The Best and Worst in Games & Gadgets of 2009
Right now is a great time for gamers and tech addicts alike. This year saw the next-gen consoles really hitting their stride, operating systems that actually do what they’re supposed to, and smartphones that pack more power than the beige box PCs we grew up with. But of course, no amount of technology can overcome a bad concept or a half-assed effort, so this year wasn’t without its share of duds as well.
The Best
Uncharted 2
The first Uncharted was a widely acclaimed game amongst the PS3’s somewhat barren library of top-tier exclusive titles when it was released, yet it still somehow managed to fly under many gamers’ radars. But it still remained a favorite for many PS3 loyalists, and by the time Uncharted 2 neared release this October, hype around the sequel hit a fever pitch. Turned out there was a reason for all that hype – Uncharted 2 became the most critically acclaimed video game of 2009.
Naughty Dog, the developer of the action-adventure shooter, said they wanted to create a video game which could capture the intensity and immersion of the greatest Hollywood summer blockbusters, and after playing the game, it’s obvious they’ve achieved that goal. With tense pacing, massive areas to explore, and gameplay that’s a mixture of the best elements from various titles in the genre, Uncharted 2 is the kind of game that simply refuses to let you put the controller down.
Motorola Droid/Android 2.0
Source: George Frey/Stringer/Getty Images
After two-and-a-half years on the market, someone finally stepped up to give Steve Jobs’ untouchable iPhone a run for its money. Amongst the first phones to come with the highly touted Android 2.0 OS, the Motorola Droid comes jam-packed with functionality – a lot of which trumps even the best of what Apple has to offer.
Motorola’s newest smartphone comes correct: Droid sports a very high resolution touchscreen display and a slide-out physical keyboard, free turn-by-turn navigation courtesy of the new Google Maps Navigation app found on Android 2.0, a removable battery, multitasking support, a 5 megapixel camera and, most importantly, a vastly superior 3G network in comparison to AT&T’s. Regardless of the Droid's ultimate popularity, it’s nice to finally see Apple’s infallible device finally getting some real competition.
Modern Warfare 2
Source: Activision
Bigger than any album. Bigger than any book. Bigger than any movie. The latest incarnation in the Call of Duty series sold over 6 million copies in November, making it the biggest release across all forms of entertainment in history.
Modern Warfare 2 generated over $300,000,000 in sales within just the first 24 hours of going on sale. And for good reason – with a Metacritic rating of 94 and over a dozen perfect score reviews, the addictive formula of intense FPS combat, engaging storyline, insanely fun gameplay, and an unmatched online multiplayer experience essentially created digital crack.
PlayStation 3 Slim
Source: Sony
Like the girl in high school who returned from summer break with her braces off and thirty pounds lighter, when Sony released the 120GB PS3 Slim with a $299 price tag, attitudes towards Sony’s console made a paradigm shift almost overnight.
Considering that Blu-ray is the only game in town for HD media, and top-notch exclusives are starting to consistently roll out for the platform, the PS3 is really starting to become an appealing alternative for gamers who’re sick of sending their Xbox 360s back to Microsoft for repairs.
Windows 7
Source: Oli Scarff/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Whoever thought the day would come when Microsoft would release an operating system that tech geeks actually loved? Well, that’s exactly what the folks in Redmond did earlier this year.
Windows 7 has gotten nearly unanimous praise across the tech community for its clever interface improvements, speed, rock solid stability, and lack of “bloat.” More of an evolution than a revolution, many critics consider Windows 7 to be what Vista should have been. Regardless, it’s here now, and it’s definitely a new day for PC operating systems when you have Apple fanboys questioning their loyalty.
