Xbox 360: Modern Warfare 2.  It should be rather obvious why this game is a favorite for most.  If I am to look back this year on gaming memories for the Xbox 360 I would definitely say that this game stands out the most for me in just a few months of play time.  The single player is absolutely epic, Infinity Ward does an outstanding job finding the best film-worthy moments and incorporating them into their game.  Controversy didn’t even hold much weight when it came to the awesome that was held in the single player missions.  Infinity Ward even added a Spec Ops mode, allowing players to game cooperatively on or off line, which brought back memories of early Halo CoOp.  The multiplayer reset the bar on well done online gaming.  Offering so many different weapon layouts, titles, emblems and more.  It’s easy to see why this game is on my list.

Playstation 3: Killzone 2.  Early on in 2009 Sony released an exclusive title for the Playstation 3 called Killzone 2.  It seems that this game was forgotten about over the course of the year but in Drew’s gaming memories, Killzone 2 still stands strong on my list of good games.  Easily the best looking game I have ever played, Killzone 2 incorporated a diverse online experience for gamers.  Each game online consisted of multiple objectives from team death match to territories to search and destroy.  Seamlessly integrating each game mode into one match.  With a multitude of weapons and an easy control scheme Killzone 2 did a fantastic job making my gaming favorites list.

Nintendo Wii: Super Mario Bros. Wii.  I remember spending hours upon hours playing my Nintendo in the early 1980′s bouncing Mario and Luigi up and down on the heads of numerous Goombas and Koopas while attempting to reach the flagpole at the end of the level.  Nintendo did the smartest thing that they could have ever done with their Super Mario franchise, they didn’t do anything.  Super Mario Bros. Wii is just like Super Mario for the NES with the addition of 4 players at one time and updated graphics.  The nostalgia of playing with my son is overwhelming and enjoyable on so many levels.  If you own and Wii, and ever played any of the Mario games for the NES you owe it to yourself to buy Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Since gaming news has all but vanished at this time of year, I thought I’d put together a Top Ten list of sorts. Instead of calling it a “ten best games” list, however, I prefer to think of it as a list of my top ten favorite games from this year. After all, the games I enjoyed the most might not necessarily be the best, but that doesn’t diminish their value to me. And keep in mind that I didn’t play everything released this year—not that I would, even if I could.

So, without further ado, here are my ten favorite games released this year, in no particular order.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Dude—it’s a good Batman game. Of course it’s on my list! This game got everything right: the atmosphere; mechanics (fighting, stealth, etc.); the story; and, of course, the characters. You really feel like the Dark Knight as you investigate and fight your way through the Joker-controlled halls of Arkham. Rocksteady really came out of the gate swinging with this one. Here’s hoping they can catch lightning in a bottle again for the sequel.

Demon’s Souls

I love games that require players to carefully plan their moves; and in Demon’s Souls, careful planning is a must. You can’t just run into a dungeon hacking and slashing without caution. Well, you can, but you’ll die every time. Watching yourself by planning for each of the five realms of Boletaria accordingly, fighting defensively, and keeping your cool will allow you to persevere until the end. Few games feel as rewarding as Demon’s Souls, and that’s a real shame.

Street Fighter IV

You probably forgot this came out this year, didn’t you? Well, it did, and it reinvigorated the fighting genre. Other good fighting games debuted in its wake, but none of them hit the bullseye like SFIV. The fighting system is as its most balanced and finely tuned, and the roster is almost perfect—Seth being the (ridiculous) exception. And the graphics, ladies and gents, are breathtaking. Bottom line: I loved this game so much that I spent roughly $150 for a tournament fight stick. Yep.

inFAMOUS

inFAMOUS is a fantastic combination of open-world action/adventure and comic book sensibilities. Whether you take the light path or the dark, inFAMOUS is an immensely fun and satisfying experience from start to finish. Most importantly, inFAMOUS features a cast of characters—particularly the protagonist , Cole—that you actually care about. It’s amazing to me that so few games get that part right. Prototype employs many of the same concepts used in inFAMOUS—including an unlikeable main character who looks like the homeless cousin of Cole—but the latter game executes them to near perfection, while the former constantly stumbles.

Dragon Age: Origins

Wanna know how much I liked this old-school fantasy RPG from BioWare? I put in nearly 70 hours of gameplay on my first play-through, and I’ve already started a second. Yes, it really is that good. True, it doesn’t do much to change the classic D&D-style of role-playing, but it plays those old tropes to the nines. The game’s cast happens to be my favorite of any game this year. Morrigan anyone? Oh yeah.

Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

The 3rd Mario and Luigi RPG (second on the Nintendo DS) was a breath of fresh air. The story is filled with belly laughs and goofy surprises—most involving the linguistically-challenged Fawful, who I nominate for Best Villain You Love to Hate of 2009. The gameplay is easy to get into and incredibly fun. And hey, it’s got Bowser as a playable character. What’s not to love?

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

I should admit here and now that I still need to finish this one. Even so, what I’ve played easily beats the crap out of most of 2009′s games. Heck, the opening scene alone is worthy of a best-of mention of some sort. This is action/adventure done extremely well, with silky smooth (and improved over the original) gameplay, a great story, and the most likable hero since Indiana Jones. If you have not picked this one up yet, stop reading this stupid list and buy it ASAP. Your PS3 will thank you. If you don’t have a PS3, buy one just so you can play Uncharted 2.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game

It pains me to see people quickly forgot this gem. No, it isn’t as polished as the other games on my list, but it was a dream come true for a die-hard Ghostbusters fan like me. I have a feeling the forthcoming Ghostbusters 3 movie will pale in comparison to the game, even at its weakest comedic moments. (Considering the writers of GB3 also wrote the atrocious Year One, I’d say that’s a given.) And that’s the most amazing thing about the game: it somehow captured—for the most part—the nuanced sarcasm and wit of the Ghostbusters films in pixel form. Thank goodness the ghost-capturing gameplay and multiplayer modes were pretty good too.

Shadow Complex

A downloadable game on my list? Yes, dear reader, Shadow Complex, which graced Xbox Live Arcade this summer, is one of my favorite games of 2009—regardless of console, format, etc. I haven’t felt as excited by game’s world and discovering new areas and items since this game’s spiritual predecessor, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, way back on ye olde PS1. There’s not much of a story, and the protagonist is a little too Nathan Drake-ish (he’s even voiced by  the same voice actor, Nolan North), but everything is else is polished to a fine shine. Here’s hoping for a sequel!

Modern Warfare 2

Well, duh. Of course it made my list. The multiplayer alone earns the game a spot amongst my favorites of 2009. The single player ain’t too shabby either. Just read my review if you somehow don’t understand this choice. Then punch yourself.

It seems delaying BioShock 2 until the first half of 2010 wasn’t enough for publisher Take-Two Interactive. We now know that in addition to the aforementioned title, Take-Two has delayed Mafia II, Max Payne 3, and Red Dead Redemption until 2010.

Take-Two wasn’t as specific with these three titles as they were for BioShock 2, so we can’t say if this a delay until fiscal year 2010, or just plain ol’ 2010. If it’s the former, these games could still come out in 2009. If the latter—which is the most likely possibility, given the glut of titles already confirmed for late ’09—then who knows when we’ll see them.

As some of you folks commented on the previous delay article, this is largely a good thing for gamers. We’ll have far less stacked on our plates so that we can savor every bite. And is anyone really surprised? Take-Two did the same thing in 2007, pushing Grand Theft Auto IV back until an unspecified time in 2008, only giving us a firm date further down the line.

Of the three additional titles being delayed, the only one that bothers me is Red Dead Redemption. I was disappointed by Red Dead Revolver, but the sequel is shaping up quite nicely. It looks like the game the original should have been. What about you folks? Any of these delays got you down?

It would seem a tad crazy to talk of a new Grand Theft Auto game after the insanely long time the forth installment took to be released, but it must be noted that Vice City hit store shelves only one year after the third game. The next issue of Game Informer spreads a little light on the topic and ignites the dreams of fans globally.

“We’re not talking about new DLC or a collection of previously available DLC, we’re talking about a full retail game. We expect this title to follow the suit of previous GTAs and use a subtitle such as GTA: San Andreas, etc. Tokyo might be a possible setting for the game, but details are non-existent at this time.” – Game Informer

Despite the games’ controversy, any news of a next installment would without a doubt be a giant shot in the arm for what most are calling a weak year in game releases. Looks like E3 might have some serious aces up it sleeves. Not much we can do now except keep our ears tightly pressed against the wall and hope for more information to trickle out.

Right from the jump I could feel that this game was developed by some guys and gals that may not have had the largest budget for creating a game. The facial graphics are terrible (thankfully your guys wear masks) and the soundtrack including the voice clips get really repetitive really fast. This doesn’t seem to completely affect the game though and you can turn the music down.

The premise of the game is to play the speed-ball version of paintball. It’s fast paced, the rounds only last about 8 minutes and there aren’t more than 14 players out on the field at any given time. The primary objective in most of the tournaments is to capture the other teams flag and bring it back to your headquarters. If you eliminate a player he is out and if you eliminate all the opposing players then it’s a walk in the park to take the flag and place it at your base. You can plan before each match and route your team mates to different parts on the playing field.

If you are hit with a paintball your character is out but you will then take control of one of your remaining team mates until you win or are all eliminated. You also have the option to “wipe” the paint from the place you were hit which allows you to remain in the game, however it appears that this act is actually cheating. If you are caught cheating you and some of your team mates are removed from the round automatically. The way to get away with a wipe is to hit the “A” button as the dial is over the green zone (similar to a Madden kick-off).

You are able to upgrade your equipment and outfits. You can also control your players by deciding which one plays which match. The AI is surprisingly good and doesn’t leave it up to you to play the whole round yourself. You can play tournaments, exhibitions, training or online. I was playing at 0200 and there happened to be 6 other people playing at the same time which was surprising. This game has a lot of potential for online but the marketing just isn’t there.

I felt like the look and sounds of the paint balls and guns was pretty spot on, taking cover behind an object and seeing paint flying over you is pretty cool and feels real. The aiming is a bit off but you get used to it. You can lean left and right and pop up from behind an object.

The coolest thing about the gun is the double tapping just like in actual paintball. You can use the right trigger and the right bumper and double tap all of your paint from your hopper and fast. It’s pretty neat and gives a sense of reality.

This game is rated E for all and the only cursing is from the music and it’s bleeped out. My suggestion is to turn the music off anyway. The voice acting is something out of a Troma Film so don’t expect a lot.

The game is certainly a rent but if enough of HCG purchased the game it could be a lot of fun.