15. FIFA 09
The FIFA franchise has quietly overtaken the PES soccer series as the soccer sim, improving dramatically over 2008 and 2009 to become the leading football game. We got a slight introduction to gameplay improvements in the great but shallow UEFA Euro 2008, which improved on the fantastic FIFA 08. FIFA 09 expanded even further to provide one of the most realistic and deep experiences in a football title ever.
What we said in our review"
FIFA 09 is a fantastic football title. It improves on FIFA 08 and incorporates the fantastic gameplay elements we got a sneak peak at in Euro 2008. There are still some niggling issues that have carried over from last years game, but the gameplay as a whole is enjoyable, challenging and deep. There’s plenty to do and the online component makes it one of the best ever football titles.
14. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
By far one of the best strategy games available on any console. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution plays surprisingly well on the consoles, with bright visuals, solid online play and respectable difficulty.
What we said in our review
Civilization Revolution is probably the best sim game to appear on a console in a long time. It's been reworked, toned down and improved in areas to make it perfect for console gameplay and there isn't one area that stands out as been negetively executed.
13. Devil May Cry 4
After a great introduction to gamers in the early days of the Playstation 2 with Devil May Cry, a mediocre outing with the sequel and one of the most challenging games ever to hit the Western World in Devil May Cry 3, a lot of gamers anticipated Capcom's fourth outing for the cocky half-demon, half-human hero, Dante. Devil May Cry 4 continues where the third outing left off, with challenging gameplay and mamoth bosses.
What we said in our review
It's probably the best DMC game in the series. It's pretty much just as challenging as DMC 3 and sets graphical boundaries for the genre just like DMC did. The gameplay is superb and the story is executed well, even through poor dialogue. Seasoned veterans to the hack-and-slash series should find that DMC 4 is more of the same with a touch of extra spice, while those new to it should find enjoyment in the combat, boss fights, story and presentation.
12. Bully: Scholarship Edition
Bully on the Playstation 2 was a critical and commercial success, using similar gameplay to the GTA series and putting gamers into the world of bullies, teachers and the everyday happenings of high school. With the upgraded version on XBOX 360, we get a visually impressive title with improved controls, more missions and more value.
What we said in our review
ith Bully: Scholarship Edition, you practically have the same game that was released on Playstation 2. That doesn’t at all decrease its worth because at its core it’s a very long game that has a great story, fun gameplay and magical humour that makes it a must-have for 360 owners.
11. Fable 2
Fable 2 was the talk of every XBOX fan as soon as the 360 was announced. It was in development for a few years and when it finally hit the console, it didn't disappoint. It was just as magical and enjoyable as the first, making it a must-have title for any 360 owners craving a deep and accessible Western RPG.
What we said in our review
Fable 2 has plenty to offer and discover but is far from a perfect game. It’s still an experience worth taking, as the world of Albion craves your attention. The story doesn’t pull you in as aggressively as it should and the narrative definitely falls short. But what the game lacks in story-telling ability it makes up for in combat, exploration and value.
10. Pure
Pure came up from absolutely nowhere to shock critics and gamers alike. It's a highly enjoyable ATV racer with hours of enjoyment, a great online mode and a challenging single-player mode. A must-have for any 360 owners looking for a solid competitor to the PS3-exclusive Motorstorm series.
What we said in our review
Overall, Pure is filled with thrills, spills and some insane off-road racing action. The World Tour offers plenty of action for the single-player gamer with a lengthy mode and impressive array of bike customisation option. Multiplayer is great fun with up to 15 of your friends and while there isn’t an abundance of different game modes, Pure offers plenty with what it’s got.
9. Midnight Club Los Angeles
Never has the city of LA been re-created with such high attention to detail than in Midnight Club Los Angeles. Yet it takes a backseat to the exceptional car handling gameplay and high difficulty. A must-have for street-racing fans.
What we said in our review
Midnight Club Los Angeles is a fantastic street-racing title. It offers an amazing number of races, all varying in difficulty and style, the car customisation options are aplenty, the opponent AI is top notch and very intelligent, the online multiplayer is great fun and the presentation is fantastic. Most importantly, the city actually feels and looks like Los Angeles.
8. Far Cry 2
A great original and some lacking spin-offs eventually led to Far Cry 2, one of the better FPS this generation. The visuals are spectacular, the gameplay is accessible and fun and the difficulty is perfect. Far Cry 2 is a must-have for gamers looking for a true FPS experience.
7. Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare won a whole bunch of awards and owned the top spot on the XBOX Live leaderboards for months. With World at War, we don't expect it to be quite as successful, but it's still an amazing title that is worth checking out.
If you want a new FPS with a fantastic online multiplayer experience and enjoyable single-play mode with World War II elements, check out World at War.
What we said in our review
Call of Duty: World at War, surprisingly, lives up to its predecessor. It loses a few points for lack of originality and while it doesn’t have the same freshness that Call of Duty 4 had, it’s ability to throw gamers into WWII battles that haven’t yet been realised in a game is encouraging. The gameplay is amazingly solid, the audio and graphical presentation is top-notice and the multiplayer experience is just as fantastic.
6. Prince of Persia
With enhanced cell-shaded graphics and all-new gameplay mechanics, the Prince makes a fantastic entrance into the current generation with one of the best exciting, enjoyable, deep and challenging titles this generation. The Prince of Persia franchise has been re-ignited with this latest addition.
Review coming soon
5. Left 4 Dead
There seems to be this sudden obsession with vampires and zombies in modern-day media. There have been over a dozen zombie flicks this decade, as well as two amazing zombie titles on XBOX 360.
One of those is Left 4 Dead, a title that redefines co-operative play. If you're after a mission-based co-operative FPS, do not go past this title.
What we said in our review
Left 4 Dead is a title with hardly any faults. It’s a fast-paced, highly addictive, incredibly accessible and deeply enjoyable FPS co-operative experience that is an absolute blast to play with friends.
4. Dead Space
EA announced Dead Space as a horror survival title set in space. Gamers immediately thought of Resident Evil in Space, but what we ended up getting was an original title that pushes the boundaries for the survival horror genre.
The gameplay is intuitive, the graphics are amazing and the environments chilling. We dare you to play this with the lights down!
What we said in our review
Dead Space brings back the survival horror genre from the dead. Condemned was a decent effort as a launch title for the 360, but the sequel disappointed. With Dead Space, we get a terrifying title that is thoroughly enjoyable and deep. You’ll get anywhere between 9-12 hours from the single-player, but you’ll want to play through it again on higher difficulties. It might not be as revolutionary or refined as Resident Evil 4 was, but this will tie us over until Resident Evil 5. Dead Space is a scary, intense, edge-of-your-seat game that surprises you, scares you and throws everything including the kitchen sink at you.
3. Gears of War 2
With the first Gears of War came an all-new franchise that many gamers defined as the new XBOX must-have title, overtaking the Halo franchise. With Gears of War 2, everything that was realised in the original is back with an even stronger narrative and emotional storytelling methods, a solid single-player mode and an extremely deep multiplayer mode.
What we said in our review
All in all Gears of War 2 is Microsoft’s next big title, and it deserves to be the face of the XBOX 360. Improving everything from the first classic, but still feeling exactly the same in a strange new world.
2. Fallout 3
Fallout fanatics waited for years for a sequel to two of the most cherished and played PC franchises of all time. When Oblivion developer Betheseda was announced as developer of Fallout 3, hopes were high for an amazing title.
When it hit the 360 last month, expectations were met and what gamers got was an enourmous game with plenty of hours of deep and engaging gameplay and some of the Fallout charm the fans have come to adore.
What we said in our review
While Fallout 3 does have its fair share of issues, it's pretty hard to say that it's not one of the most ambitious games in quite a while. Between it's setting, graphical detail, and the sheer amount of character in the world, The Capital Wastelands is one of the most realized game worlds. It would have been nice to have more to do, to give the game a bit more on going purpose, but exploring it is pretty addictive in itself. Combat could use some tweaking, even just having some sharper controls would have been great, and the world does suffer from Oblivion syndrome from time to time, however despite all of the above, Fallout is still a hideously engrossing adventure that you'd be a fool to miss out on... or incredibly smart if you know.... you have a life, that you'd like to keep going with.
1. Grand Theft Auto IV
Plenty of gamers under-appreciate what GTAIV has achieved. They compare it to previous GTA titles and make notes of missing features, such as planes and the ability to buy property.
Although Rockstar didn't include those features, they implemented gameplay mechanics that have set a new standard in the industry. Gamers often cite it's strong narrative as a negative, but anyone would be ludicrous to do so. GTAIV is able to implement strong storytelling techniques with a physics engine that is ahead of its time. This title is the stepping stone for a franchise that has always set a standard. No game this generation has made as much a leap from previous iterations as GTAIV has.
What we said in our review
Grand Theft Auto IV is the best game of the past decade and probably one of the best games ever made. It has not only evolved the classic and popular GTA style, but also redefined and created an all new single-player and multiplayer experience. It will exceed your expectations, surprise and entertain you and please you in every which way, because it’s original and deep. The gameplay is a revolutionary aspect that will become a standard in the industry, the story is reminiscent of an Oscar-calibre feature film and the presentation and graphics are top notch. There are some minor problems, but none of them are worth going into much detail because they are so heavily dwarfed by the countless number of positives this game has on offer.
Notable Runners-up
Guitar Hero World Tour
Mirror's Edge
Madden NFL 09