G4TV

With Black Friday lingering and just a small handful of games left in 2009, it’s high time to take a refresher course in some of this year’s biggest and best reviews. I’ve broken down most of our most illustrious verdicts, platform by platform, to pick out some samplings of read (and watch) worthy material. Today, I'm focusing on handheld and PC highlights from 2009. Tomorrow, I'll be focusing in on the best multiplatform and downloadable games. And, because you need something to do either before eating turkey or before camping out in the freezing cold for a $200 game console and free games, Thursday brings the best reviews across platform exclusives.

Come back tomorrow at 1pm PST/4pm EST for our second day of recaps.

And now, put on your reading glasses; without further ado, here’s G4’s The Reviews of 2009...In Review!

PSP

Besides a new hardware launch and a stronger push for digitally distributed PSP games (both in the PlayStation Store and with the PSPgo), Sony continued the trend of translating first-party console hits to handheld, as witnessed by the debuts of PS3 hit franchises Resistance, MotorStorm, and LittleBigPlanet on PSP. That extends to third-party as well, as witnessed with new renditions of JRPG franchises like Final Fantasy and Disgaea.

Resistance: Retribution - 4/5

“Much is always made about the perspective in video games. Some people prefer first-person whenever possible, while others like third better. But as you’ll see from playing Resistance: Retribution — a PSP installment of the PS3 sci-fi first-person shooter series — it doesn’t matter if you change the perspective if you don’t change the controls.”

MotorStorm: Arctic Edge - 4/5

“MotorStorm: Arctic Edge is a solid racing game, and a worthy addition to the series lineage. It plays just like its big brothers, but the new setting adds some welcome new wrinkles. Sure, it's not perfect -- it's not so pretty, and some of the audio sounds tinny -- and it did make us want to go play Pacific Rift again, if only to warm ourselves up, but next time I'm on a real tropical beach, I know how I'll be cooling down.”

Dissidia: Final Fantasy - 4/5

“Final Fantasy fans will love this game for the graphics, music, gameplay, and -- most of all -- the sheer awesomeness of multiple FF heroes and villains teaming up. Even though the plot lacks depth, it’s just cool seeing Cecil, Tidus, and Cloud adventuring together. Although Dissidia is a fighting game, it’s definitely not for the Street Fighter crowd. But it is an excellent PSP title that’s best for RPG fans that want a little more action and a change of pace.”

Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny - 4/5

"PSP-toting fans of Soulcalibur will want to pick this game up, especially if they are looking for a way to practice their skills on the go, since the gameplay is so similar to Soulcalibur IV. Newcomers will get a bit more out of the game’s tutorial mode, but it isn’t the most fully-featured introduction to the series. Namco Bandai should get credit for nailing the fantastic gameplay, but could have added a bit more content to the game.”

Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days - 4/5

“Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days is, the in most literal sense, a portable version of Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories, the 2006 PS2 cult hit. As we’ve discovered many times over the last couple of years, simply chopping the top and bottom off a console game’s graphics -- or grabbing at both ends and stretching them the other way -- does not suddenly make it fun to play on the go.That said, Dark Hero Days happens to work surprisingly well on the PSP.”

Beaterator - 4/5

“Over the past few years, music-based games have infected the gaming world with tremendous fury.  Rockstar Leeds adds another title to the fray with Beaterator.  Is it another incarnation of rhythmic Simon Says?  Nope.  Not even the slightest.  To even call Beaterator a game would be a disservice to its potential and what it really is.  Beaterator is, by all accounts, a music production suite and a surprisingly robust one at that.”

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - 4/5

“Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars may not have sparked the revolution in mature games for the DS that Nintendo and Rockstar Games were bracing for, but the sales numbers are largely irreverent to me; Chinatown Wars was one of the best games I've played all year and I'm thrilled Rockstar decided to bring it elsewhere. PSP owners are in for a treat, even if the transition to Sony's handheld proves a little rocky.”

Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier - 4/5

“Jak is back! The PS2 icon had plenty of hits earlier this decade, but has been painfully neglected for some time. Thankfully, the latest iteration -- though out of Naughty Dog’s hands for this PSP and PS2-only adventure -- retains the series' charm. High Impact Games (also responsible for the handheld Ratchet & Clank spin-offs) delivers a new adventure with Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier. This new game picks up right where Jak III left off, and it’s full of the great 3D action that defines the series.”

LittleBigPlanet Portable - 4/5

“…If you are a fan of LittleBigPlanet, the PSP version should delight and satisfy in many of the same ways the PS3 version did. If you are new to the franchise, then the PSP game is a fantastic introduction. It’s an elegantly crafted, artistically vibrant and wonderfully inventive adventure that has endless replayability thanks to the hefty level editor and ability to share and download new levels via PSN. There are a few frustrating control issues, and it’s far less challenging than the PS3 version, but overall, LittleBigPlanet is every bit as deserving of your time as its console cousin.”

Nintendo DS

Another year, another series of big game development gambles. From the under-the-radar FPS action of Moon and Grand Theft Auto’s DS debut to a game that let you scribe your own way to play, there’s been no shortage of great DS games to check out. That includes follow-ups to fan favorites Professor Layton and Mario & Luigi.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - 5/5

“It’s a great comfort to know that Rockstar Games not only makes great games, but understands what makes them great. Chinatown Wars is the culmination of years of work as well as the spirit of ingenuity to bring one of the biggest series to the smallest screen. Nothing in the game feels half done or forced. If anything, the game feels like a development team having fun with a concept. Everything from being able to ram police cars, rampage missions, the touch screen mini-games, and even the story has this sense of fun underlining every bullet fired. Even if you are not a fan of the series, you will be doing yourself a favor by taking this tiny terror out for a spin.”

Moon  - 4/5

“Moon makes good use of the DS's abilities and provides a distinctive mix of action and adventure. The game wouldn't make it on the PSP, or other more powerful machines, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better recent shooter on the DS.”

Rhythm Heaven - 4/5

“For a Nintendo-developed game, Rhythm Heaven is a surprisingly challenging title that requires a keen sense of timing. Yet its lighthearted humor and whimsical design draw you back for more despite the frustrations. Let's face it, you're not often asked to dropkick vegetables into a knapsack, fuel robots with Kool-Aid, or help concert-going monkeys clap in unison. The unusual art style, so-bad-it's-good music, and sheer variety of activities are not to be missed, unless of course, you've been known to have a tin ear and two left feet.”

Dragon Quest V: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride - 4/5

“The goddess be praised. Fans of classic role-playing games have a lot to be thankful for. Square Enix’s re-releases for the Nintendo DS have kept us up to our kilts in amazing retro gaming experiences. The release of Dragon Quest V: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride, the latest in a long stream of old-school gaming goodness, marks the first time the game has been released for Western audiences. And it’s well worth playing for anyone that has affection for the way Dragon Quest games tell a yarn.”

Scribblenauts - 4/5

“Warts and all, it's hard not to love Scribblenauts. For every puzzle I'd skip while scratching my head, another had me feeling like the smartest man on the planet. It's difficult for a puzzle game to balance challenge with personal accomplishment, but Scribblenauts succeeds enough times that it doesn't feel like an accident. Plus, it's hard to dislike a game where you can ride a dinosaur and summon black holes. I mean, c'mon.”

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box - 4/5

“Professor Layton & The Diabolical Box, Level-5’s follow up to last year’s Professor Layton & The Curious Village, continues the tradition of giving players challenging puzzles to solve and compelling mysteries to uncover. The puzzles are varied and plentiful, the cinematics are even more stunning than before, and there are a host of new mini-games. In other words, it doesn’t take a world-renowned detective to realize that this game is fantastic.”

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story - 5/5

“The previous Mario & Luigi games have been must-purchase titles for Game Boy Advance and DS owners, and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is no exception. If you have even the slightest affinity for the various characters in the Mushroom Kingdom or for light-hearted RPGs, this game is worth your attention. It’s too good, too fun, and too funny to miss.”

PC

Say what you will about console gaming, there are some experiences that can’t be replicated with a controller -- honorable mention to Halo Wars for trying. In 2009, gamers got their hands on sequels to some of the finest PC games of the decade, including Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War, The Sims and the Total War series. Also, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, play Dragon Age on PC unless your rig can’t handle it.

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II - 4/5

“It’s been a long time coming, but Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War finally has a proper successor. It’s not perfect, as anyone who enjoys the resource management side of strategy gaming will be turned off by the gung-ho style here, but it’s no different than most of the earlier Warhammer 40,000 titles out there. So, if you’ve been following this franchise you won’t want to miss out on this latest installment – even if you decided to skip the last few expansion packs.”

Empire: Total War - 4/5

“Empire: Total War is a completely encompassing experience that offers oodles of offline gameplay, entertaining online battles (and supposedly co-op, soon), and no shortage of challenge whether you’re playing against human or AI opponents. And, with its frequent quotes and tie-ins to historical events, it’s thoroughly educational, too, adding another element of appeal for fans of the era. The slow pace and broad complexity make it a game for only those who like to swim on the deeper side of the strategy game pool, but if you aren’t afraid to dive in this game is not to be missed.”

Demigod - 4/5

“Designed by the company responsible for such wildly divergent franchises as Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander, Demigod is part strategy, part action, and part role-playing game. This potpourri approach to game design is a risky one, one that is sure to frustrate those looking for an undiluted take on their favorite genre. In Demigod, there's not enough management for a strategy game, not enough character customization or progression for a role-playing game, and not enough freedom for an action game. And yet somehow, perhaps through divine influence, Demigod rises above the sum of its parts and manages to be addictively fun.”

The Sims 3 - 4/5

“Try to explain The Sims to someone who's never played it and you're likely to be met with the same incredulous expression: a raised eyebrow, a disdainful shaking of the head, or a blank stare. This is followed by some variant of "more work than fun." Truth is, mopping up floors, cleaning toilets, and taking out the trash aren't exactly the stuff dreams are made of. On a basic level, play is akin to setting up an aquarium, picking decorations, introducing some fish, and watching them blow bubbles. If you aren't a tinkerer at heart, you probably aren't a fan of the series. The Sims 3 doesn't try to convert the non-faithful, opting to polish and streamline 2004's The Sims 2 instead of moving the virtual life genre significantly forward. It's more a nudge than a push.”

Spore: Galactic Adventures - 4/5

“Gamers just looking to expand their universe may be better off waiting at least for the number of missions to start building up. Spore Galactic Adventures may not add that much in terms of overall content, it does allow for more variety. Honestly, it won’t bring people back to Spore, but it will keep those already in the game glued to their tiny ship for awhile longer.”

Aion: Tower of Eternity - 4/5

“Aion is definitely a refreshing looking MMO; online gamers tired of certain other franchises will initially feel like they’re really doing something new. Of course, after a few hours it’ll become apparent that there isn’t much radically different here, but it’s all very well polished, very well balanced sameness. It’s partially a shame that gamers won’t experience the Abyss until they’re a fair distance into the game, but that should help to prevent those newbs from rushing in, getting creamed, and signing off in disgust. Overall it’s perhaps not the completely refreshing experience some might be looking for, but one worth experiencing just the same.”

Come back tomorrow to check out the recap of multiplatform and downloadable games!