Tony Cordova

2008 has come to an end, and it was a great year for gaming.  I didn’t get a chance to play every game that came out in 2008, but I figured I would post my favorites.  So here it is: the best games of 2008.

This list is in no particular order except for my number 1 pick.

Left 4 Dead (PC)

Left 4 Dead is an obvious choice for this list. No game can come close to the intensity and fun of the co-op. Being able to play as an infected and take down your friends is incredibly satisfying, the graphics are great, and the sound is perfect. Left 4 Dead is a game that will be played for a very long time.

World of Goo (Wii)

World of Goo was one of the simplest and most charming games of 2008.  The premise is simple: build a bridge from point A to point B.  Throw in an unforgettable art design and a great sense of humor and you get one of the greatest downloadable games of the year.

Mario Kart Wii (Wii)

Mario Kart Wii was not critically acclaimed, and all of the critical arguments are fairly valid(re-hash of old ideas), but there is something to be said about a game that can bring non-gamer friends together to have fun, and keep advanced game mechanics for more advanced gamers.

Dead Space (PS3)

I have not beaten this game yet but I believe it belongs on this list. Dead Space does some incredible things for it’s genre. It brings together many different ideas from other games and executes them perfectly. That combined with a creepy atmosphere and a story that is not bad, and you have a game that is definitely a contender in the race for “best game.”

Fallout 3 (PC)

Unfortunately I don’t think there is a lot I can say about Fallout 3 except the fact that I played through this game twice, back to back.  The amount of time spent in this incredible and immersive world is shameful, but that is a testament to how much fun it is to work through the story your own way.  I wanted to play every mission, I wanted to meet every person, and I tried.  It was amazing how there were times when I felt bad for some of the wrong decisions I made, which made me more aware of the consequences of the actions I was going to make in the future.

Little Big Planet (PS3)

Little Big Planet takes a seemingly simple concept and attaches some dynamite to it.  Not only is the main “singleplayer” game incredible fun, but the integration of community levels, combined with the ability to make your own, gives this game a shelf life longer than almost all other games this year.  Little Big Planet is one of those games that we will be talking about and referencing for years to come.

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

This list was basically just a build up to my favorite game of 2008, and that game is Metal Gear Solid 4. As a pretty hardcore PC gamer I expected my game of 2008 to be on the PC, in fact, after beating Fallout 3 (I didn’t play MGS4 until December) I was certain that it would be first.  But after going through the masterpiece that is Kojima Production’s “final” Metal Gear game it was abundantly clear that this was taking the cake.  The amazing thing about Metal Gear is that even as I went through this thought provoking story, the game gave me subtle hints that I was still just playing a game.  Sure, there were times when the somewhat drawn out cinematics were tiresome, but the voice acting was top notch, motion capture was perfect, and the story was compelling.  You know that feeling you get when you listen to an amazing song or watch a movie that really affects you?  That’s what I felt by the end of this game.  Watching Snake slowly die throughout the experience really made me feel for his character in a way that I have never felt for a character in a video game.  Metal Gear Solid 4 is easily in the list of my favorite games of all time.

Honorable Mention:
Pixeljunk Mosters (Ps3)
Crysis Warhead (PC)
Super Street Fighter II: HD Remix (PS3)
Wipeout HD (PS3)
Mass Effect (PC)

Games I missed:
Mirror’s Edge
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Prince of Persia
Gears of War 2
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Braid
Boom Blox

Notable omissions:
Grand Theft Auto 4 (360)
Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)
Super Smash Bros: Brawl (Wii)

I recently picked up Devil May Cry 4 for the PS3 and had to go through the long installation process.  I dont understand what everyone is complaining about, during the time that it was installing I was able to do some much needed cleaing of dishes that were stacking up, cleaned my bedroom a bit, and made myself some tea.  Because of DMC4 I am now a cleaner and healthier person.

I can see how this would also be beneficial to parents who have kids who like games.  A parent could tell a kid that he has to clean his room (or whatever) in the time that the game is installing(not that I condone the idea of kids playing Devil May Cry 4).

Also I would much rather endure an initial installation process and have faster load times than have to wait an annoying amount of time in between immersive gameplay.