Meta-Metareview: The best reviewed games of 2008
by Randy Nelson 
{ Nov 27th 2008 at 1:45PM }
With almost all of the big games of '08 now on shelves (we're looking at you, Prince of Persia) or available via Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, you're left with a lot of choices. Some of them you've already bought; others you've been on the fence over; others you didn't realize were "supposed to be" any good – but, if you're anything like us, you don't want to miss any of the must-plays this year has to offer.
Enter our "meta-metareview," a list of every game released this year that's scored above 85% on average from reviewers around the world. You won't be surprised by the games that made the list; you will be surprised that some of your (and our) favorites didn't make it. Check out the full list after the break and please, before you send us a nasty email because Castle Crashers didn't make it on, remember that them's the (sometimes painful) breaks with aggregate scoring.
Some fun facts:
Enter our "meta-metareview," a list of every game released this year that's scored above 85% on average from reviewers around the world. You won't be surprised by the games that made the list; you will be surprised that some of your (and our) favorites didn't make it. Check out the full list after the break and please, before you send us a nasty email because Castle Crashers didn't make it on, remember that them's the (sometimes painful) breaks with aggregate scoring.
Some fun facts:
- October was the most crowded month for quality titles with 12 released, followed by November (8), September (7) and April (6).
- Breaking it down by console, PlayStation 3 has the most presence on the list with 22 titles, followed by Xbox 360 (20), PC (15), Wii (8), DS (7), PSP (2) and PS2 (1).
- The best-reviewed game this year? April's Grand Theft Auto IV (98%), followed by a three-way tie between LittleBigPlanet, BioShock (PS3) and World of Goo (95%) -- all three of which were released in October. Metal Gear Solid 4 and Wrath of the Lich King are the next tier below at 94%.
- Of the 55 titles listed, 12 (or approximately 22%) were not based on an existing franchise: Sins of a Solar Empire, Patapon, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Braid, The World Ends with You, Boom Blox, World of Goo, GRID, Pure, LittleBigPlanet, Dead Space and Valkyria Chronicles.
| January | |
|---|---|
| Rez HD (XBLA) | 89 |
| Burnout Paradise (360/PS3) | 88/87 |
| Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS) | 86 |
| February | |
|---|---|
| Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) | 88 |
| Patapon (PSP) | 86 |
| Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS) | 85 |
| March | |
|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) | 94 |
| God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP) | 91 |
| MLB 08: The Show (PS3) | 85 |
| April | |
|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3/360) | 98 |
| Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor (PC) | 92 |
| Okami (Wii) | 90 |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2) | 89 |
| The World Ends With You (DS) | 89 |
| Ikaruga (360) | 88 |
| May | |
|---|---|
| Mass Effect (PC) | 89 |
| Boom Blox (Wii) | 85 |
| June | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots (PS3) | 94 |
| GRID (PS3/360/PC) | 87 |
| Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3)* | 85 |
| Civilization Revolution (PS3)* | 85 |
| Space Invaders Extreme (DS) | 85 |
| July | |
|---|---|
| Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (XBLA) | 90 |
| Final Fantasy IV (DS) | 85 |
| Soul Calibur IV (PS3/360) | 85 |
| August | |
|---|---|
| Braid (XBLA) | 93 |
| Bionic Commando Rearmed (PS3/PC/360) | 87/86/85 |
| Madden NFL 09 (PS3) | 85 |
| September | |
|---|---|
| NHL 09 (PS3/360) | 89 |
| WipEout HD (PSN) | 87 |
| Bomberman Blast (WiiWare) | 86 |
| Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC) | 86 |
| The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (PC) | 86 |
| Art Style: ORBIENT (WiiWare) | 85 |
| Pure (360) | 86 |
| October | |
|---|---|
| LittleBigPlanet (PS3) | 95 |
| BioShock (PS3) | 95 |
| World of Goo (WiiWare/PC) | 93/90 |
| Fallout 3 (360/PC/PS3) | 93/92/91 |
| Rock Band 2 (360/PS3) | 92/91 |
| Fable 2 (360) | 89 |
| Portal: Still Alive (XBLA) | 89 |
| Dead Space (360/PS3/PC) | 89/88/86 |
| Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) | 87 |
| FIFA Soccer 09 (360/PS3) | 87 |
| Tetris Party (WiiWare) | 87 |
| Far Cry 2 (PC/PS3/360) | 86/85/85 |
| Guitar Hero World Tour (PS3/360/Wii) | 85/85/86 |
| November | |
|---|---|
| World of WarCraft: Wrath of the Lich King (PC/Mac) | 94 |
| Chrono Trigger (DS) | 93 |
| Gears of War 2 (360) | 93 |
| Call of Duty: World at War (PC) | 88 |
| Left 4 Dead (360/PC) | 88 |
| Resistance 2 (PS3) | 87 |
| Football Manager 2009 (PC) | 86 |
| Valkyria Chronicles (PS3) | 86 |
* Note: Battlefield: Bad Company for Xbox 360 scored an aggregate 83% and was thus below our threshold. Likewise for Civilization Revolution and its aggregate 84% on the console.
Ross Miller also contributed to this story.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Magetto @ Nov 27th 2008 1:51PM
>162 replies
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 2:06PM
Squirtle!! Squirtle!!
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:33PM
Agumon!
Doin it rite guis?
hvnlysoldr @ Nov 27th 2008 4:46PM
No! Not the Squirtle Gurren-Dan. DAI SQUIRTLE GURREN-DAN!
SET CRUISE CONTROL TO COOL!
Erik Stroud @ Nov 27th 2008 7:30PM
Gurren Lagann and pokemon references in one post. Mixing a great thing (GL) with a bad thing (PM)actually worked.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 1:52PM
Metal Gear Solid 4 Tactical Espionage Action: Guns of The Patriots.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 27th 2008 2:09PM
seconded!
Archon @ Nov 27th 2008 2:22PM
Third...ed?
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 2:56PM
Why do I get voted up?
Hyams @ Nov 27th 2008 3:00PM
Because we all love you.
In a totally, non-creepy way, of course.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 3:02PM
I just mentioned the game because it has a long ass title, I didn't say it was good or bad.
Markez @ Nov 27th 2008 3:03PM
And I thought Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was a long and excessive title...
dustandechoes91 @ Nov 27th 2008 1:59PM
no mirrors edge?
ThePhoenixLament @ Nov 27th 2008 2:01PM
The reviews for it were mediocre. Furthermore the game itself sucks...overhyped piece of shit.
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:06PM
Wow ThePhoenixLament you are on the fast lane to popularity here.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 2:09PM
Popular or not the game was a gimmick, but in my opinion a good one so I agree with the reviews.
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:25PM
With bad you mean the expectative was higher than what the product deliver or that the design was bad or broken?
I'm not buying games for a while since I'm flooded with them. Probably I'll finish most of them next year but I want to know.
(Side note: I really hate how fast game communities die in consoles, if you don't get the online achievements first the probability of getting them gets slimmer every day. I never completed The Darkness because there was no one to play with online)
dustandechoes91 @ Nov 27th 2008 3:05PM
I thoroughly enjoyed the game. My only complaints were the sudden (lack of an) ending, and the often annoyingly difficult parts where they drop you in a big room full of people with guns and expect you to escape.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 27th 2008 5:21PM
The ps3 was the lead platform for mirror's edge. That's obviously why he hates it.
dustandechoes91 @ Nov 27th 2008 5:50PM
^^^agreed. I usually dont even bother commenting here anymore since the 360/anti ps3 fanboys have gotten so bad.
Marrvia @ Nov 28th 2008 1:43AM
No Mirror Edge? Because it wasn't one the best reviewed games of 2008....
Bootleg Zani @ Nov 28th 2008 5:20PM
It was really bad. Did you actually play this game? I did and was glad I didn't purchase it.
acefondu @ Dec 1st 2008 4:56PM
Mirror's Edge is one of my favorite games this year honestly. The reviewers all complained because the idea when reviewing a game isn't to perfect it, it's to get it done and move on. Thusly, most of them said it stunk because the game didn't flow well because they kept dying... Well, if you play the game enough (like you're supposed to) then you can achieve quick times for every level. That's what's fun about the game, that's why it's a good game, it did what it set out to do and did it right.
Marty @ Dec 1st 2008 6:27PM
I was kind of interested in Mirror's Edge until I played the demo - and I found it to be way too much about trial and error, and not enough about actually just jumping and running around the city. The reviews confirmed my distaste for it, and the rest is history.
And that has nothing to do with any preference over one system or another - Mirror's Edge really wasn't that great of a game.
In many ways it was new, unique, refreshing, daring, and bold, but only decent as a whole.
Mostly Harmless @ Dec 7th 2008 6:36PM
I think that Mirror's Edge was awesome. I haven't actually bought the game yet, but I am getting it as soon as possible (Left 4 Dead DEFINITELY took priority). I think that the demo was great. The gameplay was interesting and fun, and the graphics look good. I think people that are saying that it is bad are just saying that because:
A. They thought it would be a first-person SHOOTER, and don't like the fact that you're not supposed to pick up the guns and fire wildly.
or B. They played it for 10-20 minutes and kept missing the jumps, because they gave up, and didn't want/understand the idea that it takes timing, patience, and a little practice to play the game well. They just wanted a pick-up and be a pro at it. (Nothing wrong with wanting that, but they are going to have to accept that some games DO have a learning curb.)
Like someone above said, the game did what it went out to do, which was to make a good creative game, that took a different approach. I think that they succeeded, and because they did, not all, but many people enjoyed Mirror's Edge.
Dante G @ Nov 27th 2008 1:59PM
World of Goo is awesome.
Rafael Lemos @ Nov 27th 2008 2:22PM
Agreed 100%.
@tomic @ Nov 27th 2008 2:33PM
Game of the Year.
Fuze9 @ Nov 27th 2008 3:30PM
Also, it should be noted as one of the few notable mac releases. My laptop needs to know it's good for more than just reading about these fun games.
Ridgecity @ Nov 28th 2008 4:00AM
As good as World Of Goo is, it will never get reviewed as good as the $40 million budget games. Look at Little Big Planet or Assassin's Creed.
343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 27th 2008 2:04PM
Weird, I thought MGS4 got straight 10's. Guess I'm wrong.
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:10PM
As the time goes on more reviews are added I think this is what happened:
First reviews of MGS (PS Official Magazine etc) "Epic Win".
Second reviews or General reviews (Well known sites) went from "Awesome","Epic" to "Great".
Late reviews (Obscure sites or Gamer mom) go from "Great" to "I don't get it".
Wiinterfang @ Nov 27th 2008 2:19PM
You are not a fan of the game I wouldn't recomended, I'm not a fan either so for me this game is just 8 hours looking at an Old mans butt but one of my best friend is into that stuff. (metal gear not old man ass watching)
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:55PM
And remeber how much flak the infamouse Edge review got for 8/10?
Haggard @ Nov 27th 2008 3:07PM
I would agree with the 8/10 review to be honest. The game was fun to play, but I guess since there's only + and - buttons on here I'll be voted down for not saying it was an epic piece of awesome.
My main beef is that not only is the level design uninspired, the sneaking gameplay doesn't seem to fit in too well, there are about 60 guns for no good reason, and there's only about 6 hours of actual gameplay.
Of course, fans of the series absolutely adored it because it carried on the story, which was pretty good. I'm not saying they're stupid for it or that this is unique to MGS, since I would lap up a half-life game no matter what its failings may be.
I guess in summary: *shrug*
World of Goo ftw!
Markez @ Nov 27th 2008 3:13PM
Did you say 6 hours of actual gameplay, Haggard?
Also, MUST HAVE World of Goo, but I'm afraid it'll have to wait until I finish off Lost Winds and FF from WiiWare before I get another one :(
Hyams @ Nov 27th 2008 4:26PM
MGS4 gameplay is closer to 9-12 hours, depending on how fast you run through the game (which is largely dependant on what difficulty you're play on) plus another 9 hours of (skippable, if you don't care) cutscenes.
I should know. I've played through it a good 3 and a half times now. ^_^
t_m @ Nov 28th 2008 1:32AM
say hello to the Review Embargo effect...
..what, you thought it was just tomb raider?
sirpilf @ Dec 2nd 2008 5:40AM
i sorta agree with haggard... and MGS is my favorite series over all. it has GREAT graphics, great controls finally compared to the other 3 in the main series, and TONS of weapons. except after i beat the game and wanted to go have fun with the weapons I have collected, there are really only a few places to use them. a couple cool places in the middle-east, south america was so so, and then the rest was so different.
i really like the game still but even tho the controls are top notch finally, i think i may like MGS3 and 1 better still because in those games i never said "i wish i was still in the beginning of the game, that was cooler".
i think ima play it again tho, cept i gotta beat resistance2 and motorstorm2 still but LBP wont keep me away!
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:04PM
I still need CODW@W and Chrono (I'm lurking for a LE of CODW@W because the regular edition here is very effing expensive. If I'm spending that much on a single game it better be a LE)
I bought Dead Space, Battlefield 2 and Fallout 3 last month and I haven't even opened them since I’m playing Banjo Kazzoie ”Nuts and bolts” ; a really great and a much underrated game.
Mostly Harmless @ Dec 7th 2008 6:36PM
I didn't like Nuts and Bolts that much. I had never played the original before, so I can't don't have that much knowledge of the series, but I was bored and downloaded the demo. I thought that the beginning of the demo was fun, and I was thinking, "Wow, I have barely ever heard of this before, but this is so much damn fun, I think I may buy it!"
Unfortunately, that was because I had spent a lot of time walking around the town at the beginning. Once I actually started the game, by going into the... minigame world, or what ever, I hated it.
I found the steering to be annoying and frustrating, and the first missions to be tedious, idiotic, and that they required repeating, so that I could get the puzzle piece.
This isn't because I'm bad at driving. I'm awesome at vehicles in any game, other than actual racing games of course. I think that if the damn game is going to focus solely on driving, than the driving should be more stand-able.
I would personally give it 6/10 or 7/10.
Long enough for you?
Pharmacy @ Nov 27th 2008 2:06PM
After looking through this list, I can totally understand why people have such huge gaming backlogs. The quality that came out of 2008 is definitely above par, and that on all 3 consoles + PC.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Nov 27th 2008 4:04PM
And 2008 was supposed to go easy on the wallets compared to last year.
Well I'm afraid we've hit a gaming renaissance of sorts so save your pennies.
LxgShaka @ Nov 27th 2008 2:10PM
Great list, just a little note, at the last "fun fact", braid is listed twice.. :)
Markez @ Nov 27th 2008 2:56PM
My tolerance for the puzzles is waning. It's a good game and all, but meh, some are too goofy or hard for my patience to last.
Rafael Lemos @ Nov 27th 2008 2:18PM
Super Smash Bros Brawl, definitely.
D_Average @ Nov 27th 2008 2:10PM
Its very reassuring to find all the PS3 titles I own are on the list above. I've never felt more validated in all my life.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 27th 2008 2:11PM
I picked up LBP last week and have been having a lot of fun with the single player levels. A great platformer.
After messing around with the creation tools in the beta, I can appreciate the work that went into the game.
I'm drawing up plans for a pachinko machine right now.
Also, shout out to Valkyria Chronicles! Wooty woo!
Ayrkain @ Nov 28th 2008 6:32AM
Waiting for a patch to play Fallout, so I'm not absolutely positive... but Valkyria is very likely my GOTY.
Sweat sweat sweat, I got no use for tears!!!!
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 27th 2008 2:15PM
Now I don't mean to start a flame war here but srsly Braid?
Part of all the positive comments always mentioned something about “you should buy it because it was “teh indie” or because If you didn’t you were the cancer killing the gaming industry and such.
It is a good game but nothing above 8.5.Maybe if it included a level editor or something.