Game of the Year 2009: 30-26

Feature by Philip Morton, published on Saturday 2nd January 2010

Christmas is over, New Year is gone and all of the games have been released. 2009 has undoubtedly been a fantastic year for gaming, with many of our favourite franchises seeing new releases, not to mention a tide of all new titles. As is tradition at this time of year, Thunderbolt has put together its top 30(ish) games of 2009, of which this is the first part. Agree? Disagree? Think we’re idiots? Leave a comment and have your say.

30=. Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzanoha vs. King Abaddon

Shin Megami Tensei is still yet to make the leap to the current generation of consoles, but this year’s Devil Summoner 2: Raidou vs. King Abaddon proves that Atlus can still make use of the virtually decrepit PS2. Featuring a new combat system that vastly improves over the frustrating control system in the original Devil Summoner, this light-hearted and stylish Shin Megami Tensei adventure is one of the better action-RPG hybrids on the market, thanks in no small part to the stunning art direction and witty dialogue. Plus, it shipped with the most adorable plush toy of the year. It’s hard to argue with that.

Bart Robson

30=. Dead Space: Extraction

Dead Space: Extraction is a perfect example of a series not having to ‘dumb itself down’ to accommodate less extravagant hardware. Rather than have a straight port that only those with a Wii would think about touching, EA went the way of the rail gun shooter and who could have known that it was a genre still capable of feeling fresh? Extraction features some of the most satisfying shooting (thanks to limb dismemberment) around, and any worry of the atmosphere taking a hit can wear their whites and see what happens. The surprise hit of 2009.

Craig Nye

29=. Comet Crash

Real-time strategy as a genre is rarely done well on console. What’s even rarer is to find one designed specifically for consoles. Comet Crash is both of these things, and a hell of a lot more. What might appear to be yet another simple tower-defense game is one of, if not the very best pure strategy titles available on the PlayStation 3. Seamlessly blending aspects of RTS, tower-defense and even party games, Comet Crash isn’t afraid to play with established formulas. It’s great alone or with friends and has one of the more memorable local multiplayer modes in recent memory.

Sean Kelley

29=. Star Ocean: The Last Hope

It may not have won over the critics, but Star Ocean: The Last Hope has a lot of heart. It’s a game that means well and will never utter a bad word about anything, because it’s lovably cute, even when it tries to be serious. The game’s real time battle system is up there with FFXII’s as the best seen in an RPG, and the idea of space exploration and travel is implemented extremely well. It’s a typically Japanese RPG, but it’s typically wonderful, too.

Oliver Banham

29=. Little King’s Story

It seems like an eternity now since Little King’s Story made its quiet entrance stage right - but now here we are at the end of the year and it has taken arguably more gameplay hours from me than almost anything released in 2009. An astonishing achievement considering that this staff writer is not exactly the fish to the RTS genre’s chips. Accessible, brimming with far more charm than seems practical, and seemingly endless in length – Little King’s Story is a gem with the biggest of hearts.

Craig Nye

28. Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier

Traditionally, the handing over of reigns of a successful franchise usually spells bad things to come for even the most respected series’, a la Crash and Spyro. After an impressive display with Daxter on PSP (2006), The Lost Frontier is the first full instalment from one of the great PS2 mascots, in over four years. Despite the PSP’s lacking muscle power in contrast, The Lost Frontier is a worthy addition to the Jak and Daxter legacy, if only as a mere fan pleaser. The animation and graphics may be lacking compared to its forbearers, but the heart is still beating.

Stuart Edwards

27=. Flower

It may not be for everyone but Flower is a game that needs to be experienced. The simple control scheme and beautiful, serene level design takes you on a majestic ride through the daydreams of a flower. Through giant sweeping fields, marvellous hilltops and a dark, ominous metropolis, the ride is almost spiritual in nature; like nothing you’ve ever played before. Flower is certainly a special one. Just sit back, relax and enjoy.

Richard Wakeling

27=. UFC Undisputed

UFC fans had been waiting a long time to see a current-gen incarnation of the brutal sport, but my, was it worth the wait. With the Smackdown vs Raw games suffering from repetition and a lack of new ideas, it was a breath of fresh air to see UFC arrive with an impressively complex combat system. If you’re looking for technical wizardry, then getting to grips with this title’s various submission methods and understanding MMA terminology is a must. If however, you want to bash a few guys in, that can be accomplished without much hassle on the easier difficulties. With MMA, and in particular the UFC franchise, growing in popularity across the world, we can be thankful UFC Undisputed replicated the sport at its bloody and jaw-dropping best.

Nick Akerman

26=. Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

There’s always one, every year. Whilst we naively look ahead to the winter for our blockbuster fixes of household names, the summer comes around and throws a baby in the river to see if it can swim in the tide of the industry. Elaborating at heart from the forgettably received Call of Juarez (2007), Bound in Blood swaggers up to you with grace rather than charging with pistols at dawn. With enhanced mechanics, a genuinely interesting piece of Western folklore and the element of surprise, this year’s dark horse isn’t afraid of a day at the races.

Stuart Edwards

26=. Braid

Blow pulled it out of the bag with this one. Braid is a lucid, engaging and very smartly designed game with puzzles built entirely around the central time-altering mechanic. Tim’s tale is far from straightforward, and the fragmented narrative - if it is indeed a narrative - is arguably one of the game’s weaker aspects, getting too esoteric for its own good at times. The best sections are those that entwine both ludo- and narrative in perfect harmony, proving once and for all that interactivity can be employed as a storytelling device in itself. Its commentary on the state of video gaming or indeed the human condition may be confused, but when it all works, it works better than most modern games; Blow is clearly a design genius, and Braid is a shining example of what can be done with even the most traditional of forms when someone that versatile is at the helm.

Fraser McMillan

26=. Pokemon Platinum

This third installment of the DS Pokemon games was the most extensive in the entire series. The game had everything. Hundreds of collectible creatures, online multiplayer and trading, tons of items, an extended story, mini-games, contests…the list went on and on. The insanely intricate strategies and team building mechanics offered a level of depth that few other titles on the DS could muster. The biggest addition was the Battle Frontier, which tested the player’s combat prowess against well-designed opponents and specific rules. This, combined with a stunning amount of other features, gave DS owners one of the biggest and most involved handheld RPGs in recent memory. It may not have been so different from Diamond or Pearl, but Platinum was still among the best of 2009.

Justin Boot

26=. LittleBigPlanet

2009 saw Sackboy jump back into our hearts but this time he wasn’t on the PS3, rather the PSP. As one of many titles leading the PSP’s resurgence towards the end of the year LittleBigPlanet is a surprisingly full game, featuring most of its predecessors features with multiplayer being the only notable absence. What the game does have is 30 completely new levels in new environments, a fully functional create mode and the ability to upload our own and download other peoples creations to play whenever we want - even if you don’t have an internet connection. Essentially it’s every bit as good as the original, but you can play it wherever you want.

Mark Johnson

Go to games 25-21