Games That Could Save the Gaming Industry

The video game industry has recently seen its recession-proof image slowly being taken away. Peaking in 2008 and starting the year 2009 with a continued rise in sales of both consoles and games, the recent months have seen a slump in sales for both. The decrease is significant enough for Sony and Microsoft to slash prices on their consoles, while making Nintendo change its year-end earning target.

The decrease would have been seen earlier had it not been for the release of games that helped the console makers sell more while keeping the game sales figures in the black. The best games for 2009 have helped delay the inevitable: the slump in the games' industry that is seen to continue well into 2010.

1. Plants vs. Zombies (Xbox 360). Think Farm Town meets Dawn of the Dead; the game's premise is actually very simple: stop invading zombies by planting crops to help you eliminate them. The simple premise lends itself to hours of non-stop fun as you find yourself slowly getting addicted. All levels have some great surprises, bringing with it a new plant or a new zombie type. All these translate to play the game for days on end and still being surprised or transfixed by the new things you see. Not really bad for a game that costs only $10.

2. Peggle (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3). If you love puzzle games like Lumines and Tetris, you might want to join the thousands who found themselves addicted to Peggle. Another casual game that became a sleeper hit, this one is actually a features-filled game that can be very addictive and is stress-busting, yet it will keep you on your toes. Peggle is fun. Period.

3. Punch Out (Wii). Remember Punch Out? Yup that boxing game that gave Mike Tyson his own game? The 1980s game recently came out with a sequel of sorts with Punch Out for Wii with spruced up graphics and terrific game play. It does retain its old charm though even with its 3D graphics.

4. Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360, Playstation). Like Punch Out, Street Fighter came out with a spruced up 3D sequel to its highly successful arcade game. If only for the visuals, the game stands out from its previous incarnations reminding everyone why it became such a hit before. Street Fighter IV is amazing in its beautiful graphics and wonderful game play. What is more, Capcom threw in a wonderful soundtrack and a lot of unlockables. This is easily the best game that came out so far this year, and could very well take the crown of Game of the Year.

5. Red Faction: Guerilla (Xbox 360, Playstation). Banking on its very successful franchise, Red Faction: Guerilla takes place on Mars. Players become freedom fighters against the Earth Defense Force. The beauty of Red Faction: Guerilla is that it allows you to devastate anything that comes across your path, complete with great explosions and visual effects.

The release of these games may have helped the gaming industry float in the first half of the year. With the decrease in sales, the industry needs games like these that might save console makers from having a disastrous year. Nintendo for one is banking on the popularity of Wii Sports to propel its sequel Wii Sports Resort to greater heights in sales figures. It has already sold more than 1.25 million copies in the United States as of September 2009, just a little more than two months after its July release. That is after very strong sales were reported in both Europe and Japan immediately after it was launched.

However, it may not be as easy as we all think. The huge success of Wii Sports Resort has not saved Nintendo from slashing its console prices. And from the looks of it, there may not be another big game release before the year ends. Already avid and rabid gamers are looking forward to 2010 when the biggest games are slated for release including Castlevania – Lords of Shadow, Super Mario Galaxy 2, StarCraft II, God of War III, and Metroid: Other M.