Empty Pockets 2009

I hope this doesn't come off as a little trite for a first post (message boards the world over have discussed this topic, or some variant thereof, ad nauseaum) but I just really wanted to share my thoughts on this year's crop of classics. As you can see, the Christmas Rush has already begun, and while this time of year is really hard on my wallet (last year I blew almost 20 large on freaking videogames, no joke. 20 FUCKING LARGE! That's just stupid, I know.), it also makes me really happy knowing that almost every time I go to Datablitz there's going to be something cool on the shelf to check out. (Thankfully DB seems to be caving to the increased competition from Mr. Dynamic and is pricing their games lower, as well as buying more cheap R3 stock instead of flooding the market with R1.) This year looks to be more manageable though, as a lot of AAA games seem to have retreated into 2010, wanting to avoid the unstoppable sales juggernaut that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Which means my list is a lot easier to write! Joy for me.

Anyway, I'm getting off track here. Without further ado, I bring you the PS3-only version of...

Empty Pockets 2009(tm).





Number 10: Band Hero

Don't throw rocks at meee. Please?

Yeah, I know it's popular to sneer at Band Hero because it's full of pop as opposed to the riff-heavy selections that Guitar Hero and Rock Band have thus far offered up. But after playing through RB1 again recently, I came to the realization that that familiarity is exactly what I'm looking for. Whether playing solo or (especially) when friends are over to hang out, it's a lot more fun for everybody when the audience can sing along with the song you're playing. Beatles Rock Band might have already accomplished that, to a certain extent, but I want to play through an "instrument" game where me and all of my guests can just jam and sing along with whoever's playing, having a couple beers and enjoying the day.


Number 9: Tekken 6

I swore to myself I would avoid Tekken 6 like the plague. After all, I already have Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection Online, and it's not like part 6 is going to play much different. I've played it at the arcade, and it's just... um, Tekken. It's fun, and familiar, but I definitely wasn't sure I want to spend Php 2,400.00 on it.

Plus, I've always been kind of mediocre at Tekken, my Namco fighting game specialty being the Soul Calibur series. My fellow PPS members rhugged (my cousin) and rox (my former officemate) would likely beat me into the ground if we ever played a serious game. The trophy list will definitely have some kind of "Win XXX Games" achievement on it that I will never, ever be able to get, so I won't even get a Platinum out of my purchase.

So why is it on my Top 10 list?

I like Namco's fighting games because there's always a lot of crap to do offline, and they generally give you significant value for money. You don't need to train hard and become a total bad-ass at the game to have fun with their shit, because you can just enjoy the various offline modes Namco rarely fails to offer. Play through the story mode to unlock movies? Collect costume bodyparts to finally create a borderline psychopathic S&M nymphomaniac version of Lili? Invite some non-hardcore friends over to relive that venerable college dorm-room sport, Drunk Tekken(tm)?




Number 8: Brutal Legend

I definitely had to include this game on my list for several reasons.

1. It's a Tim Schafer game. This man is a legend, making some of my favorite games of all time.

Psychonauts! Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis! Full Throttle! Day of the Tentacle! Grim Fandango!
(Yeah, I used to be a big PC nerd, especially when it comes to adventure games.)

Yet recently the games he releases have been criminally underappreciated by the buying public, despite getting great reviews. Therefore I felt I needed to do my part to big his latest game up.

2. It actually looks really good. You can read Destructoid's preview here.

3. It's an EA game, so mura lang dito sa Pinas. Brutal Legend will probably sell for Php 2,195 to 2,150, like every other EA Singapore release at Datablitz (due to their being the official EA distributor locally). Easier on my wallet, which is always a good thing.

(Author's note: I'm not employed by Datablitz, nor am I shilling for them in any way.)



Number 7:
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

Jesus Christ, that image probably set the record for the most exploitative picture I've ever used in a blog post.

I'ma get the obligatory boob joke out of the way right out front para matapos na -

"That's the breast NGS2 screenshot I've ever seen!"

Nyeeeee. Corny.

Anyway, besides the massive gazongas, the first Ninja Gaiden Sigma was one of the most legitimately challenging games I've ever played. I may not be the most proficient gamer in some genres (cough *racing* double cough *puzzle*) but I pride myself on my ability to finish even the most difficult action games, and the call of NGS2 and its sure-to-be ridiculous level of difficulty is a siren call I can't resist. Plus they (reportedly) fixed the incredibly broken camera from the 360 version! Sounds like something I want.

Also, boobs.



Number 6: NBA 2K10

I pretty much have no choice but to include 2K on this list.

I mean, since I got my PS3, it's the only game series our family buys year in and year out. Me and my brother split the bill on the latest edition of NBA 2K every year, and it's never let us down yet - the total playtime we accumulate over the year it spins in our disc drive puts to shame even massive RPG epics like Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition.

Being their tenth anniversary game, I was fully expecting this year's edition to be a substantial upgrade over the last, and it seems that 2K Sports has come through in that respect (here's the link to the Operation Sports preview that you should totally read, if you haven't already). I've heard rumblings that NBA Live 10 is going to be significantly improved over last year's model (having pirated one of the main guys from the 2K franchise to work on the EA game) but EA Sports has promised that before and let me down pretty badly. So until proven otherwise, I'm endorsing the proven winner and old reliable, NBA 2K10.

Remember Ric Flair's words, EA: "To be the man, ya gotta beat the man."


Number 5:
Uncharted 2 - Among Thieves

Nathan Drake's first adventure is still one of my favorite games on the system, and the first recommendation out of my mouth whenever one of my friends picks up a new PS3. It brought cinematic flair, a happy summer action movie vibe, great dialogue, fun gameplay, and an amazingly colorful, bright world that, to this day, makes it stand out so much when compared to Gears of War, Killzone 2 and their other gray compatriots.

Needless to say, I would've bought this game even if all it offered was more of the same. Hell, after I first watched the E3 trailer, very large "SOLD!" signs were already running through my head. But what's that you say, Sony? You're going to let us ALL play the multiplayer portion of Uncharted 2 for free?

Bald-faced lies, indeed, Joystiq. Bald-faced lies. Hahahahaha!


Number 4:
Ratchet and Clank Future - A Crack In Time

Just look at that picture, man. It's fucking priceless! :-D

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The Ratchet and Clank series is like an old pillow that's comfortable and familiar - you change the pillow case every so often to keep things fresh, but the underlying soft pillowiness of it stays the same, day after day. As has been made quite obvious in recent screenshots, this game looks a whoooole lot better than R&CF: Tools of Destruction, and they seem to have made some constructive (but still relatively minor) changes to the gameplay we all know and love.

They'd better be minor, Insomniac. You just don't fuck with Ratchet and Clank.


Number 3:
Dragon Age Origins

Bioware is a truly amazing RPG company. They are, for my money, the best Western role-playing developer in the world, (followed closely by Bethesda Softworks, developer of Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion) having been responsible for classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XB/PC), Planescape: Torment (PC) and Baldur's Gate II (PC); they are also one of the few developers in the world that I would buy a game from, without knowing if it was any good, based on their track record alone. So why is it that now, while they're in the process of releasing the spiritual sequel to Baldur's Gate on current generation consoles, that nobody seems to give a shit?

I certainly hope that the role playing gamer contingent on consoles hasn't greatly reduced in number since the Square Enix heyday, but is merely hibernating. Ever since the death of the JRPG (or rather, its general migration to the Nintendo DS), I've noticed that a lot of Final Fantasy nerds decided to just stop playing RPG's altogether instead of trying out their Western counterparts (due to their more free-form, less hand-holding style).

My fellow RPG dorks, if you can suffer through crap like the Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery just because they're JRPG's, you can spend a couple of hours to play through what will most probably be a shining Western example of the genre. (Authors note: There are rumblings that the PS3 version could be technically inferior. Watch this space for updates on that.)




Number 2:
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

Number of hours I spent playing Modern Warfare 1's story mode: Approximately 12 action-packed hours.

Number of hours I spent playing Modern Warfare 1 online: I don't even want to think about it.

Infinity Ward's much-awaited return isn't going to be missed by too many people, you know? I mean, it's only the direct sequel to the best FPS ever made. (Yeah, I said it.) Other games like Killzone 2 may have bettered IW's legendary shooter in terms of visuals, but none have managed to best it in terms of gameplay.

This is the ultimate no-brainer purchase. I'll be playing it, and a whole crapload of other jerks on your friends list are going to be playing it. Join the club, buddy.

Unless, of course, you're playing...





Number 1: Borderlands

If you don't know what this game is, and why it's my most awaited game of this year, you're forgiven. 2K Games hasn't exactly done the best job of publicizing this baby.

That said, watch this, please.

Are we clear now? Good.

Role-Playing Shooter - Gearbox Software's excellent FPS pedigree mixed with Diablo style loot whoring and statistics?

Awesome graphics - It's not "cel shaded" in the traditional sense. It looks fucking hand painted, but in 3D!

Four-player co-op - Enough said.

Just give it a try, boys and girls. If they're smart enough to release a demo, maybe they can help old hardcore types like myself change a couple more minds.