Apr 21 2008
The biggest feat of Bioshock is creating a brand new world that doesn’t have demons (that came through some open portal to some other dimension), robots (set in the distant future) or Nazis. The unique setting of Rapture is what gives an edge to this shooter to make it one of the best ever created. Continue reading for full review:
Dec 18 2007
PS3 Worst Game of the Year: Sonic the Hedgehog
It is unfortunate Sega’s shining star has fallen this far… Sonic has had trouble with quality games, and its first foray into the next generation console is a buggy mess that even die-hard fans avoided.
PSP Worst Game of the Year: TMNT
Movie-licensed games are notorious for being bad, and TMNT (that’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) has set a new low as this rushed game did everything wrong, from boring storyline which is perplexing since we’re talking about radioactive talking turtles that enjoy pizzas here, to frustrating gameplay.
Xbox 360 Worst Game of the Year: Vampire Rain
How do you screw up a game featuring vampires? This pile of mess pits the player against superpowerful vampires means you have to be stealthy all the time… if you were looking for cool confrontations with vampires, this is not the game for you. Unfortunately for Vampire Rain, it doesn’t do anything else in any competent manner.
Wii Worst Game of the Year: Looney Tunes - Acme Arsenal
Looney Tunes licence is a treasure-trove of incredibly locales and characters, too bad they’re stuck in this game without any redeeming value. This boring and dull game squanders the good licence away, and it must be avoided at all costs. If publishers realize this game makes money, who knows how many Looney Tunes games they’ll release.
DS Worst Game of the Year: Deal or No Deal
If you thought watching people open briefcases were exciting, than this game is perfect for you. For every one else though, participating in this event without any real payoff just seems like a waste of time. Do yourself a favor and spend $30 elsewhere, such as playing the lottery or going to the casino.
PC Worst Game of the Year: You Are Empty
No, this isn’t a game about putting gasoline in your car when you’re running low: instead this first person shooter set in the alternate universe set in the Soviet Union hasn’t learned valuable lessons from other great first-person shooters available on PC. Featuring moronic enemies, anemic weapon selection and simplistic gameplay mechanics such as “go find this key and bring it back”, this game is simply a few years too late.
Dec 17 2007
Xbox 360’s lead over PS3 and Wii allowed developers to release truly high-quality titles on Microsoft’s system. PS3 still needs better market penetration for developers to start budgeting more for Sony’s system, and Wii’s perceived demographic will severely limit the kinds of titles available on that system.
Runner-ups:
2007 Game of the Year: BioShock
Minigame collections are easy to create, and annual sports updates are simple to crank out. It is a much more difficult proposition, both creatively and commercially, to create an entire new ecosystem as BioShock does. Labelled as the spiritual successor to System Shock 2, BioShock puts you underwater, in the world of Rapture, where genetic modification and extreme capitalism caused an utopia to disintegrate. Now it’s up to you to use weapons and genetic modifications yourself to escape from this nightmarish vision. The game has everything: perfect atmosphere, incredibly artistic visuals and sounds, this game available on PC and Xbox 360 truly refines first-person shooters.
Next up: 2007 Worst Games of the Year
Dec 16 2007
Microsoft’s second attempt at gaming console has had a stellar year in 2007. Finding both critical and commercial success, Microsoft Xbox 360 saw plenty of exclusives that cemented its position as the main console to have this console war.
Runner-ups:
2007 Xbox 360 Game of the Year: Mass Effect
BioWare managed to cram an entire universe into a single DVD: if this game doesn’t showcase there’s no urgent desperate need for BluRay or HD-DVD in game consoles, I really don’t know what will. Sure there are some graphical glitches like textures that pop into place, but this space opera features gorgeous graphics and full, high-quality voice acting for all of the characters in this universe. Mixing third-person shooter, tactical squad commands and RPG character customization blend in perfectly for the best game available on Xbox 360. It doesn’t have the commercial muscle that Halo 3 possesses, but this game will end up being a lot more memorable for many people who give it a go.
Next up: 2007 Game of the Year
Dec 15 2007
Again Nintendo has defied critics and found incredible success with Nintendo Wii, a console that still remains elusive for many consumers. This year finally saw release of long-awaited games (that were not simple collection of minigames). With its innovative control scheme that none of the other major consoles possess, some developers have struggled but others have shined to produce truly great software.
Runner-ups:
2007 Wii Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy
Brand new Mario adventure finally releases on Nintendo Wii with amazing results. Mario goes to space and defies gravity in what many have described a perfect Mario game. It isn’t as innovative as the first time you’ve played Mario 64, but it is the finest Nintendo game for a long time. Its blend of platforming and puzzle-solving ensure you’re constantly in new environments, giving into your sense of wonder and you’ll keep playing just to uncover what the next planet will bring. If you’re getting sick of all those minigames available on the Wii, this will surely cure your malaise.
Next up: 2007 Xbox 360 Game of the Year
Dec 14 2007
It seemed like Sony could do no wrong after the immense success of PS2, but PS3 has defied the odds and has definitely struggled to gain widespread acceptance. This year saw price cuts and introduction of new models to bring PS3 back to consumers’ minds. We haven’t seen any system-seller games this year, but the overall quality of PS3 games has significantly increased as developers become more accustomed to its unique architecture.
Runner-ups:
2007 PS3 Game of the Year: Ratchet & Clank Future - Tools of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank series finally moves to the next generation console, bringing with it impressive visuals, tight game controls and humor many games emulate but have difficulty hitting the right note. It is clearly one of the best looking games available on the market, and it showcases what the added capacity of BluRay can afford developers. Developers of Resistance: The Fall of Man has really outdone themselves with this outstanding production, just 1 year after their previous game.
Next up: 2007 Wii Game of the Year
Dec 13 2007
PC is often neglected when it comes to gaming, but it remains the technologically superior platform of choice as the expandability allows for greater visual power compared to regular consoles.
Runner-ups:
2007 PC Game of the Year: The Orange Box
Even though it is available on PS3 as well as Xbox 360, The Orange Box is a great collection of games and clearly the best title for PC. Featuring the original Half-Life 2 as well as 2 episodic content that extended the universe and continued the story of Gordon Freeman, it finally meant release for Team Fortress 2 which offers one of the most balanced multiplayer gaming. Add the innovative Portal and The Orange Box is sure to keep you busy for a long time to come.
Next up: 2007 PS3 Game of the Year
Dec 12 2007
This year, Nintendo DS Lite has solidified its lead over Sony’s struggling handheld by continuously releasing games after games after games. There’s something for everybody as Nintendo DS is the perfect system for everyone from little children to the elderly.
Runner-ups:
2007 DS Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda - Phantom Hourglass
Perhaps this is to be expected as a new Zelda game is a sure-fire success both critically and commercially. Link’s first adventure on the Nintendo DS platform is a direct sequel to Gamecube’s Windwaker. Featuring entirely touch-based control scheme that works surprisingly well, and innovative game mechanics such as treasure map where you can write down notes and drawing the path of your boomerang with the stylus, this pocket-sized adventure is perfect for your DS. Whether you’re a die-hard Zelda fan, or just someone who enjoys a great adventure every now and then, Phantom Hourglass is clearly the best Nintendo DS game for 2007.
Next up: 2007 PC Game of the Year
Dec 11 2007
This year hasn’t been too kind to Sony’s portable device that simply couldn’t. On its own, nothing is really wrong with it but put it next to Nintendo DS and it’s apparent a small PlayStation isn’t such a sure-fire success. Nonetheless, there were some amazing games released this year for the Sony PSP.
Runner-ups:
2007 PSP Game of the Year: Jeanne d’Arc
Tactical turn-based RPG truly benefits from the portable platform as you can indulge yourself in Jeanne d’Arc’s truly gorgeous visuals and deep, engaging gameplay. Set in France during the 15th century, this epic tale by the developer Level-5 showcases the titular character’s transformation from an ordinary girl into a national hero who defeats the evil English thanks to God, and her trusty companions. Through command of inventory management, skill development and use of magic, Jeanne d’Arc offers the most complete and enjoyable turn-based RPG available on any system. If you buy only 1 game for your oft-neglected PSP, make sure to pick up this gem. Now only if they’d released this on Nintendo DS, they could have made so much more money!
Next up: 2007 Nintendo DS Game of the Year
