"Games of 2008" is a list of games I played in 2008. It never existed in any form until now. I categorized each game into its own heading. Each game has stats for your reviewing pleasure. I was able to gather the stats from old save files, and some achievements. However, a lot of stats are still missing. I also include a paragraph or two of my thoughts on the game. I scavenged my old blog for my original thoughts, and linked to the old post below the paragraph(s). Some games I had to rely on my memory to write anything about them. I hope you enjoy.
Science!
Portal (PC)
Release date: 10/10/2007
Date played: 01/24/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I bought Valve’s The Orange Box just for Portal. It did not take me long to play it, and beat it... twice. All of the levels are puzzles. Some of them, especially the advanced maps, had me scratching my head. It was so satisfying to figure these out. Not only is it a fun game, but the dialogue is awesome. GLaDOS and the turrets are entertaining. I highly recommend this game.
"Orange Box, Blue Portal," 1/24/2008
I'm Finally Old Enough To Play
Twisted Metal: Black Online (PS2)
Release date: 08/27/2002
Date played: 02/28/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I love the Twisted Metal series. I skipped over Twisted Metal: Black, because it was a little too dark for me when it was released. Now that I am older I finally played through all of Black. It is a fantastic Twisted Metal game. The combat is at its best, the levels are fun to explore, and the "monkey’s paw" storylines are back. They can be gruesome, but I am big boy now; I handled them like a champ. This is a great successor to Twisted Metal 2.
For My Friend
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Release date: 03/09/2008
Date played: 03/16/2008
Number of hours played: 17.00
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I am not a big fan of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I am not a big fan of the series, or fighting games in general. I played Brawl mainly to spend time with a friend. It was fun to play with him, but I suck at the game.
Arcade Nostalgia
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (Wii)
Release date: 03/11/2008
Date played: 04/22/2008
Number of hours played: 5.25
Completion status: Midway
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I have lots of memories playing the The House of the Dead series at the bowling alley, and in arcades. Buying The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return on the Wii was a no brainer (ha!). The on-rails, light gun, shooter genre is perfect for the Wii, and I am glad these arcade classics are back. I love playing them with friends, and in the comfort of my own home.
Not Quite To The Ends Of Time
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2)
Release date: 11/10/2003
Date played: 05/29/2008
Number of hours played: 6.25
Completion status: Mostly
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 05/09/2008
Acquired from: Rock 30 Games
Purchase price: $10.00
I am about 75% through Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. It is a fun game, but I got distracted. The combat is good, and the platforming is great. Wall running feels good. The time-rewind mechanic works well, and adds a lot to the gameplay. I should finish it.
Short and Sweet... and Bloody
God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
Release date: 03/04/2008
Date played: 05/30/2008
Number of hours played: 5.50
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
Ready At Dawn did a great job with God of War: Chains of Olympus. It feels like its big brothers on the Playstation 2. The framerate is a little low, but it looks and plays great. The PS2 games are short, but Chains of Olympus is even shorter. I am okay with that, because the story felt just right.
"Games To The Video Thrice," 3/24/2008
Snarky And Difficult
Heavenly Sword (PS3)
Release date: 09/12/2007
Date played: 05/31/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I have been eyeing Heavenly Sword for awhile now. When I bought a Playstation 3, it was one of the first games I bought. The voice acting and dialogue are topnotch. Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) did the mocap and voice acting for the Bohan, the big bad. He is hilarious. Kai is confusing, but a delight. I was expecting a God of War clone, but there is a little more strategy to the combat. I was able to switch weapons and do different kinds of attacks. I did get frustrated on the final boss battle. I thought I would never beat it. After a few hours over several days I finally beat it. I recommend it.
Wholesome Competition
Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
Release date: 04/27/2008
Date played: 06/15/2008
Number of hours played: 16.25
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I love me some Mario Kart, and I say Mario Kart Wii is great. The levels and soundtrack are outstanding. I liked playing with both a regular controller and the motion controls. I got several steering wheel accessories for the wiimotes. Almost nothing beats playing split screen with friends. Trash talking your couch buddy never gets old. However, online multiplayer is the highlight. I was able to play with my brother who lived in another state.
"Four! Four Games To The Video!," 9/14/2008
A Smorgasbord Of Mechanics
Viking: Battle for Asgard (PS3)
Release date: 03/25/2008
Date played: 08/03/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I ended up buying Viking: Battle for Asgard after rented it. It has a lot of cool mechanics. I love the combat. Upgrading moves is addicting. There is also stealth and finishing moves, which I always like. The game also has armies. I built up my army to attack forts. The armies actually did stuff when I sent them to attack a fort. My job was to take out the champions and shamans, while they took care of the hundreds of legions. This game has a lot going on, but I do recommend that you rent before you buy.
"Why So Serious," 8/2/2008
It's Always Alien Zombies
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
Release date: 11/14/2006
Date played: 08/19/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 08/09/2008
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: $29.99
I bought Resistance: Fall of Man when it became a Greatest Hit. It was a great choice. I normally do not like FPS's on consoles, but the controls feel decent. It takes place in an alternate history where an alien species invades Europe during the early 1900's. The world building in this game is incredible. The graphics look great, but the colors are bland. I am impressed that the game holds a steady framerate with how many enemies the game threw at me. Insomniac Games knows weapons, and they are the star of this game. I love that I had a weapon wheel with every weapon I picked up. I could freely switch between any of them as long as I had ammo. Each weapon is unique and has its purpose. On top of that, each weapon has an alt fire.
Resistance is also fully playable in split screen coop, which is always a plus in my book. One of my friends and I had a lot of fun playing through the campaign together. I also played through the campaign by myself. This game is creepy, and I owe it to the fantastic sound design. The music and atmosphere compliment one another. During quiet moments I could always hear enemies moaning or screeching. There is a grunt enemy called a menial. It casually walks around and does not have a weapon. I was not afraid of these things, because I killed them in one hit with my melee... until level 5. During a quiet moment one of these bastards casually walks out of a door I ran past and started mauling my face. I dropped my controller and screamed like a baby. I was always afraid of menials after that moment. Great game.
"Resist Burning the Downloads," 8/9/2008
The Demo Lied To Me
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3)
Release date: 09/16/2008
Date played: 09/19/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Very early
Number of achievements earned: 0/65 (0%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I played the demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. I loved it. The force powers are awesome. I bought the game, and I hate it. The force powers are still fun, but the lightsaber combat is not. By the third world, nothing caught my interest. I do not recommend even if you are a big fan of the series.
"Games to the Video! High Five!," 2/7/2009
Abstract Art
Linger in Shadows (PS3)
Release date: 10/09/2008
Date played: 10/21/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Mostly?
Number of achievements earned: 6/16 (38%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I have no idea why I bought Linger in Shadows. I saw it on the Playstation Store and bought it. It is an art project. There is some interactivity, but not in a normal "gamey" way. I do not understand it, but I appreciate it. It is something you have to experience yourself. However, I cannot recommend it unless you want something artsy.
I'm Just Going To Paint A Happy Little Bomb Here
Okami (Wii)
Release date: 04/15/2008
Date played: 10/25/2008
Number of hours played: 59.50
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
Okami is one of the greatest games I have ever played. Ready At Dawn, the ones who ported it to the Wii, did a great job with controls on the Wii. It took me a little bit to get used to, but drawing with the wiimote is intuitive. Drawing a bomb on screen to spawn a bomb is a fantastic mechanic. Clover Studio, the original developers, created an interesting story starring a dog who is a god. The gameplay is like a Zelda game, and the world is large. It is filled with puzzles and secrets. The graphics stand out. The game is pretty much an interactive watercolor painting. This game is a must play on either the Playstation 2 or Wii.
"Now Wolfie's Burning," 11/2/2008
Take This Controller And Play
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Release date: 10/27/2008
Date played: 11/02/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: 31/70 (44%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
LittleBigPlanet is one of the best platformers out there. The physics are floaty and take a bit to get used to. I was playing through the first couple of stages when one of my friends, Matt, came over. I was in a middle of a stage, but I tossed him a controller. He joined at the next checkpoint. Kyle comes over a few minutes later. I toss him a controller. He does not want to, but I convince him, and his sackboy pops in at the next checkpoint. He became addicted. Another friend joined a few minutes later, and we ended up playing for several hours. Some of us even played throughout the rest of the week.
The story mode has a lot of collectibles, and many of them require two to four players to get. The story mode is good, but creation mode is where the game shines. I was able to create some really cool levels. I hopped online and discovered that my levels are garbage. Other people are just more creative than me.
"Now Wolfie's Burning," 11/2/2008
No, That's Not A Bird
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Release date: 11/04/2008
Date played: 11/13/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: 18/39 (46%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
Resistance 2 is a great sequel. The weapon wheel is gone. I could only hold two weapons at a time, but the new weapons make up for it. The magnum is a treat. The graphics are better, and Insomniac added a wider color palette. They switched up the story a little bit. The first game was doing a lot of interesting world building, which I liked, while this one is more of a personal story about Nathan. I like it, too. Insomniac had a lot of balls to end the game the way that they did, and I approve of it. This game is even creepier than the original. I am now afraid of pigeon noises. Definitely pick this up if you liked the first one.
"Snow Day!," 11/7/2008
"I Think I Can Squeeze You In," 12/10/2008
Did It Better Than The Matrix
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GCN)
Release date: 03/09/2004
Date played: 12/07/2008
Number of hours played: 11.50
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I played Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes on a friend's recommendation that I should play the series. I decided to play the GameCube version for the upgraded graphics, first person mode, extended cut scenes, and bullet time stuff. It has been a while since a game has made me want to come home from work and play it right away. It has an engaging story and is just fun to play. I cannot wait to play the other games in this series.
"I Think I Can Squeeze You In," 12/10/2008
Endings. Endings Never Change.
Fallout 3 (PC)
Release date: 10/28/2008
Date played: 12/10/2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 08/12/2010
Acquired from: Steam
Purchase price: NA
I barrowed a friend's computer to play Fallout 3. I ended up buying it on Steam later. The ending of Fallout 3 sucks, but the journey is amazing. The V.A.T.S. system never got old, probably because it is so satisfying to watch a head disintegrate into blood and brain matter. The world is huge. I had to walk to places to unlock fast travel, but that can be solved using console commands. Other than the ending, cheats resolved all of my gripes about the game.
"I Think I Can Squeeze You In," 12/10/2008
Welcome To Next Gen
Burnout Paradise (PS3)
Release date: 01/22/2008
Date played: 12/14/2008
Number of hours played: 43.75
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: 64/98 (65%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
Burnout Paradise was the first game I played on my Playstation 3. The open world is carefully crafted with daring routes for the speedy. There is so much to do. I crashed, stunted, dominated, and raced throughout the city. I found jumps and shortcuts scattered throughout the map. To unlock new cars I had to take it down to unlock it in my junkyard. It is my favorite Burnout, and I hope to actually 100% it unlike the others.
"George Foreman Grill," 2/17/2008
Too Easy
Prince of Persia (PS3)
Release date: 12/02/2008
Date played: 12/22/2008
Number of hours played: 18.50
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: 41/51 (80%)
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: NA
Purchase price: NA
I love the reboot of Prince of Persia. It is an easy game. It is impossible to die. When I fell into a pit I got sent back to most recent ledge. The art style fits the game, and it is stunning. The platforming never gets old in this open world game. There is a great chemistry between the prince and Elika while exploring. There is an aura of mystery surrounding the prince, and the dialogue slowly reveals more and more about him. When I was not exploring I was fighting. Pulling off combos during combat is one of the best parts of the game. I was able to combo together my sword, glove, acrobatic, and magic attacks. It is a great game, and I wish we could get a sequel.
"I Think I Can Squeeze You In," 12/10/2008
At Least It's Getting Better
Hellgate: London - Patch 1.0 (PC)
Release date: 10/31/2007
Date played: 2008
Number of hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Number of achievements earned: NA
Number of screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 10/31/2007
Acquired from: Gamestop
Purchase price: $209.98
Hellgate: London's patch 1.0 is out. The launch was... rocky. I decided it needed an update. The story is still bad, so no need to retread on it. Same with the dialogue and voice acting. I still like the dungeon crawling, items, and crafting. The gameplay is the most important thing to a game, and that has improved with 1.0. Stonehenge added more cool weapons, tougher monsters, and better quests. Stonehenge is a much more unique area with different environments. It is a better game, but it does have flaws and glitches.
"Hellgate London, Welcome to Stonehenge," 1/30/2008
2008 Summary
Total number of games played: 20
Total number of hours: 183.50*
Oldest game played: Twisted Metal: Black Online (PS2)
Newest game played: Prince of Persia (PS3)
Game with most achievements earned: Burnout Paradise (PS3)
Game with most hours played: Okami (Wii)***
Total spent: $249.98**
Personal game of the year: Burnout Paradise (PS3)
*Portal (PC), Twisted Metal: Black Online (PS2), Heavenly Sword (PS3), Viking: Battle for Asgard (PS3), Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3), Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS3), Linger in Shadows (PS3), LittleBigPlanet (PS3), Resistance 2 (PS3), Fallout 3 (PC), and Hellgate: London (PC) are not included in total hours.
**Only Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2), Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3), and Hellgate: London (PC) are included in total cost.
***Hellgate: London (PC) probably has more hours.
I played 20 games across six different platforms. I call that a good year. I bought my first HD TV. It is a 42" 1080p LCD Sharp. Paid over $2000 for it, but it is worth it. Because of it, I could justify buying a Playstation 3. This was also a good choice. There were quite a few games I wanted to play on the system, and I got to a few of them this year. There are a few games that I did not get a chance to play that came out this year.
Grand Theft Auto IV. I am a big GTA fan and I want to play this one. Check out "Games of 2009" for my thoughts.
Gears of War 2. I played this game for a little bit this year, but I did not beat it. Check out "Games of 2011" to see how it stacks up.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I bought this game for a friend to play. I let him barrow my PS3 when I was gone for a weekend. He liked the game.
Call of Duty: World at War. I am not a big Call of Duty fan, but I love playing the nazi zombie mode. It is some good coop.
Fable II. I was never a fan of the series, but my friends like them.
Mirror's Edge. I enjoyed the demo for this game, and I did buy it on PC. However, I have not gotten a chance to play the full game.
Left 4 Dead. I played some split screen on a friend's XBox 360. I had some fun with it, but was never compelled to buy the game and a 360.
Battlefield: Bad Company. I am not a Battlefield fan, but I did play this one in 2010/2011. "Games of 2011" was the full scoop on this game.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. I enjoyed the other DS Castlevanias. However, I never got around to playing this one.
Thank you for reading this remaster. It took a long time to gather the stats. It also took a long time to search my old blog entries for any mention of these games. I was surprised out how much I was able to squeeze out of those old posts. I hope you check out, or revisit some of these games on this list; they are fun.
- Royfuss