inFamous
Released in May, inFamous may not be as fresh in gamers’ minds as most of the other titles on the list but it’s certainly no less deserving of a Game of the Year nod. Sucker Punch Productions took the basic sandbox style gameplay of titles such as the Grand Theft Auto series and injected the format with electricity – and super powers. The resulting gameplay, which also boasted RPG elements, was a one of the most impressive looking titles on any console this year -remember the Superpowers Trailer? The title is engaging and the karma system featured within inFamous provides a number of great moments, not to mention different powers, and alterations to the physical environment, depending on the choices players made. While the gravel-voiced Cole may not be the most likable protagonist this year, he is buried in an appealing-enough story to carry players through a meticulously crafted world – and gameplay experience.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Not a graphics or AI heavyweight, New Super Mario Bros. Wii relies on the tried and true platforming adventures of a plumber and his brother, as well as some unspecified Toad friends. Alongside titles like Modern Warfare 2 and Borderlands, you’d expect a Mario Bros. game to be the kiddie-equivalent Game of the Year, but your little sister would probably have an easier time slaying zombies in Resident Evil 5 than making her way to world nine in this new Mario title. The game is unforgiving but miraculously addicting, returning gamers to the days when you couldn’t save yourself by taking cover or regenerate your health, a formula that rewards you, not with unlockables or achievements; instead, only with the true gratification of beating a level. The addition of multiplayer features brings the typical Wii party features to the series, ending the days of play and pass turn-taking. Whether you and your friends are working together in co-operation to rescue Princess Peach or mercilessly tossing each other into lava pits, the four-player action is a riotous experience.
Resident Evil 5
The oldest title on the list, released in February, Resident Evil 5 is a solid action game that combines both the survival horror (read you can’t run and gun) elements of the franchise with the action adventure gameplay gamers have come to expect in next-gen titles. But what really sets Resident Evil 5 apart is the co-operative gameplay. Admittedly, not everyone was a fan, but few games this year could rival the scope of RE5’s co-op campaign, a long and diverse trek from the Kijuju villages to the underground bowels of the Umbrella research facilities. Unlike most co-op titles, mainly first person shooters that operate in large arena-like environments, Resident Evil 5 took advantage of both players’ anxieties, forcing them into tight corridors and dim lit catwalks. The co-op feature also allowed for numerous approaches to levels and boss fights: from dual machine gun emplacements on the back of a moving truck and split level environments that force one player to defend an ambush while the other scrambles for the way out. Resident Evil 5 may not be the most original of our nominees but with its high-octane, Hollywood-like, approach to the RE series, Capcom deserves credit for another engaging title. Now if only they could use all that film-tech to create a decent Resident Evil movie.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Like the other games on this list, it’s no secret that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves has been receiving loads of critical praise – all of which is well deserved. The title harnesses the strengths of the original title, without the waves of faceless pirates in copy and pasted plaza-like environments. The visuals improve on the already revolutionary graphics of Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and the online features are a welcome, and surprisingly deep addition. What truly puts a game like Uncharted 2 above many of its contemporaries, however, is the characters and story. Thirteen years after Naughty Dog introduced gamers to Sony’s first quasi-console mascot, Crash Bandicoot, the developer has returned with Nathan Drake, a more mature, charismatic, front man for the PlayStation hardware. Uncharted 2 features tons of breathtaking action scenes coupled with a great sense of humor as well as real and genuine character drama through a variety of puzzles, environments, and multi-faceted gunfights. Uncharted 2 is an incredible package and leaves little to be desired – on second thought, maybe a bit less Elena.
Personally, I don’t think any game this year matched the awe I felt during the opening scene of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
What is your vote for Game of the Year? Are there any titles you think the industry has overlooked?
What is your pick for "2009 Game of the Year"? Total Voters: 200
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