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

RE5 was pretty epic in hype/disappointment. Game was okay but Dead Space was all "I fucked yr girl already lol."

^^^otm

re: brutal legend - when its good, its v fun, but that isnt much of the time. at first i thought that i was just disliking it because thanks to tim schaeffer disappointment, but then i realized that probably the only reason i was playing it in the first place was because of him. take away that mystique and you've got bargain bin at the gamestop written all over it.

true story: last night when playing it i was thinking "well at least if i finish it then i'll probably unlock the whole soundtrack and thats pretty cool, i can let it play in the background when i want a metal mix" which pretty much sums up the problems here.

how did i manage to leave drop7 off my list

Anybody wanna rep for them?

You know, The Sims 3 was good. It's the first Sims game to come out since I became part of a little 2xparents+boy family myself, and making little versions of ourselves then trying to coax them into acting like we do was real FUN TIMES.

It was on my ballot at one point, but got forced out by something else (can't remember what, probably beatles fucking rock band). The other game which was on my initial ballot but then got dropped was the Barclay's Fantasy Premier League. Both deserved a place on the overall list really.

btw i promise not to go all Mad Men/Inglorious Basterds on yall when beatles places, this poll has been a charming bastion of non haterade compared to the other seven polls that are winding down on ILX this week

we're pretty relaxed on the book poll. except when whiney showed up.

http://snp.bpb.de/referate/mk4.gif

#5: Trials HD – XBLA – 98 pts – 7 votes – 1.5 Top Game Vote – Top XBLA game

Official Game Site

http://ve3dmedia.ign.com/images/05/17/51704_TrialsHD-Screenshot-01_normal.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhsusQvTab8

Sondrangerbot: I really enjoyed beating ILXors' records, even if it didn't happen that often.

Polyphonic: This game completely took over my life in 2009. In a just world, this would disappear and be sent into outer space and instead I would've written three novels or something.

Tech Interview

CraigG: It's a nice simple concept, and the HD treatment makes it all the better. It's absolutely brutal on Extreme though; I've only managed to complete two of the tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7yvOO5yrs

Forksclovetofu: Trials is basically the most super awesome flash Excitebike clone ever, but I think I need to never play this again. It's an ugly one-more-play obsession and a hair pulling stressball. Plus I'm not very good at it!

http://www.totallygn.com/wp-content/gallery/trials-hd/Trials_HD_screen_07.jpg

Goole: Ledge has earned enough Trials cred to be crap at every other game forever without shame IMO.

Developer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AkyLv5zors

Cozwn: Fuck this game in the fucking fuck. IN THE FUCKING FUCK.

http://koti.kapsi.fi/~watchman/journal/wp-images/trials_hd/trials_hd.jpg

JeffLevine: Very addictive and fun at times but equally frustrating and aggravating... to the point of steam shooting out of the ears and controllers (almost) being broken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hht0HeNPhuI

Will M: I like it when the little man hurts himself.

#4: Beatles: Rock Band – PS3/360 – 138 pts – 11 votes – 1 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://www.360sync.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Beatles2.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-qt5szlQ_U

Geir Hongro: This may be what causes me to invest in a gaming machine.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/10/beatles-rb-102009.jpg

Developer Interview

Antexit: What a drag it is that the release of this game coincided almost perfectly with my getting completely and probably permanently bored with the GH/RB mechanic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgPUqMQU7Vk

S1ocki: Not innovative, but making the package infinitely more tasteful and less crass than the horrible Guitar Hero games made all the difference to me. Also, a soundtrack way more consistent than any other music game.

http://fidgit.com/assets_c/2009/10/Beatles_Rock_Band_Abbey_Road-thumb-550x309-26663.jpg

JimD: I didn't really like the Beatles until this year. Paul's bass parts FTW.

NYT Feature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNoTA7mb900

Polyphonic: Here is the ideal way to play this game: my friend Robert is singing, I am on guitar and primary harmonies, my friend Adam is on drums, Robert's wife Sara is on bass, and our friends Tim and Diane are on secondary harmonies. We are playing either "Revolver" or "Abbey Road" from start to finish. If we're playing "Abbey Road", I get to sing the medley.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/988/988734/the-beatles-rock-band-20090601004936777_640w.jpg

Wired Feature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klv_fEyw9kg

Webber: This game could only be better if it were motion capture and you got bonus points for doing Paul's head wiggle.

(at this point i wish I could hide everything but the pic results in the film poll)
(btw rock band is for karaoke gaywads)(plus you agree with geir)

trials HD and demons' souls, huh? ILX board in fun-hating obsessive-compulsive contrarianism shocker

Do we have a thread about OCD gaming?

i was ocd for trials like no-one else, but when the d/l content came out i could barely stand it, it was like i'd overdosed without even realising.

I am a huge karaoke gaywad, there is no getting around this point.

i was ocd for trials like no-one else, but when the d/l content came out i could barely stand it, it was like i'd overdosed without even realising.

I golded all of the d/l content. :(

i had a go, and then found myself restarting tracks again and again and again and again, just like the first time, but HATING it!

also i am so sad i haven't got to sing harmonies on beatles rock band yet.

After I golded everything I made a concerted effort at getting platinums on as many tracks as possible.

also i am so sad i haven't got to sing harmonies on beatles rock band yet.

Harmonies are easily the killer app of RB:B.

hahaha A+ on pulling that geir quote

trials HD and demons' souls, huh? ILX board in fun-hating obsessive-compulsive contrarianism shocker

― antexit, Wednesday, February 10, 2010 3:17 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

then how do you explain beatles rock band??

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

― Lamp, Wednesday, February 10, 2010 4:06 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark

also Trials HD is on the very short list of 360 games I desperately covet

cobo - do you have a PC?
http://store.steampowered.com/app/16600/

#3: Dragon Age: Origins – PS3/360 – 143 pts – 8 Votes - 1.5 Top Game Vote
Official Game Site

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/07/dragon_age_xbox.jpg

Metacritic

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

Will M: Games like this make working for 3@ a little less painful.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/981/981331/dragon-age-origins-20090508042056686_640w.jpg

Eurogamer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1d2ARd3K08

HIDERE: So once I submitted myself to the taint, I put this down and went back to WoW. That doesn't change the fact that this game is gravy and I fully intend to finish it, probably when I retire from raiding entirely (so... in about three years). Also I love the dog.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dragon_age_origins_profilelarge1254530090-685x385.jpg

FanFic out the wazoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS2pAvntfms

EZ Snappin: I love old-school RPGs, and this is one that even works on a console. Good world, good gameplay and no creepy emo kids anywhere.

http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2009/12/ostagar.jpg

Gamasutra

BNW: Gigantic RPG with solid production all the way through. What it needs: more locations, more variety in monsters, more randomly triggered events, wandering monsters and less prolonged dungeon crawls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD58eSZ_2Xk

Webber : My dwarf has had sex with many many people.

#2: Demon’s Souls – PS3 – 156 pts – 9 votes – 4 Top Game Votes – Top PS3 Exclusive – Most Top Game Votes
Official Game Site

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ji8_owi4g2g/SbwInZAC0oI/AAAAAAAAAAU/S7K5BfisM_w/S1600-R/ha-ha-you-died-logo.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTag3BWc80

HIDERE: HOLY FUCK THIS GAME IS HARD

Gamasutra

http://selectstartgames.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/demons-souls.jpg

Developer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMFqL4ximo

Hamildan: The only thing worse than playing Demon's Souls is not playing Demon's Souls.

Eurogamer

http://www.theplaystationetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/demons-souls-pic1.jpeg

Antexit: I was going to put Retro Gaming Challenge on the list but I realized this pretty much covers it. This year I really like games that embrace their essential game-ness, without aspiring to other media-- I love Uncharted but I still want movies to be movies and games to be games. Demon’s (or Demons or Demons’) Souls reminded me for the first time in forever what it felt like to play incredibly hard games when I was a kid -- how inexplicably rewarding progress can be just for its own sake and without all the little cookies games today give you for taking every step.

Famitsu interview translated

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

Forksclovetofu: I started playing this during the infamous “black Halloween weekend” and the first three hours were SO FRUSTRATING, but when the game opens up and shows you its depth and payoff it's totally worth it. When I found my first complete set of armor in a back room I was literally dancing on the couch. It's like playing dungeons and dragons with a very very pissed off DM who knows what they're doing. Astonishingly atmospheric and demanding but never unfair. It may be the game I’m most proud of having beaten and was absolutely my favorite game of the year.

http://i.neoseeker.com/p/Games/Playstation_3/Role-Playing/Fantasy/demons_soul_profilelarge.jpg

"More like tantric sex with a slide rule"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Hc85xHMA4

Aarrissi-a-roni: It is the kind of game where you are guaranteed to have that dark night of the soul moment where you have to ask yourself if you are really going to do that same goddamn level for the 25th time, but a bit of perseverance will get you through. And the blue phantom mechanism is a get out of jail free card if there is a boss that you really get stuck on, as happened to me twice. I couldn't recommend this game enough. It is really a step beyond.

The world of Demon’s Souls vs Assassin’s Creed 2

Polyphonic: I am only on World 1, Level 2 and it is already very clear that this is a deep and very cool game. Every decision that was made with the property was the right one. When I bought it at Gamestop, the dorks at the register said they hadn't played it because they were afraid of it. Cowards.

Lamp: Technically amazing, even if it isnt particularly loveable.

#1: Arkham Asylum – PS3/360 –189 pts – 13 votes – 3 Top Game Vote – Top PS3/360 Game – Most Points – Most Votes
Official Game Site

BNW: Very well done. Slightly overrated but still high quality and fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02utCE9AQB4

Metacritic

EZ Snappin: A good Batman game? Whodathunkit?

http://media.gamesource.it/gallery/xbox360/68301/BatmanArkhamAsylum-8287.jpg

Kevin Conroy discusses voicing Batman

Adam: Watching goons get progressively more freaked out as you take down their buddies one by one is pretty satisfying. Also the way that pushing the left stick all the way forward doesn't make Batman run--dude just walks… and very confidently so for a guy wearing a cape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei2aYcsF7rA

MPX4A: Best thing I've done so far:
1. String thug up
2. Spray proximity-triggered explosive gel below thug
3. Wait for thug's buddy to notice and run towards him
4. Cut thug down with batarang onto explosives

Gay Gamer thoughts

Polyphonic: Fun game and certainly the best superhero game ever.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/12/batman-arkham-asylum-dropdown-490px.jpg

MP3 of David Chen’s lively Harvard Media class on Arkham Asylum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-D33XpzQsA

Arkham Asylum's Sophisticated Story

S1ocki: Not only a great game, but one that managed to incorporate the character's mythology in a way that surprised and impressed me. The flashback scenes were more artful and interesting storytelling than I'd ever seen in a video game, rivaling the Batman movies in their interpretation of the endlessly re-told tale of the Caped Crusader's origins, and—without giving too much away—at points using the familiar conventions of video gaming in really innovative ways. As I said about Uncharted 2, I'm skeptical of video games' ability to replace, or even mimic, cinematic storytelling, but this pointed to some interesting new directions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb8fWUUXeKM&hl=en_US

Arkham Asylum Slash

CraigG : I just found this game satisfying in pretty much every way. The story line was good without feeling the need to get overly complex, the fighting is really great and you get a warm glow when you manage to wipe out over ten guys without taking a single hit. The stealth sections, wiping out a room one by one, watching them panic… it’s all so satisfying. Everything is well balanced in terms of combat/stealth and I feel the only thing letting the game down IMHO are the boss battles, which are mostly only fun because they fill the fight with lots of fighting against regular grunts too. Overall, easily the best game I played all year.

http://ps3thevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/batman_arkham_asylum.jpg

Forksclovetofu: Less groundbreaking and more that it just does everything perfectly right. I appreciate the ridiculous depth; it’s an adventure, button masher, stealth, puzzle hunter, fighting game jammed into one. Never really hits a slow point; I found it amazingly well balanced and engaging.

NYT Review with obligatory ‘Confederacy of Dunces’ reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W2RdF5ifDU

Mordy: This is one of the best things I've played this year. I don't know if that's high praise for the game, tho, or just a good indication of how disappointing 2009 has been for gaming.

"There are 314 breakable TVs on Arkham Island."

Antexit: Arkham does some great stuff with the Batman story and there are some amazing Psycho Mantis-level mindfucks. Not only is it the first superhero game that makes you feel like you're the hero in his every aspect (as opposed to the Spidey games, which got swinging and crawling great and everything else sucks) but it's a better stealth game in a lot of ways than Metal Gear. I love how balanced the combat is! The bad guys seem to be able to take about as many hits as you, and you really get the sense that you're up against a room full of bad guys and the reason you come out on top is not that they're all really weak or that you have some artificial advantage but that they're a bunch of thugs and you're BATMAN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osg3R0AURRo

Rocksteady Post Mortem

http://www.dasgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/batman-arkham-asylum.jpg

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

Jjjusten: This is 80% great, but drops in the ranks a little bit in retrospect for the fact that it's way too easy. The boss battles are the worst aspect of that; I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the Killer Croc level is, no joke, ONE OF THE DUMBEST AND WORST LEVELS IN MODERN GAMING. Whoever decided that replacing challenging or difficulty with easy, mindbending tedium needs to get a pink-slip. That said, when the game is on, it's on. Plus, it looks great... except everyone I talk to plays 90% of the game in detective mode, so we never actually see much of it.

http://elmundotech.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/highres_screenshot_00142_resize.jpg

I am about to play the Croc level and jjusten is harshin' on my mellow.

It's really not that bad. Or that lengthy.

great performance by a PS3 exclusive on a board that seems to have slightly more 360 owners

he's so right xxp

*FORKS APPLAUSE*

So some quick parting thoughts:

This project ended up being more of a handful than I thought (over 72 single spaced pages!) but gave me an idea of how broad the boundaries of the hobby have become. It also reinforced how impossible it is to keep up with what's out there; even in a wii/ps3/360/ps2/PC/DS/PSP household, you'd be forced to play each game on this list for only four days apiece to be done by 2011.

As for myself, I still want to play (or play more of) Scribblenauts, Henry Hatsworth, Uncharted 2, Way of the Samurai 3, A Boy and His Blob, Pixeljunk Shooter, Dragon Age Origins, Muramasa, Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, Little King Story, Aaaaaaaa, Afrika, Wipeout HD, New Monkey Island, New Sam and Max, New Super Mario Brothers, 50 Cent: Blood in the Sand, Trine, Borderlands, Professor Layton, Red Faction Guerilla, Nostalgia, Fat Princess, Metroid Prime Trilogy... and that's just for starters! I've still got years-old games to play and more coming out every day.

This glut of options is why communities like ILG are so very helpful; speaking with real, quirky and opinionated folks about their tastes, decisions, purchases, frustrations and obsessions provides the editorial filter that 99% of gaming journalism doesn't. This, more than headshots and perfect combos, is what social gaming is really about for me.

Alright, now I'm gonna try to take back on Valkyria Chronicles.

v good show forks. one of the better done ilx polls for sure.

Post complete list for lazy poly

Thanks forks. Job well done and greatly appreciated.

top job.

Who voted dragon age as the #1 game. Because I think it should have been me... I wanted to see if my votes ever got sent. I might be having problems with ILX mail

then again I might have picked Spirit Tracks

great list Forks

ya good work forkinator.

cool poll -- really strange results to me, as all the difft systems really seem like different universes to me

yah "forkinator" thanks for doing this. it really is an... idiosyncratic list.

lampinator otm

the s1ockster

in tha house

forkinator x

casual gaming lurker here to say thanks, enjoyed following the list, already found a few interesting games to check out as a result of it - much appreciated

(my "systems" are basically PSP and flash games at this point, no consoles and PC too lame for hardcore gaming, so it's ALL an alien world to me!)

A+ jobs forks, thx!

my ballot

Demons Souls - 30
Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5 - 10
New Super Mario Brothers Wii - 10
Half Minute Hero - 10
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes - 10
Style Savvy - 10