You know, that’s a deliberately deceptive title. It makes it seem like I played more than ten games that came out in 2008. In any case, let the countdown begin!
1. Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (PC)
This was a really stellar effort from the Nancy Drew folks. It had improved, more-than-normal character animation, and it actually had a great plot that set the pace of the game (as opposed to rehashing the “somebody hid a treasure somewhere” plot in half the games of the series).
2. Time Hollow (DS)
The game that proves that Japan has less strict incest rules than the US, Time Hollow was surprisingly really good. You follow Derek along his crazy time travel-based adventures, and help him try to stop an evil time-travelling serial killer and get a girlfriend. Sadly, he loses the girl to the sixteen-year-old version of his uncle. Tough luck, there, Derek.
3. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)
I like logic puzzle/riddles, and it’s about time that somebody made a game about them. The plotline mystery ended up being completely ridiculous (it’s pretty much a big cop-out along the lines of “Um…everyone is an alien clone! That’s why they were acting all weird!”), but the puzzles were decent. Plus, they got the woman who does Nancy Drew’s voice to do Luke and all the other female characters. Cool!
4. Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy (PC)
Sadly, this Nancy Drew game kinda does rehash elements from other games, such as the creepy castle, grumpy old caretaker, and everyone giving you chores to do (ugh). But it takes place in Ireland, and one of the characters is a drunken Irishman who rants about fairies all the time, so it’s still pretty good.
5. Pajama Sam in Don’t Fear the Dark (Wii)
I didn’t play this game, but February will be Pajama Sam month for me, so I’m sure it’s an awesome game.
6. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS)
I’m still not sure if I like or hate this game, but I’ve spent a lot of time playing it, anyway.
7. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Wii)
I picked this game up from the library. It’s okay, but I don’t really like the controls. Or seeing the Indiana Jones plotline cut down to the point where mute Lego men move the story along.
8. Prince of Persia (PC)
I’m sure this game is pretty decent, but it doesn’t really work on my PC, because I have a laptop, not a desktop. Lame. The downloadable feature that lets you play with the Sands of Time Prince/Farah is pretty awesome, though.
9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
More like Stupid Smash Bros. Brawl, am I right?
10. Baroque (Wii)
Interesting concept, bad game.
