Welcome to part
two of the Amazees!
Yesterday I gave away the awards for my
favorite movies of the year, and now it is time to tackle the category most of you know a lot better:
videogames!
There is no time for pointless jibber jabber. Let’s get to the awards, shall we?
*applause*
*taking off my shirt*
*audience members throwing rotten fruit and asking me to “put my Goddamn shirt back on!”*
And the winners are ...
________________________________
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
True,
Metal Gear Solid 4 was full of a ridiculous amount of cutscenes, but the featured action set pieces (although minimal) were unbelievably epic. Think about the motorcycle chase, the boss fights, the final battle! Every action sequence in the game is beyond phenomenal.
Honorable Mention: Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PSN)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo DS)
Part adventure game, part puzzle game,
all amazing.
Honorable Mention: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Even ignoring the Nintendo fanboy aesthetics,
Smash Bros. is easily one of the most addictive and deepest (yes,
deepest) fighting videogames ever created. I still love playing it even this many months later. Dibs on Ike!
Honorable Mention: Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (XBLA)
Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360)
Not much changed from the first
Rock Band, but the small stuff that did made this a vastly improved sequel. Although I never know many songs in the
Rock Band collection (a Disney version please!), I still have a blast playing guitar, drums, or “rocking out” on the mic. “Rocking out:” Is that what all the kids are saying nowadays?
Honorable Mention: Lips (Xbox 360)
LittleBigPlanet (PlayStation 3)
After playing and falling in love with
LittleBigPlanet I immediately ranked it as one of my top ten favorite platformers of all time. After playing through it again (and checking out some of the brilliant user-created levels) I ranked it in my top
four.
LittleBigPlanet is phenomenally designed and the most fun game of the year.
Honorable Mention: Mega Man 9 (WiiWare), N+ (XBLA)
World of Goo (WiiWare)
The genre “puzzle game” is starting to blur its lines a little bit. Back in the day it was easy to decide what kind of videogame a puzzle game was: if it looked like
Tetris it was a puzzle game! Now, things are different, with classics like
Portal slipping into this getting-broader-by-the-second genre.
World of Goo, the latest non-traditional puzzler, is an absolute masterpiece, combining some of the most original visuals with some of the most challenging, yet satisfying gameplay I have experienced in years.
Honorable Mention: Boom Blox (Wii)
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (Nintendo DS)
Although the series got “darker” with this installment, the classic, strategy gameplay remained intact, even getting a little better with the inclusion of new vehicles and tighter map design. I love this series like crazy.
Honorable Mention: Lock’s Quest (Nintendo DS)
Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360)
When I heard that the
Burnout series was changing to open-world gameplay I got a little nervous. The best part about
Burnout is its arcade feel -- adding any sort of realism could only hurt the series. Luckily, I was wrong, as
Burnout Paradise is easily the best in the series.
Honorable Mention: Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
I know I have mentioned it a million times in the past, but I adore
Lost Odyssey. It is the first RPG I have played in this new generation that plays like an old school SNES role-playing game with a beautiful, high-def polish. Words cannot express how refreshing and classic
Lost Odyssey feels to me.
Honorable Mention: Fallout 3 (Xbox 360)
Resistance 2 (PlayStation 2)
Resistance 2 is, hands down, the most underrated game of the year. How could a game with extraordinary multiplayer, a strong single-player campaign, and some of the most amazing boss battles ever put in a videogame become so quickly forgotten?
Honorable Mention: Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
Man, how do you even rank the beautiful games that came out this year? Even though many of them had different styles, the ultra realistic and stunning visuals in
Metal Gear Solid 4 stood out the most.
Honorable Mention: Mega Man 9 (WiiWare)
Mega Man 9 (WiiWare)
Mega Man 9 could have had the most discordant soundtrack of all time and it still would probably win just because of my love affair with all things 8-bit MIDI related. Lucky for me (and my ears), the music in
Mega Man 9 is classic, featuring some of the best level tunes in the entire series. Tornado Man stage FTW!
Honorable Mentions: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii), de Blob (Wii), Bionic Commando: Rearmed (XBLA)
Dead Space (Xbox 360)
Even though I loved all aspects of
Dead Space, I remember being particularly impressed by the creepy and extremely effective sound effects in the game. The sound in
Dead Space is some of the best I have ever heard in a videogame.
Honorable Mention: Galaga Legions (WiiWare)
Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
This category was a tough call. While
Metal Gear Solid 4’s stellar voice acting could have easily taken this award, the very fact that Jansen exists gives the edge to
Lost Odyssey. Best character EVER!
Honorable Mention: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
Um, the end of Disc One. That is all.
Honorable Mention: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
Braid (XBLA)
I am still trying to wrap my head around what happens at the end of XBLA masterpiece
Braid. Whatever the real meaning is,
Braid’s ending is one of the most thought-provoking and moving videogame endings of all time.
Honorable Mentions: Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360), Castle Crashers (XBLA)
Jansen (
Lost Odyssey)
Jansen is ridiculous. Right when you think he is gay, he has sex with multiple women. Right when you think is he becoming mildly annoying, he says something hilarious. I love Jansen and will always remember him as one of my favorite RPG characters ever.
Honorable Mention: Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet)
Castle Crashers (XBLA)
Remember how much fun it was to play videogames with friends in the same room or standing next to each other in an arcade? Well,
Castle Crashers was the first game to give me that nostalgic feeling in a long, long time. Also, giving your companions timed button press CPR is my favorite new way to revive a downed teammate. Awesome.
Honorable Mention: Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360)
World of Goo (WiiWare)
World of Goo took me my surprise. Before I played it I was worried the Wii controls, combined with the unique gameplay, would render the downloadable game too cumbersome and challenging for my tastes. I was really wrong.
World of Goo is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best puzzle games I have ever played in my entire life.
Honorable Mention: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
I have talked about this epic, incredibly amazing RPG enough in these awards. Just go play it. Like, right now.
Honorable Mention: Braid (XBLA)
LittleBigPlanet (PlayStation 3)
Ladies in gentlemen, I give you the closet race of the Amazees! As much as I adore (and worship, even)
Metal Gear Solid 4,
LittleBigPlanet takes the cake due to its flawless design and revolutionary level creator. But, man, this one was
close.
Honorable Mention: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo DS)
The Destructoid editors’ trip to Cancun last year was one of the most fun and enjoyable times in my entire life. I brought
Professor Layton with me and it almost distracted me a couple nights from the epic, topless festivities. That’s how good of a game it is.
Honorable Mention: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)
World of Goo (WiiWare)
At $15,
World of Goo is the best value of the year. Buy this game for WiiWare as soon as you can. If you already have, play it again! Great games like this don’t come along very often.
Honorable Mentions: Braid (XBLA), Mega Man 9 (WiiWare), Castle Crashers (XBLA)
LittleBigPlanet (PlayStation 3)
After much thought and many internal debates, I finally decided that my favorite videogame of 2008 is
LittleBigPlanet. While
Metal Gear Solid 4 surpassed my wildest dreams of how cinematic a videogame can be,
World of Goo impressed me with its uniqueness, and
Lost Odyssey made me bawl like a little girl on several occasions,
LittleBigPlanet, literally, revolutionized this industry I hold so dear to my heart.
Even without the level creator,
LittleBigPlanet would be one of the best designed platform games of all time. But, wait, that’s not even a fair statement: the level creator is what
LittleBigPlanet is all about! Once you dive into this user-created feature, man, the game becomes one of the most incredible videogame experiences of all time. All of the dreams we as gamers had growing up about designing our own game could finally come true care of the very capable, intuitive hands of
LittleBigPlanet.
What a year for the (supposedly) struggling PlayStation 3!
LittleBigPlanet is an absolute masterpiece and the best videogame of 2008.
Honorable Mention: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3)
________________________________
Congratulations to
LittleBigPlanet on the big win and to
Lost Odyssey for winning the most Amazees this year with a count of
five!
Until next year, everyone! :)
Oh, and for the curious, here is a list of my Top Ten Videogames of the year:
Top Ten Videogames of 2008
1.
LittleBigPlanet
2.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
3.
World of Goo
4.
Lost Odyssey
5.
Braid
6.
Mega Man 9
7.
Resistance 2
8.
Castle Crashers
9.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
10.
Fallout 3
<3 <3 <3
(# 0) on 12/31/2008 13:06
(# 1) on 12/31/2008 13:08
(# 2) on 12/31/2008 13:09
(# 3) on 12/31/2008 13:09
I LOVED that game, but it just didn't make the finals, I guess. But, seriously, I adore No More Heroes. :)
(# 4) on 12/31/2008 13:13
THESE AMAZEES ARE NOT SO AMAZING.
(# 5) on 12/31/2008 13:24
I would probably have to choose LBP because of the sheer amounts of laughter/enjoyment from playing the game multiplayer.
(# 6) on 12/31/2008 13:41
Your BEST RACING GAME is a superb choice, as well as your BEST DS GAME and BEST ADVENTURE GAME.
(# 7) on 12/31/2008 13:42
I'm surprised Braid didn't win you over as Best Puzzle Game. The puzzles in that game were difficult, but it felt so good to actually get through a few of them.
(# 8) on 12/31/2008 13:50
I couldn't decide if Braid was actually a puzzle game. That genre stresses me out! :O
(# 9) on 12/31/2008 13:57
Moar lists!!! :D I'm going to finish Lost odessy over the weekend! :D
(# 10) on 12/31/2008 13:57
(# 11) on 12/31/2008 14:12
The only thing that made me go "whaa?" was the voice acting win for Lost Odyssey. Granted most of it was great, but General Kakanas made me want to pull my brain out with a plunger.
(# 12) on 12/31/2008 14:15
Also, you HAVE to try Tatsunoko vs Capcom. It's easily the best fighter of the year.
(# 13) on 12/31/2008 14:47
(# 14) on 12/31/2008 14:56
bet...
BET!?!?!
(# 15) on 12/31/2008 15:27
Glad to see Mega Man 9 won something (and runnered up for Best Graphics!!!!!)
Lost Odyssey is truly, like, whoa.
I'm going to buy World of Goo today!
(# 16) on 12/31/2008 15:56
Nice list!
(# 17) on 12/31/2008 15:58
i agree with every game you just listed even if i haven't played have of them.
(# 18) on 12/31/2008 16:08
Oops. Let's just pretend you didn't see those ... :O
(# 19) on 12/31/2008 16:23
(# 20) on 12/31/2008 16:23
(# 21) on 12/31/2008 16:30
(# 22) on 12/31/2008 16:40
(# 23) on 12/31/2008 16:47
(# 24) on 12/31/2008 16:55
although I wouldn't hold it against you if you gave it an Amazee simply for being most overrated game of the year.
and you have now suckered me into getting Lost Odyssey because of your glowing words. my wife is going to divorce me once i get that Im sure.
(# 25) on 12/31/2008 17:38
(# 26) on 12/31/2008 17:57
for shame
(# 27) on 12/31/2008 18:15
SO TRUE <3
I still haven't washed my hand, Chad. It's like, dirty and stuff
(# 28) on 12/31/2008 18:22
(# 29) on 12/31/2008 18:36
(# 30) on 12/31/2008 18:59
I'm with DJ on this one, sorry Chad .-.
(# 31) on 12/31/2008 19:34
@EternalDarkwing
There's actually a lot to Smash Bros.'s fighting system. I still can't believe not many people know about dodging, which I always thought was pretty basic.
(# 32) on 12/31/2008 20:05
(# 33) on 12/31/2008 20:08
Fantastic list. It does my heart a profound amount of good to:
1) See Lost Odyssey receive so much love. I really adored that game. The more 2008 lists (from people I actually respect) that I see that include it, the more I hate myself for leaving it out of my own top ten.
2) See Left 4 Dead only achieve honorable mention as Multiplayer game of the year in your book. I'm so tired of having to read about that game.
3) See some love for MGS4 (essentially copy and paste what I said about Lost Odyssey here).
4) See Dead Space's sound design get props.
You and Collette never cease to amaze me with actual sensible choices and meaningful things to say about our favorite artform. I hope to be wowed by your incites some more in 2009.
(I'm aware that I'm laying it on mucho thick, but I think your opinions are the bee's knees)
(# 34) on 12/31/2008 20:37
(# 35) on 12/31/2008 22:16
I know you're ready, Chad. It's time to make the jump.
(# 36) on 01/01/2009 00:36
(# 37) on 01/01/2009 01:55
(# 38) on 01/01/2009 08:17
(# 39) on 01/01/2009 09:37
(# 40) on 01/01/2009 11:59
Great job Chad!
(# 41) on 01/01/2009 16:42
Most amazing bloggers named Chad Concelmo in 2008
and the winner is..
CHAD CONCELMO!
(# 42) on 01/02/2009 00:13
(# 43) on 01/07/2009 13:44
can't. Gosh darnit, maybe one day I will disagree with you.
(# 44) on 01/08/2009 13:37
Just a though :D
(# 45) on 01/14/2009 08:10