5 Best Videogames of 08

1) Fallout 3

Running hot off of past Game of the Year honoree Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Bethesda earned the rights to bring back the long dormant Fallout franchise and did not disappoint. Using the solid gameplay elements introduced in their previous titles alongside honoring the established mythology of the world of Fallout, but feeling free to take us in a whole new direction, the game more than met expectations of loyalists and new players alike. With immersive environements, a compelling story, and a unique take on combat (including reintroducing the VATS system), Fallout 3 hit on every level and won many Game of the Year awards - making Bethesda even hotter than it ever has been.

2) Metal Gear Solid 4
One main reason that this is not in the 3rd position is that, if creator Hideo Kojima is not misleading us, this is the final chapter in the Solid Snake era of MGS - a storyline that reaches all the way back to the original 8-bit Nintendo system. Many MGS titles that followed were Gane of the Year winners and fans clamored to find out where Snake was going next. While criticized that his products had become more movies than games, Kojima Productions more than answered that charge with a lengthy game that had it's beautifully rendered cinematic moments for sure, but also solid hours of gameplay to back it up. If this is truly Snake's final bow, then he's gone out in style.

3) Grand Theft Auto 4
You could playfully call GTA IV, 'caffine free.' That's because Rockstar Games has seemed to do away with the childishness of it's previous GTA title (Google "Hot Coffee" to see what I mean) and created a very dramatic story that some have even compared to The Departed. Inside jokes and puns are to be found for sure, but they're not as blantant or comical as in the past. Saddle that gritty story with a very believable rendering of Liberty City (a blatant recreation of New York City), tighter mechanics, and the best voice acting in any game ever and it's easy to see that pulling the reigns in a bit on their flagship title has Rockstar heading in the right direction again.

4) Rock Band 2
Harmonix took the music gaming business by storm the past two years and this year especially showed perrenial rival Guitar Hero who's boss. While not all the instrument upgrades were worth it (drums = good, guitar = not so much), the fact that at launch there were already over 300 songs available for the game is a feat unmatched. Add to that the option to port 98% of your favorite songs from the original Rock Band into the sequel and you've got an incredible set list just out of the box with nothing downloaded. Giving the Wii a run for its money as the best party game available, Harmonix also recently announced that they'll be bring a long awaited Beatles title in the next year or so - which only further cements them as the best music game in town.

5) Fable II
This was the game that Peter Molyneaux wanted to make with the original Fable as that game fell WAY short of it's lofty expectations. Does Fable II fall short as well? Yes, but not to the extreme of its predecessor. Mr. Molyneaux could sell ice to an eskimo with his genuine enthusiasm for what his Lionhead Studios produces and what they try to achieve, but they're also getting the unfortunate tag of not coming through on promises. The introduction of the dog sidekick was a novel one, but not as riveting as it was billed. However, the storyline is great, the gameplay and combat are so much easier to handle now, and the . I'm not knocking the game for what's there because what is there is solid, but what was promised to be there and fails to make an appearance is annoying and a dangerous pattern for Lionhead to fall into.

Honorable Mention: Gears of War 2
In what was truly the year of the sequel, GOW2 did not disappoint as it retook the title of best first person shooter. Advancing the storyline established in the first Gears, this story saw Marcus Fenix take the fight to the Locust in a very offensive minded strategy rather than the defend your turf mentality of the original. The cover aspect of the game continues to impress as it evolves and the new weapons and continued innovation of gameplay should make Gears a front runner in the future. Plus, you get to ride a brumak - how cool is that?