Wildstar
Every MMO that gets announced seems to develop a small fanbase of die-hard fans that claim their latest idol is the next “WoW-killer” to finally dethrone the successful World of Warcraft. It’s true that Wildstar didn’t succeed as well as its fans may have hoped, but it certainly did come close. This game offered a big promise with its original characters and world, polished mechanics, unique classes, and stylish story. I told myself I’d try it for a month, but ended up having a hard time putting it down even a couple months later. Even though the endgame didn’t live up to fans’ expectations, I do not at all regret the time I spent on the planet Nexus, and next year I’ll probably be poking my head in to see what I’ve been missing out on.
Skylanders: Trap Team
These annual releases we see coming out like clockwork seem to get more predictable every year, but Toys For Bob was sure to keep their imagination running with Skylanders: Trap Team. The gimmick of capturing bad guys and playing as them seemed like a straightforward pitch, but quickly I fell into the trappings of wanting to collect them all, and as always the new characters were designed to be entertaining to play as. My favorite Skylander still sits on my desk at work, ready to jump into action next time I call on him.
Destiny
The perfect marriage of everything I like about Halo’s fantasy and storytelling with the tight and brutal violence I crave from Call of Duty, plus all the annoying stuff no one likes about MMO games. Destiny did not make my #1 on the list, but the shortcomings that come from frequent load screens and annoying grinding are not enough to keep it off the list altogether. I still remember the feeling I got when I first landed on the moon. I looked at the Earth and the stars and slowly lowered my eyes down to look at my feet. I took a step backwards and saved a screenshot of my first footprint left on the moon. There was a magic to be found in Destiny, and those willing to overlook the quirks of the game were able to enjoy their first outing in this big new franchise.
Project Diva f2nd
I have burned a lot of hours bobbing my head to adorable Japanese songs I don’t understand the lyrics to, and a few of those songs stick in my head throughout the day. Project Diva f2nd is one of the reasons why I carry my Vita around because visually it’s all very pretty and well animated, the sound quality is fantastic, and squeezing in a single song while waiting at the dentist’s office works out pretty well. What’s most important in a rhythm game to me, though, is responsive controls that I can enjoy mastering, and as I work my way up through the difficulties I never feel like the game is trying to cheat me out of a good score, it’s just offering a challenge that I can aim for.
Transistor
The first trailer for Transistor that I saw at last year’s E3 announcement was perhaps one of the few things I remember from that E3. It was so catching and artistic that when I got my PS4 it was the only game I eagerly awaited for release. The soundtrack still plays in my car on the way to work from time to time, but the music alone was not what led Transistor to my list. The unique gameplay that allowed players to favor action or strategy was a brave experiment, and the character design and worldbuilding left many players asking to see more.
Hyrule Warriors
It’s one of those games that caught folks off guard. What a bizarre sales pitch: “Let’s reskin a Dynasty Warriors game, but you play as a bunch of characters from Zelda.” Even fans asked if it could be done well, but the amount of detail referencing as many Zelda games as possible created a fantastic romp through memory lane coupled with senseless beating and power trips. Personally, I wish every Zelda game could be co-op like Hyrule Warriors because my brother and I wasted a lot of nights bopping bokoblins’ brains out.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Licensed properties do not at all have a good track record when it comes to video games, but with the help of the show’s creators, South Park: The Stick of Truth turned out to be the perfect love letter to the fans. Each cutscene and even the gameplay itself looked like an episode of the television show, and teaming up with Butters to fight some meth heads behind Kenny’s house was both hilarious and satisfying. There is so much to explore and poke around as you walk through the city of South Park that it is clear just how important this game was to the folks behind making it.
Super Smash Bros for WiiU
While fans may argue over which is the best in the series, it’s difficult to argue Super Smash Bros for WiiU isn’t at least fun. Some truly clever new characters like Megaman, Mii, Bowser Jr., Pacman, and Rosalina help round out the already diverse roster and every minor detail in the backgrounds of stages or foregrounds of the battles really just conveys a celebration of all things video game. You’ll never forget the first time you’re about to land a killing blow only to see a game of PONG start up and bounce you back.
Mario Kart 8
Surprisingly, Mario Kart 8 was one of the first games to truly have that “next gen” polish gamers have been hungry for. The tracks are all so beautiful, the detail of those cartoony characters is amazing, and on top of all the eye candy we got one of the best entries in the Mario Kart series to date. The imaginative new courses and faithfully recreated classics meld together in harmony as Nintendo fans race around the world.
Freedom Planet
“Indie” games have gotten a unique sort of spotlight as of late. The precious underdog story that comes from a kickstarter funded by fans and a dev team with heart is sometimes more entertaining than the end result itself, but it is with no qualms I label Freedom Planet my #1 game of the year. I was beginning to believe I’d never enjoy games like I did when I was a kid. Back then, it was about having fun, and in my adult life I have taken gaming as an opportunity to examine and think about story structure and game design and view the entire piece as art. Freedom Planet lets me be a kid, again.
It is beautiful and well designed, but the elements of fun that loyally tap into everything that made old Sonic games great is what hooked me. If you ever bought a Sonic the Hedgehog game and felt disappointed, I feel obligated to recommend you try this gem. If you’re lucky, you’ll have your faith restored and realize that it is okay to smile.
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