It's notable enough that Sucker Punch came out swinging on the PlayStation 3 with a game that was... not Sly Cooper. Not that there's anything wrong with Sly Cooper--and InFamous does retain some of that series' most notable mechanics--but it was a treat to see this talented studio come up with a new, darker setting and wrap it around some of the best open-world gameplay of the year.
An intriguing story with twists and momentum, a slew of side missions that tied into the game world and the fiction, a moral-choice system without much contrivance but with real effects on the gameplay... and all of it swaddled in a rough, sinister comic book world full of larger-than-life heroes and villains that will certainly lend itself well to the game's inevitable sequels. InFamous is a textbook example of how to roll out a great new franchise and give it legs that will carry it into the future.
The quality and breadth of the competitive multiplayer in the sequel to Call of Duty 4 was always a given. But Modern Warfare 2 might have shipped without a single-player campaign at all, with only its Special Operations cooperative mode to supplement the multiplayer, and still felt like a complete, satisfying package. It's got to say something that your two-player co-op mode is more varied and intense and satisfying than modes that support, three, four, or more players in other games.
Spec Ops succeeds through its sheer number and variety of missions that have you doing everything from working tag-team with one player in the air and another on the ground, to working stealthily in tandem, counting down over your voice chat to pull off synchronized headshots. Every one of the 23 missions feels different and satisfying in its own way, and they're all completely new, punishing, insane experiences on Veteran difficulty. Spec Ops simply sets a new standard for cooperative online play.
If 2009 was the year of the zombie, let's all hope that 2010 is the year of games (and movies and TV and every other conceivable form of media) giving the undead a well-deserved break. We get it, zombies are scary/funny/ironic/insert-superlative-here. But Valve is still doing a fantastic job of using the undead tastefully that's easy to still feel good about. Left 4 Dead 2 amped up the action with a greater range of common infected enemies--zombies in HAZMAT suits, zombie riot cops, zombie clowns (!)--and a wonderfully visceral new dismemberment system that let you take those guys out by blowing their arms, legs, and heads off with glee.
And it must be said that the "special" infected enemies transcend the form of the zombie altogether. The new additions like the spitter, charger, and jockey act and attack in unique ways you'd never expect out of the docile, shambling mall-dwellers originally envisioned by George Romero. As long as Valve keeps expanding on the zombie milieu in such imaginative ways, we'd be happy to receive a third Left 4 Dead game any time.
All three of our nominees in this category aim to achieve very different things with their graphical presentation, and while each is stunning in its own way, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves takes it to another level. From the awesome scope of its exotic, international locales to the detailed character design and the incredibly fluid, naturalistic animation, the visuals consistently impress during both quiet dialog scenes and crazy explosive set-pieces. Even the way the camera moves can be impressive, and it says a lot when something so seemingly mundane has an appreciable positive impact on your experience. The graphics are a huge part of what makes Uncharted 2 such an effective thrill ride, and ultimately, this game is just a pure pleasure to look at.
A good ending to a story can serve a lot of purposes, not the least of which is tying the various threads of the plot together. But a great ending is one that also makes you stop and reflect on all the events that led up to it, and that's what the conclusion does in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.
...You know, this is a really tough award to write about; the way Shattered Memories' story wraps up is such an important piece of the puzzle, giving away too much about it would diminish the effect of each individual preceding event, as it happens. The game gets stranger and more confusing as it goes, sort of like what David Lynch would probably make if he ever got into video game development. It's that last pivotal convergence of story vectors, the way the disparate parts of the mystery come together in the game's final moments that give all of it meaning and make you want to start right over, playing through again to view the game's scenes again in a different light. That those scenes can change dramatically and lead up to a new ending that's different in its particulars but consistent emotional impact is key to the game's success.
@Teirdome: I have a hunch they've already picked all the awards, and they're trying to spread them around a bit so the lists aren't repetitive. Dragon Age most likely is already lined up for a more important award.
I gotta think that AC 2 and Splosion man's endings were better than Silent Hills. I mean the (SPOILER) "WHAT THE FUCK!!" from AC2 was pretty damn epic.
" I do hate the I'm-not-even-gonna-bother defeatist attitude of Ryan and co. sometimes, with games like Demon's Souls in particular. Anyone that actually took time to play that game found it incredibly difficult yes, but also FAR FAR more rewarding than arcadey throwaway bullshit like MW2. "
so you want them not to dismiss the game you like, and then you dismiss the game you don't. that's a persuasive argument right there!
" Were was Killzone 2 in graphics nomination?! That one should be nominated! Fix this Giantbomb! It is inane not to even nominated that game.. "
Killzone's framerate isn't very steady. "
uhhh where do people pull this stuff out of? Killzone 2 never has any noticeable dip in framerate. hell I think even one of the reviews from IGN or Gamespot or something applauds Killzone for having such a good framerate while all the explosions are going off nonstop during some scenes. Bridge scene comes in mind.
" @Rhaknar: Sales aside, they have had better debuts. Both titles are cranking out DLC which you wouldn't do unless there is demand for it. Even if vgchartz does have flawed gathering mechanisms for their numbers, they put InFamous at 1.1 mil, with DAO on the 360 and PS3 at 900,000 and 400,000 respectively. The PC numbers aren't even required to top InFamous. "
you say sales aside, and then proceed to talk about sales dude, dlc or not. I think they meant game wise only. and again, most of them didnt play dragon age, how many times must this be said :D
I'm honestly surprised brutal legened wasn't nominated for best graphics, even if it didn't win. It has more aesthetic than batman and just as many polygons. It's certainly one of the best looking games released this year.
@Rhaknar: Sales aside, they have had better debuts. Both titles are cranking out DLC which you wouldn't do unless there is demand for it. Even if vgchartz does have flawed gathering mechanisms for their numbers, they put InFamous at 1.1 mil, with DAO on the 360 and PS3 at 900,000 and 400,000 respectively. The PC numbers aren't even required to top InFamous.
I do hate the I'm-not-even-gonna-bother defeatist attitude of Ryan and co. sometimes, with games like Demon's Souls in particular. Anyone that actually took time to play that game found it incredibly difficult yes, but also FAR FAR more rewarding than arcadey throwaway bullshit like MW2.
" Gotta disagree with inFamous taking best debut over Borderlands or even Dragon Age: Origins. Borderlands may not have gotten the same high reviews, but the 360 version alone in two months has almost outsold inFamous in five months (and crushed it cross-platform). The 360 version of Dragon Age is also on pace to outsell it dramatically (and has outsold it cross-platform). Maybe that's just the weak sony platform, but I would put both of those games as being better debuts. "
they dont mean sales wise obviously... and dragon age hasnt sold more than infamous, since infamous has at least 1mill sold, and dragon age is nowhere near that
Gotta disagree with inFamous taking best debut over Borderlands or even Dragon Age: Origins. Borderlands may not have gotten the same high reviews, but the 360 version alone in two months has almost outsold inFamous in five months (and crushed it cross-platform). The 360 version of Dragon Age is also on pace to outsell it dramatically (and has outsold it cross-platform). Maybe that's just the weak sony platform, but I would put both of those games as being better debuts.
" @handlas:@Pie: that attitude of "do not like, do not care" is what angers me, many good games have lost the coverage they deserve while some others "hahahah thats fun" have more coverage than they derserve, perhaps more partners to diversify the favoritism would be nice . "
They play what interests them, I don't see a problem with that. Would you rather have them forced to play games they don't want to and have the quality of the coverage suffer?
Hate to whine but I have to agree that Killzone 2 certainly had far better visuals than Batman: AA, and more technically impressive than R&C. I wonder if anyone besides Jeff ever got to playing it, I don't remember them even talking about it outside of that one podcast.
Left 4 Dead 2 should have gotten Best Co-op.. though I've never played Spec ops in MW2.. these choices seem like individual choices and not the consensus of a group of people.
Killzone 2 should have been nominated for best graphics, indeed. Batman : AA doesn't even have very good graphics maxed on out PC. Not a bad game, but it's not a looker by any means.
@ Everyone: Guys! Guys! This's there opinion. The thing we came to this site for. The thing that created the idea of this site in Jeff, Ryan's, Vinny's and Brad's head's after Gamespot forced Jeff out. This's there opinion. Which mean's if they bow to pressures created by dissapointed/displeased fan's then they'd fail to be the people we respect anylonger.
I'm not trying to paint them as pure and holy, as I know they're far from it, lol. But if you disagree with their opinion (I do, but I also respect their right's to it, and liking certain games, and intend to check some of the games they talk about out when I get the chance. If I haven't already done so.) then go make your own list and tell us what you think your top 10 are. I'd gladly read it and believe that list too. I'd also probably disagree with it in a few key areas, lol. But I'd still understand why you'd chosen certain games for each category over other's. Your opinion.
Please try to give the Bombcast guy's the same concession. As they would do exactly this for you with your "Top 10 of 2009 list."
There's a lot of whining in this thread. I don't know why so many people get so riled up about this stuff. There are some people in here that make it sound like the GB staff just forgot about many great games that came out this year. GOTY awards aren't based on some kind of exact science; these are the games that according to GB have earned their award (or nod) because they had the best experience with those games.
I wonder how many people here actually visit this site on a regular basis... if so, how can you not know that none of them played demons souls (except vinny, and even he didnt play it much), and most of them didnt play dragon age. why is it such a surprise they are not included in categories. Its like the people bitching yesterday that ryan didnt ut sf4 in his list when its a known fact he doesnt care for the game
" @handlas:@Pie: that attitude of "do not like, do not care" is what angers me, many good games have lost the coverage they deserve while some others "hahahah thats fun" have more coverage than they derserve, perhaps more partners to diversify the favoritism would be nice . "
Demons soul did get GOTY at gamespot which is pretty big. Anyway I need to get back to blowing fools away in 1943 "
it won quite a bit of awards acutally didn't it? Reading the comments is funny. So much anger about it. And you know just about everyone that bitches hasn't even touched the game which is the sad part. They want the cookie cutter winner...Modern Warfare 2.
" @handlas:@Pie: that attitude of "do not like, do not care" is what angers me, many good games have lost the coverage they deserve while some others "hahahah thats fun" have more coverage than they derserve, perhaps more partners to diversify the favoritism would be nice . "
Demons soul did get GOTY at gamespot which is pretty big. Anyway I need to get back to blowing fools away in 1943
" What about Killzone 2 for best graphics runner-up?? "
This and...
@TwoOneFive said:
" runners up for best graphics: two games that cant compare to killzone 2. lol "
...this. If it'd be best art-style, then you'd definitly have a good list there, but killzone 2 definitly looks better than both of those runners uppers. "
well maybe you just anwsered your own question, maybe for them art direction is important in choosing best graphics "
Yeah, but Batman: Arkham Asylum wasn't too incredible in the art style. And the faces weren't done so well, like always in the UE3. It seems like they didn't want to change the category into "Best Graphics on the PS3".
"
It's not the PS3's fault. Shouldn't change your criteria to carter to an audience. Maybe a category for best graphics technical and best graphics artistic was needed.
Discussing the most heated opinions: In my opinion, the best graphics award combines the best graphics from its artistic point of view and its technical point of view. Killzone 2 was amazing at a technical level, but mediocre in the artistic side (bullets and firefight involving guys with masks. Where did I see that already?!) Uncharted 2 was was very good in both views. Regarding co-op I don't have much opinion (I normally don't play co-op). Spec ops looks more structured for co-op than Borderlands. As Left 4 Dead 2. Between those 2 pick one. About best debut: I haven't played Infamous. Can't say anything about that. Haven't finished Dragon Age. It's an amazing game. But is it the beginning of a franchise? Maybe, it plays out so it is a single experience.
" @handlas:@Pie: that attitude of "do not like, do not care" is what angers me, many good games have lost the coverage they deserve while some others "hahahah thats fun" have more coverage than they derserve, perhaps more partners to diversify the favoritism would be nice . "
I agree with you. But at least some games get love on other sites. These are Giant Bomb's favorites so you gotta go with what they like I suppose. However, I'm pretty surprised to see Infamous win any award tbh. It was alright. The devs hyped up the moral system quite a bit and really it had NO EFFECT on the story's outcome and it just gave you a few different powers. The ending was the exact same. That was pretty disappointing. I cringe to say it but I think Prototype is more deserving than Infamous (cringe because I was all for Infamous over Prototype before the games came out and then I played them both)
At least there is some variety tho. I can already see what the user's GOTY awards will be. Which I'll disagree with completely.
that attitude of "do not like, do not care" is what angers me, many good games have lost the coverage they deserve while some others "hahahah thats fun" have more coverage than they derserve, perhaps more partners to diversify the favoritism would be nice .
" Why is there no special feature page for this year's awards? All of this stuff going to be announced in blog posts? Lame. "
Yeah it feels like a downgrade from last year's GOTY awards. "
I like the podcasts that go along with these awards though. But they sure are short. I'll still take them over some fancy page. Although, didn't they have videos to go along with these awards last year? "
" Why is there no special feature page for this year's awards? All of this stuff going to be announced in blog posts? Lame. "
Yeah it feels like a downgrade from last year's GOTY awards. "
I like the podcasts that go along with these awards though. But they sure are short. I'll still take them over some fancy page. Although, didn't they have videos to go along with these awards last year?
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