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

#5: Resident Evil 5

GENRE: Third-person action

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Capcom/Capcom/360, PS3, PC

RELEASE DATE: March 13

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: The survival horror series we all love to love went all "Nas in Belly" on us by taking the franchise to Africa for the fifth installment. Besides some revamped controls and a cool co-op sidekick mode, it's about what you'd expect from a RE game: dope graphics, killer zombies, and entertaining cinematics that we actually don't mind sitting through. Once we got past the whole "kill the African savages" subtext, we played the fuck outta this one.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#4: inFAMOUS

GENRE: Third-person action

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Sucker Punch Productions/SCEA/PS3

RELEASE DATE: May 26

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: You'll note that every game in our countdown thus far has been a sequel of some sort, but there was at least one dope all-new title in the first half of '09. The simplest way to describe the PS3-exclusive inFAMOUS is to call it GTA with superhero powers. It's an open-world, sandbox-style adventure in which you have the choice of playing as a villain or as a good guy in various missions that gauge your "karma" level. Every action has a reaction that affects the storyline, making it a decidedly non-linear, engaging experience. The big-city setting allows for an awesome playground and the graphic-novel-style cut scenes are some of the best we've ever seen. If you have a PS3, you need this game. Side note: This already ranks as our second favorite work of art to ever be titled Infamous (nahmean?)

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#3: Killzone 2

GENRE: First-person shooter

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Guerilla Games/SCEA/PS3

RELEASE DATE: February 27

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: Our favorite FPS of the year (and maybe any year) takes everything to the next level, from graphics to enemy A.I. to a deep multiplayer mode. More proof that Sony's not playing with its PS3-only releases this year.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#2: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

GENRE: Sandbox-style action

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Rockstar Leeds/Rockstar North/Rockstar/DS

RELEASE DATE: March 17

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: We were honestly a tad bit skeptical when we first heard that GTA was coming to the Nintendo DS, but lesson learned: Never doubt Rockstar and never doubt GTA. Using an updated version of the top-down style of the O.G. GTA games, Chinatown Wars has all of the franchise's best qualities (drug-dealing, larceny, chaos, cop-killing, etc.) while subtly incorporating the DS touchscreen to add a little versatility to gameplay. The missions are fun, there are easter eggs everywhere, and there's so much shit to explore and do that you could easily kill an entire flight to Japan with just this one game. If you don't have a DS by now, then this is the game to change your mind.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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#1: Street Fighter IV

GENRE: Fighter

DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER/PLATFORMS:
Dimps/Capcom/PS3, Xbox

RELEASE DATE: February 17

THE COMPLEX CO-SIGN: If there's one game that you are guaranteed to enjoy in 2009 (so far), it's Street Fighter IV, which is basically a culmination of the storied SF legacy in a slick, next-gen, 3-D package. You will not be disappointed.

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE GAME!]

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