I thought it would be fun to try and predict the top 20 critical successes of this year based on either real data if the game has been released, or the closest game to represent the title by. Ex. Gears of War 2 will be represented by Gears of War 1's score. I used Gamerankings to compile the scores. It seems the games that end up being among the best are not always the ones we expect to be. I'm pretty sure Call of Duty 4 was for many a surprise critical masterpiece during the early parts of '07. I'm going to give a list I compiled and if anyone wants to challenge it, i'll make adjustments if they fit. Just as a note, no games made by first time developers can be included since there's no historical data to pull up, so unfortunately Little Big Planet will not be eligible, even though I'm confident it'll be among the best by year's end. This is meant to be fun, so please try not to make this a huge war amongst consoles.

20. Fracture 87.1%
Developer: Day 1 Studios
Publisher: Lucas Arts
Platforms: PS3, 360
Data Used: MechAssault score

19. Aliens: Colonel Marines/Borderlands/Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway 88.0%
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: Sega(Aliens)/2K Games(Borderlands)/Ubisoft(Brothers in Arms)
Platforms: PS3, 360, PC
Data Used: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 score. All three games I believe are being developed by the same team so I made it into a large tie.


18. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena 88.3%
Developer: Starbreeze Entertainment
Publisher: Vivendi Games
Platforms: PS3, 360, PC
Data Used: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay score.

17. Project Origin 88.7%
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Platforms: PS3, 360, PC
Data Used: F.E.A.R. score

16. Burnout Paradise 88.9%
Developer: Criterion
Publisher: EA
Platforms: PS3, 360
Data Used: The actual Burnout Paradise score


15. Tekken 6 89.0%
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Platforms: PS3
Data Used: Tekken 5 score

14. Alan Wake 89.6%
Developer: Remedy
Publisher: Microsoft
Platforms: 360, PC
Data Used: Max Payne score

13. Brutal Legend 90.2%
Developer: Double Fine
Publisher: Vivendi Games
Platforms: PS3, 360
Data Used: Psychonauts score. Okami scores highe because it isn't preliminary.


12. Okami 90.2%
Developer: Ready At Dawn
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Wii
Data Used: Actual Okami Wii score. It can change as this game is still receving new scores weekly.

11. Valkyria Chronicles 90.3%
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: PS3
Data Used: Skies of Arcadia score

10. Banjo-Kazooie 3 92.0%
Develope: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft
Platforms: 360
Data Used: Banjo-Kazooie score

9. Soulcalibur IV 92.3%
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Platforms: PS3, 360
Data Used: Soul Calibur II score because of guest characters returning, and supposedly better balance than 3

8. Fallout 3 92.5%
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: Bethesda
Platforms: PS3, 360, PC
Data Used: The average of Fallout(91.0%) and Elder Scolls IV(93.9%)

7. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution 93.1%
Developer: Firaxis
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: PS3, 360, DS
Data Used: Civilization IV score

6. Gears of War 2 93.8%
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Platforms: 360
Data Used: Gears of War score

5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction 93.9%
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: 360, PC
Data Used: Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory score because every odd Splinter Cell is made by the "A team"

4. Ninja Gaiden II 94.0%
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo
Platforms: 360
Data Used: Ninja Gaiden Black score. It score below Smash Bros. because it's data is preliminary

3. Super Smash Bros. Brawl 94.0%
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii
Data Used: Actual Super Smash Bros. Brawl score

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 94.8%
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PS3
Data Used: Metal Gear Solid 2 score because it's the direct sequel

1. Grand Theft Auto IV 94.9%
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS3, 360
Data Used: Grand Theft Auto III score

ahhhh You forgot Ghostbusters. JK

 But you are going to get some anger about Killzone 2, and Ressitence 2 from people

If I could put Ghostbusters on that list it would sit right there at #1 without a doubt.

About Killzone 2, if you have to ask why it isn't on the list then you know nothing about the original(not you kenzo, I mean just in general). Resistance 2 was actually #21 for anyone wondering, with a score of 86.7%. It just missed the cut.

I'm surprised that Valkyria Chronicles scored so highly. I was wondering if you could tell me your rational for it's score. Please and thank you.

Hey I like the list but come morning this thread is going to light up.

I'm fine with most predictions, but this one just seems so...futile. Every one will probably be wrong except maybe (and I hate to admit it) GTAIV.

Anywho, here's my list:

20. MGS4
19. MGS4
18. MGS4
17. MGS4
16. MGS4
15. MGS4
14. MGS4
13. MGS4
12. MGS4
11. MGS4
10. MGS4
9. MGS4
8. MGS4
7. MGS4
6. MGS4
5. MGS4
3. MGS4
2. LBP
1. MGS4

I hope I get at least one right.

(watch MGS4 get #2, lol)

Ahh...that makes sense. I just couldn't figure out what previous video game's ratings you were basing the score off of. Thank you much.

That was a great read with a lot of foresight and effort put into it. Thanks for the write up.

Everyone is hoping that Alan Wake will be released this year but it may slip next year unfortunately.