Year of Video Games - 2009

Feb 16, 2009 [ #games #blogger ]

Following up on the games I played and finished in 2008... This year is a bit different since I recently got an original Xbox and new PS3 Slim which lead to more non-Nintendo games finished as last year. Out of all the games I finished last year I'd have to say Modern Warfare 2, Half-Life 2, and Zelda II were my favorite. Modern Warfare was a completely different gaming experience than I was used to, giving a blockbuster movie storyline with plenty of twists and challenging environments that keeps you going "just one more chapter" I played the Half-Lifes in order starting with the first and ending on Episode 2, and even though Half-Life 1 was exception, Half-Life 2 had that same type of playable movie quality that I really liked. The levels and game play were exceptional and kept you hook till the final climax. Unexpectedly Zelda II was, for me, more fun than Ocarina of Time. Ocarina is constantly praised as one of the best games of all time, but when I played it I didn't really see it. Zelda II offered and extremely, but rewarding challenge and once I was finished I felt a sense of loss that it was over. I still have a goal of beating all the Zelda's before I'm 30, and with Ocarina and Zelda II out of the way I have the major hurdles done. Spirit Tracks should go quickly since it's on the DS and I really like the cell-shaded top-down 3D style it has. Unfortunately I'm not too excited about the two remaining 3D games and wish I had done those first and left the classic top down ones for last. Since I've entered the current gen of systems with the PS3 I've found that the movie-style of these games is more appealing than I originally thought. Heavy Rain looks like next-gen Hotel Dusk and games like Uncharted and Assassin's Creed have the action adventure element I like. The iTouch games made a small dent this year too, with me purchasing classic games from my youth; Sim City, Myst, Wolfenstien 3D, Doom, and adventure games. As the platform matures and mobile gaming takes hold I have a feeling I'll have more to add to the list. Finally I found that Steam, PSN, and Virtual Console are a large contributor to my gaming experience. The method of downloading a game and having it "permanently" tied to you account and not a piece of hardware is cool. Finished Games for 2009 Gameboy Advance Metroid Zero Mission Sony PS3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Microsoft Xbox Halo: Combat Evolved Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City PC Half-Life Half-Life: Blue Shift Half-Life: Opposing Force Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2: Episode One Half-Life 2: Episode Two Portal Wii The New Super Mario Bros Wii (finished cooperatively with Oanh!) Virtual Console Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Metal Slug Currently Playing Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box The World Ends With You Beneath a Steel Sky (iPhone) Halo 2 Goals for 2010 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed 2 Okami Metroid Prime Trilogy Super Paper Mario Deus Ex Heavy Rain