The Best Video Games of 2008

2008 has been a very good year for gaming. Honorable mentions go to Resistance 2 (Playstation 3), Fable 2 (Xbox 360), Prince of Persia, (PS3, XBOX 360, PC), and Call of Duty: World at War (PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PC). They were all very good and it was extremely hard to narrow this list down to just ten games, but this list contains the heavy hitters. I present to you, the top ten games of 2008.

10) Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Nintendo Wii

SSBB is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series. Like the games before it, Brawl uses a combat system that is called the The Subspace Emissary (SSE). The SSE mode is a plot-driven, side-scrolling beat 'em up featuring cut scenes with playable characters from the game. Brawl also supports multiplayer battles with up to four combatants, and is the first game in its franchise to support online multiplayer via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. However this time they have upped the ante. With an unprecedented number of characters to choose from (35 in total), 29 playable stages, cooperative multiplayer and online multiplayer, and the completely unique adventure mode, it is easy to easy why Brawl has garnered such positive acclaim.

9) Dead Space - PC | Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

Dead Space is a third-person survival/horror/action game. Dead Space follows an engineer named Isaac Clarke who must roam through a busted mining ship infested with horrible creatures known as 'necromorphs'. If you are into survival games like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, Dead Space is a must buy. It provides a terrifying roller-coaster ride through a completely distinctive setting and a fast paced story filled with action and horror. The graphics are incredible. The story is unique and engaging. The combat is simple and intuitive. Everything about Dead Space is excellent.

8) Grand Theft Auto 4 - PC | Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

Grand Theft Auto 4 has everything that its predecessors had, and much, much more. GTA4 features a much more open and interactive environment than the previous Grand Theft Auto games. Storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and will unlock certain parts of the map and content, but they are not required to do immediately, players can complete them whenever they want. When not on a mission, players can roam the city at their leisure. However, creating havoc will attract more 5-O than previous games, so be wary. GTA4 is the first in the series to feature online multiplayer with 15 modes of play available and up to 16 players (32 on PC) per game. GTA4 also features a much more engaging storyline than the previous games, touching on themes of revenge, deception, justice, and vengeance. Grand Theft Auto 4 is one game you will not want to miss out on.

7) Gears of War 2 - PC | Xbox 360

Like the first Gears of War, Gears of War 2 is a third-person tactical shooting game. Gears of War 2 continues the storyline featured in the first game. In Gears of War 2, the Locust have figured out how to make emergence holes capable of sinking entire cities. Marcus Fenix, the protagonist, and the rest of the COG Delta Squad now drill underground to "take the fight to the Locust." Gears of War 2 contains the same intense combat and firefights that were featured in the first game. However, EPIC games has added even bigger and tougher baddies for the player to take down. Gears of War 2 also expands upon the multiplayer mode featured in the first game, with three new game modes to choose from and games support for up to ten players simultaneously. The new co-op mode called Horde, allows up to five players to play together and fight off wave after wave of locust hordes. Gears of War 2 doubles the intensity of the first and never backs down.

6) Spore - PC | Nintendo Wii

Spore is a multi-genre massively-single player game, created by Will Wright, the man behind the smash hit Sims series. The game allows the player to develop a species from a microscopic organism to its evolution into a multifaceted animal, its emergence as a societal, intellectual being, to its mastery of the planet, and finally its ascension into space, where it can interact with alien species across the galaxy. All the way through the game, the player's perspective and species change. The game is broken up into phases. The outcome of one phase will affect the conditions facing the player in the next. Each phase exhibits its own play style. While players are able to spend as much time as they prefer in each, it is possible to accelerate or skip phases altogether, making it extremely easy for casual players to jump in and play without having to devote hours and hours to the game. Spore is a game that has never been seen before and has opened up avenues for all types of game play never before thought possible.

5) Left 4 Dead - PC | Xbox 360

Left 4 Dead is a cooperative, survival horror, first person shooter. The game pits up to four players, who are survivors of an apocalyptic pandemic, up against rampaging zombie hordes. The game features two game modes, a four player cooperative mode and an eight player versus mode. The game is fast-paced, heart-pounding, non-stop adrenaline rush of fury. Teamwork and cooperation is integral to survive due to the superb AI. Left 4 Dead is the first game to feature a dynamic system for game dramatics, pacing, and difficulty called "The Director." Instead of having fixed spawn points for enemies, like so many previous games have, the Director places enemies and items in varying positions and quantities based upon each player's current situation, status, skill and location. This provides the players with a new experience each time they play. The Director is also capable of creating mood and tension with emotional cues, using visual effects, dynamic music, and character communication. Valve has termed this dynamic set-up "procedural narrative." With gamers clambering for cooperative game play, this is one of the best games to play remotely with friends or online with complete strangers to intensify the game play.

4) Little Big Planet - Playstation 3

Little Big Planet is a puzzle platforming game featuring user generated content. The game allows players to control small avatars, known as Sackboys, in a variety of platforming scenarios. Though the game features a set of pre-built levels for players to explore, the game features amazing customization. The players are able to customize their characters, personal space, build new objects and levels, and even have the ability to share and play them online as part of the Little Big Planet community. The game is one of the most innovated and visually appealing games on the market today. It is also excellent for playing with friends, either remotely or online, and is particular effective as a party pleaser during large get-togethers.

3) Metal Gear Solid 4 - Playstation 3

Metal Gear Solid 4 is tactical stealth action game and is the fourth installment in the Metal Gear Solid series. Metal Gear Solid 4 continues and completes the story of Solid Snake, who has rapidly aged from a poison known as "FOXDIE". The game features a more action oriented approach than previous games in the series, and to great effect. Snake is still the same old Snake, complete will cigarettes, grizzled voice, and cynical attitude. Metal Gear Solid 4 also features an all new Multiplayer mode called Metal Gear Online. The mode supports 16-player online stealth battles, encouraging players to engage heavily in teamwork to achieve objectives. Although the actually game play can be considered short, the movie caliber cinematics are awe-inspiring and emotional and though provoking. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a masterpiece on every level.

2) World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King | PC

What is there to say really other than the game has more than 10 million subscribers worldwide. Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion pack to the critically acclaimed and groundbreaking MMORPG 'World of Warcraft', builds upon what made the game so appealing to the masses. Wrath of the Lich King is chock-full of new features. It raises the level cap from 70 to 80 and features a whole new continue of content for players to explore, includes four new instances from players to raid and loot, implements the Death Knight (the first hero class), new class spells and talents, a harbor in Stormwind (the human city), Barbershops, new Zeppelin Towers, two brand-new Arenas featuring challenging new layouts, terrain hazards, and moving obstacles, all new guild calendar to plan events, a completely new profession called 'Inscription', and a world pvp zone that players will have to fight over to retain control over precious loots. Wrath of the Lich King is packed with content and hours and hours and hours of game play to enjoy.

1) Fallout 3 - PC | Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

It was tough to give Wrath of the Lich King the number two slot, but this game deserves nothing lower than the top spot as the best game of 2008. Fallout 3, the third installment in the Fallout series, throws all preconceived notions about what is capable in a video game out the window. he game features interchangeable first-person and third-person perspectives. Main character creation occurs as the player experiences the character's childhood.

As a child in the Vault, the player reads a book entitled "You're SPECIAL". The player can then set the seven primary attributes or "Special Stats". The player receives weapons training later on during childhood, and the player's performance in various tests suggests a set of skills for the player. Several quests inside the Vault influence the player's character relationship with his or her acquaintances. Skills and perks are like those in previous games: the player chooses 3 main skills out of a total of 13 to be the character's specialties. The maximum level the player can achieve is level 20; every level up, a new perk can be selected, each offering advantages of varying quality and form. Traits from the previous Fallout games, while slightly modified, are combined with perks in Fallout 3, allowing the player to choose a new perk each time after gaining a level.

The turn-based combat system called Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or VATS, is an important part in the combat of the game. While in VATS, real-time combat is paused, and action is played out from constantly changing camera angles in a version of 'bullet time', creating a combat system that the Bethesda developers have dubbed as a hybrid between turn-based and real-time combat. All actions cost action points. This limits the actions each combatant can take during a turn; however, both the player and enemies can target specific body areas for attacks to inflict specific injuries.

The game features an extraordinary setting, an impressive score, amazing graphics and visuals, over 100 hours of possible game play, and an All-Star voice actor list, including Liam Neeson, Ron Perlman, Malcolm McDowell, and Odette Yustman. Players will also have the ability to install mods on the PC version. By focusing on non-linear game play, an interesting and engaging story, with sprinkles of dark comedy, and by including adult themes, such as violence, and the wickedness so heavily featured in the previous installments of the Fallout series, it should be no surprise that Fallout 3 is the best game of 2008.

Looking Ahead

2008 has set the bar much higher than anyone could have anticipated. But 2009 is right around the corner, and boasts an impressive list of highly anticipated games. Whether or not they will deliver remains to be seen. But with a smorgasbord of solid titles to choose from, the situation is a win-win if you are a gamer, and you have nothing but good things to look forward to.

Game on.