Yeah no kidding, where do you find the time. Anyway excellent job dvader and great write-up. Now I want to do one but I'll have to dig through all the stuff I've boughten and played this year which is alot so it'll take some time. This has been the best gaming year ever for me and I agree EA had some fantastic stuff this year especially Dead Space.
Happy New Year everyone!
I can't wait for 2009, there's some fantastic games on the horizon.
On 360 I got Mass Effect, GTA IV, Dead Space, Gears of War 2. I think that's about it. Haven't played Gears 2, Mass Effect is good the others underwhelming.
On Wii I got a ton of shit, some okay, some great fun. This thread needs this:
How can you say that nintendo disappoint when you dont pick up the years biggest game? 
Let's see, on DS I think I picked up Revenant Wings and FFCC Ring of Fates and was suprised by the quality of both. SE are doing great things with the hardware. Otherwise, Soul Bubbles is great, if anyone liked Lost Winds they should get this as it is better than that. On Wii the only games that disappointed me in a big way were BWii and NIGHTS.
On Wii I got:
NIGHTS: Journey of Suckitude
BWii: Journey of Suckitude
Zack and Wiki
Which is an excellent game, I wish it were longer though or that it had DLC.
Boom Blox
Was a pleasent suprise, another physics based puzzle game, that starts off simple until you realise that there is a fuckton of content and variety in the game. Quite special.
Endless Ocean
Okay that's a cheat I got it at the end of 2007 but its an 2008 US game. One of the best games on the system, up there with Mario Galaxy and MP3 and Zelda for me. 46hrs plus of content, a large variety of creatures and environments. Epic and soothing scenarios. A beautiful game. Cannot wait for the sequel.
No more Heroes
Slightly disappointing yet still ultimately enjoyable. Satisfying combat and a lot of style marred by technical shoddiness and too much repitition.
Call of Duty World at War
Frustrating at first, yet confidentely emerges as the Wii's best FPS. Great graphics, solid gameplay hampered by instant deaths. It controls nowhere near as good as MOH2 though. Suprisingly makes WW2 fun and satisfying again.
Smash Bros Brawl
I barely played this as I have had other stuff to play, but from the couple of hours I have seen, its a supremely well made game with tons of content.
De Blob
What a great title. Some might mistakenly see this as a puzzle game. It's a platformer through and through, infectious and addictive, fresh and exciting. What a pleasent suprise.
Mario Kart
While hardcore forumers pretend like this game doesn't exist, it's been doing gangbusters at retail and with good reason. The best mario kart ever = the most fun arcade racer there is out there with the most fun multiplayer. It has a really great online mode that you can appreciate even playing with strangers.
Animal Crossing City Folk
I was worried that this game would be too much of a retread and yet it's still infectiously addictive, delightful, fun and relaxing. This is a game that will last months, maybe years of daily play. GOTY? Just maybe.
Okami
Perhaps overated in the past, but still an enjoyable, epic zelda like adventure, made more instinctual and fun with the IR controller celestial brush.
Bully
I picked this up on impulse and wow. What a revelation. It has a peerless sense of humour, it's better than GTA all around, more fun, better design. It makes you feel like a naughty school kid again with a wicked sense of humour. More people need to get this, I got it on 360 too but that version is buggy as hell.
Disaster Day of Crisis
Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Hilarious, unexpected, thrilling. I have never laughed, smiled and grinned so much during a game. It's cheesy as hell yet perfectly captures that summer blockbuster vibe moreso than any other game.
Soul Bubbles
Really great title this, suits the DS perfectly, read my thread for more.
Dead Space
Is not an original game at all. This is RE4 set on Doom 3 environments. Simply re-skinning an existing game design doesn't make something new. It's possibly the most shameless RE4 rip I have ever seen, they designed it with a cube running next to the devstation. That said it's still a decent game that I am enjoying playing through. It has fantasitically detailed environments and solid, satisfying controls. However it sorely lacks when comparing its set piece design up against RE4 which was constantly changing and engaging, this can feel flat at times.
Mass Effect
Is cool. Its combat suprised me, it's easily accesible and the other parts play out like Oblivion in space. Too much chatting perhaps and the story is nothing new but quite well told. My favourite 360 game I played this year.
GTA IV
Ugh. Flat. I mean design and technology is through the roof. Actual mission design and sheer fun? Strangely missing.
Gears 2, yet to play.
So from my perspective I cannot see how this was a bad year for Wii.
Oh yeah, got HOTD 2&3, fun and fast, wish it was segmented though for repeat play.
MOHH2, which is linear and retro but which has fantastic controls.
Okay I will use Dvaders categories:
Worst Game I Played this year: NIGHTS
Seriously, what is this shit?
Best Graphics: Dead Space
Really detailed, great lighting. Environments are a little bland though, its not exactly metroid prime.
Best Story: Disaster Day of Crisis
It's like being young again and watching Air Force 1 for the first time
Most Original Game: Soul Bubbles
Most Surprisingly good game: Bully!
Biggest HOLY **** moment: Disaster Day of Crisis
Like, every moment 
Best Online Multiplayer Competitive: Mario Kart
This is like a dream moment from the SNES days made real.
Best Online Multiplayer Cooperative: Animal Crossing
Best Music: Mario Galaxy
Sorry, but this is music of the forever I dont care if it released in 2007
Best Downloadable Game: Lost Winds
Most Played Game: Endless Ocean
Biggest Achievement: Finishing No More Heroes
Game of the Year:Animal Crossing/Bully
What Mario Kart Wii exists?
I would play Disaster... if I could.
You hate Nights, dont talk to me anymore. I need to play Boom Blox, Animal Crossing does not interest me (yet), I want to get De Blob. How about World of Goo, you didn't get that? I need to get it. I soo want to play Endles Ocean.
Best game on the wii this year was easily Smash for me.
Good stuff GG.
gamingeek said:Okay I will use Dvaders categories:
Worst Game I Played this year: NIGHTS
Seriously, what is this shit?
You are now blacklisted.
Yeah. I am very satisfied this year after the previous year. Well thinking of it last year wasn't that bad it was just really over-rated. I really enjoyed this year better then the previous. Apollo Justice, The World Ends With You, Persona 4, Persona 3 FES, No More Heroes, Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4, The Witcher Enchanced Edition, Audiosurf, etc.
I was very shocked as pretty much everything I predicted during the begining of the generation actually started happening. The collapse of the industry is starting. I don't think they'll be a crash but something will happen to serious gaming if companies don't step it up.
I was VERY underwhelmed and disapointed with Nintendo this year. Hardly any of their games have been localized for North America. Fatal Frame 4 anyone? Not to mention the lack of a epic game this holiday season (don't give me Animal Crossing).
One thing that I am relived is that we are finally starting to see third parties shift toward the Wii. Dragon Quest X, Tales of Mothership, SEGA putting focus on the Wii, and tons of AA and A titles announced for it (budget wise).
I am glad that there are far less shooters this year then the last, last year was ridiculous. So yeah good year but '09 looks even better.
One of the site's forefathers.
Play fighting games!
So yeah. 2008 was a good year...even if there were some massive disappointments (Apollo Justice/GTA, namely).
Ravenprose said:gamingeek said:Okay I will use Dvaders categories:
Worst Game I Played this year: NIGHTS
Seriously, what is this shit?You are now blacklisted.
darthhomer said:Fucking hell, I wrote up a list on here using Vaders awards...and it didn't post! Spent half an hour doing it too..
So yeah. 2008 was a good year...even if there were some massive disappointments (Apollo Justice/GTA, namely).
What was wrong with Apollo?
One of the site's forefathers.
Play fighting games!
Punk Rebel Ecks said:darthhomer said:Fucking hell, I wrote up a list on here using Vaders awards...and it didn't post! Spent half an hour doing it too..
So yeah. 2008 was a good year...even if there were some massive disappointments (Apollo Justice/GTA, namely).What was wrong with Apollo?
It just felt unecessary for Capcom to get rid of every other character (barring Phoenix), replace them with slightly less awesome characters, in what was essentially the SAME game as the previous three games, just prettied up some. I mean, you might as well have just left Phoenix, Edgeworth, Maya etc and not bother to introduce Apollo or Trucy.
As well as that, that bracelet gimmick was stupid (possibly more stupid than the Psyche Lock).
Anyway another thing that happened this generation to me is that I finally was able to play "next-gen graphical games". Before I stepped into highend PC gaming (again) I was only a PS2, DS, and Wii gamer. And personally I was always dumbfounded to as of why people claimed that it would be stupid if third parties worked on the Wii instead of "HD Consoles". After playing Devil May Cry 4, Crysis, The Witcher, and remembering Bioshock I'm still dumbfounded. With an exception of Crysis these games did little to wow me on a technical level. Any of the above could have been done on the Wii easily (well accept Bioshock *it's pretty artsytle would leave and its terribel gameplay would shine* and Crysis). Yes they'd be dumbed down but that's why developers would have to move on to their other visions with the games so they don't (I.E. Pick that graphical style instead of this one, get rid of those long mountain shots for this, etc.)
One of the site's forefathers.
Play fighting games!
Dvader said:What Mario Kart Wii exists?
I would play Disaster... if I could.
You hate Nights, dont talk to me anymore. I need to play Boom Blox, Animal Crossing does not interest me (yet), I want to get De Blob. How about World of Goo, you didn't get that? I need to get it. I soo want to play Endles Ocean.
Best game on the wii this year was easily Smash for me.
Good stuff GG.
LOL Wii shop channel rejected my credit card. Wrong number my ass. World of Goo has to be picked up eventually. I forgot on DS I got Advance Wars Dark Conflict which wasn't as good as the first DS game, the controls are slightly off, the interface and visuals just don't suit the game either. It's still a very good quality strategy game, just not as good as the first. Travo was telling me that he played you and Phantom on Smash? Who came out on top?
Oh yeah reading Punks post just reminded me, Apollo Justice, the second worst of the PW games. It redeems itself with an epic final chapter and its not a bad game, just that the first and 3rd installments are better. I want this Edgeworth game.
Ravenprose said:gamingeek said:Okay I will use Dvaders categories:
Worst Game I Played this year: NIGHTS
Seriously, what is this shit?You are now blacklisted.
Suck it!
darthhomer said:Punk Rebel Ecks said:darthhomer said:Fucking hell, I wrote up a list on here using Vaders awards...and it didn't post! Spent half an hour doing it too..
So yeah. 2008 was a good year...even if there were some massive disappointments (Apollo Justice/GTA, namely).What was wrong with Apollo?
It just felt unecessary for Capcom to get rid of every other character (barring Phoenix), replace them with slightly less awesome characters, in what was essentially the SAME game as the previous three games, just prettied up some. I mean, you might as well have just left Phoenix, Edgeworth, Maya etc and not bother to introduce Apollo or Trucy.
As well as that, that bracelet gimmick was stupid (possibly more stupid than the Psyche Lock).
After 3 PW games I felt it was time to move on. I think they could have just had the existing characters only older. It wasn't so much that new characters were there, because in the first PW game they characters were all new to us right? It's that the new characters weren't as good as the old ones. It was good to see Emma Skye again. Otherwise the game was good, just not as good as PW1 and 3. I like the psyche lock, but the bracelet was a pain in the ass, I had to use gamefaqs to spot the difference. I feel they could have done more with the design. The new edgeworth game is different though.
gamingeek said:After 3 PW games I felt it was time to move on. I think they could have just had the existing characters only older. It wasn't so much that new characters were there, because in the first PW game they characters were all new to us right? It's that the new characters weren't as good as the old ones. It was good to see Emma Skye again. Otherwise the game was good, just not as good as PW1 and 3. I like the psyche lock, but the bracelet was a pain in the ass, I had to use gamefaqs to spot the difference. I feel they could have done more with the design. The new edgeworth game is different though.
But you have to remember that we had already built attachement to the characters by the time Apollo Justice came out. With Phoenix Wright 1 nobody said anything like "man Edgeworth isn't as good as THIS guy" or so on." If you think of it the main characters in Phoenix Wright are pretty shallow they just built with us through time while more complex characters (Godot) filled the void in later games. I personally enjoy Klavier and Trucy far more then Maya or Edgeworth.
One of the site's forefathers.
Play fighting games!
Punk Rebel Ecks said:gamingeek said:After 3 PW games I felt it was time to move on. I think they could have just had the existing characters only older. It wasn't so much that new characters were there, because in the first PW game they characters were all new to us right? It's that the new characters weren't as good as the old ones. It was good to see Emma Skye again. Otherwise the game was good, just not as good as PW1 and 3. I like the psyche lock, but the bracelet was a pain in the ass, I had to use gamefaqs to spot the difference. I feel they could have done more with the design. The new edgeworth game is different though.
But you have to remember that we had already built attachement to the characters by the time Apollo Justice came out. With Phoenix Wright 1 nobody said anything like "man Edgeworth isn't as good as THIS guy" or so on." If you think of it the main characters in Phoenix Wright are pretty shallow they just built with us through time while more complex characters (Godot) filled the void in later games. I personally enjoy Klavier and Trucy far more then Maya or Edgeworth.
I was VERY underwhelmed and disapointed with Nintendo this year. Hardly any of their games have been localized for North America. Fatal Frame 4 anyone? Not to mention the lack of a epic game this holiday season (don't give me Animal Crossing).
Godot is a legend if you ask me. Klavier not so much. You know what I wouldn't mind? Some cheesy Murder She Wrote style chapter in a Phoenix Wright game where they all go on vacation to an island and there is a hurricane at the resort and someone gets murdered.
Wii has a lot of titles miss the winter period, yet release in the first couple of months of this year, Madworld, Little Kings Story, HOTD Overkill, Tenchu 4 etc. I think that if Disaster Day of Crisis, Tenchu 4 and Fatal Frame 4 all released in the same territories at the same time, people would be a lot more forgiving. Animal Crossing is a huge franchise and a great game but its not one of these testostorone games that hype up gamers who are into games they feel suit their tastes.
Hey guys, this is copy pasted from my GS blog, i am sure we will have much better discussion here, also post your own sum ups of 08...
2008, what a year in gaming, one of the best we have had. This is the heart of the generation, right smack in the middle when all game companies are at their best focusing only on making the best games for the current consoles. There was also a good amount of news, surprises (FFXIII on 360), and drama to go with the year.
The Wii continued to dominate in sales but it started to lack in software, I was disappointed with Nintendo this year, that was sad after the last two stellar years they have had. The 360 continued to march on with a fantastic lineup, I wanted to have one by this year but things did not go my way, so I wait. The PS3 has had a fantastic year, while last year I was wondering why I didn't get a 360 instead, this year I was wondering what I would do without one. Its great to see the system come onto its own, sadly its sales are still terrible.
This year had EA transform into one of the best publishers in gaming, what? Quality non sports titles like Dead Space and Mirror's Edge, crazy. We had the most hyped, most highely rated game ever in GTAIV and of course the crazy backlash that came with it, I loved the game. Its a year that saw an exercise "game" sell as much as any game. We saw games live up to the hype and some crumble under the pressure. We saw widly imaginative games, games unlike anything before. We saw a new NES game... is that not awesome or what. Its been a year unlike any, one that shows this industry is as great as its ever been. Its only going to get better.
I gave out two 10s this year, this has not happend since 1998.
Time for my personal reflection, this year I did not buy any piece of hardware, no new systems of any kins, it was an all software year. I played a ton of games this year, most I finished some I did not. I actually didn't buy a lot of new games, I mostly rented this year. Anyway time to breakdown what I played, beat, and bought in 08:
New games I bought in 08:
PS3
Wii
Other
Games Bought - 28
Estimated Cost (what i paid) ~ $590
Hmm, not much for the Wii this year. More than 50% of the games I bought this year were downloable games, wow. I bought one portable game this year and I got that a few days ago online cause it was really cheap, my poor DS, I really need to support it again. What a big drop off from last year, I bought 47 games last year at about $1000 cost.
Games I beat this year, in order of my rating:
First time completions -
Average Score - 7.6
Previously beaten, in any order -
Unique games beaten - 56
Hardware Breakdown:
Genre breakdown (New beaten games):
I played 4 new point and click adventure games this year, what is wrong with me.
No surprise action/adventure dominates. Still only 2 RPGs this year, only finished 2 last year as well. Lots of platforming, very happy for that this year.
Franchise Breakdown (all games beaten):
It was a Metal Gear year, also lots of Mega Man. Man I played a ton of different games, unlike last year which I had a bunch of games from the same franchises. But what makes me sick is that I did not finish one Zelda game or RE game this year.
Publisher Breakdown (all games beaten):
Well, what can I say, I like Capcom. Nintendo dropped tremendously from last year. Konami was all Metal Gear. Sega had a bad year for me (next year will be HUGE). I give credit to Valve cause OB was their game, fantastic set of games within. EA with 2 great games, thats 2 more games than I usually play of theirs. Great year for Sony though most all of it was PSN.
So those are the games I beat, I played many more. Off the top of my head I played Motorstorm 2, Saints Row 2, Puzzle Quest, Lumines, and the rest of the games I bought but have not finished.
Time for some awards...
Worst Game I Played this year: (Tie) Lost and Novastrike
I have not finished Novastrike and I dont think I will, thats why i dont know if I should put it behind Lost. Lost was terrible, if it wasn't for it being about one of my favorite shows it would be even worse. Novastrike, crappy ass shooter, ugh.
Best Graphics: Metal Gear Solid 4
Of all games I played this year MGS4 is easily the most stunning. A graphical marvel, one of the best looking games ever made.
Best Story: Longest Journey
No game captivated me like Longest Journey did story wise. The adventures of April will forever be in my memories.
Most Original Game: Little Big Planet
Unlike anything I have played before, hopefully starts a revolution in gaming.
Most Surpringly good game: Dead Space
Here i thought this would be as generic a shooter as they come, completely uninspired. What I got was one of the best RE4ish games to ever come out.
Biggest HOLY **** moment: MGS4 act 3
The final portion of act 3 blew me so far away that I was left a shaking on my chair cause of the awesomeness I just witnessed. From the moment he meets Eva, when the megaton revelations start to drop to the chase scene to end all chase scenes, it was the most epic few hours in gaming I have experienced, since well MGS3.
Best Online Multiplayer Competitive: Metal Gear Online
Take your FPSs, take your frag fests, this is the alternative to the average online shooter. All the MGS gameplay I love in a awesome online setting. I spent so much time online, I even played Kojima Productions.
Best Online Multiplayer Cooperative: Little Big Planet
This game has the best co-op and best online features on the PS3. So amazing to play with others.
Best Music: Little Big Planet
Yes I know SSBB had the most amazing collection of music ever but it was mostly remixed classic tracks, in the end I am still going to remember the classic track more than what was in SSBB. LBP on the other hand has new music I will remember and love forever. So many catchy tunes, so much good music.
Best Downloadable Game: Mega Man 9
A new NES game, in 2008. A new classic 2D Mega Man, in 2008. The most awesome idea of all time. Plus it was exectuted to perfection, right up there with MM2 as the best in the series.
Most Played Game: Metal Gear Solid 4/MGO
I put over 100 hours in MGS4 alone, beating it like 7 times, once taking 35 hours just to get the chicken emblem. I played the game non stop for a month. I also put over 100 hours into MGO.
Biggest Achievement: Getting Big Boss rank in MGS4
I had never gotten a Big Boss rank before in any of the MGS games, I just never felt the need too. But with MGS4 I was so captivated by the gameplay that I had to try and what a thrill it was to play the game as perfect as you can.
Game of the Year: Little Big Planet
Normally this category is easy for me, I just choose the game I liked the most. Usually one game stands out, this year after June I knew it was going to be MGS4, a game that surpased the hype, a game that is the best in one of gamings greatest franchises. It was impossible that I would love a game that much in the same year. I was wrong.
Along comes this cute, instantly lovable game, a game that takes one of my long time favorite genres and propels it into the future. A game that breaks down boundaries, a game that makes you the creator, the critic, or just player. A game that will never end. A game with endless possibilities. A game where your imagination is the limit. Its generation defining. It also helps that its a blast to play.
Now I do think that on a technical level MGS4 is the better game. MGS4 does everything right, it is maybe the most well made game I have ever played. But I have done MGS before, as much as MGS4 does rework the formula, its still familiar ground. LBP is just so new, offers so much, that flaws and all I still think its my favorite game of the year. Plus it has MGS4 levels, does MGS4 have LBP levels, NO.