Game of the Year



Fallout 3 (PC/XB360/PS3)

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

There has been no better reason to be an RPG fan than this instant classic epic game from Bethesda. Graphics, sound, design, story and presentation were all excellent and besides a few minor issues Fallout 3 is by far the best game of the year.

Runner-ups

Gears of War 2 (XB360)
Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)


Best Xbox 360



Gears of War 2

Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Epic gave online action gamers a reason to keep playing Xbox Live when they released their outstanding Gears of War. The sequel is a bigger, more fun and better told adventure on the Xbox 360.

Runner-ups

Left 4 Dead
Fallout 3


Best PS3



Metal Gear Solid 4

Developer: Konami Productions
Publisher: Konami

Metal Gear Solid has been one of the staple gaming series for the Playstation brand and this time Konami offered up a final ending to the adventures of Snake that most PS3 games wont forget.

Runner-ups

LittleBigPlanet
Resistance 2


Best Wii



Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Developer: Hal Laboratories
Publisher: Nintendo

This game will keep you hooked either by immersing you in fun gameplay or by letting you explore an amazing array of options. The game’s presentation is almost impeccable, the graphics look nice, the sound quality is just amazing, the gameplay is as good as it ever was and it’s almost unnecessary to mention that this game has phenomenal replay value.

Runner-ups

Mario Kart Wii
No More Heroes


Best Handheld Game



Final Fantasy IV (DS)

Developer: Square-Enix
Publisher: Square-Enix

Square returned to its main gaming roots when it decided to update the ever impressive Final Fantasy IV. New graphics, updated audio, voice overs and the same  classic adventure awaited fans of the original.

Runner-ups

Patapon (PSP)
God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)


Best PC



Mass Effect

Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA

The Xbox 360 master piece RPG created by Canadian developer BioWare was finally ported to the PC with some welcome changes to gameplay, graphics and to the inventory mangement system. THANK YOU.

Runner-ups

Spore
Crysis Warhead


Best Downloadable Game (All platforms)



Braid (XBLA)

Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Number None

There was no better platforming title on any system then Braid. Bringing some insane gameplay mixed with beautiful graphics, Braid was and still is one of our favorite Xbox Live Arcade titles.

Runner-ups

Fatal Inertia EX (PSN)
Siren Blood Curse (PSN)


Best WiiWare



Gyrostarr

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: High Voltage Software

Gamers who were not sold on Nintendos Wii Ware concept, quickly changed their mind when they played Gyrostar. A mix of high speed racing and combat that has never been more fun.

Runner-ups

Helix
LostWinds


Best PSN



Siren Blood Curse

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan

Only one of the many survival horror games released this year scared me and that one Siren on the PS3. An episodic game with great visuals, gameplay and best of all sound effects. I still can not replay that hospital level with out the lights on.

Runner-ups

Fatal Inertia EX
wipeout HD


Best Xbox Live Arcade



Braid

Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Number None

Runner-ups

Castle Crashers
Rez HD
Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1 & 2


Best DLC (All Platforms)



Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Music Store (PS3/XB360)

Runner-ups

Bring Down the Sky - Mass Effect (360/PC)
Puzzle Quest: Revenge of the Plague Lord (XBLA)


Best Sports Title

 

NHL 09 (XB360/PS3)

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada

Runner-ups

MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
Madden NFL 09 (PS3/XB360)


Best Racer



Race Driver GRID (PS3/XB360)

Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters


Runner-ups

Fatal Inertia EX (PSN)
Pure (PC/XB360/PS3)


Best RPG



Fallout 3 (XB360/PS3/PC)

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Runner-ups

Infinite Undiscovery (XB360)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)


Best RTS



Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath (PC/XB360)

Developer: EA Los Angeles
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Command and Conquer Kanes Wrath is one of the best Real Time Strategy titles in years. Offering great single and multiplayer gaming and the same great cheesy full motion video we know and love.

Runner-ups

Tom Clancy’s EndWar (PS3/XB360)
C&C 3: Red Alert 3 (PC/XB360)


Best Platformer



LittleBigPlanet (PS3)

Developer: Media Molecule
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America

No new video game character this year was seen everywhere then Sackboy, the loveable character from LittleBigPlanet. Using a community of gamers to build new levels with what has to be the easiest level design system ever seen on a console and brilliant gameplay, there is no doubt that LBP is a game for the ages.

Runner-ups

Death Jr. Root Of Evil (Wii)
Braid (XBLA)


Best Shooter



Gears of War 2 (XB360)

Runner-ups

Left 4 Dead (PC/XB360)
Army of Two (XB360/PS3)


Best Action/Adventure Game



Dead Space (XB360/PS3)

Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Publisher: Electronic Arts

EA had many big named hits this year and Dead Space was among the best with their new action gameplay mechanic of dismembering enemies to defeat them. With plenty of gore mixed with a great Sci-Fi story there was no better action adventure game this year.

Runner-ups

Prince of Persia (PS3/XB360)
Army of Two (PS3/XB360)


Best Soundtrack



Fallout 3 (PC/PS3/XB360)

Using a mix of personalities and some classic (very classic) music from the 1920s to 1940s as the sounds of the wasteland to perfectly portray a different time and place.

Runner-ups

Saints Row 2 (PS3/XB360)
Mirror’s Edge (PS3/XB360)


Best Art Design



Prince of Persia (PS3/XB360)

Developer: Ubisoft Montréal
Publisher: Ubisoft

Prince of Persia was King of the last generation for action gameplay, and most gamers were waiting for a sign that Ubisoft was working on the Prince’s next adventure. When the game was first shown the art style and animation was simply breathtaking. Making it the best looking title of 2008.

Runner-ups

Mirror’s Edge (PS3/XB360)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)


Most Underrated Game



Army of Two (PS3/XB360)

Developer: EA Montréal
Publisher: Electronic Arts

If there was one game that people loved to hate it was Electronic Arts co-op shooter Army of Two. Combining a mixture of co-op 3rd person action with a touch of real world mercenary action if the real world was insane and it was a winning combination for most gamers.

Runner-ups

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy (PS3/XB360)
Too Human (XB360)


Most Overrated Game



Star Wars Force Unleashed (PS3/XB360)

Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucasArts

Runner-ups

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3/XB360/PC)
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)


Best Sound Design



Dead Space

It gives you the creeps... ’nuff said!

Runner-ups

Gears of War 2 (XB360)
Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway (XB360/PS3/PC)


Best game no one played



Space Trader

Developer: HermitWorks
Publisher: Meridian4

We love Space Trader at GameFocus for many reasons including the fact it is a unique indie game that is simply fun and challenging to play. Relying more on gameplay then flashy graphics Space Trader is still on our game machines and played to this day.

Runner-ups

De Blob (Wii)
Too Human (XB360)


Biggest Surprise



Army of Two (PS3/XB360)

Runner-ups

Dead Space (PS3/XB360)
Fatal Inertia EX (PSN)


Best Multiplayer Game



Left 4 Dead

Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve/Electronic Arts

Brainless action shooter that you can play with friends and you shoot zombies in an ever changing game. It does not get better then that.

Runner-ups

NHL 09 (PS3/XB360)
Gears of War 2 (XB360)


Best Music/Rhythm Game



Rock Band 2

Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: EA/MTV Games

Runner-ups

SingStar (PS3)
Guitar Hero World Tour (PS3/XB360/Wii/PS2)


Biggest Disappointment



Silent Hill Homecoming

Developer: Double Helix
Publisher: Konami

The one game that made Lil’ Baby Jesus cry. Homecoming was not scary at all and barely felt like a true Silent Hill Game.

Runner-ups

Haze (PS3)
Age of Conan Hyborian Adventures (PC)


Biggest Announcement of the Year



KOTOR MMO

Rumored for years, specualted by both fans of MMORPGs and Star Wars, and when BioWare confirmed that it was working hard on a Knights of the Republic MMORPG gamers across the internet had huge nerdgasms. We’ll be in game on day one.

Runner-ups

Final Fantasy XIII Goes Multiplatform
Ensemble Studios Closes


Best MMO Game/ Expansion



Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Developer: Mythic Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts

One of the classic table top games finally was released as a MMORPG with some amazing gameplay features and player versus player fun. If you are a player who likes to join a cause and crack some heads then this is the MMORPG for you.

Runner-ups

LOTR Online: Mines of Moria
WoW: Lich King
Everquest 2: The Shadow Odyssey


Best Fighting



Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Developer: Midway
Publisher: Midway

Runner-ups

Soul Calibur IV (PS3/XB360)
Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3/XB360)

Most Original Game



Mirror’s Edge (PS3/XB360)

Developer: EA Digital Illusions CE
Publisher: Electronic Arts

A colorful first person game where you use parkour to evade enemies and run around a beautiful city and the best part was how insane the action was. You can play the game and never fire a shot or kill a person and standing toe to toe is the best way to end up dead in this amazing game.

Runner-ups

Braid (XBLA)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)


Best Innovation



Too Human (Right Stick Combat)

Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Too Human was either loved or hated by the gaming community, but most would agree once you understood the intense combat using the right analog stick it was amazing in every single way. Fluid combat against dozens of enemies never felt so good.

Runner-ups

Left 4 Dead (AI Director)
Tom Clancy’s EndWar (Voice Command)

Best New Character



Elliot Salem and Tyson Rios – Army of Two

They are not loveable, but they have great personalities for a couple of battle hardened mercenaries looking for their next big paycheck.

Runner-Ups

Isaac Clarke – Dead Space
Sackboy – LittleBigPlanet

Best Potential New Series

TIE: Army of Two & Dead Space

Runner-Ups

Left 4 Dead (XB360)

Developer of the Year

Electronic Arts

No other company gave gamers a better line up of games then Electronic Arts did across all platforms. From PC to PS3 to Xbox 360, we played many EA games and loved most of them.

Runner-ups

Ubisoft
Bethesda Softworks

Best Indie Titles

Each one of these four titles brought something new, unique to their genres and best of all solid fun gameplay. Every PC gamer needs to check out these various games for them selves and they will find a hidden gem.

Tank Universal
Mount & Blade
Space Trader
Project Aftermath

The 2008 Group Of Suckage

As game reviewers we must play the good with the bad and these seven titles were poor in score and in expectations. But we know another stinker of a game is right around the corner because they all can not be great.

Hellboy: Science of Evil
Golden Axe
Haze
Rapala Fishing Frenzy
Vampire Rain Altered Species
King of Clubs
Game Party 2

Posted by Jay Acevedo (AnodaJay)

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