Adventure Gamers' 2008 Readers' Choice Awards Poll
Written by Jack Allin — February 9, 2009
The first annual “Aggie” Awards presentation is almost upon us! You’ve read all about them (or if you haven’t, go do that now) and know our nominees, but now it’s your turn to recognize the best games of 2008. In addition to our official staff selections, we will also be unveiling our “Readers’ Choice” awards, and it’s time to cast your votes.
Below is a complete list of categories open for voting. Only one vote per category is allowed. To make your choice, simply select the appropriate game from the drop-down menu available for each question. If you wish to pass on certain categories, simply pick the "No answer" selection from the menu.
This survey works solely on the honour system, so we haven’t taken any precautions to avoid ballot-stuffing (although your IP address will be logged after submitting a survey). We do ask, however, that you limit yourselves to only one entry. One ballot per person is how voting works best, and we trust that no one will abuse the system. In the same way, we ask that you vote only for games you feel are deserving of their awards. This is all just for fun, but spoiling votes just ruins the fun for everyone. In the unlikely event of suspicious voting activity, we’ll deal with that at the time, but we’re confident that won’t be necessary.
Voting will end on Monday, February 16th, and award winners will be unveiled over the course of three days, from February 18-20th.
The first annual “Aggie” Awards presentation is almost upon us! You’ve read all about them (or if you haven’t, go do that now) and know our nominees, but now it’s your turn to recognize the best games of 2008. In addition to our official staff selections, we will also be unveiling our “Readers’ Choice” awards, and it’s time to cast your votes.
Below is a complete list of categories open for voting. Only one vote per category is allowed. To make your choice, simply select the appropriate game from the drop-down menu available for each question. If you wish to pass on certain categories, simply pick the "No answer" selection from the menu.
This survey works solely on the honour system, so we haven’t taken any precautions to avoid ballot-stuffing (although your IP address will be logged after submitting a survey). We do ask, however, that you limit yourselves to only one entry. One ballot per person is how voting works best, and we trust that no one will abuse the system. In the same way, we ask that you vote only for games you feel are deserving of their awards. This is all just for fun, but spoiling votes just ruins the fun for everyone. In the unlikely event of suspicious voting activity, we’ll deal with that at the time, but we’re confident that won’t be necessary.
Voting will end on Monday, February 16th, and award winners will be unveiled over the course of three days, from February 18-20th.
) and receiving art from invited professionals.
The Grand Theft Auto series, like Mario Kart and Soul Calibur, hasn’t seen a ton of change over the years, but it’s the way this game looks that could be the difference. Like the other two, this is the first next-gen game for the series and this could be the prettiest we’ve ever seen Liberty City look. Expect controversy around this game, and a fun experience, if not a predictable one.
The graphics I’ve seen from Burnout Paradise have been amazing. This is a series that has produced one fun game after another, and has had the ability to make it feel fresh and new each time. If there was one game on this list that I could endorse as a ‘must buy’, this would have to be it. Burnout Revenge was and is one of my most played games and this one shouldn’t be any different. What other racing game rewards vehicular malfeasance with turbo?
There has been more press on this game than almost any other, as Nintendo has shifted the hype train into full speed for Brawl’s 2008 appearance. Originally this was scheduled to be released much earlier — like this Christmas — but was delayed until 2008 to give it that extra polish. But don’t worry about this one, I can only expect it to be as addictive and fun a party fighter as the last two were. The inclusion of Pit from Kid Icarus, Snake from Metal Gear Solid and Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog can’t hurt either.
This is a biggie for me, as a huge fan of the Dark Forces series, since Lucasarts has touted this as the biggest and most fantastic Jedi game yet. It’s taking the force powers to a whole new level, and from the little I’ve seen of the game, it looks ‘impressive, most impressive.’ Sorry, geek moment there. You get to play as Anakin Skywalker’s — see Darth Vader — padewan that no one knew about. But seriously, in the trailer, the protagonist is pulling a Star Destroyer out of the sky and crashing it into the earth in front of him. Yeah. It should be very cool. *I previously reported that this was concept art but got an e-mail correction from Lucasarts that this is indeed a screenshot! Still, don’t forget to check out the official 
Fallout 3 makes the list purely because it looks like Bethesda has this one cooking as a pet project. All I can say is that from reading their development blogs and seeing screenshots of the ongoing project, this looks like a game that has been made from the ground up for the real fans of the Fallout series. While it is a departure from the three-quarter perspective, turn-based adventure that was the first two games, released 10 years ago, it looks like this game will stay completely faithful to the post-apocalyptic environment and quirky dialog that made the series so great. The contest they held for fans to be able to create a perk for the game just shows how much they care about the community created with the first two games.
While it is another next-gen incarnation of a beloved series, Resident Evil 5 looks to make a step in a different direction in both gameplay and graphics. The trailer to this game alone scares me, so I have no idea how I’ll be able to play it. Probably lights on, with a few friends present, but it’s the new gameplay elements that could make this an instant classic like its forbear, Resident Evil 4. It’s set in the desert, so if you stay outside in the sunshine for too long, you’ll take damage from the extreme temperature. But if you go inside, you face zombies, in the dark, at close quarters. Should be a challenge and a great game to play.
Out of all the games on this list, I feel like I know the most about this one which makes it an easier choice for number one. Everything I’ve seen — and I do mean everything — has looked incredible. Not only does it look like a next-gen game should look, but the way Konami has enhanced the controls for Solid Snake is ridiculous. It’s not that the first three games handled poorly, but Snake is seeing an enhanced sneak suit, complete camouflage, targeted attacks, a robot drone scout…I mean the list goes on and on. The trailers look infinitely cool and it’s probably the only game on this list where you play as an old man, which doesn’t seem cool until you see just how well it plays. I watched the E3 coverage of this, along with the breakdown of the new controls, and it looks like they’ve taken this series and the entire espionage genre to a new level. This is also one of the few PS3 console exclusives, but the real question is, how long will it stay that way?
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