Eurogamer Expo: Top 10

By Eurogamer staff Published 9 November, 2009

Your favourite games.

The Eurogamer Expo is long over, and once again we must say thanks to everyone who attended and especially to anyone who took the time to fill out the exit survey online, which helps us to figure out what we can improve on next time.

The other thing the exit survey does, of course, is allow us to work out which were the most popular games of the Expo. Last year the winner was Mirror's Edge - a sign of your cultured palate. Read on to find out which game won out for 2009.

10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The fact that Uncharted 2 came out over a week before the Eurogamer Expo opened in Leeds, and two weeks before we hit London, just goes to show the immense pulling power of Naughty Dog's action-adventure masterpiece. It's the only game on this list that had been released at the time of the show, and it's still the only PS3 exclusive to score 10/10 on Eurogamer - a very worthy 10 at that.

9. Mass Effect 2

'Eurogamer Expo: Top 10' Screenshot 1

The demo itself may only have lasted a few minutes, but evidently you saw enough in Shepard's office assault and the resulting conversation with a fish-faced assassin to pique your interest, because Mass Effect 2 - just three months out from release at the time of the Expo - was another popular fixture throughout the show. Mass Effect with all the original's problems solved? Yes please.

8. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

It's not out for a while, so apart from the upcoming PS3 beta this was the only chance for many of you to check the game out for several months. DICE has worked hard to get more destruction out of the already enormously destructible Frostbite engine, and it shows.

7. New Super Mario Bros. Wii

'Eurogamer Expo: Top 10' Screenshot 2

Out next Friday, Nintendo's classy-looking attempt to bring classic Super Mario Bros. platforming and packed-couch multiplayer together made for the highest-placed Wii game on the Expo list. The 10-level Eurogamer Expo demo was popular throughout the show, and came with its own nervous German code-watcher. Sehr gut. Look out for our review as soon as poss.

6. Aliens vs. Predator

We've known for a while that Rebellion's 21st century stab at bringing squishy humans together with devious preds and snappy aliens was looking like a return to form, but even we were surprised by the scale of the response at the Eurogamer Expo, with quite a few people naming it their game of the show.

5. Split/Second

The boys from Brighton won't have hurt their chances of catching your attention by putting on an entertaining developer session as well as a showfloor demo, but we suspect the beautiful, measured violence of Split/Second's route-shifting arcade racer would have caught your attention regardless. There's nothing quite like powersliding into a corner and dropping an oil tanker on the guy in your rearview...

4. Assassin's Creed II

The first game may have flattered to deceive, but the second one may well achieve more despite greater hardships: the cat's already out of the bag on the whole Animus thing after all, and yet in the treasure-hunting and villa-upgrading bonus activities, and less rigid game structure, Ubisoft is on course to wring greater depth and satisfaction out of Renaissance Italy's answer to Altair.

3. Left 4 Dead 2

'Eurogamer Expo: Top 10' Screenshot 3

Always likely to be there or thereabouts, Left 4 Dead 2 was on show at the Expo with its new bite-sized competitive Scavenge mode, where one team gathers petrol cans while the other tries to prevent them doing so as special infected. What's more, the lovely Chet Faliszek was on hand to answer people's questions, and put on a developer session to boot. It may not have been game of the show for you, but it may well be game of the year for some of us.

2. Heavy Rain

Not only did you get to play Heavy Rain at the Expo - in the Hassan's Shop and Junkyard levels - but developer David Cage put on a show as well, demonstrating the range of possibilities in the game and answering many of your questions. Then he did a bunch of interviews as well. What a guy. And what a game - there was nothing else like it within the walls of the Expo, and there isn't much like it anywhere else for that matter.

1. God of War III

'Eurogamer Expo: Top 10' Screenshot 4

Drumroll please? Or was it ever in doubt? From the moment the doors opened in Leeds to the evening they closed in London, God of War III was always swamped, as people took Kratos through a series of clashes each more violent and excessively detailed than the next. When the votes were counted it not only won overall, but did so by a distance. God of War III is your game of the Eurogamer Expo 2009, and perhaps just as significantly for its home platform, PlayStation 3 exclusives locked out the top two. Never mind Christmas, it's looking like a good Q1 in prospect for a resurgent Sony Computer Entertainment.

Thanks again to everyone who came to the Expo. We can't say it enough. If you have any more suggestions for the next one, let us know, and hopefully we'll see you next year!

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Comments (58) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #1 2 years ago

    Predictable - but sensible.

  • harzo #2 2 years ago

    I am really REALLY looking forward to Assassins Creed II, please don't be a let down! Though I did love the 1st game so any improvement to that and I will be more than happy.

  • Widge #3 2 years ago

    I like that the Expo is classified as an MMO

  • Doctor_What #4 2 years ago

    It's a good looking line up for the next year, and it's nice to see so many strong platform exclusives too.

  • robg #5 2 years ago

    Bloody pro-Sony bias. EG is shot through with it.

    Oh wait - when it's this way round no-one says this. They just acknowledge that there are some ace games coming soon for the PS3.

  • Phily50 #6 2 years ago

    2010- Year of the PS3?

  • cianchristopher #7 2 years ago

    Maybe 2011 will be the year of the PS3. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, eh?

  • j-bo #8 2 years ago

    Well they were clearly the most exciting 2 games there.

  • solidSnake04 #9 2 years ago

    2010- Year of the PS3?

    nobody believed in me when i said that, quite a few threads ago.
    Edited by 1 at 09/11/09 @ 15:33

  • charliemouse #10 2 years ago

    Square, square, triangle, L1 & square, circle.

    Loved it!

    Split/Second was my game of the show as it was unexpectedly exciting and shiny but this was a close second, even though my demo machine was a bit wonky and the graphics looked crap, torn and washed out compared to the other screens. Still had a blast which is testament to the game, even if it's largely the same as the PS2 games but well tarted-up.

    Edit: The thumb-up pic for this article looked like a man squeezing his moob for a moment and I needed to share.
    Edited by 2 at 09/11/09 @ 15:36

  • noobjob #11 2 years ago

    bit off topic but i thought i'd say it anyway: me and my freinds who went added the cologne accounts that were set up to play MAG lol. as a reminder :p

  • beastmaster #12 2 years ago

    Bayonetta for me on 360. Tiny screens at Leeds Expo but I loved that game. Dante's Inferno was another good one. I don't usually go for hack & slashers but was well impressed with them. But yep, God Of War 3 looks great too.

  • TruSmiles #13 2 years ago

    Not sure why some people are saying there is EG bias from this, when it was based on the games people voted for in the survey.

    Conspiracy theories huh?

  • M_of_the_sys #14 2 years ago

    @MrMarc

    MAG was set up all wrong at eurogamer. There was no headset and you can't just jump in guns blazing as you were forced to do. I wouldn't base my opinion of MAG on what was played at Eurogamer.

    I thought AVP looked a bit crap to be honest and I was looking forward to it. :(

  • miiiguel #15 2 years ago

    2010- Year of the PS3?

    nobody believed in me when i said that, quite a few threads ago.

    A few threads ago, or a few years ago?

  • Mayhem64 #16 2 years ago

    No Bayonetta? I'm a tad disappointed there. Most of the other entries were expected though, if maybe not quite in the order listed...

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #17 2 years ago

    Bayonetta was 11th or 12th I think

  • Ignatius_Cheese #18 2 years ago

    Hmmmmm not sure about that selection.

    Despite looking stunning, Heavy Rain was a buggy crashfest. So long as the release version stands on its feet and isn't tearing up the place like the demo, it'll be all good.

    Mass Effect 2 should be boycotted on the basis that EA were being twunts about photos being taken of their "in progress" titles.

    Edit - To clarify, I have no issue with ME2 itself, rather the EA staff who were manning their published titles, none of which appeared to have any knowledge of games whatsoever. As for the guy attending L4D2, don't get me started... ;oP
    Edited by 1 at 09/11/09 @ 17:06

  • JahB #19 2 years ago

    KRATOS IS PLEASED.

  • Xerx3s #20 2 years ago

    "Well they were clearly the most exciting 2 games there. "

    ME2.

  • kangarootoo #21 2 years ago

    "Mass Effect 2 should be boycotted........"

    ZZZzzzzzzzz

  • Sonic_D #22 2 years ago

    GoW, hmmm, is it only me who was disapointed with the PS2 games? I just got bored of the combat all to quickly and the QTE's even quicker.

    I hope AC2 is good, but the stories about Ubisoft only giving review copies in exchange for good scores are worrying.

  • kangarootoo #23 2 years ago

    "I hope AC2 is good, but the stories about Ubisoft only giving review copies in exchange for good scores are worrying"

    Source link?

  • mungolikebeans #24 2 years ago

    I thought MAG was pretty clucking good.

    AvP - Hell, yeah.

    WET - amazing! (Not)

  • SeesThroughAll #25 2 years ago

    the stories about Ubisoft only giving review copies in exchange for good scores are worrying.

    Nah, not worth worrying too much. Besides, it's not like Ubisoft are the only ones who would ever do such a thing, if it was true. Certain perks for certain reviews are rumored to be a rather frequent practice in this industry for quite a long time.

    Of course, that's just gossip, and we all know how gossips start.

    As far as AssCreed 2 is concerned, there will probably soon be a demo on XBL/PSN anyway...

  • PlugMonkey #26 2 years ago

    Of course, that's just gossip, and we all know how gossips start.

    With a kernal of truth?

  • Tomo #27 2 years ago

    Bah. GoW III :/

    Heavy Rain is definitely where it's at.

    Plain Sight should be on that list somewhere... *amazing* game.

  • Darren #28 2 years ago

    Not a bad Top Ten all-in-all but I wouldn't include Battlefield Bad Company 2, Left 4 Dead 2 or Assassin's Creed 2 personally. It's not that I've played them or anything, just that I can't think of three games that excite me less at the moment. The others I'm sure will, especially God of War III. :)

  • Darren #29 2 years ago

    Uncharted 2 already has in fact!

  • JediMasterMalik #30 2 years ago

    Great line up, didn't get a chance to go on HR but it looked good, GoW was great. Would have played ME2 if it was the PC version, but had no inclination to wait in line to play it a 360. Did look great though, loved the first one.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #31 2 years ago

    "As far as AssCreed 2 is concerned, there will probably soon be a demo on XBL/PSN anyway... "

    Not according to the rep from Ubi... :o( No plans for a demo.

    Still, its a definite purchase for me. Improvements over the first + Italian Renaissance = InstaW1N!

  • kangarootoo #32 2 years ago

    "Uncharted 2 is of course superb, but don't be under any illusion that your website has added to its honour."

    Well thats it, a thumbs down from you and EG might as well just shut up shop and be done.


    "is perhaps even less prestigious than being hit on by John Prescott."

    You've really never got over that, have you.

  • miiiguel #33 2 years ago

    kanga, don't mess with the big gamer with pretty strong but informed views on gaming, which often leads to looking down on most gaming reviewers since they talk complete nonsense

  • AliRay #34 2 years ago

    Crofto: I happen to think EG is the best gaming site around, and the reviews are almost always spot-on.

    If you don't like it, why don't you jog on? We won't miss you ;)

  • serpantdarius #35 2 years ago

    interesting, no 'true' 360 exclusive in that list at all (its not true unless its only on 360, if its on pc its not true imo) I think microsoft need to show a few new games or something, wouldn't mind a few more jrpgs like magna carta 2.

  • miiiguel #36 2 years ago

    its not true unless its only on 360, if its on pc its not true imo

    And what that "true" thing means exactly. It's like a skill for thread fighting?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #37 2 years ago

    My game of the show was Alien Breed Evolution, despite just being in the Dev Sesh/Careers Fair bit in Leeds. But then again I'm a creaky old Amiga junkie, so that kinda makes sense :-)

  • PlugMonkey #38 2 years ago

    Miiguel: Not to mention he know(s) what makes a good game, and what makes a bad game... I've been wasting my free time playing the bloody things long enough to tell the difference (unlike most gamers out there).

    Leading me to wonder what exactly it is that most gamers out there are doing, if not wasting their free time playing the bloody things?

    (Still, least he's backing up his opinions with his actual identity, rather than hiding behind the internets like cowards like me.:D Even if he is a big emo poseur.)

  • Sonic_D #39 2 years ago

    @kanga, not saying it's true, but here's the link:

    [link url=http://videoga mesrepublic.com/?p=12553
    ]http://videoga mesrepublic.com/?p=12553
    [/link]

    I enjoyed AC1, despite the repetitiveness and flaws, so hope they have sorted it for AC2.

  • Tomo #40 2 years ago

    Crofto sighted!

    "Yeah, a big gamer with pretty strong but informed views on gaming, which often leads to me looking down on most gaming reviewers since they talk complete nonsense. I know what makes a good game, and what makes a bad game... I've been wasting my free time playing the bloody things long enough to tell the difference (unlike most gamers out there).

    You'll not often find me lavishing unfounded praise upon the likes of Grand Theft Auto or Gears of War, but rather on actual high quality games such as Okami and Super Mario Galaxy, which really are examples of excellent and polished gaming design."

  • Chufty #41 2 years ago

    AvP? Was that any good? I assumed it would be cack and didn't bother.

    Other than that, pretty much as expected.

  • serpantdarius #42 2 years ago

    @miiiguel what? no, i mean it as i said it, i dont view a game as a exclusive unless its on only one platform/pc.

  • Jay-ITFC #43 2 years ago

    Can't think the survey results were overly accurate if GoW3 is first! In terms of sheer numbers the most popular games on the friday in London were clearly Assassin's Creed 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.

  • Ryze #44 2 years ago

    The best thing was having those PS3 exclusives on massive Sony screens.

    M$ should have ponied up for some decent sized LCDs to increase the Wow-factor of Mass Effect, Bayonetta etc...

  • zztopp #45 2 years ago

    If Eurogamer thinks GOW3 was game of the expo, then lord help us all....button-mashing extreme....

  • OrgasmicMutton #46 2 years ago

    No Joe Danger?!

    If Heavy Rain turns out to be good it's going to be another of those games that makes me wish I had a PS3.

  • asphaltcowboy #47 2 years ago

    Well, Split/Second was easily my game of show, it was brilliant! But I was in Florence at the weekend and it's made me super-excited to play Assassin's Creed 2 :D

  • fjharps #48 2 years ago

    Can't wait for GoW3 the first 2 were great games and I'm expecting the remastered ones this week on import it'll be a Merry Kratos Xmas for me

  • flakmagnet_ #49 2 years ago

    GoW 3 was my anti-game of the show, wasn't impressed. Agree wholeheartedly with the other 9 though, just swap out GoW3 with 3D Batman in first place and I'm on board. Come on! 3D Batman!!!

  • mclovin69 #50 2 years ago

    "just goes to show the immense pulling power of Naughty Dog's action-adventure masterpiece"

    As great as uncharted 2 is,its a bit silly to say it has enormous pulling power when it has pretty much flopped going by the game sales charts the past couple of weeks. such a shame to :-(

  • onyxbox #51 2 years ago

    Sony owned the EG expopo

  • Pantburster #52 2 years ago

    I was at the Leeds Expo and it's no suprise PS3 games came out on top. The XBOX offerings were presented on small monitors mostly whereas the PS3 was everywhere in nicely presented massiv'ision! I'm not knocking the show(it was cool) but it would of been great to see something like Alan wake right next to Heavy rain on equal terms or maybe the new GTA's on show. I do agree God of war III deserved special mentions.

  • kdoggdayton #53 2 years ago

    @mclovin69

    How can you consider Uncharted 2 a flop when almost a month after its release it's the 5th biggest selling game in the world? Expect Uncharted to have long enough legs to sell a couple of copies over the Christmas period too...

  • kangarootoo #54 2 years ago

    Didn't realise Crofto had so much detail in his profile. That blurb is laughable. A "veteran gamer" who barely looks a day over 25, acting as if most well known reviewers in the business never play games just 'cos they disagree with him sometimes. Talk about an ego.

  • rotmm #55 2 years ago

    "Talk about a cock."

    Precisely.

  • darc #56 2 years ago

    2010 is going to be incredible, and I'll still be trying to finish the great releases of late 2009 (Risen, Dragon Age)!

  • robg #57 2 years ago

    Tee hee I must've found the 35 (so far) EG readers who fanatically diss the site for its pro MS bias every time a 360 game is well reviewed.

  • Mooglepies #58 2 years ago

    Mass Effect 2 was good but I didn't think the demo was too flattering. Hard to make a good demo for an RPG though, so kudos for at least showing me how they've improved the combat.

    My game of the show was Split/Second; so thoroughly enjoyable that I played it 5 times over the two days and wasn't bored. I had concerns about the handling model, but I was assured by the lovely tEAm man that it was a build from July and it's much better now. Very pretty game.

    Also enjoyable was God of War 3 (more of the same, which is fine with me) and Heavy Rain. I didn't know exactly what I was expecting with Heavy Rain, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what I got. Very few games can do that for me these days, and that's nice.

    I wish Joe Danger from the Indie Arcade was here; that was awesome. Props to Shaun from Hello! Games for his awesome instruction and for answering my questions.