IGN: Best of E3 2008 Awards

Best Action Game:
Mirror's Edge
Developer: DICE Sweden
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: PS3
Also Coming to: PC, X360

There's no more immersive way to experience a game than playing in first-person. As games continue to evolve into blockbuster entertainment experiences it's curious that so many first person titles have been about little more than aiming and firing. Mirror's Edge is a game that challenges all of those presuppositions. Environments are no longer static window dressing in a virtual shooting range. Mirror's Edge is a game that makes its environments the focal point of its gameplay. Players will have to read the environment and learn how to use it on the fly to escape from enemies, get to an impossibly high rooftop, or break into a secret new area. Whether or not you choose to fire a weapon (you can play the game without ever using a gun), combat is secondary to the far-flung acrobatics and trapeze-style puzzle solving.

Consider Mirror's Edge a kind of reimagining of Portal through the Jason Bourne lens. In the spirit of the best action games, Mirror's Edge draws you through a sprawling city; constantly pursued by conspiratorially-minded enemies while trying to save someone you love (a sister in this case). At a time when most action games deliver player-empowerment through explosions, Mirror's Edge is a stunning twist on action.

Runner(s)-Up:
Dead Space (Multi - Electronic Arts)
Fat Princess (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, X360 - Capcom)

Best Arcade Shooter:
Galaga Legions
Developer: Namco Bandai
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Release Date: Fall 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: N/A

Xbox Live Arcade has become a great place for both arcade shooters and re-imagined classics. Microsoft surprised us during its press conference with Galaga Legions, a kinetic take on the original space shooter. The slow pace of Galaga feels pretty outdated today, but Legions revs up the speed and throws in beautiful high-definition graphics, to boot.

But it's still Galaga, and retro game fans will find all the enemy swarms and capture abilities they fell in love with in 1981. With Galaga: Legions, Namco has the potential to revitalize another of its franchises the same way it did with Pac-Man Championship Edition last year.

Runner(s)-Up:
Bangai-O Spirits (DS - D3 Publisher)
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (X360 - Activision)

Best Fighting Game:
Street Fighter IV
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: TBA 2009
Shown at E3 on: Arcade
Already Available for: PC, PS3, X360

It shouldn't be much surprise that the first sequel in ten years to the best fighting game series ever made is our pick for best fighting game of E3 2008. Though we must admit, even for Kool-aid drinkers like us, the promise of Street Fighter IV was clouded by skepticism. Polygons and Street Fighter have historically never blended with brilliance, and the curious art style and home-wrecking new characters highlighted in early media left many Street Fighter aficionados reluctant to celebrate the series return.

We're elated to report that such reticence is unnecessary. Street Fighter IV feels more like proper Street Fighter than the polygonal and ill-received EX games ever did, yet provides enough gameplay changes to offer vets lots to learn. The 3D look works, too, much better than we expected, with fantastic backgrounds perfectly filling the stylistic camera cuts. We'll need lots more hours behind the joystick before we can accurately compare the quality of the game to its predecessors, but we've played enough to renew our optimism for Street Fighter IV and honor the game as our favorite fighter at this year's show.

Runner(s)-Up:
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PS3, X360 - Midway Games)
Soulcalibur IV (PS3, X360 - Namco Bandai)

Best MMO:
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Developer: Mythic Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: N/A

If anyone knows how to bring a fresh approach to the MMO genre, it's Mythic Entertainment. There are other developers who have released more (and more successful) MMOs, but no one else is quite as well prepared to create a fully realized realm-vesrus-realm experience as the creators of Dark Age of Camelot. And no world is quite so suited for that treatment than Games Workshop's Warhammer fantasy setting. When the two companies came together to create Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, we knew we were in for something special.

Happily, every fresh viewing of the game has only increased our anticipation. Sure, we're pretty tired of elves and orcs, but the Warhammer world warps the standard stereotypes and includes enough original elements that it stands apart from the usual fantasy settings. The gameplay also continues to impress us, with a sure and satisfying focus on realm-versus-realm struggle that eases players into competition with each other and culminates in massive wars for control of each faction's capital city.

With a fresh but familiar setting and an undeniably compelling game design, Warhammer Online is sure to help us vent our Waaaghs!

Runner(s)-Up:
The Agency (PC, PS3 - Sony Online Entertainment)

Best Music/ Rhythm Game:
Rock Band 2
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: MTV Games
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PS2, PS3, Wii

Like Harmonix's first two Guitar Hero installments, the original Rock Band took the IGN offices by storm upon its release, so it was a no-brainer that playing a song or two (or twelve) in the sequel would be on everyone's mandatory "to do" list at E3. There were bigger crowds piling in around the Rock Band 2 setup than pretty much any other game at the show, which says a lot.

While Rock Band 2 doesn't quite have the massive amount of updates that Guitar Hero World Tour promises, it does have an absolutely killer soundtrack. Who isn't going to replay "Livin' on a Prayer" a million times? Add in the fact that the game is compatible with every downloadable track available now for the original title, plus the ability to rip most of the tracks off of the original disc for use in the second game, and you have a song lineup that is absolutely unparalleled by its peers. Launching with roughly 500 tracks at its disposal, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who couldn't find tons to love with the game.

Runner(s)-Up:
Guitar Hero World Tour (Multi - Activision)
Lips (X360 - Microsoft)
Rhythm Heaven (DS - Nintendo)

Best Platform Game:
Prince of Persia
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: PS3
Also Coming to: PC, X360

When last we saw the Prince of Persia, he had gone emo. Over the course of three games on the previous generation of consoles, the Prince had evolved into a dark, brooding hero who'd seemed to have lost all hope. E3 2008 revealed a brand new Prince, with a unique visual style and a far sunnier disposition.

This Prince is a true hero, battling to defeat back the corruption that threatens to overtake the world. Defeating an area brings out the sun. The more you win, the prettier the world becomes. That's a Prince we can believe in.

Featuring intense one-on-one combat, a new acrobatics system and a dynamic, open world, Prince of Persia proved to be one of the most impressive titles at E3 2008. Along with an art style the makes it appear as if you were traveling through a painted world, a new ally was revealed. Elika is your constant partner and play an integral part in the Prince's acrobatic moves as well as combat. Though there are traces of the past POP titles, this Prince has its own visual style and gameplay that make it stand out from the pack.

Runner(s)-Up:
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts (X360 - Microsoft)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)

Best Puzzle Game:
Braid
Developer: Number None Inc.
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: Summer 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PC

Though at first look, many mistake Braid for a platformer, it isn't. It's actually an innovative brainteaser. Your task here is to collect the puzzle pieces scattered throughout a variety of colorful and unique-looking worlds. But this isn't just a matter of hunting for hidden pieces. In fact, you'll be taunted by puzzle pieces lying out in the open. The trick is mastering the time powers in Braid to discover the solution for each room.

Each world introduces a new twist to your time powers. At first, it's just a matter of being able to rewind time. But this evolves into creating doppelgangers, slowing time in specific area, and more. The further you progress in Braid, the most complex the puzzles. Your creativity will need to match that of developer Number None Inc. if you hope to succeed.

Runner(s)-Up:
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (Multi - D3 Publisher)
The Misadventures of Mr. P.B. Winterbottom (Multi - The Odd Gentlemen)

Best Racing Game:
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
Developer: Evolution Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: October 2008
Shown at E3 on: PS3
Also Coming to: N/A

The original MotorStorm brought off-road racing to the PlayStation 3 in a big way, and its sequel, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, looks to continue in the same fashion with a deadly new locale and some tweaks to fix nearly every complaint about the first title. Situated on an island in the Pacific, the game does away with the barren wastelands seen in the first title and instead has gamers racing through foliage and water, over and around lava and alongside some massive cliffs.

Like the mud in the first game, Pacific Rift's foliage system plays a part in how each vehicle will handle. Big and slow vehicles can plow right through it, but it can rip motorcyclists right off their ride, forcing gamers to dodge and weave through the landscape as they struggle for a first place finish. The new environments are a sight to behold, and the amount of variety therein offers tons of changes to the racing mechanics even in a single race. The split-screen stuff works great, the better load times are a welcome change, and the ability to tweak your rides is something we're all itching to dig into.

Runner(s)-Up:
Baja: Edge of Control (PS3, X360 - THQ)
Pure (Multi - Disney Interactive)

Best RPG:
Fallout 3
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: October 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PC, PS3

Few scenarios have the potential to be as captivating and compelling as those set in a post-apocalyptic world, especially when the dystopian reality is happening in your own backyard. Fallout 3, which is only a few short months from its long-awaited arrival, puts gamers in just such a situation. With the United States obliterated in a heated nuclear exchange with China nearly two-hundred years before the events of the game take place, Fallout 3's world is not one we recognize... nor would we want to.

Competing factions of renegade survivors (some of whom still loyal to the long-dormant American government) make the world of Fallout 3 a hostile one. Thankfully, the world is also vast, but who would expect any different from Bethesda, the studio which brought the acclaimed Elder Scrolls series to eager gamers everywhere. The artful interweaving of story, gameplay and environment make Fallout 3 the only real choice for the best RPG at this year's E3, and the unique VATS combat system (along with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. statistics system familiar to Fallout veterans) are all geared-up to floor gamers this fall with their unique approach. Just remember to wear your Hazmat suit – you'll need it.

Runner(s)-Up:
Dragon Age: Origins (PC - Electronic Arts)
Fable II (X360 - Microsoft)
Rise of the Argonauts (Multi - Codemasters)

Best Shooting Game:
Gears of War 2
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: N/A

Rather than re-invent the gear with the follow-up to its 2006 breakout hit shooter, Epic Games has spent the last couple years filing down the rough edges. As a result, Gears of War 2 is shaping up to be the ultimate console shooter. It looks amazing, plays like a perfectly broken-in pair of combat boots and adds several features that had our jaws dropping at E3.

Whether in the single-player campaign or on the multiplayer battlefield, you're best off teaming up with a friend in Gears if you want to stay alive, and Epic is taking that philosophy to crazy new heights. Downed players can crawl to cover while awaiting help, but now that cover may just be chipped away by enemy fire; and weapons and melee attacks have been finely tuned to further encourage tactical team play.

And nothing draws that all together like Horde, a new co-operative multiplayer mode Epic and Microsoft had on display at E3. The premise is simple. Locust enemies swarm forth, and you and your teammates must beat them back for as long as possible. It's intense, addictive and insane, and we can't wait to see what else Gears 2 has in store.

Runner(s)-Up:
Far Cry 2 (Multi - Ubisoft)
Left 4 Dead (PC, X360 - Valve Software)
Resistance 2 (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)

Best Sports Game:
Shaun White Snowboarding
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: October 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PC, PS3

It's hard not to get excited about Shaun White Snowboarding when you consider the possibilities the game offers on all platforms. On the 360 and PS3, you're looking at virtually a sandbox experience, with seemingly endless snow and mountains allowing you to put together massive, epic sessions, especially when you consider you'll be on the mountain alongside potential online opponents who are perpetually only moments away from a challenge.

On the Wii, you're using the Balance Board (if you can find one) to control your character, moving around and pulling off tricks by leaning from side to side on the balance board. A sports game that offers evolved, nuanced gameplay on each platform? Yeah, that could go places.

Runner(s)-Up:
NHL 09 (Multi - Electronic Arts)
UFC 2009 Undisputed (PS3, X360 - THQ)
Wii Sports Resort (Wii - Nintendo)

Best Strategy Game:
Spore
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: N/A

Spore will be many things to many people, and no other strategy game captivated and amazed us more than Will Wright's simulation about pretty much everything. This is basically the story of intergalactic life in a solo box, starting with a single cellular organism swimming in the primordial ooze then evolving and advancing until you're terraforming planets, waging war with alien cultures, and conquering the galaxy.

While there are many different forms of gameplay within Spore, the key thing to remember is that the decisions that you make very early will reverberate throughout the game, oftentimes in unforeseen and exciting ways. Almost everything about Spore is audacious and new; from the way it nurtures and integrates user-generated content to the way it generates excitement in people who would otherwise not consider themselves gamers.

This is a whole new world of gameplay that we're exploring; or, in Spore's case, an incredibly vast galaxy of worlds.

Runner(s)-Up:
Empire: Total War (PC - SEGA)
Halo Wars (X360 - Microsoft)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3 - SEGA)

Best Downloadable Console Game:
Fat Princess
Developer: Darkstar Industries
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: Q1 2009
Shown at E3 on: PS3
Also Coming to: N/A

While there were certainly fewer surprises found at this year's E3 than at previous shows, one of the most unexpected titles to appear was the quirky dark humor of Fat Princess. An engaging mix of play that seemed like Animal Crossing gone horridly (and hilariously) awry, Fat Princess actually placed players on teams across cartoonish stages destroying their opponent in rather bloody ways. Users have a lot of flexibility in accomplishing their goals thanks to the hats that they could wear, including becoming a wizard and tossing fireballs, turning into an archer and firing arrows or reinforcing walls as a builder.

However, the fact that the true central facet of the game is "Capture the Princess," which involves holding your opponent's princess hostage in your castle. To prevent them from quickly infiltrating and retrieving her, your troops track down and force feed pieces of cake and dessert to the princess, which makes her fatter so your opponent can't easily abscond with her. The dark comedy may be controversial, but the engaging visuals and intriguing gameplay will likely make plenty of players capture princesses eagerly when the title is released.

Runner(s)-Up:
Braid (X360 - Microsoft)
Flower (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)
Galaga Legions (X360 - Namco Bandai)

Best Graphics Technology:
Gears of War 2
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: N/A

There were a lot of beautiful looking games at E3 2008, but none held our eye as long as Gears of War 2. Some very deserving titles made our short list, but at the end of the day, it was Epic's uncanny ability to squeeze magic out of the (upgraded) Unreal Engine 3 that wowed us most.

From the updated soft-body physics to the fantastic water effects and realistic cover destruction, Gears 2 reminded us why Tim Sweeney and the tech team at Epic are some of the best in the business. Not only does Gears 2 look pretty in pictures and HD videos, it also runs like a dream. In our lengthy time playing the Horde co-op mode at a Microsoft event at E3, we saw no slowdown, tearing, crashes or hiccups whatsoever. Here's hoping the finished product looks as good on launch day as it did in L.A.

Runner(s)-Up:
Crysis: Warhead (PC - Electronic Arts)
Fallout 3 (Multi - Bethesda Softworks)
Killzone 2 (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)

Best Artistic Design:
Prince of Persia
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: PS3
Also Coming to: PC, X360

The acclaimed Prince of Persia franchise was reborn on the last generation of home consoles complete with an emphasis on gritty, realistic visuals -- graphics that sell. Ubisoft's hero looked fabulous on the original Xbox, but with the company's recently released Assassin's Creed donning a similar style, we've been concerned that the two franchises might have a little too much in common. At E3 2008, though, our fears were washed away, as the publisher pulled back the curtain on its newly redesigned Prince of Persia, now sporting a boldly different presentation.

The super-charged platformer features a gorgeous graphical style that seems influenced by a variety of beautiful games, from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker -- Prince and his female sidekick boast subtle cel-shaded outlines – to Shadow of the Colossus. The acrobatic princely protagonist jumps and wall-runs through epic-sized colorful environments and does battle with grandiose beasts, all with the fluid animation fans of the series have come to take for granted. Even the hero himself is re-imagined. No longer recognizable royalty, Prince now wages war in a tattered clothing with flowing scarves. It all looks great in screens and spectacular in motion.

Runner(s)-Up:
MadWorld (Wii - SEGA)
The Misadventures of Mr. P.B. Winterbottom (Multi - The Odd Gentlemen)
Spore (PC - Electronic Arts)

Best Multiplayer Experience:
Left 4 Dead
Developer: Valve Software
Publisher: Valve Software
Release Date: November 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: X360

There's always that moment in horror movies where the victims split up and meet their gory individual fates. Thanks to Valve, that's now something you can experience for yourself without any real danger in Left 4 Dead. Do so and you're almost guaranteed a short but exciting life as zombies swarm all around you in an effort to tear you limb from limb. Or, if you choose to team up with up to three other players and work together, you'll be treated to an intense gameplay experience like few others as you work your way through a city crawling with the living dead.

Though you're armed with modern weapons, there's always the danger of running out of ammo before hitting the next safe house. And to top it all off, there are dangerous boss zombies that could be lurking around every corner. Left 4 Dead's concept is so simple it's a wonder why no one else has done it this well before, but if this game takes like we expect it to, we wouldn't be surprised to see other publishers jumping on the cooperative multiplayer shooter bandwagon.

Runner(s)-Up:
Fat Princess (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)
Gears of War 2 (X360 - Microsoft)
Rock Band 2 (Multi - MTV Games)

Special Achievement for Technological Excellence:
Spore
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: N/A

The idea of a god game is old hat for PC gamers. In the past this meant choosing where to build railroads or whether or not nations should go to war. Never before has there been a game about creation in its most metaphysical sense. Spore's become an old favorite on Best of E3 lists, but its showing this year, just a couple of months before its vaunted release date in December, was a stellar reminder of just how impressively Will Wright's existential fantasia has come together. At first glance Spore may seem unassuming, with its Creature Creator and Civ-style nation-building components, but the real technical marvel is the way Spore adapts these familiar game genres to respond dynamically to a species whose defining qualities are player-created.

Wright has essentially led a team of programmers on a quest to create the gaming equivalent of the god equation and it works in convincing fashion. The game offers near limitless possibilities for transforming player choice in the microscopic stage of life into a defining core for their life form. The creature creator allows players to embellish that core life form in their own unique ways and then guide it through a painstakingly detailed path of evolution. What's unprecedented about this is experience is that the game revolves around you, in response to all of your choices.

Runner(s)-Up:
The Conduit (Wii - High Voltage Software)
Fallout 3 (Multi - Bethesda Softworks)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)

Special Achievement for Innovation:
Spore
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: N/A

Maxis' strategy/ simulation/ action/ RTS/ fashion design game isn't exactly easy to wrap your head around. You start out as a cell and at some point later you're flying around the galaxy conquering planets with a weaponized starship and gradually making your way toward some kernel of mystery nestled in the galactic center. But it's even more than game design that makes Spore stand out; it's also the community features. Through the in-game Sporepedia everyone can see what everyone else is making, whether it be ships, vehicles, or creatures, import content into their game, comment on creations; it really seems like the nexus of wide open gameplay and modern player interaction.

Whereas company mouthpieces peddling games say things like "Hey, check out our innovation! A dog!" Maxis demos its game with cool confidence. "So here's the part where you terraform a planet by using your ship's heat ray to raise the overall temperature to make it easier for you to..." Stop, Maxis employee. You had us at terraform.

Runner(s)-Up:
Flower (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)
Mirror's Edge (Multi - Electronic Arts)
The Misadventures of Mr. P.B. Winterbottom (Multi - The Odd Gentlemen)

Best Hardware/ Peripheral:
Wii Motion Plus
Developer: InvenSense
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: Winter 2008
Shown at E3 on: Wii
Also Coming to: N/A

Nintendo's Wii remote is a remarkable controller that has changed the very way people play videogames and, combined with intuitive software, expanded the market to the coveted casual sector. Nevertheless, the Big N's innovative white wand has fallen short of its true ability because it can't detect subtle rotational movement or translate true one-to-one gestures. That all changes, though, with the introduction of MotionPlus, a small peripheral that plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote.

The seemingly simple gyroscopic addition makes good on all of the console's untapped potential, effortlessly displaying subtle rotations with near-pinpoint accuracy. Combined with the Wii remote, MotionPlus even enables much more reliable 3D space detection. The results speak for themselves. We played the first game to use the peripheral, Wii Sports Resort, and came away fully impressed. We were able to make one-to-one sword slashes in a simple game of duel and we could rotate our wrist and watch as our character perfectly mimicked our actions in a game of dog disc. The potential for future games, from a Zelda swordfighter to the next iteration of Tiger Woods, has us salivating at the possibilities.

Runner(s)-Up:
Lips Wireless Microphone (Microsoft)
Rock Band 2 Ion Drum Set (MTV Games)
WiiSpeak (Nintendo)

Best Non-Playable Presentation:
Final Fantasy XIII
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: TBA 2009
Shown at E3 on: Video Screens
Also Coming to: PS3, X360

Nothing captures a crowd like a trailer from the Final Fantasy series. The newest teaser for Final Fantasy XIII shown during Microsoft's press conference did contain some previously seen footage but also boasted new video that took everyone's breath away. Most of the new content came in the form of extended shots of the airship sequences and the city fly-through, along with a quick glance at what looked like Ifrit wielding a sword of fire. A much newer character we haven't seen much of before was also on display during the teaser: a woman with red-tinted hair standing on a cliff precipice.

Although Square-Enix's trailers rarely tell us about the game itself, the quality of the cinematics, coupled with the enticing possibilities that they entail, make this an easy winner for best Non-Playable Presentation. It's a testament to Square-Enix's cutscene prowess that such a short video can spur up so much excitement.

Runner(s)-Up:
Call of Duty: World at War (Multi - Activision)
MAG: Massive Action Game (PS3 - Sony Computer Entertainment)
Quantum of Solace (Multi - Activision)

Biggest Surprise:
Final Fantasy XIII Coming to Xbox 360
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: TBA 2009

Going hand-in-hand with the newest Final Fantasy XIII trailer, Square-Enix's announcement that its next renowned RPG would hit the 360 took the internet by storm. There's no question that the last few moments of the Microsoft press conference had the most dramatic impact as Sony's long-held exclusive went multiplatform. Although many people speculated that this was an inevitable move for Square-Enix considering the potential financial benefits involved, no one was certain if/when it would pop up.

While this is excellent news for gamers who only own a 360 console, PS3 owners have been less than enthusiastic. In the end, only time will tell how these two versions play out, but we know one thing for sure: this was the bombshell of E3 2008.

Runner(s)-Up:
Bungie No-Shows E3
Movie and TV Initiatives on PS3 and Xbox 360
Nintendo Press Conference So Bad Even Casamassina Hated It

Best Handheld Game:
Rhythm Heaven
Developer: TNX
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: Winter 2008
Shown at E3 on: DS
Also Coming to: N/A

Though the version at the show only featured three unique music challenges, those three challenges were enough to win us over. Rhythm Heaven is the Nintendo DS edition of Rhythm Tengoku, a unique music game that, for whatever reason (mostly due to the dual-screen handheld taking over the portable market), Nintendo of America declined to bring over to the US.

But the team has taken the incredibly addictive gameplay it created for the Game Boy Advance and added touch-screen functionality, producing a whole new set of music levels that incorporates incredibly fun tap-and-flick gameplay that's set to a toe-tapping rhythm. Nintendo hasn't committed itself to a release date, but honestly it can't come soon enough – we're itching to play more of Rhythm Heaven now.

Runner(s)-Up:
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS - Konami)
Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (DS - Ubisoft)
Resistance Retribution (PSP - Sony Computer Entertainment)

Best Console Game:
Fallout 3
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: Q1 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PC, PS3

It's no secret that Fallout 3 is one of the most anticipated titles to come out this year, as both the latest title from the geniuses that delivered Oblivion and as a follow-up to a beloved PC franchise. However, when you can deliver as rich a world as Fallout does, you've easily got a game that surpasses expectations and leaves previous games in the dust – the nuclear radiated fallout dust that is. Eight of us went into a demo session, starting from our emergence from the vault and were given our freedom to explore the world at our leisure, doing whatever came to mind. After a half hour of play that seemed to fly by way too fast, we all had different stories of what we managed to do in that period of time. If you can manage to encapsulate a world so thoroughly, with such a diverse set of experiences awaiting players, you have an amazing title on your hands.

Runner(s)-Up:
Gears of War 2 (X360 - Microsoft)
Mirror's Edge (Multi - Microsoft)
Prince of Persia (Multi - Ubisoft)

Best PC Game:
Spore
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 2008
Shown at E3 on: PC
Also Coming to: N/A

E3 2008 had some great PC games on display. Bethesda's Fallout 3 looks fantastic. Valve continues to impress with its online, team-based first-person shooter Left 4 Dead. Creative Assembly is doing great things with Empire, the latest in its stellar Total War series. It's Spore, though, that's captured the greater part of our attention and imagination when it comes to things PC.

There's just so much to do, and so many ways for the decisions you make to impact the dynamic galaxy in which the game takes place, that the thought of not rewarding this kind of innovative design made us feel like we hadn't showered in days (a feeling even stronger amongst those who actually hadn't showered). Then you've got to consider Maxis' track record, SimCity and The Sims, specifically, and the fact that we've already seen proof the company knows how do distill complex, versatile game systems into an easy to understand and operate interface (Spore Creature Creator). We expect great, great things from the final product that, after so many years of anticipation, will be available in just over a month.

Runner(s)-Up:
Empire: Total War (PC - SEGA)
Fallout 3 (Multi - Bethesda Softworks)
Left 4 Dead (PC, X360 - Valve Software)

Overall Game of the Show:
Fallout 3
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: October 2008
Shown at E3 on: X360
Also Coming to: PC, PS3

With less than three months to go before it ships, Fallout 3 already looks remarkably complete. The world is as full of life as it's ever been with loads of little details crammed into nearly every corner. After first stepping out of the Vault, players find themselves in the middle of a vast city full of dynamic encounters, flexible narratives and nearly endless possibilities. While calling it "Oblivion with guns" might be oversimplifying things, it definitely reveals just how deep and detailed this world is.

While I knew that Bethesda could deliver in terms of story and convincing world creation, the big unknown for me has always been the actual gameplay. Fortunately, I got to play through a good bit of the game at the show and I was really impressed with the overall feel of the game. I was particularly happy to see how well the turn-based VATS combat worked. I was worried that the pause and play nature of the system would interrupt the flow of the game, but it really only served to make the game feel more tactical and heighten its cinematic appeal.

-- Steve Butts, Executive Editor, IGN PC Team

Fallout 3 continues to impress with an engrossing story, great visuals, and a compelling mix of gameplay styles. It is predominantly a Western role-playing game similar to Oblivion (with guns). But you could choose to play it like a run-and-gun first-person shooter, if that's more your style. V.A.T.S., the Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System, adds turn-based strategy elements. However you slice it, Fallout 3 looks like it will deliver one of the largest adventures in gaming this year. The post-apocalyptic world Bethesda has created is an intriguing dystopia we can't wait to explore. There were several standout games at this year's show. But none of them seem to offer the freedom and unique vision of Fallout 3.

-- Daemon Hatfield, Associate Editor, IGN Nintendo Team

Runner(s)-Up:
Gears of War 2 (X360 - Microsoft)
Prince of Persia (Multi - Ubisoft)
Spore (PC - Microsoft)

http://games.ign.com/articles/893/893833p1.html

im looking forward to fallout 3

Got GHWT and Gears 2 on my checklist. Those 2 games are the best of the whole list.

I'm looking forward for Gears of War 2 and Left 4 Dead

SoulCal IV comes out on Tuesday....:lol Got my boss to give me the day off.

Fallout 3! The original was so fun.

I could never play my RPG's with a futuristic setting or with guns and modern weapons. For some reason never appealed to me.

Ffxiii

gonna get gow2 but idk if i should get rock band 2 or guitar hero 4, any suggestions?

If you've tried Rock Band, it's basically the same thing as Rock Band 2. The only thing that is so attractive of RB2 is that it's gonna have a shitload of music, including the first game's music, available for download (around 500 by the end of the year, I believe).

Guitar Hero 4 is supposedly going to have a setlist for those who listen to more of the metal/hard rock stuff. That, and the drumset is better and gives more of a challenge than Rock Band 2. You can also create your own music on the game. Yes, you can create your own music. The only negative is that you can't sing in the create music mode. Also, the guitar is supposed to feel much more realistic and the best so far of any game.

You decide, but I'm picking GH4, easily.

ight thx i getting gh4

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr.Bottomtooth

If you've tried Rock Band, it's basically the same thing as Rock Band 2. The only thing that is so attractive of RB2 is that it's gonna have a shitload of music, including the first game's music, available for download (around 500 by the end of the year, I believe).

Guitar Hero 4 is supposedly going to have a setlist for those who listen to more of the metal/hard rock stuff. That, and the drumset is better and gives more of a challenge than Rock Band 2. You can also create your own music on the game. Yes, you can create your own music. The only negative is that you can't sing in the create music mode. Also, the guitar is supposed to feel much more realistic and the best so far of any game.

You decide, but I'm picking GH4, easily.

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I'll probably end up trying to get both. RB2 has Psycho Killer from Talking Heads, and that alone is enough (it's not the only song in the setlist I like, obviously, but I *fucking love* that song), and GH4 has a shitload of stuff I like. Thank God for X-mas!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShagiaFrost

and GH4 has a shitload of stuff I like. Thank God for X-mas!

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You know that list was a fake, right?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr.Bottomtooth

You know that list was a fake, right?

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:lol I forgot, actually. I was half-conscious when I made that post, and half-conscious is being generous.

Fallout 3 got alot of awards here and I know alot of people are anticipating it, but I really don't understand why. The graphics look good, i'm sure the story will be alright, and the gameplay almost seems ruined by the idea of turn-based combat... am I missing something else?

SoulCal IV is the balls.