Okay so here is my top 10 list of video games for 2010. As ever, this is my list of favorites and my particular order of preference. Given that many people’s egos seem to be tied into the validation of their favorite games through other people’s acknowledgements it seems prudent to mention up front that just because I like these games the most and in this order doesn’t mean that whatever game you like is shitty. This is my opinion based on my taste in games. I spell this out as it seems that people need reminding if comments on other top 10 lists I’ve done are to be believed. Also, it is important to note that calling me a douchebag or making ad hominem attacks on me personally doesn’t make for a valid argument nor does it make me agree with you or like whatever game it is that you feel has been slighted. It should also be noted that I have not played every game out this year so some omissions are simply because I haven’t played everything.  As always, sound off in the comments with agreements or disagreements and your own lists.

10. Super Street Fighter IV:

For me, this one was a bit of a no-brainer and is all kinds of steeped in my own personal bias. It seems like maybe a cop-out to include a Street Fighter iteration on a list like this but when the update offers so much extra content and gameplay tweaks it makes the inclusion completely valid and legit. Street Fighter IV was a great game to begin with and it seemed unlikely at the time that it could be improved upon, particularly a year after the release of the original. When the game in question brings in 10 new characters, fresh new online modes, balancing tweaks and a reduced price point, it is easy to see how it could improve on greatness. For players who never picked up the original, this is absolutely one of the best games of the year and for those of us who upgraded, it made one of the previous year’s game even better. Anyway you slice it, Super Street Fighter IV was excellent and earns its place on this list.

09. Scott Pilgrim Vs the World: the Game

Another great example of how downloadable games can be just as excellent and engaging as full retail efforts, Scott Pilgrim Vs the World compliments this summer’s movie with a more direct adaptation of the original comic. Following old school beat em up traditions of River City Ransom and Double Dragon, this treatment of Scott Pilgrim throws in a ton of content by way of items, upgrades, characters and Easter eggs for an experience that does not at all seem like a bargain downloadable title. The game controls very well and is fun to play alone but really shines when you have other players involved. It sucks that you can’t engage in the multiplayer online especially when your player 2 breaks up with you right before beating Gideon giving the whole thing  a bitter sense of irony, but the game is awesome enough that it doesn’t matter all that much.

08.Transformers War for Cybertron

There have been many games that have tried to capture the magic of the Transformers and they have all pretty much failed. It is kind of weird as robots that transform into vehicles and shoot lasers at each other seem like an easy thing to make fun. Apparently that isn’t the case as the games have been disappointing. Now along comes War for Cybertron, a game that takes place on the Transformer home world and acts as a prequel to the original cartoon. They player controls both Autobots and Decepticons throughout the course of the game and the fan service is in full force. This feels very much like the old school cartoon with a sheen of new school gloss. The controls and gameplay are pretty much spot on and the transforming dynamic is perfectly utilized. The story is pretty great and the voice acting compliments it just as it should. Throwing in a fairly decent multi-player component and you have a great little game that finally captures the magic of the Transformers. Here’s hoping they make more.

07.Fable III

Fable is becoming a reliable series if you are into what it has to offer. Reliable in that you know pretty much what you are going to get from the outset which in this case happens to be a solid adventure title with intuitive controls and a fair amount of things to do. This is the wrong place to look for much innovation, the game is largely the same one we played a couple of years ago but with a few tweaks and fixes to some of that game’s issues. Fable III adds in a new ruling mechanic once the player ascends to the throne but that doesn’t change the game as much as was advertised and was hoped. Luckily, the gameplay is solid and fun to play and the writing and vocal performances are top notch. The sense of humor in the game is great and keeps everything entertaining without overdoing anything. It is the best Fable experience available but it isn’t leaps ahead of the other offerings. If you like Fable, though, you can’t go wrong with Fable III.

06.Fallout New Vegas

Essentially a side story in the Fallout series, New Vegas could have been a cheap one off that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Thankfully this was not the case. Farmed out to Obsidian, New Vegas brings back pretty much everything from Fallout 3 and adds a better free targeting system and a branching story that gets you involved in the political maneuverings of several factions which of course leads to a ton of replayability. The game is somewhat streamlined but nothing is removed that you will miss. The addition of more significant companions with their own sidequests and affiliations adds even more depth and content here for a package that feels complete in its own right and is very worthy of the Fallout name.

05. Mafia II

Something of a surprise, Mafia II tells the story of a small time hood’s ascension to Made Man in the 40’s and 50’s. Initially looked at as an open world game in the veinof Grand Theft Auto but that isn’t really what is going on here. Mafia II is much more like a very detailed and complete interactive movie. The story is very compelling and the voice acting is pretty much perfect from start to finish. The gameplay is generally excellent with shooting mechanics that would feel at home in a dedicated third person shooter and driving mechanics that work a damn sight better than a lot of driving oriented open world games. The game is also very gorgeous and the graphics go a long way toward making the whole experience immersive. It might not be the best choice if you are looking for a game that lets you run around and do anything you want to whenever you want to do it given its linear structure but if you want to experience a detailed and engaging mafia story then it is a great time.

04.Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

Much like Fallout New Vegas and Super Street Fighter IV, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood seems like a quick cash in opportunity but like those games, Brotherhood is on this list for a reason and elevates itself above cheap cash in to a worthy addition to the series. Brotherhood extends the story not only of Ezio but also Desmond as it jumps back and forth between the two. The ability to leave the Animus and explore the ‘present’ is a really cool addition and fleshes out that part of the story. From a gameplay perspective, the game is pretty much identical to AC II and is just as excellent as it was there. The addition of assassin recruits enriches the gameplay further and not only gives you extra combat options but also provides a fun little mini-game that is oddly addictive. All of the extras like feathers, glyphs, treasures and hidden temples are here with a few other extras to look for. Disabling the Borgia towers and reclaiming parts of the city adds extra depth to the last game’s refurbishing efforts. If you liked Assassin’s Creed II it should be a requirement to play Brotherhood. If there is a problem with Brotherhood it is that it makes the wait for AC III that much more unbearable.

03. God of War 3

The final chapter in the God of War series ends with a bang as lead character Kratos pretty much kills everyone there is to kill (except Aphrodite cause, come on, dude needs someone to get down with). The story here isn’t really about seeing Kratos grow as a character so much as it is reaching his maximum amount of rage and violence. And that makes for a damn fun game. The leap to the PS3 allowed the gore and violence to be ratcheted up considerably and allowed for huge, dynamic environments and fantastic set pieces. The gameplay sticks with what it does best and leaves the controls alone for the most part, because honestly why mess with one of the tightest and most responsive control schemes in action games? The graphics are gorgeous and the voice work is excellent. The entire game drips with quality and the carnage is seriously fun to orchestrate. The level of polish here is just staggering and beginning to end everything fires on all cylinders. There are some frustrating cheap deaths here and there but they can’t detract from how awesome this experience is. God of War III is hands down the best action game of the year and is well worth the purchase of a PS3 if you don’t have one.

02. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is a masterpiece in every way. The story is extremely well told and engaging with expert voice acting and gorgeous graphics to complete the package. The character interactions are enormously well scripted and the morality system has been tweaked into something much more realistic than what we had in the last game. The combat has been transitioned into a real time third person shooter dynamic where you can target specifically where you want to shoot instead of just locking on to an enemy and letting hidden die rolls sort out the particulars.  Inventory has been completely streamlined and the UI is as intuitive as possible. Basically what Bioware did here is take a game that was very ambitious but flawed and fixed everything that needed fixing and then ratcheted up the quality way past 11. Everything that needed fixing from the first game is repaired and fully operational. The flow of story and the carry over of decisions made in the last game gives this one a seamless feel that allows the player to feel completely immersed in the world. The idea of consequence is well explored territory for video games but never has it been explored so fully and expertly as in Mass Effect 2. This game would be damn near perfect if it didn’t have some of the glitches it is plagued with and that is a damn shame because that is really the only thing wrong with it. Now that this has made its way to PS3 there is no reason for RPG fans not to play this excellent game.

01. Red Dead Redemption

I am not really a big fan of open world games. Often times I find myself distracted by random things going on and not paying attention to the story or I will hit some kind of wall in the story were I just can’t get past it and never move ahead. I have never gotten super invested in their stories either as I usually just run around wreaking havoc on things. I approached Red Dead Redemption with a guarded sense of excitement as a well done Western game would be nice but I was worried I would reach that point where I couldn’t progress farther and I would just get stuck riding my horse around shooting randoms. This was not the case. What I found instead with RDR is one of the most fully fleshed out and fully featured games ever made. Pretty much everything from a gameplay standpoint is badass. The shooting mechanics are a big step above those found in the GTA series and the inclusion of the slow motion dead-eye mode made it even better. The riding mechanics are incredibly well done as well and this is great given how awfully horses control in many other games. Hand to hand combat works well enough that you can kill mountain lions with your hunting knife (and bears too if you are awesome). Pretty much everything is well designed and works as it should. Level designs and missions, while occasionally repetitive, are consistently fun to play and are rarely boring. If that was all the game had going for it, it would be pretty good. As it is, however, Red Dead Redemption has one of the most fleshed out and moving stories I have ever experienced in a game. Further, lead character John Marston is so well drawn and performed that you really actually care about what happens to him and his family. The way the story plays out is intriguing and compelling and occasionally heart breaking. The ending, which I will not spoil, is one of the most incredible and awesome endings I have ever seen and just left me sitting there staring at the screen for the better part of 20 minutes. There are some people who disagree and say they hate the ending but I would say 9 out of 10 of those people haven’t seen the actual, real ending. Remember this: If you haven’t seen the credits, you aren’t done. Red Dead Redemption isn’t just the best game of this year but it could beat a large portion of the best games of other years. Just incredible.