XBOX 360 - Best of 2009

Dragon Age: Origins

An incredibly deep RPG experience from BioWare, Dragon Age: Origins is a highly addictive game that will keep you coming back for more, over and over again. The character development system is quite extensive, and BioWare have released DLC right around release to expand its worth almost immediately.

An absolute must-have for RPG and BioWare fans alike, Dragon Age: Origins is one of the best in the genre on XBOX 360.

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WWE Smackdown vs. Raw

The WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series hasn’t changed much over the years. While it has always offered an entertaining and fulfilling experience for wrestling fans it’s been a while since it’s shaken things up with new modes. Aside from some roster updates and a few new features, the game has practically stayed the same over the past few iterations. Thankfully, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 mixes things up a bit. It may not be a completely unique experience for the franchise, but it at least gives us some new modes and tries to differ itself from its predecessors.

What we said in our review

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is without a doubt the most robust and entertaining title in the franchise for years. While the gameplay isn’t overly deep and it can’t compete with the likes of Fight Night, this is definitely a wrestling fan’s dream. Yuke have taken the step beyond just wrestling gameplay and brought in the WWE opera that fans want. Now you can create your own outrageous story, full with hilarious and cheesy dialogue and silly cut-scenes. The community aspect is fantastic, allowing you to upload content online and have it reviewed and shared. This is a lengthy experience, one that every single wrestling fan should have.

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The Beatles: Rock Band

We've seen quite a few Guitar Hero spin-offs, all of which don't really do the band or franchise must justice. However, Rock Band's first spin-offs was a straight success, as The Beatles hit XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and Wii in a fantastic music game experience. Great for everyone of all ages.

What we said in our review

This is a great addition to the Rock Band series, and truly a must have for any Beatles fan. The Beatles: Rock Band is not just a game, it is an experience. 40 years on Harmonix have developed a fantastic tribute to the world’s greatest band. It celebrates their history, and will take you on a mystical journey through the best, and some of the hidden gems, of their catalogue. The only downfall is that it’ll substantially hurt your bank account if you have to buy all the instruments and want the downloadable content. But it’s so special, we’re almost willing to overlook that.

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Red Faction: Guerrilla

The "sequel" to one of the most critically acclaimed FPS from last generation, Red Faction: Guerrilla is an incredibly enjoyable ride through the rough terrains of Mars. Destructible environments, great gun play and action and a unique story make this one of the best action titles of the year.

What we said in our review

Red Faction: Guerrilla is some of the best fun you’re going to have this generation. There’s plenty to get through in the single-player story and a deep multiplayer component to keep you playing it for a while. The destructive elements are the titles call to fame, with everything that is man-made vulnerable to your attacks. The weapons are great and the missions varied enough to make this a really enjoyable ride.

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Skate 2

EA reinvented the skateboarding genre with Skate, taking the reins from the seemingly indestructible Tony Hawk franchise. Skate 2 was able to live up to its predecessor, offering a unique and most importantly fun skate gaming experience.

What we said in our review

Skate 2 builds on a near perfect game, and manages to come out on top offering even more than the original. Featuring a real living and breathing city, backed up with an impressive online experience and gameplay that is near flawless, it makes you wonder where do EA take the series from here. Skate 2 is the ultimate skating game period. It is bursting at the seams with features and offers an experience that is unique to any other extreme sports game on the market. If you are a fan of the sport, or want to simply try something new, Skate 2 is well worth a Kickflip or two.

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Assassin's Creed 2

Many gamers are claiming Assassin's Creed 2 to be a strong GOTY contender. It's obvious that its developer has listened to gamers to improve on issues from the first game, offering a distinctively better, lengthier and more challenging experience the second time round.

What we said in our review

Assassin’s Creed 2 is an improvement on its predecessor in almost every way. The story, which starts slow, becomes very engaging and evolves almost perfectly for a videogame. The action/adventure gameplay has the right mix of platforming elements, side quests, assassinations and general combat. Best of all, every one of these things can be done in numerous different ways, leaving the tactics down to the individual player. Assassin’s Creed 2 looks and sounds great, and really immerses the player into 15th century Italy. It’s a great step forward for the series, one of the more mature games out there that uses strong platforming elements, and leaves you wanting more at the end of each mission. This is how to create a sequel for a new IP.

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Left 4 Dead 2

While the Australian version might be heavily censored, which ultimately hinders the experience somewhat, Left 4 Dead 2 can still be a lot of fun, especially if you're a fan of the first game and are after a solid and quick FPS team-based online experience. If you can get your hands on an overseas version though, it's be worth the import.

What we said in our review

Much of the gameplay is the same as the overseas version, but it’s no surprise how much of a damning effect the heavily censored presentation has on the experience. There’s no sense of horror or suspense when the zombies are attacking, because there’s no realism in their expressions. When you take out everything that is missing, you have a simple FPS and nothing more. When you put all of those things back in, you have a fun game with a comical level of gore and blood that actually make the levels feel more alive and tense.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Does this inclusion really need to be justified? Easily one of the most hyped games of this generation, if not of this decade, Modern Warfare 2 offers a brilliant online experience, as well as a solid and mature single-player component.

What we said in our review

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is without a doubt one of the most balanced and enjoyable shooters ever. While the single-player campaign lacks a coherent story and is incredibly short, it’s still great fun to play as the gameplay and presentation are both fantastic. The multiplayer experience is ultimately where it’s at, with MW2 offering the fantastic Spec Ops, as well as an improved multiplayer that maintains many of the great aspects of COD4, while also improving on some annoying aspects. The amount of content included in multiplayer is astonishing and the high level of detail, coupled with the gorgeous visuals, makes MW2 one of the best titles this gen.

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DJ Hero

DJ Hero is the latest music venture by Activision, one that tries to introduce gamers to the challenges associated with mixing and scratching two completely different music tracks. Even if you can’t scratch or have no sense of rhythm whatsoever, it really won’t matter, because DJ Hero is all about the music, more so than what it is about the actual skills required to be a DJ.

What we said in our review

DJ Hero is a surprisingly good if inconsistent music game. The controller is great and the gameplay itself is good fun. The first-half of the game is pretty bad, offering some horrendous mixes, while the game does a complete 180 in the second-half with some unreal mixes that you won’t hear anywhere else. Overall, it’s a great first effort, one that can definitely improve, but one that is still worth checking out if you’re a DJ and/or music game fan.

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Forza Motorsport 3

Microsoft really whored this during their E3 2009 press conference back in June, and thankfully, that whoring was justified. Forza Motorsport 3 is a fantastic racing sim. It propelled the series closer, and perhaps even beyond, its nearest competitor in Gran Turismo, finally putting the 360 on the map as a great console for racing game enthusiasts.

What we said in our review

Forza Motorsport 3 is the definitive racing game of this generation. The cars look great, the controls are as close as you’ll ever need to perfect and the simulation of motorsport racing is spot on. That would be great in its own right, but Forza 3 goes above and beyond what is required. It’s accessible to anyone, without excluding the veteran gamers, and has one of the most indepth online communities we’ve ever seen in a console game. Turn 10 has delivered Xbox 360 owners a gem of a racing sim. If you’re a multi-console owner, and were waiting for Gran Turismo 5, all I have to say is the wait is over. Go out and buy Forza 3 instead. Beyond that good luck to the GT5 team. This one’s going to be tough to beat.

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Borderlands

2K's "RPG FPS", Borderlands is a unique and very large game, offering a near endless amount of amazing weapons as you roam a vast wasteland. With great gameplay, a gorgeous and original visual presentation as well as a funny story, Borderlands is one of the more ambitious titles we've seen released this generation.

What we said in our review

I’m going to finish on the note that I began on. Borderlands is a fantastic FPS RPG – when playing co-op. It’s almost a different game when playing with 3 mates, as that same gameplay, which became bland and repetitive alone just works. The RPG elements are designed for more than one player, as is the combat. If you’re looking for a solo experience then stay away, on the contrary if you’re after a co-op RPG/FPS hybrid then Borderlands is right up there as one of the best of the year.

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Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City

After the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto IV came two new episodes, exclusively for XBOX 360. The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and Damned can be downloaded via XBOX Live, but require GTA IV to play. Episodes from Liberty City contains both episodes on one disc and doesn't require GTA IV to play. Considering its bargain price, length and amazing gameplay, this is an absolute must-have.

What we said in our review

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City is a great way to experience both of the great Liberty City episodes. They are two very different experiences that tell two very different stories. Both have their own level of enjoyment, and when you factor in that you’re getting roughly 20 hours of gameplay with both episodes, you’ve got the potential for 40+ hours of gaming, not including multiplayer. The revolutionary gameplay returns with new weapons, new activities, new multiplayer modes, new characters and a whole new way to see Liberty City.

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Need for Speed: SHIFT

Thank god the Need for Speed franchise was given a reboot. Need for Speed: SHIFT is a welcomed change for the franchise, which lost a lot of its pizazz over the past few years. Mixing arcade with sim-style gameplay, SHIFT would be a great addition to any car enthusiasts game collection.

What we said in our review

Need for Speed: SHIFT is without a doubt one of the best in the franchise for quite a few years. Its sense of speed, good career mode and wide array of vehicles make it a fantastic racing title to play through. There are a few issues with the handling, though the great opponent AI and multiplayer experience seem to make up for any issues the gameplay has. You’ll learn to live with any problems, as the gameplay can get quite addictive, no matter if you’re racing with friends or on your own.

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Halo 3: ODST

While, at full price, it lacks much of the value you'd expect from a Halo title, this Halo 3 spin-off is still a great FPS experience. The single-player is fun and the new online modes make ODST worth it.

What we said in our review

Halo 3: ODST doesn’t really stand out as anything spectacular considering its obvious similarities to Halo 3. It’s an expansion pack no matter how you put it, but still one worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series. It’s such a shame that this is a full-priced affair, which is ludicrous considering it’s pretty much Halo 3.5. While it offers something new in the form of the playable characters, some new weapons and Firefight, there’s really no justification to charge gamers the same price as a full game. In saying that, it’s a shame that the price is an issue, because the experience itself is still pretty fun and it’ll be disappointing if some gamers and Halo fans turn away because of it.

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Batman: Arkham Asylum

An early contender for GOTY honours, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the definitive comic-book game. Fantastic visuals, great villains, large environments and amazing gameplay. Great action and stealth instances make this by far one of the best games based on a superhero ever. A must-have.

What we said in our review

Arkham Asylum is a “true” Batman experience. Forget about every other Batman game you’ve played in the past – this is the only one you need to play. Everything from the environments, to the brilliant (yet linear) story, to the flowing combat and fantastic stealth elements: this game is an absolute pleasure to play. It’s accessible, challenging, and deeply rewarding, and it’s one of those games that you can play through multiple times without ever growing tired of it. It’s a title constructed perfectly around stealth and basic button-mashing combat, and with plenty of memorable cutscenes and fantastic all-round performances from the voice-cast, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an absolute must-have.

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Brutal Legend

A unique take on the RTS genre, Brutal Legend isn't a game for everyone, but is still worth checking out for its great story and dialogue, as well as great performance by Jack Black.

What we said in our review

Brutal Legend is a genuine laugh out loud narrative driven adventure. The genius of Tim Shafer combines with the talent of Jack Black to create a predictable story that is still worth playing. The world is amazing, the sound track is brilliant and the game itself is a tribute to metal. The action-adventure brawling gameplay is fun, but ruined somewhat by the transition to RTS if you’re not a fan. It’s still fun to play, but either the two genres don’t go together or you have to start out as a fully blown RTS from the beginning. Moving away from being in the action to controlling it was an experiment that just didn’t work out. Still, if you’re into heavy metal it’s worth overlooking the gameplay mash-up to experience the world that is Brutal Legend.

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Prototype

In Prototype you are Alex Mercer, a shape-shifting creature who has the ability to absorb other beings and monsters. You never really know who the true Mercer is, because the game begins as he wakes up in a military quarantined Manhattan. As he evolves and transforms into an emotionless being with limitless powers, people around him go through horrific mutations, as Mercer himself changes to prepare himself for the countless attacks on his life. As he roams through the city as a near-invincible creature, he jumps from buildings and drops down onto the unsuspecting public. The city of Manhattan is your playground, as you guide Alex to unravel the secrets that plague his current appearance.

What we said in our review

Prototype is a fun game. There’s no doubt about that. It’s just let down by poor execution. The gameplay can be extremely enjoyable as you cause havoc across Manhattan, but it’s just a shame that it never really feels like Manhattan. The gameplay is accessible and the power upgrading system is great, and once you get all of the available powers, get ready to cause some intense trouble. However, there are inconsistencies all over the place. The cutscenes go from great to terrible, the missions are unoriginal (yet still fun at times) and the narrative never seems to take off like you’d expect it to. At its core, Prototype is a fun pick-up-and-play game. But on the outside, it’s an unfinished, inconsistent, poorly designed game that is saved only by accessible and fun gameplay mechanics.

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Resident Evil 5

There’s no doubting that Capcom are one of the most respected gaming developers in the world. Their broad gaming library stems from fighting titles, action-adventure, horror and puzzles and they set the standard for stylistic experiences set in fantasy worlds dictated by outrageous story arcs and so-bad-they’re-good characters. The Japanese influence is obvious in each and every Capcom title and you have to give it to them for not giving in to Western cultural influences. However, Capcom games lately can rarely be categorised as “masterpieces”. Besides RE4, which redefined the action-horror genre last generation, most recent Capcom titles border “good” and “great” but are never quite as good as they need to be to be remembered 10 years down the track.

What we said in our review

Resident Evil 5 is a great action romp. The basic gameplay fundamentals remain from RE4, but it still has enough positives to classify as a worthy title. The new inventory system is great and the co-op implementation is good for the most part. The overall presentation is superb, being not only the best in the RE franchise but one of the best this generation. While RE5 hasn’t reinvented the third-person action title, it maintains many of the great RE qualities we’ve all come to love while implementing particular new aspects and evolving into a highly enjoyable action title.

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Street Fighter IV

Several years in the making, Street Fighter IV hit consoles and PC with a bang. With its gorgeous visuals, awesome gameplay, spectacular characters and brilliant online modes, Street Fighter IV quickly became one of the best fighters of the decade.

What we said in our review

Street Fighter IV is the title that fans have been waiting for. With the mechanics that became world famous with Street Fighter II, and outstanding visual style, backed up with immersive gameplay it IS the ultimate fighting game. Unfortunately the game isn't friendly towards new comers or those who haven't had a chance to experience the series, and it has potential to frustrate and in turn, lose interest in what otherwise is a near flawless title.

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