Major Nelson said it best: "Last year was big." Microsoft has done a great job of filling their Summer of Arcade line-up with awesome titles, no matter how under-the-radar they might start off. For as much as we make fun of them, Microsoft really seems to know what they're doing with the arcade. But the question we've been asking around the office is this: which was better? 2008 or 2009? 2008 had Braid, which no one saw coming... but 2009 had Trials HD, and while it didn't redefine storytelling it was freaking awesome. We've crunched the numbers and done some of that there math, and have an answer. Well, statistically.

2008 Review Scores from Metacritic

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 - 90%

Braid - 93%

Bionic Commando Rearmed - 85%

Galaga Legions - 75%

Castle Crashers - 85%

MEAN OF REVIEW SCORES: 85.6%

RANGE OF REVIEW SCORES: 75%-93%

2009 Review Scores from Metacritic

'Splosion Man - 85%

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - 82%

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled - 60%

Trials HD - 86% 

Shadow Complex - 89%

MEAN OF REVIEW SCORES: 80.4%

RANGE OF REVIEW SCORES: 60%-89%

So there you have it. By the numbers, 2008 trounces 2009, putting up a 5.2% higher score. The range, too, is better, with Braid beating out Shadow Complex for the best of the Summer, and Galaga Leigons not being nearly as bad as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled. Still, neither is really "bad" by any means, so hats off to all of the developers featured.

Have any commentary? Are the numbers wrong? Sound off, tell us what made 2008 better than 2009.