OS Power Rankings By Steve B. - SBartlett's Blog

SBartlett's Blog

OS Power Rankings By Steve B.

Posted on December 9, 2008 at 12:16 PM.

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Operation Sports Power Rankings � Steve Bartlett

With the release of the new editions of this season�s NBA, NHL, and FIFA titles, I am taking some time to analyze the positioning of these titles within the sports gaming genre on the Xbox 360 and Ps3.

Averaging reviews of Ign.com and our reviews at OperationSports.com, I have put together a score to help balance the rankings.

With the new releases of fresh titles, the rankings will be adjusted accordingly. So how well do these titles hold up against some classic games with the ability to reinvent themselves as you play? Let�s take a look.

1.MLB The Show: 08 � Avg. Score 8.85. The ace of the baseball genre, The Show is coming off a championship season in the�08 among baseball titles. The pieces are in place for this title to repeat: Unparalleled graphics on the PS3, Baseball physics and simulation at its finest, and the standard setter for all owner/franchise modes in the sports genre. Dare we dynasty just yet?

2.NBA 2k9 � Avg. Score 8.85. 2K basketball has established itself as the premier basketball title amongst contenders from EA Sports, and Sony studios. From its Dreamcast roots, to the �08-�09 edition, it has been a solid title and 2k9 could be the best effort yet. The association mode has tremendous depth. Will they stay on top with NBA Live mounting a rebuilding attempt? All I know is that the Messiah�s video, NBA2k9- Where Amazing Happens , says it all.

3.NHL 09 � Avg. Score 8.95. NHL hockey may not be back all the way just yet in the real world, but NHL 09�s break through EASHL online leagues make this title the comeback player of the year in the OS Arena.

4.Madden 09 � Avg. Score 8.8. This one is tough, the score is telling me to rate the game this high (4), yet without an owner mode, defensive player assignments and matchups, and lack of polished game play in its 4th installment on the 360 and Ps3, we have to keep an eye on Madden. The football crown is up for contention.

5.Fifa 09 � Avg. Score 8.8. Fifa 09 Best soccer game out. Be A Pro online has helped to lift the series to great reviews.

6.Fight Night Round 3 � Avg. Score 8.25. Fight Night may be old, but it�s still the best boxing game on the market. Pick this one up at a discount and play against your friends if you�re tired of your typical sports games and you will have a good time smashin� skulls. Beautiful graphics, great fighting system, unique and engaging camera angles, and the fun factor is tops. Look for Fight Night Round 4 to attempt to break the top 5.

7.NCAA Football 09 � Avg. Score 8.45. The game play may not be as sound as Madden�s, but it does just about everything else better than its big brother. The online dynasty is a big feature, but could use some more options.

8.NBA Street Home Court -Avg. Score 8.4. This is like an NBA JAM street ballin�, Jordan Brand Edition and it works. Fun game to mess around with if you aren�t feeling the simulation games. Has good depth and unlockables and overall is entertaining with the music and presentation.

9.Project Gotham 4 � Avg. Score 9.04. Extremely engaging and challenging racing game that can have you playing for hours. The graphics are very solid for a game that moves so fast. PGR 4 has so many modes that the replay value here makes it a top tier racer while bridging the gap of simulation and arcade styles.

10.All Pro Football 2k8 � Avg. Score 7.3. Ignore the low reviews, if a game is still being played for more than 18 months, it has to have something bringing us back. What�s bringing us back is the ability to reinvent your teams from the ground up with new playbooks, creating offensive and defensive styles, create your players and teams with unique skill types that force you to balance your players out, and of course, the online league community.

Honorable Mention: Skate, NFL Head Coach 09, Grid (racing), Blitz the League.