• 5Jan 10

  Best of 2009: Game of the Year

  It's about that time again. Time to put an end to what has been a memorable year packed with awesome titles. However, only one of these titles can be Game of the Year. Here are some nominees (my favorite games of '09):

  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

  inFamous

  Batman: Arkham Asylum

  Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

  Left 4 Dead 2

  And my 2009 Game of the Year is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

  
  

  Many games set out to provide the most cinematic gameplay possible for their audience. Killzone 2's opening sequence, Arkham Asylum's environment and mood, Dragon Age's epic battle sequences, "No Russian". All of these examples are great, and truly show the excellence of each game they represent, but none really stood out to me as much as Uncharted 2 did. Simply put, from start to finish, this is a nonstop, action-packed, rollercoaster ride of a game. Naughty Dog did a really great job with taking somewhat trite and previously used story elements, and made them feel both exciting and thrilling. Most of the excitement can directly be attributed to Uncharted 2's sharp controls. Naughty Dog did a phenomenal job of mixing fast-paced shooter action and platforming as well as puzzles. The pacing is fantastic. Puzzle/platforming sequences never seem to drag, and you never get overwhelmed with gunfights. There was nothing truly innovative about Uncharted 2's gameplay or campaign, but it just did all of the little things right. Uncharted 2 also oozes charm through its talented voice actors. Nathan Drake brings a handful of witty comebacks to every gunfight, and every additional character is memorable because of both the detailed writing and the acting. And who could forget about the visuals. Uncharted 2 is completely gorgeous. Whether your in a Panamanian jungle or the snow-capped mountains of Nepal, Uncharted 2 really pushes the PS3 to bring one of the best looking games ever made. Simply put, Uncharted 2 truly defines what a "cinematic gaming experience" is all about. It fully immerses you into its world, its characters, and its story with both charm and fun. If you're a PS3 owner, this is a must own. If you don't own a PS3...well...they're only $300.

  • Posted Jan 5, 2010 10:40 pm PT
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• 28Dec 09

  Best of 2009: Platform Awards

  Best PC Game

  Dragon Age: Origins

  It's shocking, really, how a game on multiple platforms can be so much better on one particular platform than the others. Dragon Age on the PC offers the most impressive visuals and most comfortable and simple gameplay compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. Not only that, but it also runs relatively well on lower-end PCs and doesn't require very high specs to play. Not only that, but Dragon Age is a phenomenal game. The visuals are gorgeous, the story is epic, and the voice acting is superb. RPG fans should not miss this one.

  Best Xbox 360 Game

  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

  This highly anticipated sequel made a strong showing across all platforms, but truly shone on the Xbox 360. The campaign and Spec-Ops modes were both very well done and offered both challenge and fun to the millions of people who bought the game. However, the main draw to MW2 had to be the competitive multiplayer. With many new additions, adjustments and improvements, the competitive multiplayer is even more fun and addictive than its predecessor. Combined with a boatload of players with a wide range of skill levels on the 360, it's hard not to recommend Modern Warfare 2 to Xbox 360 owners.

  Best PS3 Games

  Uncharted 2: Among Theives

  Much like last year, 2009's PS3 Game of the Year pushes the hardware of the system to its fullest. The visuals are nothing short of gorgeous, and a wide variety of locales show off the fantastic visual power of the PS3. With a truly exhilerating single player campaign, fast-paced gameplay and a surprisingly good online multiplayer component, Uncharted 2 really shines on every level.

  Best Wii Game

  New Super Mario Bros. Wii

  Despite the fact that the Wii had a bit of an off year in terms of software sales, Mario still seemed to keep going strong. A completely new look and feel to a game over 20 years old helps bring newcomers and veterans together to enjoy Mario as he returns to his platforming roots. A variety of new level designs, suits, powerups and enemies help make this an easy game to recommend for any Wii owner or Mario fan.

  Best PSP Game

  Rock Band: Unplugged

  It's a tough choice, especially with games like Grand Theft Auto, Motorstorm, Gran Turismo and LittleBigPlanet all making transitions from consoles to the PSP, but Rock Band: Unplugged made the most smooth transition out of all of them. By effectively eliminating the use of a tiny plastic add-on, and offering a more challenging, fun type of gameplay, Harmonix really made the music genre feel new and fun again. A wide variety of songs will appeal to metal heads and oldie lovers alike, and support for downloadable content make this a game worth playing for months at a time.

  Best DS Game

  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

  It's easy to see that Chinatown Wars was designed from the ground up with the Nintendo DS in mind. It's a shame, really, that it didn't sell well on the handheld because it was a phenomenal entry in the revered series. By recreating nearly every element of Liberty City found in Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar really showed us what the Nintendo DS was capable of visually. The city is enormous and is filled with tons of detail. Great story, and the series' popular brand of twisted humor can also be found in Chinatown Wars and help make the story and characters all memorable. Combined with unique touchscreen controls (how is making your own molotovs NOT fun?) and addictive new gameplay elements (like the Drug Wars minigame), Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is truly a remarkable game that should be played by any DS owner.

  • Posted Dec 28, 2009 10:07 am PT
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• 27Dec 09

  Best of 2009: Genre Awards

  Best Action/Adventure Game

  Uncharted 2

  To say that Uncharted 2 is a massive, action-packed thrillride is a bit of an understatement. From start to finish, this game is nothing but explosive, nonstop action and fun. Great pacing, voice acting and character development all help give the game some personality and charm, and with a surprisingly good selection of multiplayer game modes, Uncharted 2 stands as one of the best Action games of the decade.

  Best Driving Game

  Forza Motorsport 3

  Those who ever doubted that a racing game could be made to appeal to both hardcore gearheads and racing newbies can officially be silenced. Forza 3 offers the best of both worlds without ever comprimising anything on either side. The deep customization remains mostly unchanged, and the slew of online options remain just as deep and rewarding, but with new additions like Quick Upgrade, Rewind, and more customizable difficulties, literally anyone who enjoys cars can pick up and play this game.

  Best Fighting Game

  Street Fighter IV

  Street Fighter IV may not appeal to everyone. In fact, it probably only appeals to the Street Fighter faithful. That being said, the series makes a superb transition from 2D to 3D fighter. In fact, the art style and direction is arguably one of the best this year. The controls are tight and mostly simple to pick up on, and the combos are both challenging and rewarding. That combined with online modes make Street Fighter more addictive than ever.

  Best Platformer

  New Super Mario Bros. Wii

  Nintendo seems to have a good thing going here. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (and even on the DS for that matter) are a lot more than just mere remakes. They're complete re-imaginings of a game over 20 years old. A simple 2D side scroller with 3D graphics give it an interesting visual look, but the same classic Mario gameplay remains mostly unchanged. With tons of new powerups, new enemies, environments, and the ability to play with up to four players on one screen, Super Mario Bros. has never been more fun.

  Best Puzzle Game

  Scribblenauts

  Scribblenauts is truly a unique game. It takes the typical puzzle game and puts an extremely creative and innovative spin on it. Instead of just being given items or methods to solve puzzles, Scribblenauts lets you choose anything you want to solve a puzzle. Whether that be a rocket launcher, cow, wrecking ball, jetpack or anything else, you have complete control over how you solve the puzzle. Not only does this add a new amount of strategy to each puzzle, but it adds a level of creativity as well as makes each puzzle solveable in a virtually limitless amount of ways. Offering just enough challenge, but a great sense of reward, and the ability to create and share your own custom levels, Scribblenauts is arguably the most addictive, fun and creative game to come out this year.

  Best Music Game

  Rock Band: Unplugged

  This was a tough one to choose. Rock Band: Unplugged, however, made a completely smooth transition from console to handheld without requiring the use of tiny plastic instrument add-ons. Harmonix also returned to its roots by allowing control over all four instruments (a la Amplitude) adding a new level of challenge for those who have mastered each individual instrument. The game is challenging, has a wide selection of great music, and also has capabilities for downloadable content. For a portable version of a music game, that's extremely impressive and makes it a great value for music game lovers.

  Best Role Playing Game

  Dragon Age: Origins

  Dragon Age is an RPG at its finest. With quite a few combinations of starting character races and classes, the story in and of itself can change just depending on what character you create. Combined with a bevy of moral choices throughout the game, there are almost endless possibilities for how the game can be played. Easy, accessible gameplay and character customization make this an easy game to recommend for both the hardcore and casual gamers, and the story and voice acting stands out as some of this year's best.

  Best Shooter

  Killzone 2

  Killzone 2 stands out among all of the other shooters in that it is by far the most complete. It's got a phenomenal, good-lengthed single player campaign with great production values, a dark atmosphere and sharp gameplay, and it's got a competitive and unique multiplayer experience that is both accessible and addictive. A variety of different character classes and weapons make it easy to pick up and play for both hardcore shooter fans and newbies, and doesn't punish players for having a lower rank. Overall, its campaign may not be the best, or its multiplayer either, but as a whole, Killzone 2 surpasses the competition by not putting focus on one over the other but emphasizing quality in both.

  Best Sports Game

  Madden NFL 10

  This is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated sports games to come out all year. While it still may not be perfect, Madden 10 makes so much needed improvements over last year's model. Improvements to the presentation are obvious. The game looks great, with each player looking nearly identical to their real-life selves. Arguably the best addition to Madden though is the slower pace and accelerated clock. Such a minute change in gameplay made a huge difference in how it looks and feels. Instead of being very fast paced and quick, the game slowed down a bit, and as a result, looks and feels like a real NFL game.

  Best Strategy Game

  Plants vs. Zombies

  In a genre dominated by grim outlooks and serious stories, Plants vs. Zombies adds a ton of charm to the genre. Instead of chainsawing zombies in half, or blasting them with shotguns, you kill them with plants. Imagine the charm of a Harvest Moon game, mixed with the frantic gameplay of Left 4 Dead. Plants vs. Zombies is almost impossible to put down because of this odd combination. Underneath its cute exterior, however, lies a challenging, strategic and fast-paced game. Don't let the cutesy visuals fool you, these zombies still want to eat your brains, and it takes a lot of strategy to take them all down. With an insane variety of plant-based weapons, a variety of different locations and tons of different ways to play, Plants vs. Zombies is an absolute joy to play.

  • Posted Dec 27, 2009 9:09 pm PT
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