Your GOTY 2008?
polycounter lvl 19
Thought it'd be fun to check out everyone's Game of the Year for 2008. Lot's of titles to choose from but lets hear about your #1 Game this year and list your runner ups.
Much to the surprise of everyone, I'm sure, mine this year was Grand Theft Auto 4 for Xbox 360. I'm a big fan of the GTA series. I like 'sandbox' titles and I think Rockstar gets it right with their GTA franchise, but what it was for me this time around was the story of the game. It really felt like I was playing out a movie and that had me hooked right from the beginning. As well, if the story ever felt mundane or a bit far fetched for me at that moment I could always bugger off and do whatever I felt like doing. I know I like a game when I go back to it over and over after beating it. Hell, I paid another $50 for the PC release. I think thats the first time I had ever done that.
On top of all this, I really enjoyed the look of the game. It had its technical problems and short-sited limitations, but there were more times than I can remember where it felt like I was looking at real video someone had taped. Especially in the first-person driving views. I wrote about it in the original GTA4 thread we had here at Polycount, but I get this certain sense of believeabilty I don't get in other games when I awake out of bed, run down the stairs and push through the door. It's like I just walked out of a videogame and in to a real place. Quite the feeling.
Here's my Top-5 of this year:
Perhaps, if 2009 has a videogame drought will I go back, but if 2007 and 2008 is an indication that won't be the case.
Much to the surprise of everyone, I'm sure, mine this year was Grand Theft Auto 4 for Xbox 360. I'm a big fan of the GTA series. I like 'sandbox' titles and I think Rockstar gets it right with their GTA franchise, but what it was for me this time around was the story of the game. It really felt like I was playing out a movie and that had me hooked right from the beginning. As well, if the story ever felt mundane or a bit far fetched for me at that moment I could always bugger off and do whatever I felt like doing. I know I like a game when I go back to it over and over after beating it. Hell, I paid another $50 for the PC release. I think thats the first time I had ever done that.
On top of all this, I really enjoyed the look of the game. It had its technical problems and short-sited limitations, but there were more times than I can remember where it felt like I was looking at real video someone had taped. Especially in the first-person driving views. I wrote about it in the original GTA4 thread we had here at Polycount, but I get this certain sense of believeabilty I don't get in other games when I awake out of bed, run down the stairs and push through the door. It's like I just walked out of a videogame and in to a real place. Quite the feeling.
Here's my Top-5 of this year:
- GTA4 See above
- Left 4 Dead Going through the first 2 campaigns on release night, then the other 2 campaigns the next with the same 3 guys was awesome. I wanted more, but those 2 nights were probably the most fun I had in game in a long, long time.
- Team Fortress 2 I know this game was released in 2007, but with the insane amount of content updates this year I can't help but put TF2 on my list. For about 6 months, I played it everynight. Every. Single. Night. No game has ever had me doing that.
- Castle Crashers Looooooooooooved this game. It's fun, its funny, its colourful, it's co-op. It has lots of weapons, leveling and options. If it weren't for the shoddy net code on release I'd still be playing it now. I absolutely loved playing through this with friends and I hope Behemoth gets their update through MS certification and out the door sooner than later. It's a shame a title of this quality & uniqueness is hindered by paperwork. Definitely money well spent.
- Far Cry 2, Gears of War 2, Mirror's Edge, Fallout 3, CoD: World at War To be honest, I don't have a 5th title. The rest sort of blur together in this experience of equal enjoyment and frustration.
Perhaps, if 2009 has a videogame drought will I go back, but if 2007 and 2008 is an indication that won't be the case.
Replies
Runner up: MGS4. Great game - horrible story
2nd Runner up: Dead Space.
Left 4 Dead failed to impress at all, and TF2 was no match for CoD4.
Top of my list, hands down, Fallout 3. I spent over 80 hours with the game so far, and I could easily see myself going back a few save points and play up to over 100 hours of gameplay. All its competitors (GTA, SR, Mercs) failed to deliver gameplay of this caliber.
Call of Duty 4 takes the next place in line. Multiplayer is hands down the most fun I've had in a long time, what with the ability to spec out your setup to your own styling. The SP felt like it was ripped right out of a Tom Clancy novel, exactly where I want a 'modern day' shooter to come from.
I'll give Castle Crashers a honorable mention, since the losing of my game saves in SP (never even game MP a try) has made me despise the game and feel like I got ripped off, but before experiencing that the game made me LOLz nonstop.
though, goty if an interesting award. for me mgs4 was more than a game. it was on a whole other level. games like COD4 and gears(shameless plug) and halo, are a more complete package though. I love fallout 3, but i dont feel like it delivers on the same level as games that offer a great single player(although not as good as fallout or mgs) and expansive multi player community like halo or gears of cod do.
personally, fallout 3 didnt do it for me. gameplay was ok, story is a little flat for me, and way to slow. oblivion was the same way. When i get into it, i love it, but most of the time, i just want the game to tell me what to do. I dont want to have to seek out quests like in fallout.
Ultimately, I'd say Braid was my GotY. There were a shit tonne of great games this year, but I found that still most of them did not do much to move game design forward. Braid did. A lot.
I also should say that I still want to play the new PoP before I really make any final decisions.
3. Dead Space
2. Fallout 3
1.
multi: COD4 (except those noobtastic grenade perks)
2. GTAIV
3. Fallout 3
best classic JRPG in years to me and most playtime since jeanne d'arc on the PSP.
conversely i found MGS4 to be the most overhyped boring cutscene-riddled self-indulgent title with ultra-limited retro gameplay topped by a crappy control scheme and littered with embarrassing product placement i've touched in quite a few years, for sure in 2008. and i played and liked for the most part all of the other MGS's, can't even be bothered to finish that one for good.
as crappy as a bruckheimer 'blockbuster'.
... high budget tripple A category: GTA 4
... the indie category: world of goo
... the multiplayer/pc category: Team Fortress 2
... honorble mentioning and the "only game with meaning full choices" award goes to: fallout 3
2. Fallout 3 (PC)
3. No More Heroes (Wii)
I've yet to play Dead Space and Mirror's Edge.
2. Left4dead
3. CoD5
4. Dead Space
Burnout Paradise
Facebreaker
Saints Row 2
Soulcalibur IV
Valkyria Chronicles
#1 Fallout 3
#2 GOW2
#3 Fable2
2 - Rock Band 2 or Gears of War 2
2) Mirrors Edge
I like innovation
1. Castle Crashers
2. GTA IV (Though my copy was stolen after only 4 hours of play
3. GoW2
4. Fable 2
5. Lost Odyssey/Megaman 9 tie.
2. Fallout3
3. Mass Effect
4. Dead Space
5. Duke Nukem Forever
otherwise:
MGS4 (amazing)
Patapon
Left 4 Dead
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Gears of War 2
honorable:
Castle Crashers (if only they had released the fucking patch EVER)
Smash Brothers Brawl
Fallout 3 is great so far but I really haven't put enough time it in
Mirror's edge is really enjoyable so far too, but I'm only two hours into it.
I haven't played enough of dead space yet to rank that
and I kinda got out of GTA4, didn't hook me like I thought it would, although it was still enjoyable. I hope I can get back into it someday.
2. Left4Dead
3. Sins of a Solar Empire (only gripe with it so far is the crashes before some of the recent patches. Had a 4 to 5 hour game going, and then bam! Crash.)
4. Fallout 3
5. Little Big Planet (Playing 3 players, on a one player centered level = insane fun)
1. Team Fortress 2
2. Left 4 Dead
3. Trackmania United Forever
4. GRID
5. Dokapon Kingdom (Wii)
6. The Settlers - Rise of an Empire
TF2 was definately the most played, and I still need my fix of good custom maps, even with L4D's release. L4D is an intense joy ride. Great game design. Really pulls you into an amazing co-op experience. Trackmania remains in a genre all its own. GRID has perfected racing dynamics. It has been years since a racing title has given me a rush. And Dokapon Kingdom is a great party game for people of all ages. The Settlers is a well crafted and fun city building RTS, with more attention placed on the city inhabitants, than combat.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Metal Gear Solid 4
Sorry PC games, you have failed to impress me.
I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if it's given to GTA4. That game was quality.
Braid, and Soul Calibur 4 round out my top 5 (Although I haven't gotten around to DeadSpace or Fable 2).
V V Sorry dude, but Assassins Creed is pretty weaksauce IMO. Pretty graphics. Falls into the same category as MGS4. More hype than substance.
Last year was amazing because of TF2, and CoD4. But overall quality-wise I don't think it's much different.
I guess my GOTY would have to be Braid. It was the only thing that really impressed me this year.
for handhelds god of war : chains of Olympus blew me away from a graphical standpoint and just how awesome the game was.
Burnout Paradise
MGS4
My contenders are:
Burnout Paradise, Gears 2, Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, Wipeout HD, Metal Gear Sold 4, Assassins Creed, GTA4, Braid, Lost Odyssey, Castle Crashers, Rock Band 2, COD5, GRID, Orange Box
<rant>
That said, I can't see any of them taking the place that Fallout 3 has earned. No other game has had me glued to my TV, talking to friends about the game or just "thinking" about the game like this title has. It has it's flaws, for sure. Like Bioshock there is NO way I would give it a 10/10 but I would certainly give it a 9 or 9.5. I don't think it's because of the timing (it seems a lot of people rank "recent" games higher because they're fresh in the mind), I honestly think if this was a summer title i would still put it on a pedestal. I looked forward to this game for a LONG time, being a fan of the originals, and was happy that Bethesda "didn't fuck it up."
This year I've been thinking a lot about what it was like when I was younger, when I was a big "gamer", not jaded by the industry and, I guess, what would be considered excited about the next game coming out. I think it's becaus of all the sequels or remakes coming out (or already out) that involve IPs from my youth. Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Fallout (I played Fallout 2 until it literally shattered in my computer), Bionic Commando, etc. One thing I remember from being akid is staying up SUPER late with friends trying to beat some game together...taking turns playing Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger, endless Ken vs. Ken matches, the Golden Eye deathmatches on 4 way split screen...dear god...And one thing that really annoys me lately is how much a game relies on "online play" I've never been a guy that plays Halo online, I personally can't stand that sort of gameplay...I have enough built up rage, the last thing I need is having some 12 year old tea bagging me and calling me a fag
</rant>
So, yes, hands down for me- #1 Fallout 3
Left _ Dead? :poly124:
Next would be Left 4 Dead, and then GTA IV.
2. far cry 2
3. tie for dead space and gears 2.
2. Dead Space – This game rocked my world from beginning to end and shows how much could be done with sound design.
3. Devil May Cry 4 – 3rd person action games are my favorite genre and this game came through in spades! I mean it has an awesome battle system, killer boss encounters, sweet soundtrack, and kick ass anti heroes, what’s not to love!
4. Lost Odyssey – This was a great follow up from Mist Walker’s atrocious Blue Dragon! The story this time out was well crafted and sported some amazing production values. Everything from the graphics to the sound design worked really well and showed that the Unreal 3 engine could be used for something more than First Person Shooters.
5. Mirrors Edge – It’s great to see a developer try something different within an established genre and make it work. I had a great time with this game and look forward to a sequel!
Unfortunately this has been a light gaming year for me and I need to catch up on a number of games that I missed out on. Titles like GTA4, Fallout, Fable 2, Soul Caliber 4, Left For Dead, Little Big Planet, etc.
By the way I’m currently playing through Gears 2 and Dark Sector, the latter of which is very underrated!
What games do you like?
Paying $2 per game at the arcade can become quite an expensive hobby.
2) Castle Crashers
3) Left 4 Dead
Although I probably played more Street Fighter III: Third Strike throughout the year with mates at work, than time spent on all of these put together. :P
Some of my faves from the past few years:
God of War I and II
Resident Evil 4
CoD 4
Assassin's Creed
I did play it a bit further last night after I posted that comment and I am starting to enjoy it more, but it still doesn't really have a "wow" factor for me :shrug:
Ya I know...but the way I look at it, I have played this game more then any other game this year, and after looking back at the past 4 years of playing WoW I'm inclined to believe this really is the best game ever. For me at least heh.
2. Fallout 3
Awesome surprise! I truthfully was not looking forward to this game untell some buddies at work brought be along to pick up the game on release day during lunch. I couldn't resist. A good thing to because this game was really well done.
3. GoW 2
What can you say its Gears. Incredible art work, solid game play, and just an overall awesome experiance.
4. MGS 4
I broke down and bought a PS3 this year. MGS4 had some great reviews, but those PS fanboys put me off on MGS4, so I hated it. When I got my PS3 I decided to give it a chance. Good thing I did because when you give this game a chance it really does shine.
5. Dead Space
One other surprise. I loved the setting and combat system. This game really did stand apart from the crowd. I haven't beaten it yet, but so far it's a great ride.
... lol?
(Not that those game are bad, just seriously, Fallout 3 is too repetitive for you, but they aren't?)
2) Saints Row 2
3) GTA 4
They can all suck it Q1 2009 (fingers crossed) when Resident Evil 5 comes out!