Lets get down to business, 2008 was a great year for games and there was quite a bunch of great ones and some not so great, so here is my personal top 5 games of 2008.

Labels: Game of the Year 2008

Left 4 Dead
Finally Left 4 Dead. Valve is easily the best game producer out there. Why? cause they keep banging out classic after classic after classic. This is was THE online experience of the year and whilst it isn’t a traditional death match, nothing compares to fighting the infected horde, online or with friends.







The otaku hitman Travis Touchdown makes my list at number 5. No More Heroes wasn’t an original game with everything a comedic skit of something in modern day Pop culture. But it did do what I’ve wanted to do on the Wii for a long time. Use my Wii mote as a sword and start cutting hordes bad guys down, anime style. And the who can forget the highlight of the game the top 10 killers in Santa Destroy. Each one of the bosses in this game is comedic genius and true to the traditional boss battles, hard as nails, but have a weakness after attacking, it’s traditional and it works, well. Sadly however the Wii lacks more titles like this, perhaps if game developers could take a leaf out of Suda 51’s book and make more games like this then maybe they could bring the Wii back into the hardcore gaming market, add that and bring out a Wii that can contend with this generation of games and you have the perfect console, EVER.

2006 was a good year for gaming and brought out two classic, exclusive games for both the 360 and PS3. The PS3 had Resistance, the 360 Gears. Gotta admit, I wasn’t a fan of the first Resistance. However whilst Resistance 2 was a breath of fresh air for me, I was in for a real treat with the Gears sequel. Gears takes everything good about the first game and makes it better by adding, more multiplayer maps, more weapons, more gore, and an additional multiplayer mode that could be a game in itself. Not forgetting the single player mode that delivers and delivers until the climatic ending, Gears 2 is quite frankly the 360 exclusive of the year, and vastly superior to its PS3 counterpart Resistance 2.


The Legendary Solid Snakes final mission finally arrived on the PS3 in late June. And it was worth the wait. Hideo Kojima knows how to make games epic and interesting, and MGS4 is the epitome of this. The plot is epic, the game play perfect and the sound pulls at your heart and makes you feel the raw emotion of the games stellar script and voice acting, David Hayter’s final performance as Snake is worthy of an Oscar. Kojima is frankly a video game genius, and has created the PERFECT conclusion to a legendary game series; anyone who has been following the game series will see the Microwave tunnel as the most epic thing ever. A must have for any PS3 gamer.

Labels: Game of the Year 2008

Ah, 2008. It seems like so long ago; the world's moved on into 2009 without a second thought, hoping that money will get better, the weather more bearable and the games thicker and faster. But, let me cast your memory back to 2008, with my top 5 games of the year.

#5 007: Quantum of Solace

I bought this game after seeing gameplay videos and following the hype surrounding the new Bond film and game, expecting an exciting and bone-numbingly adrenaline-filled gaming experience. I wasn't disappointed. Quantum of Solace has many redeeming features - the excellent Gears-esque cover system, the fantastic shooting, the dual-camera view, and a good storyline that was loyal to the plotlines of both of Craig's Bond films. However, there were some flaws (such as the dreadful online play) which forces it to number 5.


#4 Far Cry 2

Do you love Africa? Are you an amateur arsonist? Do you like shooters? If the answer to any of these answers is yes, then Far Cry 2 is my recommendation to you. This game is brilliant in most senses of the word; the expansive, sandbox play area, fantastic fire and explosion effects and decent online mode gains Far Cry 2 the number 4 spot.

#3 Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty

This PlayStation Network exclusive is exactly what gaming is about: good, clean fun. With a fantastic and funny storyline which picks up from Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty continues the amazing action and magnificent playability which the R&C series has become synonymous with. Graphically amazing and with some truly hilarious scripting and voice acting, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty snatches number 3.

#2 LittleBigPlanet


Media Molecule's masterpiece LittleBigPlanet falls into the top five at number 2. A true original, LBP boasts a magnificent online system tied flawlessly into the single player campaign, fantastically narrated by Stephen Fry; brilliant customisation and user-created content and wonderful, regularly-updated DLC. A true work of art.

#1 Resistance 2

But, in the end, it has to be Insomniac's sequel to their PS3 launch title which has to scrape the top spot. Resistance 2 is everything a shooter strives for; taking all the best bits from Resistance: Fall of Man and adding much more, R2 is frantic, fun and realistic in equal measure. However, the number one has to be earned by the online mode - the least laggy I've seen in a very long time, strengthened further by the fantastic online games and party system. I'll be playing this long into 2009.

Linford

Labels: Far Cry 2, Game of the Year 2008, LittleBigPlanet, Quantum of Solace, Rachet and Clank, Resistance 2

So, that's the end of 2008. Did the guy in the red coat leave us all plenty of video games? Lets hope so, here are my top 5 games of 2008...

#5 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed


I only picked this game up recently but now wish I had picked it up earlier. The immersive story line, brilliant acting and compelling force powers make it a classic Star Wars game to rival the likes of the Battlefronts. It certainly has its flaws though which is what puts it in only at number 5.

#4 Fallout 3


Bethesda have once again created another amesome RPG. The post-apocalyptic, futuristic setting of Fallout 3 can seem very basic when compared to the beautiful environments of Elder Scrolls VI: Oblivion but this simply adds to the almost overpowering sense of destruction and anarchy from this great game

#3 Fable 2


What kind of Hero will you be? The main selling point of Fable 2 runs true throughout the game, allowing you to play good or evil. Nothing new in a game, especially a RPG but the thing that makes Fable 2 stand out from the crowd is your complete freedom within the game. Do anything, from raising a family to bounty hunting. Save Albion from the forces of evil or get a job and become a simple citizen of the land.

#2 Race Driver: GRID



I'm not usually one for driving games, I don't know the first thing about cars or engines or anything like that so I end up racing a Ferrari in an off-road race or something. But with GRID i became totally hooked and pretty much played nothing else through the summer.

#1 Gears of War 2



The follow up to the legendary Gears of War 1, many critics said that it couldn't out do the prequel. Gears 2 however, surpasses its predesessor in almost every area. Epic have created a game that will be used to compare to other shooter games for years to come. This Legendary game is easily my number one of 2008

Lewis

Labels: Fable 2, Fallout, Game of the Year 2008, Gears of war 2, GRID, Star Wars, The Force Unleashed

I know the original plan was to do this on video, but I decided that it would be little more than me talking to a camera for 5 minutes, holding game boxes if I didn't do it this way. Anyway; 2008 was a great year. Here are my top 5 from it:

#5 Resistance 2


Resistance 2 should be used as an example for all game developers. Easy to pick up and play, hard to master. Great online mode, no lag. Amazing co-op gameplay with classes that actually work together; Resistance 2 does it all. Well maybe not, it has all of the fundamentals of a classic…but at times it feels like that’s all it has, fundamentals.

#4 Mirror’s Edge


Mirror’s Edge is the most unique game I have played all year. Even though combat is a big let down, and at times the missions can be frustrating (see boat level), the times when you run from rooftop to rooftop being chased by the police, are among the best of the year. Just as a note, ME has my favourite art style in a game ever.

#3 Grand Theft Auto 4


GTA 4 represents a more mature GTA series in times to come. I welcome this change. Whilst other games can boast of “amazing” character creation or “ground-breaking” user generated content, GTA 4 is one of the only games in history that have ever captured the feeling of a real city.

#2 Burnout Paradise


This is what racing games should be like. I don’t want to tune a car’s engine; I want to smash it to hell while jumping off a car park roof. I don’t want boring tutorials; I want to smash a car to hell, while jumping off a car park roof. I don’t want to change my car’s tyres, I want to smash it to he- OK, you get the picture. Burnout shows racing at its very best.

#1 Fallout 3



Fallout 3 has a great setting. Sure, at first it looks like a bunch of rocks and debris scattered around a wasteland, but if you dig deeper, what you find is an immersive world full of rich characters with good voice acting (at times), and a fun combat system. However, the thing that made this my game of the year was all of the little finishing touches. Stumbling on an exhibition in a museum that contains a replica vault complete with car salesman-like voiceover? Amazing.

Matt

Labels: Burnout, Fallout, Game of the Year 2008, Grand Theft Auto, Matthew, Matthew Meadows, Mirrors Edge, Resistance 2