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The Top 15 Sports Games of 2009

• By Scott Pytlik , GamePro Sports
• June 30, 2009 11:04 AM PST
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#10: The Bigs 2

Anyone who read my review of MLB 2K9 knows that I was left longing for something more. Fortunately 2K Sports is looking to redeem themselves with their second baseball title, The Bigs 2. The arcadefocused, over-the-top gameplay is nothing like MLB 2K9 but that's a good thing-trust me. Crushing massive home runs that break the scoreboard in centerfield or jumping 10 feet in the air to snag a line-drive might be highly unrealistic, but The Bigs 2 makes such shenanigans seem fluid and fun.

This year, you can step outside the ballpark with all new mini-games that you can play as exhibitions or as part of the new Become a Legend mode. Each mini-game is tailored to a specific skill (power, contact, glove, and speed) and will have you running and jumping over the rooftops of Wrigley Field, across balance beams and down zip lines in addition to smashing home runs off buildings in Times Square. All of this happens with top-notch character models and visual effects. Baseball doesn't have to be boring anymore.

#9: NCAA Football 10

Last year's NCAA Football 09 was well received, but the consensus was that it was far from perfect. This year's version, NCAA Football 10, looks to improve upon its predecessor by adding some interesting new modes and revamping the Dynasty mode.

Team Builder is a new addition allows you to create your own school from scratch online via a Web browser and than download that team to your Xbox 360 or PS3. You can then take your institution of learning through the exhibition, Dynasty or online modes. In addition, players can now dive into the new Season Showdown mode which allows gamers to earn credits for their favorite school in order to help them win the "national title."

The most important part of this new mode is that your team's virtual schedule coincides with their real life schedule-it's a nice touch of realism for sure. Fans of the Dynasty mode have something to look forward to as well. Recruiting and developing new players is just as important as the on field action. You can also be rewarded (or penalized) sportsmanship points based on your decisions on the field, which influences how new recruits' perceive your school. If these improvements live up to their potential, NCAA Football 10 just might dominate the college ranks.

#8: NHL 10

Not every sports series can claim that its games have noticeably improved every single year, but EA Sports' hockey franchise has gotten better and better. The NHL series has been awarded our Editor's Choice award for three straight years (the lowest score the series has received recently is a 4 out of 5 but that was back in 2006 before the franchise made the full leap into the "next-gen"). So to say that NHL 10 has a lot to live up to would be an understatement. Much like a player coming off a career year, NHL 10 has to meet some high expectations.

Thankfully, it looks poised to build off the momentum of the highly rated NHL 09 thanks to improvements like an advanced physics engine that allows for one-on-one battles along the boards where a player's size and weight, among other attributes, will factor in to who ends up with possession. Players can even kick the puck with their skate to get it out of the corner and back onto the open ice where hopefully a teammate can capitalize with a shot on goal. A first-person viewpoint for fighting and the ability to continue the action after the whistle has blown also lends a sense of depth and realism to the overall experience.

#7: Grand Slam Tennis

Wii Sports tennis continues to have a cult following, but whacking tennis balls around with bobble headed characters who can't move will only take you so far. Enter EA Sports' Grand Slam Tennis. It's everything you love about Wii Sports tennis but offers much more. Grand Slam Tennis realistically captures the signature moves and traits of some the world's most famous tennis players.

From John McEnroe's unique serve to Sharapova's unmistakable "dove dying in the wind" groans, Grand Slam Tennis doesn't disappoint from a gameplay or visual standpoint. And with the new Wii Motion Plus accessory bundled with the title, the controls promise to be even more responsive and accurate. If you love Wii Sports tennis, Grand Slam Tennis is a Wii title worth keeping your eye on. Just warm up before you play it or you might find yourself in the doctor's office complaining about virtual tennis elbow.

#6: Wii Sports Resort

With over 50 million Nintendo Wii consoles sold worldwide since the system's launch, it's safe to say that Wii Sports is one of the most played games on the planet. And even though it's almost three years old, it's still one of the most entertaining Wii games available. But now, gamers have the follow-up, Wii Sports Resort, to look forward to.

Integrating the new Wii Motion Plus, Resort looks to add even finer control to the already established Wii Sports formula. Throw in all new games like golf, table tennis, jet skiing, Frisbee and fencing and you have another potential mega hit on your hands. Only time will tell if Resort lives up to the high bar set by its older sibling but we're going to guess that the majority of Wii owners have already made space in their game libraries for this one.

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