My 2008 Playlist
So it’s the end of the year. That means it’s time for everyone to make their “best of” lists. I thought of doing the same thing, ranking my favorite games. But that wouldn’t be fair. There are many games I still haven’t played yet (Spore, Dead Space) or played enough of (NHL 09) to render a fair judgement. So instead, here’s an unordered list of some games that really held my attention over the past year.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin: This is the only game I bought for my DS this year but it’s managed to hold my attention. While I’m not a big fan of the darker tone, new units are always welcome and the gameplay is just as addictive and challenging as in past installments. There have been a couple of times this year when I wished my plane ride lasted a bit longer so I could play a few more turns before shutting off my DS; that’s the sign of a great game!
Grand Theft Auto IV: I picked this game up a few days before digging in on Too Human. Therefore I didn’t have much time to play it and am still struggling to finish it. But the time I’ve had with the game has produced some very memorable moments. Perfectly T-boning a thug on a fleeing motorcycle with a borrowed taxi cab immediately comes to mind.
Battlefield: Bad Company: As a huge Battlefield fan, I was a bit nervous about this one. The last time DICE made a Battlefield console game it wasn’t that great. But Bad Company delivered. The single player is okay, but the multiplayer really shines sporting a fairly deep persistence system and two game modes. Just as impressive are the production values. Anyone with a home theater system needs to try this one out. There simply aren’t too many better sounding games.
Rock Band 2: Sure, there wasn’t much new to Rock Band this year, but I was more than happy to pay the asking price for 100 more tracks. I’ve never been a Bon Jovi fan but when your whole band is killing on Livin’ on a Prayer it truly is a transcendent experience. I think that’s the brilliance of Rock Band. Bands or songs you never really liked take on a whole new light. Yeah, I bought the Jimmy Buffet track pack.
Far Cry 2: Yeah, I wrote the guide so I may be a bit biased. But I feel this is easily one of the best shooters released this year. The genre has needed a facelift for a long time and I think Ubisoft Montreal taken some monumental steps providing players with an entire African country to explore…and die in. Perhaps some gamers need to have someone hold their hand and lead them through a linear maze. I prefer taking (or making) my own path.
Mirror’s Edge: This is definitely one of the most polarizing games of the year. I happen to love it. I’ll admit, it has some issues, but any first person game that rewards you for not using guns deserves a nod. Plus, I love the puzzle elements. It sort of reminds me of Portal in that sense. The melee combat is fun too, once you get the hang of it. I’ve only dabbled with the time trials at this point but I can foresee that becoming an obsession.
Left 4 Dead: I really wasn’t sold on this game until I sat down and played it. Now I’m hooked. Although it’s only been out for a few months, I’ve played Left 4 Dead more than any other online game this year. To my surprise, the online community has caught on with the teamplay aspect, making even pick-up games fun. But it’s best when played with a close group of friends. It’s just easier to give friends grief after they’ve emptied their shotgun into your back.
Fallout 3: So I’ve played this game for over 30 hours and I’m nowhere near the end. Frustrated? Hardly. I’m savoring every square inch of this masterpiece. What makes the game so brilliant are the heavy decisions forced upon the player, some of which can alter the game world in both major and subtle ways. I also love the depth, attention to detail, and degree of freedom. I won’t be surprised if I’m still playing Fallout 3 a year from now and encountering new things.
