Oh, Canada! Not only are we a nation of voracious game players, we also rock when it comes to developing some of the best games out there. To celebrate Canada Day this year, save yourself from those UV rays and kick back with some Canuck-created content. Here are a few suggestions:
NHL 08: What could be more Canadian than a Canadian-made hockey game? The latest in EA Canada’s NHL series, NHL 08 puts you right in the game, with authentic player likenesses including crazy-realistic details like signature jersey tucks and on-the-fly artificial intelligence.
Turok: Vancouver-based Propaganda Games were at the helm of this first person dino-tastic shooter. The environment is gritty and dank and will make you thankful to live in this lovely, dinosaur-free country of ours.
skate: Another Vancouver-born game, skate’s animations are so killer that you’ll never do the same trick the same way. Created by EA BlackBox, skate adopts a sk8r’s attitude: there’s not a linear story to follow, but rather an opportunity for each character to create his or her own rules.
N+: I recently wrote about my addiction to this Xbox Live Arcade gem. This simply-designed action/puzzle game by Toronto developers Metanet, promises to suck you in and keep you there.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2: What happens in Vegas is a good time when you’re playing the latest in the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six series. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, this game is a wild ride through Sin City, and a wicked multiplayer game.
The BIGS: Another Vancouver-developed sports game, The BIGS brings baseball to a whole new level. Developed by Blue Castle Games, The BIGS boasts not only realistic players and gameplay, but larger than life stadium surroundings.
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja: Anime, Canadian style. Naruto: Rise of a Ninja has been developed from the ground up by Ubisoft Montreal for the Xbox 360. The look and feel is authentically anime and manga, and the fighting techniques are unique: in order to better define your own way of the ninja, you need to learn to control your chakra.
Need for Speed: ProStreet: Another EA Black Box series, Need for Speed practically defines the street racing genre. Need for Speed: ProStreet takes players global, as racers rev up against each other in cities around the world.
Mass Effect: Edmonton’s BioWare developed this futuristic action-packed role playing game last year for the Xbox 360, and has since picked up industry awards for Best RPG. Part of the game’s appeal is its dynamic dialogue, which allows the player to direct conversations based on the responses chosen.
What are some of your favourite Canadian-made games? Any I missed? Tell us in the Xbox.ca forums!
