Can 2008 Measure Up To Last Year?
‘Tis the season of good cheer and decking halls and all that Dickensian nonsense. ‘Tis the time when we make lists and cast a bleary-eyed glance back at the year that was. And 2007 was a hard act to follow, but it has to be said that 2008 was a bit lack lustre on the old gaming front. Sure there were a few highlights, but last year there were just too many to choose from. Nonetheless, I've pulled together 2008's best bits and some of its disappointments.
The first half of 2008 went pretty smoothly and was dominated by the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV. It was the second part of the year, when this started going a bit pear-shaped, what with the recession and Sarah Palin nearly making it into the White House. All in all, the games industry isn't doing half bad. With 86% of UK games retailers confident about 2009 (according to a survey by trade publication MCV) and 58% expecting their Christmas takings will surpass last year's, many are suggesting that the games industry could be recession proof.
Well, never mind all the figures and speculation, all we want to know is what was good, what was bad and what are we going to be playing this Christmas?
The year really began when Grand Theft Auto IV launched and blew all previous sales records out of the water. This time you played as Niko Bellic, an Eastern European trying to make his way in a thinly disguised New York. This title brought the series to a new level of realism and gained almost universal praise. Once again, we were lulled in to the dark underbelly of society, but that's where we want GTA to take and it does it so well, it would be churlish to refuse. Definitely one of the stars of 2008, although our own Mr. Breeden has never forgiven it for the terrible port to PC – he's still smarting over that one.
When it comes to style and all round coolness factor 30, nobody does it like Suda51. This year he brought us No More Heroes, which has to be among one of the most distinctive games of 2008. Despite not being a sequel to Killer 7, Heroes shares similar aesthetics, setting it apart from anything else out there. It also meant we could swing our nunchuk Wii control with gay abandon, strutting our crazy stuff with our light sabre katana – it doesn't get much cooler.
This year's damp squib award goes to Age of Conan, the much-hyped online game that failed to live up to expectations. In a highly competitive market, another grind fest just isn't going to cut it. All the promises fell a bit flat and one suspects that the game should have been held back for a little more tweaking before release. Luckily, Warhammer Online came out to save the day for anyone looking for a bit of MMOG action away from WoW or LOTRO.
For me, 2008 was about waiting and waiting and yet more with the waiting, for Fable 2. At least Pete, me old mucker, didn't disappoint. In a year fraught with depression, gloom mongering and economic calamities, Fable 2 is just what you need to fight back the doldrums. Dancing to delight the locals and adventuring with my mutt made everything alright again. Fable's always the one to turn to when you just want to wander around, chat to townsfolk and get a job at the blackSmith, so you can afford some flowers for Rosy the barmaid. Ah, nothing like the simple life.
Despite seeing the release of Fable 2 and the latest Tomb Raider, November was all about Fallout 3. It's basically this year's Bioshock, garnering praise from all corners. It dished up a veritable smorgasbord of atmosphere, intriguing storyline and engaging gameplay. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to wander through the post-apocalyptic ruins of Washington DC, then this is the game for you. When it comes to action RPGs, it doesn't come much better than this.
We're always screaming for something original, but when they deliver it we go all whiny that isn't wasn't this or it wasn't that. LittleBIGPlanet was one of those games that reviewers loved, but didn't have the sales to back it up. It was original without reinventing the wheel. Players got to enjoy some old fashioned platforming with some great innovations that have come to be dubbed "player created content." This just means you can put your own stamp on the world and seems to be getting new media experts all flustered and excited. Let's just say, LBP gives us a very good reason to invest in a PS3 and we all know there aren't many of those to the pound.
So enjoy the best of 2008 before you start hankering after a new year of gaming -’tis the season and all that.
Most played: Fable 2
Most wanted: Star Trek Online