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Game Of The Year
Hey Kid, Nice Robot! Edition
Well, the year is almost over, and it's been a pretty good one for games. Here are my favorites from the last 365 days.
BioShock (Xbox 360 / PC)
My anticipation for BioShock was palpable, ever since the release of a teaser trailer with the first horrific glimpses of a Big Daddy. Once I heard they were going to be called Big Daddies, my excitement waned a little bit. All was saved once I started playing, with the moody atmosphere, Rapture’s frightening inhabitants, and the incredible amount of customization involved. Some found BioShock’s use of environmental story-telling a little bit isolating, claiming too much of the story could be missed if you didn’t check every corner. This is the game’s greatest achievement, placing confidence in the gamer that they will get back as much as the put in. 
Assassin’s Creed (Multiplatform)
Assassin’s Creed has been called less game, and more of an experiment for Ubisoft’s their new Scimitar Engine. Even if the game is more a beta test, it’s still great fun. The cities that Altair stalks through are big, well populated and fantastic to traverse. The game can get a little repetitive, but spaced out, exploration can be the most rewarding part of the game. Although there are really only 9 targets, there are plenty of guards to quietly dispose of. While you may not feel completely satisfied by the end of the game, the experience getting there is extremely rewarding. Assassin’s Creed has the feeling of a hip independent film that may not be able to stand by itself, but you know that it’s impact is going to have an influence on the work to come. I can’t wait to see what's next.
The Orange Box (Multiplatform)
The Orange Box should be on the list if it’s only qualification was that it is the greatest gaming deal of all time. I know, I’ve heard that phrase far to much too, but it’s true. Since Half-Life 2 and and Episode 1 didn’t come out this year, I won’t talk about them. Plus you don’t need me to tell you how great these titles are. The focus is on Episode 2, Team Fortress Two, and Portal. These games are smart, inventive and above all, fun. They challenge the player to think differently inside a familiar genre that has been filled with recycled gameplay brought to us by complacent developers. Portal alone would have made the list even with it’s tiny 2 hour length. Since it’s release, cake has become more popular, and the weighted companion cube could be the most beloved new character in games. If there hadn’t been all that controversy over the past few weeks, I feel like Portal fandom would still be the topic of most blogs.
Mass Effect (Xbox 360)
This has to be one of the most engaging adventures I have experienced. Even though it’s plagued with plenty of bugs, Mass Effect succeeds in all the right areas. It’s like a great science fiction book, where you don’t want to get hung up in any one place for to long, but you desperately want to know more about the universe it inhabits. The characters are so well developed that you’re constantly being surprised by their actions and choices, because they feel so alive. They aren’t one dimensional characters occupying screen time, they have spent years living in this universe, and it shows. Unlike other space based save-the-universe games, Mass Effect pulls of the most amazing feat yet, giving the player the actual feeling that they are saving the universe.
Uncharted (PS3)
Taking my spot for number one is Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Who would have thought that a serious contender for Game of the Year would have come from the few titles there are to choose from on the PS3? The reason it takes my top spot is because it gave me the most flawless gaming experience I’ve had all year. Every game has glitches, but the the whole experience feels about as polished as games get. If you haven’t gotten the chance to experience Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, then you must do yourself a favor, and pick this title up. We have seen PS3 exclusive ads all year that claim it’s “The real reason you bought a PS3”. The story, design, gameplay, and acting is top notch and keep you engaged the whole time. The story is broken up by chapters, not just “levels”, which makes the whole experience feel less fragmented and more complete. The game kept me guessing, shooting, gasping and most importantly entertained. This is the reason you picked up a PS3.
Comments
bioshock is technically multiplatform, other than that... good list.
Excellent choices, Joe! I think you've come the closest to my own selection despite the fact that I don't own the console games.
Thumbs up for BioShock & Portal. I'd toss The Witcher into the mix, too. =)
By the way, thanks for the comment on MySpace!
im sorry I cant agree with Drake's Fortune. Bioshock was waaaay better then that game.
The only queston I have for you is this: How did that U-Boat get stuck in a gorram waterfall? Uncharted rules!
@ matthew:
Fixed.
@ spacecowboy
I loved BioShock, but the whole thing it had going for it was atmosphere and discovery. Once the secret was revealed, it became a by-the-numbers shooter with customization. I loved it, but it lost it's uniqueness halfway through the game, which made everything after that feel bland.
Uncharted was "familiar" with it's story and gameplay, but it kept me interested, guessing and engaged all the way through. It's not that certain aspects of one game aren't better than the other, it's just that the total package of Uncharted felt more consistent. Or maybe it's just that I'm an Indiana Jones fan.
@ CrimsonKnight13
Thanks.
like i said, great list. would love to see "runner ups" of yours, maybe Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation or Ninja Gaiden Sigma [maybe you haven't played it] or even Super Paper Mario? i think some people, including myself, often forget the games that came out early in the year and they tend to suffer the most in terms of praise.
matthew:
"like i said, great list. would love to see "runner ups" of yours, maybe Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation or Ninja Gaiden Sigma [maybe you haven't played it] or even Super Paper Mario? i think some people, including myself, often forget the games that came out early in the year and they tend to suffer the most in terms of praise."
Thank you.
As far as a runner-ups list goes, I can't say that any of those games would make the list. I really liked Ninja Gaiden Sigma, but I've already played it twice before. It looks absolutely insane, but it's the same game we played back on the Xbox. The only added feature is a playable Rachel. Ace Combat 6 is a lot of fun, but it really hasn't added anything to the gaming community. For every perfectly rendered airplane, there is an equally vapid character. And as for Super Paper Mario, well, let's say I got $16 credit at GameStop for that one. SPM was more like RPG training wheels for kids. Never ending dialogue with the most simplistic puzzles (hit the A button to "flip" and get around obstacle) made this game almost unbearable. I wanted to love it, but SPM was practically unplayable.
Here is a list of my runner ups, in no particular order:
- Super Mario Galaxy : While we're on the subject, this game is spectacular. Not only has it utilized the Wii's revolutionary controls, but it did so while still managing to be true to the classic games. It has taken the platforming genre and reinvented it. It feels fresh, new and classic all at once. Definitely one of my Top 10 for the year.
- skate. : It redefined a genre and came up with a completely intuitive control scheme that made tricks fun and rewarding at the same time. The open world environment allows for exploration, which is exactly what makes real skating so much fun. Find a spot, own it, and move on to the next.
-Rainbow Six Vegas : Talk about early games that might have been forgotten. Rainbow Six not only looked great, but it's original FPS cover system worked almost perfectly. It worked so well that it practically overshadowed it's closely released sister game, G.R.A.W.2.
-Lost Planet : I don't really know what Capcom was aiming for with this one, but it was original. If you skipped the cinematics, this game was a blast. Running-and-gunning, terrific visuals, and non-stop action made Lost Planet an homage to the classic games that made Capcom great. Visually, this game still holds up with the most recent releases.
-Dead Rising : What makes this title stand-out? Zombies, an almost infuriatingly huge campaign, interesting characters, bloody cool combat and more Zombies. If only they had figured out that terrible auto-save.
-Rock Band : As much as I would like to say that this is just a product spawned out of Guitar Hero hysteria to make money, I can't. It's fun and it brings people together. Unlike Guitar Hero, which is still more of a solo game, Rock Band inspires you to switch things up with your friends. Drums, guitar, bass and vocals allow for an infinite number of variations when you all get together. This (and I still have a place in my heart for Wario Smooth Moves) is the best new social game.
- Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction : While Super Mario Galaxy may have redefined the platformer, Ratchet & Clank are perfectly happy occupying the warm space right in the middle. Did it revolutionize anything? No, but it's visuals were some of the best I have ever seen. It didn't pretend to be anything it wasn't. 'Destruction' is in the title, and it delivers it in a fast, fun and highly rendered way.
- Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare : This game rocks. It's practically flawless, looks great, and has a relatively deep story line for a game in it's genre. That's not even going into the multiplayer. In a Halo 3/Moutain Dew obsessed season, COD4 came in and conquered. It's ranking system, customization, and fast paced action place it among the best First Person Shooter's this year, and of all time.
So, those are just a few runner ups. If someone asked me what they should play next, I might even recommend some of these titles over ones that appear in the top 5. It's just that there is something special about the top 5. They have something to offer the gaming industry when it comes to gameplay, pacing, style, design, atmosphere, and creativity. The top games might not be the best, but they certainly will be the most memorable. Will you remember Ninja Gaiden Sigma in 5 years, or BioShock? Just remember to clarify what version of Ninja Gaiden.
hey kid, nice blog!
BioShock, Uncharted, and Portal... so good. Just looking at pictures of them makes me want to play them right now.
If BioShock were a meal, it'd be a hot gourmet dinner. Now I really want to eat it...
@HeyKid
Now im not saying Bioshock should be a winner. I'm saying it was just in general better then Drake.
@Nikkita
YES IT IS TASTY!