Some years are quiet for music while absolutely momentous for film, or incredible for games while mediocre for TV, but in 2008 every industry managed to generate some buzz for itself. "Chinese Democracy" came out, as predicted by an ancient tzolk'in calendar found at the bottom of a well in Chichen Itza. (The album is OK, by the way; it's not "Appetite for Destruction.") "Pineapple Express," "Tropic Thunder," "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight" all raised the standards for summer blockbusters. "Lost" came back for a fourth season and finally decided to show everyone how to do a proper sci-fi drama.
But most importantly (and you knew this was coming), 2008 was a stellar year for gaming. It's not like 2007 was especially grim; we got "BioShock" and "Call of Duty 4," among others. But 2008 pulled out all the stops and hit us with some majorly awesome games. Here's my list of the 10 best games released this year. There's no particular order here, so don't send me angry e-mails; just mellow out on some seasonal cheer and grab a few of these games for your friends, your family or yourself.
Dead Space
Survival horror had a bit of a comeback this year, but "Dead Space," from Electronic Arts, really issued a challenge to the whole genre. The game took 2002's "The Thing" and smashed it together with elements of "Event Horizon" and "Alien," producing a highly unique and cinematic (though for some, uncomfortably claustrophobic) player experience.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Jeez, how long did we wait for this thing? "Metal Gear Solid 4" was first announced, under a different title, in 2005, and once it arrived, it almost seemed more like a showcase for brain-cracking visuals than an actual game. Still, its heart was in the right place, and it ended up being one of Konami's best-received titles all year. It gave Solid Snake the ending he deserved, and we got to see a glimpse of what the PS3 could really do.
Rock Band 2
The game that blew "Guitar Hero World Tour" out of the water. Harmonix deserves every bit of accolades it's gotten for this. The song selection, great to begin with, is updated every week online. The gameplay is straightforward, facilitating the inevitable cycle of addiction. And the graphics may not be much, but the sheer fun of being able to host parties with the game as the centerpiece is completely awesome.
Fallout 3
This game, from Bethesda, was about 10 years in the making, and it didn't disappoint. It had the story, the graphics, the gameplay and the sheer ambition to be a serious contender for Game of the Year. Even if you're not an RPG fan, you should pick this one up, because it's definitely worth it. Be sure to take your time with it; see how many ways you can complete the game.
Gears of War 2
You've maybe noticed that on this list of 10 games, five of them are sequels. In this crowded field, "Gears of War 2" was a standout, arguably the best sequel of the year; the week that it dropped, nobody could think about anything else. The gameplay and the characters were familiar. What we didn’t expect was for the game to be much longer and immeasurably more gorgeous. There were tons of legendary moments, and it hooked you in for an excellent gaming experience. Another Game of the Year contender, but that's for someone with more hubris than me to decide.
Grand Theft Auto IV
This game, from Rockstar, came not without its share of hype and controversy. I took personal interest in the game, because the setting, Liberty City, was modeled after my hometown of New York. "GTA IV" delivered on multiple levels; the story was tight and the design really drew you in. The gameplay was about what you'd come to expect from this series, but why mess with a good thing? The fun factor was through the roof. I must admit, though, that once I was done with the game, I didn’t really pick it up again.
Okami
A very interesting offering from Capcom. "Okami" started life as a PS2 game, and was well received in that form. But when the Wii picked it up earlier this year, bringing a motion-sensing aspect into the gameplay, it took the whole thing to a higher level. Using a celestial brush was never so much fun.
Mirror’s Edge
Out of left field came a game where you basically don’t have to attack anyone at all, if you don’t want to. EA's dystopia-spy game was a pretty dynamic experience, employing a great deal of next-gen physics. With the use of a novel display technique called Runner Vision, the game incorporated the screen into the action without the use of a HUD. Lauded by critics but not well known outside of the faithful gaming community, "Mirror's Edge" might be a dark-horse candidate for Game of the Year.
Castle Crashers
Ever since Xbox Live launched in 2002, we were waiting for a game like this, even if we didn't know it. This sparkplug of a fantasy side-scroller, from indie development concern The Behemoth, didn’t let up with the fantasy and action. For such a completely gorgeous little game, you'd think it would take up more space on a hard drive, but no. You should know that "Castle Crashers" bumped Microsoft Game Studio's "Braid" off this list; "Braid" was an amazing game, but "Crashers" appeals to a wider audience, and is multiplayer, so I think it's the game you can wring more fun out of.
Left 4 Dead
"Left 4 Dead," Valve's take on the zombie genre, was carried on the strength of a great story and very intense graphics. It was a sweet game that took survival horror to the next level and kept you on your toes amongst throngs of the undead. Which is all I ask, really, at the end of the day.
