One of Snackbar Games’ traditions every year is to have each staffer pick their top ten games of the year. We’re so all over the map in our tastes that our lists are never similar. Today, Shawn Vermette makes us all gasp or something with his top pick.
10. Halo 3: ODST (X360)
Halo 3: ODST is not going to be the huge success or online presence that Halo 2 and 3 have been, but it had the best told story of the series and showed that Halo can indeed be played as more of a recon and stealth game than a action, run & gun, shooter. The style of action suited me and when I could play online with friends, it was a ton of fun also.
9. Prototype (X360)
Prototype is the type of game you play when you want to cause unequaled carnage and wanton death. It also happens to have what I felt was a fairly good story, great controls, and a good difficulty curve. With my newfound love of open world games, all of these added up to one great experience with Prototype.
8. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
What can I say about Uncharted 2 that hasn’t already been said by others? I love games with great story-telling and, unlike many, I love games with great cinematics in them as well. Uncharted 2 felt like it was one big long cinematic sequence I was able to interact with, thus giving it this spot on my list.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (X360)
If shooters were higher up my priority list of genre’s I prefer, Modern Warfare 2 might have been my #1 pick this year. It is a flawless example of how to make a great first person shooter. Additionally, I give Infinity Ward props for not playing it safe with such a guaranteed hit. Making the changes they did make worked out, and putting in such a controversial scene, in order to make the story more powerful, was also something I admired in this game.
6. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (NDS)
It sounds like a ridiculous game, but Bowser’s Inside Story was a remarkably well-crafted game in my favorite genre of them all, RPGs. Not only did this game satisfy my urge for a good Mario game for the first time since Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door, but it had a great, Mario-esque story and a script that was well-written and good for a number of laughs.
5. Assassin’s Creed 2 (PS3)
Assassin’s Creed brought my love of fantastic stories and open world games together in a great game that I’ll always remember. Assassin’s Creed 2 managed to surpass its prequel in every manner imaginable. A fantastic story, a beautiful open world to explore (another thing I love doing in games), and amazing gameplay unite to make Assassin’s Creed 2 one of the best sequels I’ve played in a long time.
4. Rune Factory Frontier (Wii)
Good RPGs are hard to come by on the Wii, so Rune Factory Frontier was a very welcome addition to my library. It isn’t the best or deepest RPG around, but Rune Factory combines enjoyable action RPG elements with the addictive farming simulator known as Harvest Moon. As an avid Harvest Moon fan as well as an RPG fan, this game hit the spot for me more than almost any other game I’ve played this year.
3. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction was my pick for Game Not of the Year and A Crack in Time continues the excellent writing, storytelling, humor, and platforming of the first. It is one of the moore enjoyable games I’ve played in a number of years, not just of this year.
2. Red Faction Guerrilla (X360)
Red Faction: Guerrilla was a surprise for me. I’d never really heard anything about the series before this game came out, but man was this game fun! It’s entirely about causing destruction, something I can support 100%. Unfortunately, Red Faction loses out to a game I never would have expected to make the list, much less be #1.
1. MLB 09: The Show (PS3)
Yes, I know…a sports game is #1. But seriously, this is the best baseball game I’ve played since Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball for the N64, and I’ve spent more time playing this game than I have any other game I’ve played this year (including a number of older Final Fantasy games I’ve beaten).
