Thanks for checking us out today! Today’s the day we reveal our Number 2 spots in our 2009 Game of the Year Countdown. Make sure to read our other GOTY picks, and check back tomorrow for the big reveal of our Number 1 Game of 2009!

Jeff: The Beatles: Rock Band

Rhythm games, while enjoyable and addictive, have always felt a little shy in the production quality department. Unimpressive graphics, cartoonishly absurd characters, and oftentimes a disappointing tracklist have each marred the genre somewhat for me.

Perhaps it is simply the selection of amazing songs in the Beatles’ catalogue. Perhaps it’s the detail of the character models, their clothing, instruments, and environments that have all been painstakingly recreated from their real-life counterparts. Whether you look at one or all of these combined, The Beatles Rock Band puts other rhythm games to shame. The widespread appeal of the Beatles’ music makes the game accessible to nearly every age and a joy to play, even for those unfamiliar with video games. It is for these simple reasons that The Beatles: Rock Band is my number two pick for Game of the Year.

Zack: Flower

Flower is, simply put, the most unique video game experience I have ever had. thatgamecompany did such a fantastic job of producing a work of visual, audial, and visceral art. Sporting some of the cleanest and freshest graphics I’ve ever seen (just check out that screencap above^) and having a relaxing yet engaging score, Flower should be held as the cornerstone for the argument that videogames can, in fact, be art.

The use of the PS3’s sixaxis controller makes Flower one of the easier games for anyone to just jump in and play. Flower is definitely one of the simplest games I’ve ever played, and yet I constantly found myself lost in the depth of the music and visuals. One of the greatest things about this game is that it really doesn’t require you to do anything. There are no timers, no points to count up, no health bars to stress about. I might even go so far as to say that Flower is the most beautiful video game ever. It could be played inside an art museum, and be completely justified. And that’s why I’m giving thatgamecompany’s Flower my Number 2 spot on my 2009 Game of the Year list.