Let us see here, lets take it from the top!
Zack and Wiki
Easily one of the most charming titles I’ve played this year, and I only got it a week ago! It has wit, charm, and it’s ingenious use of the Wiimote in most situations should be noted by all Wii developers on how to make good use of the Wiimote.
Earth Defence Force 2017
Probably the most mindless fun game of the year, and at a budget price to boot! Nothing but a pure arcade pick-up-and-have-fun game (PUaHF? A Pooaahf game I guess) and was so ridiculously addicting when played with a friend. Fully reccomended.
Pac-Man Championship Edition
Hands down, the best Xbox Live Arcade game of the year, and will probably only be beaten by Castle Crashers net year as the best game. The last game to be developed by Toru Iwatani, creator of the original Pac-Man arcade game, it took everything that made Pac-Man great and made it greater! The neon lights, the techno music, the sound effects, and the various timed modes made this a very constant addiction for me this year.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Sigh, what can’t I say about why I loved this game? Hands down the best adventure game on the DS, let alone one of my personal favorite adventure games I have ever played! (And I’m an old school Lucas Arts adventure fan) The game is a pure character driven story, with characters so real, you feel like you’ve actually met them and learned about their tragic life stories. Which is aided by the amazing sketch like art style (think of Ah-Ha’s Take On Me music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzUD7FKcBk ).
Not to mention it’s great, very logical puzzles. Need to open a door? Pick the lock on the maintenance closet and steal an axe! Oh, but make sure the surly manager doesn’t catch you or you get the boot! Simply a fantastic game and a must own for Adventure fans and DS owners alike.
Odin Sphere
Again, another game I just cannot express fully how amazing it is. Truly, a controversial title among friends and I, but in my honest opinion, a true masterpiece. Starting at the surface, the art style blows any other game’s attempt at art away. Going for the classic look, the game opts to use amazingly meticulous (and often HUGE) sprites. Everyone can agree on the amazing appearance of the game, but the arguements usually stem from the game play itself. Becoming more of a brawler RPG, you hack and slash your way through a circular battlefield until all enemies are vanquished. Then, you capture the spirits on your slain enemies to power and level up your weapon, OR, to “water” food you have planted, which ranges from apples to sheep. Yes, sheep.
Sound complicated? Well I haven’t even gotten into alchemy and cooking. All of that for me, had me sold to it’s unique charm, but I guess it isn’t for everyone.
Persona 3
A banner year for JRPGs, in my honest opinion, and Persona 3 was the flagship of the fleet. The, well, really, 4th title in the core Persona series (Persona 2 was two games…. long story), and one of the last JRPGs to come out this year and took the series in bold new directions. Truly, to only call this game an RPG is to not mention that not only do you level up, fight monsters, equip new items and learn spells, but you also go on dates, attend school, help people through dilemmas, and raise the ranks of local school clubs. All really, to help power up certain “arcana” which allow for certain monsters you collect (Persona) so you can fight more in the never ending dungeon! But don’t forget to study for exams!
Planet Puzzle League
Ever play Tetris Attack for the SNES? Like it? Get this game now.
Overlord
Man, my list is getting long but I need to talk about this game too. I might get short about it, but, well, you play an evil lord of darkness who controls evil minions whom you control in a very Pikmin-eqsue way, as you pillage the land to kill the 7 Heroes who killed your former master. Tolkien with a demented twist really.
Well, thats about it, I think. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know!
