It's pretty much official: This has been the biggest year for video games EVER. Yes, even bigger than last year. Not surprisingly, a lot of the big software has hit in the past few months. Even still, we at Blogcritics.org are going to make sense of the software that's hit over the entire year. No, we haven't played every console game this year (though if someone would like to send us a set, that would be nice), but out of what we've played, these are the titles that stick out from the pack.
Game of the Year Nominees:
By Matt Paprocki
Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, PS2): Everyone thought the GameCube was guaranteed to house the game of year early on, and it did for a while. In October, it was overthrown, and the system that plays host is the Playstation 2. This simply superb game from Capcom isn't just the best Resident Evil title, it's one of the best games ever made. The PS2 extras include an extra mission in which players control Ada Wong, fighting almost alongside Leon Kennedy during a parasite outbreak. This is unforgettable gaming, and if you're old enough, a game that must be on your shelf.
Oddworld Stranger's Wrath (Xbox): The Xbox had a tough year. Its exclusives were few, but one of them was brilliant. Much like Resident Evil 4, this latest entry into Lorne Lanning's Oddworld franchise reinvents itself. The mission structure ends up repetitive, and that's the only thing holding this magnificent design back. The quirky combination of living ammunition and sense of humor melded with fantastic first/third person gameplay makes another reason to own an Xbox.
God of War (PS2): Three years in development, director David Jaffe's action title has some brutal game play as players wipe out hordes of mythological monster on a quest to take down Aeries, the God of War. The ancient Rome aesthetic is flawlessly implemented into the game play, and while there could be an extra boss battle and a few less cheap puzzles, ripping apart foes with your bare hands never gets old.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS): If someone says there's a better version of this franchise out there, they're lying. Mixing souls to create powerful magic or to make it through a previously locked section of the castle might seem to be a little random at first (it is), but the mechanic extends the games life well past where it would have been without it. The addition of an entirely new way to play once you beat it (Julius mode) and the ability to swap souls wirelessly will have fans of Symphony of the Night cheering. The only ones disappointed will be those looking for a more traditional style Castlevania.
Article comments
1 - Alisha Karabinus
Man, it was allllllllll about Resident Evil. Y'all could have just left these other games on the floor or something.
First time the ol' chainsaw man came at me, I about peed my pants. I've never been so jumpy during a game in my life.
2 - Ken Edwards
Well, we didn't want to sound like fanboys or anything :)
There were a lot of great games this year. But RE4 was the best, by leaps and bounds. It was such a great experience. And yea, getting your head severed from you body from Chain Saw Dude was intense.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Minish Cap. No question.
4 - jcdfdxxc
what about halo 2
5 - Ken Edwards
If you look at last year's list, for 2004, you will see Halo 2 listed. It came out in November of 2004.
6 - Alisha Karabinus
Maybe jcd.... means Halo 2 was STILL the best game of the year. ;)
7 - Aaman
It was pretty good - especially the way they continually extended it's online value with new multi-player map packs
8 - Ken Edwards
Maybe, I did not think of it that way. But even last year I don't think it was tops. The Live additions have been great. It is a shame more games do not take advantage of content download.
I might also add that I am not the biggest FPS fan in the world, but it is a genre I always play. Of course until this year I didn't really care for racing games at all, and now it is one of my favorite.
That can be attributed to Ridge Racer on the PSP, and then my endless addiction to Forza on the Xbox. And for the record, I do own all 3 racers for the 360: Ridge Racer 6, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and Project Gothem Racing 3. I am such a racing whore, I know.
9 - unknown
has any one here played gran theft auto san andras for xbox
10 - unknown
if so can you tell me how it was i might buy it if its good
11 - Dragon Voyager
I know it's just a rehash of a game brought out in 2004, but Ninja Gaiden Black deserved an honorable mention IMO. All the new features added just rocked my socks off.
That and the fact that the Mission Mode caused me to pull every hair out of my head. That deserves a mention. Team Ninja needs a new catchphrase:
"WARNING: Playing our games may cause baldness, fits of rage, new curse words being created in the span of a heartbeat and slight cases of diabetes."