So I had originally planned to review the games that everyone seems to be considering as the best of 2008. Fable 2 was particularly of interest, as I think my opinions diverged from most of the conventional wisdom about the game. For the others, I mostly agree about them (with the exception of Metal Gear, which I'll get to) or haven't played them enough/at all to really give a good review. So, here are some abbreviated thoughts on the best of gaming in 2008, to be followed by a proper "game of the year" review.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
MGS has always been one of my favorite gaming franchises. Despite the weird and often obtuse storylines, the series always had great stealth gameplay and cool set piece boss battles. MGS4 continues that tradition, but actually improves the combat aspect of the gameplay. The down side of this however is that it is less important to use stealth, which is kind of the, uh, point. So while the third person combat is finally on par with most current shooters, the overall concept of the series suffers. For someone who was often bad at the stealth part (me) this was a welcome change, but I couldn't help feeling like I was cheating.
The main problem with this iteration of MGS is the story. While it is decidedly "Metal Gear", it is also often decidedly dumb. You get a guy shitting himself for ten minutes, a hairless monkey drinking soda and burping, and a bunch of drivel about...well, who knows what the hell it's about. What really could have been an interesting story (Old Snake as a WMD, private contractors making private wars, and a vast global conspiracy) really collapses on itself during the 45 fucking minute long cut scenes. There are some that definitely work, but most I was done with 10-20 minutes before they actually ended. Also, if you haven't played at least the first two games in the series, don't bother. It's a damn shame, too, because the game itself is actually pretty extraordinary, and maybe the best of the year. Too bad you only actually, you know, play for about 45-55% of the 15-18 hour running time.
Fallout 3
While I am still in the middle of the post-apocalyptic masterpiece that is Fallout 3, I can safely say it is probably the second best game of the year. While it is technically a sequel to the Fallout series (which I never played) the game stands completely by itself. Really, it is more of a futuristic sequel to Oblivion, which is fitting since it is developed by Bethesda, and is sort of a sleeker, more refined version of the game. The combat is fast and often desperate, as low supplies and ammunition take their toll, the voice acting and writing is great, and the graphics are probably the most stunning of the year. I especially like the half-destroyed Washington Monument, which I am reminded of every morning when I walk to work. The game is not without it's flaws, but overall it is a fantastic experience.
Gears of War 2
Yet another sequel, but yet another great game. GOW2 expands and improves on the original in every way, especially in the single player game. Whereas the first Gears was a short, "lone wolf" story about Delta Squad, the sequel is a lengthy and epic war against the Locust. The location variety keeps things fresh, the incredibly graphics are even better than the first game, and the solid "stop and pop" game play remains intact. Whereas some didn't like the driving or "on rails" sequences, I thought they really added variety and kept me interested in what turned out to be about a 15 hour experience. The multiplayer also added one of the best modes I have ever played. Horde is a co-op game against waves and waves of increasingly difficult enemies. It is fast paced, difficult, and fun to work with other players over XBOX Live. I unfortunately can't really speak the rest of the multi-player experience, because I'm still waiting to find a game. But seriously, folks, waiting 15 minutes to play a round of Team Deathmatch is a bit absurd. Kotaku reports today that the game should be fixed sometime this month, but it really shouldn't have taken this long in the first place. I loved the first Gears so much because of the addictive 4 on 4 multi, but I really haven't picked up 2 in about a month because I got tired of all the waiting.
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