Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Brandon Cackowski-Schnell, Staff Writer

Which part of "Brandon you're first" don't you people understand? Fired, fired, fired and fired. I know only two of you butted in line, but I double-fired both of you, so that's four fired's. On to the listing.

5. Red Faction: Guerrilla - Being able to take down an entire building with a sledgehammer is good fun, I don't care who you are. As far as sandbox games go, it was ok, but as far as being able to bring the entire world down around you with your bare hands, it is unparalleled. Sometimes the only thing separating a bad day from a good day is being able to hit a dude in the crotch with a hammer.

4. House of the Dead: Overkill - This is a game that has to be played so that you can fully understand just how disturbingly hilarious it is. The entire ending, from the end boss to the ending cinematic to the ending conversation is the most whacked out thing I have ever seen, and not just in a video game but ever. Ever, ever, ever. Oh, shooting zombie health care professionals in the face is fun too.

3. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 (Wii version) - Pack your parkas you hellbound heathens because it just got chilly in Satan's realm. A game was released on all platforms and the Wii version is the hands down best of the bunch. Honestly, I don't know what they're going to do to improve this game for next year because it is just that damn good. Grab your Motion Plus add-on and come play the greatest golf game ever made.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - DS game of the year, in my opinion and that's with a Professor Layton release looming. This game is just that good. There's tons to do and see, plenty of humor and personality and the touchscreen activities are integrated beautifully. That's to say nothing about the drug dealing aspect of the game that can, and will consume all of your time. Nothing says Nintendo like dealing 100k worth of black tar at the dinner table.

1. MadWorld - It's stylish, brutal, visceral, hilarious and skewers the violent video game culture in a way that never seems condescending or ham handed. Come for the ability to stab a ninja with a light pole, dump them in boiling oil and serve them up as fried food but stay for the story and funniest ending credits ever. It will have you tearing your hair out at times, but it's entirely worth it to fight through the tough parts and get to the end. Then you can play it on Hard mode and really see what tough is.

MadWorld

William Abner, Editor in Chief: Wait, Brandon can fire people now?

Jeff McAllister, Sr. Editor:

5. Street Fighter IV -- I am absolutely horrible at fighting games. Period. If you look at my online record for Street Fighter IV, I don’t think I have won a round ever. Thankfully, I only play with friends who are just as horrible as I am and we have a great time kicking the crap out of each other while gaping at the stunning visuals this game offers. It is definitely a great party game to play when friends are over and you don't feel like breaking out the Rock Band equipment. As a fan and all-time high quarter donor to the arcade version of Street Fighter II, it is warming to my tiny heart to see the roster of characters from the past with the visual flair that they so deserve.

4. Resident Evil 5 -- This was my pick for the game I was most looking forward to in 2009. Although the game was a blast playing through in co-op, playing alone left a lot to be desired. The predictable storyline was somewhat of a downer, but the series has never looked so good and still retained the suspense and tension the series is known for.

3. Secret of Monkey Island: SE -- One of my favorite games of all time gets a modern day make over and costs a pittance. How could you go wrong with this? The game is the EXACT same as the original and even lets you change from the fancy special edition visuals to the original pixilated graphics on the fly so you can see what you missed 20 years ago. Even after all these years, the humor of the game hasn’t been lost and watching Guybrush slide down and then up the cable to Hook Island still makes me crack up.

2. Prototype -- A lot of people had issues with Prototype, but even with the problems the game had, it was a still one hell of a ride. Sure being able to soar from rooftops and the ability to flay an expulsion of tentacles from your body that pierce every living thing within a 20 foot radius is fun, but causing mass murder on an epic scale and then being able to turn around and blame it on someone else is just too much fun.

1. ‘Splosion Man -- Easily one of the most enjoyable games I have played this year or last. The game is so simplistic in theory but can be very difficult in practice. With only one button to press, one would think there wouldn’t be much to the game, but those people would be wrong. Oh so painfully wrong. Throw in some clever puzzles along with some hilarious animations, catchy songs, as well as an insane 4 player co-op multiplayer, ‘Splosion Man is my top game of 2009 – So far.

‘Splosion Man