For those still foolish enough to dismiss videogames or deny them their art (ahem, Roger Ebert) Metal Gear 4 puts an end to that. The game, of course, stars an aging spy who I’ve seen grow up with the NES years through the Playstation classic Metal Gear Solid to the tragic saga of his father in MGS3 to, finally, growing old in his “last” adventure to end all adventures. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a game that provided the most “wow” moments of the year, rivaling even movies like “Dark Knight.” The main criticism is that it’s there’s not enough game here but that’s only a criticism because the game proper is so good. But, really, it’s all cinemas. From endless (but fascinating) dialogues about the new world order (la-lay-lo-la-lo mein) and dangers of artificial intelligence as it controls our lives, to made up proxy wars to soldiers who fight for the sake of fighting (it’s the nanomachines!!!) to meta ruminations on videogames within this videogame (they should have called it Meta Gear Solid 4) to cinemas where Snake meets his mother Eva (featured in MG3) in Easter Europe (this game has more fan service than any I’veever played) to the unforgettable finale that lasts way longer (and is way better) than most feature length films; this film, er, game is tirelessly epic and resonates deeper than anything else out there. Oh, and the play-it-your-way stealth/action/cardboard box gameplay is some of the best I’ve ever encountered…too bad there isn’t enough of it in the later levels. Not that I’m complaining.

4. Valkyrie Chronicles

Turn base gaming makes a big comeback with these Chronicles. Take the endless fun you would have from a game like Advance Wars or Fire Emblem or, if you’d rather (and I would…), X-Com: UFO Defence, add an essential third person action view (hope this catches on in this genre), add a beautiful hand drawn watercolor graphic style, add RPG elements such as upgrading weapons, learning special powers and working with squad mates to create killer combos, add hours of addicting game play full of giant maps and small side quests, add just as many hours of anime inspired storytelling. Sega finally tapped into a winning formula that does not involve Sonic. And still nobody played this game! The game is set in an alternate Europe during what would have been World War 2 but could have been set on Mars and still been a classic.

5. Dead Space

I am among the few that hate survival horror games. I am among many that enjoyed Dead Space. I am among the few however that insist that Dead Space is the best the genre has to offer; or at least as good as Resident Evil 4! The hero Issaic is Master Chief for the Resident Evil crowd. He’s masked and clunky lurker prone to fetch quests that lazy crew members force upon him, loves to customize everyday tools into killing machines and has one of the best character traits that I’ve come across in years: a tin can wheeze that gets worse when he does. That’s all there is to him! And, likewise, all there is to this game is going from one part of a haunted ship to another, capping a hell of a lot of aliens (or are they?) along the way. Like RE4, Dead Space succeeds at being a survival horror game by not being onlya survival horror game. From zero gravity segments to telekinesis powers (a la the underrated Psi Ops) plenty of action elements create a rich range of experience and the nature of the action, shoot limbs to kill the creatures, add a unique twist to the one-head-shot-kill.

6.Ninja Gaiden 2

If you read message boards, it’s safe to assume that the only people who hated NG2 more than those lame-ass Devil May Cry biznatchezzz were actual fans of Ninja Gaiden. Aww, man, why the hate people?! Because the story makes no sense. Okay but I like how weird it is (what other game can go from big boobed gals to mystical/metaphysical hooey?). Because while NG1 is a masterpiece the second is the same game but with a Xbox360 coating. Okay, that’s more valid. Because the fucking camera keeps fucking up your fucking shit, preventing you from fucking up other ninja’s shit? Ah, yeah… even more valid. Because you find yourself fighting the camera more than cheep ninjas? Because those fucking, cock-ass motherfucking rocket launching ninjas that find a place clear across town and lob missiles at your sorry fucking ass every two seconds/every two steps you take? That there is the most valid argument against this game because this is, after all, NINJA Gaiden not Ninja Contra. But NG2 is still the best action in town. Big, broad (and, ahem, broads), beautiful and bloody beyond all measure, this NG probably doesn’t try to fix what’s broken because what’s broken (such as it is) is still minuscule compared to what works so well.

7. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

Well, I’m finally done with the Phoenix Wright series…

• Favorite Games in the Series: Apollo Justice. The story is great (despite the demotion of Pheonixas the lead character–he’s used very well though) and there’s more hands-on stuff that takes full advantage of the DS functionality. Dusting for prints, using a metal detector, and of course screaming OBJECTION make this the best detective game I’ve ever played. And would you believe the lawyer stuff is just as good?
• PW is closely followed by the first Wright game, then the third Justice for All (the last case is mind blowing), and finally Trials and Tribulations.
• Favorite Case: the last case of the first game.
• Favorite Filler Case: The Salty Ramen episode in Apollo made me hungry (and thirsty from all the salt).
• Least favorite case: anything involving a circus.
• Favorite non principle character: Mr. Hat! ::snapppppppp:: Ack, the von Karmas characters then. ::snapppppppp:: ::snapppppppp:: ::woooosssshhhh:: Okay, Jesus, just Francisca.
• Most Pathetic Aspect: (tie) Gumshoe’s inability to shaveproperly as evidenced by the ubiquitous band aid on his chin. This is tied with Phoenix’s sex life. From what I can tell his entire catalogue involves a girl in college that used him, tried to kill him and was so sick of him she made her twin sister date him. Poor Phenie.
• Most Annoying: Oldbag, Larry Butz and Lotta Heart got dumber and dumber and dumber and should all be arrested for just happening turning up in case after case as key (stupid) witnesses.
• Favorite Line: #1 ACK! (has now entered my everyday vocabulary and works in so many applications). #2 von Karma : “My pin number is 0001, because I’m number 1!”

8.Boom Blox

This game taps into a long lost type of game. Throwing a ball to knock over blocks. It just… feels so good. For some reason leaving the 8bit era made game designers forget how fun it watch things fall. Blox is not only a cathartic inversion of Jenga but a rather deep strategy game that makes brilliant use of physics (ex: if I aim, here the blocks will fall on more blocks and start a chain reaction… which leads to a lot more strategy than one might assume). This is also the best use of the Wii’s motion controls I’ve ever come across. The controller truly feels like an extension of your arm; and the game, an extension of the childish urge to throw shit at other shit.

9. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

It does my heart good to return to the Final Fantasy 7 world of Midgar. This prequel would be even higher on the list if only it was fuller (half the game consists of optional side missions that are still fun). The sense of inevitable tragety is built into every scene and the corresponding story makes good use of not only providing FF7 fans what they expect (Tiffa’s boobs) but throwing in new characters and motivations. The emotional ending rivals Metal Gear 4 with pathos and gut wrenching combat. That this is the best original RPG to hit handheld is a surprise second only to the fact that a good game was actually made for Sony’s PSP.

10. Little Big Planet

I don’t think I’ve yet to wrap my head around the possibilities here. This is the first online game I’ve ever dived into with any conviction. The options are unlimited! But, errrmmm, how much customized bling can you throw on a side scrolling platformer before it just gets redundant? LBP is slightly overrated but I see the allure and will no doubt be playing this for years to come. Sackman had me in stitches. Get it!

Best Multiplayer Game: Resistance 2

Speaking of on-line play, R2 is the second game to date to get me to give up my shyness and hang with the online gaming community (…of mostly a-holes). And my favorite to date. The online stuff in R2 is based more on WoW team play/classes and really responded to that because it’s now about getting fukn-p0wned every two seconds but working together. Furthermore, the single player mode (about a world taken over by aliens… original) is a marked improvement over the first Resistance. It’s also way better than the overrated man v alien series Gears of War and Kill Zone sequels.

Best Downloadable Game (new): World of Goo

Really, really, really Goo(d).

Best Downloadable Game of the Old School: Super Street Fighter II HD Remix

…memories…flooding…….back…..so…..much…time….so….many….quarters…… Playing the game again is one thing (namely, fun) but to play it online against a world of players reminds me of how great this game is… and how much I apparently suck at it.

• Overrated but fun: Grand Theft Auto IV–No, I’m not just saying that/yes, I beat the game. Not only is it a step back from the limitless GTA San Andres but the story sucks (I am Ruuuuuschhhhan, loooooking for ah plece en Aaaaameeeeekkkkkca!). The game does nothing to advance the series (jeez, we can watch TV now… wow, lame!). Still, driving around town, shooting the shit never gets old. And by shit I mean hookers. And by shooting…
• Overrated but still fun #2: Star Wars: Force Unleashed. So much potential crammed into a game with lazy level design. Hey dummies, how about an open world Star Wars game; everyone else is doing it after all.
• Overrated but overrated: Gears of War 2–How is this more popular than Resistance??? Ugh, I hate, hate, hate the squatty character design and dopey, dude-ified dialogue.
• Best Cover Art: Crisis Core
• Worst Cover Art: Fallout 3 (guy with armor……… okay, stupid) and Dead Space (oh, look, a hand… scary)
• Best Trend:Multiplayer games are actually fun now.
• Worst Trend:Xbox systems continues to break; Sony continues to do everything possible to prevent people from buying a PS3; PSP continues to suck; Nintendo DS pisses fans off by offering a pointless “new” DS with a camera; people continue to buy the same fucking Wii game over and over (the two year old game Wii Play is the best selling game of 2008?! Followed by Wii Play, Wii Play and Wii Fit)
• Saddest Moment:EGM (Electronic Gaming Monthly) ends its 20 something year run. I can’t express how sad that made me. I grew up on this mag. I read it even when I didn’t play games in the late nineties through mid 00s. I STILL read old issues on the can. Print media is dead. Sad. So how come the shitty Gamepro and pathetic Nintendo Power mags are still around? Fuck, PC mags are still publishing despite the fact that PC games are as dead as print.
• Estimated $ Amount Spent on Games and Systems in 2008: $1,500
• Percentage of My Free Time Wasted: 90% (the other 10% was spent reading Y The Last Man comics and watching Lost… god, I need to get a life)

System Ranking

• Playstation 3 (made my year. bluray + HDMI + new HDTV + really good game year for PS3 = most underrated system on the market)
• Nintendo DS–the lil’ system that shaped modern gaming
• Xbox 360–good as usual
• iPhone–lots of promise
• Nintendo Wii–the system was easy to slam but I have a soft spot for it.
• Sony PSP–worst system since the Sega years.