Lumines (PSP): This is one of the simplest puzzle games to come around since Bejeweled, but its addictive qualities have the chance to extend well beyond that popular online game. Players who make the effort to keep going will be overjoyed by the unlockable backgrounds and music. They'll be disappointed by the baffling decision to put a cap on the high score.
2005 Game of the Year: Resident Evil 4 (PS2)
Game of the Year Nominees:
By Ken Edwards
Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, PS2): What Matt said. It is amazing how Capcom totally scrapped the controls of RE and started fresh, multiple times, for this game. This game truly shined on the ‘Cube. It is disappointing that nine months later it was released on the PS2 with muddy textures and pre-rendered cut scenes. That was all smoothed over by the Ada mission once you beat the game. Plus RE4 might have the most fun Mercenaries mode yet.
Forza Motorsport (Xbox): The Xbox finally has a sim to take on the PS2 juggernaut Gran Turismo 4. Forza handles the competition very well, and in some cases (such as realistic car and engine damage) overtakes even GT4. Forza easily gets the award for best looking Xbox game of the year, and is a resounding example of why the Xbox 360 might have come too soon. From the brainiacs at Microsoft Research - the same people behind the 360’s TrueSkill system - the Drivatar is innovative and compliments the gamers driving nicely. Forza is rounded out by a superb presence on Xbox Live that rivals any Xbox title.
Jade Empire (Xbox): It is not often that a big name developer like BioWare has the time, or takes the time, to create a brand new Intellectual Property. They did just that with Jade Empire, creating a deep game with a surprisingly strong story. Mastering the myriad of martial arts fighting styles is half the fun. Jade Empire offers a nice break from the turn-based game play of Knights of the Old Republic, and pulls it of wonderfully. Though even this game will receive a sequel, it most likely will not be as dull as others.
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."