With the recent release of the Game Room service for the Xbox 360 and PC, I’ve been thinking about gaming as a whole; thinking about the classics, and the re-release thereof, tends to meander in that direction, at least for me. Some aspects of classic gaming have gone away, while some have been preserved to this very day. One such aspect of classic gaming that had previously disappeared, but has come back into fashion in the last few years, is the high score. With Gamerscore being awarded for doing various Achievements in games, the Achievement system on the Xbox 360 has not only brought back, but also evolved the concept of the classic video game high score. There are some ways Achievements are inane, don’t get me wrong – depending on the game, some Achievements are either downright ridiculous or just plain stupid to get. But there are some Achievements out there that really do get the point of the Achievement system – certain Achievements that, when you accomplish them, really do give that feeling of accomplishment. These Achievements really do make you feel like you’ve done something truly awesome and badass. Ten such Achievements are listed below; if you really want to feel like a skilled gamer, and to see the Xbox 360 Achievement system at its finest, then I suggest going for these each and every one.
10. Section 8 – Improvised Orbital Cannon: Depending on how internet- or manga-savvy you are, you may or may not know about the Japanese manga of “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.” In it, there is a character named Dio Brando, who has the ability to stop time; once he does so, he performs the most cruel and unusual of attacks against his opponents. One particularly famous attack involves dropping a steamroller on top of his opponent, whilst standing on top of it and giving an eerie yell, usually written out as “WRYYYYYYYY!” Well, in Section 8, there is an Achievement for dropping a deployable (I’m not certain if it has to be a turret or supply depot, or if vehicles count too) right on top of an opponent. I haven’t been able to do it yet, but once I do, I will make certain to be like Dio Brando and yell out “WRYYYYYYYY!” upon doing it. I’m sure you’d feel badass enough to yell it too for dropping such a heavy item from orbit on top of an unsuspecting opponent.
9. Crackdown – Base Jumper: For this Achievement, you must ascend to the highest structure in Crackdown, the Agency Tower, and leap from it, successfully landing in the water below. It’s like skydiving without the airplane…or the parachute. There’s just something about falling from a high height and surviving the landing that just screams badass every time. Maybe because it’s so unrealistic, and so when you perform it in a game you feel like you’ve accomplished the impossible.
8. Borderlands – My Brother Was An Italian Plumber: In case you haven’t guessed from the Achievement title – and shame on you if you haven’t – this Achievement involves killing an enemy by landing on top of them with just your feet. It always struck me as curious that the classic Mario games weren’t decried for being violent, considering how you physically leap on top of your opponents and crush them under the force of your weight. Well, Borderlands, with its level of gore, definitely reveals a more realistic consequence of such an action. Plus, it’s very satisfying to do so in a game that has you reliant upon your guns most of the time.
This feature top 10 list concludes on the next page, please click below to continue with our next couple achievements.
