“Best Of…” Video Games Of 2015

Written by: J. Johnson

Entertainment does have its forms, as does many other platforms other can get that same level of excitement. For many people across the world the video game platform in 2015 has brought some amazing excitement and competition amongst one another. Whether it’s a series that serves its 5th installment with the main character being plagued as a traitor, fighters coming together to protect or takeover the realms, or athletes compete for supremacy the gamers involved make the video game scene a great environment.

2015 in video games definitely has brought the best line up of video games to date with improves of existing franchises to newly added games for any dedicated gamer. The PS4 & XBox One are the two main systems in 2015 that had some sort of competition to bring more players and push out more units. Fortunately the friendly-yet-competitive rivaling company had their moments of victory during the seasons, but it seems like the PS4 had more of the edge on them especially coming out as more exclusive games are released to the PS4. Hey exclusivity some times has its perks and the PS4 (Sony) took the claim as best console. Although 2016, still shows some hope for (Microsoft) who knows what other amazing line-up in the beginning of the new year.

So without talking about how great 2015 was lets take to that list of video games that give me… I mean us the competitive edge on the opposing side! Here’s the “Best Of…” Video Games Of 2015:

I. Mortal Kombat X (2015)
Round 1… FIGHT! Oh that classic phrase has been in our heads for decades and to be perfectly honest it doesn’t get tiresome hearing it either. Ever get that edge to want to fight like Sub-Zero? Imagine an ice ball forming in your hands only to throw it at someone to see them freeze. It would be COOL! Mortal Kombat brought the franchise to a different outlook of the series, especially since Mortal Kombat (2011) served as reboot, that was a foresight into the past, and all the events that happen in the first three games sort of “never happen”. Kind of confusing, but simply put Mortal Kombat (2011) & Mortal Kombat X are “what if” stories that trail into an alternate timeline. The game is a little too perfect, but for a fighting game fan like myself I don’t mind it as I grew up on Mortal Kombat since Shang Tsung was sporting the funky Chinese robe and long white beard. Oh yes, Shang Tsung isn’t in this game as he died in the previous game how unfortunate, but isn’t Tsung a sorcerer of great power that he can simply… The story mode is definitely one of the shining gems as it follows the veterans of MK along with introducing some new characters. The lead new characters are descendants of the veteran main character’s which adds a deeper meaning to the game. You will have fun uncovering the true intentions with the force of evil.

You know what some of the single player features like the ‘Living Tower’, ‘Traditional Towers’, and ‘Kustom Kombat’ modes add a level of fun to the game so it won’t get too boring fast. The added faction features give you a competitive mindset as you can battle everyone from around the world. Test your might against the denizens of earth online and power your way to make your faction (Brotherhood of Shadows, White Lotus, Lin Kuei, Special Forces, or Black Dragon) the best. In all that you can also participate in the ‘Invasions’ which is a realm (i.e. The Chaos Realm) coming to takeover. Defeat the realm’s boss to reign supreme. AHHH I almost forgot don’t can’t leave out the tremendous guest characters that grace this year’s game as Jason Voorhees, Predator, Xenomorph (Tarkatan) Alien, and Leatherface butcher their way to home consoles from their respective franchises. It again adds a level of excitement for the hardcore fans that have admired those franchise… if only a dolly who always wanted to play made an appearance… Hmm.. Maybe next time. In the end MKX is definitely a 5/5 for the hardcore fans of the franchise, but hey can you say no to the a little; MORTAL KOMBATTTTT!!!!!!!!!

II. Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
Are the ‘Prophets’ back along with The Arbiter? Or are we going to see Master Chief kick more Brutes’ ass with the brutal hammer of Armageddon (yes I know that’s the name of the weapon if only I had some Gravity to bring some people back to their sense). No, it’s not actually any of that seeing how Halo: 5 brings in some sort of battle between Master Chief and Spartan Locke. Really, thought can you call it a battle with a name like Locke coming to bring you in? Maybe. Make no mistake – “Halo 5: Guardians” is easily the best-looking and best-playing game in the entirety of the “Halo” franchise.

What needs to be highlighted here is how many fresh ideas Guardians manages to inject into that formula and not only keep that nearly indescribable quality up but also improve on it. Of course, Halo has been expanding on Spartan abilities since forever. From dual wielding to armor abilities, Bungie and 343 Industries have slowly been taking Master Chief and his cohorts from extraordinarily tough jarheads to relative demigods. Guardians, however, has had the most impactful expansion yet, partly in due to its brush-up against some more modern sensibilities; sprinting and iron sights are just there. But even these were smartly integrated, being that sprinting is also a gateway to more abilities and smart-linking—the idiomatic term for scoped aiming—doesn’t actually improve accuracy. (Well, it does, kind of, but only with unwieldy things like the SMG.)

While the indistinguishable difference in precision is vital for maintaining Halo‘s freedom of and impetus for mobility, the increased ability to get from place to place has opened up a whole new range of options when fighting. Sprint to shoulder charge and then thrust dodge off the edge to the right before hovering with smart-link to get a few headshots, all just to ground pound the fuck out of the clueless Grunts below.

Guardians has actually made itself stand out even further. Even standing away from the undercover Black Ops’ shoulder all together. That rhythm has learned new meters and measures, offering not only more of the best but new facets of the best. It’s not just a new chapter. It’s a whole new god damn book.

(Continue to page 2: WWE 2K16 (2015) & Page 3: Fallout 4 (2015))