Unfettered Blather

Best Games of 2008

January 15th, 2009 by Jason O
Posted in Gaming |

2008 may have been one of the best gaming years I’ve had in a long time. In a year where I purchased over a hundred games I actually had dozens of games I’d rate anywhere between “Very Good” to “Excellent”. The hardest part was whittling this list down to a mere 10. Certainly there are many games I’d consider honorable mentions but since I kept track of the list all throughout the year and the posts are easily found on the blog I’m not going to rehash them. What follows is a list of truly standout games for 2008.

BEST GAMES OF 2008
	#10 Soul Calibur (X-Box 360) This is the original Soul Calibur released on X-Box Live Arcade in anticipation of Soul Calibur IV. I was concerned that nostalgia had colored my view of the series but downloaded it anyway. When I talk about Soul Calibur, which I originally played on the Dreamcast, I talk about a fighting game that was easy to play, difficult to master, and visually gorgeous. It was one of the few games that, if I were to do something as silly as give scores, would come as close to a perfect 10 as anything I could give. Sadly, no sequel released has quite captured that same lightning in a bottle. Replaying the game I realize that it is not just nostalgia. Sure, visually we can do better, but everything else about the game is still great. I wish more games in shrinking genres, like shooters, would follow this pattern. Make a game that is not hostile to new players but can still appeal to veterans.
	#9 Mass Effect (X-Box 360) Mass Effect is not without its problems, but I can honestly say that this game is to Epic Sci-Fi RPG’s that Fallout was to Post-Apocalyptic RPG’s. I can only hope that other games will take note that you can make games about something other than elves and fairies. The exploration aspect was nice but a bit too redundant. The game did shine in the telling of its story. While some of the characters were fairly generic sci-fi conventions, I still enjoyed them because this is the first time we’ve seen a successful translation in a serious sci-fi epic. You know, a sci-fi epic other than Star Wars or Star Trek.
	#8 Sid Meier’s Pirates (X-Box) While I admit this is a much older game, I had passed on this even for the PC until now. The original Sid Meier’s Pirates, released while I was still a child, is one of my favorite games and a game I consider a work of art. The original Pirates is also one of the earliest examples of an open world game where players had the freedom to make their own destiny. This modern update adds a few touches but largely keeps the original gameplay intact. Surprisingly, they incorporated the X-Box controls seamlessly so that it actually feels natural instead of the usual clunky console port. I found this game to be just as incredibly addictive as the original and an example of how some game designs are truly timeless.
	#7 Guitar Hero II (X-Box 360) A game so nice I purchased it twice! Originally I purchased Guitar Hero II for the Playstation 2 but loved the game so much that I decided to get it for the X-Box 360. Not technically a repurchase it qualified for the 2008 list and has been a regular feature of my best 10 most of the year. Harmonix proved that they can follow up to an already good game with a great game, I’m saddened that every version released since has been inferior to this one. As a rhythm game it is near perfect, though some of the difficulty curve seemed to be inconsistent.
	#6 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (X-Box 360) I have difficulty spending a lot of money on First Person Shooters because they tend to be very derivative, especially those set in contemporary times. No matter how much praise a game may get I still want to spend as little money as possible because the experience tends to be the same. Surprisingly, Call of Duty 4 actually has a real story. Even more surprisingly, it has one of the best multiplayer experiences I participated in this year. The maps are excellent, even if a bit too linear, and they actually do some things right that I normally hate. For instance, there is an escort mission, but you’re escorting a tank and the driver is not so dense that he drives into RPG nests before you clear them out. There are some quick-time events, but they’re actually well done, etc. While the game has some flaws, such as infinite bad guy respawning closets until you hit a checkpoint, this is still by far one of the best shooters I have ever played.
	#5 Portal (X-Box 360) The world “innovative” is the most overhyped word used by reviews. Innovation without compelling design is just gimmick. Gimmicks are great but I don’t always want to spend money for the sheer novelty of playing with one. Portal starts with a concept, giving players the actual ability to open portals and walk through them, constructs an entire game around the concept, and then hires an actual writer to introduce some pitch black humor and incredibly creepy moments despite the fact there are no ghouls or aliens present to be a threat. The game is essentially a first person puzzle, but it works! Players are encouraged to be creative, though some levels have a more obvious solution than others. Portal is not just innovative, they’ve given a tight, focused gaming experience to players that is near unmatched. I honestly thought this was my game of the year after playing it and it sat at #1 longer than any other game on the list. A game you absolutely must try if you consider yourself a gamer.
	#4 Boom Blox (Wii) The Wii is a menagerie of disappointment. Most non-Nintendo published games simply don’t know what to do with the controls. EA, of all places, decides to keep it simple but use them effectively in a game I describe as “Reverse Jenga with explosions”. Essentially a puzzle game, it’s one of those rare games that actually gets points for its excellent multiplayer. The different modes are outstanding, though single-player is a fun cerebral challenge as well. The surprise of this year is that two puzzle games, this and Portal, made my list despite the fact I typically don’t like puzzle games. This is an absolute must own if you have a Wii and are a parent, but I encourage adults to try this game as well.
	#3 Rock Band (X-Box 360) After Guitar Hero II I couldn’t see how Harmonix could possibly do any better. Rock Band proved that they could. Not only does Rock Band move beyond lead guitar and bass to include a vocalist and drummer, but they have actually incorporated downloaded songs into regular gameplay. Like Boom Blox, the multiplayer is outstanding though I still enjoyed the single-player portions as well. The songs have been excellent implemented and there is fun to be had doing any part.
	#3 Rock Band 2 (X-Box 360) If I should have learned anything from Harmonix after Rock Band it’s that they can always do better even when I don’t know how that could be possible. The old World Tour mode is no longer a multiplayer only affair, allowing players to play the gigs they want when they want. The new Challenge mode replaces the old single-player and allows players to practice, unlock new songs, and experiment with different difficulty tiers while giving them more flexibility. Downloaded songs are even more integrated into gameplay, with even some of the challenge modes incorporating them. Dare I say it, I don’t know how they’ll top this game. Portal was near perfection, Boom Blox was unfiltered fun, and the two Rock Band games are the most fun I’ve had without virtually blowing stuff up. What could possibly top all of this?
	#1 Fallout 3 (X-Box 360) Unfettered Blather’s Game of the Year, for whatever that’s worth. I have been anticipating Fallout 3 for a long time, but it’s the sort of game that I approached hesitantly because it’s a continuation of a beloved franchise as well as done by a company whose focus was more on open world first person RPG’s than isometric turn based RPG’s. The phrase “Oblivion with guns” was bandied about routinely, which was disenheartening because I didn’t care of Oblivion near as much as I did prior Elder Scrolls games. All the same, like the original Fallout, there is a general dearth of RPG’s that aren’t fantasy focused so I mostly bought Fallout 3 because of its setting and heritage. The game actually is very true to the Fallout “universe”, although it will never be true enough to please the fans. Then again, these same fans praise the original games right down to Fallout: Tactics, which I remember being called an abomination when it was released; so the “fans” have little credibility with me. Stepping into the wasteland is indeed like living in a post-nuclear war Washington D.C., except it’s a lot more intact than it probably has a right to be. The despair and bleakness of the landscape is intercut with moments that are inappropriately dark yet humorous and sometimes surprisingly poignant. This is a game where you can pick a direction and find an adventure or a story. Well done, I wish Bethsada’s last effort had this attention to detail and loving care put into it.