Top Ten Open World Settings

We're fresh off the heels of the release of Saints Row IV, and many have fallen in love with the game. Of course, the big open world game is releasing in just a handful of weeks, Grand Theft Auto V. While we have a breather between those two games SuperPhillip Central has come up with a list of our favorite open world settings. These are ones that were a ton of fun to explore, ones we got absolute lost in (the good kind of lost), and ones that took our breaths away. Now, make note that these aren't necessarily the best-- they're simply our personal favorites. We hope this list is satisfactory, but if not, please set us straight in the comments section once you've read the rationale for our selections.

10) Willamette Mall - Dead Rising (360)

Many of the open worlds on this list will feature expansive areas. However, we're picking quality over quantity with this first pick, Willamette Mall from Dead Rising, one of the best Xbox 360 exclusives. What does one do in a town situated in Colorado that doesn't have much going for it? Why, you head to the mall for entertainment, and what a mall the quaint little town of Willamette has! If you can ignore the thousands of zombies eagerly awaiting to get a taste of your flesh, you can visit one of six unique areas (the North Plaza is under construction, so pardon the mess!), close to eighty incredible stores, a food court to give you that beer belly you've always been wanting, a movie theater (a great place for human sacrifices), and even a supermarket. Using every tool at Frank West's disposal, you could cut a swath through the zombie masses as you fought for your life to stay alive for that next news tip from Otis, to defeat that one nasty psychopath, or rescue that unlucky survivor. Willamette Mall has an immense amount of variety for such a [relatively] small space to work with. Who knew malls could be so much fun?

9) Stilwater - Saints Row 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

This pick might be favoritism, as it comes from one of our most loved GTA-inspired titles of the past two generations. It's Stilwater (that's with one "L") from Saints Row 2, offering a city of vices, gang activity, and crime. Fun for the whole family! Stilwater is divided up into two main islands, split up by a large river. The bottom half is where the player starts, and it is home to the titular Saints Row, contains decidedly lower-class buildings and communities, the airport, the stadium, and a refinery. Meanwhile, the top half of Stilwater encompasses a higher lifestyle with an urban skyscraper jungle in the central and eastern portions and suburban life in the western segments. Perhaps why we love Stilwater so much is because of the times we played online with friends and just screwed around, running into traffic, getting the po-po after us, and just going hog wild. Stilwater is truly a fun place.

8) Skyrim - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3, 360, PC)

Are you like us and have a strong resistance to frost? Then you will get along well with the Nords, the race of people that make up the majority of the population in the massive land of Skyrim. Skyrim is a region at the northmost point of the continent of Tamriel. It features a wide array of terrain, including frosty fjords, tundras, plains (mostly to the west), forests, and highlands. However, it's important to note that the majority of Skyrim is highly mountainous, featuring plenty of caverns, cliffs and other forms of verticality. Skyrim is full of interesting kingdoms, cities, and lesser towns to journey through, making coming across a new area all the more exciting. While Skyrim is, indeed, large, it can sometimes be a negative, as there is a lot of filler between points of interest. Still, the fine folks at Bethesda managed to create yet another engrossing world to explore.

7) Paradise City - Burnout Paradise (PS3, 360, PC)

Paradise City may be the site of Burnout Paradise, where the goal is to rev one's engine and race, but don't forget to take in the sites. Paradise City is split in two parts, the rural sections make up mountainous terrain in the west, and the urban sections make up the eastside of the city. These two sections are comprised of multiple districts, each with their own set of buildings and landmarks to separate themselves from the next. Those that might think that being a fast car will allow you to speed through all Paradise City has to offer in a few hours will be let known that their assumption is wrong. Paradise City spans approximately twenty-five square miles and over 200 miles of road. It's a playground for racing fans, Burnout Paradise's Paradise City is number seven on our list.

6) Bullworth - Bully (360, Wii, PC, PS2, XBX)

Bullworth is just your above average Northeastern coastal town, nestled in New Hampshire. There's of course Bullworth Academy, where Bully's protagonist Jimmy Hopkins struggles to get along with the faculty. There's the commercial district, full of sites to see, stores to shop, a fire station, a bank, a run-down movie theater, an off-limits porno shop, a comic book nook, a motel that the older set can stay for the night... or for an hour to do... grown-up things, and much more. Don't forget the prestigious Old Bullworth Vale, where the Preppies call their home. While Bullworth isn't the largest open world setting, it was absolutely enjoyable to ride around on Jimmy's bike, find rubber band collectibles, and just take in how perfectly Rockstar managed to convey a New England town.

5) Panau - Just Cause 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

The game world of the fictional island of Panau is a terrific open world sandbox setting, allowing players to tackle it any way they see fit. Some would make the option of doing anything impossible. While saying Just Cause 2's open world island allows literally anything possible is a faux pas, a lot can be done. The island has so many components to it: deserts, forests, a colorful city, arctic mountains, beaches, and if you get a bit dry parachuting off a skyscraper, oceans. Panau is a virtual playground where the goal is to create as much chaos as possible. You play Just Cause 2 your way on your terms, and exploring the massive isle of Panau will greatly give you that opportunity.

4) LEGO City - LEGO City Undercover (Wii U)

This selection will probably not be understood, as a lot of the gaming community does not have a Wii U. That's okay. Just let us explain. LEGO City is split up between two halves, much like Saints Row 2's Stilwater. However, instead of being split up horizontally, LEGO City is split up vertically in half. Regardless, there are a myriad amount of districts, each based off different cities around the globe. The first area of the game, Cherry Tree Hills, is heavily reminiscent of San Francisco, what, with its hills and cable car. There's the Times Square-esque Bright Lights Plaza, where we're sure they drop a LEGO stud on New Year's Eve rather than a ball. Then there's Fresco, a dead ringer for Venice, Italy. Nonetheless, that's not what makes LEGO City so great. What makes LEGO City so great is that there is literally something to do on every street corner, every block, every building, every rooftop. Secrets are everywhere, and while players just trying to beat the game and get LEGO City Undercover over with will overlook this, completionists will find an open world that is packed with content and a secret hidden behind every corner.

3) Liberty City - Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, 360, PC)

There were many versions of Liberty City to sort through and figure out which we, as a group, figured would be the best representation of the New York City-inspired metropolis. We finally all agreed on Grand Theft Auto IV's interpretation, featuring the most elements from the Big Apple. This includes its four boroughs, its overreaching into a New Jersey-like area, a Statue of Liberty replacement, and so much more. While Grand Theft Auto IV felt like realism took over the steering wheel and shoved the former driver, fun, in a trunk, there is no denying just how fantastic and real the world of Grand Theft Auto IV feels. It's something few developers have been able to routinely do, and Rockstar North is one of those elite few.

2) Vice City - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2, PC, MAC, IOS)

We love the 80's. It's when Mario was born. It's when some of the greatest sitcoms of all time debuted. It's when some of the worst sitcoms of all time debuted. It's when some interesting music was created. Having an open world setting that took all the majesty and magic of the 80's and made it into a virtual city was no easy task, but if anyone was up to it, it was Rockstar North. They ultimately succeeded in a big way, delivering a Miami-like setting with cool cars, neon lights, and lots of frizzy hair. It was fun driving down the strip in a sports car with Hall and Oates blaring from the speakers. Vice City may be incredibly small in comparison to the other Grand Theft Auto worlds represented on this list, but it is certainly one of the most memorable ones.

1) San Andreas - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, XBX, PC)

Here it is, our choice for our favorite open world setting. It's San Andreas from none other than Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Somehow Rockstar North managed to not make just one, not two, but three separate cities that were fully-realized. Creating just one city that is fun to explore and seems realistic enough to feel lived in is a monumental task, yet somehow, on PS2-level hardware, they managed three. If having a miniature Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas isn't enough, the expanses in between the grand metropolises have their own interesting topography, including mountains, forests, plains and deserts. While our Dead Rising pick had to do with quality over quantity, San Andreas delivers on both ends of the spectrum, showcasing a world that is an absolute blast to mess around in, take in the sites, and hunt after that ever-elusive Bigfoot. Is it any wonder why the upcoming and much hyped Grand Theft Auto V will be taking us back to part of San Andreas?

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (100-91)

If you're not in the loop, let us enlighten you. Five years ago on this very day, one person started a little blog. Little did he know that this small blog would evolve into something many readers would stick with worldwide. Little did he know that he'd need more staff to help him deliver content on every weekday. Little did he know that his blog would reach over 400 reviews. And little did he know that his blog would reach one million views on the very same day as the site's five year anniversary.

Yes, today is SuperPhillip Central's five year anniversary, and the site that was just about SuperPhillip has shifted focus since its inception to become an all-encompassing game site full of news, reviews, editorials, interviews, top ten lists, and more.

We're celebrating in a big way. SuperPhillip Central's staff have come together to come up with our top 100 games of all time. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, for the next ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking. Let's get to the countdown!

100) Chrono Cross (PS1)

Chrono Cross is the successor to the 1995 Super Nintendo classic Chrono Trigger. Many staff from that game moved onto work on Chrono Cross, including director Masato Kato, composer Yasunori Mitsuda, and art director Yasuyuki Honne. The game followed the exploits of Serge, a teenage lad who, in an alternate reality, is dead. You see, parallel worlds is a theme of Chrono Cross, and one that makes the plot so appealing. From the turn-based battle system, where players could run from every battle if they so choose, to the immense amount of characters that could join Serge's party, Chrono Cross is one of the PlayStation's better RPGs to grace the platform.

99) Saints Row 2 (Multi)

So often the press and gamers are so eager to name upcoming games as the *insert game series here*-killer. That was true with Saints Row 2. Unlike the original Saints Row, Saints Row 2 was a multiplatform affair, and one which was all kinds of wacky. While Grand Theft Auto IV went in a more realistic route, Saints Row 2 captured the fun and craziness that made past Grand Theft Auto games so enjoyable. Being able to customize your character however you wanted, participate in a myriad of off-the-wall side missions, and exploring the living, breathing city of Stilwater are all facets of Saints Row 2 that make it one of our favorite open world games.

98) Tales of Symphonia (GCN)

Tales of Symphonia released on a system, the GameCube, that didn't really receive a lot of RPGs. Now, we're not saying Tales of Symphonia is only worthwhile because it was on a system that didn't get many RPGs. No, we're listing this game because it was very good. Tales of Symphonia sported a beautiful cel-shaded art style, a great soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, and an entertaining battle system that made battles not a chore but a fun experience. We can't wait to replay the game when it hits the PlayStation 3 in HD form. We salivate at the very thought!

97) LocoRoco 2 (PSP)

A platformer like no other, LocoRoco 2 is played with the shoulder buttons of the PSP. Pressing the L button would make your LocoRoco move to the left, while the R button-- you guessed it, you smart, smart reader-- would move your LocoRoco to the right. Hitting both shoulder buttons at the same time made your lovable blob jump in the air. LocoRoco 2 featured a wealth of platforming challenges, a notable art style and musical score, and loads of charm. Between saving Muimui characters, finding all of the fruit in a given level, and saving the world from the Moja threat, LocoRoco 2 is one of our favorite PSP titles.

96) Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS)

We're going to admit something. We are not very good at rhythm games. We love them to death, but the skill that we need to play them just alludes us. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is one of those rhythm games that we were actually good at, and that's not the only reason the game makes our list. The game was a Final  Fantasy fan's dream, filled with a multitude of music from all thirteen mainline Final Fantasy games. Leveling up characters, getting a high rank on a given song, defeating powerful enemies through tapping, sliding, and holding the stylus on the touch screen, and unlocking new heroes and heroines all made us giddy with excitement. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is an excellent, excellent rhythm game that strays from the norm.

95) Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (DS)

There have been five Professor Layton games that have been released in the West, but our pick for the best and most memorable is the third entry in the series, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (or The Last Time Travel, if you're a PAL pal). The amount of puzzles in the game made for some late night brain-busting. We could honestly feel our craniums grow as we solved puzzle after puzzle. That was just one part of the game, though. Unwound Future possessed one of the most touching stories in a Nintendo DS game-- actually, in a game in the past ten years. It really made us emotional. What, we're man enough to admit that!

94) Mario Golf (N64)

Phil's very first golf game was Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64, so we had to include it on this list or else he would give us grief for the rest of eternity. Mario Golf was a tremendous golfing title, featuring familiar Mushroom Kingdom characters as well as "normal" characters like Charlie and Plum, six well designed courses, a memorable soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, and more modes than you can shake a 3 Wood at. Many nights Mario Golf was the game of choice-- trying to get that ever-elusive albatross or hole-in-one, acing that fifty foot putt, and trying to come out top in a tournament. All of these activities made for one excellent golf game.

93) Hot Shots Golf Fore! (PS2)

From one golf game to another, we go from Mario to the world of Hot Shots Golf with the fourth installment of the series (and the second on the PlayStation 2), Hot Shots Golf Fore! We all agreed that Hot Shots just inched out Mario Golf as the top golf title. It featured more characters, more courses, more challenge, and more options than its competition. We especially loved unlocking new characters like Ratchet and Jak (from their respective PlayStation franchises) through Match Play, new caddies to support (or criticize) us while we play, and recording our favorite shots. Hot Shots Golf Fore! is one of those games that we get very nostalgic for, despite mostly featuring a cast of one-time golfers.

92) Golden Sun (GBA)

Camelot knows how to make games. We've already featured them on this list with Mario Golf. They know how to do more than golf games, however, as evident by Golden Sun, one of the best RPGs to be found on the Game Boy Advance. We prefer the original Golden Sun, as the game was much more novel than its successors. Golden Sun featured the addicting turn-based combat, Djinn-obtaining, summon-summoning, puzzle-solving action that made it a unique title in the GBA's wide catalog of software. Using the wide amount of Psynergy (magic) in the game's many towns and dungeons to solve puzzles and progress was something that we hadn't seen so much out of an RPG. Couple all that with an engaging battle system, and you have the #92 game on our list.

91) Dead Rising (360)

One of our favorite Xbox 360 exclusives is Dead Rising. It came from the mind of one of the folks behind Mega Man, Keiji Inafune. Dead Rising was quite unlike anything at the time. You played as Frank West, a photojournalist who has covered wars, y'know. However, no war could really prepare him for a zombie outbreak in a Colorado town's mall. To survive, Frank would need to utilize as many things in the mall to stay alive, including chainsaws, lawn mowers, baseball bats, soccer balls, hammers, and much much more. This was all the while Frank had to carefully watch a clock, for if he could miss story-related events and survivors to save. The former of which meant that the player would have to restart the game, though they would keep all of Frank's upgrades. Dead Rising is a technical marvel, sporting hundreds of zombies on screen at the same time. It's also just an innovative and special title in the Xbox 360's library.

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Our first of ten features on our favorite video games of all time is now in the history books, much like the games we've talked about and are going to talk about. Every Wednesday for nine more weeks we will be counting down our top 100 games of all time. We hope you'll join us, and we hope you continue to enjoy SuperPhillip Central's content for the next five years!

PS3 Games That I'd Like to See Get A Trophy Patch (Which Probably Won't)

Like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune before it, recently Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots received a long-awaited patch, enabling trophies for prospective collectors to obtain. That sparked an interest in me to see what other games in the PlayStation 3 library that came out before Sony and third-parties' implementation of the trophy system. These five following games are ones that I would no doubt be interested in playing through again if such a trophy patch were to be included, though the likelihood is not that high.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

One of my favorite entries in the Ratchet & Clank franchise is Tools of Destruction, the game that brought the furry lombax and wise-cracking robot into high-definition for the first time. I would think a trophy patch for the PS3's first Ratchet & Clank game would be a perfect thing to have for the series's 10th anniversary this year (in addition to the Ratchet & Clank trilogy re-releasing on one Blu-ray disc later this year for North America -- it's already out in PAL territories). Such achievable trophies could have possessing one million bolts at one time, building the R.Y.N.O. IV through obtaining all of the Gadgetron Holo-Plans, nabbing all of the hidden Golden Bolts, trophies for completing five skill points, ten skill points, fifteen skill points, and so forth, and for upgrading all weapons fully. I already love Tools of Destruction, and such a patch would make me fall in love with the title all over again.

Resistance: Fall of Man

Using its love for creating off-the-wall and high-powered weaponry such as seen in the aforementioned Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Insomniac Games made a first-person shooter with traditional 1950s firepower as well as a totally original and futuristic arsenal for players to utilize. Resistance: Fall of Man takes players through an alternate history where an alien race known as the Chimera have taken over large portions of the earth, exterminating a significant portion of humanity, and the remaining humans band together to form one last resistance to save mankind. If a trophy patch were implemented into Resistance, I would want the trophies to all be ones that can be obtained via single-player. The problem I have with multiplayer ones is twofold: 1) If the community isn't active or populated, it can make finding matches challenging, and 2) If the wrong type of trophies were in multiplayer, most players would go out of their way to obtain them instead of actively assisting their teammates; they'd be playing selfishly.

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds

While not my favorite Hot Shots Golf game in the series for the main reason that the amount of courses from the fourth installment to the fifth installment decreased pretty notably, Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds (known as Minna no Golf 5 in Japan and Everybody's Golf 5 in PAL areas) carried out a brand-new swinging mechanic, brought forth six original courses, and added a story mode where players competed in tournaments and in VS. matches against computer-controlled opponents. PlayStation Move accessibility was added in Japan last year and in other territories this year, but there was no trophy patch that went with it. That's a shame as World Invitational proved, Hot Shots Golf fans find extra incentive to master a game through not only online but through obtaining trophies. Such trophies that could be earned include reaching certain ranks in story mode, achieving special shots like hole-in-ones, albatrosses, and chip-ins, playing on the individual courses a certain number of times, unlocking all Intermediate and then Advanced characters, and other fun achievements.

Heavenly Sword

Often compared to one of Sony's other action-oriented properties, God of War, Heavenly Sword has gameplay that has both a melee attack and ranged attack focus. It stars Nariko, an incredibly capable red-haired vixen full of drive and ambition, wielding the all-powerful titular Heavenly Sword. Nariko can switch between a series of three different stances to unleash holy hell on foes: Speed, Range, and Power. The actual campaign of Heavenly Sword does not drag on for too long. That was one of my complaints with the game. However, the addition of trophies (despite this series being on the back-burner) would make the title all the more appealing and add some much needed replay value. Sniping a certain amount of enemies as Kai, relinquishing a specific number of foes in each of Nariko's three stances, obtaining a given amount of glyphs, and beating bosses without damage could make for intriguing new ways to play an old game.

Saints Row 2

It seemed like a reasonable idea (not quite a sure thing) that third-parties would take games that already had achievements on the Xbox 360 and just turn them into trophies for the PlayStation 3 version. This did not happen most of the time.. Instead, Saints Row 2 came out shortly after Sony implemented trophies for most of their games. However, trophy use was only mandatory as of the beginning of 2009. (Saints Row 2 released in October of 2008, after trophies materialized, but before they were a must-have feature.) Regardless, I can't imagine if it would have been relatively easy to just create a trophy list based off the Xbox 360 achievement list for the PS3 version of Saints Row 2 as I am not a developer. I don't see how it would have been too terribly tough. Even the Greatest Hits release could have been a prime opportunity to execute such a patch.

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Those are just five examples of games released prior to Sony's trophy system being required for developers to use. Like the article title says, the hope for these games to actually get such a patch is a long shot, but that doesn't mean I can't dream. After all, Metal Gear Solid 4 seemed to be a long shot, too, and a trophy patch finally happened. Who can really say what will happen in the future? As for now, what PS3 games would you like to see get trophies, or get added trophies to collect upon the ones you already have to work on? Speak out in the comments section below.

Most Overlooked PlayStation 3 Games - Part Three

It's time to seek out some more overlooked gems, and this time we're doing it on the PS3 with this our third installment. Let's see which games the gaming populace either didn't buy or overlooked altogether. If you missed previous PlayStation 3 installments, check 'em out here at the following links:

PlayStation 3 - Part One
PlayStation 3 - Part Two

Saints Row 2


The Saints are reuniting to take the city of Stilwater back from the gigantic Ultor Corporation and other rival gangs in this excellent sequel. PS3 owners did not get to experience the first Saints Row as that was an Xbox 360 exclusive. It was originally supposed to hit the PS3, but those plans were canceled. Subtract trophy support, and you have a game that did not sell all too well on the PlayStation 3. Their loss as this game is what Grand Theft Auto IV should have been-- pure, unadulterated fun. Leave your realism at the door.

Eternal Sonata


A port of the Xbox 360 game, Eternal Sonata was developed by Tri-Crescendo. The PlayStation 3 version included exclusive cut-scenes, features, and game content. Even the lower price tag wasn't enough for most PS3 owners to bite. Players delved into the mind of 19th century composer, Frederic Chopin, and played out his dreams in real-time/turn-based hybrid battles that were wildly entertaining. The gorgeous watercolor art style and stunning soundtrack only further gets appetizing to those who are fans of the JRPG genre.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International


This fourth installment of the long-running Star Ocean franchise did not do so hot at retailers. Again, a port of the Xbox 360 version, the International version featured Japanese and English voice tracks, the entire game on one Blu-ray instead of multiple discs, and a whole slew of other enhanced features making this the version to buy. With a satisfying battle system, gorgeous, updated graphics, and a rousing soundtrack by none other than veteran composer, Motoi Sakuraba, Star Ocean: The Last Hope International is one meaty JRPG not to be missed by fans of the series.

de Blob 2


de Blob 2 went multiplatform with the sequel, and it sold poorly compared to its Wii original, only selling less than 75,000 copies across all four platforms. Perhaps the game was too colorful for the Call of Duty crowd? Regardless, many gamers missed out on this excellent sequel that fixed some of the problems of the original and added a new mission structure for fans of the first de Blob to enjoy. The music itself was funky, the visuals were drop-dead gorgeous, and the game's characters exuded an incredible amount of charm. For a budget price, de Blob 2 is one platformer PlayStation 3 owners should not miss out on.

Mass Effect 2


A port too little too late for most PlayStation 3 owners, Mass Effect 2 won a ton of Game of the Year awards for the Xbox 360 version. The game is a Western RPG where players take control of the heroic Commander Shepard. The game offers up choices as to what the player wants to do, who to affiliate with, and so forth. With nearly all of the bells and whistles of its Xbox 360 cousin, Mass Effect 2 did not do well at retail on the PlayStation 3. That's a shame as I hear it's a good game.

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Disagree with a game placed on the Most Overlooked list, or perhaps you'd like to name a few games of your own that you deem underrated or underappreciated? Let the world know in the comments section.