The end of another year – it doesn’t seem like two minutes since I was writing this list last year but here we are again with my choices as the top ten video games of 2009. Please remember these choices are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of anyone else connected with www.newgengamers.com 

It has been an incredible year on all the systems with blockbusters spread across the year but in my opinion this is the year that the PS3 & 360 really dominated and between them they cover 9 out of the ten positions – the Wii, Psp and Ds unfortunately not making any entries in the top ten. This is not a detriment to those systems; it just highlights how many excellent titles the other two machines have had.

These have been chosen in terms of what impressed me most, what I am still playing etc and not necessarily what received the best mark from me at the time they were initially reviewed. (Also I know some of these games were multiplatform but I have listed the machine that I have played it on)

10 –Prototype – Activision (360)

An excellent action adventure title, which drew many comparisons with Infamous.  The main difference being that this title was more spectacular in terms of the destruction your character could unleash.

A new franchise from Electronic Arts and it is the most recent released on the list. Not the greatest in any single department but a game that is very addictive for some unfathomable reason and a sum of all its parts.

This title, released at the beginning of the year has held the title of best FPS of all the year right the way until the release of Modern Warfare 2. A class title that despite slight faults was very difficult to be annoyed with and caused me many hours of motion sickness. Definitely hope there will be a number 3 in the future.

In May I said this could possibly be the game of the year on the PS3. It proved not to be but is still a fantastic title with excellent graphics including some of the best cut-scenes ever. Let down only by some very minor faults it truly in my opinion is one of the best open world games of all time.

If Fifa 09 was the year that Fifa finally took top spot from Pro Evo in the football charts then Fifa 10 is when it completely consolidated and if anything maybe even moved even slightly more ahead. No major changes but what there was made the game more realistic etc. Now all they have to do is improve the commentary and we will have the perfect football game – Fifa 11 perhaps?

The most hyped game possibly of all time proved to be the best FPS of the year and possibly of all time too.  The game features fantastic graphics and some of the best vocal acting of all time. It also is incredibly realistic and seems to have the Ai spot on. Many of you will probably criticise me for this not being even higher in the charts but it is a FPS with all the problems that brings me and I also thought overall this was the year of the Action Adventure game.

What would a chart be from me without the latest instalment of my favourite franchise of all time? Improved graphics and a better interface this truly is still the life sapping game it has ever been.

This is not only the best Batman game of all time but without doubt the best Superhero game of all time. This came so close to being game of the year because of the glorious storyline, impeccable graphics and excellent soundtrack. Let down slightly by the ending, I said on its release it would take something special to beat it to Game of the year and in the end two “something specials” did.

The sequel to my game of the year from a couple of years ago that has been improved so many ways. The storyline is stronger, the graphics sharper and the gameplay has more elements to it that the first title. Incredibly addictive games that will have you going back to replay it after you have finished.

When it was released I called it one of the best video games on any console ever and I still stand by that decision. The best cut scenes ever produced, the strongest, most coherent storyline and fantastic vocal acting and soundtrack, this truly is the first true interactive movie as a videogame and one that you will keep playing time and time again until the inevitable Uncharted 3.

So there you are my top ten of the year and a list that not many are going to agree with – so many titles that were excellent have unfortunately failed to miss the final cut such as Borderlands, Empire Total War, Brutal Legend, Super Mario Brothers Wii, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box or Jak & Dexter the Lost Frontier.

In my humble opinion 2009 has been the best year for videogames so far and next year could be even better with games such as – Medal of Honour, Army of Two The 40^th Day, Dead Space 2, Epic

Mickey, Star Trek Online, Bioshock 2, Crackdown 2, God of War III, Heavy Rain and Halo Reach to look forward to and that is just skimming the surface.Should be another powerful and glorious year and I look forward to it.

Ken Edwards 31^st December 2009.