THE PREDICABLE TOP TEN
Number ten...
Red Faction: GuerrillaXbox 360 / PS3 / PC
The final three hours are a total chore, yes - but that doesn't erase the many hours of fun had demolishing buildings in the most fantastically brutal ways imaginable. Breaking shit is fun.
Number nine...
House of The Dead: Overkill
Nintendo Wii
A light-gun game? You're probably thinking this is the result of a lousy year - wrong. I marathoned through this one night with friends, and it was some of the most fun I've had with a game all year. The presentation to this game is absolutely hilarious. 70's horror shlock bullseye.
Number eight...
Dead Space: Extraction
Nintendo Wii
Another light gun game! The cinematic approach to this one is shockingly good. I resold Overkill after I played it one, but this, with its excellent presentation and plot, makes me want to play it again a few months from now.
Number seven...
Mad World
Nintendo Wii
You get to jam signposts through the heads of delinquents in a Sin City atmosphere while Bender Bending Rodriguez screams racist insults. Fuck yes. Light on depth, but oh so loaded with over-the-top style.
Number six...
Punch-Out!!
Nintendo Wii
One of the greatest NES games gets a current gen reboot. It's a great game for nostalgia reasons, it's a great game for its cheeky caricatures, it's a great game for its new surprises, it's a great game to introduce to today's young gamers... It's just a great fucking game.
Number five...
Left 4 Dead 2
Xbox 360 / PC
If not for the fact that I wasn't yet tired of the year old original Left 4 Dead, this abrupt (yet totally improved and still fun as all hell) sequel would be my game of the year.
Number four...
New Super Mario Bros Wii
Nintendo Wii
It's amazing how different this game is with more than one person. Pure chaos. More than any Smash Bros or Mario Kart game could ever hope to offer.
Number three...
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Xbox 360 / PS3
Not just "Good, for a Batman game" - It's a really fucking great game. The Batman universe is laid out for you in exploratory fashion so rich that I wouldn't even need to fight anything to call this an incredible game. But you do fight people in this game, and that is fun as fuck too.
Number two...
Shadow Complex
Xbox Live Arcade
Incredible 2D gaming experience. The plot may be a total bore, but the exploring, the power-ups, and the action are a blast. Lots of replay value, and memorable moments. Lots of weapons and tricky puzzles to find unlockables. A real monster of a game, and only for $15 bucks download.
Number one... The Bit.Trip:Series
Look at that! Just look at it! It's glorious! Sure, I am being quite biased here, but the Bit.Trip:Games of 2009 are a direct laser beam focus on my brainwaves. Yes, it's hard, but mesmerizing on the ears and eyes. Can't wait for the next three games in 2010!
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Honorable Mentions
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Nintendo DS ports from Japan circa 2007
Professor Layton And The Diabolical Box
Translation makes or breaks certain games, and this is one of them. The voice acting is brilliant, and the new puzzles are very fun. The Layton universe alone makes this game a must buy.
Retro Game Challenge
If you grew up on the NES, then this is for you. Robot Ninja Haggle Man rules, and I don't mean that ironically. The fake meta NES games created for this game are actually legitimately fun to play again and again.
Also, GameCenterCX is a great TV show, and the word about it needs to get out there more.
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Games that I haven't gotten very far into yet, but are still quite good.
A Boy & His Blob
Nintendo Wii
Hug button
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Nintendo DS
Still love that Wind Waker Zelda universe
Scribblenauts
Nintendo DS
Vocabulary FTW
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Nintendo Wii
Just started this one last night, and I love all the mindfuckery already.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Nintendo DS
Worst pun title ever! I actually haven't even opened this yet, despite having bought it in the summer. All the critics love it, though. I'm sure I will too.
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Best Xbox 360 Arcade Indie Game
I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1
Also "Best Original Song in A Game"
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Best game of 2007 that I didn't play until 2009
BioshockXbox 360 / PS3 / PC
Do I even need to say anything about this? It's generally agreed as one of the best games of the decade. Too bad the sequel is looking like it'll turn out to be one of the biggest letdowns of this newly arrived decade.
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