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The games are played, the votes are tallied, and our crack team of vote tabulators has tabulated the results. We’ve played literally hundreds of games this year—big games, small games, good games, and games that just plain sucked—solely for the purpose of presenting you, our adoring audience, with the undisputed list of the finest moments, experiences, and surprises in gaming for the year 2009. Without further ado, we now commence Maximum PC’s Gaming Awards!
For us, Arkham Asylum isn’t just an action game, it’s the ultimate Batman simulator. All the feats we’ve associated with the Caped Crusader—creeping in the shadows to evade danger, silently taking out thugs while instilling fear, and even utilizing high-tech bat-gadgetry—were realized in-game. And like Batman, we had to use a combination of these abilities to effectively fight burly minions and bosses.
The game didn’t fall short in the story department, either. The villains in Batman’s rogues gallery brought unique gameplay twists and combat challenges, often requiring that we use our bat-brain in addition to bat-brawn to best each foe. Scarecrow’s level-warping mind games were a definite highlight—we’ll never forget the scene where Batman is forced to face his parents’ murder. Arkham Asylum is the best game of 2009 not because it’s a great Batman game, but because it’s the definitive Batman experience. And Mark Hamill’s reprise as the Joker may be the best performance we’ve ever seen in a game.
www.batmanarkhamasylum.com, ESRB: T
What do you get if you take four people, a couple of hopped-up dune buggies, and an infinite number of pistols, rifles, rocket launchers, and sub-machine guns? Simply the best multiplayer experience of 2009, that’s what. By combining the frenetic action of hardcore twitch first-person shooters with the progression treadmill and loot-whoring of Diablo-esque action RPGs, the kids at Gearbox made something unique—a co-op multiplayer that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
While Borderlands isn’t perfectly polished—there are still problems playing with people above or below your level range—the experience is not to be missed. After tweaking routers and disabling firewalls, we settled in for many nights of bliss, mowing down hundreds of mutants and monsters using an arsenal that ranged from silly to just plain awesome. Where else can you kill mutant midgets with a shotgun that fires flaming rockets?
www.borderlandsthegame.com, ESRB: M
Like chocolate and peanut butter, tower defense games and zombies were made for each other. But it took the twisted genius of casual-gaming impresario Popcap to build the towers out of wacky plants. Instead of harvesting energon cubes and shooting bullets at aliens, you’ll collect sunlight and fire peas at zany zombies. The battle rages in front, behind, and even above your home as you repel the undead hordes.
www.plantsvszombies.com, ESRB: E10+
We were doomed from the moment we opened the Dragon Age box. A dark-fantasy BioWare RPG and the spiritual successor to the Baldur’s Gate saga, Dragon Age sucked us in with its super-in-depth story, shades-of-gray moral choices, memorable characters, and great combat. Yes, Virginia, there is a BioWare RPG with great tactical combat.
Though it hews to a familiar fantasy setting, full of elves, dwarves, and wizards, Dragon Age goes out of its way to subvert some of the genre’s most cherished tropes. Elves are oppressed and live in ghettoes, dwarves don’t speak with Scottish accents, and the moral landscape is ambiguous. The first five hours or so are taken up by one of six different origin stories, which converge in an epic battle. Only then does the game truly begin. And it’s wonderful: violent, moody, unpredictable, and full of delightful surprises. For a good time, crack open a glass phylactery!
We easily sunk 80 hours into our first play-through—without buying any DLC or the forthcoming expansion pack. And then we rolled another character and started again.
http://dragonage.bioware.com, ESRB: M
Comments are closed on this article
Philips
October 28, 2011 at 10:04pm
Sure thing, that has been incredible. The success of the event shall truly be depectable. As gaming is concerned, absolutely, the winner is getting more popular.
E.M.
January 17, 2010 at 6:44pm
It's nice to see that TF2 is mentioned on this list as one of the best of the decade, there are many times where many people won't even mention it on this kinds of lists
Bashar42
January 16, 2010 at 10:42am
Screw Battlefield1942 or any other variation... you want innovation, try PLANETSIDE. A REAL Massively Multiplayer On-line First Person Shooter. Where you can have real wars with hundreds of other players, not just 48.Better then either the Tribes or BF franchises. There is talk of a Planetside 2... I hope to god they actually do it.
Bashar42
samduhman
January 15, 2010 at 9:53am
Thanks for giving BF1942 some credit. It was the last game that made my jaw hit the floor. Since practically every game is now muliplatform I haven't seen any advancement in gaming creativity. Its time for some start-up devs to take some chances on PCs with current hardware. Great games sell PC hardware. I bought a PC just to play Warcraft 2 back in the day.
CentiZen
January 14, 2010 at 1:28pm
So first you tell us that your favorite game "had better be" on someone elses best games list, and then turn around and tell us to respect everyones singular opinion on games when we rebute? That makes no sense.
publicimage
January 13, 2010 at 4:15pm
Note for next year's awards, you can't have the "Michael Bay" award also contain the words "Excellence in Storytelling." I believe those two things are mutually exclusive. :P
dracoress
January 13, 2010 at 10:28am
I just don't understnd yours and PCGamer's love of Deus Ex.
Clunky controls, stupid AI, Crappy graphics. I hated that game then and I got it free with a video card I bought. I just do NOT understand it and I never will. Deus Ex SUCKS! There I said it!
JohnP
January 13, 2010 at 12:09pm
Back In The Day, Deus Ex was an awesome game! Its the same problem as System Shock 2, Doom 2, and other games that are dated. I loved this game!
Another analogy is like Gilligan's Island or the original Star Trek shows. AT THE TIME they were great. With the competition out there today, they cannot come even close.
trident60
January 13, 2010 at 11:23am
The game was made back in 2000... What do you expect out of it? It wasn't made to compete with Crysis, or Far Cry 2.
I am a fan of the game, and it was awesome for 2000, and even when I finally got around to playing it a few years later.
ThunderBolt
January 13, 2010 at 9:23am
lmao, it didn't make it. roflmacopteromgwtfchknbqbfail!!!111!
Frameboy
January 13, 2010 at 10:27am
Best game for people who only have in game friends.
But if they did... WOW's expansion would be there!
Neufeldt2002
January 13, 2010 at 8:36am
Here we have MPC's list, for which I am 100% positive that they sat around and debated. And yet here we have countless people upset because their game of choice is not in there. MPC staff have said time and again, that each choice is debate and awarded merits based on criteria set forth for the article. Yes there are games that I think should be on there, (Bioshock, World of Goo) but I am glad they came up with this list. Thank you MPC.
I wanted a signature, but all I got was this ________
nedwards
January 13, 2010 at 1:02pm
Bioshock and World of Goo are great, but neither came out in 2009.
Frameboy
January 13, 2010 at 10:26am
A) Crysis sucks.
B) Crysis isn't a 2009 game.
C) Crysis sucks.
You pick which answer you like better.
Atomike
January 13, 2010 at 11:49am
Do you think even 20% of Crysis players enjoyed the ending? No, because it was just bad.
Jungle = good.
"Swimming" in Alien Ship = worst gaming experience in years.
If you think this was one of the best games of the decade, perhaps you should finish it first.
CentiZen
January 14, 2010 at 1:29pm
So first you tell us that your favorite game "had better be" on someone elses best games list, and then turn around and tell us to respect everyones singular opinion on games when we rebute? That makes no sense.
AntiHero
January 13, 2010 at 11:04am
Crysis sucked. All it was made to do was to be a benchmarking video game. Some small neat features and a bit different method of getting around the map from mission to mission, aside from that it's EVERY OTHER FPS out there. Supersoldier with isanely good aim and dexterity, tons of health, standard human enemies with some kind of monsters later on. Your team dies, you survive. Not that special or important.
Half Life 2 changed the direction shooters went in. Go play it some time and pay attention to the little things, then remember it was made closer to the beginning of the decade. Source engine was advanced for its time and provided lower end gaming machines with the ability to have nice looking games too, so the more budget oriented or non-pc gamers could enjoy it too since it has Gamepad support. Also, speaking of storytelling, Half Life 2 and all of its episodes are fantastic at storytelling and keeping it fun and sparse enough to keep you rushing to the next part.
IrishMobster
January 13, 2010 at 3:39pm
First of all Crysis is not the best FPS of the decade. Check metacritic, a fairly unbiased site that gives review score averages, before you start crying and getting on high horse that the most poorly optimized game of all time didn't make the decade list. Half-Life 2 is the high reviewed game in PC history. Crysis barely makes the top 50.
Half-Life 2 = 96/9.3
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/halflife2/
Crysis = 91/7.7
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/crysis?q=Crysis
deject
January 13, 2010 at 8:28am
I think you meant to say "Best Tech Demo." Crysis is a good game but best FPS of the decade is a laughable claim. I can think of plenty other games that are much better, including Half-Life 2, Max Payne 1 and 2, No One Lives Forever, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Sure Crysis looks amazing, but that's not what makes a truly great game.
Atomike
January 13, 2010 at 12:49pm
I guess we agree. Crysis definitely showed what SHOULDN't be done in an FPS.
Havok
January 13, 2010 at 7:35pm
Sorry to jump right in, but Half-life 2 has what I like to call story telling and emotion. The story was awesome, plus the Episodes just add to it! How many times do games let you be just an average joe dropped unsuspectingly into a hostile environment? Wait bad example, but I would rather have a good story backing a game than effects that only 1000 dollar plus rigs at the time could achieve. Also, what other games let a player actually feel empathy for an NPC? Sure they're a buncha pixels and lines of code, but Valve gave them character at the same time.
Besides, what other videogame character looks like Hugh Laurie?
CLICK.
habuza
January 13, 2010 at 8:27am
Crysis sucks. It's eye candy, that's it. The story was ass, and killing the same / almost identical bad guys over and over in an fps sucks.
Neufeldt2002
January 13, 2010 at 10:35am
Simple exercise,
Prove without any doubt why Half-life 2 should not be listed and why crysis should. (Eye candy not allowed)
I wanted a signature, but all I got was this ________
Neufeldt2002
January 13, 2010 at 11:24am
Slow down, touch a nerve? You seem to be going off when it was not called. You said "Crysis is a game of the ages. Better than Half Life 2, which you
guys expound upon like it's the greatest of the greatest, yet I
personally have to disagree. Crysis' visuals, gameplay, weapons, AI,
and even the somewhat silly alien storyline are better than anything in
HL2.C'mon, MaxPC. Redo the list, or do one called "Best Games of the Decade" and you damned well better have Crysis on THAT list!" Which by the way implies that HL2 should not be on that list. Your words, not mine.
I wanted a signature, but all I got was this ________
Neufeldt2002
January 13, 2010 at 12:15pm
Last post from me,
You still have to show why Crysis diserves to be on the list. Your opinion is just as you say, an opinion. Show some evidence that supports your opinion as to why Crysis is better? I can write a program that will break computers, but it does not mean it is good.
I am only asking, because you are defending your position adamantly.
I wanted a signature, but all I got was this ________
Atomike
January 13, 2010 at 8:04am
If anyone in the world honestly thinks that the last half of Crysis was ANY good at all, then, I seriously question their critical gaming choices. The beginning of Crysis was great. But the last half eliminates it from any "best of" consideration. In any category.
Shadai
January 13, 2010 at 5:07am
Bad Maximum PC! You know better then to feed the trolls!
Every nerd in here reading this article doesn't have the social skills to pick up sarcasm. You know you're supposed to raise your hand when being sarcastic. Look, they are in a "Noh mai gowd, Max PC I h8 u 4 thinking Blizzard came 1st. Warhammer is g8!!111!1!!1" feeding frenzy.
Let this be a lesson to you kiddies. Never feed the troll in his natural enviroment.
rudy12
March 02, 2010 at 10:19pm
it would probably be best to maybe add a little "no we really aren't that ignorant, it was a joke" asterisk, because there are many out there who would just take your word for it, and many more who would hopefully know that it was not true, but would jump on the "comment" button for the chance to make an ass out of themselves.
deject
January 13, 2010 at 8:29am
I think you're overestimating the number of people who care and their importance.
spentnickles
January 13, 2010 at 3:49am
It really is VERY rare that I would disagree with you guys... However, I have to disagree on a few levels in this article. First off, while there may be a massive move towards online gaming, for some people out there that just isn't where it's at. I've been a gamer since the Atari 2600, orginal NES, SNES, SEGA, and on up - own an X360, PS3, Wii and play computer games - but have NEVER been able to get into online gaming.
I would much rather have a GREAT solo game then go online any day... On that note, Borderlands was a great solo game, but I found the "repeat same enemies" to be stupid. At one point I put the game down and almost didn't pick it back up (did that with Killzone 2 because I found the game stupid). I loved Fallout 3, but again found that the game didn't always have clear direction, but once I got into it, it's one of the best games I've played - up to the ending... Left4Dead2 - I own for the X360 and refuse to pay for a live account, CODMW2 same thing (should have bought it for the PS3 instead) but have no intention of ever playing it online. CODMW I own for the PS3 and have been online with it once...hated it.
The point to all of this is: Different strokes for different folks. While I normally value your opinion, I wouldn't have put Batman up as number 1. It was a fun game, intuitive, with great graphics and good play-through but there were some parts that I found to be "stupid"...the ending for one. I'm sure it's hard for game programmers to write games for everyone, but I appreciate a great single/solo game (I have over 450 in my collection). I'm sure I don't stand alone in my opinion - I just prefer not to game online... IMO, reviews should be written in three parts, Online, Single play, and DLC...this way we get a more thorough review for all interested parties...
highsidednb
January 12, 2010 at 11:38pm
Do your research. You lose serious journalistic credibility with your comments about Dawn of War 2. The Warhammer 40k universe originated around 1987, long before Blizzard Entertainment was even a spermatozoa in Frank Pearce's sack. The WH40k world is rich and well developed with tons of novels, a variety of game formats (pen & paper RPGs, minis, card games, board games, etc.) etc. Starcraft has the imagination of a rusty dorknob. While the fanboys and half of South Korea wait for Starcraft 2 to be released, the next addition to DoW2 will be out...
FOR THE EMPEROR!
...wait. You're being ironic. Sorry.
I Jedi
January 12, 2010 at 10:09pm
Batman was definitely a great game... Still only about half way through it, but it really is a great game to play.
foamcup
January 12, 2010 at 9:24pm
Warhammer has been around since 1983 and 40k has been around since '88. When were Warcraft and Starcraft released? 1994 and '98? Get your facts straight there, dumbass.
gripssl
January 12, 2010 at 8:58pm
I can't believe this is on the list. They better have goten paid fat to have this shitty game on the list. orst game I have ever played. It fails on all levels.
norman
January 12, 2010 at 10:12pm
This is not a straight "best of 2009" list. We only award one best PC game of the year, and that honor went to Batman: Arkham Asylum. The rest of the games are commended with special awards. MW2 was recognized for its Michael Bay-esque cinematic storytelling. Whether that's a good thing or not depends if you're a Michael Bay fan.
-- Norm
jibran_pcc
November 07, 2010 at 10:45pm
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.collar stiffeners
gendoikari1
January 12, 2010 at 9:49pm
Ain't your list. And besides, I liked it (however short and overhyped).
Lost hopes:
Warcraft IV
Timesplitters 4
Star Wars: Battlefront III
Mercenaries 3 (but with LucasArts)
1337-n00b
January 12, 2010 at 8:21pm
Plants Vs Zombies should have been first...or at least second...
ITS AWESOME, totally worth $20 for total awesome gameplay.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
it's pronounced ELEET NEWBEE.
and it means talks like a n00b, knows like a 1337.
As opposed to a 1amma, who thinks like n00b, talks like 1337; better a 1337-n00b than a 1amma.
MuppetMower
January 12, 2010 at 8:40pm
You really think the best game of the year was a flash game? OK. Thats fine.
MuppetMower
January 12, 2010 at 8:39pm
You really think the best game of the year was a flash game? OK. Thats fine.
machew100
January 12, 2010 at 7:55pm
Ughhhh, I can't believe they're bashing on the Warhammer franchise for being unoriginal. If you want to call someone unoriginal, call Blizzard unoriginal for doing the whole Humans vs Orcs vs Elves thing since Warhammer started doing that in 1983, while Blizzard started up in 1991.. I feel that Blizzard would've most likely copied Warhammer for the medieval fantasy crap, while Warhammer just made a universe based off of their original 3 races but in the future instead to mix things up, not copying blizzard. All in all, I feel that the roots lie with Warhammer, not Blizzard.
Bilbert
January 12, 2010 at 8:04pm
actually i think, outside of videogames, The Lord of the Rings series did the Orcs, Elves, Humans and Dwarves thing before either of them.
DirtBaG105
January 12, 2010 at 9:06pm
Ok, lets get something very clear about the whole Blizzard/Warhammer business. First, I'd like to say that I think MaxPC is being sarcastic in the award for best Blizzard rip-off. And I quote:
"Everyone knows it was Blizzard that invented the Space Marines vs. Space Bugs vs. Space Elves setting, and it absolutely didn’t rip off anyone else. At all."
Pretty sure thats sarcasm.
... Yep, that's sarcasm.
Secondly, just going by IP creation dates, Warhammer 40,000 has been around since 1988, an entire decade before Starcraft even came into existence (1998). I'm not saying Blizzard ripped off WH40K, but it sure looks like it when you look at the Empire of Mankind, better known as Space Marines (which calls their homeworld Terra!) in WH40K vs Terrans in SC. Dont forget the Tyranid and the Zerg. Oh my, dont they look a lot alike. Raveners and Hydralisks are practically twins! Protoss are probably the most original, and by far the coolest of the three, but some argue they're a lot like the Eldar, which is a bit of a stretch in my book. Dont get me wrong, SC is great, just looks a little fishy in the originality department when it comes to art and design.
And, yes, Lord of the Rings has been the biggest influence on anything fantasy. I would dare say ALL modern fantasy, be it medieval or sci fi, has been influenced by Tolkien's works. So its not saying much when you say, "Well LotR was the first!" Thank you, Captain Obvious. I had no idea. Much appreciated.
Just thought I'd clear that up.
machew100
August 10, 2010 at 1:32pm
Trolling is fun when you're supposed to be a legitimate, credible news source with opinions and facts combined. Oh wait, IT'S NOT. You don't expect MaximumPC to be "trolling people" when it's doing game awards for all of 2009. Real hilarious, there's no point in doing it, and apparently only smug, troll-savvy assholes caught it.
Spiffy
January 12, 2010 at 7:51pm
Troll of the day goes to the DoW2 award knowing full well what kind of nerd reads this website.
std error
January 12, 2010 at 7:24pm
Wow BF 1942 on the list?! It is my favorite game of all time but I've never seen it on a best of list, not to mention the best for the friggin decade!
So the editors here share my tastes after all.
Yet another reason to keep visiting this site and buying the magazine from Barnes and Noble from time to time.
I will also be trying out Deus EX based on the recommendation. Thats the only game on the decade list I haven't played. Is the the Deus EX being sold on Steam the same version?
Vagabond
January 12, 2010 at 7:46pm
Same version.
Also, be prepared to play the best game you've ever played in your life.
