2009 was a full year, and we’ve had quite a few nice games. What gaming ‘blagh’ would this be without a top ten list of gaming’s brightest stars of 2009? So by popular demand, i present to you, “The List”. Keep in mind Cosmo’s Reviews is a PC-centric gaming site, and as such, this list will be just of games launched this year on PC.

#10 – F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origins

FEAR 2 was a game that we can call a true successor. It relied on the same tried and proven awesome scares that got our juiced pumping in the first FEAR and ofcourse the same level of slow-motion-bullet-spraying-headshot-making-kick-to-the-face action that we grew to love. Sadly the scares were a bit few and far between, and the cliffhanger was a major turnoff… literally. Still, compared to the rest of the games launched this year, it deserves tenth place.

#9 – Killling Floor

Killing Floor initially started as a mod for Unreal Tournament 2004, but quickly made its way full-sized and commercially available on Steam. Saying this is a mod is like saying Counter Strike is “just” a mod. Killing Floor is a game on its own, featuring great survival action and co-op gameplay that really focuses on being co-op and dynamic. Having to run half the map away to the next trader/safehouse while monsters are nabbing at your feet can be quite nerve-wracking. While a great achievement from a small team, it could use some polish and maybe some updated graphics to put the punch back in the game. Killing Floor receives a well-deserved ninth place.

#8 – Cryostasis

This is a title you might not have heard of. It’s a russian FPS featuring a very novelesque storyline that really rewards the player for thinking through it, and not just spraying bullets randomly. Most russian games have a unique strenght and crippling flaw.. they have great ideas but poor application of them. Oddly, Cryostasis pushes away the crippling flaw and delivers a very polished gameplay experience, with great visuals and an intriguing storyline to boot. Sadly, the story is so deep and complex, that it may be possible for you to finish the game and then wonder what the hell just happened since while it does a great job of telling the story, sometimes it just feels like it’s outside the player’s grasp. Eighth place goes to Cryostasis.

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