The Best of 2009...from a pc gamer's perspective
By mrhankey 11 Comments
Let me start off by saying that 2009 has been a rather disappointing year for the games industry. Many studios died and or have been bitching about the industry; Pandemic and Midway closed/were bought out and Gearbox complained about STEAM and Valve being one in the same while Silicon Knights just complained about everything in general. Either way, like everyone else I have compiled a "Best of 2009," although it will indeed include some major gripes/disappointments with games released this year as a whole.
Best Online Shooter:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. As a pc gamer this was a tough choice, but in the end, even though IWnet has effectively recreated the closed network s of Xbox Live and PSN, it is still fun to play with friends. Also when you get a group of people that aren't hacking it cane be just as good as Call of Duty 4.
Best Co-Op Game:
Left 4 Dead 2. This game, bar none, is still pushing the expectations of what one desires out of a co-op game. You want something competitive yet genuinely
Best RTS:
Warhammer: Dawn of War II. Currently I am working playthrough two, and again with a friend in co-op mode. We never did beat it on the highest difficulty, but our heroes Jack Daniels was a motherfucker when it came to tanking the tryanid. While the larger battles of Warhammer are gone, and we do miss them the co-op campaign, skirmish, and last stand modes aren't a laughing matter for an RTS that still out sells and out performs everything else.
Best RPG:
Originally I wasn't going to include this, if for the main reason being that I don't play a lot of RPGs, only a few do I take on. However, my friends have informed me i should give this to Dragon Age: Origins. So Dragon Age: Origins you get this reward from me because all my friends say you were the best.
Biggest Disappointment/Best Attitude(style):
Borderlands. I had so many dreams when you came out. I wanted you to be the new IP that I followed like a religion. However you proved me wrong, while your presentation was almost flawless about halfway through you became a practice in patience and tedium, not because of your difficulty but because of Gearbox's
Best Indie Title:
Zeno Clash. I wish you had a longer story arc. I wish you gave me a reason to replay you, however you are the best Indie title I have ever played. You had a rather salvidor-dali esque presentation and bad voice acting; and after playing STALKER that doesn't really bother me. You were charming and fun. Brutal and a little bit of a read-headed step child, but in the end well worth the $20.
Best Free Game:
League of Legends is like DOTA, which a lot PC gamers play in their free time. It's fun fast paced and requires skill; something I'm still trying to acquire in that game, regardless its a great game to play with friends.
Best LAN games:
It's a tie between Halo 3 ODST and Left 4 Dead 2. These two games are played the most when I have a gathering of 8 or more people over for MANS night at my place. Other nights women come over and we watch movies, etc...do things they may enjoy, but for man's night we end up playing these two games a lot. And
Game Still Played in 2009:
Team Fortress 2. On the PC you're supported by Valve and this current WAR campaign is reason enough for while you're still played to this various day. When i get bored of Warhammer or IWnet isn't working correctly i default to you and try to contribute to the WAR. The Scottish couldn't be more proud.
Dragon Age: Origins
Best 360 Game:
(chosen by my friends)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Best PS3 Game:
(chosen by my friends)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
A College Student's Regret (for not picking up):
- Assassin's Creed 2: Sure I would have to get the PC edition and sure I found the first one rather tedious, but mark my words if I had the money for you I would have bought you.
- Batman Arkham Asylum: Somehow I think your sequel will be flawed. However I played you on a friend's 360 and thought it would be great if I bought you on the pc, however because I had to do laundry that week, you never did come to fruition.
- F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin: One of these days if you're cheap and I have some spare cash I'll buy you. F.E.A.R. was great, it's expansions sucked, but I just want the story to continue, and I don't think I'd regret purchasing you.
Games I'm Better Off Without:
- Halo 3 ODST: you're more of the same and firefight is like survival mode in Left 4 Dead or Last Stand in Warhammer Dawn of War II, plus you would have been another trade in seeing as I sold my 360.
- Red Faction Guerrilla: You're a one trick pony that should probably be shot in the head.
- Ghostbusters: I don't think I'll even qualify you with an explanation.
- Brutal Legend: Tim Schaffer you should probably stick with games such as Psyhonauts and never hire Jack Black again. He has a few okay movies, and well I could have predicted bad retail sales for this game.
- Resident Evil 5: I never understood your mass appeal, I played your demo on the pc and didn't find it all that enjoyable. Often I felt like i was lumbering around awkwardly like a crippled red-headed step child.
- Empire Total War: You're just overwhelming.
- Halo Wars: RTS games do not work very well on consoles.
On January 1st I will post a blog detailing 2010 and my high expectations.
Oh I almost forgot to mention what my game of the year is....There isn't one. This year was truly horrible for the video game industry. Nothing really stands out as even deserving a monologue to protect why I would name it game of the year.
*Note that I updated my pc game of the year.