The best of this year's joypad twiddlers, revealed.
While the PC has seen its fair share of excellent titles, they've been dwarfed by the sheer number of new console games in 2008. Quantity, however doesn't denote quality. So what are our picks for the best console-exclusive releases this year?
#5 Braid (Xbox 360)
Sure, the plot's pretentious nonsense, but this Xbox-Live Arcade exclusive title showed that simple platform mechanics, when done meticulously well, and matched with carefully considered art style can easily be the equal of "full price" games. Plus, the princess is nearly always in another castle -- isn't she?
#4 De Blob (Nintendo Wii)
De little Australian game that could, and a surprising hit for THQ. This musically-minded essential re-imagining of the ancient classic Wizball combined cute visuals and a simple yet addictive gameplay mechanic. De Blob wasn't one of the big name, over-hyped releases of the year, but it delivered nonetheless.
#3 Super Smash Bros Brawl (Nintendo Wii)
For years, console fanatics argued over whether Sonic or Mario were better. Their Olympics title is best left forgotten, but once Nintendo got over their customary habit of delaying releases for Australians, we were able to take the two pugilists head to head in a battle for the ages. And then Solid Snake snuck in, hidden in a box and broke their necks, making the whole thing moot.
#2 LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
You can't accuse LittleBigPlanet of being underhyped. It feels like years that we had to wait and endure the hype for Sony's Sackboy-centric game. The good news? It's finally arrived, and it's an excellent game and game creation kit, although concerns over Sony's rather regimented censorship structure could put the dampeners on future community creations.
#1 and.. erm... #1 GTAIV or Saints Row 2 (PS3/Xbox 360)
A tough call, this one. GTAIV is undoubtedly the more technically proficient title, and one that absolutely drips character and cohesive story line. But Saints Row 2 drips playability, does more with the "sandbox" concept, and lets you play as a morbidly obese transvestite in charge of a sewage truck gone amuck. GTAIV would win the Oscar, but we feel Saints Row 2 would probably edge it out for a Most Popular Logie award, and on that basis, we're stuck between the two.
(Special note: The Author still claims that "Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys!" has the best game title of 2008. It's probably a rubbish game, though.)
You almost certainly disagree, and you're entitled to your opinion. What do you think were the best console titles of 2008?