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 Wednesday, March 2, 2011,
In :
Platformer
#69 Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando  Game InfoPublisher: Sony Computer EntertainmentDeveloper: Insomniac GamesPlatform: PS2Genre(s): PlatformerPlayers: 1ESRB Rating: T (Teen)Release Date: November 11, 2003Intro:Ratchet & Clank give
an interview about their adventures as champions of the Universe, which
is seen by someone in need of assistance. In no time, they are whisked
away on another adventure. The intro draws the player briefly into the
backstory of our two heroes without being dr... Continue reading ...
#76 Viewtiful Joe Game InfoPublisher: CapcomDeveloper: Clover StudioPlatform: PS2Genre(s): ActionPlayers: 1ESRB Rating: T (Teen)Release Date: August 24, 2004Intro:Joe
takes his girlfriend to the movies to see a classic superhero movie,
his favorite. When his hero is defeated, the villain snatches his girl,
bringing her into the movie. His hero, grabs him from the seats and
takes him into the movie, as well, granting him the super powers to save
his girl and the day.Getting Going:Viewti... 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 ...
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 Saturday, November 20, 2010,
In :
Sports
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Game InfoPublisher: Activision Developer: Neversoft EntertainmentPlatform: PS2Genre(s): Alternative SportsPlayers: 1-8 PlayersESRB Rating: T(Teen)Release Date: October 23, 2002Intro:Real,
old, sometimes scratchy, footage of the professional skaters featured
in the game tease players. The pros are seen competing, skating at
parks, doing tricks and goofing around in the environment. You may not
be able to perform those tricks in real life, but the thought of be... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 14, 2010,
In :
Fighting
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution Game InfoPublisher: SegaDeveloper: SegaPlatform: PS2Genre(s): FightingPlayers: 1-2 PlayersESRB Rating: T(Teen)Release Date: August 13, 2003Intro:Evolution
begins with a fighting scene montage that shows each fighter, along
with their name, which allows the player to get to know the player
characters before the game starts.Getting Going:Players can choose from a number of play options:- Arcade
- Vs
- Duel against a human opponent.
- Quest
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 ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, September 25, 2010,
In :
Platformer
#63 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Game Info Publisher: SCEA Developer: Naughty Dog Genre(s): PlatformerPlatform: PS2 Players: 1 Player ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Release Date: December 3, 2001Intro:Narrated
by the Green Sage, the story begins with a willful student who does
something he was told directly not to do. His friend pays the price.
The pair return to the sage to tell their story and are sent t... Continue reading ...
#33 God of War II Game InfoPublisher: Sony Computer
Entertainment America Developer: SCE Santa Monica
Genre(s): Third-Person Action,
AdventurePlatform:
PS2
Players: 1 ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release
Date:
March 13, 2007Intro:
The intro is very
brief, telling the backstory of Kratos, whose bitterness towards the
gods of Olympus has grown. Kratos, is himself, a god now and the
Spartans fight for him. But, ... Continue reading ...
#21 Devil May Cry Game Info Publisher: CapcomDeveloper: CapcomPlatform: PS2 Genre(s): Action
Players: 1 ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release
Date:
October 17, 2001Intro:
Figures of flame move
against a solid dark background, sometimes brandishing a sword, and
sometimes, dual pistols. As the story begins, a mysterious woman jumps
down from a building top. She looks down the street to a neon sign that
says “Devil... 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 ...
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Game InfoPublisher:
Rockstar Games Developer: Rockstar North Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Action, Racing Players: 2 ESRB
Rating: AO (Adults Only) Release Date: October 26,
2004
Intro:The intro to Grand Theft Auto: San
Andreas is rather nondescript. Random snapshots of gangster-type
personalities flash across the screen as music plays and the credits
roll. The player becomes aware that San Andreas will be about
gangs, but while the mostly Hispanic shots give away the... Continue reading ...
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Game InfoPublisher:
Rockstar Games Developer: Rockstar North Platform:
PS2
Genre(s): Action, Racing Players: 1 ESRB
Rating: M (Mature) Release Date: October 28, 2002
Intro:
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City begins with a Miami
Vice-style video montage of girls in bathing suits, cars, and neon
lights, while the credits appear on-screen. There are no gameplay
scenes in the opening credits, but the game effectively brings the
player back into the 80's using nostalgic ima... 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 Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
In :
Music
Guitar Hero II Game InfoPublisher:
RedOctane Developer: Harmonix Platform: PS2
Genre(s):
Music Players: 2 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Release
Date: November 7, 2006
Intro: Just as
in Guitar Hero, the intro is relatively straight-foward, keeping
the player's desire to get playing in mind. After a brief cartoon
guitar fight, the load screen comes up and the player is taken through
the same basic player decisions as in Guitar Hero. Immediately
noticeable is the addition of new player characters to pl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Saturday, March 20, 2010,
In :
Music
Game Info
Publisher: Red
Octane
Developer: Harmonix
Platform: PS2
Genre(s):
Music
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release
Date: November 7, 2005
Intro:
The intro to the
first game in the franchise is pretty simple. The sound of a slide
across guitar strings and visuals of real players tuning their guitars
and turning up their amps gives way to the load screen. Players are
prompted to choose a band name and then a rocker. A mini-tutorial of
the controls is shown and an image of an...
Continue reading ...
TimeSplitters 2Game InfoPublisher:
Eidos Interactive Developer: Free Radical Design Genre(s):
First-Person Shooter, Action Platform: PS2
Players:
16 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Release Date:
October 8, 2002
Intro: The game starts on
an apparent spaceship with a Stargate-type portal on the bridge.
Creatures of a sort, called TimeSplitters have taken a crystal
and are entering one-by-one into the portal with pieces of this crystal
while a male and female who look somewhat like bounty hunters try to... Continue reading ...
 OkamiGame InfoPublisher: Capcom Developer: Clover Studio Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Adventure Players: 1 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Release Date: September 19, 2006 Intro:The
intro took a full 20 minutes. This seems to have been common in game
design on the older systems. The story is setup via a series of scrolls
that are "read" with verbal gibberish while the artistic cinematic
plays before the player. In other words, there is no real voice acting
and the player must read the scrolls while watching the ... Continue reading ...
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Platform
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 2, 2004
Intro:
After a montage of gameplay scenes designed to get the player
excited about gameplay, the scene opens on a chess-type game between
Ratchet and Clank. There is a minor power struggle here followed by a
video where we see that... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Tuesday, December 15, 2009,
In :
Sports
Tony Hawk's Underground
Member
by
Shelly
on
December 15, 2009 at
11:23 AM
... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 22, 2009,
In :
Fighting
#48 Soul Calibur IIGame Info
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Fighting, Action
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: August 26, 2003
Intro:
The
dynamic intro to this game gets is visually stunning. From the
multiple player characters to the scenery, weapons and sound,
everything about this intro made me want to dig into this game and
play. It doesn't give a backstory, it simply teases the player into
action.
Getting Go... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 22, 2009,
In :
Fighting
#24 Virtua Fighter 4
Game Info
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Fighting
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: March 19, 2002
Intro:
The opening CG for this game is nicely lit in neon. It looks pretty
cool. There isn't much of an intro before getting to the main screen
and getting ready to play, but that's ok, because this is the kind of
game you want to play, not watch.
Getting Going:
There are a few options in the o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 22, 2009,
In :
Sports
# 19 Madden NFL 2002
Game Info
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: Electronic Arts - Tiburon
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: August 21, 2001
Intro:
The opening animations Madden NFL 2002 give a great feel and add
anticipation to playing an NFL game. I could tell from the start that
EA Sports had put a lot of work into player animations, which meant
that the play would feel at least like watching a game on TV... Continue reading ...
#43 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Game Info
Publisher: Ubi Soft
Developer: Ubi Soft Montreal
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Action, Adventure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 6, 2003
Intro:
My first thought was "what intro?". It seemed to have a floating
camera scene leading to an extreme close-up of a female then curtains
and voila, there was a guy on the veranda. I was waiting for the cut
scene until I realized I was supposed ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, November 9, 2009,
In :
Sports
#61 NCAA Football 2002
Game Info
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: Tiburon
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: July 24, 2001
Intro:
Showing the mascots of the various teams and the cheers of the
crowd, NCAA Football 2002 really does capture the excitement and feel
of a broadcast college football game.
Getting Going:
While many things are shown in the manual and on-screen, the
controls are complicated and nu... Continue reading ...
# 23 God of War
Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: SCE Studios Santa Monica
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: March 22, 2005
Intro:
The intro to God of War is brief and confusing. That's actually a good
thing. I didn't know why Kratos was mad at the gods or why he felt his
life was no longer worth living, but I figured the story would unfold.
This ... Continue reading ...
#4 Grand Theft Auto IIIGame Info
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: DMA Design
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: October 23, 2001
Intro:
The intro is brief. I liked that. I was able to get going in the
game pretty rapidly. It established the back-story, at least a little
bit and got me going in the game quickly.
Getting Going:
An in-game tutorial lets you know what to do pretty effectively.
The camera angles wer... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, November 1, 2009,
In :
Sports
#3 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Game Info
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft Entertainment
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Sports, Action
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 30, 2001
Intro:
While Ace of Spades plays, 13 professional skaters perform stunning
skating feats and, really, who doesn't want to try that out? The intro
is very effective at drawing the player in and giving them a small
taste of the gameplay that might be coming. ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Monday, October 26, 2009,
In :
Sports
#30 SSXGame Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 26, 2000
Intro:
From
the time you put in SSX, you know it's going to be fun. The Player
Characters are introduced briefly in sports-show-like format and each
has a unique personality. The intro shows the game and effectively
draws you in to make you want to play. The music, the courses, the
characters, everything... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Sunday, October 25, 2009,
In :
RPG
# 58 Final Fantasy XIIGame Info
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 31, 2006
Intro: Final
Fantasy XII begins with an opening cinematic that rivals most fantasy
movies. The world of Ivalice unfolds before your eyes with a royal
celebration. The populace parties in the streets and the player is
effectively introduced to the multitude of cultures and ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Friday, October 16, 2009,
Posted by Shelly Warmuth on Thursday, October 15, 2009,
In :
Racing Genre
Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Polyphony Digital Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Racing
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: July 11, 2001 Intro:
I have to say, the intro to this game had me going. The camera pans over the shiny curves of a sports car as the garage door opens and we are treated to some pretty sweet graphics as fluid enters the chambers and we have combustion. Cars were shown on various tracks and there were so many t... Continue reading ...
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