Well, that’s 2010 gone. Bye, see yah, adios!
So in time honoured tradition (and not to be the only ones on the Internet who aren’t doing a top 10 list – keeping up with the Virtual Jones’ is very important) here’s our rundown of the best games on the download services and the ones we enjoyed most during 2010.
There was a lot of dross put out this year – half baked games, lazy ports of older arcade titles, and even some crushing disappointments that should have been amazing, but fell flat. We won’t name names for any of those, but you can fill in the blanks yourself with your own thoughts.
Nevertheless, amongst all that there have been some truly memorable and enjoyable titles. So without further rambling, here’s our pick of the bunch.
10. Cave Story
It was a pretty woeful year for WiiWare all things told, with only a handful of games worth writing about, let alone considering for a top ten list. One of the truly stand out games was Cave Story, the updated port of the beloved PC title. Strengthened by the extra attention that had been given the music and visuals, and retaining the fun gameplay and adventure of the original, the game is one which cries out to be tried and enjoyed.
Click here to read our review for the full reasons why you should buy this game.
9. Joe Danger
The PSN didn’t get much in the way of exclusive games that were worth talking about this year either. Which makes us sad because when Joe Danger rode into view, it made us realise just how great the service can be. Part Excitebike, part Trials HD, it retained the essential elements of both.
With it’s bright visuals, bouncy soundtrack and the fiendishly addictive need to compete with you friends on the leaderboards, Joe Danger was a lovely breath of fresh air for PSN, earning its place on this list.
You can click here to read our full review.
8. Comic Jumper
Another year and another game from the Twisted Pixel crew, this time following the off the wall adventures of Captain Smiley and his sidekick Star. With laughs-a-plenty, the game showed that the developers are coming of age, flexing their creative muscles and providing some of the most memorable content on the download services.
Click here to read our review.
7. Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype
Addressing all the issues which held back the original, and then some, Söldner-X 2 was another PSN title which gave us faith that the service was more than up to competing with the runaway success enjoyed by XBLA in 2010.
A riotous shooter to be enjoyed by both novices and experts alike, Söldner-X 2’s additional support at the close of the year with some stonking DLC meant that it was well and truly cemented in our hearts and this top ten.
Click here to read our review and find out why.
6. Snoopy Flying Ace
Everyone’s beloved Beagle and the Peanuts cast took to the skies in a concept that could have been awful, but worked brilliantly.
With a plethora of things to keep the player busy and a strong multiplayer mode – one which enjoyed a healthy following long after other titles had fallen quiet (surely a testament to the game), Flying Ace was one of the more robust titles to land on the download services, managing to put some retail games to shame.
Our review can be found here.
5. Pinball FX2
Zen Studios created something akin to digital crack when they unleashed their second pinball title on to XBLA during the latter part of 2010. With perfectly tuned tables, ball physics and clever use of the online scoreboards (making it hyper-addictive to try and beat your friends), Pinball FX2 delivered a lot for its asking price.
The clever integration of the tables released for the original, and then the release of the Marvel Pinball tables later in the year, meant that there was plenty for fans of pinball, both old and new alike, to get their teeth into.
If you haven’t already, why not read our review.
4. Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light
While her main retail titles may be getting a bit long in the tooth, despite several reboots, Lara’s downloadable outing showed that there’s still life in the old girl yet. A heady mixture of arcade action and puzzles, the only thing which let it down was that the option for online co-op wasn’t patched in until some time after release.
That didn’t manage to stop it being an entertaining purchase and hopefully we haven’t seen the last of her in this type of adventure.
Our full review of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light can be found by clicking here.
3. Limbo
Dark, evocative and chilling, the long awaited Limbo finally arrived in 2010. And what an experience it was. One of the rare titles where you could take away from it whatever you wanted in terms of story and meaning, Limbo set an incredibly high bar in Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade promo and showed that the download services are capable of delivering something truly special.
Rather than continue to wax lyrical about the joys of it (and we could, quite easily), if you need to know more click here to read our review.
2. Super Meat Boy
Jump…die…jump… die… jump…die…jump…die…jump…
…
…die.
ARGH! MY HANDS!!!
Yes in second place it’s Super Meat Boy, the game that’s responsible for more game related A&E admissions this year than Nintendo Remotes have managed since launch. However no pain means no gain, and in spite of its punishing difficulty it remained maddeningly addictive.
Click here to read our review, which took some doing to write with mangled hands.
1. Pac-Man CE DX
Number one for this year is Namco’s second attempt at making sure we don’t forget our gaming roots.
Taking everything they’d learnt from brilliant Pac-Man CE and then adding the DX factor, this edition reminded us of everything that downloadable titles should be about. Bright, colourful and hellishly addictive there’s absolutely something for everyone who calls themselves a gamer and the reason why it absolutely tops this years list.
Click here to read our full review from earlier in the year for a full breakdown of why.
And that’s it. Well, except for some honourable mentions.
There were plenty of titles released this year that we struggled to include in a top ten for various reasons. Games like Chime, Defense Grid, The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, Darwinia+ and Zeno Clash. And that’s without mention of Indie titles like Explosionade or Shoot 1Up and PlayStation Minis like Whose That Flying?!
However their exclusion from this list certainly doesn’t mean that they’re any less enjoyable or unworthy of your time.
So here’s to 2011 and whatever gaming treats it brings – we’re certainly looking forward to finding out.
