This week, Gamervision’s writers will be listing their ten favorite games of 2009. They may not be the most technically impressive or innovative titles, but we loved them just the same, and will probably be playing them well into 2010. Whether it was unique presentations, addictive multiplayer, a compelling narrative, or just simply satisfying gameplay, these were the games that left lasting impressions on us regardless of review score or proximity to perfection.

Be sure to check back every day this week to see what games each writer has picked, and next week we’ll be continuing our annual Best Ever awards, determining the best games of 2009. On Friday, January 1, Gamervision’s Game of the Year 2009 will be announced, and you’ll want to see just how we get there.

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It’s been a whirlwind of a year that was so chock full of really great games that cutting down my favorites to just ten was nearly impossible. There are bound to be a few exclusions that surprise you, as well as a few inclusions that will have you rolling your eyes. Whether you agree with me or not, the games listed below are the ten I’ve been playing non-stop since they came out, and they are games that I’m likely going to keep playing for the foreseeable future. The following ten games shaped my year in ways that even I didn’t see coming, and regardless of whether or not you agree with my choices, I hope that you can at least understand why I picked these particular games.

MadWorld

While 2009 may have started off relatively slow for the Nintendo Wii, once MadWorld arrived, I remembered why I actually enjoyed the console so much. With an incredible design aesthetic, which not only captured your eye, but utilized a unique style to compliment the Wii’s graphical power, a great soundtrack, which I still listen to today, and motion controls that actually made sense, MadWorld easily placed itself not just among the top games of the year, but among the top games of all time on the Wii. I know I’ll never forget the fight against Frankenstein, or the first time I cut a guy in half with my chainsaw. Even though I haven’t touched the game in months, the moment I get a chance, I’m jumping right back into Jack’s shoes to dole out more ruthless justice.

MLB 09: The Show

If there was one good thing to come of 2K getting an exclusive contract to be the sole provider of third-party baseball games, it was Sony’s revival of the MLB series. MLB 09: The Show, which was the third effort for the PS3, was not only the best the franchise had ever been, but it was also damn close to being one of the greatest baseball video games of all time, next to MVP Baseball 2005. Typically, baseball games aren’t considered among the top tier sports games, which is a shame because there were few games this year that could rival the presentation, immersion, and perfect translation of the real game the way that MLB 09: The Show did. Honestly, winning a game on Legendary difficulty was probably one of the most hard-fought and rewarding gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

Resident Evil 5

Zombies may be all the rage now, but Resident Evil has been doing zombies better than anyone for years. Even though the series has transitioned away from survival horror and taken an action-oriented approach, Resident Evil 5 was a high point in the series. The latest attempt to take down Umbrella was not only visually impressive, completely immersive, and remarkably replayable, but offered co-operative play for the first time in franchise history, which is a major part of what made this game so damned addicting. I’m really looking forward to the additional content coming out next year because I can’t wait to have a reason to revisit this game, and step into the ‘roided out boots of Chris Redfield once more.

Fallout 3: The Expansions

This one is kind of a cheat since Fallout 3 actually came out last year, but each of the game’s five expansions came out this year, and having played them all exhaustively, they have to be among my favorites of 2009. “Operation: Anchorage” and “The Pitt” may have gotten things off to an underwhelming start, but with “Broken Steel” and “Point Lookout” Bethesda stepped up their game to present fully realized worlds and adventures that made the Capital Wastelands worth revisiting. I mean really, when’s the next time you’re going to have a chance to be part of an invasion force that includes a giant robot heaping destruction down upon anyone who stands in its way? Exactly. Having put in well over 100 hours into all of Fallout 3 combined, I can without a doubt say that it’s one of my favorite games of the last ten years.

UFC Undisputed 2009

Finally, the first good video game based on the UFC. It only took close to ten years. THQ really delivered the goods with the first entry in this all-new franchise, bringing top quality character models, excellent controls, and one of the largest rosters ever in a fighting game. Sure, the game had its flaws, but for a brand new license, UFC Undisputed 2009 set the bar pretty high for follow-ups. For the first few months after the game came out there was no better way to spend a night than with UFC, a few beers, and a few friends. I’m worried about the 2010 sequel coming out so quickly, but if it manages to clean up the minor issues 2009 had, most notably a lack of cage interaction, it’s likely that next year's version will wind up on my list next year.

Trials HD

Oh, the out of nowhere story that was Trials HD. I vaguely remembered a version of this game on the PC way back in the day, and was extremely excited to hear that it was getting the full high-def treatment. Little did I know that my excitement would penetrate the hearts and minds of the rest of the office. With a little help from the instantly addictive demo, the Gamervision office had turned into a bunch of rabid time trial junkies, each willing to do whatever it took to outdo one another on the leaderboards. The game will constantly have you saying, “Just one more.” Before you know it, it’s seven in the morning, and you’re wondering if your loved ones will think you just woke up, or if they’ll catch on that you just stayed up all night to shave .004 seconds of your time. Your secret is safe with me.

Madden NFL 10

All right, listen up. It’s taken them close to five years, but EA’s finally created a game that’s better than NFL 2K5. I’ve been a Madden fan for years, and I’ve always defended Madden when naysayers claimed that 2K5 was still the superior product. That game was good, but with Madden NFL 10, EA Sports has not only crafted the finest American football game ever, they’ve also shown that they care what the community thinks, including many upgrades (improved running and defense) and features (online leagues) that fans had been repeatedly asking for on EA message boards. I plan on playing this until Madden NFL 11 arrives on shelves. Now, if only we could convince those few stubborn, straggling 2K fans that there’s a new king in town…

Batman: Arkham Asylum

As one of the two biggest comic nerds working at Gamervision, it does my heart good to see a game like Batman: Arkham Asylum making so many “Year’s Best” lists, including my own. The first step in creating the most perfect Batman game to date was hiring much of the original animated series’ voice cast. So many gamers grew up with Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arlene Sorkin that hearing, and seeing, them in action again was reason enough to check the game out. Once they put the disc in, they were pleased to find a compelling comic narrative, excellent controls, and a game that finally gave a true representation of what it must be like to be the Dark Knight. There’s already a sequel on the way, and it’s easily one of 2010’s most anticipated games. Rocksteady deserves a pat on the back for creating an honest to goodness superhero game franchise that comic fans could be proud of.

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time

Complaints about this game being nothing more than the same game people had been playing for years don’t hold much weight when the original gameplay is so strong. Easily one of the best platforming franchises of all time, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time brought the series to a pinnacle, and in addition to being one of the strongest games in the franchise’s history, it wrapped years worth of storylines and plot threads, causing many to think this game a fitting finale. I’m still holding out hope that there’s more adventures to be had with the universe’s most famous Lombax and his robotic companion, but if not, I’ll still be completely content with the way everything concluded. If you’ve ever wanted to play the video game version of a Pixar movie, this game, and its predecessor Tools of Destruction, are a wonderful representation of the PlayStation 3’s power, and Insomniac’s ability as developers.

Left 4 Dead 2

Best non-sports multiplayer game of all time. No matter how many times I play through the game’s campaigns over and over again, I have a great deal of fun with my friends. Valve really outdid themselves with this game, and it’s going to be a long time until I stop playing this every chance I get. Also, Coach is the greatest character of all time. Abandoning the four survivors from the first game wasn’t easy, but after playing L4D2 for little more than a month, all I have to say is this:

I regret nothing.

 

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see which games of 2009 made Coop's Ten Favorites.