The Year That Was

[BreakABone]

Its that time of the year in which we look back with googly eyes about the year that has just passed us by.

And 2009 was quite a year for gaming.

First, let's look at the little brothers of gaming.

The PSP has had quite a rough patch... since forever. What can you do, I don't have one, don't know anyone who does, so I honestly don't know what came out this year. Sorry :(

The DS has had a quite interesting year.
I mean it ended with a brand new Zelda, it started with a semi-new Pokemon and squashed somewhere in-between was an awesome Mario RPG game. It also saw the launch of a 3rd version, the DSi which brings expandable memory, internet browsing and a camera to the console Third party efforts were cozy with such fare as Retro Game Challenge and GTA: Chinatown Wars.

Now we move on to the big 3 of gaming..

Starting with the 360... Staying the course... playing it safe... treading water... whatever you want to use, this was not the year for the 360. I mean it still saw some quality release, but compared to prior years they seemed further apart. Also looking at the release schedule, it offered very little in the way of exclusies with the real noticeables being ODST, Halo Wars and Left 4 Dead 2 if you don't have a PC. There may have been others but the only ones that stuck out to be. Also in terms of sale, it has remained pretty flat.

The PS3 has had a banner year, the best in the console's life. And may have been the console of the year just due to the turnaround and the quality of its software. Starting off with my 2nd favorite game of the year, and one of the best games ever, Uncharted 2. I don't care what anyone says, Uncharted 2 is the best looking console game, bar-none. Not only does it look good, it plays terrifically. It has an awesome main character, and fun and unique set pieces. There are only two glaring issues, which are rather minor in the grand scheme of things. The PS3 also saw the release of a new Ratchet game, Infamous and Demon's Soul. It arguably got the banner Batman title with the exclusion of the Joker stuff. Let's not forget the redesign and the much more affordable price point. Add in built in blu-ray, and you can see why it has had a hell of a year.

Now the most controversial console as always, the Wii has also had a stellar year, if you looked at it. While there were few new additions, with the ability to use SD cards for expanded storage and the debut of Nintendo Week, and the 50 dollar price drop. The quality of software on display was quite remarkable with the banner title being New Super Mario Bros Wii, sure it is one hell of a title, but it is also one hell of a game. Mixing old-school Mario platforming with zany hijinks in multi player, makes for one of the best packages of the year. Speaking of terrific packages, there was the Metroid Prime Trilogy release, which bundled 3 awesome games into one nifty and affordable package, probably the second best deal in gaming behind the Orange Box. Of course 3rd parties were on display as well with such titles as Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, MadWorld, Little King's Story, Klonoa, Okami and A Boy and his Blob. Oh and let's not forget Punch-Out, we can never forget Punch-Out

So now that we have a mini-recap of the year, let's get to the meat of it.

What was your Game of the Year?
What was one game you regretted not having played yet?
What was your downloadable game of the year?
Biggest disappointment of the year?
Most surprising game?
And favorite moment?

Add questions as you like, and if you don't want, don't answer them all.

[Typhoid]

What was your Game of the Year? - Nothing really stands out for me to call it "Game of the Year."
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? - Uncharted 2
What was your downloadable game of the year? - "I made a game with Zombies in it"
Biggest disappointment of the year? - Street Fighter IV
Most surprising game? - Tekken 6/Super Mario Bros Wii.
And favorite moment? Getting a PS3 Slim after a year of not having a PS3.

[DarkMaster]

What was your Game of the Year? Uncharted 2, beyond a doubt

What was one game you regretted not having played yet? Hmm, Demon Souls I suppose.

What was your downloadable game of the year? Castle Crashers was this year, right? Also Resident Evil 2 and many other awesome PSOne games for $5.99 on the Playstation Network, incredible.

Biggest disappointment of the year? Brutal Legend, and to a lesser extent, Left 4 Dead 2

Most surprising game? I played a adventure type game on the computer called Machinarium, that was awesome and completely out of nowhere.

And favorite moment? Playing through Half Life 2 and the episodes for the first time, amazing.

[Thespis721]

This was the lightest year of gaming for me. I was so busy I barely was able to play but here goes:

What was your Game of the Year? Batman: Arkham Asylum
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? Mario Bros. Wii
What was your downloadable game of the year? Shadow Complex
Biggest disappointment of the year? The Bigs 2
Most surprising game? Shadow Complex
And favorite moment? Solving riddles by myself in Batman.

[Bond]

Wait... you said it was "not the year for the 360" and "it offered very little in the way of exclusives."

But, the Wii had a "stellar year, if you looked at it." The quality of software on display was "quite remarkable." QUITE REMARKABLE? You mentioned NSMB for two sentences, and then the Metroid Prime Trilogy release - a repackaged bundle of three old games. I am so confused.

What was your Game of the Year? Batman: Arkham Asylum
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? Uncharted 2
What was your downloadable game of the year? Shadow Complex
Biggest disappointment of the year? None
Most surprising game? Borderlands
And favorite moment? Funny Xbox Live parties

[Vampyr]

Felt like a good year on the 360 to me.

What was your Game of the Year? Dragon Age: Origins
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? Resident Evil 5
What was your downloadable game of the year? Plants vs. Zombies or Torchlight
Biggest disappointment of the year? BreakABone
Most surprising game? Borderlands
And favorite moment? Finally beating Twilight Princess.

[TheSlyMoogle]

Starting with the 360... Staying the course... playing it safe... treading water... whatever you want to use, this was not the year for the 360. I mean it still saw some quality release, but compared to prior years they seemed further apart. Also looking at the release schedule, it offered very little in the way of exclusies with the real noticeables being ODST, Halo Wars and Left 4 Dead 2 if you don't have a PC. There may have been others but the only ones that stuck out to be. Also in terms of sale, it has remained pretty flat.

Games you might have missed:

Ninja Blade - Fairly below the radar, it's a cross between Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. Got good reviews pretty much everywhere, but was sadly missed by most including myself. Then again I never really liked that type of game too much anyway.

Section 8 came out a bit ago. A FPS, got good reviews a little under the radar as well.

As far as that goes you're right, there weren't as many exclusives this year because pretty much all the big name stuff comes out at the start of 2010 and pretty much all the big name Xbox stuff dropped last year. What do exclusives matter anyway though, in that vein we should talk about 360 + PS3 exclusives then wii exclusives as a separate category. PS3 and 360 share so many good games, why are exclusives important? Tekken 6, Blazblue, Modern Warfare 2, Batman, Borderlands, Dragon Age etc.

So what if PS3 had a better exclusives year?


Now the most controversial console as always, the Wii has also had a stellar year, if you looked at it. While there were few new additions, with the ability to use SD cards for expanded storage and the debut of Nintendo Week, and the 50 dollar price drop. The quality of software on display was quite remarkable with the banner title being New Super Mario Bros Wii, sure it is one hell of a title, but it is also one hell of a game. Mixing old-school Mario platforming with zany hijinks in multi player, makes for one of the best packages of the year. Speaking of terrific packages, there was the Metroid Prime Trilogy release, which bundled 3 awesome games into one nifty and affordable package, probably the second best deal in gaming behind the Orange Box. Of course 3rd parties were on display as well with such titles as Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, MadWorld, Little King's Story, Klonoa, Okami and A Boy and his Blob. Oh and let's not forget Punch-Out, we can never forget Punch-Out

Bond is right here. A NSMB title and a re-release of 3 games into a package? A re-release of Okami for the wii with control issues, and even Nintendo Power said get it for PS2.

So Klonoa (Which from the videos I watched isn't new, graphical update much? Looks just like the original), Punch-out, Little King's and Madworld coupled with NSMB wii and Blob as far as new things go. Oh and Silent Hill. You left out that need for speed game and dead space:extraction.

So yeah definitely some good games there, but it's a small list compared to the number of games both PS3 and 360 got as a collective that were good, not to mention the few 360 exclusives, and the PS3 exclusives. Odds are most of the games that come out for the wii are remakes of older games that could have been worked around to play better and look better on 360 or PS3.

And I leave you with this:

Wii: Good Cop, Bad Cop (http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/100/1009987p1.html)


What was your Game of the Year?

Personal Game of the Year? That would have to be Borderlands. Too much fun.

What was one game you regretted not having played yet?

Torchlight; Basically a remake of Diablo with better graphics and only 20 bucks? If I had a better computer I would have done it, now that I have a better computer why haven't I gotten it? Because I'm an idiot.

What was your downloadable game of the year?

So many good ones, but I'm going to go with Trials HD or Battlefield 1943.

Biggest disappointment of the year?

The Wii everything.

Most surprising game?

Torchlight. Shit came out of nowhere and was amazing. Also Borderlands. MMM item crack.

And favorite moment?

When my friend RyanBill and myself ran through the Borderlands DLC with Earl in about 4 hours. Then we proceeded to finish the braaaaaaaaaaaaainnnnnnnnnnsssssssss!!! quest without Earl because he got hungry. Lol.

Add questions as you like, and if you don't want, don't answer them all.

Just one question: Earl when will you stop being a nintendo fanboy and accept the fact that nintendo just doesn't have the right stuff for the serious gamer this generation, and they probably never will.

Besides like Bond mentioned, when the next gen drops what gimmick will Nintendo come up with to fuel their next system. Hope that gimmick isn't HD.

But in the words of The Killers "Don't give the ghost up..."

Maybe Nintendo will surprise us all with something made of Epic Win.

-Moogle out.

[Vampyr]

Torchlight is $10 on Steam until January 3rd.

[DarkMaster]

TheSlyMoogle, how is it that the game you most regret not playing, Torchlight, is also your most surprising game? Pretty sure you'd have to play it to be surprised by its quality, dude.

[Angrist]

MadWorld goes for €10 in the discount bin, and I'm still not getting it. :p

Ok here it goes, the only question I feel like I'm able to answer:

What was your Game of the Year? New Super Mario Bros. Wii

In other news: we found Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn [Wii] for €10. :D

[Fox 6]

I have to agree with Moogle here. Since when did Exclusives make or break the year for a console? If the PS3 or 360 share good games, well then they still had a good year, Are the games not fun to play if they are also available on the 360? If were are going to do exclusives why not do it with 360/PS3 vs Wii? Then the comparison wouldn't be close.

[Vampyr]

I hate the concept of exclusive titles anyway.

[TheSlyMoogle]

TheSlyMoogle, how is it that the game you most regret not playing, Torchlight, is also your most surprising game? Pretty sure you'd have to play it to be surprised by its quality, dude.

I've watched a ton of videos for the game, and I've been following it since I heard about it. Then it came out and it really was basically a revamped diablo and was still a good looking game. I was surprised and impressed when no one had anything negative to say, except that they were addicted.

[BreakABone]

Hmm
Ahh
Ohh

For all of you having problems with just going with exclusive... you all replied, so you know where the button is.

What was your Game of the Year?
New Super Mario Bros Wii

What was one game you regretted not having played yet?
So many but will go with downloadable games, just find it hard to justify buying them on a console.

What was your downloadable game of the year?
Battlefield 1943

Biggest disappointment of the year?
Hmm... I guess all the delays into 2010

Most surprising game?
Batman Arkham Asylum
I'm a huge Batman fan so I've played a lot of bad Batman games, I really didn't have faith in it... licensed game... unknown studio... suffered from a few delays, but wow... what a game

And favorite moment?
Firing up NSMBW in co-op, such an awesome experience.

[Dylflon]

What was your Game of the Year? NHL 10
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? Borderlands
What was your downloadable game of the year? I Made a game with zombies in it
Biggest disappointment of the year? New Super Mario Bros Wii
Most surprising game? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
And favorite moment? Playing co-op missions with my brother in COD4:2

[Dyne]

What was your Game of the Year?
Only one? Here's five.
1. Uncharted 2. Completely varied gameplays and locales.
2. Madworld slightly behind that for it's awesomeness of commentary (by Greg Proops and John DiMaggio) and its super fun gameplay.
3. Demon's Souls. Best western-inspired JRPG ever.
4. Probably MW:2 behind that. Solid experience, and it's great to see some gentlemanly competition between Infinity Ward and Naughty Dog.
5. Infamous. Open-world super-hero done right.

What was one game you regretted not having played yet?
Finally got a PC so I could play Fallout 3 GOTY edition. Only game I haven't played this year is Dragon Age. I'll probably get it cheap soon.

What was your downloadable game of the year?
Secret of Monkey Island remake

Biggest disappointment of the year?
Street Fighter 4. Terrible game, horrible interface, boring online.
Runnerup: Resident Evil 5. We waited HOW long for that? RE4 on the Wii was the best game ever and they trashed it. Coop was fun though.

Most surprising game?
Tie. New Super Mario Bros and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Free for all in Mario is probably my favourite birthday activity ever.

And favorite moment?
Madworld in general. Such an awesome game, and it never gets stale.
Video Capture for Need for Speed: Shift was an awesome job, too, because the game was fun. I still play my copy now.

[gekko]

What was your Game of the Year? - COD4-2
What was one game you regretted not having played yet? - New Super Mario Bros.
What was your downloadable game of the year? - Trials HD
Most surprising game? - Halo: ODST
And favorite moment? - Natal announcement

[Dyne]

Wait, I forgot to mention my handheld GOTY: Half-minute Hero for PSP. It's so awesome. It's an RPG every 30 seconds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Minute_Hero

[Soviet Stinger]

What was your Game of the Year?
MW2, gotta say.

What was one game you regretted not having played yet?
The Fallout 3 expansions

What was your downloadable game of the year?
Dude, Trials HD. Awesome stuff.

Biggest disappointment of the year?
Ehh. I don't play bad games.

Most surprising game?
Avatar. Don't even talk, I like games like that.

And favorite moment?
Figuring out that Demomen are rigged as hell.