Deathscythealpha
Dec 31, 2005, 09:29 AM
Ah, its the years end and if I had anything to reflect on at all it would be the piles of games I have purchased. As seems to be tradition on all Videogame based message boards, i thought 'Hell, lets start off a Top 5 Games of the Year Thread'. So here we go, top five.
5. Quake 4 (PC)
Quake 2 is one of those games I always remember playing. The atmospheric surrounds of Stroggos, the horrible cries of Strogg Grunts, those damned dog things! I really didnt think they could come close to recreating the feeling of that game. Quake 4 manages it. Almost.
The game had some brilliant level design in places and really improved on the slowness of Doom3 (The engine they used to make the game). The guns all had 'Oomph' when you fired them and the enemies react as you would expect. Sound was brilliant, and I almost squeeled with glee when I recognised the slow stroggos hum that was used several times in Quake 2.
Only down points were that Vehicles werent used enough, and their small inclusion was just to say they were there. The Strogification of the lead character also added squat to the game. Well, it gave you a orange coloured Hud, but that was about it.
4. Another Code - Two Memories (DS)
Im using the UK title for this game, as 'Trace Memory' sucks as a title. Anywho, this was a strong Point and Click styled adventure for the DS with lush graphics and a great story. I actually felt for the main characters and cared about trying to solve both their mysteries. Only a few Puzzles seemed to be super cryptic and had been walking all over the game several times trying to work out what on earth to do. And, as with most Point and Click Adventures, there was almost zero replay value. This is one game I would sell the DS on though, an essential purchase.
3. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
A week before I got this, I had finally tracked down 'Symphony of the Night' and gutted the game. I was ready for more, and 'Dawn of Sorrow' gave me just that.
Dawn of Sorrow was a vast improvement on the GBA Castlevanias, and offered several long hours of gameplay. The soul collecting was very addictive, and I found myself coming back to several rooms constantly trying to get those blasted last few souls (Yeah, im looking at you Bone Ark). The equipment system was a bit too simplistic for my liking (SotN dwarfed this is the amount of slots you could equip too), but the tactical element of swapping weapon sets soon kicked in and you forgot about that.
I think the only other really bad thing about Dawn of Sorrow was that it ended. Lets hope they have been set to work on the enxt game already!
2. God of War (PS2)
God of War. God of War is...YEAH! Well, thats how I feel I can sum up of God of War anyway. The game just runs so nicely, so smoothly. Combat is glorious and you can feel Kratos' strength. There is real power in the gameplay, and it empowers the player.
The game was definately well planned out, with clever level design that kept pushing the player onwards. There was some real clever set pieces that garnered a smile from me while playing.
The story was good too, not taking up to much of the game (No 20 minute cutscenes) but progressing the plot in a nice fashion. There wa salso a nice selecton of extras to keep you coming back. A top notch 'Making of Video' is included, and the extra 'Story Videos' are really intrigueing. Im still trying to play through God Mode just to get the last few (And Im still in Athens, God Mode is an appropriate name).
1. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GC)
I think I may be cheating here, as Im not to sure if this came out late last year or early this year. However, it is still £30 for a preowned copy of this and no blighter is buying it, so it is going here.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is one of the funnest, most involving RPG's I have palyed in ages. You actually do something in combat other then clicking on some options. The combos you can pull of really make my day as it feels like im doing something. Getting a stylish move with the hammer is satisfying.
The story isnt too serious and really is just fun, something that some games forget to be this day in an attempt to be realistic/gritty. Marios adventure to find all the star pieces are the meat of the game, but I always look forward to the end of a chapter where I get to play as Princess Peach and Bowser. Some of Bowsers mis-adventures have had me and the crowd who normally gather when playing this game roar out with laughter. Peaches adventures just seem...cute. Even though there was a few nervous glances when playing as the invisible naked Peach.
The graphics and sound really finish off this game. The bright colours are refreshing and set the themes of the games and its levels perfectly. Characters are beautifully rendered as 2D sprites and Mario is quite appealing when he does his little arm waving cheer (It loosk as if someone is just moving a piece of paper with some string). Marios voice clips are contagfious too, as Im often found mutter 'Oh yes' in his italian style.
Downpoints? Koops and Flurry. I dont like these characters at all. They just seem a bit 'mweh' to me and I barely ever use them. Otherwise I dont think there is anything I hate about this game.
Definately my game of the year.
Well, thats it. There is a few honoury mentions;
Fahrenheit (PS2)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
KoF 2000- 2001 (PS2 release finally)
Resident Evil 4 (GC)
Metal Gear Solid 3 (PS2)
Come on then, now its everyone else's turn. Remember, Top 5 then Honoury Mentions.
5. Quake 4 (PC)
Quake 2 is one of those games I always remember playing. The atmospheric surrounds of Stroggos, the horrible cries of Strogg Grunts, those damned dog things! I really didnt think they could come close to recreating the feeling of that game. Quake 4 manages it. Almost.
The game had some brilliant level design in places and really improved on the slowness of Doom3 (The engine they used to make the game). The guns all had 'Oomph' when you fired them and the enemies react as you would expect. Sound was brilliant, and I almost squeeled with glee when I recognised the slow stroggos hum that was used several times in Quake 2.
Only down points were that Vehicles werent used enough, and their small inclusion was just to say they were there. The Strogification of the lead character also added squat to the game. Well, it gave you a orange coloured Hud, but that was about it.
4. Another Code - Two Memories (DS)
Im using the UK title for this game, as 'Trace Memory' sucks as a title. Anywho, this was a strong Point and Click styled adventure for the DS with lush graphics and a great story. I actually felt for the main characters and cared about trying to solve both their mysteries. Only a few Puzzles seemed to be super cryptic and had been walking all over the game several times trying to work out what on earth to do. And, as with most Point and Click Adventures, there was almost zero replay value. This is one game I would sell the DS on though, an essential purchase.
3. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
A week before I got this, I had finally tracked down 'Symphony of the Night' and gutted the game. I was ready for more, and 'Dawn of Sorrow' gave me just that.
Dawn of Sorrow was a vast improvement on the GBA Castlevanias, and offered several long hours of gameplay. The soul collecting was very addictive, and I found myself coming back to several rooms constantly trying to get those blasted last few souls (Yeah, im looking at you Bone Ark). The equipment system was a bit too simplistic for my liking (SotN dwarfed this is the amount of slots you could equip too), but the tactical element of swapping weapon sets soon kicked in and you forgot about that.
I think the only other really bad thing about Dawn of Sorrow was that it ended. Lets hope they have been set to work on the enxt game already!
2. God of War (PS2)
God of War. God of War is...YEAH! Well, thats how I feel I can sum up of God of War anyway. The game just runs so nicely, so smoothly. Combat is glorious and you can feel Kratos' strength. There is real power in the gameplay, and it empowers the player.
The game was definately well planned out, with clever level design that kept pushing the player onwards. There was some real clever set pieces that garnered a smile from me while playing.
The story was good too, not taking up to much of the game (No 20 minute cutscenes) but progressing the plot in a nice fashion. There wa salso a nice selecton of extras to keep you coming back. A top notch 'Making of Video' is included, and the extra 'Story Videos' are really intrigueing. Im still trying to play through God Mode just to get the last few (And Im still in Athens, God Mode is an appropriate name).
1. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GC)
I think I may be cheating here, as Im not to sure if this came out late last year or early this year. However, it is still £30 for a preowned copy of this and no blighter is buying it, so it is going here.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is one of the funnest, most involving RPG's I have palyed in ages. You actually do something in combat other then clicking on some options. The combos you can pull of really make my day as it feels like im doing something. Getting a stylish move with the hammer is satisfying.
The story isnt too serious and really is just fun, something that some games forget to be this day in an attempt to be realistic/gritty. Marios adventure to find all the star pieces are the meat of the game, but I always look forward to the end of a chapter where I get to play as Princess Peach and Bowser. Some of Bowsers mis-adventures have had me and the crowd who normally gather when playing this game roar out with laughter. Peaches adventures just seem...cute. Even though there was a few nervous glances when playing as the invisible naked Peach.
The graphics and sound really finish off this game. The bright colours are refreshing and set the themes of the games and its levels perfectly. Characters are beautifully rendered as 2D sprites and Mario is quite appealing when he does his little arm waving cheer (It loosk as if someone is just moving a piece of paper with some string). Marios voice clips are contagfious too, as Im often found mutter 'Oh yes' in his italian style.
Downpoints? Koops and Flurry. I dont like these characters at all. They just seem a bit 'mweh' to me and I barely ever use them. Otherwise I dont think there is anything I hate about this game.
Definately my game of the year.
Well, thats it. There is a few honoury mentions;
Fahrenheit (PS2)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
KoF 2000- 2001 (PS2 release finally)
Resident Evil 4 (GC)
Metal Gear Solid 3 (PS2)
Come on then, now its everyone else's turn. Remember, Top 5 then Honoury Mentions.