OS Awards: Downloadable Game of the Year
Submitted on: 12/30/2009 by
The Downloadable Game of the Year Award is given to the best independently developed sports game offered via console downloadable services. The growth of XBLA gaming in particular essentially forced us to create this category, which is sure to continue growing in 2010.
This year's winner stood out among the rest because of just how addicting it was. There are a ton of Trials fans who will agree that the hours spent on Trials HD made it well worth the money that you had to spend on the game, which is why Trials HD is the Downloadable Game of the Year for 2009.
Downloadable Game of the Year: Trials HD Edition
Christian McLeod: As a child, I grew up playing Excitebike, and now Trials HD has taken Nintendo's tried and true formula and added a new layer of addictive complexity and challenge to it. Trials is not only one of the best downloadable games of the year, it is also one of the best sports games of 2009. People who love racing games and love puzzles, owe it to themselves to check this gem out.
Jayson Young: Unless you are a die-hard lacrosse fan, Trials HD has to be the obvious choice here for its overall quality and level of innovation. But for as great as the core gameplay was in Trials, features like the track editor and seamless leaderboard integration made it one of the few recent $15 games that actually earned its higher price tag. To quote a RedLynx developer, "the quality [of Trials HD] will be remembered long after the price is forgotten."
Jim Harris: As a $10 downloadable game, 3-on-3 NHL Arcade seemed aimed squarely at gamers who just wanted to jump in for 10 minutes, throw a few thundering body checks, deke a few goalies out of their jockstraps and then move on to something else. And, in that context, 3-on-3 NHL Arcade succeeds wonderfully. With the NHL 09 engine as its foundation, the gameplay is fast, responsive, sufficiently deep and, most importantly, fun.
Reader's Choice
Winner: Trials HD Edition
Voting Results: Trials HD Edition (56%), Madden NFL Arcade (24%), Inside Lacrosse's College Lacrosse 2010 (14%)
Reader Comment: Trials should win this one hands down. The only thing that comes anywhere close is Outrun, and that's miles away. - The Giggas
This year's winner stood out among the rest because of just how addicting it was. There are a ton of Trials fans who will agree that the hours spent on Trials HD made it well worth the money that you had to spend on the game, which is why Trials HD is the Downloadable Game of the Year for 2009.
Downloadable Game of the Year: Trials HD Edition
Christian McLeod: As a child, I grew up playing Excitebike, and now Trials HD has taken Nintendo's tried and true formula and added a new layer of addictive complexity and challenge to it. Trials is not only one of the best downloadable games of the year, it is also one of the best sports games of 2009. People who love racing games and love puzzles, owe it to themselves to check this gem out.
Jayson Young: Unless you are a die-hard lacrosse fan, Trials HD has to be the obvious choice here for its overall quality and level of innovation. But for as great as the core gameplay was in Trials, features like the track editor and seamless leaderboard integration made it one of the few recent $15 games that actually earned its higher price tag. To quote a RedLynx developer, "the quality [of Trials HD] will be remembered long after the price is forgotten."
Jim Harris: As a $10 downloadable game, 3-on-3 NHL Arcade seemed aimed squarely at gamers who just wanted to jump in for 10 minutes, throw a few thundering body checks, deke a few goalies out of their jockstraps and then move on to something else. And, in that context, 3-on-3 NHL Arcade succeeds wonderfully. With the NHL 09 engine as its foundation, the gameplay is fast, responsive, sufficiently deep and, most importantly, fun.
Reader's Choice
Winner: Trials HD Edition
Voting Results: Trials HD Edition (56%), Madden NFL Arcade (24%), Inside Lacrosse's College Lacrosse 2010 (14%)
Reader Comment: Trials should win this one hands down. The only thing that comes anywhere close is Outrun, and that's miles away. - The Giggas
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