Best of 2008 - Console & Overall

So, I had people asking for a "best of" broken down by console and an attempt to pick the overall best. I can do that. Why not, right? Everyone else does it. As such, I present to you what I consider to be the crème de la crème of 2008.

With that out of the way, here we go!

Best PlayStation 2 game: Persona 4 (Atlus)

 

Admittedly, the PS2 didn't have the most amazing year in terms of releases, but that doesn't particularly matter. Persona 4 is basically the best exclusive for the PS2 since Shadow of the Colossus. Improving on every semi-flawed mechanic of its nearly spotless predecessor, Persona 4 was probably the best RPG I played all year. Sure, I would've liked to see the series move into the HD-era, but I'll take what I can get. In this case I got one of the most streamlined, inventive and well-structured RPGs for one of the greatest consoles ever created. Anyone who has nearly any interest in RPGs or the PS2 owes it to themselves to get a copy before it ages too badly. Though, it's quite possible that this is one of those titles people will play for years to come.

 

Best DS Game:  Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (Konami)

 

While the last couple Castlevania titles for the DS were just fun to play, this one was something more. With it's varying levels, brutal difficulty, and fantastic boss design, Order of Ecclesia is on a different level than it's predecessors. Perhaps Konami finally thought it best to stop trying to repeat the greatness that was Symphony of the Night and attempt something new. Or maybe it was simply Castlevania's turn to group up. Whatever the reasoning may be, this was by far my favorite DS exclusive title this year.

 

Best PSP Game:Prinny: Ore ga Shujinkou de Iinsuka? [aka Prinny, Can I Really be the Hero] (N1)

 

Oh how unfair, I just picked a title that's not released in America as the best PSP title. Well, to be fair, it comes out in America early next year and I'd like to recommend that everyone pick it up. But for folks like me, the type that grabs import titles every so often (too often?), this is a 2007 title. I don't play much of my PSP, I'll admit. Like most serious gamer-types, I find that there just aren't enough titles that come out for the little system that could, and while it'd be nice to get more awesome stuff for the system, the rare titles that do arrive for it are sometimes wonderful. This is one of those cases. Prinny is a charming little platformer featuring the would-be heroes of the Disgaea franchise, were it not for the fact they aren't unique in any way at all. Also, their numbers are countless. That aside, this is a brutal, relentless platformer in which you get 1,000 lives. You'll use most of them on normal mode and you'll probably never finish any mode harder than that. But that's OK, because you'll love every minute of it. I did. You can pick this up next year as it's been announced by NISA for stateside release.

 

Best PC Game: Left 4 Dead (Valve)

 

Let's be honest, what the hell else was I supposed to pick? A WoW expansion? Yea, not gonna happen with me at the helm of this ship. So unbelievably better than any other PC title this year, that I don't even feel the need to discuss its merits. If you haven't picked it up by now, I'm pretty sure you're part of the problem.

 

Best 360 Game: None.

 

I'm sorry, but this was not a banner year for the 360. As previously mentioned, I don't care even a little for Gears of War 2. Fable 2 was far too easy to be given any sort of recognition on this list and frankly, the game plays itself. Left 4 Dead is so vastly superior on the PC that it's not even right that the 360 version exists. In short, I can't pick a "best of" title for 2008. I'm almost tempted to say Rez HD but that's a remake. In short, the 360 was basically a no-show this year for me. I suppose it makes sense that I canceled my Live sub earlier this year as well.

 

Best PlayStation 3 Game: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami)

 

Wow, 2 Konami titles on one list? Before MGS4 I had little to no interest in the series. I thought it was badly written, horribly sluggish, and poorly design. Sure, graphically it was decent, but the games never did anything for me otherwise. While I've bought them all and given them all more than their fair chance, Metal Gear Solid 4 was the only one I managed to finish - and I did so in two sittings. It would've been one sitting if I didn't have to sleep. Basically, it was a straight 15 hours over 2 days. While I've probably spent nearly a hundred hours on Metal Gear Solid: Online, the core title in the box was simply one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've had in years. If it weren't for another title, the dark horse of 2008, this would've been the best title of the year. Had MGS4 not come out this year, Valkyria Chronicles would've been the best PS3 game in my opinion, if you were wondering.

 

Best Wii Game: My Life as a King (Square Enix)

 

I've been told I have to pick something the Wii, as such, My Life as a King wins the day. I don't like my Wii. I don't like the controllers, I don't like the last-gen graphics, I don't like the attitude developers have treated it with and most of all, I don't like the stuff coming out of Nintendo these days. But if you're gonna twist my arm, the winner is surely the side-project of the Crystal Chronicles series. Much like the Wii though, the whole thing is a diversion from hardcore gaming. Casual in every aspect, and unabashedly self-playing (unlike Fable 2, which gave you the illusion of meaningful control), My Life as a King is possibly the best casual title I've ever played... besides Peggle. As such, it's probably best if I deleted the entire section, but I won't, simply because I think My Life as a King is worth playing.

 

Best Overall Game: Dead Space (EA)

 

And lo, the sixth seal was broken and Schild gives EA the best game of the year. Yes Virginia, Dead Space is that good. I'd demand you play this right now if you haven't, but at the same time if you haven't played Dead Space yet, you're only hurting yourself. I could go on and on about how great it is, but frankly there's just no need to do so. There's enough material on the web (and on DVD/Blu-Ray) that you'll surely be able to find out if you'd like it or not. In short, it's the best horror title since Resident Evil 4 and I can only hope there are games in 2009 that are better.

 

See you all in 2009! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Tags:

Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, PC, GOTY

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