BUZZKILLER'S DOMAIN

2009 was an up and down year for the Xbox 360. The good news was that the dreaded “Red Ring of Death” seemed to disappear in the rear view mirror. Unfortunately a new villain then emerged called “E74.” I guess it’s safe to assume that good ‘ol “Max” was a once again a little busy handling everyone’s complaints. As for exclusive games…well there weren’t many, but for the few that did show appear this year helped make the Xbox 360 the console of choice once again. There were so many good titles this year, but I had to whittle the list down to only ten. It’s time to close out 2009 with a bang! The final part of my three part series is the main event. The Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2009.

1. (GAME OF THE YEAR) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

After all of the hype surrounding this game, all I can say is that it was worth the long wait. Modern Warfare 2 not only lived up to it’s extremely high expectations, but also surpassed it. The action was intense and felt almost realistic. The main campaign was good, short, and yet also controversial (No Russian). The multiplayer was so addicting, I literally couldn’t stop playing it. Eventually I did stop when all the Javelin cheaters showed up, but now that the game is patched, I returned to continue fragging everyone once again.

2. Batman: Arkham Asylum

Usually all superhero games, especially Batman games, were absolute crap. I was still unsure about Batman: Arkham Asylum after E3. Then I played the demo on Xbox Live and all my doubts were quickly erased. Batman kicks ass, and Rocksteady got it right. Finally, a Batman game that actually makes me feel like the Dark Knight himself. Kudos also goes out to Mark Hamill for his amazing performance as The Joker. I can’t wait for the sequel!

3. Borderlands

At PAX, I got the first opportunity to play Borderlands. I knew nothing about the game before then, but after I played the game at the Pre-PAX event at Microsoft’s Redmond Campus I couldn’t put the controller down. I was hooked. Borderlands gave me the memories of Diablo and Phantasy Star Online all over again. Teaming up with your friends to kill enemies and loot for rare weapons is so much fun. Millions of weapons to acquire and shoot, tons of enemies to kill, and of course…there was Claptrap. That little robot is absolutely hilarious.

4. Left 4 Dead 2

It’s back and it’s better than ever. While most people will look at this game and say it’s the same thing as the original, I respond by saying look again. New survivors, new special infected, new multiplayer game modes, and of course…melee weapons. The best part is teaming up with your friends and wiping out the undead eventually leads to hours and hours of fun and lots of achievements.

5. Street Fighter IV

If it wasn’t for the announcement of Super Street Fighter IV, this game would be higher up on this list. Street Fighter IV brought back all the memories of playing Street Fighter II. The World Warriors were all back along with a few new combatants. The multiplayer was flawless on Xbox Live as I would open up a can of whoop-ass on anyone who dared challenge me. Just ask Jon Venture when I kicked his ass using Dan (Perfect along with and Ultra Combo Finish). Clearly my favorite fighting game this year.

6. Forza Motorsport 3

At one time, this game was considered as a Gran Turismo clone. Now Forza Motorsport 3 is more of a household name in the racing genre. I love simulation racing games. It gives me the opportunity to tune my own cars to reach their maximum potential as well as create some awesome paint and vinyl jobs. Although the dashboard view is not as good as Need for Speed: Shift, Forza 3 does feature some amazing visuals and some of the best racing action on the Xbox 360.

7. UFC Undisputed 2009

In the past, I’ve steered clear of UFC games because they were so bad…until now. The latest version of the UFC features some of the best fighting action that the Xbox 360 has to offer. The controls take some time getting used to, but once you have them down you can dominate in the octagon. The online multiplayer was awesome in terms of matchmaking and ranking up. All they need to do is make the career mode a little bit better and decrease the amount of flash KOs and then it will be perfect.

8. The Beatles Rock Band

MTV Games and Harmonix picked the perfect band to have their own game. The Beatles are one of the most influential bands of all time and their music is timeless. This game allowed me to experience “Beatlemania” for the first time and it was awesome. From the authentic venues, the trippy dreamscapes, the classic photos, and the perfect virtual looks of George, John, Paul, and Ringo made the experience worthwhile.

9. DJ Hero

I know, it’s another “Hero” game, but take my word when I say that DJ Hero is a lot of fun to play. The soundtrack is amazing. Featuring fantastic mixes and mash-ups, DJ Hero will keep you playing for hours and hours. Just like musicians complained to gamers about Guitar Hero and Rock Band players to use a real instrument, I’m pretty sure that DJs around the world are now saying to gamers to go use a real turntable!

10. Halo 3: ODST

While the game is considered more of an expansion to Halo 3, ODST is actually a new experience then we’re actually used to. With no Master Chief to play as this time around, the game had you in control of the “Rookie,” an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. The story was actually pretty good, and the Firefight Mode was fun to play even for a Horde Mode clone. The multiplayer may be the same thing we’ve been playing for the last two years, but Halo fans all over the world didn’t care. Halo 3’s multiplayer is still the best around.

There you have it! My picks for the Best of 2009. So what will 2010 have in store for the gaming world? We’ll just have to wait until this time next year to find out.

Happy New Year everyone and Game On!

Pixel Whirled (Holmade Games, 240 Microsoft Points)

The first in the 8-Bit Series, Pixel Whirled features the unlikely duo of a pirate and a ninja saving Pixel World from enemy attackers. The game plays a lot like Space Invaders on two different planes which has you switching from one plane to another to defeat the enemies. This is a fun game worth downloading.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

Xbox Live Arcade had a big year in 2009. This year had some amazing games featuring some awesome original games along with some nostalgic retro classics. Some arcade games featured online play that kept the fans playing well past the usual two week multiplayer window that a majority of games in the past had. This year’s list was really tough to rank although the best game this year was a no-brainer. This is part two of a three part series as today I reveal the Top 10 Xbox Live Arcade Games of 2009.

1. (GAME OF THE YEAR) Shadow Complex

Epic Games and Chair combined to make the ultimate game. Shadow Complex takes the gameplay of Super Metroid and features a great story as well as tons of action. The visuals are amazing for an Xbox Live Arcade game. The best part is that even after one playthrough, you haven’t accomplished everything. The addictive gameplay will have you playing through the main story over and over again just to get to 100 percent as well as reaching level 50. So what will it be? Save the world, or bail on the girl and be single again?

2. Battlefield 1943

The online game was so popular, that even EA was unprepared for the onslaught of gamers that downloaded the game and had a hard time playing on day one due to limited servers. Once EA added the extra servers the World War II shooter was the place to be and made everyone forget about Call of Duty: World at War (except for the zombie mode). Featuring four maps, three player classes, plenty of vehicles, and an endless supply of ammo, Battlefield 1943 was the game to play on Xbox Live…until Modern Warfare 2 arrived.

3. Peggle

This game needs to come with the warning label of “extremely addictive.” Peggle is the kind of game that can suck you in and never let you go. Who would of thought that a game that had you eliminating a select number of orange pegs surrounded by a bunch of blue pegs would be this much fun. Add on to the fact that you have multiplayer play for up to four players and the infamous “Ode to Joy” song for when you get “Extreme Fever,” and what you have is a big hit with both casual and hardcore gamers.

4. Defense Grid: The Awakening

This was the game that got me into enjoying Tower Defense games. Defense Grid: The Awakening had you destroying wave after wave of alien enemies on both land and air as you defended the power cores. Of course you also get the narrator, with a strong British accent, who’s trying to tell a story while your too busy building towers to destroy aliens. This tower defense game kept you in the action instead of boringly putting you to sleep as you watch the waves play out. The game also features multiple ways to play the game including a game mode called Grinder which will have you blasting 99 waves of aliens. Good Luck!

5. Splosion Man

Splode! Splode! Splode! Twisted Pixel’s 2D platformer had you flying across levels both solo or in multiplayer as you escaped the evil scientists and huge bosses. Of course there was also cake (not a lie) and a certain love for donuts. Splosion Man featured plenty of humor, as well as a never-ending supply of meat from dead scientists. I haven’t had this much fun playing a platform game since the old-school Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog days.

6. Trials HD

One of the biggest surprises on Xbox Live Arcade this year was from RedLynx which has you racing your dirtbike on makeshift tracks in a game of “Can you top this” against your friends. Trials HD also featured a variety of mini-games as well as an awesome level editor reminiscent of the old-school Excitebike days on the NES. Cool tracks…check. Create you own tracks…check. Real life physics…check. Breaking a few bones or two as you crash and burn…priceless!

7. Marvel vs Capcom 2

What can I possibly say about one of the greatest fighting games of all time? Thank you Capcom! The direct port of the Sega Dreamcast version of the mega-hit arcade game combines classic Capcom characters and Marvel’s elite in tag team fighting action. No special HD Remix needed here! If you don’t have this game yet, then I strongly suggest you download it right now!

8. Call of Duty Classic

The original game that started it all and helped make Call of Duty and Infinity Ward a household name has arrived on Xbox Live Arcade. Unlike the Medal of Honor series, Call of Duty made you feel like your a part of a Band of Brothers during World War II. The battles are intense and felt almost realistic giving fans a unique look at what the second World War was like from the perspective of Allied forces. Oh by the way, if the main campaign’s not enough, there’s also online play on Xbox Live.

9. South Park: Let’s Go Tower Defense Play!

The tiny redneck mountain town of South Park is under attack again. Then again, when is it not? This tower defense game had you taking control of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny as you defend the town against some of the most notable enemies in the long running Comedy Central series. The best part is that this game is not only a tower defense game, but also an action game as you can throw snowballs (even snowballs covered in pee) at your enemies. Kick ass!

10. Space Invaders Extreme

The old-school Taito classic gets a high definition makeover. Space Invaders Extreme featured amazing gameplay as you shoot endless waves of alien attackers and the UFOs that pass by on the top of the screen. Huge boss fights and tons of bonuses littered the game. The game also featured some of the trippiest visuals ever seen in an Xbox Live Arcade game. Long live retro classics!

Two parts down and the big finale arrives tomorrow as I unveil the Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of the Year. Who will reign supreme? Who won’t make the cut? You’ll have to wait just a little bit longer and find out tomorrow.

With the 2009 NFL regualar season coming to a close, SouthPeak Games has officially announced that their football season is just about to begin. Blood Bowl, the hard-hitting fantasy football title is coming to the Xbox 360, Windows PC, and Sony PSP in 2010.

So what exactly is Blood Bowl you ask? Well, Blood Bowl is inspired by the Warhammer series with the game’s characters playing a less than traditional spin on classic football. The game features turn-based gameplay that is controlled by each roll of the dice. Blood Bowl’s action will keep fans on the edge of your seat from kickoff to final score with some of the most vicious gameplay, dirty tricks don’t forget about the secret weapons that really amp up the action.

If you’ve never seen a goblin thrown into the end zone by a troll to score a touchdown, then prepare to be amazed! get ready for some hard hitting action and plenty of bloodshed as Blood Bowl plows to the end zone on the Xbox 360 and Windows PC in January 2010 and on Sony PSP in the Spring of 2010.

With a full year under it’s belt, Xbox Live Indie Games are starting to look like more than the rejected offspring of Xbox Live Arcade. There are more than 700 games and apps that fill the platform with new games showing up daily. While Xbox Live Indie Games don’t contain achievements to add to your gamerscore, and at one point it was dominated by massage apps which drove gamers nuts, they did actually have some titles that can actually compete with Xbox Live Arcade. In Part 1 of my three part best of countdown, we take a look at the Top 10 Xbox Live Indie Games.

1.(GAME OF THE YEAR) Miner Dig Deep

This was one of the most addictive games…ever. Miner Dig Deep, a game that had you digging in a huge mine for rare ores, sell them, buy new items, and repeat had us all sold from the start. The game was so simplistic and fun that you literally lost track of time all in a mission to see what dangers and loot lied beneath the surface. Everytime you finished a trip into the mine and said it was your last, you end up coming back for more. A perfect game!

2. I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1

Take the simple formula of Smash TV and add unending waves of zombies, amoebas, 8-bit face snakes, mean faces, and the diamond shaped enemies from Geometry Wars, and then mix it in with some trippy graphics and a kick ass original song and what do you get? A kick ass game! By the way, it only costs a dollar! Kudos to James Silva and Ska Studios. You just can’t go wrong with zombie games these days. Just ask Valve about Left 4 Dead.

3. Sol Survivor

Earlier this year, I found a big interest in tower defense games. A genre that I once found boring has sparked my interest and Sol Survivor is one of the best the indie games platform has to offer. Don’t let the 800 Microsoft Point asking price fool you. This game is full of fun and endless replay value as you dispose of those evil aliens.

4. Veks and Silence

Edible Entertainment brings us the zombie apocalypse. Featuring some excellent hand-drawn graphics, this side-scrolling zombie shooter has Silence wasting the undead and more through 13 levels of absolute mayhem. If that’s not all, you can take on survival modes that really up the challenge. Also check out their standalone add on Grave Breaker which features even more survival madness.

5. Platypus

It’s been ported to a ton of gaming platforms. Now the claymation shooter makes it’s way to Xbox Live Indie Games and it doesn’t disappoint. This side-scrolling shooter is so much fun to play. The claymation graphics are the best I’ve seen since Clayfighter on the N64. See the damage you cause as you shoot your enemies both on the ground and in the air. If you love shooters, then get this game.

6. Trino

A top ten game in this year’s Dream Build Play, Trino has you escaping the evil nanites that have imprisoned him by trapping them. Trino has an addictive gameplay style to it as you encounter different types of enemies sprawled across multiple levels. A great game for both casual and hardcore fans to sit down and play!

7. Square Off

The graphical quality of Square Off can have you thinking this game is from The Behemoth (Alien Hominid HD, Castle Crashers), but it’s not. A top 10 game in this year’s Dream Bulid Play, Square Off is a twin stick shooter that has you defeating wave after wave of alien invaders. Single player is fun, but add up to three more friends for co-op multiplayer or deathmatch and you have a big hit.

8. Arkedo Series 01 – JUMP!

The monthly series from Arkedo kicked off with a game that reminded me of the old-school Super Mario Bros. games. In JUMP, you play as Jumpman who is a combination of Mario himself and Indiana Jones as you diffuse bombs that are planted on each stage. It’s tough and unforgiving, just like the 8-bit days, but it’s a lot of fun to play. JUMP also features some awesome 8-bit graphics along static hi-def backgrounds.

9. Beat Hazard

A twin stick shooter (ala Geometry Wars) that has you destroying asteroids and enemy fighters, Beat Hazard has you destroying enemies to the beat of the music. What makes this game so much fun is that you can put in a CD or rip your own music and play the game and everything reacts differently. A little warning, this game is not for those who suffer from epileptic seizures due to all the bright flashes.

10. Orbyx: Mystic Orbs of Chaos

A Peggle clone nonetheless, Orbyx combines the elements of the PopCap hit along with the retro game Arkanoid for a fun gameplay experience. It’s all about eliminating the gold orbs on each stage. Each of the 32 stages are very challenging to even the greatest Peggle pro. Orbyx has the Peggle style addictive quality that will have you playing for hours and hours.

Christmas is almost here! Although Serious Sam won’t arrive on Xbox Live Arcade until January 13, he still can get into the holiday spirit by donning a Santa Claus suit and spreading some holiday cheer by kicking some alien ass. Who knew that Santa Claus can be such a badass. Check out this new trailer for Serious Sam HD entitled “Carol of the Shells” featuring a bunch of Serious Santas taking care of business. Ho! Ho! Holy S***!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Matthew Douchette of Xona Games sent me some new footage featuring his game, the top-down 2D shmup, Duality ZF. The video your about to see features three players playing the game’s Boss Rush Mode on Hard Difficulty. So far the game’s looking great as you shoot tons of enemies while dodging plenty of enemy shots as well.

No word yet on the exact release date of Duality ZF. The game was planned to be released on Xbox Live Indie Games, but after the game’s 7th place finish in the 2009 Microsoft Dream Build Play competition Matthew is shooting for an Xbox Live Arcade contract. Personally, I hope he gets it because this game with achievements would absolutely rock.

I’ll keep you informed on all the latest details surrounding Duality ZF. You can also check out the preview of the game HERE. Enjoy the video.

Now that we’ve cleared Jakobs Cove of those nasty zombies, it’s time for our mercenaries to embark on a new adventure. This time, it’s time to battle bandits and even more creatures in the arena. Check out the new trailer released today for the latest DLC coming to the hit Role-Playing Shooter Borderlands. Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot features three new riot arenas, a new place to store some weapons, two added skill points, and some new achievements to unlock. Overall, it sounds like a fun package.

Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot will be available on the Xbox 360 on December 29 and on Playstation 3 on January 7. Enjoy the trailer.

This Christmas, the legend of the world’s greatest sleuth Sherlock Holmes returns to the big screen. The fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle has been the subject of many films since the early 1930s. Now in 2009, Holmes is back on a new adventure. Lucky for me, I got a chance to see a special screening for the movie a few days earlier. It’s elementary my dear readers that this version of Sherlock Holmes is better than any of the other movie interpretations that I’ve seen.

In the new movie Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) are on the hunt to catch the serial killer and occult sorcerer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). After his capture, Blackwood was eventually hanged for his crimes which supposedly closed the case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. The new movie will have Holmes trying to solve the biggest mystery of his life involving a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic. Holmes will also have to deal with the possible departure of Dr. Watson with his new fiancee, Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), and the one woman who was able to outwit the world’s greatest sleuth, Irene Adler (Rachael McAdams).

Sherlock Holmes is directed by Guy Ritchie, aka the former husband of Madonna, and is shot on location in Manchester England. Taking place in 1891, the movie captures the essence of London before the turn of the century. You’ll see famous landmarks like Big Ben, the British Parliament, and even the construction of the London Bridge. Ritchie made sure that Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary vision of Holmes stayed true with the movie. Everything from his look, style, attitude, demeanor, and of course his intellect is intact. Even Dr. Watson is portrayed more as a tough guy compared to some other versions of him that made him look like a clumsy fool. You’ll also get to see their home at 221B Baker Street featuring a messy room filled with papers all over the place along with other artifacts from previous mysteries that they’ve solved.

Even though this movie is considered a mystery/thriller, Sherlock Holmes has plenty a action sequences with the duo showing off their fighting skills. The pairing of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are practically flawless as they work together to solve the mystery. Mark Strong’s performance as Lord Blackwood is also fantastic as he makes the perfect villain to match wits with Holmes. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for Rachael McAdams. While she is very good looking which raises the value in the eye candy department, her time on the screen as Irene Adler is short, bland, and rather forgettable.

Overall, Sherlock Holmes is pretty good movie that’s worth watching. To see how Holmes can detect what to do before it actually happens in slow motion is really amazing. Then to watch him actually do it in real time will have you saying “Wow!” The ending is also open-ended for a sequel or two since most movies seem to go the trilogy route. If you a fan of Sherlock Holmes, mystery/thrillers, or just want to see a good story play out on the big screen, then Sherlock Holmes is a must watch movie.

Dragon’s Lair (Digital Leisure, $4.99)

The 1983 laserdisc classic makes it’s way to the iPhone and iPod Touch and looks better than ever. Play as Dirk the Daring and rescue Princess Daphne from the clutches of the evil dragon. Everything you remember from the original arcade game is here in it’s full glory, and it’s still just as much fun to play as it was more than 25 years ago.

CLICK HERE for the full review