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

#15: FIFA Soccer 2010 – PS3/360 – 57 pts – 4 votes – 1 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/102/1027537/fifa-soccer-10-20090923052720529_640w.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FM4UPrAjnc

EZ Snappin: I waited until now to jump into FIFA, and my wait paid off in spades. Be A Pro mode as fun as anything else this year.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/102/1027537/fifa-soccer-10-20090923052722201_640w.jpg

Developer Interview

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

If: If we're just going on what I spent the most time on this year I think this might just about get it. The temptation to go online for one game and just keep playing more is immense; especially when someone keeps offering you a rematch and you just know you could beat them again. The refinements from the already impressive 09 are really noticeable. The way that the ball bounces around and deflects off players feels remarkably realistic and pulling off an awesome long ball down the wing, Arshavin chip goal from a stupid angle, or cynical foul to avoid a certain equalizer, is more satisfying than ever.

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/990/990305/e3-2009-fifa-soccer-10-screenshots-20090602100436495_640w.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBihHygCXE8

Sondrangerbot: I played this more than any other game. Lots of stupid flaws to it but the gameplay alone is close to perfection.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/989/989290/fifa-soccer-10-20090602070735176_640w.jpg

Cozwn: Messi plus 360 control is sublime.

#14: Street Fighter IV – 360 – 58 pts – 5 votes - 1.5 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://janisgodins.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/street-fighter.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnvVNfqqkZ4

Antexit: What a drag that I suck at this gorgeous, balanced and deep game as bad as I do, and that I was too busy playing the ten games on my list along with twenty or more to get any better at SFIV.

http://www.threesixtyvault.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/streetfighter-iv.jpg

Sirlin would like to say

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClmJErV9lBE

Cozwn: SO PSYCHED YOU GUYS!!

http://www.thekoalition.com/wp-content/gallery/super-street-fighter-iv-oct-2/super-street-fighter-4-oct-2-7.jpg

SFIV Snuggie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3AXAfX1Ef8

JeffLevine: While a less than perfect online system was a bit of a disappointment, overall, Street Fighter IV showed me what a great deep, challenging experience a 1 vs 1 fighter can be. It's definitely a case where the more you put in the more you get out. I've put in a over a hundred hours and feel like I barely scratched the game's surface. It seems like a timeless classic, except one has the sneaking suspicion 2010's Super Street Fighter IV will be an improvement.

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/techno-techno-techno/css/Street%20Fighter%20IV.jpg

Producer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlpsvq0k4MI

HIDERE: I don't play this nearly as often as I should but it's still fucking boss. DHALSIM FOREVER

soccer games lulz britisher gamerz

#13: Flower – PSN – 59 pts – 7 votes - Top PSN Game
Official Game Site

http://media.crispygamer.com/screenshot/Title904/flower_19-640x.jpg

Metacritic

Antexit: This and Canabalt, best one-button games in years. Beautiful and ethereal and stoner-y and like nothing but itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJam5Auwj1E

Jamescobo: I pretty much love this. I'm not quite know sure how to talk about it without sounding like one of those Games As Art turds, but this game is so great and I apparently haven't even gotten to the revelatory part yet (fortunately the game gives you a trophy for sitting at the start screen for 10 minutes, which is conveniently just enough time to write furious emails/posts to e-bros to get off they asses and buy this game NOW NOW NOW) that it may be unavoidable. It pretty much single-handedly justifies the purchase of a 1080p tv.

http://gamer.blorge.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ps3-flower.jpg

Forksclovetofu: PS3 showing up the Wii pretty badly here. Much better after a few drinks but don’t watch if someone else is playing; U WILL BE SICK.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/flower.jpg

Polyphonic: Cool interactive screensaver, bro.

Gamasutra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUC2tpY5gb4

Edgertor: Better in concept than execution, but still unusual and fun.

http://media.crispygamer.com/screenshot/Title904/flower_33-640x.jpg

Webber : The game ended up being more linear than I hoped, but playing the first few levels where nothing can hurt you and there's not much of a point was incredibly relaxing. More games that aren't really games, please!

Developer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA015AkJ8vY

Jeff LeVine: A very unique experience. I've certainly played no other game like it. The art, music, motion control and vibration worked together really well. As original as it is however, I just didn't find it terribly compelling. There's really not much game there. It's also way fucking schmaltzy.

Not sure, but I think #12 had the highest point per vote average.

#12: Rittai Picross / Picross 3-D – DS – 60 pts – 3 votes – 1 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://www.theicecave.org/damage_control/multimedia/picross3Dpic_061409.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=808s-6hYuew

http://www.romulation.net/files/screenshots/roms/NDS/26600/sd0cee316f2f273fe83c94c45af7e996d.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACFi8CKEHSA

Forksclovetofu: As killer as apps get; easy to pick up and play and immediately engaging. I'm expecting this to take over America the instant it’s released here.

http://whengamessuck.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/f0045321_499502a76f3e3.jpg

Siliconera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBfE0r3Uqbg

JimD: Picross in 3D stops being a pen and paper logic puzzle and turns into a hammer and chisel logic puzzle! Chipping away at a big block until you're left with a little 3D sculpture is just hugely satisfying. And the chewiness of the puzzles is just right too, they're consistently challenging, sometimes infuriating, lots of fun. Even the time limits are perfectly judged (man, the number of times I've lost a star by being 5 seconds too slow...). So somehow this has ended up being my game of the year.

Risque Picross

when is that getting a Western release? I want want want it but I don't do the r4 thing.

oh i didnt even know that was a THING

cool

#11: Left 4 Dead 2 – 360 – 60 pts – 5 vote - .5 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/left-4-dead-2-200907070957099851-580x328.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-8NSjJ7Fq4

BNW: Slightly disappointing. While there's new content here, none of it seems as inspired as the original.

http://favoniangamers.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/left-4-dead-2.jpg

Scratch that boycott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kk46sGMuro

Jjjusten: So it's 2009, and big shock, we're all still out here shooting virtual zombies. Fortunately, unlike shooting virtual nazis, zombie killing never gets old. Lots of people got all bent out of shape about this one because of Valves longstanding "give you shit-tons of stuff for free forever" approach, but they can all shut up - this is not just some map pack bullshit, this is a whole different game. WAY improved over the original in every way, AI director is leaps forward, melee weapons are a game-changing addition, maps are far more intricate, replayablity is endless. I'm not even sure how they had the time to make a sequel this good in such a short period of time, but there's no question, this is worth every penny. So boohoo indignant fanboys, go back and play Counterstrike for the 4 billionth time and shut the fuck up.

http://cache.g4tv.com/images/ImageDb3/168371_S/Left-4-Dead-2-Spitter.jpg

The Wire Connection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3vSBUDOSM

Polyphonic: Best cooperative video game experience ever. Valve took a great game and made it even better. My buddy John has a setup where we have two 360s in one room, and we play four-player campaigns together. There is a great deal of collaborative hysteria.

http://favoniangamers.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/left_4_dead_2_jockey.jpg

Developer Interview

AYO SUCK IT XBOXERS

the challops continue!

Yeah, didn't think L4D2 would go top 5. Too much like L4D imo.

On Picross 3D - just came out in Europe, won't come to the US til August or September apparently.

Hold on, you can play Rittai Picross in english!? Mine's all in japanese, haven't worked out how to change the language. And yeah, it's still my game of the year, heh.

oh, xp, that explains it then.

ok, it looks like March 5 for Picross 3D in Europe.

Guys, remember when PS3 fanboyz claimed Killzone 2 was the greatest game ever made?

soccer games lulz britisher gamerz

SFIV (on PC, forgot to mention that in my ballot) was my GOTY, can't wait for Super SSFIV.

also I antipicate AND fear the Top 10 with each and every post

good run of games there. Love picross but had no idea this picross 3d existed. V surprised abt sf4 not placing higher, it'd pretty much be my goty if i could have afforded to buy a proper joystick or even something that worked like a saturn control pad for it, xbox controller is dreadful.

A lot of my guesses for the top10 have already placed, so I'm sure I'll be surprised at some of this top 10. Uncharted 2 still hasn't placed, right? And Arkham seems like a lock for #1. Dragon's Age... Plants V Zombies, not sure what else.

This is far and away the most interesting Top Games list I've seen. Well done people! (and thanks again, forks)

Oh nm. Uncharted 2 already placed. Super Mario Bros Wii in top 10?

I live in hope that ANY console fanboys will happen upon these threads as googlers and proceed to blow the fuck up.

jamescobo i liked your comments on flower

Oh, weird. Rock Band Beatles hasn't placed yet. Can't believe we're gonna make that a top 10 game.

and wait, did Fat Princess place AT ALL? I will be furious if it's top ten and I take back all the nice things I thought about this community

I forgot to say in addition to shooters I don't play music games. I don't get the appeal. So Rock Band can suck it.

xpost

lol'n @ alla this wtf ilx

still no atelier rorona????????

Oh, weird. Rock Band Beatles hasn't placed yet. Can't believe we're gonna make that a top 10 game.

If that happens, I will ban everyone fronthis forum.

It's gonna happen. I gave it 3 points on my ballot and I notice it hasn't placed yet.

What's wrong with Beatles Rock Band? Do you hate life?

Nothing wrong with it, I just don't think it's a top 10 game.

For almost spurious reasons, I made it my worst game of 2009.

:( Beatles RB is certainly the game I'm most looking forward to playing once I get back to console gaming this autumn.

Every voter was given the option to list their most disappointing game of the year on their ballot. For some, this meant their least favorite game; for some, the one that didn't live up to their expectations; for some, the reasoning was completely personal.

There was a definite consensus "most disappointing game", but several games pulled single votes. Let's start with those.

HIDERE – I pick BEATLES: ROCK BAND, not because of the game itself, but because the Rock Band peripherals (especially the guitars) are so incredibly fragile that leaving them alone for only a few months at a time causes them to stop working. I have two guitar controllers and they are both utterly broken despite not abusing them in the slightest. Yes I DID change the batteries, no that DIDN'T make any difference: one controller doesn't respond at all and the other registers a strum if a light breeze wafts across it. This renders all of the Rock Band games completely unplayable and that's really a shame because I love the concept and general execution of these games and would have bought Beatles: RB if the controllers actually worked. As it stands? Fuck this overly-fragile shit that costs nearly as much as an entire game system.

WillM – CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 - It wasn't the game itself that disappointed me, but the utter mess leading up to its release. Certainly the loss of dedicated servers for PC was a blow; there's nothing better than renting a server for you and your friends to always guarantee a good game. For me, it was the whole F.A.G.S. scandal that really put it over the top. I have a hard enough time dealing with that shit on Xbox Live, but for a company to put out that kind of hate speech in their advertising completely put it over the top. I don't know if I would call it a "boycott," but that nonsense certainly determined that I did not care how good this game was: I wouldn't be paying for it.

If – KATAMARI FOREVER was a real bummer. "If it ain't broke" is all well and good with something as awesome as Katamari, but _literally_ the same levels as the 360 version from a couple of years ago? Daaaaaamn.

Euler – More than anything it was NOT HAVING ENOUGH TIME TO PLAY video games this year.

Two way tie for THIRD MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME

PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010 - 2 Votes

Roberto Spiralli – PES 10 was a terrible, terrible piece of shit. FIFA 2010 is also quite bad but got C+P points from me on account of at least being playable.

Sondrangerbot – I really wanted this to be the FIFA 2010 of 2009, but it was more like the FIFA 2006 of 2010.

BRUTAL LEGEND – 2 Votes

EZ Snappin - I love Tim Schafer (Psychonauts may be my game of the decade) and I love metal (\m/). The problem is that I hate RTS games and despite everything Schafer said in interviews, Brutal Legend is a goddamn RTS at heart. I finally ended up watching a friend play so I could enjoy the humor without hating the experience. It just isn't the same.

Mordy – What a shitty year for games.

SECOND PLACE FOR MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME

SCRIBBLENAUTS - 3 Votes

CraigG - Maybe if you're not lazy and unimaginative as I am, this is a good game? I had watched the videos and was drawn into the widespread hype of this amazing database where you could conjure up anything and solve puzzles in any way you can think of. Then I played the game and discovered two things:
1) If I tried to think of a Rube Goldberg way of solving a puzzle that it couldn't understand (which was more often than not), it wasn't going to work.
2) Once you solve the first twenty or so levels in the most obvious way possible, you no longer feel the need to be bothered being creative.
And since this game is about the joy of being creative, I put it away forever.

Antexit –What a load of crap. It’s like a Resident Evil puzzle that has 50,000 pieces and only five of them do anything.

JimD – Woah, it's all true! I can spawn, like, ANY OBJECT I CAN THINK OF! This RULES! Oh, except none of them really do anything. And everything looks ugly. And suddenly I can't really think of anything other than LADDER or GUN.

#1 MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME OF 2009 - NOBY NOBY BOY – 5 Votes

JeffLevine - To say I was really looking forward to Keita Takahashi's follow up to Katamari Damacy would be an understatement. After all, it was Katamari Damacy that got me back into gaming and/or finally got me to take gaming seriously as a hobby. It was the reason I got a PS2, the very first console I ever bought by myself. That this LONG anticipated game ended up being some kind of pointless, interactive screen saver that didn't hold my interest for an hour; yeah, that's what I would call a disappointment.

Polyphonic - I don't know what I was expecting, but I definitely was hoping that this would be a game and not just a doodad.

S1ocki - This has got to be a practical joke.

Also voted for Noby Noby Boy: Edgertor, Abanana, Forksclovetofu

Dan, I guess it's too late to recommend this now, but Rock Band game discs + Guitar Hero guitars is really the way forward. Oh, plus Lips microphones, if you can bring yourself to buy those.

oh man dudes beatles: rock band in the top 10 is so rong

RE4 not only didn't make the top 75, it didn't even make the most disappointing list! One of the most anticipated current-gen games of all and it makes an impact like the sound when you let the air out of a balloon.

RE5, you mean? Yeah, no one mentioned it so it didn't even make the list of nominated games!
The Third Annual Coint and Plick poll - Vote for ILG's best games of 2009! (VOTING CLOSES TODAY!)

I actually bought it so I could try it before I voted, that's what kind of nerd I am, and halfway through the 45 minute HD loading sequence I said fuck this where's borderlands

I was gonna wait to do these on Friday, but you know what?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khbel2p7ou0
Here's your top ten.

nice

#10: Drop7 – Iphone – 71 pts – 4 votes – 2 Top Game Votes – Top iPhone Game
Official Game Site

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/drop7_9.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8xSb9PqUI

BNW: Deceptively simple, totally addicting.

http://www.inspiredm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/drop7.jpg

Try it online

S1ocki: I have to be 100% honest and make my number one vote the game I played most this year. Totally simple, not very deep, but utterly, strangely addictive and a perfect fit for the iPhone's interface.

http://www.touchmyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/drop7_5.jpg

Programmer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfx_xd0p72Y

Dyao: I stopped playing Drop7 after realizing that no matter how well you play, there's always going to be an element of randomness that controls how successful your combos are; it’s just not as satisfying as Tetris IMO.

hey forks are you saving my most disappointing hate screed for later?

yep, it's a mint before the top five because it's so damned amusingly aspie

#9: Torchlight – PC/Mac Emulation – 72pts – 5 votes – 1 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://media.curse.com/CommunityServer.Components.PostAttachments/00/00/48/20/60/ss6.jpg-720x540.jpg

Metacritic

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

Euler: Definitely not a game that easily justifies its value to non-gamers---it's just point and click and kill and level and repeat. Even so, it hits a sweet spot that reminds me why I can never allow myself to play WoW. At least Torchlight goes to sleep when I do.

http://www.frictionlessinsight.com/prevpics/Torchlight/TorchlightB.jpg

Developer Interview

BNW: The amount of inventory shuffling and identifying gets annoying. They put in vendors to do just about everything except identify your shit. I have been playing this as an alchemist summoner who runs from battle and makes his minions kill everything. Sometimes it gets so chaotic I can't tell what I have summoned that is still alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EryqB-Yt-C4

Webber : Prettier Diablo with mods. I really like clicking on monsters and then watching them die and then clicking on the things they drop and putting them on and then doing it over and over again.

http://imtalkingames.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/torchlight.JPG

The Art of Torchlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P13tEVSKaGQ

Dyao: This takes everything annoying about Diablo 2 and smooths it out.

http://media.moddb.com/cache/images/games/1/13/12266/thumb_620x2000/12.png

Forksclovetofu: As a longtime proponent of the theory that Diablo 2 is the best game of the past decade, this was a no-brainer of a pick. Sure, it wears thin after about twenty hours and in retrospect I almost wish I'd spent my vote points on Shadow Complex/SMT: Devil Survivor/Arkham now that I played them, but no real regrets.

Zero Punctuation Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFmP3csMDY

Dyao's 100% correct re Drop 7 and randomness, I played it for months but ended up hating it for that reason.