Friday, December 25, 2009

Top 10 Console (and Downloadable) Games of 2009

Just Missing Out:

Assassin's Creed II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Dead Space Extraction
inFamous
Street Fighter IV
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii Version)

10. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey

Sometimes there are games that come out of left field. For me, this WWII air combat title fits the bill. I never knew what to expect but after the first few training missions I was hooked. A great looking game coupled with excellent controls and tons of content, console fans who have been eager for something to take to the skies, this is the one to play.

9. Fat Princess

Typically I tend to stay away from online only games. It can be sometimes really difficult to get involved unless you are willing to invest the time and energy to get good at it. Thankfully, Fat Princess is the perfect title for those looking to just have a bit of mindless fun. This team based action title has something for everyone. Not good at fighting, then be a healer. Can't shoot an arrow to save your life, well your team needs someone to collect supplies. For those who enjoy Team Fortress, playing this is an absolute must.

8. Killzone 2

The game that had so much hype associated to it is typically destined to fail. Thankfully, Killzone 2 met its expectations and was worth every penny. Having played and only partially enjoying the original, this follow up gives FPS fans one incredible journey with great shooting, frantic action and a good mix of enjoyable and frustrating moments. Certainly looking forward to where this series goes to next.

7. Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City

Having already owned the PS3 version of GTAIV, getting the opportunity to play any of the exclusive content for the 360 was not possible. That changed with RockStar releasing both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony in one perfect package along with all the fantastic multiplayer options. If you are in the same boat as me or just want more GTA content, this is a purchase you need to make.

6. Borderlands

Never judge a book without actually reading through a few chapters. This was the case for me when playing Borderlands. What started off as a frustrated experience quickly changed into spending time trying to see what else I could do. There aren't many games that can keep me playing after a poor first impression, but Borderlands did that. It takes a bit of time to get into the groove but once you've hit it, you will have a hard time letting go.

5. Shadow Complex

Nostalgia is always a nice thing, so when you have a game that brings of memories of your youth it is certainly worth mentioning. This fantastic action game that reminds you of the days of playing on your SNES is something that was such a pleasure to play. From the opening moments to every discovery, regardless of size, will keep you wanting more. Again, more games like this need to made that can be enjoyed for about the same cost of going to the movies and last 3 times as long.

4. FIFA 10

Soccer is my sport so a quality game is something I have to have. It has been years since I have played a game in the series that made me absolutely enjoy every match I played. Thankfully, this not only made me feel so good during every match, win, lose or draw, but the amount of content available will keep any fan occupied for months. EA has been looking for ways to push the series forward and next year's version will need to really go farther to better this one.

3. Dragon Age Origins

Upon first inspection, Dragon Age Origins was merely a game that I had no real interest to. Having not played any BioWare title until this year, I could care less about their pedigree. That quickly changed after playing through Mass Effect early on this year and getting to sit and listen to the BioWare Doctors talk about Narrative quickly changed my mind. If you enjoy free flowing RPGs that give you the ability to do so many things, then this is the only game you need to play. Having played both the game on the PC and PS3, you should most definitely go the way of the Personal Computer but even if that isn't a viable option, RPG fans will enjoy every waking moment.

2. Batman: Arkham Asylum

The last really fun Super Hero title that I enjoyed playing was the first Spider-Man title for the PSOne (released by Activision). Since then, it has been really difficult to find one that kept me wanting to play through the entire story. Arkham Asylum changed that from the opening moments with its fantastic story that mirrors the comics, the excellent combat that expands as you progress and plethora of side objectives available. This is the way other Super Hero games need to be made and will be the gold standard for years to come.

1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

I will not lie, until recently my favorite PS3 game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. My expectations for the follow-up were high and those demands I had were met and surpassed from the opening scene. Among Thieves shows just how far cinematic experiences have gone in the gaming world. This is an incredible story with great action sequences, stunning cast of characters and so much more. The transition from cut-scene to actual gameplay is so seamless you will often question if you're playing or watching. Yes, there are most certainly moments that will challenge you if you don't enjoy a challenge then you shouldn't be playing video games. Even if you have not experienced the first game in the series, you can easily pick this up and enjoy it. I loved every minute of my time with this and hope to find the time to go back and relive it again.

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