Whew! This year was a close one.  With a wedding so pay for this coming March, and full year’s worth of can’t miss games released over the course of 2009, I didn’t think I was going to make it out alive (or at the very least, out of shark-tank debt).  I’m in agreement with Steve that trying to pick just five out of the squall of sterling digital offerings we’ve had this past year is a cruel endeavour.  After spending much of the holidays in tears, trying to trim the fat from my list, I think I’ve finally tapered it down to an unfortunately circumscribe five (plus two honourable mentions).  So before we ring out the Aughties, or Zeroes, or whatever you hipsters are calling the soon to be decade past, I’d like to regale the gamers among you with my personal favourite games of 2009.  And no…Prototype is not on the list.

Honorable Mention: Resident Evil 5 (PS3, XB360)

A full five years after Capcom reinvented (and reinvigorated) their flagging zombie franchise with ‘Resident Evil 4’; along comes the fifth mainline title.  I don’t know if I’d call it an evolution OR a revolution, but I do know that I’d call it awesome.  While there isn’t anything cerebral, or even outright frightening at play in this survival horror title, “Resident Evil 5” is a non-stop adrenaline ride akin to a Michael Bay or James Cameron movie.  If the massive action sequences and pretty much endless gun play don’t hook you (which they will), the countless firearms and robust co-op campaign surely will.  Joining returning hero Chris Redfield (along with his his 24-inch pythons), and series newcomer Sheva Alomar is a twisty, over-the-top horror/action experience that could only be plausible as a Resident Evil title.  Capcom deserve props for not attempting to reinvent the wheel again, instead just building upon what was done in 2004, and knocking it clear out of the park.  Just never play online with Kaiblaker, I hear that dirty Newf bogarts the best of the ballistic hardware.

Why it’s off the A-List:

As much as I loved RE5, playing it always made me want to go back and explore the terrifying confines of the Ishimura in Dead Space.  As well, as awesome as those big action set pieces are, I found that whenever the heat was turned up in RE5, the exity strategy was always; “back up into a corner and pray the bullet sponges run out of lead porrousness”.

Honorable Mention: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

Gamers have been crying for years that the PlayStation 3 was lacking that system seller, that killer-app that they simply needed, a game that everyone would clamor over.  Here it is.  Nathan Drake’s second fantastic adventure, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves”.  Gamers join Drake and company on a roller coater ride of a quest to discover Marco Polo’s lost fleet, and find the hidden city of Shambala.  The characters are among the most amicable available in games today, and let’s be honest folks, if archaeology included this many rocket launchers and machine guns, ever red-blooded male in North America would be taking it in university.  Though I did think that the gun fighting towards the end was a bit much, the moving train and Buddhist monastery levels alone are worth the entry fee.  And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s possibly the prettiest game of all time.

Why it’s off the A-List:

95% of Uncharted 2 is immeasurable badassery.  The remaining five percent is comprised of the seemingly limitless gunfire that begins once the temple of Shambala has been infiltrated.  I sweare the last 90 minutes of that game is playing hide and shoot with Lazaravich’s goons.  Oh, and let’s not forget history’s most frustrating last boss battle.  Nathan Drake combats a busted camera and a roid raging lead villain in a showdown based around a gimmick that belongs in The Legend of Zelda.  Only the timing is so precise, and the bad guy has teleporting grenades.  5o attempts later and I no longer care if i ever finish Uncharted 2.

5.  Brütal Legend (PS3, XB360)

What do you get when you take real-time strategy, epic hack and slash game play, and coat the entire thing in heavy metal?  Brütal Legend was 400 horsepower bad ass.  A soundtrack encompassing more epic heavy metal licks than most gamers have ever listened to, a great voice cast, and a hilarious (and often touching in a cliched way) story, and one of the greatest in game beheadings ever designed, Brütal Legend is the type of game I think any player with an open mind should spend some time with.  All you My Chemical Romance fans who whined that the demo miss sold the game, or the RTS segments were too difficult and the too much a departure, your emo sniveling is not true metal, this game is.

The Contrarian Fanboy Speaketh: Brütal Legend suffers at its halfway point from a serious case of schizophrenia.  After about 6-8 hours of pummeling Hair Metal sellouts and charging, axe in hand across a exultantly over-the-top Heavy Metal game world, Brütal Legend up and decides that the bitter war between Eddie Riggs, and the Black Tear transformed second act villain needs to be taken somewhat seriously.  The laughs are sadly dialed down, and one of the missions in particular really slogs as a result.  It’s like watching Delerious, only to have Eddie Murphy suddenly transform into post oscar win Jamie Foxx.

Jack Skellington shirts and your sister's jeans are not True Metal!

4. InFamous (PS3)

Sucker Punch; easily the most underrated of Sony’s in-house developers, followed up their critically acclaimed ‘Sly Cooper’ trilogy with InFamous, an open-world action game steeped in the mythology of the early to mid 90s comic boom.   This title combined breathtaking parkour style acrobatics, with surprisingly well-crafted 3rd person shooter mechanics and a genuinely interesting storyline, and blended it all within a breathtaking city full of citizens to either save or enslave villains to either overcome or enlist, and a bevy of incredible lighting based super-powers.  The best thing about it, is that you get to do it all twice.  This was probably one of the strongest PS3 exclusives to be released all year long.  If you haven’t checked this out yet, give it a spin.

The Contrarian Fanboy Speaketh: How is it, that in a game portraying an everyman’s struggle to still maintain his humanity in a world that is becoming more savage, whilst he himself is rapidly becoming a god; did Sucker Punch manage to make every primary character so unlikable?  Cole is like the love child of Batman and a T-800 terminator, only without all the warm and fuzzy.  Trish is the picture perfect ice queen, her boyfriend survices the explosion that claimed the life of her sister, so she hates him for surviving.  And Zeke?  Ugh.  Zeke is like every Rob Schneider movie role ever, only fatter and even more obnoxious.  Even the strongest willed heroes out there would be hard pressed not to throw a lightning bolt down these joker’s paths.

Unlimited POWAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

3. Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, XB360)

Wow!  Smash hit of the third quarter of 2009; Batman: Arkham Asylum is not only one of the finest superhero titles that has ever been crafted; it’s simply one of the greatest games of this current generation.  Rocksteady were an underdog going into this title, having only the lackluster ‘Urban Chaos’ for the PS2 and original Xbox.  They delivered in spades however, giving gamers a chance to really feel like the Dark Knight, pitting him against an assortment of foes on what was advertised as the longest night of batman’s life.  Moody and atmospheric in places, darkly humourous in others, and pretty much balls to the wall intense the entire time; Batman: Arkham Asylum looks like it will only be one-upped by its own sequel.  I’ve heard certain jaded old gamers say that it suffered from ‘Bioshock’ syndrome, only doing as well as it did in the absence of more competition, but I honestly believe that even released in November, Batman: Arkham Asylum would’ve cleaned house.  It’s the first time in nearly 20 years that a Batman title has been a must-play.  Besides, that inverted take-down never EVER gets old.

The Contrarian Fannboy Speaketh: I guess if I was forced to complain, the recycled army of thugs that Batman pummels his way through for the entirity of the game could have used a little more variety.  As well, more than a couple of the big boss fights fell a little flat for me.  Something a little more epic or well though out for Bats’ big baddies could’ve served as a nice break from all that stalking and puzzle solving.

You can't tell me that Danny Elfman's theme isn't playing in your head right now.

2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii…duh)

Don’t even read this section, just go buy the game, buy a Wii, and be transported back to a more innocent era of gaming.  New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a triumph, a complete improvement on its predecessor for the DS, and a celebration of the most creative and fun titles in the Mario franchise.   Amazing levels, fun power ups, and a multiplayer campaign that borders on Lovecraftian madness.  Honestly, just grab a copy…if you can find one.

The Contrarion Fanboy Speaketh: Certain…volatile couples may experience certain marital issues if they attempt the more than a little loose multiplayer aspect of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.  I know Mrs. Aspersclager still has those papers stashed in her desk for the next time Erich knocks her into a pit to grab that Propellor Suit.

Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night, I can see paradise by the dashboard lights.

1. Street Fighter IV (Ps3, XB360)

Lighting a fire under the glutamus maximus of not only the Street Fighter franchise, but the entire genre in general, Street Fighter IV was hands down my game of the year for 2009.  There have been a bevy of Triple-A titles released in its wake, but none have even compared in the amount of time I’ve spent Cannon Spiking the competition online with SFIV.  Colourful visuals, explosive music and absolutely flawless game play spelled an easy KO for the returning king of fighting games.  And what’s even better is the upcoming release of Super Street Fighter IV, an updated version with a rumored 10 extra fighters, four extra backgrounds, and new special and super moves; all of which look to make not only a potent online fighting cocktail, but also a front-runner for my game of the year in 2010.

The Contrarian Fanboy Speaketh: Shut it Shakespeare!  I’m trying to play Street Fighter IV!

Pictured: Things about to be restored to their natural order.

Well, there you have it.  My picks for the top five titles of 2009.  And believe me; I tortured myself over whether any of the other countless great titles released over the course of the year also deserved a spot.  It’s been a great 2009 for gaming, and its looking like 2010 is going to hit even harder right out of the gate.  I’m hoping for more greatness from the franchises we all know and love, praying for success for new IPs like DarkSiders, and wishing that Microsoft will finally deliver me a good reason to fire up my 360 again.  That’s it for me for the rest of the year.  Everyone have a great New Year, and whatever you do, don’t drink and drive.  You can’t play me online in Street Fighter IV if you’re in the hospital or on a slab.

Dave pinch hits for a sickly Erich and recruits the Newfie Wonder Twins, Jon and Steve to help him carry the burden. Marvel as the three fill forty-five minutes with talk of Modern Warfare 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Borderlands, Brutal Legend, and Tekken 6, while indulging in such nonsensical digressions as the Arrested Development side-scrolling beat’em-up, their to-date Game of the Year choices (Jon and Dave are on the same page and no, it’s not XBLA Streets of Rage 2), most-anticipated releases in the next couple of months and, finally, the Negative Nancy segment where they each find fault in a beloved 2009 release.

Join in the fun in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.

Join Pixel Verdict’s Canadian contingency as they waste about an hour of your time. Jon’s been playing Brutal Legend, and throws the gauntlet down for one Tim Schafer of Doublefine Studios (Dear Tim, Jon’s coming, and Hell’s comin’ with him). Adam has been spending quality time with his wife and Rock Band. Steve’s wife, meanwhile, is cheating on him with his copy of Brutal Legend, so Steve drowns his loneliness with Demon’s Souls, and the amazing Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Borderlands. The boys discuss the news of the week (or lack thereof) with their typically Canadian lack of zeal, including Steve’s dissatisfaction with Natal support for Fable II and Fable III; Grand Theft Auto thrusting beyond the borders of good taste (yet again); a new game from the Timeshift guys; and Street Fighter IV’s Seth gets tougher (read: cheaper). Adam waxes philosophical about a particular 90’s cinematic masterpiece featuring a pre-Party of Five Scott Wolfe and short shorts-wearin’ Alyssa Milano. You’ll have to listen to find out what it is. It all ends in a climactic discussion about brawlers good and bad.

To reiterate: TIM SCHAFER! Jon Mercer (PSN ID: Kidinthehelmet) WANTS YOUR BLOOD! Meet him on the virtual battlefield of Brutal Legend if you DARE!

Bonus: listen carefully for Mrs. Adam’s brief cameo…

Music credits:
Intro – Stingray Pt. II by Sheavy
Outro – The Logdriver’s Waltz by Jon Weldon

Add your thoughts to the comments below, or over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums. You can also email us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.

The Charge:
A slice of gaming heaven that is louder than hell!

Opening Statement:
My hands quaked as I tore away the plastic cocoon as I had done countless times before.  Visions of a teenager tracing his fingertips along the stack of heavy metal vinyl’s he had been given ownership of for an entire summer flashed before my eyes.  I could feel a deep pulse building in the pit of my very being, like the marching hooves of an iron clad war machine.  Just holding the disc, I could feel its electricity dance between my digits, threatening to suddenly spark, sending a jolt straight to my brain.  As searing tears of joy carved trails down my face, and my bear trap grin spread wide and vicious, I looked up to the clouds and held aloft the horns in praise of the metal gods.  Brütal Legend, Double Fine overseer Tim Schafer’s latest baby has arrived on crimson wings, its fiery mane blazing with the undulating power of heavy metal.  But is Schafer’s latest labor of love a face-melting, soul thrashing, black magic epic, or another sad stroll down Hollywood Boulevard?

Your a vision, make me shout out loud! Made my decision, it's goodbye to the old crowd!

Facts of the Case:
Eddie Riggs, a figure whispered about in the haunted annals of metal is described as the greatest roadie who ever lived.  He was born and raised on tour, and like Conan the Barbarian, has been forged into man of destiny.  Unfortunately he is currently on tour with the worst metal band in the universe (a hilarious pastiche of AFI, Limp Bizkit, and everything else that’s wrong with nu-metal)  Armed with the ability to fix, build, and tune anything, and embodied of a sacrosanct devotion to rock, Eddie has been rescued from a fatal accident at a concert by Ormagödden; Cremator of the Skies and Destroyer of the Ancient World, and transported through time and space to a mythological Age of Metal.  A savage world filled with Chrome Spiders that spin webs of bass strings, Boars that have Motorcycles for lower torsos, and a place known only as Bladehenge that must be seen to be believed.  It is here that he will find a cause, build an army, and free an entire world from under the crushing, cloven hooves of an oppressive, demonic overlord.  If this in any way sounds awesome to you, you’re in for a treat.  If not, hell, there’s always Nintendogs.

Racing down the road! In a street machine of steel! Gears are jammed in full! I'm the madman at the wheel!

The Evidence:
Brütal Legend is one of the greatest games I have ever played in my close to 25 year career as a gamer.  There, I’ve said it.  It is done.  Now for the why.  Unlike any game that has ever graced he systems I have played, Brütal Legend is a collection of extremely well-developed aspects that have all been woven together brilliantly into a tapestry of grace and fury.  There are so many ways a mismatched style of play like the one presented here could’ve gone horribly wrong, but by the grace of the metal gods, Schafer and his crew at Double Fine have managed to hold it all together.  I received my review copy just last week as my previous article went to print.  Over the course of a single weekend I played the game in its entirety.  This is something that simply never happens with me anymore.  I haven’t marathoned through a title since school.  But Brütal Legend simply grabbed a hold of me with powerful talons and would not let go.

Lovers of the dark, step into the light! We know you're brave, you’ve come to see us dream! Many times before, now we open up a door!

Best described as an open world, real-time strategic beat ‘em up with strong adventure elements, Brütal Legend is quite simply a wonderful chimera, a magical beast to behold.  The combat feels tight, the special attacks and magic abilities (which come in the form of scorching guitar solos) are amazing additions that never cheapen or unbalance the game play, and the much dreaded RTS scale battle segments when approached with a degree of intelligence are nothing short of merry indulgence.  Armed with a basic battle axe combo, a chargeable power attack, and three special attacks made with Eddie’s prized Flying V, Clementine.  Between these five modes of attack, the game never fails to bore, as there are close to a dozen advanced combos that can be purchased (alongside a ton of other vital enhancing items) in the Metal Forge, a series of hidden shops presided over by an immortal Guardian of Metal.

Backs turned to madness! Backs to misery! And I put the brush to the canvas! An' paint a world! Paint my world of...Hurt!

The demon bludgeoning that makes up the first 30 minutes or so of game time however is only the slightest tip of the immense iceberg that is Brütal Legend.  There is a massive world to explore, full of hilariously epic landmarks which pay tribute to the metal music genre (keep an eye out for the V-8 Big Block on the beach), as well as a prodigiously well written story mode that serves to introduce a cast of great characters, which in turn work to slowly get players ready for the shocking stage battles.  Though gamers like myself will take great joy in driving across every inch of the age of metal, sending the Druid Plow screaming across jumps and careening into demonic elk.

Feel the earth move under my wheels! There, the chills you get from the turns and squeals!

I had been waiting with icy fingers of trepidation around my heart for the stage battles (which often serve as big boss fights to close off chapters of the game).  Looking back now after having cracked the game wide, I can only shake my head at my foolish fears.  These titan-scaled wars made up some of my favorite moments of Brütal Legend.   Playing out like a glorious mash-up of WarCraft and Dynasty Warriors, the stage battles are based entirely around seizing command of various fan geysers scattered across the battlefield (souls of the ancients who return to mosh), and using their fearsome power to develop and deploy battlefield units.  Fights can be surveyed from the sky for easy maneuverability, and any time a player’s side begins to falter, Eddie can descend with axe in hand to lay down a world of hurt and even the odds (honestly, one of the climactic battles with the emo-inspired Drowning Doom faction was won thanks to a quick status effect solo I used as opposed to out and out brute force tactics).  Forces can be directed to objectives with a simple click of a shoulder button and a direction on the d-pad and every unit has its own individual team up attack with their respective general, ranging from sniper attacks with range units to an orbiting shield of head bangers that can waste most units in a few hits.

Revolution in their minds - the children start to march! Against the world in which they have to live and all the hate thats in their hearts!

Each faction bring their own unique quirks, with the heroic forces of Ironheade preferring straight out assault, and the creepy Drowning Doom using combinations of buffs and debuffs to confound enemies.  Each faction’s general as well comes with an assortment of guitar solos that can be used to deal devastation across the field, like Eddie’s “Bring It On Home”, which summons a fiery lead zeppelin, which plunges into the earth, resulting in an apocalyptic explosion.  Some even have effects such as turning off an enemy status effects, or temporarily disabling their ability to produce new units.  There is a cool down time for each solo, so they never feel cheap…even if they do melt your soldier’s faces off.  Since these battles are what make up Brütal Legend’s rather robust multiplayer mode, it’s relieving that the single player serves as an essential tutorial before leading an army of metal heads across broadband in search of conquest.  Outside of combat there are tons of side missions that will take players to task, and while some will complain that they are the same variety over and over again (much like InFamous), they’re all a hoot and a half, and are really there to get gamers prepped and ready, as well as swimming in enough Fire Tributes to upgrade enough for what I will warn are a couple of truly nasty fights in the game’s final third.

Come join our army of the dead and obscene! I'll give you nothing 'cause that's all that you need!

The world of Brütal Legend is jaw dropping in its visuals.  While not as awe-inspiring as something like uncharted, the art developers at Double Fine have crafted a look that strikes with as much power as its sound.  The character models are striking, and with some assistance from an ex-Pixar staffer, they explode with character.  Eddie himself looks like Double Fine stapled Jack Black’s face (complete with hilarious eyebrow gestures) and stapled it onto Glenn Danzig’s body (complete with Evil Elvis sideburns).  It all works in unison to create a sumptuous visual feast.  The lighting effects are stellar, the characters all animate fluidly, and everyone has their own unique quirks that will make you simply fall in love with the cast.

Come on! Keep it on the side! With a ride! On a record on the top! If you're gonna be a bad boy!

Of course how good could a purported Heavy Metal epic be without the appropriate soundtrack?  Brütal Legend features one of the best, and I don’t say that simply as a lifelong metal head.  Song placements within the story are ingenious, truly invoke an emotional response (at least they did inside this geek).  Examples?  A creepy drive into Drowning Doom territory spent protecting my army’s tour bus was set brilliantly to Diary of a Madman by Ozzy Osbourne.  A cinema scene were we are introduced to the twisted leader of the Doom has made me a lifelong fan of Betrayal by Lita Ford, and I’ll always treasure the hilarious opening with the scientific application of Black Sabbath’s Children of the Grave.  There are over 100 examples of thundering, blistering heavy metal classics that motor alongside “Brütal Legend”, making the aural experience one to be remembered fondly.  Rounding out the great soundtrack is an amazing featuring Jack Black as Eddie Riggs, Lemmy Kilmister (of Motorhead fame) as a motorcycle riding medicine man who’s bass playing is so powerful it can heal the wounded, Lita Ford as the queen of a race of beast-riding warrior women, Rob Halford is  a hilarious double role, Ozzy Osbourne steps in as well in a double role, the first being the mysterious Guardian of Metal, the second being a suprise sure to bring a smile to your face.  Veteran voice actress Jennifer Hale steps in as Eddie’s love interest Ophelia, and finally we have Tim Curry; who injects so much British maliciousness into his role as the demonic Lord Doviculous that it bright back nightmares about a similar Curry role in the 1985 movie Legend.

They said hold your head up high! Raise your fist up in the air! Play metal! Louder than hell!

Rebuttal Witness:
There are gamers among us who will overlook Brütal Legend because they’re not fans of Heavy Metal, or Jack Black, or they’re revolted by the inclusion of the RTS battles.  There are those who will whine about the storyline taking a decidedly dark turn in the second act.  I still found it funny, while at the same time understanding that the stakes had been raised significantly by the final act.  There are those who will dismiss Brütal Legend because they feel Tim Schafer is undeserving of his cult credentials.  I’m sure there are even die-hard Schafer followers who will swear off “Brütal Legend”  just out of spite because an indie darling is making a stab at the big time.  Honestly, these gamers can put their headphones back around their ears, crank their Shakira mp3s or whatever they’re listening to and be on their merry way.  Anyone who was been looking at Brütal Legend with any interest whatsoever will not come away disappointed.

Bow down to the axeman! Hooded figure of mortal fear! Bow down to the axeman! Son his rising time is near!

Closing Statement:
It was never easy growing up a closeted metal head, especially for a foolish young boy who felt he had to hide such interests from his friends and family.  Brütal Legend takes everything we’ve ever loved about Heavy Metal, wraps it up in a convincing mythos, tosses in some belly-shaking humor alongside a well-written story with more than a handful of great plot twists, and shakes that s*** up with a finger scorching, bass-trembling guitar solo that delivers a game that will blow your mind to kingdom come and rock you to the very foundations of your soul.

The Verdict:

I’ve never actually thanked the childhood friend who first introduced me to Metallica and Megadeth in Elementary school, and probably saved me from a lifetime of listening to Prince and Meat Loaf.  So if you’re reading this Adam, thank you.

- J

Platform: PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 (PS3 version reviewed)
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: Rocktober 13th
Rated: M for Mature.

If true, I officially have zero sympathy for Activision. It’s one thing for them to pull a George Costanza and pretend they didn’t quit on Brutal Legend. It’s another for them to have dropped the game in the first place because they couldn’t turn Tim Schafer’s baby into the thousandth entry in an “annualizable” franchise. That is so not rock ‘n’ roll!