The Number 4 in 2008 is What We Appreciate
This is usually the time of year where everyone writes about the best and worst of 2008. You know how it goes, the Best Games, the Worst Games, the Biggest Disappointments, the Biggest Surprises, and so on. There was something notable about 2008 releases and it took a mathematician who’s also a gamer to notice it. No, not me, but Joseph and his many random observations. He pointed out one day to me that 2008 had a lot of releases with the number four in the title. I didn’t think much of it until just recently, but when I searched, I found that he was indeed right. Not about the sheer number of titles which mark the forth entry in a franchise (there were far more twos and threes), but about the high profile of the games with four in the title. After reviewing a list I found eight well-known releases. Could it be a mathematical relationship or pure coincidence? I’ll leave that up to you to decide in these last few hours of ’08.
Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Released in July, Devil May Cry 4 was notable because it took the Devil May Cry franchise to the new generation of consoles. The forth entry in this series also breaks from the PlayStation only mode by going multiplatform. Many complained that despite the move to the new generation, overall game play hadn’t changed from previous titles. Additionally, the game has way too many cut scenes and FMVs that could rival Xenosaga in their frequency. At times, the game felt more like an interactive movie than, you know, an actual video game.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)
Released in September, Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen is a DS remake of the 1990 NES game. The game was originally released in the US in 1992 under the title Dragon Warrior IV, and marked the last time a Dragon Quest game would be seen in the States on a major console until Dragon Quest (Warrior) VII. The DS remake features 3D visuals based on the never released domestically PS1 remake of DQ IV. Although the release is notable, it never received the same attention as the latest Final Fantasy remake.
Final Fantasy IV (DS)
If you’ve been counting, then you’ll realize that the number “4” is significant to this Final Fantasy release in many ways. It’s probably extremely easy to lose count of how many times that FFIV has been released, but the number is exactly four. In 1991 Final Fantasy IV (renumbered “II” in the States) was released on the SNES, in 2001 it was released again on the PS1 with Chrono Trigger under the title Final Fantasy Chronicles, and in 2005 it was released yet again for the Game Boy Advance under the title, Final Fantasy IV Advance. This July we got an enhanced remake on the DS in full 3D, very much in the style of Final Fantasy III. The folks at Square Enix can be such spoony bards sometimes.
Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Released in late April, Grand Theft Auto IV roared onto the new generation consoles to much fanfare. In fact, it was one of the best selling games for much of the year, especially on the PS3. In this forth installment the series returns to Liberty City, and parodies much of online culture. What could be more fun than finding yourself addicted to TV and the internet within a video game? Oh yeah, wanton acts of crime–especially violent ones.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Chances are if you know who Hideo Kojima is then you’ve played, or you’re dying to play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Released worldwide in June, MGS4 is one of the few high profile PS3 exclusive games. The Metal Gear Solid series has appeared exclusively on PlayStation consoles since the inception of Metal Gear Solid. This latest installment of the stealth and warfare title didn’t do much to better Sony’s dead last place in the larger console wars.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
In the glamour and glitz of the newer consoles it’s easy to forget that the PS2 still has some life left in it. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 proved that not only can great games still be released on the PS2, but that story and game play still outclass spectacular graphics. Many critics hail Persona 4 as one of the best RPGs of 2008 and with a December release date, P4 may just keep that title. High school simulation and traditional turn-based combat never felt so right together.
Soul Calibur IV (PS3, Xbox 360)
Soul Calibur has been around for the better part of a decade (not counting Soul Edge), and has been released on a variety of consoles. So it came as a surprise to no one when Soul Calibur IV was released on multiple consoles in late July. What was surprising (or perhaps baffling) about the game was the inclusion of a number of Star Wars characters, notably Darth Vader and Yoda. Well, that and Ivy’s scantly clad outfit.
Street Fighter IV (Arcade)
Let’s be frank, the inclusion of Street Fighter IV is an outlier in this list of titles. With the exception of a release in Japanese arcades in July, this game isn’t slated for a multiplatform release until 2009. Still, for quite a bit of cash an arcade version of the game can be imported from Japan. Like Devil May Cry 4, Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Soul Calibur IV, Street Fighter IV makes the leap to the new generation. The game promises to combine stunning 3D graphics with a classic 2D fighting style; February 2009 can’t come soon enough. In the meantime there’s always Super Street Fighter II: Turbo HD Remix.
Images courtesy of GameSpot.
About The Author
Angela
Executive Editor | Angela has had an addiction to video games and cartoons since she was young and impressionable. She enjoys writing long articles about these subjects and whatever else catches her eye. Mastodon