Now let’s move on to the video game awards (and I’m not talking about that atrocity on Spike TV).

*Best Video Game Hero*

Winner: Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Super Smash Bros. Brawl)

2008 saw the final mission of a video game icon, and he chose to go out with a bang. Solid Snake will go down as one of the deepest characters in video game history, and the fact that he won’t be fighting any more Metal Gears or getting involved in any more convoluted plots almost seems surreal. Still not satisfied, Solid Snake kicked major butt as one of the first third party characters in Super Smash Bros!

Runner-up: Strong Bad (Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People)

Although not originally a video game character, the fact that Strong Bad starred in five (count em’ five) quality point-and-click adventure games made him a real show stealer…and the fact that he’s Strong Bad automatically gives him some extra points. What’s not to love about Strong Bad?

Runner-up: Megaman (Megaman 9)

Although he didn’t make the cut into the Smash Bros. roster like so many (including myself) were hoping (better luck next time little guy), Megaman still shined in the first entry of his primary series in over eleven years. In the process he (like Mario in 2007) reminded us all why we love video games to begin with, pure fun.

Runner-up: Wario (Warioland: Shake it, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii)

Wario is one of my all time favorite video game characters, with a greedy disposition and various offensive odors, Wario is Nintendo’s ultimate anti-hero. This year he starred in Warioland: Shake It!, a very fun platformer for the Wii. He also made a return to the Mario Kart series and made his long overdue debut in the Smash Bros. series, being one of my personal two fighters of choice (in case you’re wondering, Olimar is the other). Even with his busy schedule, you can’t wipe that smile off of his face.