Oh great, another stupid best of 2008 list. I know. Well, what else can I say? Truth of the matter is, there is indeed a law stating that all video game bloggers have to do such things at the end of a calendar year. So without further ado

Quite Simply, The Top Five Games Of 08:

Now, I realize most folks go for a top ten list, so why only five? Is it because only five good games were released this year? Far from it; most people haven’t realized it, or perhaps feel differently, but once again, it’s never been a better time to be a gamer. Not only is the number of choices available positively staggering… no matter who you are or what you’re into, there’s something for everybody… but the overall quality of games in general continues to go up and up. Plenty of boundaries, whether they be technical or artistic, continues to be pushed, and the future has never been brighter. Sorry if you disagree, but I’d have to say that you’re either no looking hard enough, or you might have to simply rethink your platform of choice.

But that being said, still why only five games? I played plenty of superb games from 08, but only five really took ahold of me and didn’t let go. Games I poured endless numbers of hours into, and which stayed with me well afterwards. And they are…

5. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
A time when even the most loyal and diehard Nintendo fan has to feel disenfranchised, at least we have this love letter to those that helped make the house of N in the first place.

4. Braid (Xbox 360)
The indie darling of 08 actually delivered despite the ungodly amount of hype. This platforming genre-bender is yet another love letter, but of a different sort, which I dare say is perhaps also one of the most important games to come out in a long time.

3. Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360 or PS3)
A reminder of why we play video games: to have fun. More so than Tony Hawk Pro Skater during its heyday, RB2 is the ultimate, across the board smash hit that not only shock the foundation of gaming to its very core (much to the chagrin of hardcore gamers), but was a sequel that smartly added to the original in a way that most other sequels fail to do. Plus, finally was there a game in which paid DLC was not some evil monster.

2. No More Heroes (Wii)
Again, another hardcore action title on a system that desperately needed one, though because of the Wiiís reputation, Smash Bros not withstanding, NMH sadly was largely ignored. Also, yet another game where people bitched and moaned about the purported piss-poor graphics and the such. But who needed it? Here’s a game that positively screamed personality, from the wacky bosses, to the wanna be cool otaku protagonist. The use of the Wii-mote and nunchuck, for an action arcade game, actually worked wonderfully (I honest canít imagine who it would have played in its original next-gen incarnation), and it also happens to boast the single most catchiest and versatile jingle in a game since perhaps Super Mario Bros.

1. Persona 4 (PS2)
Like I said in my review, not only is it by far the best damn Japanese role playing game to come in, seriously, the last ten years, but it finally also offers something for “the rest of us”. The combination of hardcore dungeon crawling plus monster creation/management, along with a high school simulator, replete with hangin’ with buds, dating girls, and holding part-time jobs, was beyond addictive to play as well as flat out brilliant in its execution. I normally abhor the idea of investing 100 hours into some RPG, but I played just that amount, a little more actually, and was taken by the charming characters, as well as the gripping story, the entire time. A textbook example of a genre both defying and embracing its conventions, I just hope I don’t have to wait another ten years for something equally as compelling.

… Once again, there were plenty of other games of note; Professor Layton never made it so much fun to be stumped, and GRID never made it so much fun to constantly crash and restart a race, for starters. If not for Persona 4’s mesmerizingly elegant presentation, I’d have to give the nod to GRID. Speaking off, might as well mention those other titles and their unique qualities…

Best Game That No One Has Bothered To Talk About:

Cubello (WiiWare)
It’s really hard to describe, other than it’s what one would believe puzzle games, or video games in general, would (or should) look like in the 21st century, via a sci-fi movie or tv show. Instead of explaining the concept, how about everyone just look at the game in action here. But yeah, it’s not exactly the most balanced puzzler in the world, but it manages to mix a bunch of different concepts together rather elegantly, and is just plain hella fun to zone out to at the end of a long, hard day.

Best New Paint Job:

Rez HD (Xbox 360)
Guess I can’t mention the games of 08 without bringing up my personal favorite game of all time which was actually made better. Though I will confess that I haven’t played it nearly as much as I did the original, mostly because I went through the PS2 version to an absolutely insane degree. That and I lack an HD set to fully take advantage of the new experience.

Best Completely Overall Of A Classic:

Space Invaders Extreme (DS)
You know, as revered the original is, I’ve never been able to give it the time of day. So kudos to Taito for doing the impossible and breathing new found life (and playability) into the all-time classic. And somewhat on the same note…

Best Game I Played This Year That Wasn’t From 08:

Pac-Man Championship Edition (Xbox 360)
Talk about late to the party, I know. But again, I’m just amazed that Namco Bandai was able to actually improve upon the original, something that had been tried for almost thirty years. And somewhat done with Ms Pac-Man, but this game completely surpasses it.

The “Wow… simply, WOW” Game That’s Not Even One In The First Place:

KORG DS-10 (DS)
Again, it’s not even a game, but a serious music creation software suite. Been messing around with my copy pretty regularly for the past month or so and I haven’t even scratched the surface. Would help if I had some actual skills and understanding of music, naturally. But yeah, it seriously has the potential to rock the world of electronic music in a few years.

Most Overrated:

Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360 or PS3)
Of course. Again, I could go on and on about how crappy it is, but I know most folks will either laugh once again, or choose to ignore me, so moving on…

Biggest Disappointment: (Two Way Tie)

1. Mega Man 9 (WiiWare or others)
The one game that every diehard Mega Man fan (such as myself) had been waiting years for. Too bad it was too damn hard.

2. Thunder Force 6 (PS2)
Again, another dream game made real, though this time, it’s just too boring and doesn’t feel at all like the previous entries. Plus that goofy end-boss, good God.

The Game I REALLY Wish Came Out Here: (Two Way Tie)

1. Tatsunoko vs Capcom (Wii)
While Street Fighter 4 is cool and all, this is the game I want, which we’ll never see, due to assorted licensing issues.

2. RIZ-ZOAWD (DS)
Basically a RPG that tells the tale of the Wizard of Oz with what I hear is some really wacky, and inventive, control scheme. This one actually has a chance of coming out here, though I’ve yet to hear any interest thus far.

The Game I Wanted To Hate, But Ended Up Really Enjoying After All:

Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360 or PS3)
Once more of the record, it ain’t no Burnout 3 or even 4, but it’s still lots of fun on its own right. Plus the visuals are perhaps the best ever, for any home console arcade racer, and the amount of content is simply ridiculous.

The Game That The Rest Of The World Passionately Despises, But Which I Can’t Bring Myself To As Well:

Castlevania Judgment (Wii)
Yes, it totally sucks, but the overall premise is actually pretty neat (note: I am as big a Castlevania fanboy as they come), with a rather brilliant roster (though most are completely marred by the well-meaning, but ultimately atrocious art direction).

Even Though My Days Of Listening To Nothing But Video Game Soundtracks Are Well Past Me, The One Game Score That I Couldn’t Stop Playing On My iPod: (Two Way Tie)

1. No More Heroes
As previously noted, there’s one hook that is constantly repeated throughout the entire game that NEVER gets old and makes a serious case for Masafumi Takada as the new Koji Kondo.

2. Persona 4
And as also previously noted, during the 100+ hours I played the game, I heard the same exact battle music over and over again, and not once did I ever become sick of it. Quite the opposite to be completely honest. Additionally, the whole thing is simply aural bliss.

Series I Officially No Longer Give A Rat’s Ass About:

Soul Calibur
You know, I’m one of the few that actually liked part 3, but part 4 is just too ridiculous, as well as broken. Sorry, but those Star Wars characters was the line that shouldn’t have been crossed. Also, all the female characters look like prostitutes that have been working the streets for three days straight. Speaking off…

Game With The Hottest/Cutest Girls:

Persona 4 (PS2)
Nuff said!

Best Console Game That Ended Up Working MUCH Better As A Portable Game:

Everyday Shooter (PSP)
Jonathan Mak’s “shmup mix-tape” actually works far better on the small screen. I just found it more enjoyable while sitting on a train, with the soundtrack going directly into my head via earphones, than sitting on a couch or computer. Though the system’s crappy buttons is at their absolute worst here.

Best Arcade Game That I Can’t Believe Ended Up Being So Awesome As A Portable Game, But Was:

Ketsui (DS)
While still not quite as amazing as the arcade original, I was expecting a total horror show, and proven completely wrong. Once again, never doubt Cave!

Best Portable Game That Worked Better On A Console, But Was Still Neat Nonetheless:

Echochrome (PSP)
The M. C. Escher-esque puzzler could have been the ultimate portable puzzler (which as far as I’m concerned, is the best platform for such games) if not for the fact that certain facets only work on a large, high-def display. Plus, the rules themselves are a tad bit inconsistent…

Best “Last Game Ever For The Dreamcast, Seriously” For This Past Year:

Wind and Water – Puzzle Battles
The best DC game to come up this year was NOT a shump! Sounds crazy, I know. But there’s always 2009.

Most Embarrassing Game Purchase:

Doki Doki Majo Shinpan Duo (DS)
You know, that loli molestation game for the DS that everyone freaked out about last year? It was so much fun that I of course had to pick up the sequel!

Biggest LOL Headline Of The Year: (Two Way Tie)

1. Anything related to the failure that is the PS3.
As any gamer with a half a brain what they think about the system, and the answer will always be the same: why? And at last, the analysts are also starting to realize that it’s not exactly God’s gift to geeks either. I’ve yet to talk to a single coder who works on the platform that actually likes doing so, nor have I yet to speaking to a single PS3 customer that’s happy with the abysmal selection of exclusive titles, or how all the games that are also available on the 360 is also better there. There’s so many things to harp upon, whether it be the super colossal mess that is PlayStation Home, or Sony completely forgetting what got them to the dance in the first place, which is the dropping of backwards compatibility. But moving on…

2. Prince of Persia Rips Off Shadow Of The Colossus? No…
This one is more personal than anything else, but to read the original story by my good buddy Steve Totilo, simply go here. But long story short: it’s hardly a surprise. When I was working at Ubi Soft, when my producer came back from E3, she was ranting and raving about a game that she had seen… Ico… and how amazing it was, and none of my ideas had come close to it’s level of brilliance. Yeah, she was the super supportive type. And then she basically decreed that I had to come up with an idea, any idea, that basically ripped Ico off. Point being, Ubi has a hard-on for the other guys (which is not bad per say, you just gotta be smart and creative about it), and I guess it was only a matter of time someone else noticed.

Best Game Related Vid: (Five Way Tie)

1. The Back To The Future/Wario Ware Vid.
… Which unfortunately has been removed from YouTube. Damnit.

2. The Trailer To Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaiden.
And yes, this game is very much real.

3. Crash Man’s gay love letter to Mega Man.
Say it with me folks: LOL Japan!

4. A dog and a statue playing Street Fighter 2, in Portuguese.
I have no idea what the hell is going on here.

5. Bill O’Reilly playing Battletoads.
So childish, yet so effective.

The Game I’m Most Looking Forward To In 2009:

Metal Gear Solid 4 (Xbox 360)
Once more, nuff said!