Top 10 Sports Games of the Year

by pastapadre
Posted November 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am

Over the coming weeks I’ll be listing out my Top 10 Games of the Year. This won’t be a recap of the 10 highest rated games per Metacritic…reviews be damned. However it will be a summary of how I view the them from what has turned out to be one of the best years ever for sports gamers.

Some of the factors of consideration I have gone through are longevity, fun factor, general gameplay, technical achievements, online experience, and innovation. Last year the game that would’ve taken the top spot was The BIGS. This year there are several worthy candidates for the honor.

Before I begin listing off the best games I thought I would mention the two games I liked the least of any this year…FIFA Street 3 and Facebreaker.

Through most of the year I had FIFA Street 3 pegged as the worst game I had played. The only redeeming quality was the unique visual style of the game. It was frustrating and dreadfully boring to play. There are very few games that I just want to stop playing when I’m trying to form impressions and this is one of them.

Then came Facebreaker which I actually had some hope for but turned out to be exactly the opposite of what the new Freestyle label is supposed to represent for EA. The action was so fast and intense that it literally hurt my hands to play it, having to take breaks after just a minute or two and cramping them up again immediately after playing more. Any game that is physically painful to play is going to be a failure.

Tags: top 10, year in review

Brian

I haven't played all of them, but I'd say NHL 09 is definitely 1st. Followed by NCAA Football 09 just barley edging out Madden. The online dynasty in the college game is great and I'm still addicted to it.
Brian

I haven't played all of them, but I'd say NHL 09 is definitely 1st. Followed by NCAA Football 09 just barley edging out Madden. The online dynasty in the college game is great and I'm still addicted to it.
zanzibardreadnock

this topic reminds me of the sad state of sports gaming currently…. the best title is a hockey game??? it's enough to make you want to pick up a shotgun and start shooting zombies and forget about sports gaming…
zanzibardreadnock

this topic reminds me of the sad state of sports gaming currently…. the best title is a hockey game??? it's enough to make you want to pick up a shotgun and start shooting zombies and forget about sports gaming…
http://www.billingsgazette.net/h/blogs/catgriz catgrizinsider

I don't know that NHL 09 is the best ever sports game, even though it's damn good. For some reason – although I play in a full-time league, I just don't pop in that game for fun that much. Great game, but people are now finding cheapy ways to score (like those constant dump-in rebound opportunities around the net) like most games and the goal scoring is a tad more "random" than say, FIFA. Anyway my top 10…

1)FIFA 09 (Ramped the difficulty way up this year and made it a more realistic football experience)
2)NBA 2K9 (Have some issues with the cheesy AI, keeps this one away from the top spot)
3)NHL 09 (All around greatness…not many weak spots here. Maybe the overall fun factor doesn't do it for me though)
4)NCAA Basketball 09 (Maybe not deserving of this high a rank relatively speaking, but man, what a comeback for this series. MM08 was putrid)
5)NCAA Football 09 (has some kinks to work out, and I hated losing franchise games to crashes on the post-game loading screen)
6)NBA Live 09
7)Tiger Woods 09
8)Madden 09
9)NPPL Championship Paintball 09 (oh yeah…)
10)NFL Head Coach 09

I dunno, those were all the ones I own
http://www.billingsgazette.net/h/blogs/catgriz catgrizinsider

I don't know that NHL 09 is the best ever sports game, even though it's damn good. For some reason – although I play in a full-time league, I just don't pop in that game for fun that much. Great game, but people are now finding cheapy ways to score (like those constant dump-in rebound opportunities around the net) like most games and the goal scoring is a tad more "random" than say, FIFA. Anyway my top 10…

1)FIFA 09 (Ramped the difficulty way up this year and made it a more realistic football experience)
2)NBA 2K9 (Have some issues with the cheesy AI, keeps this one away from the top spot)
3)NHL 09 (All around greatness…not many weak spots here. Maybe the overall fun factor doesn't do it for me though)
4)NCAA Basketball 09 (Maybe not deserving of this high a rank relatively speaking, but man, what a comeback for this series. MM08 was putrid)
5)NCAA Football 09 (has some kinks to work out, and I hated losing franchise games to crashes on the post-game loading screen)
6)NBA Live 09
7)Tiger Woods 09
8)Madden 09
9)NPPL Championship Paintball 09 (oh yeah…)
10)NFL Head Coach 09

I dunno, those were all the ones I own
sdot

NO da BEST sport GAME is 2K9

NHL 09 is very good but end of da day itz STILL HOCKEY & every1 kno's B-BALL >Hockey
sdot

NO da BEST sport GAME is 2K9

NHL 09 is very good but end of da day itz STILL HOCKEY & every1 kno's B-BALL >Hockey
Justin Tuck.

BCFX I need that game now!
Justin Tuck.

BCFX I need that game now!
Mike

Getting a bit thin on content?
Mike

Getting a bit thin on content?
swizzy

fam QUIT IT

ERRRRBODY no dat LIVE=GANGSTA an 2K=4 da BITTIES

dis man kno's wut he's talkin bout
swizzy

fam QUIT IT

ERRRRBODY no dat LIVE=GANGSTA an 2K=4 da BITTIES

dis man kno's wut he's talkin bout
sdot

@swizzy U rite fam

I lUV LIVE (DA BEST B-BALL GAME in da WORLD) thinkin 2K9 is BETTA dan LIVE datz

STUPID STUPID

ERRRY 1 BENDZ OVA @ TEAM GWAP
sdot

@swizzy U rite fam

I lUV LIVE (DA BEST B-BALL GAME in da WORLD) thinkin 2K9 is BETTA dan LIVE datz

STUPID STUPID

ERRRY 1 BENDZ OVA @ TEAM GWAP
TEAM GWAP

it tru yall

fo shizzle
TEAM GWAP

it tru yall

fo shizzle
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ferris ferris

i dont have ps3 so i cant put the show in so mine will have to be
1)NHL 09
2)NFL Head Coach 09
3)Madden 09

sadly, those r the only recent sports games i have right now. i played the nba 2k9 demo and loved it so that might have been in there and i am getting ncaa football 09 for christmas hopefully and if not ill get it myself so that cant be in it yet. also i really liked fifa 09s demo
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ferris ferris

i dont have ps3 so i cant put the show in so mine will have to be
1)NHL 09
2)NFL Head Coach 09
3)Madden 09

sadly, those r the only recent sports games i have right now. i played the nba 2k9 demo and loved it so that might have been in there and i am getting ncaa football 09 for christmas hopefully and if not ill get it myself so that cant be in it yet. also i really liked fifa 09s demo
pat

ncaa football 09 is the winner in my opinion..it sucks because madden 09 could have been great but ncaa once again shits all over madden
pat

ncaa football 09 is the winner in my opinion..it sucks because madden 09 could have been great but ncaa once again shits all over madden
sdot

2K9

EZ how U think LIVE DIED

more $$$ dan RESPECT & it WASN'T CLOSE it was by a LANDSLIDE
sdot

2K9

EZ how U think LIVE DIED

more $$$ dan RESPECT & it WASN'T CLOSE it was by a LANDSLIDE
mattD

1. NFL Head coach 09

2. MLB The Show

3. NHL 09
mattD

1. NFL Head coach 09

2. MLB The Show

3. NHL 09
Taylor

Best 3
1. NCAA Football 09
2. Madden 09
3. NBA Live 09

Worst 3
1. MLB 2k8
2. NFL Head Coach
3. NBA 2K9
Taylor

Best 3
1. NCAA Football 09
2. Madden 09
3. NBA Live 09

Worst 3
1. MLB 2k8
2. NFL Head Coach
3. NBA 2K9
Justin Tuck

I eat team guap for breakfast and shitt em out at night.

-Jus
Justin Tuck

I eat team guap for breakfast and shitt em out at night.

-Jus
NHL 09

N H L 09
NHL 09

N H L 09
Townie33

If you own a PS3 you know the best game is (hands down) THE SHOW. The is no comparison.
Townie33

If you own a PS3 you know the best game is (hands down) THE SHOW. The is no comparison.