azn_pride's Best of 2009 Part 2

So here's my last half of the top 10 games of 2009 that stood out in my mind. Oh yeah, if you, by any chance missed part 1, you can do so in this link:

 

asian_pride's Best of 2009 Part 1

 

That being said, let's move on shall we?

 

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5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty 4 exploded when it burst into the scene back in 2007. Boasting an intense but short single player campaign and addictive multiplayer, I found myself playing the game for hours at a time. CoD 4 sets the standards for a great military shooter, and Modern Warfare 2 just further ups the ante. It may not have the same impact for me as its predecessor did, but with a more streamlined multiplayer and extremely pleasing spec-ops mode I was spending sleepless nights shooting and knifing dudes in the face once more.

 

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4. Batman Arkham Asylum

There aren't many superhero-based games that were enjoyable enough for my gaming tastes. As Batman being one of my favorite superheroes of all time, I was curious if Rocksteady had what it took to produce a stellar game featuring the Dark Knight himself. They sure have outdone themselves in Arkham Asylum. An unoriginal but exciting combat mechanic and satisfying stealth kills, Arkham Asylum creates a dark, dreary atmosphere that is amazing and captivating to be a part of. Oh and yes - Joker is an awesome villain. 'Nuff said.

 

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3. Borderlands

An outstanding role-playing/shooter hybrid that successfully balances both features and turning them into something unique; that is marvelous in and of itself. With a helluva lot of guns at its disposal, Borderlands is an addictive role-playing shooter that just has a ton of replay value. The world of Pandora is indeed massive in scale, and a hilarious cast of characters (Claptrap not included) makes the game tremendously vibrant. Did I mention lots and lots of guns? It's unreal, but definitely one of Borderland's best aspects.

 

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2. Assassin's Creed II

Stabbing countless dudes in the face proved to be an exhilarating experience. Though that is the case Assassin's Creed 1 suffered mostly on its repetitiveness, and I didn't find much excitement on the later levels because of that fact. But when Assassin's Creed II came out, I didn't even look back to the first game. With that said I praise Ubisoft for producing one of the best-improved sequels I've seen all year. Altair was indeed a badass from top to bottom, but Ezio proved to be a more superior specimen than his ancestor. And it wasn't just because of Ezio's graceful parkour abilities; it was also due to his colorful personality and dynamic character development over the course of the game. As this is a greatly improved sequel, the assassinations, sidequests, and interaction with the game's world have never felt more satisfying.

 

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1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Being an avid fan of Naughty Dog since their early days with the Crash Bandicoot games (and eventually the Jak and Daxter series), I knew right away they could do no wrong with Uncharted 2. With significant improvements in almost every aspect of the game from its predecessor, everything about Uncharted 2 to me was like falling in love all over again. Awesome graphics, improved gunplay/melee combat, and an all-star cast of characters; you can just tell everything about Uncharted 2 was remarkably done. It is definitely one of the best action adventure games to date, and my #1 game of 2009.

 

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It's been a fun year, but it's time for 2010 to kick things off with a definite bang. As I've said in my previous blogs, the first half of next year will be a hectic period that will certainly empty many gamers' wallets, young and old alike. This year may have slumped economically, but I am sure as hell will never forget all the great and not-so-great games I've played...and did not get a chance to play at all. With that said, here's to welcoming the New Year. Cheers :D