Well, it's that time of year where just about everyone is making that top 2010 list of movies, songs, and games. I thought I'd start us off on one for games. I'll go ahead and list the most notable top list (whether it's the most credible one is up to you) from the VGAs hosted by Spike TV:

Game of the Year: Red Dead Redemption
Best Multi: Halo: Reach
Best Xbox 360: Mass Effect 2
Best PS3: God of War III
Best Wii: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best PC: Starcraft II
Best Handheld: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

So my question now is, would you modify this list according to your own personal taste? A lot of parents look at this as the deciding factor to what they'll get their child for the holidays. Would you be disappointed with any of these titles?

Personally, I don't like seeing the third Professor Layton not on there for best handheld. I know they're probably wanting to make the list fresh compared to previous years, but I seriously think it's deserving of the title. And I feel New Vegas should've had at least made best Multi, but it didn't even win anything! In fact, I might have even put that as game of the year. Besides, if game of the year factored in a general well-received and highly acclaimed game, then it would've been Super Mario Galaxy 2 at the top.

The only game I play with any regularity that came out this year is Rock Band 3. This year has been extremely disappointing in terms of gaming.

blindsk
So my question now is, would you modify this list according to your own personal taste? A lot of parents look at this as the deciding factor to what they'll get their child for the holidays. Would you be disappointed with any of these titles?

It's kind of hard to take the VGAs seriously as awards, or even as some kind of authority on what the best games of the year were... Not because those weren't good games, but because of the way the awards are presented. There's always this "We're going to give awards to your favorite games" feeling, and those "favorite games" are always the favorites of drunken college freshmen that discovered gaming via Halo and only play the "popular" games.

Those are good games, mind you... but whether or not they're the best is debatable. Like you, I especially question their Best Handheld Game choice.

My problem is that I've only played two games on that list. I never enjoyed the God of War series, I'm still waiting to play Red Dead Redemption (got a lot on my plate right now), and for some reason I've never been drawn to Mass Effect. There are so many tastes and preferences for gaming in the world. The VGAs' tastes and my tastes don't match up.

I definitely don't think the year was as disappointing as isukun (no surprise), but I'll agree on one thing... Rock Band 3 is one of the best games of 2010, and definitely the best music game.

I got lucky and managed to score a mustang up at Fry's, too. So many people complain about Rock Band 3, but so far, it's really the first music game in a long time to actually move the genre forward, or at least in some direction. Once the holidays are over and I've got some time (and a pick, early attempts to use this thing hurt like hell), I'm going to have to sit down and start learning some of these songs.

Hawk
I definitely don't think the year was as disappointing as isukun (no surprise), but I'll agree on one thing... Rock Band 3 is one of the best games of 2010, and definitely the best music game.

Well, at least Rock Band 3 did take home one of the awards for "Best Music" game. So they agree with you two on that at least.

And I think you're right, Hawk, the VGAs seem to be one giant popularity contest. Many of the winners are never the shocker. To those of us that actually are gamers, they're the types of games we've seen ads for a billion times already and have seen them spammed in "say" chat. It would be nice to see them step out and consider things like indie games or the "sleeper hits." For instance, I thought Amnesia was pretty awesome for such a little team of developers working on it. It's the direction I'd like to see more horror games going. But we'd never see something like that nominated.

There have been so many games in the past that I've missed because they're not acclaimed or they only cater to a particular crowd. And lists like this never do those games justice.

Game of the Year: Fallout new vegas
Best Multi: Halo: Reach
Best Xbox 360: Mass effect 2
Best PS3: Heavy rain
Best Wii: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best PC: don't game on PC
Best Handheld: or handhelds for that matter.

For me it was easy, a few games really stood out.

I play very few games as a rule.

The only one from this year I played was Mass Effect 2. -on PC!

It was great! It finally got me to stop playing Final Fortress 2... and I had to go out and buy the first game after that, play all through and then play through ME2 again with that character... etc.
Can't wait for ME3! ...although from the trailer it looks a bit Half Lifey... -_-

ozoneocean
Can't wait for ME3! ...although from the trailer it looks a bit Half Lifey... -_-

That's just a sneak peak trailer. Had nothing to do with the gameplay mechanics. Here's an example of the sneak peek trailer that they launched for ME2. As you can see, it really doesn't tell you anything about the game, apart from everyone thinking that Sheppard is dead (and revealing Legion).



So my best guess is that the ME3 teaser is hinting that one of the visitable worlds is War torn Earth and that the character that's narrating the video is going to be a recruitable teammember. And for those who haven't seen that trailer, here it is:



I sincerely doubt that they're going to do anything drastic with the gameplay between episode 2 and 3 (although I wouldn't mind them altering the planet exploration feature, once again :þ )

Product Placement
and that the character that's narrating the video is going to be a recruitable teammember.

Uh! I hope not! I'm pretty sure knew that actor's face (the real guy he's based on), some American guy I think... Or at least he's played an American in some films. Too weird. Plus, his clothing is standard crappy colonist stuff. Not even fighting armour!


I forgot phone games... Angry Birds seasons? Halloween edition? And more...

What about the new console from Sega?



Awwwwwwwwwwwsome... O_o

That is so obviously an arcade game and not a console. Although I'm sure they'll sell a $200 special controller so you can play it on the Wii.

isukun
so you can play it on the Wii.

lol :)

ozoneocean
The only one from this year I played was Mass Effect 2.
It was great!

Aah, I knew there'd be something we could agree on without reservation!

I'd add Dragon Age: Origins (not sure if that was released this year but I certainly played it a lot!), Batman: Arkham Asylum and Fable 3.

All in all, 2010 was one of my favourite years for video games in a long, long time!

PP already said what I was going to about the ME3 trailer, they farm those trailers out to CGI studios and so they don't really look anything like the game other than using some of the designs and so on. Still, I'm super excited for it. (I'm a huge mass effect fan.) I think it says a lot really for ME2 that it still won a lot of 'bests' when it was released so early in the year. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure most of the year-end awards get skewed in favor of games released near the end.

I don't know if I'd be able to pick favorites in categories like that, though. Several games came out this year that I really enjoyed, like New Vegas, Borderlands (that was this year right?), Professor Layton games, and Sam and Max season 3. Fable 3 was enjoyable but I wouldn't say it was "best" at anything.

DAJB, I don't think DA:O or Batman were released this year, I think they were the end of last year.

dragon age was last year as was borderlands I believe. dragon age awakenings was this year though.

Still haven't played fable 3, what gaming I am doing is mostly new vegas.

Genejoke
dragon age was last year as was borderlands I believe. dragon age awakenings was this year though.

Still haven't played fable 3, what gaming I am doing is mostly new vegas.

Dang, I was wondering that about borderlands. I think I just got it pretty late and thought it was 2010. DA:O was not that great really.

Fable 3's okay, I mean it's more of the same of Fable 2. Some stuff's better and some's worse, but the story is the least satisfying of the three.

skoolmunkee
Fable 3's okay, I mean it's more of the same of Fable 2. Some stuff's better and some's worse, but the story is the least satisfying of the three.

Like Fable 2, I found the first play-through of Fable 3 left me a little disappointed but, each time I replayed it, I appreciated it more and more. It's definitely a grower, rather than a quick fix.

Surprised AA wasn't this year, though. I guess time really does fly when you're having that much fun!

The Spike VGA's are to gaming what the Golden Globes are to movies and television. Both are hilarious elaborate jokes at best, and seriously fucked up popularity contests at worst.

skoolmunkee
I really enjoyed, like New Vegas, Borderlands

After having played New Vegas quite a bit lately, I'm going to point out an observation: do you have a thing for post-apocalyptic worlds filled with hicks? The similarities in settings between these two games would suggest just that. ;)

I do love post-apocalyptic stories! I think they tend to be filled with hicks because really, there ain't no schools for learnin

Reckon you ain't got too broad a choice for eligible womenfolk, either.

mlai
Reckon you ain't got too broad a choice for eligible womenfolk, either.

I see your point.

I haven't played too much PS3, and haven't ever touched a 360... I might be outdated, but that UFC game that came out too long ago was really fun, except for the CAF stats not transferring to expedition. Did that come out last year? Oops.

For this year, Metroid: Other M was epic, and I really liked the story. And I could care less that Samus got a personality, I liked all aspects of this game. Tatsunoku vs. Capcom is really fun as well. And Sin & Punishment Star Successor is insane. Short, yes, but very fun. Probably because there's only a billion boss fights...

Late entry: Santa dropped a copy of Enslaved into my Christmas stocking! I'm only a couple of "chapters" into the game but, so far, its shaping up to be a great game.

The environments are pretty unique (a post-apocalyptic New York where everything is vibrant, green and lush rather than dull brown dirt and grey concrete? Whoever heard of such a thing?!) and the relationship between the two main characters is really quite touching - you can't help but want them to succeed!

Okay, I'm off to play Chapter 3!

DAJB
Late entry: Santa dropped a copy of Enslaved into my Christmas stocking! I'm only a couple of "chapters" into the game but, so far, its shaping up to be a great game.

The environments are pretty unique (a post-apocalyptic New York where everything is vibrant, green and lush rather than dull brown dirt and grey concrete? Whoever heard of such a thing?!) and the relationship between the two main characters is really quite touching - you can't help but want them to succeed!

Okay, I'm off to play Chapter 3!

Enslaved is on my list of games to check out... still i have too many to finish just now.

Oh.. Enslaved? it is way too short for me. i did beat it.. within 2 days. or 8 hours since i did work on the two days. way too short which is such a shame. since it is a unquie game which did need longer story and exploring.

Mr Kaos
Oh.. Enslaved? it is way too short for me. i did beat it.. within 2 days. or 8 hours since i did work on the two days. way too short which is such a shame. since it is a unquie game which did need longer story and exploring.

Yes, it is short. But while it lasts, it's a joy!

Best:
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - Very engrossing, moreso than I gave it credit for near the beginning. I was fully expecting something that felt like a quick cash-in, or a cluster of content that could have been DLC. Surprised to find that this game actually has a lot of depth.

Deadly Premonition - One of the funniest, most twisted, and fun games I've ever played. It may control like a forgotten dreamcast title, but it has so much character behind it that I couldn't put it down.

Donkey Kong Country Returns - I shouldn't have to explain this one. It's Donkey Kong, man. Donkey Kong.

Worst:
Halo Reach - Seriously one of the most unfun and boring titles I ever played. It lacks character on every possible level, and feels like it's trying too hard to be gritty and "real". The AI is about the most disappointing thing since the AI in Resident Evil 5. Sent this turd back to gamefly after reaching mission four and discovering it won't get any better.

lefarce
Deadly Premonition - One of the funniest, most twisted, and fun games I've ever played. It may control like a forgotten dreamcast title, but it has so much character behind it that I couldn't put it down.

I actually just started playing this after people had been telling me it was "so strange." The first part was pretty boring and :psyduck: but once York got to the hotel and had breakfast, I was laughing my ass off and hoping that things get even weirder from there. Sadly I am not gonna have much time to play it now til next weekend.

Just wait till you get to the last two chapters when the game suddenly becomes cool for legitimate reasons rather than "whoa my coffee is telling me about a serial killer!" Oh, here's a tip: When you're collecting human bones (by shooting them out of trees, seriously), don't take them back to the graveyard right away. Wait till you get them all, then find Kayson. His dog will steal them, and once you get them back (and only if you had all of them) you'll get an extra weapon that will really help you out a lot.

Assassin's Creed... I never finished #1 (got thru 40-50%?) even though I liked everything about it... because that pointless "modern computer simulation" angle just destroyed the whole atmosphere for me.

I wanted to play as a Muslim assassin in old Jerusalem, shanking white Christians for Allah and money. The stupid twist took much of that immersion away. The character and his organization also didn't feel Muslim enough. Even if they only paid lip service to Allah and were really motivated by politics and power (like modern-day extremists), it would still be better than if Islam was never mentioned.

So are AC2 and ACB a continuation/extension of that trend? As in, "Hi I am an ambiguously semi-white agnostic assassin who happens to work in the Holy Land, I'm not really Middle Eastern or Muslim." If that's the case... my interest dwindles even more.