Fable 2 wins top honors in X-Play's 'Best of 2008'

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 10th 2008 at 12:00PM }

The moment you've all been anxiously anticipating is finally here! The winners of X-Play's "Best of 2008" awards have finally been announced -- though perhaps a bit prematurely, as Calvin Tucker's Redneck Jamboree won't be hitting store shelves 'til next week. Fable 2 took the gold in the "Game of the Year" category, beating out Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto IV, Left 4 Dead and Resistance 2.

X-Play made some solid choices for the winners of other categories -- The World Ends With You took home "Best Handheld Game", Rock Band 2 clinched the "Best Music/Rhythm Game" category, MGS4 won "Best Action/Adventure Game", and Fallout 3 beat out Fable 2 in the "Best RPG" category. So, for those playing along at home, Fable 2 is the best game that came out this year -- but not the best RPG. Can someone whip up a Venn diagram to try and explain this one to us?

Tags: adam-sessler, best-of-2008, fable-2, g4tv, morgan-webb, x-play

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Shagittarius @ Dec 10th 2008 12:03PM

Venn diagrams make me horny.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:03PM

Is it bad that I didn't know the G4 awards existed until I read this post?

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:10PM

GOTY: FABLE 2
Most original game: Braid
Best game play innovation: LBP (level creation/sharing)
Best multiplayer game: Left 4 Dead
Best sports game: Madden NFL 09
Best DLC: Rock Band 2
Best downloadable game: Braid
Best strategy game: Sins of a Solar Empire
Best Shooter: Left 4 Dead
Best RPG: Fallout 3
Best New Character: Drebin 893
Best Art Direction: LBP
Best Animation: NBA 2k9
Best Writing/Story: GTA IV
Best sound track: MGS4
Best sound design: MGS4
Best action/adventure game: MGS4
Best racing game: Grid
Best music/rythim game: RB2
Best Handheld game: The World Ends With You
Best MMO: WArhammer Online

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:19PM

Fable 2 for GOTY? Really? I played it at a buddy's house last weekend and, to be honest, after only an hour or two, I got bored of it and switched back to more L4D action.

I still think Fallout 3 should have got GOTY.

Jon2309 @ Dec 10th 2008 12:46PM

GOTY: FABLE 2
-----
Best RPG: Fallout 3

Isn't that a bit wrong, considering that Fable 2 is an RPG? Shouldn't it have won there too?

Cellien @ Dec 10th 2008 12:43PM

MGS got best action? Lol.. I guess *watching* a 90 min cutscene is action-packed from a gamers point of view. I mean, they don't call it interactive media for nothing...

One thing that Gears 2 does right is action. It should have got that spot.

Duke @ Dec 10th 2008 5:49PM

The list is pretty solid, though I too don't understand a game being the game of the year and not the best RPG as well. How was it too flawed to be the best of its genre but be considered the best of all the games in all genres? *head pops*

BlaqueBeird @ Dec 10th 2008 6:55PM

It essentially means that Fable is the best game all around; it will be the most fun you'll have of any of the games. Fallout 3 just happens to be a better RPG, which logically means that it merely nailed the RPG elements better, but I imagine that because Fable is a bit broader than Fallout, and a little less of an RPG, it isn't the best RPG.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 10th 2008 7:39PM

Fallout 3 should be GOTY.

About Fable 2 well if anyone bothers to read my post I think It is in the 8.0 out 10.00 thing.

It would have been better if the last part of the game lasted more than 30 minutes(And that's including 10 minutes of d*ck*ng around in teh perfect world).I can forgive that in Yu-gi-oh GX Tag force but not here.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 10th 2008 7:48PM

Sorry to interrupt but you there is a mistake on your list.

Most original game: Banjo Kazzoie Nuts and Bolts.

Fix'd.

(Checking your list I noticed that you didn't played many games this year)

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 8:07PM

Fallout 3 was great, I had a lot of fun playing the game and investigating the world. I think the technical issues (rightfully) keep it from being game of the year. Also a major reason I don't think Fable 2 should have won GOTY from G4.

This isn't my list btw, its G4's.

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 10th 2008 12:04PM

Over Fallout 3?

Seriously?

Shagittarius @ Dec 10th 2008 12:11PM

Payola.

Kassu @ Dec 10th 2008 12:40PM

A few simple equations:
Fallout 3 = Nearly better than Oblivion.
Oblivion = Suckage.
Fallout 3 = Just a bit above the "suck" level.

Funnily, oblivion is there this comment will be pretty soon.

Lord Negatron @ Dec 10th 2008 12:46PM

Did you see Peter Molyneaux crawl our from under Adam Sessler's desk before they went to commercial break?
Can you say scandal?!
DVR is amazing!

Its like the scene in Swordish when Hugh"sexiest man"Jackman is forced to make/break a virus with a gun to his head and "a head" in his lap... Minus a gun and computer.

xD

AwesomeTown @ Dec 10th 2008 12:46PM

Sorry, the only math I know is Fallout 3 = Awesome.

copa @ Dec 10th 2008 12:50PM

I am still playing Fallout 3, and there are a lot of great things to be said about this game.

But on my first run through, I ran into a game-ending bug 26 hours in that kept me from progressing in the main quest. By the time I encountered the bug, my other two previous saves had also been corrupted.

I had to restart after 26 hours of playing (the bug has been acknowledged on the Bethesda forums). I can deal with lots of little problems in a large game, but not this. For me, this excludes Fallout 3 from any GOTY discussion.

Haggard @ Dec 10th 2008 1:04PM

I guess I can understand that. Fallout 3 is amazing in some parts and mediocre in others. I suppose that's better than some games which are just a bit 'good' most of the time.

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 10th 2008 1:35PM

I probably did mention my dislike for Fallout 3 already so imho, RPG of the Year should be The Witcher Enhanced Edition!

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 1:54PM

oh man, I totally forgot about The Witcher. It didn't even get an honorable mention!

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 10th 2008 4:18PM

Fuck, I forgot about the Witcher too.

Brodo @ Dec 10th 2008 7:19PM

Hello fatty... I just wanna say that in the old post on the new wiimote accelerometer(Dec 7 1:34am) you said you stopped reading my post after seeing that RE4 used minimum motion control.
I just want to say that it does use very minimal motion control. It uses a lot of IR aiming, but that is different than motion control! The motion controls that it does use is stupid stuff like shaking the wiimote to run from a boulder. :P

Citizensnips @ Dec 10th 2008 12:06PM

Am i the only one whose annoyed by the fact that there even is a music/rythem game award? Seriously, they created an award to give to either guitar hero or rock band, that's so stupid.

(and it's not just them, a lot videogame media outlets are doing this)

j.howlett @ Dec 10th 2008 12:10PM

i like that better than those games going for best soundtrack.

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:15PM

Don't forget Rock Revolution! That game counts, too. It's sad that only 3 people have heard of it, though.

AwesomeTown @ Dec 10th 2008 12:28PM

I think a lot of people heard of it, but they just wanted to forget it.

Riley @ Dec 10th 2008 1:30PM

High School Musical 3, Lips (maybe too late to be considered), Rock Revolution, Wii Music, GH: Aerosmith, GH: World Tour, GH: On Tour, Rock Band 2 all came out this year. Sure, GH and Rock Band are the only contenders, but it's a smaller genre that hasn't been popular in the States all that long.

It's sort of like the animation category at the Oscars. If a Pixar film came out, you know it's going to win because no one else manages to come close, and only a handful of feature length animated movies come out every year. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be a category for Best Animated Movie.

Odog4ever @ Dec 10th 2008 1:36PM

Um, what about Wii Music, Audio Surf, Samba De Amigo, Lips, Rock Revolution, the High School Musical games? (Not to mention Singstar) Whether or not you personally like it, the music/rhythm genre is here to stay.

TwEE @ Dec 10th 2008 6:24PM

Dont forget Elite Beat Agents...

Flame @ Dec 10th 2008 12:07PM

Seriously? Fable 2? wow...

I'd expect gears 2, fallout 3, MGS4 or LBP to take it definitely not fable.

koehler83 @ Dec 10th 2008 12:08PM

Best RPG? WTF?!

Do they mean best Survival/Horror?

If Fallout 3 is an RPG, its the worst fucking RPG I've ever played in my life.

It's a decent game and good at what it is: Scaring the bajesus out of you with zombies and ghouls. Its just another Silent Hill except the Hill is bigger and louder.

Magetto @ Dec 10th 2008 12:19PM

Fallout 3 was a horror game? Wat? I don't recall any zombies either.

Chin-Poh @ Dec 10th 2008 12:23PM

He must mean the ghouls you encounter in the game, look a lot like zombies don't they?

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 10th 2008 1:42PM

I'd only agree with the third line.The fact it's up there means that the genre is either dying due to the lack of new RPG Titles(Last year's Witcher is the only major...) or that the genre is undergoing a very major reconstruction and that's FAAAAAR from being a good thing.

Now for the rest of it you're really scarred of Fallout 3 I suggest you stop going into Dunwich and Vaults while on drugs.

OnToGlory @ Dec 10th 2008 8:03PM

Wow, is that a dumb statement. You obviously have not played it for more than 10 minutes or played it at all.

Even when you're not using VATS all your shooting is based on your stats in that weapon category, not where your aiming. I guess leveling up and assigning/building attributes and karma have nothing to do with rpgs either.

Please do society a favor and remove yourself from it.

samfish @ Dec 10th 2008 12:12PM

Jeez, and I thought X-play couldn't make shittier choices than last year, too...

Shagittarius @ Dec 10th 2008 12:27PM

They should have picked all Wii games.

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:31PM

Shag - I think I see what you did there.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:13PM

I agree with most of the list but I don't think Fable 2 should have won GOTY.

I also don't like their pick for best new character, best FPS or best downloadable game. It seems like they could have found better choices for those.

Also, MGS4 as action adventure?

The Dark Wayne @ Dec 10th 2008 12:24PM

I'm curious as to what game you would have given best shooter to

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:30PM

I would have given it to GOW2, personally.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 10th 2008 12:34PM

I'm going to honest, I've never played L4D (need people to play with on Steam) but I honestly thought that more shooters were released this year. I was wrong.

After looking at the list, and all I've heard about the shooters released this year, it would have been a toss up between L4D and Gears 2. It seems like L4D has less technical issues though, so I guess L4D is a good choice for best shooter for 2008.

Cellien @ Dec 10th 2008 1:26PM

I don't get MGS4 as action/adventure winner either...

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 10th 2008 1:51PM

Well, if I was to be a dick I'd point out that Gears of War 2 already got all the GOTY's it deserved back in 2006 when Gears of War 1 came out.As much of a good game as it is, it's still the same game you've played last year which is why I'd actually be pissed if L4D didn't get it.Sure it has flaws but it's still the most original game since Portal/BioShock.

As for MGS4, as much as I love to bitch about the 90-minute cutscenes, the game definitely deserves some awards and action-adventure was probably the best fitting.

Dravean @ Dec 10th 2008 12:16PM

fable 2: game of the year 2004

baby sea tuna @ Dec 10th 2008 1:02PM

Replace Fable 2 with Twilight Princess and you've hit the nail on the head.

Teh_Dave @ Dec 10th 2008 12:16PM

Am I the only one who thought Fable 2 was "meh"? The novelty was there don't get me wrong, but I honestly don't think it has the elements to be GOTY. It didn't bring anything spectacular to the table as Molyneux always speaks about and the story was mediocre at best...I would definitely either put Fable 3 or GOW 2 as GOTY. Oh well, each to their own.