Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time
After the great Tools of Destruction, we get another Ratchet and Clank title to wet our whistles on. Thankfully, A Crack in Time is just as good as its youngest predecessor and this is another great PS3 exclusive to hit shelves in 2009. It's not only a great game for youngsters, but an extremely solid and deep platformer for older gamers too.
Dragon Age: Origins
An incredibly deep RPG experience from BioWare, Dragon Age: Origins is a highly addictive game that will keep you coming back for more, over and over again. The character development system is quite extensive, and BioWare have released DLC right around release to expand its worth almost immediately.
An absolute must-have for RPG and BioWare fans alike, Dragon Age: Origins is one of the best in the genre on XBOX 360.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Does this inclusion really need to be justified? Easily one of the most hyped games of this generation, if not of this decade, Modern Warfare 2 offers a brilliant online experience, as well as a solid and mature single-player component.
What we said in our review
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is without a doubt one of the most balanced and enjoyable shooters ever. While the single-player campaign lacks a coherent story and is incredibly short, it’s still great fun to play as the gameplay and presentation are both fantastic. The multiplayer experience is ultimately where it’s at, with MW2 offering the fantastic Spec Ops, as well as an improved multiplayer that maintains many of the great aspects of COD4, while also improving on some annoying aspects. The amount of content included in multiplayer is astonishing and the high level of detail, coupled with the gorgeous visuals, makes MW2 one of the best titles this gen.
Assassin's Creed 2
Many gamers are claiming Assassin's Creed 2 to be a strong GOTY contender. It's obvious that its developer has listened to gamers to improve on issues from the first game, offering a distinctively better, lengthier and more challenging experience the second time round.
What we said in our review
Assassin’s Creed 2 is an improvement on its predecessor in almost every way. The story, which starts slow, becomes very engaging and evolves almost perfectly for a videogame. The action/adventure gameplay has the right mix of platforming elements, side quests, assassinations and general combat. Best of all, every one of these things can be done in numerous different ways, leaving the tactics down to the individual player. Assassin’s Creed 2 looks and sounds great, and really immerses the player into 15th century Italy. It’s a great step forward for the series, one of the more mature games out there that uses strong platforming elements, and leaves you wanting more at the end of each mission. This is how to create a sequel for a new IP.
DJ Hero
DJ Hero is the latest music venture by Activision, one that tries to introduce gamers to the challenges associated with mixing and scratching two completely different music tracks. Even if you can’t scratch or have no sense of rhythm whatsoever, it really won’t matter, because DJ Hero is all about the music, more so than what it is about the actual skills required to be a DJ.
What we said in our review
DJ Hero is a surprisingly good if inconsistent music game. The controller is great and the gameplay itself is good fun. The first-half of the game is pretty bad, offering some horrendous mixes, while the game does a complete 180 in the second-half with some unreal mixes that you won’t hear anywhere else. Overall, it’s a great first effort, one that can definitely improve, but one that is still worth checking out if you’re a DJ and/or music game fan.
Borderlands
2K's "RPG FPS", Borderlands is a unique and very large game, offering a near endless amount of amazing weapons as you roam a vast wasteland. With great gameplay, a gorgeous and original visual presentation as well as a funny story, Borderlands is one of the more ambitious titles we've seen released this generation.
What we said in our review
I’m going to finish on the note that I began on. Borderlands is a fantastic FPS RPG – when playing co-op. It’s almost a different game when playing with 3 mates, as that same gameplay, which became bland and repetitive alone just works. The RPG elements are designed for more than one player, as is the combat. If you’re looking for a solo experience then stay away, on the contrary if you’re after a co-op RPG/FPS hybrid then Borderlands is right up there as one of the best of the year.
Brutal Legend
A unique take on the RTS genre, Brutal Legend isn't a game for everyone, but is still worth checking out for its great story and dialogue, as well as great performance by Jack Black.
What we said in our review
Brutal Legend is a genuine laugh out loud narrative driven adventure. The genius of Tim Shafer combines with the talent of Jack Black to create a predictable story that is still worth playing. The world is amazing, the sound track is brilliant and the game itself is a tribute to metal. The action-adventure brawling gameplay is fun, but ruined somewhat by the transition to RTS if you’re not a fan. It’s still fun to play, but either the two genres don’t go together or you have to start out as a fully blown RTS from the beginning. Moving away from being in the action to controlling it was an experiment that just didn’t work out. Still, if you’re into heavy metal it’s worth overlooking the gameplay mash-up to experience the world that is Brutal Legend.
FIFA 10
Herald as one of the best soccer games ever, FIFA 10 is a spectacular sports title, offering amazing visuals, great sound and most importantly, fantastic gameplay. After several hits in a row, the team at EA Sports have excelled in what everyone thought was perfect in FIFA 09. FIFA 10 beats it, with a better all-round game.
What we said in our review
FIFA 10 is as perfect a soccer game as you can get. EA Sports seem to have perfected the genre and pushed the franchise well above its nearest competitor in PES. The gameplay is superb and improved on the seemingly perfect gameplay from last year’s game. Manager Mode has been improved for the best and there are still the same old mode favourites to keep FIFA regulars happy. Online mode is great with minimal lag, although Team Play can be a bit rough around the edges with so many people playing together. What it comes down to is the gameplay and playing FIFA 10 is an absolute treat, especially if you’re a diehard of the sport.
The Beatles: Rock Band
We've seen quite a few Guitar Hero spin-offs, all of which don't really do the band or franchise must justice. However, Rock Band's first spin-offs was a straight success, as The Beatles hit XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and Wii in a fantastic music game experience. Great for everyone of all ages.
What we said in our review
This is a great addition to the Rock Band series, and truly a must have for any Beatles fan. The Beatles: Rock Band is not just a game, it is an experience. 40 years on Harmonix have developed a fantastic tribute to the world’s greatest band. It celebrates their history, and will take you on a mystical journey through the best, and some of the hidden gems, of their catalogue. The only downfall is that it’ll substantially hurt your bank account if you have to buy all the instruments and want the downloadable content. But it’s so special, we’re almost willing to overlook that.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
An early contender for GOTY honours, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the definitive comic-book game. Fantastic visuals, great villains, large environments and amazing gameplay. Great action and stealth instances make this by far one of the best games based on a superhero ever. A must-have.
What we said in our review
Arkham Asylum is a “true” Batman experience. Forget about every other Batman game you’ve played in the past – this is the only one you need to play. Everything from the environments, to the brilliant (yet linear) story, to the flowing combat and fantastic stealth elements: this game is an absolute pleasure to play. It’s accessible, challenging, and deeply rewarding, and it’s one of those games that you can play through multiple times without ever growing tired of it. It’s a title constructed perfectly around stealth and basic button-mashing combat, and with plenty of memorable cutscenes and fantastic all-round performances from the voice-cast, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an absolute must-have.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
An easy contender for Game of the Year honours, this wonderful adventure title is an absolute must-have for any Playstation 3. Fantastic visuals, great gameplay, likable characters and a great story make for an adventure and experience not to be missed.
What we said in our review
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves isn’t quite perfect, but it’s pretty damn close. It does a sensational job of introducing you to the characters and executing an interesting story right from the get-go. The improvements in the gameplay make it substantially better than its predecessor and there is a great balance between the combat, puzzles and platforming. Naughty Dog have done a wonderful job to incorporate stealth early on in the game, although it takes a while for full-blown action to kick off, which might discourage some gamers. Visually it’s absolutely stunning with a perfect presentation. Yet the graphics really do take a back-seat to the adventure itself, as its memorable, exciting, engaging, challenging and most importantly, fun.
inFamous
This Playstation 3 exclusive is a unique take on the superhero genre and a worthy purchase for anyone after a lengthy game with great gameplay.
What we said in our review
Even with all these downfalls I have pointed out, inFAMOUS is still a thrilling game that has a lot to offer. It’s a superhero title that isn’t bound by comic book ties, it’s a sandbox title that features some great traveling mechanics. Combat is top notch, but annoying AI, some minor glitches and a city that feels more like a prop than a living, breathing world let it down somewhat. It’s worth a try, and I’d highly recommend checking it out
Killzone 2
After a so-so predecessor, Sony came back with all guns blazing to reinvent a franchise for Playstation die-hards. What gamers got was a deep and highly enjoyable FPS with a great online mode, one to take on Microsoft's Halo franchise. While it may not be as populated online as it was earlier this year, it's still a great game to play through and head online with friends with.
What we said in our review
Killzone 2 offers more than just outstanding visuals and audio so real that it sounds like World War III is in your living room. It offers a top notch, cut above the rest first person experience, complimented with an impressive multiplayer component. The catalogue of weapons is impressive and a pleasure to do battle with, the AI is smart, effective and will cause you some pain and even though it's set in the future, Killzone 2 paints a picture that is very real. It's a good enough reason to invest into a PS3
Need for Speed: SHIFT
Thank god the Need for Speed franchise was given a reboot. Need for Speed: SHIFT is a welcomed change for the franchise, which lost a lot of its pizazz over the past few years. Mixing arcade with sim-style gameplay, SHIFT would be a great addition to any car enthusiasts game collection.
What we said in our review
Need for Speed: SHIFT is without a doubt one of the best in the franchise for quite a few years. Its sense of speed, good career mode and wide array of vehicles make it a fantastic racing title to play through. There are a few issues with the handling, though the great opponent AI and multiplayer experience seem to make up for any issues the gameplay has. You’ll learn to live with any problems, as the gameplay can get quite addictive, no matter if you’re racing with friends or on your own.
Prototype
In Prototype you are Alex Mercer, a shape-shifting creature who has the ability to absorb other beings and monsters. You never really know who the true Mercer is, because the game begins as he wakes up in a military quarantined Manhattan. As he evolves and transforms into an emotionless being with limitless powers, people around him go through horrific mutations, as Mercer himself changes to prepare himself for the countless attacks on his life. As he roams through the city as a near-invincible creature, he jumps from buildings and drops down onto the unsuspecting public. The city of Manhattan is your playground, as you guide Alex to unravel the secrets that plague his current appearance.
What we said in our review
Prototype is a fun game. There’s no doubt about that. It’s just let down by poor execution. The gameplay can be extremely enjoyable as you cause havoc across Manhattan, but it’s just a shame that it never really feels like Manhattan. The gameplay is accessible and the power upgrading system is great, and once you get all of the available powers, get ready to cause some intense trouble. However, there are inconsistencies all over the place. The cutscenes go from great to terrible, the missions are unoriginal (yet still fun at times) and the narrative never seems to take off like you’d expect it to. At its core, Prototype is a fun pick-up-and-play game. But on the outside, it’s an unfinished, inconsistent, poorly designed game that is saved only by accessible and fun gameplay mechanics.
Resident Evil 5
There’s no doubting that Capcom are one of the most respected gaming developers in the world. Their broad gaming library stems from fighting titles, action-adventure, horror and puzzles and they set the standard for stylistic experiences set in fantasy worlds dictated by outrageous story arcs and so-bad-they’re-good characters. The Japanese influence is obvious in each and every Capcom title and you have to give it to them for not giving in to Western cultural influences. However, Capcom games lately can rarely be categorised as “masterpieces”. Besides RE4, which redefined the action-horror genre last generation, most recent Capcom titles border “good” and “great” but are never quite as good as they need to be to be remembered 10 years down the track.
What we said in our review
Resident Evil 5 is a great action romp. The basic gameplay fundamentals remain from RE4, but it still has enough positives to classify as a worthy title. The new inventory system is great and the co-op implementation is good for the most part. The overall presentation is superb, being not only the best in the RE franchise but one of the best this generation. While RE5 hasn’t reinvented the third-person action title, it maintains many of the great RE qualities we’ve all come to love while implementing particular new aspects and evolving into a highly enjoyable action title.
Street Fighter IV
Several years in the making, Street Fighter IV hit consoles and PC with a bang. With its gorgeous visuals, awesome gameplay, spectacular characters and brilliant online modes, Street Fighter IV quickly became one of the best fighters of the decade.
What we said in our review
Street Fighter IV is the title that fans have been waiting for. With the mechanics that became world famous with Street Fighter II, and outstanding visual style, backed up with immersive gameplay it IS the ultimate fighting game. Unfortunately the game isn't friendly towards new comers or those who haven't had a chance to experience the series, and it has potential to frustrate and in turn, lose interest in what otherwise is a near flawless title.
Skate 2
EA reinvented the skateboarding genre with Skate, taking the reins from the seemingly indestructible Tony Hawk franchise. Skate 2 was able to live up to its predecessor, offering a unique and most importantly fun skate gaming experience.
What we said in our review
Skate 2 builds on a near perfect game, and manages to come out on top offering even more than the original. Featuring a real living and breathing city, backed up with an impressive online experience and gameplay that is near flawless, it makes you wonder where do EA take the series from here. Skate 2 is the ultimate skating game period. It is bursting at the seams with features and offers an experience that is unique to any other extreme sports game on the market. If you are a fan of the sport, or want to simply try something new, Skate 2 is well worth a Kickflip or two.
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