Once again, I find uniqueness in the mundane by doing *my* Game of the Year list half a year after anyone else could have possibly cared, to coincide with the new Stuff topic. Think of it as a fond look back, a way to think to yourself “oh yeah, I guess that did come out in 2008”. And what a happy year in gaming it was for old Polas. It’s at this point I remind you that my gaming preferences are most likely far superior to yours, and as such, my list may very well be slightly off from the accepted norm. But about that accepted norm – you see, 2008 was such a fine year, because gamers, developers and publishers alike have made incredible strides toward not being scared anymore. For every MEGAhype new shooter, there’s a niche 3D brawler. For every game that holds your hand until the end, there’s an unforgiving game full of old school difficulty. With the proper tools and imagination, it’s thankfully becoming obvious that 2D games can *look* just as appealing as 3D ones in addition to being as fun. Thanks, ironically, to the increasing popularity of a 21st century format, there’s much less risk catering to the Polas crowd on a limited budget for $5-15. Now, some of them end up being worth it, some may bomb terribly. But more than it has been in a very long time in the gaming mainstream, it’s okay to like old school games again. Come on in, friends. There’s plenty of room.
#10 - Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
After going back and playing through the first three Ace Attorney games, I finally became a fan and bought this one soon after it came out. While perhaps not as epic as the trilogy starring everyone’s favorite down on his luck piano-playing card shark, the game introduced a nice bowlful of new gameplay features along with the usual entertaining cases. Not only that, but I got it just as I was moving into my current apartment, and fondly remember being huddled in my lone chair in an otherwise empty living room, talking to Wocky Kitaki while waiting for the cable guy to show up.
#9 - Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
It didn’t change things up nearly as much as I hoped it might from early impressions, but despite some iffy level design, the glyph battle system and difficulty were a noticeable step up from the previous two DS games. I don’t recall actually enjoying battling through slogs of enemies in any SOTNish game as much as I did in this one, and really, that’s as big a part of the game as the exploration. As much as people complain about the series being the same thing every year or two, when the new Kojima one comes out and averages a 7.2 or so across the board, I’ll be about ready for another one.
#8 - Mario Kart Wii
It’s a Nintendo game! And the online worked properly! That alone is probably enough for inclusion, but I also really enjoyed the track selection and vehicle variety in this one. Besides the classic tracks, the new ones were well-designed and a lot of tricks, which adds a nice layer on top of “drive straight, slow down for blue shell, keep green shell jammed in tailpipe to prevent ass beating”. Once you get used to them, the motorcycles are a blast and it’s hard to go back to the standard karts. Add in an ass-ton of stuff to unlock, and you’ve got a game that still isn’t as good as Mario Kart DS, but dammit, it tried.Polas (tc)
#7 - Space Invaders Extreme/Arkanoid DS
A dual entry, these were both incredibly well-implemented new entries into series’ long forgotten aside from sporadic ports and Futurama references. Making use of the *DS paddle*, they both make me extremely happy that I imported said paddle despite it only working for two games. Though Space Invaders is much more of an update and probably the better overall game, I have a soft spot in my heart for Arkanoid, and if such a thing even exists as a generality, it has just about anything an Arkanoid fan could ask for. Budget priced the both of them, I would have paid twice what I paid for either.
#6 - No More Heroes
Look, even if this game was NOT completely ****ed up, I would have enjoyed it a great deal. The overworld needed a lot of work and the graphics are Dreamcast-worthy, I know. But once you take Travis into an actual level with all of his learned moves, the combat is immensely satisfying, and at least to me, never got old across two playthroughs. Motion control is implemented just right for a change, and a number of options are always open to you depending on your play style. Now, add in the trip that this game takes you on, and not only Travis but you the gamer, and you have the makings of a cult classic. There’s no way I could summarize the experience in a paragraph, so I urge you to try it yourself if you haven’t already.
#5 - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
It’s your own fault. You checked the Dojo every day at 3am without fail, didn't you? Played Melee in sweaty anticipation the weeks prior. It had been 7 years in the making. Did you really think it was going to live up to your expectations? It was impossible to live up to the expectations that this game had, but it was still right ****ing fun when it came down to it. Now, it may not top Melee, but to me that’s not so much bawww they nerfed Fox, as it is Brawl being more of an overall incremental update. I mean, compared to what Melee gave us over the original game? Not quite as big a difference here. But jeez, with everything to do and unlock, it gave me hours upon hours of playtime, I loved Subspace Emissary, and the soundtrack still causes me to clench my bowels in joy just thinking about it. When online actually worked, that was fun too. A wonderful package I still play to this day.
#4 - Wario Land: Shake It!
This one came out of nowhere, but man did I play the crap out of it. It lacks the in-depth exploration of the earlier Wario games, but if you enjoy it for what it is, you’ll find some platforming perfection up in here. This is the difficulty curve I would hope Nintendo to strive for – implement a mode that *plays the game for you* if you must (really?!), but as far as the actual design, a game that’s simple enough for most people to get through, but teeth-clenchingly tough to 100%, is really all I ask for. With three treasures to collect per level, a number of side missions, and the ability to unlock a more than fair number of hidden, more difficult levels, this game is basic platform goodness at its finest. Wario controls awesomely for a fat ****, and he has a beautiful game for you to steer him through.
Let me just say that the Top 3 are so very, very close. I love them all.
#3 - Bionic Commando: ReArmed
Oh, GRIN. If only you had released your new 3D Bionic Commando earlier, closer to the release that put the bionic arm back on the map, and will eventually go down as the superior game. You may have sold more than 27k, we’ll never know, but even though I did enjoy the new one more than most, ReArmed is a masterpiece of a remake. In fact, anyone from this point on even thinking of remaking an NES-era game, needs to watch side by side footage of this game and the original BC for no less than 7 hours. Intense, unforgiving difficulty, especially on Super Hard, but when you die, you know it’s your own damn fault, and want to get back in there after a tirade of obscenities. All new weapons, bosses, abilities and graphics are implemented seamlessly, as is the ReMixed soundtrack. But man, you have that sweet bionic arm and swinging is the basic fundamental of this game … wouldn’t it be sweet if there were 60+ mind-crushingly challenging obstacle course rooms to get through, free of the main game?
:taps nose: All things considered, GRIN? Stick to 2D. As I always say, sometimes it’s just for the best.
#2 - LittleBigPlanet
You won’t find the best platformer of all time here. In fact, the physics are rather simplistic. But this game is much more than the sum of its parts; namely, a virtual YouTube of platform levels. Besides the deliciously creative levels that come with the game, thousands more await you once you hop online. Whether you’re looking for perilous challenges, new experiences, or even shameless movie parodies, there are levels for you out there. LBP is literally as good as you make it, and between being stoked when someone finally beat my nasty first level, teaming up with strangers to find hidden collectibles, or beating The Bunker’s electric death hamster wheel without losing a life, there were so many good experiences to be had with this game. And Stephen Fry’s narration is just CHARMING.
#1 – 2008 Game of the Year
Come on, I used to run a Retro Café. Did you really think nostalgia wouldn’t get the best of me? In what could very well be Mega Man’s last hurrah for a long time, the blue bomber captured our hearts and minds again when Mega Man 9 was announced as an NES-style sequel. Still, for all the outpouring of love, it wouldn’t have meant too much if the game sucked. Luckily I think most would agree that it could easily find a spot in the top three of the original series, at the very least. Lovingly crafted by Inticreates, it sports arguably the best design and most balanced weapons ever seen in a MM game. Though lacking the bells and whistles of later games, the final result is a game that takes into account all styles of classic Mega Man play, embraces, and rewards them. And hey, at least Proto Man can slide.
Over 10 years, I’ve only once been able to justify making a Mega Man game #1, despite my well-documented unhealthy obsession. Even this year, it may not have been the best game on the list, depending on your criteria. If you will, while you still can, take a look at page 6 of the previous Stuff Topic. Look at the denizens of Stuff, diverse in their gaming backgrounds, come together for *20 pages* of unbridled joy, celebrating this game for all that it is.
Unbridled joy. In the end, that’s why we play.
-P
PREVIOUS GOTY
1999-2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SId3F-Jkei4
2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQCypQdr8eY
2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU5s9oofOVg
2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWwxvtYMLLA
2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31heBiBpfto
2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sof3x3IVuf8
2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJlyP3Lhvk
2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxn3dM-6unE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAyEWr0004
Wait, maybe that police car is here to find my panties!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqraQlwZEBg
Come to me, child; I haven’t danced in ages!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORjXfUO7xMQ
Okeydokey!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4yHuSiKiNY
Like an auto loan (?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4yHuSiKiNY
What if the game gets delayed? You don't want this to become "No More Heroes Forever", do you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91ZzkOjIHg
I’ll be the Marth; e.g., noob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0arAWJtxEI
Wah-ha-ha-harrrio!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABxyptx2mC0
Get out of here, you nerd!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nuV4KoU2og
An ethereal dreamscape of wonderment and possibility … and you can go there now
Mega Man 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsBu9QiWk00
Thanks, Mega Man! Be careful out there! You haven’t done this in awhile.