"Defenders of Earth"

2009 is over, and boy it sure was a crazy year. I fulfilled a lifelong dream and climbed Mount Killamanjaro. I punched an alligator right in the snout. I somehow lost at arm wrestling to a one eyed Grizzly Bear and in between my crazy adventures I even managed to play a few video games. My full time job collecting cans on the side of the highway prevented me from playing every single release that came out, but I tried my best. Below is my personal picks for the top 10 games of the year.

#10 MadWorld (Wii)

The most over the top violent and hilarious game of the year. When one of your basic attacks involves chainsawing people to death, you know you are in for a treat. In MadWorld, a typical fight will leave your enemies trapped in a tire, with a sign post through their head; their bodies dripping blood as they hang on a spike wall. All of this action is announced by the two greatest announcers in history (voiced by Greg Proops and John DiMaggio). They are absolutely hilarious. The game is worth playing if only to hear them spew off lines like: [Redacted by the WingDamage Committee for Inappropriate Language.]

#9 Madden NFL 10 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii)

When EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL license, I was as angry as anyone. After five years, EA has finally crafted a game that captures the NFL so well that I have forgiven them. Madden NFL 10 is the best entry in the series in years. It’s the way your running backs move and shift to get through the line, the way the defenses react, and the way everything is presented like an actual NFL broadcast that make this game.

#8 Punch-Out! (Wii) [Full Review]

Old school and new school collide in one of the most entertaining games of the year. Just like you remember, but somehow still fresh and unique. Not quite a boxing game and not quite a rhythm game, Punch-Out!! is one of those games that you could throw in fifteen years from now and it would still be a blast.

#7 Demon’s Souls (PS3)

If you don’t throw your controller in frustration when you play Demon’s Souls, you are a robot. If you don’t immediately go pick up the controller after throwing it and play some more, you are crazy. Few games can match the brutal difficulty and addictive nature of Demon’s Souls. Definitely not for the feint of heart or those prone to smashing things, Demon’s Souls is one of those games where the frustrations make the ultimate victory that much more rewarding.

Demon’s Souls also features one of the more unique uses of playing online. You can’t partner up with your friends, but you will see the souls of other adventurers. If you touch the spot where they died, you can see what killed them. You can also leave messages for other players warning them about upcoming danger or letting them know about treasure.

#6 Dragon Age (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

Bioware proved once again that they are masters in the RPG genre. Dragon Age: Origins feels like a return to the classic, Baldur’s Gate. With multiple storylines and styles of play, this disc will be spinning in my 360 for a long time. I loved just about everything about this game; from the battle system to the storyline. The battles are fast paced and action packed, but you can still take the time to plan tactically if you need to. The storyline, like Bioware’s other games, really shines with moral choices that weren’t simply a matter of deciding whether or not to kick children, but actually had me weighing the merits of both sides.

#5 inFamous (PS3) [Full Review]

If it weren’t for a certain caped crusader, inFamous would be the best super hero game of the year. One of the reasons the game works so well is the way you get around. Cole is able to move through the city like Altair on steroids. As you leap and climb your way through the city, the game has a little auto-assist so that you can land right on top of that tiny pole. The effect makes you feel totally awesome as you free run through the city. The other reason the game is #5 is that it succeeds at making you feel like the savior of the city. Your actions actually feel like they make an impact as each side mission you complete clears out the bad guys in that area.

#4 Assassin’s Creed II (PS3, Xbox 360)

Someone at Ubisoft must have access to the internets, because just about everything that people complained about in the original game has been improved in Assassin’s Creed II. A big part of this change comes in the upgrades Ezio can purchase or acquire. You can now use a variety of different weapons in combat, including your hidden blade. In fact, you now have two hidden blades so you can stealth kill two people at once. By the end of the game, you’ll look back at your pathetic starting armor and weapons and wonder how you killed anybody.

The other major improvement that bears mentioning is the story. Assassin’s Creed II doesn’t have the long slow boring parts that seemed to bog down the first game at the end of every level. No more trying to figure out what is going on as you stumble around Abstergo. Now you’ll actually look forward to being outside of the Animus.

#3 Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) [Full Review]

The best Batman game ever. The best super hero game ever. One of the best games of the year. Batman: Arkham Asylum nailed the atmosphere of the comics. You are Batman trapped in a Joker controlled Arkham Asylum. You feel like the Dark Knight as you pick off bad guys one by one.

The game feels like the atmosphere of Bioshock mixed with the stealth of Splinter Cell mushed together and sprinkled over a batter of Metroid. The game is constantly evolving with new gadgets and new moves that will let you reach previously unassailable areas. The game will have you searching every nook and cranny for the countless secrets. If that isn’t enough, there are the challenge maps where you can try to post the fastest time or highest score as you wail on bad guys or try to sneak by them.

#2 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Full Review]

The gaming equivalent of an awesome summer blockbuster; Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is perfectly crafted. Everything from the story to the multiplayer feels polished to the point that it gleams. Naughty Dog somehow squeezes more out of the PS3 than anybody else. This game is so good it makes me feel like other developers are lazy. The game is gorgeous and if you are an HDTV Guy, this is the game that should be in your system to show off your setup. However, Uncharted 2 is more than just a pretty face. It features such a perfect blend of humor and action that you are constantly being entertained; whether you are shooting bad guys or scaling mountains.

#1 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

For sheer intensity and scope, no game came close to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It takes my number one spot. From crazy action set piece to crazy plot revelations, CODMW2‘s single player is something that has to be experienced. The game moves you from insane moment to mind blowing moment.

That’s not even mentioning the once again completely addictive online multiplayer, and the brand new co-op focused Spec Ops mode. Modern Warfare 2 will be spinning in 360′s long, long after most of these other games have been traded in to your local game store. CODMW2 is my game of the year. If you haven’t played it yet, what are you waiting for?