The year will be over in a few short hours and with that will usher in the new era of video games. But before you pray for the curtains to close on 2008 lets count down the best games of 2008.
- Rock Band 2 Guitar Hero World Tour (tie)
For all the wannabe rockers who were never good enough to measure up to likes of Bono, Chris Martin and Ian Stewart, Rock Band 2 was the game that made your dreams come to life. For the older heads who are/were still stuck in the 70’s and 80’s it was a vision of the past. To the rest of us it was just another game that was too awesome to play once.
While not the most coveted game of the year, Guitar Hero World Tour did a pretty good job of making it on the wish lists of most teens and game fans. While it may lack some of the features that its cousin Rock Band 2 it made up for it in sheer awesomeness and the addictive game play that caused its players to waste countless hours in front of trying to beat the record.
But if you do not understand the grandeur of both games its not too late to pick one up for yourself and than again within a year the Christmas season will be rolling around so you’ll know what you want for Christmas.
- Mortal Combat vs DC Universe
Other than being the most celebrated fighting games of all time Mortal Combat has added a few more notches to its belt most recently with the latest installment that takes on the entire gang of DC’s comic series. There are no words to describe using Batman to beat the crap out of the Immortals, but than again who would dispute that it was about time that the guys from Mortal Combat start taking some challenges form the outside world. Hopefully a Mortal Combat versus Marvel will grace or 52″ hi-def screens in the near future.
- Battlefield: Bad Company
I mist say that no video game trailer has cracked me up as much as Battlefield: Bad Company has done. While it might not rank as the best first person shooter out there (hello Unreal Tournament III) it sure takes big kudus for being the funniest.
Sometimes the sheer stupidity of the men in your company makes you feel sorry for your commander (Sarge) and than you have to catch yourself and remember its only a game. If you haven’t had the chance to lay a hand on a controller doing your thing in the game than you might be in for a treat should you decide to join the Bad Company.
- Grid
Grid is to the Xbox 360 as Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is to the PS3. While it may not offer the class we have come to expect from the GT series it sill carries enough punch to make you want to grind tires all the way to the checked flag.
But the major reason why Grid makes the list is because of its stellar graphics. If you’ve seen GT 5 Prologue on the PS3 than you know that its next to impossible to top that. Fortunately the guys over at Codemasters seemed to have paid enough attention to what the PS3 was laying down on the track and was able to deliver a game that met expectations.
- Burnout Paradise
There is something that is invigorating about taking revenge on the other guys on the track and the dudes at EA new that it was about time we had a way to release that pent up adrenaline. As the games tittle might suggest the game is all crashing, burning and vengeful fun. But probably the most trilling part of the game are the slow motion cameras that kick in when you’ve done a totally awesome take down or have been taken out yourself.
If you’ve played any other racing game for more than 10 hours its about time that you take out all that pent up energy out on Burnout Revenge before you’re booked for road rage.
- Resistance 2
The first installment was named Fall of Man and the latest has dropped those three words and simply added the numeral 2 to the title. What more can I say that if you do not own an Xbox 360 and think your missing out on the action of Gears of War 2 than Resistance 2 was created for you.
Other than the PS3 owners answer to the success of GOA 2 it also sports great online multiplayer features and I’m sure that half those who have already logged on will tell you that it has the best online experience of any PS3 game this year.
- Madden NFL 2009
Why oh why do you love you so much Madden? Is it because of your legendary John Madden status or is it because you have carried our gaming hearts to heaven by offering yourself in full 1080i? Whichever it is Madden NFL 2009 is hands down the best sports game of the year.
I have never been a fan of sports video games mainly because I rather go out to the part and play the game myself. But Madden NFL 2009 is the exception and I’m not the only one who has rated this game as the best so its about time you take a look at Madde n2009 if you’ve not already done that.
- Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
The best driving simulator has finally gone HD. Gran Turismo has had quite a few prizes under its belt during its 10 years plus existence. And it has gotten one more trophy for having the ultimate HD experience in driving simulators. There are few flaws we can pick with this game (other than its exclusion of certain classic exotics) but what might surprise you is that its creators have been added to the top 50 most influential people in the automotive industry by Motor Trend, and just a few minutes of game play can vindicate their decision.
If you haven’t gotten yourself a copy of the latest installment of the hit video game franchise its about time you did.
- Ninja Gaiden II
I should admit that I debated whether or not this one should make the list. Not because it was not as good as the rest but mainly because this list was originally supposed to contain 10 games. But seeing that this has been one fantastic year for the gaming industry (can’t say the same thing about music or movies though) I thought what the heck.
Ninja (like all the other games here) gets props for awesome graphics and a well thought out story line. While it may not be as compelling as Prince of Persia it still carries enough edge of your seat action that is bound to make you petition Team Ninja (its developers) for a trilogy.
- Fallout 3
Why is it that we are attracted so much to FPS and RPG’s? Maybe its the same reason why the army is receiving record enlisting applications thanks to the likes of Halo, GOA, Crysis and of course SOCOM. One thing is for sure that true gamers have always been fasinated with both these genres and it doesn’t seem like that will be dying soon.
But if you want a better reason why Fallout 3 should make it on our list may I refer you to all the extremely high ratings it has received from the gaming critics not to mention the stunning graphics, well thought of story line and stellar performance.
One things for sure, there will not be a Fallout over Fallout anytime soon. OK I admit that was corny but you get the point.
- Spore
I must admit that I was a little disappointed when I played Spore for the first time. While it lived up to my expectations I was expecting a little more. But that soon changed when I exited the civilization stage and became a space traveling species. Those of you who have played the game will agree with me when I say that its one of the most innovative games ever made and ranks as the most innovative game for 2008.
Too bad it took so long to make it to the shelves of Best Buy, but if there is one thing, Spore lived up to expectation and was the top downloaded game on BitTorrent in 2008.
In case you haven’t noticed this only the third kid friendly game to make it on the list so I can assure you fathers (and mothers) that you won’t have to do any explaining should you get this for little Timmy.
- Prince of Persia
The prince returned for his fourth installment in the critically acclaimed series. and while he may be getting old his style is far form out of style. There is just something about his looks and his dark past that makes us want to explore every inch of the digital disks that he’s packed into.
If you’ve not been a fan of the prince its either because you’re not into RPG’s or haven’t met him yet. Either way, its good advice to try him. More than likely you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat for the next title.
- Assassins Creed
Who doesn’t want to be an assassin? There’s something about them that captures our imagination and makes us fantasize about them. In case you missed the memo Assassins Creed is basically the recollection of ones memory. While all the sequences take place in Jerusalem just after the death of Christ and before the Crusades the whole events are being replayed in the mind by a descendent of one of the original assassins.
The game has a twist to it and also a modern day implication but that’s all I’ll say. If you’d like to know the rest, pick up the game for yourself or find the spoilers on some other website. The game is just too good to spoil.
- Call of Duty: World at War
For the COD fans, its no surprise that World at War makes the list. Apart from having one of the best game trailers of the year it also carries the franchise to new hights with its awesome graphics and perfect story line. I’ve never been a WWII buff but this game could turn almost anyone into one.
No one is saying that games like SOCOM and Brother’s in Arms don’t deserve their place, but no other war game can come up to the standard of COD. While it did make a brief stop in the modern world in its 4′th installment the game is back to its roots and WWII action never looked so down right wicked.
- Metal Gear Solid 4
MGS is arguably one of the best franchise of the PS family. There is just something about Snake taking on the baddies and pulverizing them to bits. Well Snake is back and in the fourth installment to the series he is wickeder than ever.
From the fast action fight scenes to the ultra realistic stealth moves MGS4 is licensed to thrill. Too bad that this is only PS3 for the moment. But seeing how the boys at Microsoft has been able to capture some of Playstation’s most coveted franchises (hello GTA) I wouldn’t be too surprised if we see this one carrying the green ring in the near future. Plus thanks to some very suspicious lettering and images on the MGS site it looks like they are already considering it.
- Crisis Warhead
Crysis is by far the best in the video game graphics field. Why else would it be the bench mark that all computers must meet before they can be considered a gaming system? It has been long known that PC games can carry better graphics than their console system counterparts, mainly because the graphic cards in PC systems outperform their console counterparts.
So its no surprise that EA has decided to keep Crysis as a PC only video game for the foreseeable future. But don’t take my word for it, if you have the bucks I dare you to demo it on an HP Blackbird and find out what you have been missing. There is just word of warning, if you happen to accidentally get addicted to the game the only remedy is to break it up and never step foot in a video game store again….nah we’re just kidding…or are we?
- Gears of War 2
War never stops and the creators of GOA2 have capitalized on that. There is little that can be penned that would describe the awesomeness of this game. But let me warn you that this ultra realistic, ultra gory game is not for the faint of heart. Other than the foul moths of your comrades your regular tasks will include shooting the crap out of aliens and cutting them down to manageable sizes with the included saw that is conveniently attached to your gun.
But if you can look past those two major obstacles you will find yourself in a world so believable that you’ll really think that earths survival depends on you…that’s a good thing right?
- Grand Theft Auto 4
Its not a surprise that GTA4 tops our list as the best game of 2008. I will be up front with you though. I have never been a fan of thug violence in video games but there is no denying that Take Two did a spectacular job on the story line, graphics and physics of this game.
This game was probably one of the most violent to make the list and I will warn you that if you are unfamiliar with the GTA franchise it carries plenty of sex, violence, drug and gutter language. But maybe that’s the reason why it was the most bought game of 2008. We’re so fascinated with thug life although most of us would never think of actually doing it in real life.
CONCLUSION
So there you have it, the top games of 2008. Enjoy your new year celebrations and remember don’t drink too much, and if you do drink, don’t drive. Peace out for now.
Tags: video games