Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

"I already don't like you - don't make it worse for yourself."

You're not afraid of the dark, are you? In a world of Tom Clancy's making, you should be. They lurk in the darkness. They strike from the darkness. They embody the darkness. And no game renders darkness quite as well as Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, the third in the stealth series.

Sam Fisher returns in all his gravelly-voiced glory to split jump up walls, dangle from pipes and interrogate soldiers before ghosting back into the shadows. The many, many shadows. May your brightness and contrast settings be set in your favour.

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

"It's time to split!"

Time travel. An endless source of science fiction storytelling. A huge well of potential for exotic locales and larger than life characters. An excellent excuse to include monkeys in a first-person shooter.

Hitting the PlayStation 2 for the third time is TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, standing on the shoulders of TimeSplitters 2, or perhaps more appropriately, going back in time and stealing what worked for a solid foundation to build upon.

You know what to expect. Gangly-looking characters, a silly plot, exaggerated acting and amazing multiplayer support. Let's relive the good old days.

The Warriors

Come out to play.

There's only one thing I know about The Warriors, and it's that quote. "Waaaarrriors. Come out to plaaaay-aaayyyy." I have literally no context for it, though. Not a clue. Something about gangs and that's about it. Will my lack of knowledge of the film impact my enjoyment of The Warriors, the video game adaptation, I guess you'd call it, released a quarter of a century after the film?

That's what we're here to find out, as we tear through New York City streets under the cover of darkness to wreak havoc and spray paint and kick the shit out of seemingly everyone. I don't really know what we're going to get up to, to be fair. Just a vibe I'm getting.

The Movies

Action!

Source // Moby Games

The urge to create can be found within us all. Some of us want to do it more than others, granted, but deep down, we humans like it when something new comes into this world, especially when we put it there.

Back in my youth, I was into movie making. Nothing remarkable, mind you, even after A-Levels and Diplomas. The movie-making bug has long since been cast out of my system, but I certainly see the appeal in going through all that effort, the blood, sweat, and tears, to get your vision onto the screen, and so does The Movies.

One part machinima creation suite, one part Hollywood Movie Studio business simulator, The Movies lets players live out their movie star dreams, taking on the role of basically everything as you strive to run a successful studio, churning out your own movies, even sharing them online for the world to see.

Will it rekindle the spark I had way back when? Am I the next Spielberg?

Psychonauts

"One time, I made someone's head explode."

Imagination. For every wonderful idea you get out of it, there's an equally dreadful idea competing for attention. Wouldn't it be adorable if dogs brought you your slippers by wearing them? Leaving their bacteria covered teeth exposed and capable of biting you when you got too close to take your slippers. Your skin punctured, dog dribble seeping into the wound, you start to panic. You turn white. You don't want rabies. I just wanted my slippers.

Imagination. It can lead to some remarkable things, as proven by platforming spectacle Psychonauts, an exploration of the inner workings of us all. Memories, fears, hopes and dreams, secrets locked away, and a scattering of emotional baggage. We've got it all. And it's all very weird.

Shadow of the Colossus

What, uh... What's the weather like? Up there? You know... because you're tall.

The PlayStation 2 was home to an incredible range of hits over more genres than I could list. There really was something for everyone, and if you wanted an artistic, thought-provoking, giant killer, was there anything that fit the bill better than Shadow of the Colossus?

Taking on the role of Wander, you'll traverse lands empty of life but full of colossi, huge (like, really, really big) beasts of all shapes and sizes. Colossi that need dealing with. Are you up to the task?

Silent Hunter III

Dive! Dive! Dive!

For the good of the country, you have been asked - ordered, perhaps - to remain indoors wherever possible. If you can work from home, do so. Get yourself enough food to not need to go to the shops for a while (but don't be a dick and horde things you don't need), and settle in for what might be a long time. Keep your spirits up and help your neighbours, because we're in this together. Also, you're underwater in a metal coffin, dodging depth charges and naval convoys in the middle of the Atlantic. Good luck.

As I write this, the UK lockdown is easing (Wrongly? Rightly? 2021 will tell us, I'm sure), but the whole experience does put some perspective on the incredible lengths people will go to - must go to - in times of war. You know, they're being asked to change their lives, you're being told to stay on the sofa. It doesn't compare.

One of those insane feats is to willingly serve in a submarine crew, an experience faithfully recreated in Silent Hunter III, a Second World War submarine simulator. You're good with tight spaces, aren't you?

We ♥ Katamari

"Royal Rainbow!"

The absurdity returns to the 1001 list with We ♥ Katamari, the sticky ball roller that was such a surprise hit that even its designer had to question it all. Why was there so much love for such a strange little game? Can you even make a sequel to such a thing? Wouldn't it just dilute whatever the first one meant to people?

To give thanks to the fans, the Prince is back to give them what they want. More of the same, essentially.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Any, uh...

Is there a more iconic word in video gaming? Well, probably, yeah. Is there a more iconic written word in video gaming? Nothing springs to mind, so let's run with it.

Would you imagine a courtroom to be a place to base an entire series of games around? Could a lawyer really be that likeable? You wouldn't think there's much of an entertaining game to be found here, but Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is more than happy to prove otherwise.

From digging through the case files to find a contradiction, to the over the top characters doing anything to get off the hook, Ace Attorney tells the tale of Phoenix Wright, rookie defence lawyer, as he pokes holes wherever they need to be poked. Assuming you were paying attention to the story.

Button up your shirt and tighten your ties. The court is in session.

Rebelstar: Tactical Command

Not for the over-30's.

Rebelstar. Rebelstar... where have I heard that name before? Turns out, long, long ago, I failed to emulate Rebelstar for this very 1001 list. I was apparently really rather interested in seeing X-Com on a ZX Spectrum and was saddened by not being able to play it.

I've still not gone back and tried to get it going again, but maybe now that Rebelstar: Tactical Command is making itself known on the Game Boy Advance, I'll be more inspired to try getting Rebelstar going again.

Wait. The Game Boy Advance? There's an X-Com on the GBA?