[System of the Year]
Nintendo DS
This handheld juggernaut just won't stop being relentless to the competition! It still sells millions upon millions of units worldwide. This year we had a wonderful catalog of games including but not limited to: Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Super Scribblenauts, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Mario VS. Donkey Kong: Miniland Mayhem, and more! Great year for a great system.
Sony PSP
The PSP is selling abysmally in every region save for its homeland of Japan. That's all right though. It still has a great amount of games on it regardless such as: God of War: Ghost of Sparta (did not get nominated since I didn't play it), Hot Shots Tennis: Get A Grip, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Phantasy Star Portable 2. Not a bad year for the system software-wise at all.
Nintendo Wii
The Wii is a success beyond measure. 2010 was a year that hardcore gamers cannot complain about at all. There was: Super Mario Galaxy 2, Disney's Epic Mickey, Metroid: Other M, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Sonic Colors, NBA Jam, FlingSmash, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. With no doubt, the Wii had a very wonderful year for both casual and hardcore games.
Xbox 360
Halo Reach, Dead Rising: Case Zero, Crackdown 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Kinect, and others makes this year for the 360 a great system for both casual and hardcore gamers-- just like the Wii. Sure, I cannot stand Kinect and that seems like Microsoft's desperate plea to be relevant, but the 360 can still sell well in all regions (save for Japan, of course).
PlayStation 3
Move debuted as Sony's answer to the Wii remote. Perhaps it's not innovative enough to warrant too much attention. Regardless, patches to Killzone 3 and MAG with Move playability came or are coming. Other than that, there were some notable titles such as God of War III, MAG, The Sly Collection, and Gran Turismo 5. A good year for a great system, the PS3 continues to chug along.
And the winner is...
Nintendo Wii
With more notable games than the competition, the new Wii Remote Plus accessory, and the new red Mario 25th anniversary bundle, the Wii simply rocked this year. There's no question that the Wii is my favorite console this generation, but there's no playing favorites here. The Wii is a system that outclassed the rest this year. Congrats, Nintendo.
Runner-Up: PlayStation 3
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Now the time has come, but before we get to the Game of the Year of this year, let's take a look back at 2009's Game of the Year. Oh, what a great one that was!
GOTY 2009: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Mario hadn't had a console 2D Mario game in, what, 20 years? With the ability to play with four characters/players at once, a rocking amount of levels, three hidden star coins in each level that unlock a whole new world of challenging levels, and a memorable soundtrack make up New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Sure, you may call it a LittleBigPlanet rip-off, but New Super Mario Bros. Wii didn't have floaty jumping. Ooh, diss! And that was 2008's Game of the Year! Regardless, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a sales juggernaut, and quite frankly, this amazing game deserves every sale it gets!
Now onto the GotY 2010 Award nominees...
[Game of the Year 2010 Nominees]
God of War III (PS3)
Kratos takes on his ultimate foe, the god of gods, Zeus, in the conclusion to the God of War trilogy in God of War III. Featuring impressive, jaw-unhinging visuals that are a true work of art (F.U., Ebert), a visceral combat system that master players can block and attack with ease, and a challenge campaign that lasts around ten hours, God of War III is a beast of a game, and it could only be done on the PlayStation 3.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
This is the ultimate racing game of 2010. Forget Blur or Split/Second or Need for Speed or whatever. Kart racers are in, and those games are out. The game that outperformed Mario Kart Wii of all games with its intriguing amount of unlockables, characters, tracks, and options, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is one exhilarating ride worthy of every gamer's attention.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Mario won last year with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and this year it's a tight race to see which game will be Game of the Year 2010. It's Mario's 25th anniversary, and he celebrated it in style with the incredible, unbelievable Super Mario Galaxy 2. The developers at Nintendo EAD took all the leftover ideas from the original Mario Galaxy, and placed them into this highly-inventive game. Mario usually knows best, and it shows in the Wii's best blockbuster.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)
Nintendo heavily-promoted Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies as it was the first mainline Dragon Quest game to hit the system in over a decade. The game is full of replay value with an unlimited amount of quests, enemies to slay, people to rescue, and a long storyline to follow. The game that got me back into RPGs, I hold a very special place in my heart for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP)
Naked Snake is back in the 60s in the jungles in bite-size missions, perfect for a handheld. The game features the same stealth-action gameplay that many of us, including fans of the franchise, know and love. There's even a mode where you can take down a creature from the Monster Hunter franchise. You can bet Japan ate that mode up like sake and sushi! A wonderful edition to the Metal Gear Solid series, this game is a must for PSP owners.
And the Game of the Year of 2010 is...
....
[GoTY 2010: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)]
With more diversity than any other game released this year, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the ultimate video game. It's what video games are foremost all about. Not story, not heavy-handed cinematics, or intense violence, but FUN! And Super Mario Galaxy 2 delivers fun in spades. Nintendo EAD once again shows while they are the kings of video game design with this incredibly enjoyable, colorful 3D platformer. There is no better game this year, and there was some tough competition.
Runner-Up GotY 2010: God of War III (PS3)
GOTY 2009: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Mario hadn't had a console 2D Mario game in, what, 20 years? With the ability to play with four characters/players at once, a rocking amount of levels, three hidden star coins in each level that unlock a whole new world of challenging levels, and a memorable soundtrack make up New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Sure, you may call it a LittleBigPlanet rip-off, but New Super Mario Bros. Wii didn't have floaty jumping. Ooh, diss! And that was 2008's Game of the Year! Regardless, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a sales juggernaut, and quite frankly, this amazing game deserves every sale it gets!
===
Now onto the GotY 2010 Award nominees...
[Game of the Year 2010 Nominees]
God of War III (PS3)
Kratos takes on his ultimate foe, the god of gods, Zeus, in the conclusion to the God of War trilogy in God of War III. Featuring impressive, jaw-unhinging visuals that are a true work of art (F.U., Ebert), a visceral combat system that master players can block and attack with ease, and a challenge campaign that lasts around ten hours, God of War III is a beast of a game, and it could only be done on the PlayStation 3.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
This is the ultimate racing game of 2010. Forget Blur or Split/Second or Need for Speed or whatever. Kart racers are in, and those games are out. The game that outperformed Mario Kart Wii of all games with its intriguing amount of unlockables, characters, tracks, and options, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is one exhilarating ride worthy of every gamer's attention.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Mario won last year with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and this year it's a tight race to see which game will be Game of the Year 2010. It's Mario's 25th anniversary, and he celebrated it in style with the incredible, unbelievable Super Mario Galaxy 2. The developers at Nintendo EAD took all the leftover ideas from the original Mario Galaxy, and placed them into this highly-inventive game. Mario usually knows best, and it shows in the Wii's best blockbuster.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)
Nintendo heavily-promoted Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies as it was the first mainline Dragon Quest game to hit the system in over a decade. The game is full of replay value with an unlimited amount of quests, enemies to slay, people to rescue, and a long storyline to follow. The game that got me back into RPGs, I hold a very special place in my heart for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP)
Naked Snake is back in the 60s in the jungles in bite-size missions, perfect for a handheld. The game features the same stealth-action gameplay that many of us, including fans of the franchise, know and love. There's even a mode where you can take down a creature from the Monster Hunter franchise. You can bet Japan ate that mode up like sake and sushi! A wonderful edition to the Metal Gear Solid series, this game is a must for PSP owners.
And the Game of the Year of 2010 is...
....
[GoTY 2010: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)]
With more diversity than any other game released this year, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the ultimate video game. It's what video games are foremost all about. Not story, not heavy-handed cinematics, or intense violence, but FUN! And Super Mario Galaxy 2 delivers fun in spades. Nintendo EAD once again shows while they are the kings of video game design with this incredibly enjoyable, colorful 3D platformer. There is no better game this year, and there was some tough competition.
Runner-Up GotY 2010: God of War III (PS3)
===
There you have it. The curtains are closing, the audience is leaving, and the custodians are getting ready to clean up the aisles. This was a supremely fun and enjoyable Best of 2010 Awards show, and I hope you loved it as much as I did. As always, if your favorite game wasn't nominated, perhaps I didn't play it! So no yelling! I'm a sensitive dude anyway. Until next year, we'll see you back here in 2011 for traditional SPC posts! See ya!
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