F13 Games of the Year

[Venkman]

If an FPS is cross platform PC/360/whatever, I basically consider it exclusive to the PC.

This subtopic began because you claimed Dead Space as some PS3 exclusive. The only way that works by your definition is if it didn't not come out on the PC. Doesn't matter how many different studios were involved in making the various versions of the title. This type of title allow players to discover their own preference for playing.

No More Heroes has to be one of the bigger "love or hate" games I've ever played.  I'd always recommend someone to play it, just never buy it (if that makes any sense).  It's just too odd and two basic/repetitive for some. 

This. And it's why I didn't buy it (was there a rule that I had to purchase the game to be disappointed by it?). It had some great parts, but like many of these types of games, the boss fights piss me off too much to continue. Sorta similar feeling about Force Unleashed.

I don't make buy/rent/ignore recommendations to people. I don't play enough games, and those I do I rarely finish

[Velorath]

This subtopic began because you claimed Dead Space as some PS3 exclusive.

No he didn't.  You misread.

[Venkman]

Maybe. I read "I played Dead Space on the PS3. I try to keep console best ofs to console exclusives" I know he knows it was on PC too, I've been drinking quite a bit, and really don't want this thread to be about me

I do love that I left 2008 and started 2009 in this thread though. Winnar are me!

Well, ok, so I was with family. But that's what the iPhone is fo'.

H4ppy N3w Y34r!

[Velorath]

"I try to keep console best ofs to console exclusives"

Which is in regards to the 360, PS3, and Wii "Best Of" catagories.  Note that Dead Space is not listed in that section as it is multiplatform, while his winner in each catagory is exclusive to that system.

[Big Gulp]

Game of the Year:  Fallout 3

Best Art / Graphics:  Prince of Persia

Best Sound: Dead Space

Best Story:  Sadly, because it really doesn't deserve it, I'm picking GTA 4.  Fallout 3's story really wasn't great, but then it didn't really need to be.  There might have been JRPG's with better storylines, but I wouldn't know because JRPG's  are for otaku fruits.

Best Multiplayer:  Left 4 Dead

Worst Game of the Year:  Pick a Wii title at random off of any video game store's shelf.  There's a 95% chance you've picked the worst game of the year.  Congrats!


GOTY By Platform

PC:  Left 4 Dead

Xbox 360:  Fable II

PS3:  Little Big Planet

Wii:  No More Heroes


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?):  The crew behind Saint's Row pretty definitively showed that they know more about how to make crime sandbox games fun than Rockstar does.

Biggest Let Down:  Command & Conquer Red Alert 3.  Sure, it has an archaic RTS feel of build, turtle, destroy.  Hell, that's what I wanted from the game.  What irked me to no end was the lack of any kind of game speed slider.  Hey fucksticks, not all of us are 12 year old ADD victims jacked up on Mountain Dew.  Let the old coots slow the fucking thing down.  This is especially galling because everything else was in place; crazy awesome units, cheesy cutscenes, and B actors.

[Cylus]

Game of the Year:  GTA4

Best Sound: Dead Space

Best Story:  Persona 4

Best Multiplayer:  Left 4 Dead

Biggest Disappointment of the Year:  Fable 2 and Prince of Persia (most innovative? LMAO).

Biggest Surprise: Valkyria Chronicles

Left out Best Graphics because I couldn't decide.

[apocrypha]

OK, this is based on the fact that I actually played very few games this year. Up until the end of August I played only EVE and WoW, then nothing for a couple of months and then got the PS3 and a handful of games. So this isn't indicative of only a tiny subset of all the games that were released this year.

Best Art / Graphics: Dead Space. I still don't believe it's 720p.

Best Sound: Dead Space. Fuck me it's incredible. Everything from the weapon sounds to the monster noises to the, no, especially the environment noises are superb.

Best Story: WOTLK. Even the little of it I was able to play pulled me in and made me want to know more about the WoW background story, which I've never given 2 shits about before.

Best Multiplayer: Little Big Planet.

Worst Game of the Year: The Empyrean Age (EVE factional warfare expansion). Total let down. Waste of time. Badly done. Boring. etc.



PC: WOTLK. Possibly a bit unfair since I played hardly any PC games this year, but it is the best expansion for any game I've ever played and good enough for me to consider it a full game in it's own right.

Xbox 360: n/a don't have one.

PS3: Edited: Metal Gear Solid 4. See end of post.

Wii: n/a don't have one.



Biggest Surprise (Why?): Little Big Planet, because I was, and still am, surprised by just how much fun it is when I have always disliked platformer-type games. So impressed that it's fun single-player, multiplayer online, multiplayer on one box, and even great fun to watch other people playing.

Biggest Let Down: Fallout 3. It did so much right and I had a blast playing it but the main story line quests and the ending were a complete kick in the nadgers with a steel toe-capped boot.

Edit: Played about 8 hours of MGS4 after posting this, came back here, re-read the thoughts about console-exclusives and changed my PS3 GOTY to MGS4. This is an awesome game, I'm blown away by it already. Still think Dead Space graphics and sound are better and not finished MGS4 yet so wouldn't want to comment on story, but the overall package of MGS4 beats Dead Space for me.

[Yoru]

As a disclaimer, I played rather few games this year, compared to most here, and a lot of the ones I did play were from 2007 or older. I'm trying to confine this list to 2008 titles.

Game of the Year: Fallout 3.
I love Oblivion, and F3 is a prettier, more fun Oblivion with guns.

GOTY Honorable Mention: Left 4 Dead.
This still gets playtime as a post-drinking game with friends, and it's fun.

Best Art / Graphics: Fallout 3.
Hands down on this one. I actually said "Whoa" when I first walked out of the Vault.

Art / Graphics Honorable Mention: Mass Effect for PC.
The constructed levels were quite good. The generic planet terrain areas... not so much.

Best Story: On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Eps 1 & 2.
I enjoyed the writing style and manner of delivery well enough for this to merit mention.

Story Honorable Mention: Iji.
It's a free indie game of the side-scrolling platform variety. Branching storyline based on your actions, and rather good, too, so long as you ignore the "super-teenager" part of the premise.

Best Sound: Left 4 Dead.
That the audio system is integral to the gameplay is awesome.

Audio Honorable Mention: Iji.
The soundtrack is surprisingly good, particularly for an indie game.

Best Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead.
This shouldn't even need justification.

Multiplayer Honorable Mention: (tie) Boom Blox and Super Smash Brothers Brawl.
I had a fair amount of fun playing these with friends, before I got rid of my Wii. They make a decent party games, with Boom Blox being superior in non-nerdy circles and SSBB being superior in hardcore circles.

Worst Game of the Year: Age of Conan.
Total of about 5 hours /played before I quit in disgust. I just can't enjoy WOW-style games any more.

Worst Game Dishonorable Mention: Mario Kart Wii.
I regretted the purchase. I liked the older Mario Karts, particularly Mario Kart DS, but this one just felt like crap to me. They removed some of the more fun mechanics and the controls felt muddy.

GOTY By Platform

Multiplatform: Fallout 3. See top of this post.

PC: Left 4 Dead. Only because Fallout 3 isn't PC-exclusive.

Xbox 360: Rock Band 2. Only things I've played on this are GTA4 and Rock Band 2 on friends' machines.

PS3: Nothing. Only thing I played on PS3 was GTA4 and it doesn't win. Same corollary as the 360 - friends' machines only.

Wii: Boom Blox. Of the 5 games I played on the Wii, this one was the most fun.

DS: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. I'm a whore for the Ace Attorney series. This one was the weakest AA yet, but it's still quite good. That and I haven't played many DS games.

Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?): Iji & Audiosurf. I normally don't like platformers/sidescrollers, but Iji was excellent. Also going to mention Audiosurf. I normally don't like rhythm games, but this one still gets playtime now and then.

Biggest Let Down: Spore. I was a huge Spore Whore for all of 7 days, then the shiny wore off and the tedious micromanagement set in. As Sky said, they put too much game into the sandbox. My stint with this reminds me of my stint with Black & White almost a decade ago. 

Edit for formatting and fixing Sky's name.

[stray]

Actually Sky said that about Spore (people always confuse our names), but I agree either way. 

[Yoru]

Actually Sky said that about Spore (people always confuse our names), but I agree either way. 

Fixed, sorry.

[MournelitheCalix]

Game of the Year:  Fallout 3


Best Art / Graphics:  Metal Gear Solid 4


Best Story:  The Witcher:: Enchanced Edition


Best Sound: Fallout 3


Best Multiplayer:  Rock Band 2


Worst Game of the Year:  Not Sure


GOTY By Platform

PC:  Fallout 3

PS3:  Rock Band 2

[Rendakor]

Best of

Game of the Year: Fallout 3

Best Art / Graphics: Fallout 3

Best Story: Persona 4

Best Multiplayer: Gears of War 2 (hordes mode is  )


GOTY By Platform

PC: Fall From Heaven 2 (fuck you its a game)

Xbox 360: Gears of War 2

PS2: Persona 4

DS: The World Ends With You


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Let Down: Last Remnant, with WAR coming in at a close 2nd.

[Sky]

Mod or not, you've got to give Kael credit for creating arguably the best game on the pc this year. That's a heck of an accomplishment.

Does anyone on this board even play vanilla civ anymore? Kael out-Meiered Meier. That's epic.

[Bunk]

Best of

Game of the Year: Fallout 3

Best Art / Graphics: Fallout 3 (giving this for artistic accomplishment, not technical)

Best Sound: nothing I played stood out

Best Story: Mass Effect (didn't play many rpgs this year)

Best Multiplayer: Saints Row 2 (about time someone put co-op in to GTA)

Worst Game of the Year: Spore


GOTY By Platform

PC: Fallout 3

Xbox 360: Saints Row 2

PS3: LBP

Wii: Boom Blocks


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?): Saints Row 2 - I hated the original and was expecting nothing from this. Honorable mentions to Fallout 3 and the first 20 leveles of AoC

Biggest Let Down: Spore, hands down. It was not fun. At all.
[/quote]

[Murgos]

I like From, but they're so hit or miss that if they ever made a masterpiece, I'd be truly surprised.

Did someone say From Software? http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43989.html

Though the 1.5 seconds of combat looked pretty mediocre.

[cmlancas]

Game of the Year:  NHL 09

Best Art / Graphics:  Tie: L4D/NHL09

Best Sound:  NHL '09 (That's right, a sports game.  The horns in the game are spot on, and goddamn if I don't yell at the TV every time I score.)

Best Story:  Did anything have a good story this year?

Best Multiplayer:  NHL '09 or Rock Band II

Worst Game of the Year:  Call of Duty: World at War  See below.

GOTY By Platform

PC:  Orange Box (Okay, it's 10/07, but still! TF2 was awesome.)

Xbox 360:  NHL '09

PS3: Don't own one.

Wii:  Maybe GH: World Tour since a Wii game finally can buy DLC?  I never even touch my Wii anymore since I have a 360.


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?):  NHL '09.  Recapturing fond memories of playing NHL '94 over and over and over again is pretty hard to do.  Even if I get my ass kicked every time I play a ranked match, I love the game.  I thought it'd be good, but not amazing.  The Be a Pro mode gave me chills the first time I saw my name on the back of my jersey (So sue me, I wanted to be a pro hockey player).

Biggest Let Down:  Call of Duty: World at War.  The co-op in this game was the must retarded piece of shit I've ever played in my life.  What fucking game designer would ever WILLINGLY reduce the amount of on-screen space I can use.  I have a 42" HDTV. Can I fucking use every pixel?  Also, the lighting in the game was dumb too.  I can never figure out who's shooting at me until I see the muzzle fire of a gun or i get shot.  Extremely terrible.

Also, look me up on XBL.  I've tried to add the majority of you who were on Azazel's list, but I'm too lazy to go through the thread and write it down and plug it into my 360. :D

[schild]

I hear NHL 09 had a good story.

[cmlancas]

Is that snarkysnark since I'm gay for NHL09? 

I couldn't bring myself to toss NHL 09 in there for story :P

[schild]

Is that snarkysnark since I'm gay for NHL09? 

I couldn't bring myself to toss NHL 09 in there for story :P

No, it's just readily apparent you played like 4 games in 2008 and I'm *think* I'm confident enough to say you never saw the end of 3 of them. Though, I suppose, Rock Band and NHL 09 don't have an "end." Though, I guess if you took the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup, that's like an "end."

[cmlancas]

Uh, with the exception of Persona 4 and MGS4, I've played most of the games on everyone else's list.

Sorry if I felt Fallout 3 was a pretty reskin of Oblivion with shitty quests.  Just because I'm not actively fondling L4D's balls while simultaneously taking it's dick in my ass doesn't mean I haven't played stuff.

What's your deal? 

[schild]

Uh, with the exception of Persona 4 and MGS4, I've played most of the games on everyone else's list.

Sorry if I felt Fallout 3 was a pretty reskin of Oblivion with shitty quests.  Just because I'm not actively fondling L4D's balls while simultaneously taking it's dick in my ass doesn't mean I haven't played stuff.

What's your deal? 

I don't have a problem. I just find it strange. I wasn't aware I said you should pick Fallout 3 or L4D btw. You should really play Dead Space, Persona 4, and MGS4. Mostly because they're fucking great. In fact, now that I think about it, they're mostly masterpieces and generally we're lucky to get 1 game of their caliber in a year.

Oh, and it wasn't the quests that were shitty in Fallout 3. It was the main story. The quests were just window dressing, imo.

Edit: Particularly Dead Space and Persona 4. I can understand not liking the combat in MGS4. It's still something of a mess in some area. Notably the manned-mech missions. Persona 4 I can't see anyone not liking unless they go in with a 'lolweaboo' attitude as it's probably the best RPG from the last generation of consoles. As for Dead Space, ye gods, what a fucking game.

[cmlancas]

I've been eyeing the used copy of Dead Space at the local GameStop, but I want them to be buy two get one free. :D

Good to know we'll have a good time.  It has co-op, right?

[schild]

I've been eyeing the used copy of Dead Space at the local GameStop, but I want them to be buy two get one free. :D

Good to know we'll have a good time.  It has co-op, right?

If you buy it used, the first time we meet, I will punch you right square in the fucking jaw.

[Strazos]

I've been eyeing the used copy of Dead Space at the local GameStop, but I want them to be buy two get one free. :D

Good to know we'll have a good time.  It has co-op, right?

If you buy it used, the first time we meet, I will punch you right square in the fucking jaw.

lolz.

For Real.

Don't be a pussy...pony up the $5 and help support the developers who made a fucking awesome game. I don't care if it's EA, the team should be rewarded with good sales.

[Xuri]

Best of

Game of the Year: Fallout 3

Best Art / Graphics: Prince of Persia

Best Sound: Left 4 Dead

Best Story: World of Goo :D

Best Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead

Worst Game of the Year: No opinion


GOTY By Platform

PC: Fallout 3

Xbox 360: No opinion

PS3: No opinion

Wii: No opinion


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?): World of Goo. I thought it was going to be just another bland "bridge builder/tim's incredible machine". I was wrong.

Biggest Let Down: Spore

[Phildo]

Schild's methods of interpretation are so rife with ignorance, erroneous information, and poorly conceived notions of ethnocentrism that I hardly know where to begin. Even disregarding obvious errors like his insistence that big emotions come from big words, the fallacies of his claims are glaring to those of us who have educated ourselves about the implications of parasitism. It may help if I begin my discussion by relating an innocuous story in order to illustrate my point: A few days ago I was arguing with a particularly argumentative menace who was insisting that a knowledge of correct diction, even if unused, evinces a superiority that covers cowardice or stupidity. I tried to convince this power-drunk, sniffish parvenu that Schild hates people who have huge supplies of the things he lacks. What he lacks the most is common sense, which underlies my point that what I wrote just a moment ago is not the paranoid rambling of a chauvinistic, featherbrained wacko. It's a fact. He is more than merely despicable. He's über-despicable. In fact, Schild's so despicable that there are some foolish, sophomoric bullies who are yawping. There are also some who are morbid. Which category does Schild fall into? If the question overwhelms you, I suggest you check "both".

Rather than pick out appropriate verbs and nouns, Schild pads all of his sentences with extra syllables to grant them an atmosphere of authority. I, on the other hand, prefer to use simple language to express the sentiment that Schild doesn't care about freedom, as he can neither eat it nor put it in the bank. It's just a word to him. His personal attacks are related to the elements and bases of simplism both organizationally and ideologically. And that's why I'm writing this letter; this is my manifesto, if you will, on how to address a number of important issues. There's no way I can do that alone, and there's no way I can do it without first stating that his press releases are devoid of logic and filled to the brim with hate and misinformation. How much more illumination does that fact need before Schild can grasp it? Assuming the answer is "a substantial amount", let me point out that Schild is extremely flighty. In fact, my Flighty-O-Meter confirms that if you'll allow me a minor dysphemism, Schild's views cause nothing but trouble. Or, to phrase that a little more politely, it is pointless to fret about the damage already caused by Schild's incompetent obiter dicta. The past cannot be changed. We must cope with the present if we hope to affect our future and keep our priorities in check. To close, let me accentuate that if we oppose our human vices wherever they may be found—arrogance, hatred, jealousy, unfaithfulness, avarice, and so on—we shall not only survive Schild's attacks; we shall prevail.

[Tebonas]

Game of the Year: Fall From Heaven 2 (I don't see much difference between a Total Conversion mod and a professional game that reuses an engine, sorry)

Mod of the Year: Fallout 3 (Oblivion Mod)

Best Art/Graphics: Fallout 3

Best Sound: Dead Space

Best Story: Mass Effect (counting PC release), otherwise I don't remember any outstanding story, especially compared to the behemoth Witcher last year.

Best Multiplayer: Left 4 Dead

Worst Game: Spore (I realize its just mediocre, but I can only count games that I bought)

Biggest Surprise: Fallout 3, didn't think it would be game of the year material

Biggest Let Down: Spore

[Rasix]

You guys are pretty defensive about the mod thing.  Heh. 

Still, guess it's something worth checking out. I really have no inkling what it even is.  I suppose I could look.   

[schild]

Schild's methods of interpretation are so rife with ignorance, erroneous information, and poorly conceived notions of ethnocentrism that I hardly know where to begin. Even disregarding obvious errors like his insistence that big emotions come from big words, the fallacies of his claims are glaring to those of us who have educated ourselves about the implications of parasitism. It may help if I begin my discussion by relating an innocuous story in order to illustrate my point: A few days ago I was arguing with a particularly argumentative menace who was insisting that a knowledge of correct diction, even if unused, evinces a superiority that covers cowardice or stupidity. I tried to convince this power-drunk, sniffish parvenu that Schild hates people who have huge supplies of the things he lacks. What he lacks the most is common sense, which underlies my point that what I wrote just a moment ago is not the paranoid rambling of a chauvinistic, featherbrained wacko. It's a fact. He is more than merely despicable. He's über-despicable. In fact, Schild's so despicable that there are some foolish, sophomoric bullies who are yawping. There are also some who are morbid. Which category does Schild fall into? If the question overwhelms you, I suggest you check "both".

Rather than pick out appropriate verbs and nouns, Schild pads all of his sentences with extra syllables to grant them an atmosphere of authority. I, on the other hand, prefer to use simple language to express the sentiment that Schild doesn't care about freedom, as he can neither eat it nor put it in the bank. It's just a word to him. His personal attacks are related to the elements and bases of simplism both organizationally and ideologically. And that's why I'm writing this letter; this is my manifesto, if you will, on how to address a number of important issues. There's no way I can do that alone, and there's no way I can do it without first stating that his press releases are devoid of logic and filled to the brim with hate and misinformation. How much more illumination does that fact need before Schild can grasp it? Assuming the answer is "a substantial amount", let me point out that Schild is extremely flighty. In fact, my Flighty-O-Meter confirms that if you'll allow me a minor dysphemism, Schild's views cause nothing but trouble. Or, to phrase that a little more politely, it is pointless to fret about the damage already caused by Schild's incompetent obiter dicta. The past cannot be changed. We must cope with the present if we hope to affect our future and keep our priorities in check. To close, let me accentuate that if we oppose our human vices wherever they may be found—arrogance, hatred, jealousy, unfaithfulness, avarice, and so on—we shall not only survive Schild's attacks; we shall prevail.

The rant generator is, indeed, epic.

[Azazel]

I played through quite a few things this year, thing was, that most of them were a year or more old. I've got Dead Space, Fallout 3, Gears 2, Far Cry 2, etc, but haven't started playing them at all yet. So the list, she is skewed.


Best of

Game of the Year: Wrath of the Lich King. Honorable Mention: Rock Band 2

Best Art / Graphics: Call of Duty: World at War (With the caveat above, but even so, COD5 is fucking good looking.)

Best Sound: Call of Duty: World at War (Same caveat, plus I don't really notice game sound, but this has some nice atmosphere and boomy effects.)

Best Story: Wrath of the Lich King

Best Multiplayer: Wrath of the Lich King (or if a MMO can't have best multiplayer for some reason, Left 4 Dead

Worst Game of the Year: Spore


GOTY By Platform

PC: Wrath of the Lich King, Left 4 Dead

Xbox 360: Dunno. Haven't played Gears 2 yet. I'd say Saints Row 2 despite it's lack of exclusivity.

PS3: Motorstorm 2 (from my very limited PS3 playtime)

Wii: Mario Kart (if it's a 2008 game, if not, nothing.)


Opinion Categories:

Biggest Surprise (Why?): Nothing really surprised me (that was a 2008 game, anyway.) Dead Space getting such good reviews here prompting me to buy it, maybe.. edit - also this: Fallout 3. I was sure it was going to be mediocre at best.


Biggest Let Down: Warhammer: Age of Reckoning.

[Margalis]

Best of

Game of the Year: No More Heroes - Not only the game of the year but the game of this generation.

Best Art / Graphics: Based on movies and screenshots Prince of Persia is the only game I can think of that has a nice mix of art style and technical execution.

Best Sound: Lords of Thunder - Lava zone ftw.

Best Story: No More Heroes - Cliche mocking, 4th wall busting, assumes the audience is not a bunch of blithering retards - easy choice. Also the best combination of script and voice acting I've ever seen.

Best Multiplayer: NHL'09 - Edges out Smash Brothers and L4D

Opinion Categories: (Because the other categories aren't opinions?)

Biggest Surprise (Why?): Wii Fit is the objectively correct answer.

Biggest Let Down: MGS4 and GTA4 - incredibly overhyped games that were actually worse than their predecessors. Also Braid for having worse play control than Super Mario Brothers 1, and Mirror's Edge for doing nothing to dispel the notion that first-person platforming is a bad idea. And finally Silent Hill 5, an imitation that failed to capture the spirit of earlier entries.

[Geki]

Though, I guess if you took the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup, that's like an "end."

I think you're mistaking this word "end" for... "fucking miracle".  Oh right, we're talking about the game.

[Njal]

GOTY

PC Fallout 3

PS2 Persona 4


Biggest Surprise

Fallout 3. I was sure it was going to be mediocre at best.

Biggest Letdown

Spore.