Michael Kontoudis – PALGN Writer
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog's magnum opus is going to be a referred to non-stop throughout the awards season, and there can be little doubt as to why. Improving on its predecessor in every conceivable way, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the best game of this sterling year, coupling a buoyant, charming adventure story with some seriously refined shooting mechanics and unmatched technical mastery.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
One of the best games of the year was also its biggest surprise. Batman: Arkham Asylum came out of nowhere to deliver a sucker punch to all other licensed games and has elevated the hitherto-unknown Rocksteady Studios into the industry limelight. Borrowing liberally from Metroid, Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid, Arkham Asylum took from the best and wrapped its disparate elements up in a cohesive way while leveraging the Batman license in a way gamers have never before seen.
Assassin's Creed II
Ubisoft learns from its mistakes and delivers a sequel which makes good on the promise of its predecessor. Assassin's Creed II is many things: a stealth-'em-up, a platformer, and a third-person combat game, but at its core its an engaging story wrapped up in beautiful visuals and a startling recreation of Renaissance Italy. Assassin's Creed II is a full-bodied, developed adventure jam-packed with content and attention to detail; it's also the cheapest way to experience the splendour of Venice without stepping foot on a jet.
Hmm, PALGN staff seem to like Uncharted 2.
Denny Markovic – PALGN Writer
Demon's Souls
Among all the RPG's that have been released this entire generation, Demon's Souls sits on top of the pile with a big and grim smile, as it's not only the hardest but the most unique of them all. Combining very balanced but brutally challenging gameplay, a long and highly non-linear quest, and the most interesting use of online play we've seen in recent years, Demon's Souls is one hell of an experience that once you give your soul to, it won't give it back.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
It's a no-brainer that Uncharted 2 was going to be somewhere in this list, as the game damn well near blows everything else out of the water. It's got the best looks, the best sound, one of the slickest animation setups ever, the gameplay is absolutely stellar and you feel like you're in a movie. It's been said about a million times but Uncharted 2 is easily one of the top games this generation.
Killzone 2
Killzone 2 is one of my games of the year solely because Guerrilla delivered what they claimed they would, which was a phenomenal visual engine and an intense and cinematic experience. In this they didn't faulter. Sure the story is a little shallow and gameplay is pretty much standard shooting fare, but it was the way it was executed that really blew me away. That and the multiplayer was awesome.
Well, it could have been a lot worse.
Jason Picker – PALGN Writer
Batman: Arkham Asylum
In a year where sandbox games became the new black, it was great to see a game that did something new and fresh with a traditional linear structure and set pieces. Best of all, it was Batman, the underpants-on-the-outside superhero. Deftly mixing stealth, action, gadgets and puzzles, Batman: Arkham Asylum was all killer and no filler. A forgettable final boss battle aside, this was a beautifully dark tribute fitting of the caped crusader and his arch nemesis, the Joker. Game of the year.
Infamous and Prototype
Despite the astoundingly ridiculous criticism levelled at Infamous and Prototype, both these new intellectual properties offered a sense of freedom and power never seen before in video games. Infamous took a more story-oriented approach that offered players the ability to use their powers for good and evil, and kept the hero within certain paremeters in true comic book style. Prototype, on the other hand, chucked everything at the wall to see what would stick. Ever wanted to double jump off a building, grab a helicopter, eat the pilot, and fly it into a tank while floating to safety? Here it is. These two games are a glimpse into the future of the open world genre.
Fight Night Round 4
Fight Night Round 4 is simply the best fighting and the best sports game I’ve ever played. With tight controls mapped to the stick (forget those button mashers), a deep and engaging career mode, and brilliant graphics, this was much more than ‘another sports sequel’. Cop that Mundine!
Fight Night Round 4 continues to reign supreme.
Michael Pincott – PALGN Writer
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
You're probably all getting pretty sick of hearing about how good Uncharted 2 is by now. If you've played it, you know exactly why it deserves the Game of the Year accolades being showered upon it from all angles, and if you haven't, what the hell are you waiting for?
Assassin's Creed II
Fortunately the curse upon film sequels doesn’t always apply to games, as proven by Assassin's Creed 2. The cryptic, ambivalent story as well as engrossing gameplay and the remarkable setting of Renaissance-era Italy, made this a thoroughly engaging release.
Borderlands
The year's biggest surprise packet. Most people probably didn't expect the marriage of FPS gunplay and RPG elements to be a happy one but Gearbox made it work. The action is frantic, the questing addictive, and it's got personality to boot.
Looting and Shooting = Win.
Joseph Rositano – PALGN Writer
Peggle XBLA
I'll be honest here and say I never heard of Peggle until it was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace. With a lot of my Live Friends playing the puzzler, I decided to try out the demo and was instantly impressed by its simple yet engaging design. The next day I rushed out and bought some Microsoft Points (yay for lack of credit card), got home, and played it for hours. Despite finishing the Story mode that very day, I still fire it up every few days to attempt challenges and mess about in multiplayer.
Assassin's Creed II
This was perhaps my most anticipated release of the year, and I’m glad to say Ubisoft did not disappoint me. The game improved on the original in almost every way – the story of Ezio was stronger than that of Altair’s, missions were more varied, and as a whole there was just more stuff to see and do. It’s been a while since I’ve played a game non-stop from the moment I woke up until it was time to go to bed again, so it seems fitting Assassin’s Creed II took that honour.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
I HAVE FURY! Why isn’t the latest Mario & Luigi game making the top 10 list in the Aussie sales charts? It certainly has more NEW stuff about it than New Super Mario Bros. Wii does. For starters you play as Bowser and see exactly why he’s hailed as the Koopa King, not to mention you fight Godzilla-sized robot castles and blow into the DS microphone to unleash Bowser’s flame. There’s never a dull moment and you will have plenty of laughs.
No arguing with Bowser.
James Varoutsos – PALGN Writer
Assassin's Creed II
A much more open and vibrant environment created a game which felt far more complete than it's predecessor. From immersing yourself in the crowds to avoid the guards to ten-on-one sword fights, this game had everything to keep you motivated and interested from beginning to end.
Forza Motorsport 3
The return of this great racing simulation franchise really got my attention from the beginning. Brilliant graphics, a huge selection of cars and events to choose from, plus the insane level of customisation created probably one of the most complete racing games I have ever experienced.
Left 4 Dead 2 (Uncut)
It's a simple formula, get four friends and pit them against hordes of zombies, then sit back and watch the madness. Valve really did build from the first title with this game and a sequel I thought was well deserved. I'm looking forward to pitting more of my friends against hordes of the undead in the future.
And with that, we'l see you in 2010!
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