Showing 1-10 of 16 items
2010's 2009 Game of the Year
While there were other 2009 games that I came back to in 2010, the fact that Shattered Memories' creepy atmosphere and climactic twist lost only a little of their punch on subsequent playthroughs puts it above the competition.
Runner Up: Borderlands
Best New Character
Francis York Morgan is an FBI agent who has been allowed to keep his job despite openly talking to an imaginary friend. And yet, he's the most believable character I encountered in a game this year. That's because we see York do more than shoot zombies and solve key-based puzzles: we see him fall in love and deal with personal demons that are, while batshit crazy, remarkably human.
Runner Up: Kay Faraday
Best Original Song - "Another Winter" by Anamanaguchi
Months after the release of this game, I still can't get the ultra-catchy first level music out of my head.
Runner Up: "Entrance" from Pac-Man CE DX
Best Debut
Ignore the completely unnecessary (and too soon) DLC for a moment, and remember how happy you were the first time you booted up Double Fine's Halloween RPG. Not only does Costume Quest make a great first impression, it introduces a world that could still make a welcome return, perhaps with a different holiday theme.
Runner Up: Limbo
Best PC-only game
I don't play many PC games, but VVVVVV was great, and brutal in the best possible way.
Runner Up: Civ V
Best Download-Only Game; Best Xbox 360-Only Game
Limbo is the first downloadable game that has ever felt to me as complete as its disc-based counterparts. With its ultra-stylized graphics and a perfect duration for the number of gameplay ideas, Limbo is short-form gaming done right.
Best Download-Only Game Runner Up: Pac-Man CE DX
Best Xbox 360-Only Game Runner Up: Halo: Reach
Best Looking Game | Runner Up: Limbo
Most Improved Franchise | Runner Up: Trauma Center
Best Wii-Only Game | Runner Up: Kirby's Epic Yarn
Character I'd Most Like to Party With | Runner Up: Francis York Morgan
