2007 was one of the best years ever for gamers. We saw some amazing games on every platform. There were sequels that took their game to that next level, and new franchises that redefined their genre. With that said, there were just too many great games for the team here at Loot Ninja to come with a decisive overall Game of the Year. Two of us picked the same game, Call of Duty 4, but everyone else couldn’t agree on the best title of the year. We’ve got votes for Uncharted, Metroid Prime 3, and Halo 3. So we’re just going to let you see all of our picks for the coveted 2007 Game of the Year.

drunk pandas – Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

It was pretty difficult for me to make my game of the year pick this year. With so many great games, just which do I choose. Ultimately, it comes down to a choice between BioShock and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Both games are somewhat genre redefining. BioShock added a lot to the FPS genre with it’s plasmids and gene tonics and truely invoking story. Similarly, Uncharted takes the action/adventure genre to another level. With it’s cinematic feel and romantic overtones, you really feel like you’re playing an Indiana Jones type movie. Ultimately, in a very close race, I have to side with Uncharted. The game just did so many things right. From the amazing character development and voice acting to the epic scale of the game and terrific melded gameplay mechanics, Uncharted is a must own game.

taz8080 – Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

OK to some this may seem like an interesting pick as there are a lot of different titles in the runnings, but I think the game that stands out in my mind the most that I played this year is Metroid Prime for the Wii. This game provided a totally different experience than anything out there in the gaming world. It provided great controls that interacted with the environment and puzzles, while adding to the experience. It also provided a great title that the Wii much needed. Metroid put up a new flavor on an established title, while pushing the graphics and capabilities of the Wii to the next level.

fierce Scuba – Call of Duty 4

There are three games in my head that need to be considered for GOTY. Since I do not own a PS3 or a Wii, I am a little biased and will be sticking to Xbox 360 games only. I am not that into the music games though they are fun as hell. That drops Rock Band and GH3. My three finalists are Halo 3, Bioshock, and COD4. No game ever captivated me like Bioshock did. A crowning achievement indeed. I do not see a game of Bioshock’s caliber coming our way anytime soon. My only gripe is that, after I beat it, I’m not going to play it for a few months. I need lasting appeal. Halo 3 did for the video game industry what no other game ever has. For a night, the entire world watched to see just how the fight was going to be finished. Halo 3 is a phenomenal game, but was not the fresh breath of air I needed. That breath was Call of Duty 4. This game captured the fury of war like none before it. The multiplayer is the best I have ever seen. I haven’t picked up Halo 3 since COD4 showed up. If that’s not superiority, I don’t know what is.

schwing007 – The Orange Box

My pick for game of the year may very well be an unpopular one. I vote for Valve’s The Orange Box.

It is very rare that a company releases a single disk containing several games, Granted Half-Life’s Episode I & II and Portal aren’t the longest games out there. But that’s half my point. How many developers out there would see these releases as an opportunity to make more money by marketing them as downloadable add-ons or in Team Fortress II’s case, a whole game altogether? Jesus, Half Life II could have been released on its own and that would have rocked.

The second half of my point is the quality of these games. None of these are slapdash builds that are meant to flesh out a sub-par main story (HLII may be a bit old, but not even remotely sub-par). Each of these were constructed as story building upper-end features for those who didn’t get a chance to play HLII on the PC (except for TFII – thats just fun).

So thats it. that my pick.

Durka

StevenSteel – Call of Duty 4

Call of Duty 4 wins my bet for game of the year. The gameplay, audio, and graphics are easily a step from any of the first person shooters I have played in the past. The ability to switch from British to American troops and different vehicles give many gameplay opportunities, especially the effect to the nuclear strike that took place. Having the ability to go back and play the game in arcade mode almost gives it a Bond Goldeneye like feel which made that game so fun to play. Definitely my vote for game of the year.

trev – Halo 3

When you’re in the multiplayer lobby and see 900 thousand other people listed as online playing two weeks after it launches that pretty much seals it for me. Halo 3 lived up to all the hype and expectations surrounding it. With a compelling single player story, improved graphics, and new additions to the game like shields and new vehicles, along with the improved multiplayer makes this my choice for game of the year.