Alright, so after a long day–one of many to come–during this Christmas week, I finally get around to posting about my Top 5 2008 Sony titles. No grandiose introspection or profound prefacing to start us off, so let’s get right to it.
#5: PixelJunk Eden | Playstation Network | July 31, 2008
The Playstation Network has definitely been one of the strongest points for Sony, and PixelJunk Eden is surely one of the titles I enjoyed from it. PixelJunk Eden’s simplicity, yet vibrant and stylish art design set an entertaining mood for this unique momentum-based platformer. Although the objective of simply collecting spectres–which are reached by gathering spores and causing nearby seeds to bloom to create new pathways toward them–feels rather empty and lacks substance, the addiction of PixelJunk Eden lies in its gameplay. Swinging like a pendulum (although doing full circular rotations is an often occurrence) and launching yourself to each new plant has never been so fun. I’m not quite sure if it’s the physics behind the game’s design or the enriching aesthetic that makes playing the game enjoyable, but it’s certainly one of the most unique titles to hit the PSN and is loads more fun when played with others. If you’ve grown tired of Superstar Dust HD and Calling All Cars, I recommend checking this game out if you’re in need of a new addiction.
#4: Gundam vs Gundam | Playstation Portable |
November 20, 2008
Ported from the Arcade, Gundam vs Gundam is a definite must-get for any Gundam fan. Merging various Gundam series into one arcade fighter is any Gundam fan’s dream as pitting Wing Zero against Freedom becomes a reality. Or rather, fight alongside each other in the game’s cooperative mode. The gameplay is similar to the Rengou vs ZAFT series (possibly my favourite Gundam title on any platform), but combining the Wing universe with the SEED universe made this a must-get for me. The melee system is also much more refined and overall speed of the gameplay is significantly faster than that of Rengou vs ZAFT. But the options don’t stop at the Arcade coop. Supporting Ad-Hoc Party, you can play 2 vs 2 matches with anyone across the globe, which to say the least, had me drooling at the idea once I first saw it announced in the Japanese Promotional trailer. I highly recommend any PSP owner with a love for Gundam to certainly invest in this game.
#3: Dissidia: Final Fantasy | Playstation Portable |
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Square-Enix releases Dissidia: Final Fantasy, an action game (or as they like to put it: “dramatic progressive action”) that pits protagonists and villains against each other from Final Fantasy titles 1 through 10–along with two bonus guest characters from 11 and 12. But I’m sure many others who were looking forward to this game will agree that the game’s story wasn’t the main reason they were enthusiastic about the title. Rather, being able to create matches between Final Fantasy’s most recognizable heroes and villains alike is a fanboy’s dream come true. The gameplay doesn’t disappoint either, with customizable movesets, equips, accessories, summons and a leveling-up system, Dissidia allows players to create their ultimate character and pit them against their friends for some heated competition. Ad-Hoc Party support is planned for the future and the ability to cinematically edit replays is certainly a plus. Pick up Dissidia today if you’re a diehard Final Fantasy fan.
#2: LittleBigPlanet | Playstation 3 | Oct/Nov, 2008
Media Molecule brings one of the most innovative titles of the year with LittleBigPlanet. Evolving the genre by placing the painter’s brush in the hands of the players, it is up to the community themselves to create stages that they want to play, however they desire. Consequently, many replicas of our favourite franchises flood the LBP world, all of which have never failed to shock and awe me when I come across one. In fact, today I played a Dead Space replica and without a doubt, it was probably the best-crafted stage I had ever seen/played in my life. It’s this ability to become a creator that fuels the addiction of LittleBigPlanet. I’m personally not a very good stage creator, but simply logging on to see what new stages have been made has been enjoyable enough for me as I’m constantly surprised at what people come up with. Sure, you might have to dig deep sometimes to find the really good ones, but when you play with friends and simply want to explore the unknown on stages that you know other people like yourself have made, it’s still a thrilling experience–regardless of how crappy the stage can get, because hey, you can always settle for slap wars and sabotage your friends all the way to the end.
#1: Metal Gear Solid 4 | Playstation 3 | June 12, 2008
Yeah, I’m sure many of you expected this. But hey, sue me for liking the story. MGS4 sports some ridiculously awesome graphics, cinematography, voice-acting and storytelling that many other games cannot match. In fact, some have come to say that MGS4 is a movie and not a video game–and in some respects, I suppose they’re right. But that doesn’t change the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed MGS4 and would highly recommend it to anyone who’s been and/or still is a fan of the franchise, because it is without a doubt a worthy finale worth checking out. Those new to Metal Gear may want to play through MGS 1-3 in order to really get a grasp on MGS4 once its begins its tale, but it’s a well worth effort in order to be able to enjoy a game such as MGS4. Espionage has never been so fun as the game takes you to various locations, each with their own style and atmosphere that forces you to reform your strategies in order to progress forward. MGS4 is easily the best title at present to buy a PS3 for in my opinion, and if you’re a long time fan of Metal Gear and have yet to get a PS3–perhaps you should start checking that wallet of yours and see where you’re at.
Closing
Not to reiterate Mega’s closing, but these titles are obviously opinionated and are picked based on my tastes and preferences. It is neither right nor wrong if you agree or disagree with my list, rather, if you find yourself disagreeing, then at least you know where your preferences lie. But if you find yourself identifying with my taste in games, then I greatly recommend you check these titles out. Christmas is rolling around, and these are certainly five awesome games that I’ve had no regrets in playing.
