Complex's Best Of 2009 (So Far): The Top 10 Video Games

The Top 10 Sneakers? Check. The Top 10 Albums? Done. The Top 10 Style Essentials? You already know. Today, we continue our Best of 2009 (so far) series by turning our spotlight on the industry that's sending a big "eff-you" to the recession. Yup, no matter the state of the economy, video games are still moving big units. (Really, is there a better way to escape our crazy world than ensconcing yourself on a couch and button-mashing the pain away?) This year has seen the return of some all-time classics along with a couple Sony exclusives that almost (almost) make the PS3 worth it. Find out what games we picked and why in the countdown below...

#10: Guitar Hero: Metallica

GENRE: Music

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS: Neversoft/Activision/360, PS3, Wii, PS2

RELEASE DATE: March 29

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: Guitar Hero (and Rock Band) are like the boat shoes of the video-game world: While we're getting sick of the whole phenomenon (and the countless versions of them), we can't deny their sheer ubiquity—or when they're executed totally right, like GH: Metallica. To rock out in a rock game, you need a proper rock band, not fucking Cheap Trick or Sum 41. Metallica's catalog is tailor-made for the GH experience, and while it's not an ambitious title, GH: Metallica delivers what it promises.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#9: Skate 2

GENRE: Skateboarding

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
EA Black Box/Electronic Arts/360, PS3

RELEASE DATE: January 21

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: There's a reason that Tony Hawk's is trying to, uh, hawk a new plastic skateboard peripheral for his upcoming game. Why? Because with its latest edition, EA's Skate franchise has passed the veritable Tony Hawk series in terms of fun and overall experience. Really, there's not much more to say than that Skate 2 is the best next-gen skateboarding game you can buy, with a great intuitive control system and a cool online component. As for that new Tony Hawk game? There's a reason why Madden sucks on the Wii—we enjoy playing it strictly as a video game, not as an awkward approximation of real life. Take note.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#8: Resistance: Retribution

GENRE: Third-person shooter

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Sony Bend/SCEA/PSP

RELEASE DATE: March 17

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: And sometimes, you just want to shoot a muthafucka. Resistance: Retribution is a great shoot-'em-up on the PSP that plays (nearly) as well as its console version, with simple controls, a good storyline, and highly addictive gameplay. Best yet is the game's multiplayer mode, which includes the ability to taunt the enemies you've merked out. And man, do we love taunting. Pick up and play this one—there really ain't much more to it.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#7: MLB '09: The Show

GENRE: Baseball

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
SCEA/SCEA/PS3, PS2, PSP

RELEASE DATE: March 3

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: They don't make baseball games like they used to, but at least we have MLB 09: The Show, by far the best one out now. Like soccer titles (and unlike Madden and the NBA games), MLB 09: The Show is geared more toward the hardcore fan than the casual one. That doesn't mean you have to be a hardball freak (ayo!) to appreciate The Show, but the game's deep career and franchise modes—two of its strong points—will really only appeal to the true stat nerds. Which is OK, 'cause we're stat nerds at heart. Everything here is better than last year, with the addition of more boneheaded errors to reflect Luis Castillo reality. All that, and those Dustin Pedroia ads are pretty damn good, too.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#6: Punch-Out!!

GENRE: Boxing

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Next Level Games/Nintendo/Wii

RELEASE DATE: May 18

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: It's a three-word sell: "Punch-Out!! for Wii." Easy enough, right? Lack of online kinda sucks, but other than that, it's the perfect remake: It retains enough of the O.G. title for nostalgia's sake but features enough upgrades and tweaks to make it feel fresh.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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