Game of Year Candidates

[IcemanFTW]

Well with all of the big releases taken care of for the year, what games do you think will be in contention for the coveted Game of the Year crown?  Here are 10 games (in no particular order, other then alphabetical) that I think will get serious consideration.

• Assassin's Creed II
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Beatles: Rock Band
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Forza 3
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Modern Warfare 2
• New Super Mario Bros Wii
• Street Fighter IV
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

My choice for Game of the Year would be Uncharted 2.

[Rituro]

GOTY time again, is it? Hm... my candidates, in no particular order:

• Street Fighter IV
• Empire: Total War
• The Sims 3
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Champions Online
• Machinarium
• Tropico 3
• Borderlands
• Dragon Age: Origins

Honourable mentions go to Fat Princess and New Super Mario Bros. Wii as games I really, really want to try but haven't yet.

Still not sure who I'd pick as overall GOTY from that list.

[rey-o]

I haven't played all of the potential contenders, but both of your lists are pretty much aligned with my own. I'd also like to add Killzone 2, at least as a contender, but I think many sites are going to overlook it due to the strong crop of games that came out in the fall.

I'd have to sit and think about it more, but I go back and forth between Street Fighter 4, Uncharted 2 and Batman Arkham Asylum as personal GOTY. I didn't play many hand held games this year, so I can't really chip in on that, but in the downloadable space I'd like to nominate Flower.

[Shaun Hatton]

I haven't thought about GOTY yet, but off the top of my head, I've really enjoyed Nintendo's first-party offering on the DS this year. They've done an excellent job with it:

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Rhythm Heaven
Fire Emblem

And, yes, even Pokemon Platinum - all outstanding games.

On the Wii:

bit.Trip Beat
Punch-Out!!
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
and - Metroid Prime Trilogy

Xbox:

Street Fighter IV

*I don't have a PS3 so can't comment on games I haven't played

[Jorge]

My guesses...

PS3: Uncharted 2

Wii: New Super Mario Brothers

PC: Modern Warfare 2 or Dragon Age

DS/DSi: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Overall: D.....J.....HERO!

Okay, maybe that last one is not going to happen...
But man, it rocks all kinds.

[Rituro]

Y'know, I think we have the makings of a decent nomination slate here. Let's see what happens if I try and regroup all the above into categories:

~

Best PC Overall

• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Borderlands
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Champions Online
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Empire: Total War
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Machinarium
• Street Fighter IV
• The Sims 3
• Tropico 3

Best PS3 Overall

• Assassin's Creed II
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Borderlands
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• DJ Hero
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Flower
• Killzone 2
• Street Fighter IV
• The Beatles: Rock Band
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best 360 Overall

• Assassins's Creed II
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Borderlands
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• DJ Hero
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Forza 3
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Street Fighter IV
• The Beatles: Rock Band

Best Wii Overall

• Bit.Trip Beat
• DJ Hero
• Metroid Prime Trilogy
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii
• Punch-Out!!
• The Beatles: Rock Band

Best DS Overall

• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
• Pokémon Platinum
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
• Rhythm Heaven
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

~

Best Adventure

• Machinarium

Best Brawler

• Assassins's Creed II
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Street Fighter IV

Best MMO

• Champions Online

Best Platformer

• New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Best Puzzle

• Bit.Trip Beat
• Flower
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
• Punch-Out!!

Best Rhythm

• DJ Hero
• Rhythm Heaven
• The Beatles: Rock Band

Best RPG

• Dragon Age: Origins
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
• Pokémon Platinum
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Best Shooter

• Borderlands
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Killzone 2
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Metroid Prime Trilogy
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Best Sim

• Forza 3
• The Sims 3
• Tropico 3

Best Strategy

• Empire: Total War

~

Best Game Involving A Deer Being Tased

• Deertase

Hidden Gem of 2009

• Machinarium
• Retro Game Challenge

~

GAME OF THE YEAR

• ?
  

[IcemanFTW]

I haven't played all of the potential contenders, but both of your lists are pretty much aligned with my own. I'd also like to add Killzone 2, at least as a contender, but I think many sites are going to overlook it due to the strong crop of games that came out in the fall.

As soon as I posted my original message I realized that I had left Killzone 2 off the list.  Personally I really enjoyed Killzone 2.  The story wasn't the greatest, but the game looked fantastic and the gameplay was very solid.  Since I haven't played Modern Warfare 2 this is still my favourite FPS.

[Shaun Hatton]

Wow, what an awesome list. Thanks for compiling all that, Rituro.

But really - no "Best game where you tase a dear" category?

Pa-shaw!

[Rituro]

Wow, what an awesome list. Thanks for compiling all that, Rituro.

No problem! It was eerily fun to do.

But really - no "Best game where you tase a deer" category?

Pa-shaw!

Fixed and fixed.

[IcemanFTW]

Best Game Involving A Deer Being Tased

• Deertase

Game of the Year!  Can't wait for the expansion pack!

[rey-o]

How about a "Hidden Gem of 2009" category? You know, the type of game that slipped through the cracks, lost in shuffle of bigger releases, or it just didn't get enough attention the first time around...

Off the top of my head I can think of at least one, Retro Game Challenge for the DS. It's not game of the year material but it was also worth a look.

[Rituro]

Not a bad category idea!

I would nominate Machinarium for "Hidden Gem '09". Those of you who like indie games will love it. Those of you who like adventure games (intelligent ones, at that) will love it. Those of you who like robots will love it.

I'm pretty sure even Jorge would love it.

[rey-o]

I grabbed the demo of it just recently, fantastic stuff - I'll have to buy the full game soon! The art and music, wonderful!

[Shaun Hatton]

You guys are both hilarious and awesome.

FYI I started working on Deertase 2 Monday night. This game is about 10x bigger than the last one. Hope I can finish it in time.

I can't believe I forgot Bowser's Inside Story for GOTY nomination. For DS, Spirit Tracks is also very good.

[Rituro]

I'm calling it right now: Deertase 2 for Best Game Involving A Deer Being Tased 2010.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks have been added to the DS and RPG nomination slates.