best-of-the-rest-2008
Latest
Best of the Rest: Chris' Picks of 2008
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of DarknessIt's almost a no-brainer if you know me: Take the Penny Arcade "universe," send it back in time, turn it into an episodic video game – blending old-school adventure and Final Fantasy-style turn-based RPG mechanics – and then have PA's Jerry Holkins (aka Tycho) handle the writing while adventure-game legend Ron Gilbert pitches in with design. Oh, and then release it on every platform under the sun, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Xbox Live Arcade, and PSN. Perfection.Oh, and the first installment was really great (I'm still working through Episode 2).
Best of the Rest: Justin's Picks of 2008
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (X360) "Wait, did he just start his list with Spider-Man: Web of Shadows?" Yes, internet. Yes, I absolutely did. Besides being the best superhero game ever made, WoS also featured some genuinely funny writing, an addictive RPG-lite structure and utterly fantastic combat. It was fun from beginning to end and I want to play it again right now. Critical darling? No, it wasn't. But this is how I'm rolling this year, so deal with it.You really should have seen my personal top five for our GOTY voting. It was flawless, just a gorgeous amalgamation of hardcore favorites with just enough love for the casual crowd. It was so good, in fact, that I'm going to completely flip out and use my best of the rest picks as indulgently as I possibly can.
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's Picks of 2008
Prince of PersiaWait ... really? This is in my personal list and not our main top ten? Look, I love my coworkers, but I'm going to punch them all in their stupid, stupid faces for this disgrace. Prince of Persia is one of this year's most elegantly designed games, one that does away with disruptive deaths and punishing repetition. While I'll concede that the difficulty posed to veteran platforming fans (myself included) is minor, I think it's naive to believe that every game is -- or should be -- designed with a similar, player-opposed intent and structure. This game and its seamless expression of motion isn't meant to be beaten, but enjoyed and absorbed. It's inspired, poetic and even funny. So what if it was easy?
Best of the Rest: Jason's Picks of 2008
Culdcept SagaCuldcept's unique blending of Monopoly and card collecting finally tapped these shores in February. Though the series has never enjoyed much recognition outside of Japan, take one trip around the board and you'll see why Culdcept Saga remains one of the most addictive and fun strategy games available for any platform.
Best of the Rest: Ross' picks of 2008
Prince of PersiaI spent an entire day writing this one paragraph, trying to figure out how to best describe how I feel about the game. Two of the three words I wrote down -- poetic, elegant, artistic -- happen to be in Ludwig's Best of the Rest entry for it, and given that you've probably heard that angle ad infinitum from other sources as well, let me instead discuss the optional dialogue, which at times made me laugh as much as Monkey Island did years ago. Protip: Whenever possible, hit the "Talk to Elika" button until the camera stops zooming in -- trust us, you don't want to miss the I Spy conversation. No offense to my Joystiq colleagues, but it's a shame this didn't make it into the Top Ten.
Best of the Rest: Griffin's Picks of 2008
Rock Band 2If one wanted to know the depths of my love for this series, they'd need only observe two things -- my battered, cymbal-expanded, wireless RB2 drum kit, and the two bottle cap-sized blisters currently pulsating beneath the pinkies of my two hands. This game didn't get much GOTY chatter this year for being a "glorified expansion pack" -- but Harmonix should be recognized for putting together a package that fixes literally every problem with the already-amazing original. They should also be recognized for dropping the best soundtrack of any rhythm game, ever. Costello? Talking Heads? Interpol? Dinosaur Jr.? Harmonix, you spoil me.
Best of the Rest: Randy's Picks of 2008
God of War: Chains of OlympusAlbeit quite a bit shorter than the console installments, this portable chapter in one of my all-time favorite series was just as lovely, action-packed, and wonderfully presented as its "big brothers." It's a shame that a PS2 port hasn't been made -- or at least a downloadable version playable on PS3.
Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2008
Boom Blox My Wii gathered so many cobwebs this year that it looked like it was a prop from a creepy old Boris Karloff movie. The phenomenon of Wii Fit had me dust it off and breathed some new life into it for a few days, but before long it was relegated back to its hiding space under the couch. That is until Boom Blox slid smoothly into the disc slot. Two days later, I could barely move my right arm due to my newfound obsession, and I still fire it up on a regular basis just to hurl balls at Jenga towers.
Best of the Rest: Alexander's Picks of 2008
Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360)I'm getting old. There was a time when a 12-hour game of Civilization was just fine; however, now I have "responsibilities." Despite having as much trepidation about Civilization Revolution as anyone else who had played the Civ series from its inception, it was a blessing to find out that this console version wasn't just "Civ Lite," but a totally new series that retains all the strategy and addiction of its inspiration. Fast-paced and smart, Civ Rev is an actual revolution for the franchise. Having soaked up more of my time this year than any other game, Civ Rev deserves to be acknowledged for bringing a massive experience into a digestible 3- to 4-hour package.
Best of the Rest: James' Picks of 2008
Bionic Commando Rearmed (PS3)I was initially turned off by the art direction (3D models in 2D), but, fueled by nostalgia, this game grew on me incredibly fast. It's a bit of a blind leap, but I'm willing to call this my favorite remake of all time -- right now (phew, I saved myself there). GRIN stayed true to the source material, but also expanded Rearmed, making it the better game; most notably, by adding improved weaponry and terrific boss battles. It's a relief to not have to side with the cynic in me. See, remakes can be profitable and remarkable.Oh, and one more thing, I vote for the PlayStation 3 version. The superior D-pad tips the scale for me.
