The IncGamers Best Of 2009 Part 2 - Page 2

31 Dec 2009 at 00:11:42 by Tim McDonald

Best Racing/Driving Game of 2009 – Forza Motorsport 3

There's been some awfully strong competition within the racing genre this year, but Forza was first past the post in our eyes (yes, we know that's a horse-racing metaphor.) Simply put, Forza is the game that feels the best, with spot-on handling and controls across every single one of the 400+ cars. The moist crust on this slice of delicious racing pie includes a huge variety of tracks and game modes, a constant 60fps frame rate, and optional concessions to newbie drivers while remaining as hardcore as ever for the real racing fans. Mouth-watering.

Best Wii/Family Game of 2009 – Boom Blox Bash Party

Boom Blox was tremendous fun, and Boom Blox Bash Party takes it one step further. EA has done two things here: tightened the game experience, and added a whole lot more of it; the less enjoyable modes from the original have been marginalised, while the sheer number of things to do have been expanded with around 400 new levels. The tactile controls keep the game easy for anyone to pick up and play, but don't be fooled, as the accessibility belies a game with a whole lot of depth. As a game that anyone can play and enjoy, whether you're 17 or 70, whether you're on your own or with friends, Boom Blox Bash Party is our pick for the best Wii game of the year.

Best PC Game of 2009 – Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age is a PC game. Being very much a classic RPG, things like mouse control and the tactical view are both expected and required, and these are things that help make it a great PC game. That's not to say that it's not a great console game – it's a meaty RPG no matter which system you play it on – but it absolutely shines on PC, providing some of the most in-depth tactical combat along with the best characters and the best world of the year. Much as you'll enjoy Dragon Age no matter how you play it, on PC, it's the best RPG of the year, the best RPG of recent years, and its improvements on that system help make this astonishingly deep and relentlessly enjoyable RPG the best PC title of the year.

Best Multiplayer Game of 2009 – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Despite Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer issues it's still among the most-played games on Xbox LIVE, and if that tells you that there's something special here, you'd be right. There are a variety of game modes to get you started, and then the levelling system that rewards you with new toys for pretty much every round you play makes it all endlessly compelling. If competitive multiplayer isn't your thing then there's the all-new Spec Ops mode, adding in around 25 levels for two players to burn through. Snowmobile race? Covering your buddy on the ground in an AC-130? Holing up in a besieged diner, trying to survive for as long as possible? Racing through favelas to defuse bombs? It's all here. Modern Warfare 2 is the complete multiplayer package.

Best Developer of 2009 – Naughty Dog

A year full of great games is also a year full of great developers, but Naughty Dog stood out for us with its stellar work on Uncharted 2. Much as plenty of developers innovated and improved on sequels this year, Uncharted 2 absolutely shone: Naughty Dog took both criticism and praise for the first game on board and managed to create something that streamlined the single-player while simultaneously adding in new mechanics that didn't feel forced or out of place, and the company also found the time to pack in brand-new – and yet superb - multiplayer mode. For this Herculean effort, Naughty Dog is our pick for developer of the year.

Best Publisher of 2009 – Electronic Arts

Whatever Electronic Arts has been doing this year, it's working. The once-maligned publisher has changed tack over recent years and has been steadily moving away from grinding out generic game after generic game, and this year we've seen a constant stream of quality. As with any major publisher there have been one or two missteps, but by and large we've seen more in the way of improvements and innovations in more genres than anyone else has managed. From the drastic improvements made to everything in the EA Sports franchise to the dramatic reboot of the Need for Speed series, through the dark fantasy of Dragon Age and the cheery world of The Sims 3, EA is definitely doing something right. For maintaining a year of jaw-dropping releases, EA, we salute you.

Game of the Year 2009 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Back when we reviewed Uncharted 2, Andy closed with the comment that it was “destined to make most Game of the Year lists.” He wasn't kidding. Uncharted 2, with the additions and tweaks made the game, is the one of the most well-rounded experiences of the year. When playing the first game a few months back I said that if it was released in 2009 it would give other games a run for their money in most of the categories it could be entered into. Well, Uncharted 2 is better. Whether you're after fantastic gunplay, vertigo-inducing acrobatics, or just one of the most well-told stories ever seen in games, Uncharted 2 has something for you. Everyone who considers themselves a gamer simply has to play this game, and you know what? It's so well done, we reckon your family would be just as happy watching you play this as they would be seeing Indy or The Great Escape for the 50th time. Beautiful, quick, witty, subtle, clever, and fun, Uncharted 2 is our game of the year.

Miss the first part of our awards? Find it here along with part one of our special awards video feature.

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