5min’s Top 5 Games of 2008
Dec 23rd, 2008 by Ealeal
The year is almost over, and here at 5min we’re already eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated releases of 2009, among them New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, Guitar Hero: Metallica, The Sims 3, Street Fighter IV and many, many more.
Before proceeding to spit-shine our respective gaming consoles and greedily covet the hottest games slates for release next year, calculating how many wrist injuries we will accumulate by next Christmas, we’d like to dedicate a post to the top 5 video games of 2008. And a great year for gamers it was… Sit back, pry your cold, limp hands from that Wii controller, and join us as we honor the past year in gaming with some of our personal faves.
1. Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar Games
Hands down, our top release of 2008 is Rockstar Games’ latest joyride, GTA IV. The ninth title in the GTA franchise, GTA IV rocked my Playstation 3 non-stop, interrupted only by hysterical fits of giggles whenever my road skills resulted in Niko Bellic wiping out the supposedly innocent pedestrians of Liberty City. The open-world environment allows players to truly take the game as they like – at times, I found myself leaving Niko to slump in front of the tellie, letting our hive mind fester in wake of the “The Men’s Room”, a fictional TV satire featuring former UFC champion Bas Rutten. This little gem, mocking the traditional advice-doling model by preaching masculine anger laced with clearly-intended hilarity, is just one example of those many little details that help make GTA IV a seamless, fantastic world of it own.
The Good:
A smug, tongue-in-cheek and at times frighteningly close to home critique of contemporary American culture, GTA IV goes way beyond a superbly designed environment with gameplay improvements including impressive single-player story mode as well as terrific multiplayer capabilities. Plus, who can resist in-game internet surfing?!
The Game:
GTA IV is not your average shooter. From stealing parked cars to keeping your in-game girlfriend happy, gamers will find there is plenty to do in Liberty City. Wrapped up in a stunning presentation ripe for road rage, the improved controls and what seems like lazier cops this time around make it easier to master missions without so much as a scratch. To you, that is. The LCPD is a different story…
The Ugly:
As a fashion-forward gal, I couldn’t help my horror at the anti-chic wardrobe Niko has to endure in the beginning of the game. Until scoring some well-deserved cash and hitting the store, Niko is limited to a somewhat fashion-challenged look consisting of sweatpants and rags. Eek!
2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – Konami
Probably the best reason to have bought a Sony Playstation 3 this year, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released in June as a PS3 exclusive, marking 20 years to the release of the first ever Metal Gear. A superb game offering for stealth action junkies and PS3 owners in general, if you haven’t played it yet, it’s time to cough up that Xmas cash and head to your nearest game peddler. The beautifully done cut-scene flashbacks provide a neat reference to previous Metal Solid Gear titles, while new characters add a fresh breath of air to uber-mercenary Solid Snake, who is now Old Snake in what is rumored to be his final game in the series. Armed with new character design and some majorly awesome changes – the old stamina bar is abandoned in favor of the cleverly accurate “stress index” and “psyche meter” – Metal Gear Solid 4 offers improved capabilities to interact within the game environment.
The Good:
The perfect conclusion to the adventures of Solid Snake, the to-die-for delivery and breathtaking visuals are sure to attract veteran Metal Gear fans and newbies alike. The bottom line? If you’re contemplating consoles, this game makes the PS3 worth the reach.
The Game:
In a world of private military companies, cyborgs, nanotechnoogy, robo-Gekkos and other phenomenon, it’s a good thing you happen to be a super-spy on a payroll. This time around, the gig offers a chance to use a new and improved slew of weapons and gadgets, with eye-opening changes made to mechanics and gameplay. Even better is the ability to let loose online with 16-player action, offering solace upon completion of the game in single-player mode. Gorgeous maps guide you through an exhilarating whirlwind of impressive stealth abilities and execution that is nothing short of brilliant. In other words, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings of games thus far.
The Ugly:
Massive cellular degeneration (ah, the dangers of cloning!) has morphed you into your gramps. Gamers be warned – extreme lounging can lead to increased joint pain later on. Or: You already got a Blu-ray player for the holidays.
3. Fallout 3 – Bethesda Softworks
If a comforting tagline like “America’s First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation” doesn’t catch your eye in such difficult times, what will?! The third major release is the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is set 200 years after humanity nuked itself to pieces (and you thought a recession was bad), in the year 2277. As an inhabitant of Vault 101, you are forced to crawl out of your hiding place and roam the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C., now a bigger wasteland than D.C. in the Eighties. Survival horror at its finest, Fallout 3 offers a glimpse into what may be the not-so-distant future, presented in wonderfully open-ended gameplay with real-time combat in first or third person perspective. As a chick, I’ve got to lay praise on the folks at Bethesda for creating a playable female character that even the boys take on. The main character creation process is artistically crafted throughout the character’s childhood experiences, controlled by the player through seven lead attributes or personality traits, familiar to fans of simulation games.
The Good:
Fallout 3 offers the perfect gaming distraction from all those pesky real-life chores. While prowling the wasteland, you will not check your iPhone, you will not return calls, you will not consume nutritious food and you certainly will not sleep for more than 2 consecutive hours a night. The highly addictive soundtrack of naivete and wartime optimism will lull you to a lucid sleep on many a cold night, only to find you crumpled up on the rug the next morning, salivating at the mouth while holding on to your SIXAXIS gamepad for dear life. But I digress. Now that the U.S and China have finally blown the fuse, you’re free to explore!
The Game:
The move to 3D and a first-person perspective, as well as the expansion to additional platforms, have all helped make Fallout 3 a better play than its predecessors. The world outside the vault offers juicy side-quests and in-game distractions galore, whether friend or foe or err, narcotic. With a rich variety of locations, weapons and skills to experiment with, Fallout 3 may seem intimidating at first go, but a flexible gameplan allows for plenty of exploration and enjoyment. The environment design is superb, serving up an authentic and convincing post-apocalyptic experience.
The Ugly:
The combat is a little slow for those accustomed to the jittery highs of say, GTA IV, but hey – that’s the price of radiation.
4. LittleBigPlanet – Rockstar Games – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
If you too have fantasized about creating your own little world and playing god/dess, you don’t want to miss a chance to unleash your creation skills upon the LittleBigPlanet universe. A revolutionary user-generated content video game centered around Sackboys and Sackgirls, which can be navigated through platforming scenarios with a rich variety of customization options. LittleBigPlanet invites you to play, create and share in a magical environment. Evolving from a pod-dweller to a sticker-wielding entity, after you’re done with level redecoration overhaul, you can use your time to learn a thing or two from Stephen Fry, thanks to neat in-game tutorials. A visual piece of eye candy, LBP’s dazzling world is guaranteed to win you over.
The Good:
Stickers, I said! Added bonus: Stephen Fry’s voice keeping you company…and…Stickers!
The Game:
As your sack-person evolves, you will be free to further explore the trippy world of LBP, unlocking additional levels and customization tools. There is a creepy aspect to rifling through items recognizable from other PS3 franchises, but despite the garage-sale vibe there’s no denying it’s a cool and quirky reference to other beloved games. The “Rewind” option, allowing players to manipulate the timeline in order to undo any creation boo-boos, is a life-saver – too bad reality offers no similar solutions.
The Ugly:
Do you really want the guys at work to know you invest serious time in making a make-believe world more beautiful with the help of stickers?
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl – Nintendo
Nintendo’s crossover fighting hit Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the OMG epitome of everything that we love about Nintendo – and you will love it, too. This time around, third-party characters are allowed to party alongside old Nintendo favorites, in the ultimate battle to whack opponents off the screen. Driven by a high entertainment value and easily-operable fighting moves, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a more laid-back option for those seeking to get their fight on, focusing more on fun rather than sheer brutality.
The Good:
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is like attending a much-coveted cocktail party and reconnecting with all of your dearest Nintendos pals – Donkey Kong, Kirby, Mario, Yoshi and countless other Nintendo staples. This is a great party-minded game to keep in the house, for when your playpals opposed to actual video game violence show up – after all, you’ve got to admit no matter how hard a blow, it’s cuter when Yoshi delivers it.
The Game:
Simplified play controls make Super Smash Bros. Brawl a friendly game, requiring little to no button-combo memorization rituals on the player’s part. All characters can perform moves using the same stick and button combination on the lovable Wii, which makes this a family-friendly hit appealing to the traditionally gamepad-challenged crowd. With support of multi-player combat of up to four, you can afford to be more social with your gaming, while the new Adventure Mode makes this installment a series gem, allowing for unique character storylines and featuring multiple bosses to fight.
The Ugly:
With all this Nintendo-induced nostalgia in the air, you may just end up shedding a tear. *sniff*
