 2008 Intro:Burnout Paradise
begins with an inviting look into Paradise City. Some of the coolest
cars are seen racing down the street, taking down other exciting cars,
crashing into cars, flying through the air, and cartwheeling through
traffic while Paradise City by Guns N Roses plays in the
ba... Continue reading ...
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Game InfoPublisher:
Konami Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Action Players: 1 ESRB
Rating: M (Mature) Release Date: November 17, 2004
Intro: As
in all of the Metal Gear Solid games, Metal Gear Solid 3:
Snake Eater begins with an extended cinemagraphic. Just prior to
loading the game, the player is asked if they are new to the franchise,
liked Metal Gear Solid or Metal Gear Solid 2. The
decision makes a small difference in ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, April 25, 2010,
In :
Racing Genre
Burnout 3: TakedownGame InfoPublisher:
Electronic Arts Developer: Criterion Games Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Racing, Driving, Action Players:
8 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Release Date:
September 7, 2004
Intro: Burnout 3
begins with a musical smorgasbord of driving action and spectacular
crashes ending with an airborne sports car crashing dramatically into
traffic and exploding. It's a rush and it does draw the player into
gameplay instantly.
Getting Going:
Identify
yourself in your ... Continue reading ...
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Game Info
Publisher:
Konami
Developer: Konami
Platform: PS2
Genre(s):
Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release
Date: November 13, 2001
Intro:
The
opening credits is accompanied by a montage of soldier scenes amongst
names and chemical symbols. It looks very much like the opening credits
of a movie. Following the opening credits, the story begins with Snake
on a bridge over the Hudson River. Without spoiling... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, April 11, 2010,
In :
Sports
SSX Tricky
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic
Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Platform: PS2
Genre(s):
Sports
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release
Date: November 6, 2001
Intro:
SSX
Tricky begins with an opening montage showing the characters doing
crazy tricks, mostly tricks that will be uniquely theirs. Between
flashes of snowboarding excitement, players get a glimpse of the
character personalities.
Getting Going:
Players
are given a 3D view of the character choices in action as ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, April 10, 2010,
In :
Racing Genre
Burnout RevengeGame InfoPublisher:
Electronic Arts Developer: Criterion Games Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Racing, Driving Players: 6 ESRB
Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) Release Date:
September 13, 2005
Intro: Fans of
the SSX franchise will find a familiar tone in the intro to Burnout
Revenge. Big Radio comes on-air to show the improvements in this
latest installment in the franchise. The game shows and tells giving
players an enticing view of the new modes,events, special cars, and
leve... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, April 3, 2010,
In :
Sports
SSX 3
Game InfoPublisher: Electronic Arts Developer:
EA Canada Genre(s): Extreme Sports Platform:
PS2
Players: 2 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Release
Date: October 20, 2003 Intro: A radio announcer
comes on-air to introduce players to what's new and great about SSX 3.
But, just like in-game, the game shows and tells. A camera flies over
the mountain sites as the three mountains are shown. Weather conditions
on the mountains peaks are announced. Features are shown as a camera
glides over t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, December 13, 2009,
In :
Sports
FIFA Soccer 09
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Platform: PS3
Genre(s): Sports, Soccer
Players: 10
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Intro: Players
wanting to get in and play will appreciate that EA kept the intro to
this game under two minutes. In fact, it's just over one minute long.
It's enough to give players a taste of the visuals to come and entice
soccer fans to want to play.
Getting Going: Pick a
team a... Continue reading ...
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