Jason's Top 10 Game Moments of 2008

Rather than just follow Randy and give you my top games of 2008, I decided instead to look back on the games of 2008 and pick the moments from those games that stick with me even now in 2009.

10. But What If There Are Bears? (Condemned 2)- After spending so much time in the rapidly decaying urban hellhole that serves as the game's primary setting, a trip to the country seemed rather nice. Then my plane crashed. Then I had to trek through a blizzard to what appeared to be an abandoned cabin. Following the Goldilocks tradition of just stepping foot into a stranger's home, I entered the cabin. I was immediately greeted by the deformed remains of a man. It only got worse from there. Blood trails stained the floor, human body parts lied scattered about and in the distance I heard loud banging and growling. It wasn't long after that I found the source to all of these things: a large, rabid black bear, and he was coming straight for me. Following the game's directions I ran for my life, through narrow hallways, holes in the wall and through connecting rooms never being quite able to shake off my pursuer. Even once I got my hands on a weapon, it all came down to one shot as the bear charged at me. I haven't played that many horror games, but this bear encounter still stands as one of the most thrilling moments of the past year in gaming for me

9. The Swarm (Resistance 2)- I've fought many odd enemies in my years of gaming, but my encounter with The Swarm in Resistance 2 was a special sort of odd. Part smoke monster from Lost and part those little beetles from the remake of The Day After Tomorrow, my first reaction to it was "What the hell is that?" Right after that I witnessed it consume a scientist into little bits, leading to my next reaction of "I better stay the hell away from that!" As it turned towards me and my men, I quickly learned that a) shooting it, while slowing it down a bit, only pisses it off and b) it's a lot faster than it looks (that's what she said?). I barely escaped from its' first attack as it consumed my men one by one. Every time it reappeared left me scrambling for a way to avoid becoming its' main course. Even when the time comes to fight it, the method in which to defeat it is still pretty harrowing, as it involves using yourself as bait. To me this was certainly one of the more memorable boss fights in 2008 and my favorite in this game.

8. Friends To The End (Far Cry 2)- I was given a job to destroy a weapons convoy. I tracked the convoy's route and planned an ambush. One rocket from my rpg was enough the destroy the weapons truck and complete the mission. It wasn't enough to handle the escort guards though, and soon I was swarmed by guards and cut to pieces. I was dead for sure. Then from the blackness of death I was pulled back into the blistering African sun by my buddy. She pulled me away from the firefight and provided cover as I patched myself up. With her help, we were able to take out the guards no problem. As I finished off the stragglers, I heard someone cry out in pain. I turned back to my buddy lying on the ground, wounded from the battle. I could have just left her there, after all only the strong survive in a place like this. Instead I ran to her, hoping to tend her wounds and return the favor. However, I was out of medical styrettes. Gasping in pain, she told me what I needed to do. With no other option, I pulled out my pistol and aimed at her head. Looking away, I pulled the trigger. The buddy who had saved my life just ten minutes ago, who had provided me assistance and guidance during missions throughout my journey was now just another body on the road. Never before has a game immersed me on such an emotional and psychological level like this one moment did. (More on this in my upcoming review of Far Cry 2).

7. Playing Bodhisattva (Rock Band 2)- So this choice may seem a bit biased, but I feel it highlights the greatest aspect about playing Rock Band. We all love the opportunity to feel like rock stars, but we love it even more when we get to do so with songs from our favorite bands. After all, when setlists for these games are announced, we scour them immediately for bands that we love. When we see that our favorite groups are going to be in the game, we're sold immediately. When I found out that my favorite group Steely Dan was going to be in this game, I was as giddy as an Asian schoolgirl. To be given the chance to rock out to one of my favorite songs from my favorite groups was the icing on the cake on an already stellar experience. Anyone else who has had their favorite band appear in this game or in another game probably has said the same thing, and would consider it one of their top moments in gaming. For me, this moment came in 2008, so here it is on this list.

6. Banzai! (Call of Duty: World at War)- I went into the new Call of Duty feeling very skeptical. After all, returning to WWII after an incredible debut into modern times seemed like a sure fire disaster. That skepticism quickly vanished after I was ambushed by enemies who just a moment ago were playing dead or lying right next to me in a field. Enemies who didn't shoot from a distance, but rather charged me head on with a rifle bayonette, their savage eyes gazing straight at me as one quick button press decides whether I see the end of the war. All of this within the first two missions! This wasn't the same old song and dance of previous Call of Duty games; this was a gritty, violent, and wholly unpredictable battlefield the likes of which hasn't really been seen in any WWII game.

5. Scheduling the Kill (Grand Theft Auto 4)- It starts like a billion other GTA missions. A corrupt cop asks me to kill a guy. However, the usual travel directly to point X, execute the target then escape routine doesn't quite work the same way here. Rather, I have to plot out the entire hit. I have to schedule a job interview to get close to the target. I have to purchase a suit to look sharp. I have to consult the calendar in my cell phone to ensure I have no other plans the day of the interview. When the day comes, I have to make sure I'm on time. During the interview, I have to keep my cool and play the part before pulling out my pistol and executing the target. With armed security on their way to me and sirens bellowing a few blocks away outside, I need a quick escape. A few shots shatters the window where I leap out and fall two stories onto the street as security enters the office. I run as fast as I can as the cops pull in front of the office. By the time they enter, I've already hailed a taxi a block away and I'm gone. This mission shows off everything that makes GTA 4 such an amazing experience and how the series has.

4. Shadow Moses (Metal Gear Solid 4)- I'll be frank. This moment is probably on the top ten list of everyone who played through MGS 4. And for good reason. The feeling of nostalgia that hits upon re-entering Shadow Moses island, the setting of the first Metal Gear Solid, is overwhelming. Stepping into that familiar heliport area that opened up the first game with the theme song of the first game in the background gave me goosebumps. The little audio flashes that occurred whenever Snake passed by something familiar was also a nice added touch. It really shows just how far Solid Snake has come in his journey, and how far we the players have come with him through the years. Plus seeing Shadow Moses in next gen graphics is nice, and the payoff of finally piloting Metal Gear Rex brings the series full circle to its magnificent finale.

3. Chicago (Resistance 2)- As far as pacing in a level goes, Resistance 2's battle in the Windy City nails it. It starts off peaceful upon entering the now war torn city, but that serenity quickly fades upon being attacked by an endless horde of leapers (at one point, the streets are congested with them!). Once that's done you'll enter the buildings, dodging instant death from hellfire turrets. Then you'll play leap frog in the flooded areas of the city to avoid becoming fish food, along with trying to reach the top of a construction yard before you drown. It's back to the streets then for some intense fighting with Chimera troops, stalkers, and drones. Then there's the fact that there's a massive Cloverfield-like monster roaming the city that you need to take on. Never a dull moment in Chicago it seems. I only wish that the levels in Resistance had more of this great pacing.

2. Going Underground (Gears of War 2)- This choice is odd to me because it irked me a little that a good chunk of this game was spent in dark caverns. Despite this, I can't get over the experience of going underground for the first time in Act 2, and all the revelations that came from it. Granted, Act 4 certainly had some big revelations for Dom and the Locusts, but those moments wouldn't have had as big an impact if it wasn't for Act 2. It is in Act 2 that we learn along with Delta Squad just how the Locusts are sinking cities and why. We're reintroduced to Cole and Baird after spending the beginning of the game without them. Here we are introduced to some of the more dreaded enemies in the game, like the Kantus and Bloodmounts. We also learn just what the Locusts do to captured humans, and we witness first hand as to how the Locusts can break humans in body and spirit. We learn in this act just what is at stake in the battle. If you need a reason as to why we wage war upon these Locusts, then one look at the torture vessels or sarcophagus like cells that contain human prisoners in this act should be enough. Then there's the climax of the chapter where we get a first hand lesson in the anatomy of a certain creature.

1. The Final Showdown (Metal Gear Solid 4)- I could basically say that the entirety of Metal Gear Solid 4 was my favorite moment, but if I had to pick one (which I didn't for this list), it would be the final boss fight between Solid Snake and Liquid Ocelot. Never before has such a simplistic fight been so incredibly epic. The structure of the fight is nothing you haven't seen if you've played any fighting game. It's you against Liquid in a simple beat em' up, no guns or fancy walking tanks. What makes this battle so amazing is first of all, the visuals. The fight is set against a beautiful sunrise in the distance that contrasts the rest of the game in which you spent most of your time in shadow. The appearance of the characters also changes throughout the fight. Every punch you land on Liquid, you see the mark left on him. If you smash his head into a wall, you'll see quite a big gash on his head. As the fight progresses, you'll see your opponent stagger as you pummel him. It makes landing that perfect punch even more rewarding as it's both beautiful to watch and it could easily be you on the receiving end of that fist. Then there's the music; each "round" of the fight features music from each of the previous Metal Gear Solid games, and the characters embody the respective protagonist and antagonist from that game. Even the health bars will convey this, as it changes from Solid Snake vs. Liquid Snake, Solid Snake vs. Revolver Ocelot, Naked Snake vs. Ocelot, to finally Old Snake vs. Liquid Ocelot. Once more nostalgia hits hard, as we're reminded just how far we've come and how long we have fought alongside Snake against Liquid/Ocelot. No fan of the series could have asked for a more fitting and satisfying final fight. It's not only the best boss fight in any game in the Metal Gear series, but the best boss fight in any videogame I've ever played. It will be extremely difficult for any game to really wow me with a boss fight the way this one did.

So there it is. Ten moments over the last year that remind me just why I play videogames in the first place. Have some memorable moments of your own? Or do you want to comment further on some of the ones mentioned here? Leave a comment.