Game(s) of the Year - 2008

ExMachina

ExMachina

fails the turing test
Since '08's drawing to a close soon, it's time to take stock of all the great games that have come out this year.

Of course, the whole point of these lists is to foster discussion... so listing your reasons for your choices would be nice too. ;) If there are any categories you'd like added, please let me know and we can toss 'em into the mix.

So let's get this rolling! Post your votes in the following format:

Best Handheld Game

Chrono Trigger DS. It's hard to compete with a re-release of arguably the greatest J-RPG of all time... that said, I haven't played some of the other big DS releases like Professor Layton, TWEWY, or Castlevania: OoE. We can argue whether Mother 3 counts as a 2008 game since it only got unofficially localized for the States this year. xD

Best PC Game

Left4Dead. Sorry, console ports of Valve games, you don't count. :P In all seriousness, I have not played any great PC games that haven't been ported to at least one other console... which says something about the state of PC gaming, probably. However, some games are simply best played on your computer with kb/m.

Best PS3 Game

LittleBigPlanet. Pure fun, especially when you get 3 other players and romp around the user-created levels. I really think the PS3 is coming into its own as far as games go, "moderation" controversy around LBP notwithstanding. Yes, I picked this over MGS4.

Best 360 Game

I still haven't played Gears of War 2 or Fable 2... Not up to date on my 360 games. So no vote here.

Best Wii Game

Super Smash Bros. Brawl was the last Wii game I bought, I think... But I'm giving my vote to No More Heroes, from way back in January. Definitely had its flaws but the stylishness and well-implemented motion controls made it worthwhile. I do want to play de Blob though, I've heard nothing but good things about it. Overall a pretty disappointing year for the Wii, here's hoping 2009 (Punch-Out! Sin and Punishment 2!) will be better.

Best Multiplatform Game That Isn't SoulCalibur IV

The fact that we're all on a site dedicated to SC4 is the reason I decided to remove it from this category... yeah, we play it, study it, love it, but what non-SC4 multiplatform release deserves your praise? My vote goes to Prince of Persia. Gorgeous game with an interestingly implemented control scheme and sweet character interaction with Elika.

Best "Last-Gen Is Still Around" Game

Persona 4. Doesn't exactly have a lot of competition, but it really is an instant classic and would have been worthwhile even if released in the PS2's heyday.

Best DLC Game

SF2T:HDR is the only choice here, right? Wrong! Pixeljunk Monsters is the most fun I've had with a tower defense game in a long time. It's easy to pick up, hard to master, looks fantastic, and is absolutely hilarious to play co-op with a friend. Again, I haven't played any XBL games to any extent, otherwise I might have given this to Castle Crashers or Braid. I'm sure MM9 will get some votes here, old-school style perfection that one.

Best Game Not Released in 2008 That You Discovered in 2008

Team Fortress 2. I'd played the hell out of TF2 v.1.0 on the PS3 prior to this, but I only recently got a computer that could run it properly in its full glory. With all of the updates continuing and the new maps and game modes, the game remains fresh. TF2 really is the most fun FPS I have played in a long, long time.

Best New IP

Mirror's Edge. Yeah, the game definitely has its flaws (too short, frustrating combat, wtf story...) but ya gotta give DICE some props for releasing something completely different when it could have just churned out another Battlefield. Come to think of it, with EA also publishing Dead Space... weirdly successful year for EA as far as trying something new goes.

GAME OF THE MOTHERF'IN YEAR

I still haven't decided, honestly. I'll let you know closer to Dec. 31. ;)
 
Good list ExM, I don't disagree with any particular facet of it. though Chrono Trigger pick may be a bit bias, there is a ton of handheld comp this year.

My picks that differ from yours:

360: GoW2, it's not the best game imo, but as far as exclusives go, I give this the nudge over Fable and others.

Wii: De Blob is amazing AND innovative. No more heroes is overrattteeedddd.

new IP- Dead Space, way better than than Mirrors edge in both gameplay, story, replay-ability and visuals. Plus it doesn't have the laundry list of defects to accompany it.

best multi-platform- CoD: World at War, it's just like CoD4, but FUNNER. THAT alone is amazing. Prince of Persia is also great but CoD is a beauty.

cha cha
 
um...fallout 3 i think for GOTY

i can shoot them in the foot and their face explodes.

breaking up happy marriages....the tiny slasher...duping a priest into leaving the church to marry a barmaid---then showing up to drop a few grenades in the wedding...then robbing all the crack from the dead wedding-goers...then getting addicted to said crack...
 
Although ExM refuses to acknowledge console version of Valve games. To some(like myself, without a up to date PC), the console ports are all we have. So when I say Left 4 Dead, I mean BOTH versions.

FYI, Valve did something with L4D on Xbox360 that TF2 should have had. Its a simple addition, but you have no idea how it can single handily effect a purchase for this console's FPS games(its also why ALOT of people didn't bother with 07's Shadowrun, either). Its called, Split-Screen. This simple feature allows MORE people to locally experiance the game at places such as LANs or even get togethers and as with L4D on Xbox360, I was able to influence purchases.

Left 4 Dead, No matter which version. gets my vote for Game of The Year. Both sides have good points, but should NEVER count out the console version either. TF2 was screwed up and over on console, valve shows with L4D they learned from their mistakes. As for the game itself, its a winner on so many levels. While not a game you'll want to play solo, you can play(going by console version)Split-Screen(both online and offline, does allow guest play), System Link, and of course Xbox Live. The VS mode was also very crafty, both sides have the ability to win. But it all comes down to how coordnated you and your team are.

If split-screen doesn't mean jibber jabber to you, you have an updated PC, or you want more than the out of the box content. The PC version is there to answer the call. But if you are a console junkie like I am and/or a 360 owner who loves dat Live, you cannot go wrong with the 360 version either. The game is just too damn fun, to be ignored. Sleeper Hit of the year, people.
 
Best game found in 2008, not released in 2008: Bioshock. If it was released this year I'd probably nominate it for game of the year. Stylish design, great character models, tonics are interesting and plasmids are fun, luscious design models, always a reason to explore.

Best 360 game: Being very behind (not played the new Fable, Fallout, etc) I'd probably go with L4D, though your entire experience will hinge with your teammates. If you play with those you know and have a basic understanding of how the game works, you'll have a lot of fun. If you get small children who just learned their new favorite swear word and think they're Rambo, it's somewhere between the sixth and seventh circle of hell. Weapons seem well balanced, dismemberment is done perfectly (I'm looking at you, hunting rifle), and final encounters are well scripted.

Best DLC game: Braid. Interesting puzzles, plot is well written and thought out, inner monologue of the main character is awesome.
 
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