Normally I write about my top 5 gaming moments, but this year I could only think of four, since I spent most of the year finishing games from 2008. Hopefully that won’t happen this year. But without further ado, here we go!

1. Revisiting Italy – Assassin’s Creed 2

I wasn’t a huge fan of the gameplay in AC2, but I will most likely NEVER experience a game like this one ever again. As I’ve said before, I went to Italy for my __th birthday a couple of years ago and Florence and Venice were two of the stops we made. Early on in the game, I was running Ezio all over the rooftops, and when I came to the Santa Croce Piazza, I froze and my mouth dropped open. I had a complete flashback of visiting that piazza two years before. I remembered the statues that are there now, the cafe where we ate lunch, and the little chocolate shop where we all feasted on some pieces of heaven. Not only that, I could see where all those things were in the game. Of course they weren’t actually there, considering that the game’s setting is Renaissance Italy, but I could see exactly where they all will be, or actually are to this day. It sent chills down my spine, and I had similar feelings about Venice while running around through all the bridges, and I know I’ll never experience anything like that in a game again.

2. Is this a game or a live action movie? – Uncharted 2

I’ve only played a couple of hours of Uncharted 2, but it only took five seconds for my jaw to drop at the wonder and beauty of the game. I nearly died a few times in this opening sequence because I had no idea that the cut scene was over and it was my turn to play. I have never seen such seamless cut scenes or such brilliant graphics that made me not only feel like I was playing an action movie, but I often forgot that I wasn’t simply watching one.

3. HOLY BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES! (the voices, anyway) – Batman Arkham Asylum

Batman Arkham Asylum for several reasons, the main one being that I just couldn’t see myself fitting it into my already tight schedule. However, the demo itself blew me away in terms of the voice-acting. When I heard Kevin Conroy’s voice emanate from Batman’s lips, and then heard Mark Hamill’s patented Joker laugh…I nearly had a nerdgasm on the couch. You can imagine what happened next when I heard Harley Quinn’s voice. It made me even more pleased to hear that this is the best Batman game ever made, so it’s wonderful that the best voices for Batman and Joker were a part of it.

4. The inFamous Ending – inFamous

I fully admit that I was blown away by Kessler’s true identity at the end of inFamous. I never once saw that coming, not even when Kessler sobbed that he loved Trish. I actually thought he was Trish’s or Cole’s father, and not, well, for spoiler’s sake I won’t say who. I don’t care if I’m the only one who was clueless up until the end. It was such a thrilling ending to a thrilling game.

Now I just have to get through playing it evil before the sequel comes out…