The 2008 Boysie Awards
Actors get Oscars, singers get Grammys and video games get awards from Boys’ Life: THE BOYSIES. The Boysies are dedicated to the age-old proverb that video games don’t have to be gross to be cool.
GAME OF THE YEAR
LittleBigPlanet
Sony for PS3
Sure, Sackboy is cute. But there’s a lot more to LittleBigPlanet. You make and customize your own running and jumping game. Then you share it with the world. The single-player game isn’t too shabby, either. And the story’s introduction is so well written and acted, you’ll think you’re in a movie. It’s a truly impressive comeback for Sony.
Runner Up: LEGO Batman
Warner Bros. for all platforms, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
This isn’t just the best-looking LEGO video game. You really feel the spirit of superhero cooperation when you play it. In addition to Batman and Robin, you can play as all the villains. The vehicles are way fun to drive, too.
BEST XBOX 360 GAME
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Microsoft, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
Take a great tale in which you vie for Spiral Mountain. Add amazing graphics. Throw in humor and gameplay that includes building cool vehicles. Add online multiplayer capabilities and extra goodies if you choose to finish the original Banjo Kazooie on Xbox Live Arcade. It’s the recipe for one terrific game that’ll keep you playing for hours and hours.
BEST WII GAME
Mario Kart Wii
Nintendo
Sure, the Mario Kart series has been around for years, but this one includes a driving wheel and serious online capabilities. You can strut your stuff against people all around the world, over and over again. So much fun.
BEST COMPUTER GAME
Spore
EA for Mac and PC, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
You get to make your own creature with all kinds of kooky parts. Watch it grow and, eventually, take over a planet. Then upload your creation so everyone can play it, and play in everyone else’s world, too. It’s endless fun.
BEST DS GAME
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Nintendo
It’s a can’t-put-it-down mystery that’s full of a wild number of puzzles for you to solve. Put together crazy machines, chase a cat, talk to the townspeople, go through mazes and do a few math puzzles, too. You get a lot of bang for the buck.
BEST PSP GAME
Wipeout Pulse
Sony, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
As part of the Anti-Gravity Racing League, you can speed really fast in the wackiest environments. The varied soundtrack adds to the drama. Customize your cars and play via Wi-Fi, too. Finally, it’s got a nicer price than most PSP games. Want more? Download extra tracks at the PlayStation Store.
BEST FAMILY GAME
Boom Blox
EA for Wii
At first, it doesn’t seem like much more than an amusement park ball-throwing game. But even though it’s easy to pick up, it’s tough to master. You can’t play just one game, and neither can anyone in your family. It proves that movie director Steven Spielberg knows how to design a game, too.
BEST MOVIE-BASED GAME
Kung Fu Panda
Activision for all platforms, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
You won’t just relive the movie. You’ll be immersed in an experience full of humorous kung fu, including combo moves that are exciting to see when you pull them off. You get to play as Po or other members of the Furious Five. Those jumping puzzles high in the clouds are a blast, too.
BEST SPORTS GAME
Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip
Ubisoft for Wii, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
NHL 09 came very close. But for sheer creativity that makes use of the Wii Balance Board, Road Trip wins hands down. If you don’t have a Balance Board, it’s almost as cool with a Wii controller. Who wouldn’t want to go on a snowboarding road trip with Olympic champ Shaun White as your teammate?
BEST PET SIMULATION
National Geographic Panda
Namco Bandai for DS
Not only do you get to raise your own panda (and pet it virtually), you also learn lots of fun facts about the animal as you play. They throw in a cool National Geographic DVD about pandas, too.
BEST PARTY GAME
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
Ubisoft for Wii, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older
If the crazy Rabbids don’t make you laugh, nothing will. This is one of the most enjoyable collections of mini games you’ll ever find. And if you have a Balance Board, you can control one of the games with your rear end.
BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME
PixelJunk Monsters
Sony for PS3, PlayStation Network
This tower defense game looks like a lovable cartoon, but it can get really hard to play. Yet somehow, you just keep coming back to defend your townspeople. They finally added a patch so you can play on easy mode, too. There’s also a recent Encore edition with levels inspired by Pac-Man and Space Invaders.
wonder if anyone noticed, but i think that picture for mariokart wii is from a beta version.
Mario Kart Wii is Beyond awesome!!!!
I hope I will win this year in 2009
Batman all the way!
I agree with with “Brawl Fan”.
I want the n-strike game.
super smash bros brawl should be there!!!
were is mario super sluggers!!!!!!!!!!
I hope the 2009 list will be better
YAAAAAA!!! YOU GO MARIO KART!!!
I geuss their opinions are different from mine. Here are some of MY Boysies.
Best Wii game: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Runner-up: Mario Kart Wii
Runner-up: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Best DS game: Super Mario 64 DS
I think that they were right about MarioKart Wii, but Super Smash Bros. Brawl should’ve been the runner-up. And what about WarioWare Smooth Moves. It’s not that old of a game and is ridiculously awesome. But, I’ve never heard of Prof. Whatshisface and the Whatever Village. The description sure made a big deal of the math problems.
I think that there brainsuckers.But still fun for kids!
i think world of warcraft should have won the best computer game
NERF ROCKS!!!!!! ( :-)) )
Mariokart wii best game I’ve ever played. It sure beats the sonic game on the other page
Spore and Mario Kart Wii are awesome! So is Nerf-N strike.
They should have considered blazing angels to be the best flight simulator
I think that Super Mario 64 DS is the best game for the DS EVER!! 😉
I love the Panda game!
I think super smash bros. should be best wii game, but other than that they did it right.
Mario kart is the best!
what about lego indiand jones that game rocked
I LOVE MY WII CONSOL
what about ps3
I think Moon should have won best DS game.
Brothers in arms is the best!
I have a nintindo ds
I personaly think that all those games are good and fun to play
I have a Wii, Xbox 360, gameboyadvance SP, and my twin sisters have Nintendo DS Lites!
Guitar Hero World Tour Should be best game of the year.
rockband2 is awsome! ive got rockband1 but in rockband2 you can actuly make a person! they should make rock band2 for ps2
I have nintendo and wii,but my dad took both of them.but I did’nt really care about it .
lego batman should have been ‘the game of the year’ lol
supergamerDSWiiGBA , you are so right. There are so many better games than that like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon or Drawn to Life! Prof. Layton is horrible in my opinion.
microsoft shouldent make a xbox720 because the xbox360 wont be popular any more but i think they should make an xbox portibal or combine psp with xbox.
psp is cool on that
Nerf N-Strike ( Wii ) is over rated
there so fun and cool
LBP is good but GOTY!…… it should have been SSBB or GHWT or RB2!
best wii game- brawl
360- CoD WaW
PSP- FF Crisis Core
Professor Layton and the Curious Village? Come on! It’s BORRING!
The wii is amazing i think we shoud maybe give it away for free. also maybe we could give the nerf blaster game to peple and put it into the boy’s life magizens for the poor who maybe want it for themselves but they don’t have enough money for it.
its coool games
I have a PS3 and an Xbox 360. I haven’t even looked at my Xbox for the past 6 months
I really want a xbox360 becus they look so fun.
This isn’t just the best-looking LEGO video game. You really feel the spirit of superhero cooperation when you play it. In addition to Batman and Robin, you can play as all the villains. The vehicles are way fun to drive, too.
I LOVE VIDIO GAMES!!!!
I agree with you eagleorbust!
SSBB gets a lot more recognition than it deserves. It is simply a button mashing game where an experienced player can be beaten by a newbie because of a few luck breaks. It is a fun game, but not the best of the year. Also, Shaun White doesn’t even come close to NHL 09.
i thought on the DS it was pokemon diamond and pearl or the new game,or club penguin elite penguin force. problely its the old game lol