So close...

Another year, another gaming list. First and foremost, I want to bestow an honorable mention to a game that just slipped out of the top 5.

DJ Hero (Multi)
Look, I give as much shit as anyone to Activision corpse-humping the Guitar Hero Franchise. Let’s not forget this blog was founded on a comparison post of Rock Band and Guitar Hero! But DJ Hero is completely different: It’s the closest thing to Amplitude/Guitar Hero 1 that’s come along in years. Why that comparison? There’s no other game that’s truly like it that’s come before. It’s a whole new set of skills you didn’t know you had. The core mechanics are fun, but the game is marred by enough nit-picky issues (No fail? No real career progression? 5 tracks playable with a guitar?) that it had to fall out of the running. But I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with a sequel. A franchise to keep an eye on.

That said, on to the list!

The debate rages on

5) The Beatles: Rock Band (Multi)
Hard to believe this was the “Dark Horse” here in the SHR award run-up. It seemed like a sure fire GOTY candidate. But, it wasn’t to be (and it seems to have been received quite hostilely by some… heh). But it’s really the only “Band-specific game” that felt like it actually capture the band it was portraying. Sure, it’s not brutally difficult, and it’s hard to enjoy the background “Action” while playing it. I really enjoyed the music, bonus “unlocks”, and 3-part harmony mechanism. It’s the first one of these games* I’ve played that seemed to be made by people who loved what they were doing, and hey, all you need is love!

* ( I have played GH: Aerosmith. I have not played GH: Metallica or Van Halen, but I’m sure they’re just Activision re-humping the same game engine. See, I haven’t lost it! )

PS3's GotY

4) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Hard to believe that I’m the only one to put this on a list, but I guess I’m the only PS3-owning reviewer at the moment (Save your pennies, God of War is really coming this time!). I enjoyed the first Uncharted well enough, but the second one is leaps and bounds above. The environments are spectacular, the comedic timing is better than before, and the controls are some of the best on the PS3. Oh, and did I say it’s absolutely gorgeous? It is. And allegedly, there’s multiplayer in here too! Hell, I haven’t even touched it and it’s made the list! By far the best PS3 game I’ve played yet.

From Trev's Awesome Multiplayer Guide

3) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Multi)
Well, here it is. Of course this had to land on the list by some law punishable by up to $500, which is more than this blog makes a decade. So ta-da! What can be said that hasn’t already: Great multiplayer, a great-if-short campaign*, and enjoyable co-op spec ops. Why not higher? Because Infinity Ward is at a crossroads in my mind: Honestly, MW2 isn’t anything that MW wasn’t, except it’s a spit-shined cleaned up version of that game. It’s the same point that Bungie was at during Halo 2’s release. Can IW make something fresh and original from here, or will they just keep heaping more firewood on the same game? Halo 3 was very good, but it didn’t prove Bungie can do anything but make more of the same. So, let’s see it IW, we’re all pulling for you!

(PS — play the campaign once through, then put it away. If you play it again, your gushing praise of it will be greatly diminished by how absolutely guided and linear it is, even when you thought it was being “fresh”. Don’t ruin it for yourself.)

Still the most intense multiplayer game

2) Left 4 Dead 2 (PC/360)
Another game at a crossroads, though at least Valve has made other games and all… but yes, the sequel to my #3 pick last year gets bumped up a notch. Why? The first game was a wonderful co-op/versus masterpiece. This game takes that and makes it feel like a real zombie apocalypse. It is BRUTAL in difficulty, especially if your team is used to the “clear the room/dilly-dally/regroup/run” mentality of the first game. Yeah, that doesn’t work anymore. Squatting and stalling will just make the computer hate you more, and send yet MORE zombies at you.

On top of the brilliant new Scavenge mode, L4D2 adds new infected, new campaigns, and new weapons for the survivors (who are now fun to play as again, huzzah!). Your enjoyment of this game will very much be dependent on finding skilled friends and acquaintances to run with, but there’s still no game that provides a co-op madhouse feeling like this one. Bravo!

Hard to top

1) Borderlands (Multi)
The oft-delayed, initially underhyped Borderlands. Welcome to the top buddy! Your blend of a sweet art style, multitudes of weapons, classes that are fun to play, and a sprinkling of the World of Warcraft/Diablo dungeon run/loot whore system made you simply irresistible. Sure, I’ll forgive the last hour of your game. The drop in/drop out co-op for three of my other buddies more than makes up for it. The mixing of RPG and FPS elements strikes a perfect balance of addictiveness for fans of both genres, and the giddy joy of opening red crates hoping for some new, uberweapon kept me going for hours. So, salut! And I’m sure looking forward to your inevitable sequel! (Hopefully with a plot and better ending… sheesh, spend some of that profit on a writer, guys!)

And now, some one off thoughts:

Most disappointing game: Brutal Legend. It’s not bad, but it’s not everything I hoped it’d be either.

Best Game Not to be Considered for this List (cuz I haven’t played it): Assassin’s Creed 2

Worst Music Game: Rock Band (iPhone): Appreciate the effort guys, but if you can’t sync the notes and music, it’s not worth it. Also, where the hell is the landscape mode? Seriously? I have fat fingers!

Best iPhone Game: Canabalt. Now with the online leaderboards, it’s even more addictive. If that’s possible for a game that changed how I move my bowels.

Runner-Up iPhone Game: Spider. A game that just fits the platform perfectly. Just go buy it already.

Worst Game of the Year: That Guitar Hero with the Singing Dead People doing rap songs in it. What one was that again? 3? 5? 9? Band Hero? Does anyone even care about this franchise anymore?

Most Depressing Gaming Moment of the Year: Wii Fit telling me that I’m Obese. Thanks game; no shit! I sold the thing 4 days later.

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