The Third Annual Coint and Plick Poll: ILG’s Best Video Games of 2009 - Part Three: #21 through #51

lots of stealth WoW addicts here

is there any doubt that MW2, Batman and Uncharted are gonna be at the top

idk really but i guess:

arkham asylum
assassin's creed 2
demon's souls
peggle
street fighter iv
uncharted 2

Demon's Soul is going to be up there

if had to guess order id guess mw2, peggle, uncharted, demons, arkham, sfiv

Was skeptical about Peggle but then I looked on wiki - it was released for DS, 360, PS3 and iPhone all last year! Though it was more spread out than that, but I guess a lot of people may have played Peggle for the first time in 2009, despite its original release in 2007. TBH I didn't even get it until last year, because there was a sale on the Mac version (but ineligible for the poll).

Forgot about Demon's Souls... that will probably place high.

I expect stealth shock high placing for Orbital

also: L4D

my top 5 guesses:

- Arkham Asylum (probably going to end up being #1 just due to being multiplatform if last year's poll is anything to go by)
- Demon's Souls (it was my #1 and I'm far from its biggest fan on these boards)
- SFIV (wouldn't be too surprised if BlazBlue took its place instead; imsmr Lamp & Jeff preferred it to SF4 and since the voting pool was so small their ferocious advocacy would probably count for more)
- Uncharted 2
- Modern Warfare 2

BlazBlue, Orbital, Canabalt, or Plants Vs Zombies placing in the top 5 wouldn't surprise me either.

#51: Chrono Trigger (UK Release) – DS – 16 pts – 1 vote – 1 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

If: Well worth the wait to play this! Maybe helped by the slightly reswizzled DS presentation but it didn't feel dated in any way - quite the opposite in fact. I knew next to nothing about it before hand and certain moments were just jaw-dropping - walking through the ancient snow to discover a teleporter to a cool futuristic world, whoa. Totally charming, really beautiful in places (the music in the medieval world!) and with combat that's so enjoyable you wonder why its ideas aren't more widespread.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Dmi7Txvz7iI/R-gy7EHEVrI/AAAAAAAAAMk/5-HFmtB-zO0/s400/chrono-trigger-return.GIF

"Fight the same series of wimps in the forect for an hour or two? I DON'T THINK SO. I think I'll BEAT THE GAME 3 times."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTBb1OBYA_I

Cankles: Best game ever and anyone who disagrees can eatadiccup. Revisiting a lot of older games (or really just shit in general that I loved when I was ten or eleven years old) is almost uniformly v.v.v.v. unrewarding. Except for Chrono Trigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's pretty unique among Squaresoft bullshit in that regard. FF7 is atrocious to me today, but I could probably sit down and HELLA dig on some CT.
It was the first videogame I was actually able to BEAT on my own. *** lone, manful tear trickles down face, is absorbed by neckbeard ***
There's a puffed-up, Fisher Price, safety scissors quality to CT that really helps it out in the long run. CT just wanted to be a shiny, flashy experience that fleshed out a smaller, simpler world (gaming- and narrative-wise) and ended up succeeding on all the levels that all the FF games flailed and failed at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-PF0tuDliI

Will M: The great thing about CT is that there's virtually no running around in circles to get experience points; there's almost no item management (aside from buying new weapons when you can and the occasional potion) and talking to the villagers is pretty fucking entertaining. The game never wastes your time with MEDIEVAL VILLAGER #457 FROM THE TOWN OF LUHIM or whatever. Battles are fast. The sheer lack of a “battle screen” saves about 6 seconds per battle versus, say, FF3. Beyond that, you can avoid battles when you want to. You can't avoid them ALL, but you can avoid enough of them that it's awesome. Add up the speedy battle pacing and perfectly metered episodic quests and adventures and you've got a game that is fun to play at all times. There's always something to do; there's always at least a mild sense of urgency and there's always new environments to explore.

http://www.infendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/495_robo-man-490.jpg

Nhex: It's one of my all-time favorites but still, try not to let the nostalgia/hype faze you. You're starting with probably the most distilled essence of the SNES DQ/FF formulas at the end of an era so if you're not already into that genre, it may turn out not to be your thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVl6Ue9r-Oo

Lamp: For me, the point where you first get the ship is when I fell for Chrono Trigger. Once the game opened up a little and offered the ability to pursue each of the character's individual stories at my own pace, to create random parties and discover new abilities, it just got crazy rewarding and immersive. Superfun.

#50: Time Fcuk – Online Flash Game – FREE – 16 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/timefcuk_screenshot.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpiuzlBTra0

http://newsimg.ngfiles.com/170000/170803_timefuckfanart.jpg

Developer Blog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy4x1HEYRK8

http://www.offworld.com/assets_c/2009/09/timefcukhickeys-thumb-620x398-26294.jpg

Gamasutra Post-Mortem

http://gamersyndrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/TimeF3.jpg

MTV Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cd4BXZm0xc

gzeus sends his regards xpost

#49: Wii Sports Resort – Wii – 17 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site

http://blackchristiannews.com/news/images/wiisports.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8NCtrfNTs

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/panosole/wii-sports-resort-basketball-screen.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsLt4GijqSw

Polyphonic: Wii Sports Resort is way better than Wii Sports. I was pretty impressed.

http://www.endsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/wii-sports-resort-archery.jpg

Iwata Asks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNrByVfhsaw

Zappi: Surprisingly good; much more content than I was expecting.

http://spawnkill.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/wii-sports-resort.jpg

Eurogamer Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI6ptNmCQtA

EZ Snappin: Improved on the first Wii Sports in every way, making what could have been a tech demo into a captivating and challenging experience... as long as you skip biking and rowing.

oh hey, i think i voted for time fcuk. good stuff

oh, i didn't. but still good game.

#48: Killzone 2 – PS3 – 18 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/files/2009/03/killzone2.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gaMA6Vg1eA

S1ocki: Okay, I borrowed this from work yesterday, played for a bit and was like "This is ooooookaaaaaaay..." and then all of the sudden it was two in the morning. Hey, imagine eating a calzone while playing Killzone!!!

Metacritic

http://dlb-network.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/killzone2teamforumhv3.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHl_PB39pEY

Guerilla Games Post Mortem Interview

JeffLevine: There are lots of great things about this game, not the least of which is the best graphics of any console multiplayer game so far. The multiplayer is particularly strong. I do feel that as you rank up and unlock over-powered abilities, the game gets worse. I had a lot of fun getting to the tipping point, though I still haven't bothered finishing the single player campaign. If you're a bit burned out on this kind of walking through gray worlds shooting dudes type game already, it probably won't rock your world.

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/871/871951/killzone-2-20080506020316134_640w.jpg

Forksclovetofu: When games look this realistic and take themselves this seriously, I tend to feel guilty playing them; they become more ultra-realistic murder simulators than recreation. Undeniably gorgeous and likely fun to play if I could get past the squickyness, but I just got a little turned off after only an hour of play. Back to Rittai Picross for me; at least it doesn’t make me question my humanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM1rNXypKo4

Cutty: I had to change the sensitivity and the control layout (too heavy and sluggish on both the X and Y axis and zoom/aim was mapped to the right thumbstick instead of L1; what were they thinking?) but besides that I'm into this for sure. The enemy AI is GREAT.

"In Killzone 2, you play a midget on a rampage."

Skygreenleopard: My biggest frustration is that no one seems to use the squad feature well. Occasionally I'll play with some clan dudes that roll together and take out everyone as they converge upon them, which is awesome. I vow never to use a headset, but working with a guy who has one makes me feel bad. Ninety percent of the time I'm working with people with better ranks and abilities than I have and they are WAY better at the game, yet they'd win that many more matches if they just covered my ass once and didn't get me shotgunned in the back.

Two way tie for #46.

#46: Azkend – iPhone – 20 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/azkend-1.jpg

Try it free online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPiqnix3JoU

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/azkend-6.jpg

Euler: This was the best iPhone game I played this year; yeah it's basically a pumped-up match-n with a dumb plot to stitch together boards but the dynamic of sliding chains with your finger is excellent, great tactile feedback.

http://www.iphoneappreviews.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/iphone_azkend_bigchain.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB7JZEyHaEM

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/azkend-4.jpg

took forever to find this, but my chrono trigger gzeus tribute:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/545351/

#46: Wipeout HD Fury – PSN – 20 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://gamzsonev3.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/wohd_20090730_031207.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGNbrQM5e54

http://www.pixelatedgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/wohd_20090723_172100PG.jpg

The Making of the Original Wipeout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsa2EVftuvE

Telephone Thing: So yeah, Fury is awesome. Still a bit iffy on Zone Battle, but the other modes are fantastic, the new tracks are great (with one exception- I forget the name, but there's one track where most of the ground is the same color as boost pads, argh), and the presence of brand-new models and skins for every single ship is a nice bonus.

http://www.thelostgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/wipeout_hd_fury-playstation_networkscreenshots16002wohd_20090518_173146-506x285.jpg

Developer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHUvEpxqQI

Jeff LeVine: It really feels like a full game now! I especially love that they finally added in stats. I was suprised to learn I'd only played the game for 29 hours so far. I love that the remixed tracks start with that same pure light blue of the PSP game before getting all crazy. I’m sad to see they've put the advertisements back in :(

http://ps3media.gamespy.com/ps3/image/article/993/993796/wipeout-hd-fury-20090611021655182.jpg

"Why Wipeout HD Fury=The Future of Downloadable Games"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmsOXUJAE0

HIDERE: This is still the only racing game worth a damn. Fucking fantastic tracks, fucking fantastic music, fucking fantastic ship design. So so so great.

aw, i love that xtranormal thing.

ok a couple of the things on my list are going to place way higher than expected!

Really do think Wii Sports Resort fulfills the promise of the first one. Table tennis rules.

Who's the other Resort voter? They liked it even more than I.

before wipeout went to it's full potential it had a star wars jedi racing game thing that was just as good.. for n64 I think

Hey, imagine eating a calzone while playing Killzone!!!

still stand by this tbh.

Lol at my inflated point value giving WipeoutHD such a high placing

This was my #2 game because Eliminator mode owns so hard.

played wipeouthd once and was terrible at it, so obviously its a terrible game :)

i am pretty awesome btw

Failing at WipoutHD is like failing at life

My condolences to your poor, ashamed parents

haha as you could well guess, me being good at any video game would dismay and unsettle my father

"grown men play video games? also, people enjoy movies and fiction books, what the hell is wrong with kids these days etc etc"

he is a charming curmudgeon.

"You must be so proud of your son, running the family business!"

"I suppose... He is terrible at WipeoutHD, though."

"Oh you poor thing. How are you holding up?"

"I won't lie, it's difficult... *sob*"

We don't date n00bs, we pwn them!

ilx w/images off is like going to see avatar w/out 3D glasses

where's forks

Two way tie for #44.

#44: Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 – Wii/360 – 20 pts – 2 Votes
Official Game Site

http://www.avforums.com/forums/attachments/xbox-360-game-previews/137296d1252229157-pro-evolution-soccer-2010-uk-release-23-oct-2009-rooney.jpg

Metacritic - 360

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG2wzaeXrMU

Ste: Is it me or is the ref a bit 'handy' with the cards? The game seems a bit twitchy in changing the controlling player at times, kind of annoying. Pressing start to skip replays is hugely frustrating; what was wrong with just pressing X? Do the player graphics not get muddy after a while? Seems visually rather boring. In summary, yeah FIFA was slightly better.

http://image.jeuxvideo.com/images/wi/p/r/pro-evolution-soccer-2010-wii-020.jpg

http://winningelevenblog.com/files/2009/08/pro_evolution_soccer_2010-xbox_360screens90pes2010_gc_madvsbar-700x393.jpg

Metacritic - Wii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txas4kc4UuY

http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/181474_S/Pro-Evolution-Soccer-2010.jpg

EZ Snappin: Took the revolutionary control of the debut and tweaked it in all the right ways.

#44: Prototype – PS3/360 – 20 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site

http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/131196-prototype.jpg

Metacritic - 360

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnNcwtiYj24

Cozwn: It's a fancy sandbox button basher with combat not as deep as something like Ninja Gaiden 2 but it's certainly better than Crackdown. It can be hard to get a bead on who is attacking you at some points but thankfully your powers seem 'intelligent' and only attack 'baddies' and your lock-on seems quite smart too (i.e. you can't lock-on civilians). You have a lot of health so bullets don't do much damage but as bazookas and the brutes can mess you up, you can't just be mindless.
http://www.gamesbasement.co.uk/userfiles/image/P%20P1.jpg

Metacritic PS3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqzpYy1_-SE

Telephone Thing: I'm having so much more fun with Prototype than I was with Infamous it's not even funny. Infamous just seems so mannered and restrained in comparison; even playing as a bad guy, there's not really much potential to Fuck Shit Up beyond three or four gas stations that all go up in the same, minimally destructive explosion and cars that detonate in the feeblest way imaginable. Meanwhile, Prototype lets me destroy a Blackhawk by throwing a goddamn tank at it. And the Whipfist! Oh my god, the Whipfist alone is more fun than any of the powers in Infamous by an order of magnitude.

http://www.destructoid.com/elephant//ul/12976-550x-prototype4.jpg

Eurogamer Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14_y6ESDvYE

Polyphonic: This game might be straight-up garbage in some ways, but the core experience is flying around, swooping into crowds and murdering people in the most absurd and satisfying ways. Then, run up the side of a building and glide away on your squirrel wings.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/02/prototype1%282%29.jpg

EZ Snappin: One of my favorite last-gen games was Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. This is Hulk with more people, more powers, and better graphics. It's a mayhem simulator without equal, despite the creepy emo hero.

#43: Fallout 3: Point Lookout – 360 – 23 pts – 3 votes
Official Game Site

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/thumb/1/14/Fallout-3-point-lookout-pc-005.jpg/800px-Fallout-3-point-lookout-pc-005.jpg

Metacritic

BNW: The game’s best and most creative DLC yet.

http://planetmedia.gamespy.com/images/00/27/2748_Swamp_normal.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Wi8F0n3SE

http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/163854_S/Fallout-3-Point-Lookout-Screens.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agGP6O-afrM

CraigG : This DLC returned me to the original creepy atmosphere of the original game. I remember when first playing Fallout 3, sneaking through big dark buildings, wondering what is around the next corner, etc. Operation Anchorage and Broken Steel didn't really have this, and the only time I felt the same in The Pitt was the train yard when collecting the steel bars. Point lookout was altogether more sinister (perhaps because of that Ferris Wheel and my deep seated fear of carnies), and the punga fruit trip sequence was pretty cool, albeit pretty Max-Payne-dream-sequence-y. I also genuinely felt a little violated at having part of my brain removed, but was glad I could pick up the jar with it in later.

http://images.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/164721_S/Fallout-3s-Point-Lookout----One-Mans-Verdict.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTHGUjR1M2c

JimD: The reason there aren't many big games in my list is that I spent most of my year playing Fallout 3. This is the best of the expansions, and when I finally decided I was ready to stop playing, I went and got on the boat with that girl I'd rescued, turned off the 360, and imagined myself making a little life with her. Let's be clear - I've never imagined the post-game life of any of my RPG characters before, and it's not something I intend to make a habit of. But that's how good Fallout 3 is, I guess.

#42: GTA Chinatown Wars – DS – 24 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site

http://www.perezstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-3.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFS5MBy0L8Q

GM: It's actually my favorite GTA thus far. None of those clunky controls to slow things down.

http://techmirage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/gta_chinatown.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLvthwZCXWY

Cozwn: So many little touches in this game make it much better, for my money, than GTA IV. I love the dealing; I'm loaded. Sold $17k of heroin in one deal. :D

http://reviews.cnet.com/i/tim//2009/12/16/cwboth.jpg

Eurogamer Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkG9xnd6_Hs

Haitch: I’m only a couple hours in but this is pretty good! I really like the hot-wiring element.

http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/gta-chinatown-wars-ds-drug-mini-game-screenshot-big.jpg

"Frustrating Sales"

If: I have never played GTA before, but some combination of the setting and format got me to try this one and it's really great fun! I think the mad taxi dashes are the best part, though setting up lucrative drug deals is also great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1EUORbKSI

#41: Worms 2: Armageddon – XBLA – 25 pts – 1 vote- .5 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://www.wonderwallweb.com/Worms_2_Armageddon_Screen_03.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW09vWQQpuA

Stevie: The games themselves - and the new weapons - are killer. Forts is great, though I'm not crazed about the races, mostly because i still haven't mastered ninja rope on the 360 controller. Crazy crates is tons of fun; just an avalanche of plentiful nonsense weapons and health upgrades tumbling from the sky, ensuring a pretty quick and destructive game.

http://www.seasonedgamers.com/home/images/stories/games/worms2_screenshot1.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5VFA7ErgKU

http://www.xboxist.com/xbox-360/2009/06/30/worms_armageddon_screen2.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYKPB4Tfzws

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/851007130041/inlineimg/Y/worms2.jpg

More later; likely Sunday.

Only one other vote for Chinatown Wars? :(

it's an awesome game but 2009 was a year full of awesome games

yah like big word puzzle book :/

and worms

yeaaahhh this list so far isn't exactly convincing me

It does go to show you though that the people posting here (or or the people forks browbeat into submitting ballots), have pretty diverse taste - which is a good thing, I think...

I loved Chinatown Wars too but it had the disadvantage of being early in the year. My list is heavily weighted with games I've played since the summer. I didn't even have a PS3 until May and almost all my console picks are PS3... :/

i played an hour of assassin's creed 2 and i know it gets better but the beginning is so, so bad. like in every way. also i really resent that you have to hold down TWO buttons to run/parkour. it's like the most important control element of the game and they can't even map a single button to it?!?

AC2 is on my eventual list of games to pick up. Also I am totally jumping the gun but I just ordered Arkham Asylum from Amazon (thankig u, gift certificates!)

or at least distract you with goofy guild chat as you grind levels/gold.

See, this is a game where you need something to distract you from the tedium of playing the game. Goofy guild chat could do that, sure. But so could playing a different game.

also i really resent that you have to hold down TWO buttons to run/parkour.

yeh i rented the first game & only played for a couple of hours, but seem to remember you had to hold down two buttons and move the analog stick just to move through a crowd? seemed so stupid.

xp lol!

Please note that said tedium only really sets in if you can't get into dungeons, which used to be a huge problem but has (in my experience) gone away with the most recent update. I used to spool up side characters and then abandon them because finding other people to play with while leveling was a soul-crushing chore; I've since leveled two side characters and am well on my way to a third.

Not claiming WoW is for everyone but they've certainly fixed a lot of what made it only cool for people willing to devote their lives to it.

(lol making it easier to devote your life to it, um)

I dunno, I think there's something to be said for soul-crushing tedium in gaming.

Persona 4 is pretty much the only thing that stops me packing my ps2 away into a cupboard. The whole tv world, psychology thing is far superior to traditional JRPG save the world fantasy nonsense and the social link / life simulator bit is an excellent mechanic fr jrpgs. More games should be like princess maker.

Also wow placing started my withdrawal symptoms again. I really wish i had the time to play it again.

The storytelling conceit in both Assassin's Creeds that you're a future guy embodying a guy in the past really annoys the shit out of me. Also, the voice work is pretty hackneyed. But some of the gameplay is quite fun, and climbing around is bitchin'. Mixed bag.

I HATE the framing device

why could they not just like, make a game set in old timey times

I always figured the framing device was something which allowed them to wall off sections from the player. does the new one work like that?

if so that's the most contrived, time-wastey thing ever

like, people are used to conventions like that in video games. you don't need to build a giant apparatus that's just as unbelievable as "a big wall you can't climb" to get around it

the travels-thru-time stuff gets more fleshed out in ac2, so the device at least seems to have a point, even if it is an utterly retarded one, and there is some fun with it along the way. the future sequences are fewer but just as terrible. it does all come off as a convoluted excuse to make a series of sequels in different eras, tho, and they didn't really need an excuse, cos that would've been okay on its own.

and in terms of directing the character's experiences and walling areas off, they could've used the 'memories' device on its own and that would've been kinda cool.

i hate the idea that you're just in a big training device in your head

I LOVE the idea that you're just in a big training device in your head!

I always figured the framing device was something which allowed them to wall off sections from the player. does the new one work like that?

This is exactly what happens.

You'll be on one building, and there'll be another building near you, and it's like "NOT DOWNLOADED YET" or some shit.

The sandboxy stuff in AC2 is a nice diversion but pointless. Once I realized there was no benefit or achievements for doing the races, etc I stopped doing all of them. It would make more sense if your villa didnt give you 50 g's for dicking around every 30 minutes in the game.

Concluding The Third Annual Coint and Plick Poll: ILG’s Best Video Games of 2009 - Part Four: #1 through #20

the races are fun tho? isn't that the point of the game, to have fun? have we disappeared so far down the tawdry path of trophies and achievements that etc etc etc. you get my point. fun. the nice diversion is the point. have fun.

I wasnt having fun because I kept accidentally climbing up something that wasnt en route and had to stare at a loading screen over and over when I failed.

I think all but one of my votes has charted

style savvy had a sequel last year?????

can i get some achievements for reading these threads cuz if not, then i aint gunna

Will M did you actually attempt any of those Scribblenauts challenge modes?

Fuck no, I used jetpacks and weapons all the time. No zombies though so I guess there's that. I still maintain that Phi-life cypher's abc's is better than blackalicious's alphabet aerobics though.