Best of 2009 in Gaming Part 2

Miss Part 1? See the winners here.

 

Best Action/Adventure:

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Winner: Batman Arkham Asylum

 

There were a lot of great games to choose from for best Action Adventure game. But no game better met the sense of action and provided a atmospheric adventure like Batman Arkham Asylum did. The beat-em up gameplay is simple yet effictive and works well. Whether you're taking down enemies with a combo that only the man dressed like a bat could pull off, or sneaking up and choking one of the Joker's men, the combat system is satisfying. There's plenty of variety here.

 

Just as important is the gritty atmosphere given by being around this insane asylum for the worst of Gotham City's villains. The story is a good one, and it's well told with a lot of creativity. If there's one complaint I have it's that the Heath Ledger version of the Joker would've made the game feel that much better. But I can live with getting a great Action Adventure experience.

 

Best Fighter:

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Winner: Street Fighter IV

 

It was very tough to choose a winner in this category. They all offer something unique that another game doesn't. But when it was all said and done, the winner ends up being Street Fighter IV. Street Fighter IV doesn't do anything drastically different. It's a simple fighting game that sticks to the formula that's worked for years. But sometimes that's the best move. The cell-shaded graphics are fun to look at and the game brings that classic Street Fighter feel.

 

Best Platformer:

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Winner: Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time

 

The Ratchet & Clank series has been a popular platformer for many years on Sony's console. The final game in the Future Trilogy, A Crack in Time, doesn't let done the long time fans. It stays true to the series while still freshening things up. The new time changing mechanics in Clanks puzzles are a great new twist. We're all left wondering what will come next of our miniature heroes. I'm sure whatever it is, it will be getting talked about during the end of the year awards like A Crack in Time is right now.

 

Best Puzzle game:

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Winner: A Boy and His Blob

 

A down year for the ever dwindling genre of puzzle games. This heart-warming game is full of enjoyable puzzles woven in with platforming. The puzzles in A Boy and His Blob are both fun and challenging.

 

Best Rythm game:

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Winner: DJ Hero

 

Maybe the easiest award to choose out of them all. DJ Hero brings a new idea to a genre that's growing old. Most rhythm games being released in recent years are just rehashes of the previous game with some new songs thrown in. Scratching and mixing like a true DJ is a blast with the well designed peripheral and the mixes made just for the game sound good.

 

Best RPG:

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Winner: Demon's Souls

2009 didn't see many excellent RPGs (too bad Bethesda put out Fallout 3 just last year) but a few did captivate me. Demon's Souls isn't your typical RPG, but then again that's what made me like it. The game is brutally challenging, but still fun even when you're constantly dieing. The creative use of the online messaging system gives Demon's Souls a unique feel. The world is dark and mysterious giving you a wonderful world to explore, which is something every great RPG needs.

 

Best Racer:

 

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Winner: Forza 3

Did I say picking DJ Hero for best rhythm game was the easiest award to give out? Well the racing genre is right up there with it. No other racing game delivered as good as a driving experience as Forza 3 did.

 

Best Shooter:

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Winner: Killzone 2

The original Killzone disappointed many PS2 fans who wanted a great shooter to go along with Socom. Thankfully the sequel lived up to the hype and not only had some of the greatest graphics ever on a console, but also holds simply great core shooting mechanics. Combine a solid campaign with a some great online multplayer and you have simply the most fun shooting game of 2009.

Best Sports game:

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Winner: MLB 09 The Show

MLB 09 The Show is so good, you don't even have to be a baseball fan to love it. I find that baseball can get boring and that it's too slow paced for me, but MLB 09 The Show ended up being the best sports game I played all year. Near perfect batting, pitching, and outfielding controls make the gameplay some of the best ever in a baseball game. There's also a deep franchise mode and the career mode is as fun as ever.

 

Stick around to find out what game wins Game of the Year!