2008 Ex-EGM Awards: The Most Overshadowed Games of the Year
(Note: This is the second in a series of 2008 year-end awards as judged on by various ex-EGM editors)
Opening ceremonies + meet the judges
2008: Games of the Year
2008: Most Overshadowed Games of the Year
2008: Biggest Disappointments of the Year
2008: The Other Awards
2008: Hopes and Dreams for the New Year
2008: MOST OVERSHADOWED GAMES OF THE YEAR
Dan “Shoe” Hsu: Saints Row 2
“I’m not sure if I’d call Saints Row 2 a sleeper, but it’s certainly overshadowed by the likes of GTA4 and all the holiday heavy hitters. Janky and glitchy and over-the-top ridiculous…but it’s a helluva good time. It’s like San Andreas — only you get to spray shit all over everyone.”
Crispin Boyer: Far Cry 2
“I had fun shooting the shit in short sessions between playing bigger games and bouts of malaria.”
Andy Baran: Culdcept Saga
“Culdcept Saga strays far from the pack of comfortable gaming with a turn-based boardgame that arms you with cards and currency.”
John Davison: Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force
“Yeah, yeah, I’m the ‘baby game’ guy — but I was stunned at how good this was. Like a LucasArts adventure for the DS. With penguins.”
Joe Fielder: Dead Space
“Great enemies that were fun (and fair) to fight, excellent scripted events, lots of eye candy… Dead Space was an even nicer surprise to me than, I dunno, a new Beastmaster film.”
Joe Funk: iTunes games
“Biggest threat yet to Nintendo’s handheld dominance; much more non-gaming software available for the platform (i.e. music and movies); and the potential audience demographic reach is much wider.”
Kraig Kujawa: Saints Row 2
“Did anyone even notice this came out? It’s like GTA with its hair down. Or in other words, no waiting 18 hours to get a damned rocket launcher.”
Demian Linn: NHL 09
“What an incredible hockey game. Not perfect by any means, but tantalizingly close.”
John Ricciardi: The World Ends With You
“Everyone bitches about SQEX making too many sequels and remakes, then when they finally make something fresh and unique, nobody buys it. Epic fail, consumers!”
Kathleen Sanders: …
“There were so many amazing games this year — this list is longer than just one. I have a place in my heart for Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, because it was so fun and that series just can’t seem to find its niche. Also, Battlefield: Bad Company’s single player was shit, but the multiplayer provided many fun times with weapons.”
Greg Sewart: Mercenaries 2
“I like this game mostly because [ex-EGMer] Shawn Smith is on the cover. Never actually played it.”
Jeanne Kim Trais: King’s Bounty
Jen Tsao: Cursor 10
“This one’s simultaneous simplicity and brilliance stunned me. It’s what I wish Echochrome had been.”
Next up: The Biggest Disappointments of 2008
