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Edge's Top 30 of 2008
30. Fieldrunners
iPhone
Subatomic Studios
Fieldrunners fools players by posing as a typical game in the Tower Defense genre—play it for a few minutes here and there, and call it a day. After hours pass unnoticed while playing this touch-enabled title, you realize that Subatomic Studios has slipped you something a little more potent.
29. Sonny
Online Flash
Armor Games
As a free Flash game, one may not expect much from the turn-based RPG Sonny. But the depth of this game becomes apparent after a short period of play, with a multitude of different abilities and strategies made accessible by a user-friendly interface. A risk-free game and an example of how far Flash games have come, through and through.
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28. LostWinds
WiiWare
Frontier Developments
When LostWinds launched as a WiiWare title, many were taken aback by the meticulous presentation and the intuitive Wii Remote controls. Most have now come to terms with the initial surprise and welcome LostWinds as one of the finer pieces of software this year, downloadable or packaged.
27. Fallout 3
PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Bethesda Softworks
Fallout 3’s technical shortcomings melt away amidst gripping quest design and an expansive world that openly invites players to plunge into the radiated rubble of post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. Its ability to incite hours-long gaming sessions is a testament to its powers of immersion.
26. Tales of Vesperia
Xbox 360
Namco Bandai Games
Uncommonly personal storytelling and characterization define the Tales of Vesperia experience. It’s a step forward for the franchise, but doesn’t abandon the best aspects introduced by previous Tales games.
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If it were up to me, Valkyria Chronicals in #2. But it isn't, which is a shame.
Good list though ;p
Great list, I couldn't agree more. Well done Edge.
Whilst I find your top 10 games wearily predictable, I am glad to see the likes of Space Invaders Extreme, Dead Space and TR: Underworld included in your Top 30 pick. All three games were thoroughly enjoyable titles for me this past year, each of them seeming to revel in their exquisite production values and sheer playability.
I cannot agree that either Far Cry 2 or Fallout 3 should enjoy such favour in your list - both titles were huge disappointments for me, neither of which I bothered finishing due to boredom and indifference. Ah well.
I'm surprised to see Tomb Raider Underworld on the list. I thought I was the only person who thoroughly enjoyed that experience. It was true Tomb Raiding.
Hmm...
Pick up on some of these games, I think i shall...
As a Intrigued 360 and Wii owner, i think i need to add to my list of 360 content, and widen it. Thanks for the games.
Sorry, but this list is rubbish. Valkyria Chronicles should definitely be on the list, and Far Cry 2 should be way down at the bottom, if there at all. Fallout 3 should be top 3, Fable II shouldn't. There are tons of things wrong here, but I think that's enough for now. Never mind, I just remembered that Tomb Raider is on the list at all. Stick to reporting on games, the reviewing thing isn't working out too well.
The way I see it, Far Cry 2 was really overrated. I bought it a couple of days after t came out and i was super-psyched to play it. It sucked tho and i would trade it and Fallout's spots in a second
Fallout 3 is the Game to beat this year, IMHO. LBP is so impressive it really is worth buying a PS3 for it just to also get a blu-ray and Killzone 2 is coming. It seems that Home has potential and PS3 is truly getting some legs but X360 owns at this point for online ease and selection.
I love FPSs and am a graphics whore so if killzone reviews well and has visuals that put Gears to shame I might have to join the dark side and get a PS3. The xbox brand has always been associated with FPSs more than any other console, if the PS3 starts to make up ground in that area I might just have to get one. When it drops to $299 that is.
not suprising about the no.1 spot at all, as Edge praise the ground that LBP walk on.
Whish i knew why. i still refuse to buy a ps3 for 1 game.
Because... its a great game maybe?? I have yet to buy a PS3, I'm holding for the rumored March price cut, but I have played at a friend's house and is truly a great and innovative game. I find it funny that you mention how EDGE praises LBP and yet you still wonder why is a good game, just read the comments, previews and reviews from EDGE and other magazines again and you will found out why.
PS. I also dont want to buy a system for just a game (even though I did just that with the original Xbox cause I wanted to play that HALO game everyone was talking about) I think next year might be finally a good time to get a PS3 with MGS4 and LBP already out and God of War 3 coming soon. Until then is Halo 3 and horde mode on Gears 2 all the way.
I like this list, if only because it doesn't read like a sales chart...and doesn't conform to expections and fanboys' desires.
GTA IV as the No. 2 game? I'd say it conforms to not only sales charts, but fanboy wet dreams. Personal preference aside, MGS4 relegated to No. 14 really shows the editors weren't paying enough attention to the entire story of Solid Snake's final chapter-- every new game brought with it real-world issues, what with the Cold War in MGS3, control of the digital age in MGS2, genetics and cloning in MGS1, and the ever-growing presence of private military corporations for the latest installment.
GTA IV brought nothing new that I haven't already seen in the past two sequels. Free roaming, killing, hookers, blah blah blah. All it really did was bring it online.
GOW 2 at No. 4 also does nothing but fuel the idea of $$$ driving this list. I'm not even going to touch it because we all know the amount it raked in and the level of drooling gamers that snapped it up blindly.
I'd only agree that the Grid, Burnout Paradise and LBP deserve their places on the list where they are. MGS4 that far back however over rehashed tripe shows that the thought process on this best-of wasn't very deep.
your theory gets blown by the many budget titles on the list, as well as LBP taking slot #1, which definitely did not sell as well as the other titles in the top 10.
And I'd actually have GTA4 swap spots with GoW2....though GTA4 had far better technical merits to it than GoW2.
And leave fallout where it is...the game was merely alright as far as RPGs go. a bit too oblivion-ish for my tastes. Consolified RPGs...are a sad trend.
Heheh... I actually wonder which platform had RPGs first - PC or consoles. I guess when you had Final Fantasy 1 on the NES, there were the Ultima series on the PC...
I actually agree with the people who like Fallout 3 though - it's a good action RPG.
The Hobbit on ZX :-)
Metal Gear Solid 4 is highly overrated. It was good game, but 14 is a good spot for it. The story was weaker than other titles in the series. I just couldn't get hooked into it like say Metal Gear Solid 1 or 3. Thats just me though, as many have enjoyed it, I just don't see why.
As for gameplay, the first half was really, really good. It was different from any other in the series, and was a fun and fresh experience in the franchise. However, the second half went back to the old 15 minute gameplay, 30 minute cutscene, 10 minute gameplay, 30 minute cutscene, boss battle. It went back to an old formula that got tired over time.
Personally, I enjoyed Metal Gear Solid 4. It was fan service in the finest form, and is easily one of the better games of the year, and one of the best on the PlayStation 3. I hope it gets ported to the 360 sometime, as I wouldn't mind going through it again, and I don't own a PS3 anymore.
As for Grand Theft Auto IV, I thought it is a little overrated as well, but it is still a very, very good game, and I enjoyed it more than Metal Gear Solid 4. Top 5 of the year in my opinion.
Also, I think Fallout 3 should be a little higher. It was a very compelling game, and sucked me into the Capital Wasteland. I really enjoyed the game. Top 10.
Uh...Valkyria Chronicles? Hello? D:
Not on the XBox. Sorry. Edge loves XBox why would they list a PS3 exclusive?
I'll be sure to stick around EDGE... it seems to be where an avid LBP'er could feel the love!
On other news, i read somewhere that it barely cracked 300k sales in the US in 2 months, not a good number. Still here's to a console bundle, GotY and the then inevitable GotY edition (with day one t-shirt)
Personally, I would swap Fable 2 and Fallout 3's places - Fable 2, while groundbreaking, was RIDDLED with bugs. And not just little bugs, but game breaking ones.
Fallout 3 is a brilliant piece of storytelling and branching plotlines.
I would not have rated Fable as high. I think early reviews were done while wearing product-to-review-love tinted glasses. It feels like an xbox 1 game with extra screen real estate to move around in. From the over selling of the dog and consequences of actions leading to a 'so what' when they arrive, to the hideous disjointed map and environment system where you are hemmed in by the mother of all invisible wall mazes, this game does not deserve such a high position. I agree about MGS4, to fans it is overwhelmingly good, but if you have never played the series before it is very hard to get into. Other than that I agree with the list. Which is good because the game buying public need to be in agreement with reviews; we trust them before parting with our cash.
You wouldn't rate Fable that high, but Microsoft...er... Edge would.
I almost agree with this list.
I just don't understand why Gears 2 is on the list but Resistance 2 isn't when both games are more of the same but with better graphics.
I also disagree with MGS4 being 14th. It should be easely in the top 5.
MGS4 is behind L4D and Fable II? That's ridiculous. Metacritic scores doesn't seem to agree.
LBP on number 1, I have to agree with this. GOTY in my opinion.
Edit: I forget about Prince of Persia. Not on the list? Ha, not a XBox exclusive...
Edit2: Valkyrian Chronicles? Nope, not a XBox exclusive either...
I never thought I'd agree with a platforming game being dubbed GOTY, but LBP really is that good.
This is heresy. Only a 360 game is capable of winning GotY. It has a way bigger installed base and has meathead shooters like gears and halo. The best exclusives and has Fable 2, the best RPG EVAR!!!!
Ok, that was a joke by the way. Good list. It’s nice to see a publication give nods to games most would throw aside. I was impressed by Far Cry 2 and Tales' listing and also found it brave that they listed Fallout 3 so low on the list. I've always appreciated it when a magazine or website goes against conventional thinking when coming up with GotY lists and doesn't just throw up the highest rated or best selling games.
Cool list!
LBP is awsome. Definitely GOTY.
LBP easily GOTY. It's excellent.
LBP, GOTY and deservedly so. Nothing can touch it this year.
Pretty solid list, but I would have placed LBP back in the teens and had Fallout 3 at #1 as LBP is more style than substance, whereas Fallout 3 is overflowing with substance.
LBP lays waste before it!
Its just so much fun to play and create. The sharing on the other had can be tricky (oh no not one more rocket car level !!!!!!). Been playing it mostly non-stop since I got it 3 weeks ago and still going strong.
Agreed, more or less.
LBP is GOTY, hands down. Been playing it from day one and can't see myself stop playing it. With the inevitable meaningful DLCs, there's a big chance that it will be GOTY for 2009 as well (at least for me).
I'm not so sure about Fable II, MGS4, and L4D though. Oh and where's Bangai-o Spirits?
Seems like both FPS and RTS genres have taken a serious quality/quantity hit compared to 2007, of course there are always great games but those are the genres I love to play the most and I really don't feel as satisfied as last year. L4D (for FPS) and SoaSE (for hybrid RTS then) are pretty much the only titles that hit the right nerves imo, other titles (and on PC especially the (stand-alone) expansion packs) were quite flawed. 2009 looks pretty sharp to solve that though.