Game of the Year 2009: 25-21

Feature by Philip Morton, published on Sunday 3rd January 2010

We continue our look at the best games of 2009, as voted for by the Thunderbolt staff. Missed the first article? Read it here.

25=. Dissidia: Final Fantasy

This one is purely a thing of fandom. What could be more magical to the fans of Final Fantasy than being able to choose from a large roster of their favorite heroes and villains and pitting them against each other in the ideal match up? We’re talking Sephiroth versus Squall, Cloud against Tidus, and Zidane toe to toe with Jecht. Toss in customizable characters, fully destructible levels, flashy cinematic special attacks, and the option to upload your coolest fights to the net, and you have an obvious candidate for Game of the Year, Final Fantasy fan or otherwise. Every inch of this glorious compilation of swords and conflicted spiky-haired protagonists stays loyal to the over-the-top style that Final Fantasy followers have come to expect: blazing fast, sky-soaring, fire tossing, thunder calling, spirit summoning, sword clashing goodness. It was a fighting game looking for a place to happen, and the PSP was the place to be. Kick butt anywhere, and do it in style.

Benjamin Sullivan

25=. Empire: Total War

The Total War series just seems to get grander and grander with each release. While it may seem impossible for anything to top the ridiculous scale of Medieval: Total War II’s gameplay, Empire succeeds. It’s the small details that matter: the gorgeous graphics are detailed with intricate animations that make the massive battles feel alive. While plunging head first into Empire is harder than any of the other Total War games, strategists who persevere are rewarded with a stunning array of battlefield commands and endless combat possibilities.

Bart Robson

25=. Glum Buster

If you thought that was an impressive feat for a £3 download, what about Justin Leingang’s freely available solo project Glum Buster? It’s a haunting, profound and perfectly measured shot of auteured brilliance. Though superficially reminiscent of a SNES platformer, it actually controls almost entirely with the mouse and its two buttons, and that it squeezes inventive uses from this age-old device never ceases to amaze me. Its structure may ape the side-scrolling adventures of old, but the moment to moment interactions, heart-breaking atmosphere and perfectly designed puzzles do not. Play it immediately, and don’t forget to give generously - Justin is running a unique model which he calls “charityware”, so the more people that donate, the more money goes to Starlight Children’s Foundation to, as he says, “bust some glum in real life”.

Fraser McMillan

25=. Football Manager 2010

If there’s one fitting way to describe Sports Interactive’s latest release, it’s the Windows 7 to the Vista that was 2009. Whilst last year’s release implemented the fantastic 3D match system, its presence severely restricted the fluency of game play. 2010 rids itself of the unnecessary processes to provide a management system that is as deep and complex as its predecessors, yet staggeringly simple to navigate thanks to an interface redesign. Take 2007’s elegance with 2009’s ambition and make it bang up to date and this is the result.

Stuart Edwards

25=. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time

Since Jak, Daxter and Sly Cooper have all decided to go on an extended vacation, Ratchet and his robot pal Clank have taken the throne as far as PS3 platformers go. This year’s addition to this now long-running franchise continues to raise the bar, adding substantial depth to the characters by exploring their back stories for the first time at length. Combine a galaxy-spanning plot with exciting new weaponry and you have one of the finest Ratchet & Clank games in years and easily the best platformer on the PS3 currently.

Matt Wadleigh

25=. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is not for everyone. It’s brutal, unforgiving, disorientating and confusing. Like real warfare then. Dragon Rising does many things superbly, creating an atmosphere that is engaging enough to keep you coming back for more, even when the game’s bugs frustrate. Patient gamers who enjoy more tactical shooters will likely appreciate its strong points and look beyond the glitches. It may not be the most accessible game of the year, but it’s one of the best hardcore military shooters in years.

Philip Morton

25=. Shatter

Shatter is everything you could ever want from a Breakout style of game and tons more. It combines the classic brick breakin’ gameplay we all know and love with a slick techno aesthetic, great original soundtrack and a few gameplay tweaks to resuscitate the genre. By adding some physics based innovations, such as post impact ball trajectory alteration and bricks that react appropriately and fall when dislodged, there are a number of wrinkles in the brick breaking fabric for players to contend with. Plus it has some ingeniously designed boss battles and a hilarious story. It is the complete retro package and it isn’t just one of the best games of 2009, but it’s one of the best arcade games of the last decade.

Sean Kelley

25=. The Sims 3

Battered by EA’s reputation for beating a carcass until every single morsel has come out, Sims 3 had a lot to live up to, and boy did it. Shifting the focus from your sim and their household to the entire community, EA created a game where, true to life, you get out as much as you put in. With plenty of areas to socialise, work and increase your Sim’s abilities, building relationships and career paths has never been easier and more exciting thanks to the variety of personalities on offer. The Sims franchise looks to be back in business.

James Fraser

25=. Torchlight

Torchlight is highly playable, addictive, a fantastic action RPG with a fully functional modding tool entitled TorchEd, which is now available on the official game site. With a lean price tag and cartoon graphics, the developers at Runic made the best of a fairly short development cycle, releasing the game a little over a year after beginning development. While its highly derivative of some of the genre’s greatest entries (Diablo series, FATE), Torchlight wears its influences on its sleeve, and even if its not going to be the next huge, influential games, its still the most fun I’ve had with one in 2009. This is a great alternative to sitting and staring at the wall while waiting for Diablo III and performs as well on most laptops (think net books) as it does on a high end gaming PC. Either way, it’s a lot of fun.

Calvin Kemph

24=. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

And it comes full circle. We started at the bottom of the ladder and ended up falling off entirely with Niko Bellic. We operated outside the ladder and tried to blow it up with Johnny Klebitz. Now, Tony Prince has shown Luis Lopez life at the top. From up there it’s easy to forget just how big the potential fall is, and as we’re finally let loose in Liberty City with the big guns and fast cars, we get to watch as the empire crumbles. Experiencing the town from another angle means it feels just as fresh as it was way back in 2008, and Houser and Humpries again deliver on the writing, further exploring the series’ complex relationship with capitalism and tying up loose ends in a succinct and often hilarious package. For a final spin in Liberty City, you can’t go far wrong.

Fraser McMillan

24=. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

This title brought back the quirky characters and clever puzzles that made The Curious Village an instant classic on the DS. The story was compelling, and the sheer amount and variety or brainteasers provided a great test of your analytical and critical thinking skills. Bonus puzzles, extra unlockables, and a other content kept things interesting as well. Not to mention the soundtrack, which is arguably the best of the entire system. The result is one of the most finely crafted handheld games of 2009. Professor Layton series might not be as popular as the other mainstream franchises on the DS, but quality of this game is unquestionable.

Justin Boot

23=. Football Manager Live

Placing you in a world against up to 999 other managers, each trying to be the best, competing to sign the top players and winning the most trophies Football Manger Live is a dangerously engrossing game. Placing you in charge of your own club and it’s yours to do with what you want. Prefer to focus on youth, maybe you want a team full of stars, or just maybe you want a team full of Italians. Whichever your route, it’s guaranteed to control your life for the foreseeable future.

Mark Johnson

23=. Wii Sports Resort

A game for literally every demographic. Seasoned veterans, technologically clueless grandparents and everyone in between can swing their controllers about for a game-winning smash in table table tennis, pull and release for a bullseye in archery. Row a canoe together, fling swords against one another or just fly a plane around the resort. The fact that it succeeds in finding an audience whoever picks up Wii MotionPlus is a testament to Nintendo’s new agenda and what makes Wii Sports Resort arguably the greatest party game ever made.

Craig Nye

23=. Skate 2

The original Skate was certainly a hard act to follow, but somehow developers Black Box have succeeded. By refining the core flickit gameplay and adding a fantastic amount of new, relevant features, gamers couldn’t have asked for much more. The co-op challenges were fun, challenging and interesting, while being able to move objects around added a new dimension of play. An emphasis on security was a bad idea, but otherwise Skate 2 is everything a sequel should be - bigger, better, and all kinds of brilliant.

Oliver Banham

22. ‘Splosion Man

Call me shallow but a song about donuts was enough to give ‘Splosion Man a place on this list. If you’re looking for more then you’re obviously crazy, but the game’s hilarious sense of humour, loveable main character and explosive platforming should be enough to satisfy your urges. The Maw showcased Twisted Pixel’s indie talents but ‘Splosion Man takes things a step further with two seperate campaigns for you and your friends and some of the best original music you’ll ever hear. Get the erratic little guy on your harddrive already!

Richard Wakeling

21=. BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

BlazBlue was initially deemed as a spiritual successor to the popular Guilty Gear franchise. However, this title not only stood on its own merits, but set the new standard for its genre. The cast, though small, was entirely original with highly varied playing styles. Its story was surprisingly deep and entertaining. The combat mechanics were fast-paced and incredibly technical. Everything was presented with stunning 2D animation and quality voice acting, far better than its competition. The best part was its multiplayer, which offered some of the slickest online brawling ever seen. All of these factors make this the new crowning jewel of the fighting game scene, and one best games of 2009.

Justin Boot

21=. Madden NFL 2010

Another year and another Madden game, but Madden 10 is more than just a roster update, instead you’re looking at a game which has gone through some major modifications since it’s sibling in 2009. Graphically the game is looking sharper, also the gameplay has been slowed right down which let’s plays evolve so much more beautifully. It gives Offenses the chance to survey the field for that split second longer and pin point that open receiver. On the other side of the ball Defenses can watch every player on the field, anticipating their route in an attempt to stop the Offense moving the chains. What’s more each player within the game feels unique whether it’s the pocket rocket MJD powering past Linebackers or the steady composure of Brady as he sits in the pocket waiting for Moss to swiftly run past his DBs. That is why this game far surpasses anything EA and Tiburon have created in previous years. A must buy for any NFL fan.

Lee Matthews

21=. Noby Noby Boy

Keita Takahashi pulled out all the stops for Noby Noby Boy, and by “pulled out all the stops”, I mean “smashed it to bits with a pickaxe”. The decade’s most intriguing video game designer didn’t carry out that remit, binning every accepted notion of what a video game actually is and building a new model from the ground up. What we’re left with is the most progressive and important work of 2009; an organic, player-driven sandbox of apparent non-design that is, when we break it down, being masterfully manipulated by its designer. Oh, and did I mention that it’s a PlayStation Network title that costs about as much as the average lunch?

Fraser McMillan

21=. Plants vs. Zombies

Pop Cap is easily the most recognized force in the casual game market and their first foray into the tower defense genre must not be ignored. Like all their other titles, Plants vs. Zombies is easy to learn but tough to master. Mixing the best of tower defense with various puzzle elements and a finishing coat of colorful undead sheen, Plants vs. Zombies is not only the best tower defense game of the year but one of the most addictive games in recent memory. Trust me, you’ll be tending your Zen Garden long after the campaign is over.

Sean Kelley

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