Post by Marik on Dec 18, 2007 19:57:59 GMT -5
Like last year I'll be doing my Game of the Year. Okami barely lost against the return of Link in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Well this year I'll be adding something. Before I do the actual GotY which won't happen til after I play NiGHTS and Unreal 3 to be fair.
This year had so many surprisingly good games and surprisingly bad games. Some you may agree, some you may not. Of course the ones I say are great you probably heard me say how great it really was. I'll cut it short and just start it off with the bad side of things.
Biggest disappointments of 2007:
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)- Now I liked this when it came out, but I never touched it in 9 months so in retrospect, I really can't say I really was feeling this game. Most of the controls works, but some fall flat, like homing. The difficulty really hinders it, especially to the kiddy crowd where Sonic now seems to aim at.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (DS)- Too damn much. I can't believe kids can get waist deep in this game and know what they're doing. They did a lot of improvements of course, but it's not simple like it first was. I just don't have the time to do all these little tasks. Plus you need all 5 GBA games, both Diamond and Pearl, both GameCube games and Pokemon Ranger to catch them all. That's a lot of cash dumped into it, even though I do own them all aside from Ranger.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)- Not a bad game at all and the controls rock, but as a Prime game, it just doesn't feel right compared to the moment I played the first.
Blue Dragon (360)- This games alright, but feels way to generic. I hate Shu also. Great art style though. 3 disks long ain’t something to sneeze at either.
Lair (PS3)- OMG is this game terrible. Completely broken. And when I wanted a cool dragon game too.
Heavenly Sword (PS3)- Yea, all the cinematic deaths doesn’t mask that its very boring. I can’t jump either. And it’s short. It is pretty though.
Halo 3 (360)- Overrated is an understatement. Short campaign and the same ol multiplayer can’t compete with the good shooters this year on the system. Bioshock, Call of Duty 4 and Orange Box trumps this game so badly. Hell it doesn’t compete with the first Halo. I do have to admit I liked riding the hype train for this game, with my Game Fuel slurpees and Chopin’s Raindrops in the many commercials. Guess why I know that? Eternal Sonata.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)- Yea, not a fan. The controls are nice, but I cannot wait til it’s implemented in greater fashion in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Returning to the same Dungeon over and over and REDOing that dungeon every time pisses me off.
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (PSP)- Let me say one thing, I only bought thing for Etna Mode, since I own and love the original. The original Disgaea is just as great, but Etna Mode is just too damn hard to bother, it's the same as Disgaea 2 to me, a story isn't worth getting into if you have to grind for hours to get to the next part.
Tomb Raider Anniversary (360, Wii)- Good game, but such a bad framerate. I can’t stand that.
Assassin's Creed (360, PS3)- Hey you’re in Jerusalem during the Crusades… No wait you’re not. You’re a bartender in present day playing a VR machine of your badass ancestor that was in Jerusalem during the Crusades. And it’s repetitive. Ubi-soft was kind enough to not tell us this until the game came out.
Biggest Surprises of 2007:
Gurumin: A Monsterous Adventure (PSP)- Bought the system for this game at first. It's such a cool platformer with great characters. A good cast is what makes a game shine for me, and the great pick up and play gameplay makes me keep going.
Earth Defense Force (360)- Wow was this game great. Any other game would have been knocked down points with the weaknesses and problems this game has, but EDF 2017 makes that its STRENGTHS. the few enemies, the bad cutscenes, the bad voice acting, it makes a Japanese B rated monster movie into a Japanese B rated game! If only this had online co-op. This is the definition of sleeper hit.
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)- I loved the GameCube version. Then they add the PS2 extras, and better controls and then gives me a $30 price tag. Every Wii owner should get this. I don’t care if you are 5 and are scared of burlaps sacks and president’s daughters. Get it and kill things.
Pac-Man: Championship Edition (360)- What makes this a Championship Edition. Nothing. I really thought Pac-Man 2 would be a better title. Well this game takes a fresh look in a twenty-something year old game.
Picross DS (DS)- My favorite puzzle game ever. When people go to bed, they sometimes read books to relax them. This is a better alternative and my personal alternative. Best thing to play a bit every day and the only game I play on a regular basis since its release. And thanks to it's DLC, I'm still playing it.
Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM (360)- Hack. Slash. And hack more, but instead, you're doing it with robots. Nothing outstanding, but worth a place here. And before you ask. I expect this from a DW game, not a game like Heavenly Sword and Assassin’s Creed, those are games I expect more from.
Eternal Sonata (360)- BEAUTIFUL GAME. I love this game, it feels right and plays pretty cool. Story gets weirs halfway through, but you're too hooked to care. Probably my favorite 360 game. Sad to say it’s going on PS3. This needs to stay 360 only to keep that Japanese exclusive feeling that it felt when I saw it. Educational too.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (360)- Bejeweled as an RPG? It's pretty in-depth RPG too. Worth the $15.
Sin & Punishment (Wii)- Yeah it came out in 2000, but not outside Japan, so this considers as a 2007 game here. Another great Treasure classic.
Portal (360)- Yes it's a part of Orange Box and yes its short, but it's too damn cool to play and shame on you if you haven't touched it yet.
Zack and Wiki (Wii)- Capcom hits Wii gold again with this game. It's a great point and click adventure game and uses the Wii controls sublimely. Shame that's bombing in retail.
Unchartered: Drake's Fortune (PS3)- Character again slaps this game with it’s kickass main character Nathan Drake. Also a great blend of Tomb Raider and Gears of War.
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of Illuminus (360)- Guess I have to add this since I haven’t stopped playing it since the damn thing came out. I wasn’t gonna get back into this when I canceled my account.
Super Swing Golf Season 2 (Wii)- Fixes controls and AI to makes a pleasant golf game for Wii. Plus, Ayane, Ryu and Rachael costumes and bikinis? That’s FTW material indeed.
Now this isn’t a best/worst list, just a list of games that stood out. Games I knew were good, like the 2 Wii Mario platformers, the 2 Phoenix Wrights or Call of Duty 4, are good, but it wasn’t suprising. This also counts games I got my money's worth and nothing more, like Lost Planet, Soulcalibur Legends and Tenchu Z.
Speaking of Call of Duty 4, today Microsoft game me a free copy of CoD4 for the holidays. That was really nice of them. I thanked them in email but they needed to be thanked again.
This year had so many surprisingly good games and surprisingly bad games. Some you may agree, some you may not. Of course the ones I say are great you probably heard me say how great it really was. I'll cut it short and just start it off with the bad side of things.
Biggest disappointments of 2007:
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)- Now I liked this when it came out, but I never touched it in 9 months so in retrospect, I really can't say I really was feeling this game. Most of the controls works, but some fall flat, like homing. The difficulty really hinders it, especially to the kiddy crowd where Sonic now seems to aim at.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (DS)- Too damn much. I can't believe kids can get waist deep in this game and know what they're doing. They did a lot of improvements of course, but it's not simple like it first was. I just don't have the time to do all these little tasks. Plus you need all 5 GBA games, both Diamond and Pearl, both GameCube games and Pokemon Ranger to catch them all. That's a lot of cash dumped into it, even though I do own them all aside from Ranger.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)- Not a bad game at all and the controls rock, but as a Prime game, it just doesn't feel right compared to the moment I played the first.
Blue Dragon (360)- This games alright, but feels way to generic. I hate Shu also. Great art style though. 3 disks long ain’t something to sneeze at either.
Lair (PS3)- OMG is this game terrible. Completely broken. And when I wanted a cool dragon game too.
Heavenly Sword (PS3)- Yea, all the cinematic deaths doesn’t mask that its very boring. I can’t jump either. And it’s short. It is pretty though.
Halo 3 (360)- Overrated is an understatement. Short campaign and the same ol multiplayer can’t compete with the good shooters this year on the system. Bioshock, Call of Duty 4 and Orange Box trumps this game so badly. Hell it doesn’t compete with the first Halo. I do have to admit I liked riding the hype train for this game, with my Game Fuel slurpees and Chopin’s Raindrops in the many commercials. Guess why I know that? Eternal Sonata.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)- Yea, not a fan. The controls are nice, but I cannot wait til it’s implemented in greater fashion in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Returning to the same Dungeon over and over and REDOing that dungeon every time pisses me off.
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (PSP)- Let me say one thing, I only bought thing for Etna Mode, since I own and love the original. The original Disgaea is just as great, but Etna Mode is just too damn hard to bother, it's the same as Disgaea 2 to me, a story isn't worth getting into if you have to grind for hours to get to the next part.
Tomb Raider Anniversary (360, Wii)- Good game, but such a bad framerate. I can’t stand that.
Assassin's Creed (360, PS3)- Hey you’re in Jerusalem during the Crusades… No wait you’re not. You’re a bartender in present day playing a VR machine of your badass ancestor that was in Jerusalem during the Crusades. And it’s repetitive. Ubi-soft was kind enough to not tell us this until the game came out.
Biggest Surprises of 2007:
Gurumin: A Monsterous Adventure (PSP)- Bought the system for this game at first. It's such a cool platformer with great characters. A good cast is what makes a game shine for me, and the great pick up and play gameplay makes me keep going.
Earth Defense Force (360)- Wow was this game great. Any other game would have been knocked down points with the weaknesses and problems this game has, but EDF 2017 makes that its STRENGTHS. the few enemies, the bad cutscenes, the bad voice acting, it makes a Japanese B rated monster movie into a Japanese B rated game! If only this had online co-op. This is the definition of sleeper hit.
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)- I loved the GameCube version. Then they add the PS2 extras, and better controls and then gives me a $30 price tag. Every Wii owner should get this. I don’t care if you are 5 and are scared of burlaps sacks and president’s daughters. Get it and kill things.
Pac-Man: Championship Edition (360)- What makes this a Championship Edition. Nothing. I really thought Pac-Man 2 would be a better title. Well this game takes a fresh look in a twenty-something year old game.
Picross DS (DS)- My favorite puzzle game ever. When people go to bed, they sometimes read books to relax them. This is a better alternative and my personal alternative. Best thing to play a bit every day and the only game I play on a regular basis since its release. And thanks to it's DLC, I'm still playing it.
Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM (360)- Hack. Slash. And hack more, but instead, you're doing it with robots. Nothing outstanding, but worth a place here. And before you ask. I expect this from a DW game, not a game like Heavenly Sword and Assassin’s Creed, those are games I expect more from.
Eternal Sonata (360)- BEAUTIFUL GAME. I love this game, it feels right and plays pretty cool. Story gets weirs halfway through, but you're too hooked to care. Probably my favorite 360 game. Sad to say it’s going on PS3. This needs to stay 360 only to keep that Japanese exclusive feeling that it felt when I saw it. Educational too.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (360)- Bejeweled as an RPG? It's pretty in-depth RPG too. Worth the $15.
Sin & Punishment (Wii)- Yeah it came out in 2000, but not outside Japan, so this considers as a 2007 game here. Another great Treasure classic.
Portal (360)- Yes it's a part of Orange Box and yes its short, but it's too damn cool to play and shame on you if you haven't touched it yet.
Zack and Wiki (Wii)- Capcom hits Wii gold again with this game. It's a great point and click adventure game and uses the Wii controls sublimely. Shame that's bombing in retail.
Unchartered: Drake's Fortune (PS3)- Character again slaps this game with it’s kickass main character Nathan Drake. Also a great blend of Tomb Raider and Gears of War.
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of Illuminus (360)- Guess I have to add this since I haven’t stopped playing it since the damn thing came out. I wasn’t gonna get back into this when I canceled my account.
Super Swing Golf Season 2 (Wii)- Fixes controls and AI to makes a pleasant golf game for Wii. Plus, Ayane, Ryu and Rachael costumes and bikinis? That’s FTW material indeed.
Now this isn’t a best/worst list, just a list of games that stood out. Games I knew were good, like the 2 Wii Mario platformers, the 2 Phoenix Wrights or Call of Duty 4, are good, but it wasn’t suprising. This also counts games I got my money's worth and nothing more, like Lost Planet, Soulcalibur Legends and Tenchu Z.
Speaking of Call of Duty 4, today Microsoft game me a free copy of CoD4 for the holidays. That was really nice of them. I thanked them in email but they needed to be thanked again.
