Ripten Readers’ Choice: Game of the Year Nominees

Ninja Gaiden 2! It has ninja sword, lots o' blood, a bit of boobage, and makes children cry. Perfect game!

Fallout 3. That video only scratches the surface of what's great about it.

MGS4. Hands down.

I don't think Nintendo made any games worthy of GOTY. Sorry :( My vote goes to FO3

I have to agree with FuzzyDuck for MGS4, that game didn't get the credit it deserved, it was a perfect "end" to an epic saga. Although it was pretty much the storyline which makes the game what it is, the gameplay was good and the thought that goes into those games is awesome.
On the other hand SSBB was a big disappointment: requiring no skill to play the game as it's now become a "family-orientated-Wii-fun-franchise" and the only exciting thing was the possibility of playing online which still sucked anyway! Gotta love the Sonic Boom song though!

You know, the greatest criticism of MGS4 is that its just like watching a film. I always respond to that by saying yes. Yes, it is. But you know what? Its the best god damn film ever made.

While all of the games listed deserve their own award, one game has stood out to me as the best game of all time (so far). I play games to meet people and have fun with them. That is why my pick is LittleBigPlanet.

I have introduced many of my friends to the game and still have not received one negative comment. I even got my sisters to play it. Then media molecule takes it a step farther, they let us create our own content to share with each other. I mean, common someone made a calculator and even the creator of the game doesnt know how it works. When a game opens the minds of the community that much it has achieved something that is deserving of its own chapter in history…That and The MGS level pack is by far the most awsome piece of DLC I have ever had the fortune of buying. Paintinator is awsome.


NOTE: wasnt logged in

Drop LBP and things will be REALLY straight. Of course, I'd just like to see people piss and moan about it not being up there.

@mkis007: as much as I love LBP (and I reaaally do!) once you get 100% or close enough on all of the levels and have played a good majority of the ones online it does get a bit boring. That's not to say that I'm trying to rain on LBP's parade but to me a good game is one which I don't get tired of and even with the level creator you can only take SO much before you get frustrated and go play something else. Even with 2 player mode it gets kind of repetitive after a while.

I'm an FPS whore, I even like ones that aren't all that great :P

I wanted to like Resistance 2 but, I feel that Insomniac screwed up a few of the things I liked from Resistance 1, I would rather have more than a 2 weapon max loadout, I really prefer fighting strong enemies with weapons instead being flooded with fast weaker (more annoying) ones.
other than that the game is great. Looks great, plenty of color and the sound effects are done very well.

Gears 2 on the other hand seems to be more balanced. (I know, it is 3rd person, blah)
I like the over the top banter (what do I look like an, effin' botanist!) the cover system is improved dramatically, I don't feel like I am fighting it like I did in Gears 1 (damn, it was like marcus Fenix was convulsing, covered in tar!)
I like how the game has a little more color than Gears 1. also, I am a big fan of weather effects, heavy rain, storms and snowfall. The levels with the rain and hail I really enjoyed. I haven't finished the game but, so far my enjoyment level has been very high.
I don't know if Gears 2 brings really anything new to the franchise that would warrant the GOTY moniker with the exception that it is a blast to play.

Metal Gear Solid 4-GOTY.

metal gear solid 4 baby all da way

You know what's really sad? Super Smash Bros. Brawl's online sucked so hard that it made me buy a PS3, a $1400 HDTV, and three of the four games up there, and I don't regret spending all of that cash for gaming. Now get that PoS title off the list and never nominate a Nintendo game again until they figure out an online service such as XBL or PSN.

Oh, and LittleBigPlanet for GotY. :D

Why is Brawl on the list?
Where is No More Heroes?
If Brawl would be a franchise like Madden it sure wouldn't be on the list.
Does it bring anything new to the table, except for more of everything and a sucky online mode?

Switch Brawl for No More Heroes! Here's why:

- NMH is a Wii game that's done right, with creative, well thought out use of the unique controls.
There is no constant waggling required for combat. It's button mashing, then you waggle to execute those mooks. Plus those small details like using the speaker on the remote as a cellphone and the recharging of your lightsabre.

- Lovely 8 Bit menue and sounds, there's true love for videogames in this masterpiece.

- Wierd, hillarious storyline and dialogue.

- It's the only outstanding, mature third party game on the Wii.

- Better lightsabre combat than any Star Wars game.

- Epic bossfights.

Seriously, NMH is one of the very small reasons (until MadWorld comes out) to buy a Wii as a core gamer.

All are good games but Metal Gear Solid 4 is unquestionably the game of the year. Amazing graphics, incredible gameplay, and a storyline that never lets you go.

This one is a no-brainer.

There was actually a lot of internal discussion about whether we should put a Wii game on here at all. SSBB was the one we ultimately decided on, but I don't think anyone would seriously consider it for GotY unless they were a Nintendo purist. No More Heroes, being more of a "core" game, isn't something that the general Wii base is going crazy for. Most people that would be into that kind of game would likely also own a 360 or PS3 since, you know, they play real games.

LBP. The only fresh and new idea up there.

Fresh and new does not equal good.

Fallout 3 because I said so and I'm smart.

I think Fable 2, It may be riddled with glitches and bugs but Its game play is excellent

Left 4 Dead. This was actually a rather tough choice to make, considering all of the great games released this year. But when it comes down to it, you have to consider what game will stick with you for a very long time. Sure, GTA IV is a fun game with a compelling story and great multiplayer. But not many people are online anymore. Fallout 3 and Fable 2 also have great stories, which offer you choice, resulting in variations in the plot. There's no denying the longevity of those games. Gears of War 2 was naturally a good follow-up to a popular game. The others also have their various pluses for them. But Left 4 Dead offers an experience not many other games could rival. It's not the base gameplay, it's not even the setting (both of which are simply stellar). It's the fact that you can fire this game up, log online and start playing with 3 complete strangers who feel so compelled to act as a team that you work together like no other game can force you too. And the reason behind this? The Director, the engine in the background which punishes the one-man-army concept and rewards the team which sticks together and helps each other. The concept is, when you are doing well, destroying the enemy, the game will compensate by sending more hordes of zombies at you, mixing the game up with more of the special zombie types. If the team works together, these new waves go down easy. If you think only of yourself and run off to grab that one Molotov, you could very well doom your team. Stick together though, defeat that wave of zombies and THEN grab the Molotov. It's a beautiful system. Or, for those without Live, or those who just want to have a non-Xbox friend over can play just as comfortably. The computer players do occasionally have their difficulties, but they are more than capable and will often be a saving force when you get knocked down or incapacitated. All in all, this game is amazing, even without any real story. It is definitely worthy of Game of the Year.

little big planet cause its not about the sails or graphincs even though there both well but because its a creative game that imbraces a new idea and I think that's what a game of the year should be about not the best graphics nor the best sales if it was tht then crysis and mario would take the lead dont u think

Resistance 2 deserves a special mention. The Co-Op is like crack. Works really well! And KZ2 beta!

iJoke!

LittleBigPlanet hands down.

I am ashamed that Resistance 2 didn't make it on there. Such a great, truly amazing game... if only Sony had better Marketing. Taking a look at the list, I am going to have to say Little Big Planet gets my vote. It's simply an amazing game that deserves the credit for doing something that was very unique and doesn't imitate any other type of gameplay. On the other hand, Metal Gear Solid 4 was a great game as well. I have no idea why the HELL Super Smash Bros Brawl is up there.... that game was terrible... online sucked, gameplay sucked compared to the previous two, and just, yeah, terrible game. All the other games on the list are great as well, but Little Big Planet gets my verdict. Congratulations Media Molecule.

No vote for me honestly, I haven't played MGS4, Fable 2 , or Super Smash Bros. As for the other nominees Gears 2 (to me) was the same as Gears 1, GTA 4 is the same as the other GTA's, LBP was a very fun game but I didn't get to really play it and take it all in.

My vote is Dead Space and Persona 4. Sorry Ripten.

MGS4 for goty,
maybe my vote would have been a little different if I had played lbp, might be the next game I pick up.

Gears was nice, but like all other games it gets boring.

Resistance 2 was really cool, but it kind of gets repetitive, but I still like it because of the awesome features it has.

Dead space, rented it, its okay, but not comparable to these games.

Fable is pretty cool without all of its problems.
Gta was fun, but it doesn't last forever.

SSB, is fun for 10 minutes, then you have these other "real" games. I understand why that could be up there, but if you had to choose a wii title, there are many more that are way better than ssb.

I predict god of war 3 will be the goty of 2009.

Whaler and Bagat, I noticed that neither of you made mention of Fallout 3 in your thoughts. Have either of you played it?

O Rly? The right-winged Kojima/Sony midget that lives in my entrails was dissapointed with one thing in MGS4,Codec.Better Codec=GOTY xD.
I wish Fallout 3 wasn't so full of glitches,and I wish it was based on GURPS,and a more cohesive story could have helped(spreaded oblivion-like quests is not a story per-se),so no GOTY.
LBP's potential is based on its community,so it's hardly mesurable if you'll enjoy it or not.

My GOTY: Megaman 9.

Special Mention: Wipeout HD

Why is this even in question? Gears of War 2, of course.

I mean... it's got a gun, with a chainsaw on it.

"b but dave.. fallout 3 was"

GUN with a CHAINSAW on it.

"fallout was so.."

GUN.. with a motherfucking CHAINSAW on it, motherfucker.

Any game that has a gun with a functioning chainsaw on it is automatic must-buy and GOTY. If you disagree, I'll introduce you to my gun.

It's got a chainsaw on it >_<

Don't get me wrong, fallout 3 was a great game. It has guns, plenty of guns. It even has something that resembles a chainsaw. But unless they patch in some duct tape so I can stick the chainsaw on a gun, it's really no-contest.

Now, I have a question. And don't get me wrong: I have no reason to believe I will win this contest. This is more of a curiosity sort of thing. Does the winner choose the game they want, or are they awarded the Game of the Year itself?

Winner gets to choose.

winner gets to choose a new game at 60 bucks and under. cuz hey, were cool, but poor. and did you really think you would pull a rock band 2 on us???!

: )

Oh no, of course not! I got Guitar Hero World Tour when it released, in the full band kit. So I don't need another drum set or anything like that. I was just curious if it was restricted to the winning game, the nominees, or what.

Dan: I missed Fallout 3 for some reason but no I haven't played that either although I really want to. I mean don't get me wrong I'm only saying the 2 games I played this year and REALLY enjoyed and have played many times. I don't want to dis any of the game nominees seeing as I haven't played many of them yet.

Ripten Readers, Riptenites, Game of Year Announced! comment contest winners announced too! Check it out.

http://www.ripten.com/2009/02/23/metal-gear-sol...