Maxim equals TIME with ‘Top 10’ inaccuracy

This week has seen BioShock awarded ‘Game of the Year’ at the Spike TV VGAs, while renowned print publication TIME Magazine placed Halo 3 atop the pile in its top-ten list. Now (pinches of salt at the ready), men’s magazine Maxim has unveiled its take on the year’s most worthy titles – and, surprise, surprise, its choice for game of the year is neither BioShock nor Halo 3. Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare emerges as game of the year in Maxim's top-ten listing. Credit: Activision.

Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare emerges as game of the year in Maxim's top-ten listing. Credit: Activision.Before getting into Maxim’s top-ten selection, it is worth bearing in mind that its expertise and coverage in the world of gaming is marginal when compared to the print space it reserves for scantily clad female celebrities. Indeed, while you probably wouldn’t rely on FHM for movie reviews over the likes of Empire or Premiere, you shouldn’t place too much stock in Maxim when it comes to gaming – especially if it’s sitting next to Edge Magazine on the shelf. So, here’s the list: 1.Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
3. The Orange Box
4. BioShock
5. God of War II
6. Super Mario Galaxy
7. The Darkness
8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
9. John Woo's Stranglehold
10. Lost Planet: Extreme ConditionMany gamers will be happy enough to see Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare topping this particular ‘games of the year’ list, but there are certainly a few titles on show here that are likely to upset a great deal of fanatics, while the placement of others is more than a little questionable.Specifically, Guitar Hero III placing second for the year appears somewhat unusual, not least because Rock Band doesn’t even make the top ten, and the same could be said for Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which, although excellent, rounds out the top three while Halo 3 is nowhere to be seen – apart from the separate ‘User’s Pick’ recommendation.The inclusion of The Darkness, John Woo’s Stranglehold, and Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is also going to provoke some fervent comment on gaming forums across the Internet, not least because The Darkness finds itself placed higher than Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and because there are some much more deserving titles completely missing from the list altogether.Where’s The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass? Where’s Mass Effect? Where’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune? Where’s Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction? Where’s Assassin’s Creed? That’s five right there!Ahh well, one man’s swing is another man’s roundabout. God bless objectivity.