Best original games of the past five years

[Archangel]

Sequels, sequels everywhere. You look at the big releases, and it's all IV this and 3 that; after E³, one could be excused for thinking that Halo, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy and Assassin's Creed were the only franchises around. Part of that is obviously due to their popular prequels having huge fan-bases anxiously waiting for the next chapter and thus fanning the flames of hype, while many original titles appear to arrive out of the blue...

So I was wondering just which original titles you enjoyed the most in recent years. For the record, as much as I loved Shadow of the Colossus, I consider it to be an Ico prequel, just as I have a hard time thinking of Bioshock (brilliant though it may be) as an original game, seeing as how it is the obvious spiritual successor to the equally brilliant System Shock 2.

For me, it's:

Okami
Dead Space
inFamous
Mass Effect
Portal
God of War
Psychonauts

Crysis, the afore mentioned Assassin's Creed and Prototype certainly warrant a mention, and I guess many of you would put Gears of War on their lists, as well.

[hatepoppy]

rockbands!

[Archangel]

Negro please.

[Hanover Fist]

I would definitely say Guitar Hero because it came first even though I think Rockband was much better, it was definitely original and innovative and it was a hell of a lot of fun.

[the creeps]

bioshock.

[Jericho]

I'm a big platformer guy

Ratchet and Clank series
Sly Cooper series

[theAlbinoWine-O]

littlebigplanet

[hatepoppy]

rock band rock band rock band rock band rock banD!!!!!

[jakeoff13]

I played an MMO named Dungeon Runners that makes fun of WoW and all the others...It was pretty fun

[jakeoff13]

Oh and while it isn't in 'recent years' I still gotta love Starcraft

[Draven X 23]

I would definitely say Guitar Hero because it came first even though I think Rockband was much better, it was definitely original and innovative and it was a hell of a lot of fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GuitarFreaks

Not really that original.

[Draven X 23]

I'd go with Left 4 Dead. A group based Survival Horror type game.

Dead Rising. First zombie game I played where pretty much everything was a weapon.

Portal the FPS/Puzzler. Was short and sweet.

[TheImpossibleMan]

Mass Effect.

[Bizz]

Portal. /thread

[Draven X 23]

Mass Effect.

I liked mass effect. It was the Star Trek game I have always wanted.

[TheImpossibleMan]

Mass Effect is so deep, so rewarding. The Paragon/Renegade element is executed so well. The more you play it, the better it gets, and it has incredible replay value. One of the best games I've ever played.

[Change]

UFC 2009
Mass Effect
World of Goo

[Mustard]

Crash Bandicoot

[HarbingerofBoom]

Portal
Psychonauts
Left4Dead

[STDSkillz]

Mass Effect, Portal and Left 4 Dead. And since KOTOR is only six years old, I'm going to say that one too.

[Change]

Call of Cthulhu and The Wicher are a couple more.

[Archangel]

The Witcher? Seriously?

[Change]

It had a few minor issues and some needlessly complex components but god damn i thought it was one of the best fantasy rpgs I've ever played.

[STDSkillz]

I got that game for free when I bought one of my video cards. Are you saying I should actually install it?

[Change]

If you love fantasy rpgs then yes do it now.

[Gary_Busey]

The Witcher was a pretty solid RPG.

[Archangel]

I am really, REALLY looking forward to Bayonetta, by the way. I hope it won't let me down.

[Change]

I forgot Age of Conan

[Ocelot]

I'll have to say

Mass Effect
Left 4 Dead
Rock Band
WoW
Portal
InFamous
Bioshock
LittleBigPlanet
Braid
World of Goo
Mirror's Edge (It's okay)
Patapon

and the upcoming Scribblenauts.

[El Kikko]

Sins of a Solar Empire FTW.