NetherRealm Studios(Mortal Kombat) just released the first TV Spot for their latest fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us. It's a hilarious bit featuring Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, or Jay and Silent Bob for some, debating which DC super hero would win in a fight.
Aquaman, we love you deep inside. Injustice Gods Among Us comes out on April 16 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii U.
In 2011, Nintendo pulled out all the stops for Zelda's 25th Anniversary. They had re-releases in the form of Ocarina of Time 3D and Link's Awakening DX, while Four Swords Adventures was freely offered to anyone with a DSi/3DS and the original Zelda gifted to early adopters of the 3DS, not to mention the Zelda Symphony that toured the globe. But the real prize, we knew, was to be the long-awaited Skyward Sword, the first game in the series developed exclusively for the Wii and set to fulfill Nintendo's long-awaited promise of true 1:1 sword controls with the Wii MotionPlus.
But while we all waited impatiently to see whether the game would deliver excellent combat, Nintendo was busy crafting an epic love letter to Zelda fans the world over with a story set at the far beginning of the established timeline, and an art style that strikes a good balance between the cel-shaded pastels of Wind Waker and the bloom-lit gothic environments of Twilight Princess. The end result is an experience that surprisingly delivers on every front, answering long-running questions about the Zelda mythos even as its gameplay, overworld and level designs challenge earlier ideas in the series. Towards the end of this review, I’ll also go into the reasons why the game has been considered a disappointment, and why I think it deserves a second look.
Not Your Daddy’s Zelda: A Further Evolution of Zelda’s Gameplay Mechanics
The basic setup, without giving too much away: Link is a student at the Knights’ Academy in Skyloft, where riders of the enormous Loftwings patrol the skies and save anyone falling off the edges of the realm’s floating islands. Zelda, the Mayor’s daughter, appears to take a liking to Link, which rival suitor Groose can’t stand. After Link spends a wonderful day with Zelda during a big ceremony, she is inexplicably captured by a whirling storm. Chasing after her, Link, too, is sucked into the unnatural vortex, and awakens on the elusive surface world, having somehow survived. Once there, he learns that an ancient evil is in danger of being revived, and that Zelda is off on a secret mission to keep this timeless evil from unleashing some horrible doom upon the world. Link ends up pursuing Zelda through self-contained sections of the surface world, where he runs into the powerful, effeminate magician and swordsman Ghirahim, who’s also pursuing the princess and may have something to do with monsters swarming the surface world.
That’s right, I mentioned self-contained sections. One of the odder things about Skyward Sword is that it has no real overworld. The surface segments are divided into large areas that host multiple dungeons each, but do not connect with one another. As for the world in the clouds, it isn’t large or eventful enough, with only a few satellite islands, most of which exist only to host mini-games or recover secret treasures sent by Goddess Cubes from the surface, the only real incentive towards exploration. While playing the game I got the feeling that if the game had a little more time in development, the floating islands in the sky may have featured more to explore and enjoy, especially since the Loftwing physics are fun, being very realistic (you lose speed when climbing and gain it by descending, although the unlockable spin move you get later on defies physics entirely). The sky world is beautiful, but I found that I did the least exploring out of any Zelda game thanks to a serious lack of anything to explore or investigate. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, since the game world is huge and the ground segments have a ton of content, but for those who enjoy Zelda games for the hidden rooms and promises of stumbling upon secrets through exploration, it’s a bit of a letdown. There’s hours of character-driven mini-quests strewn about, as well as more signature mini-games than in any other 3D Zelda, but there is definitely a feeling of something missing.
As for the combat on the other hand, which was what I was most excited about pending the game’s release, I can happily say that it delivers a fantastic, immersive experience while maintaining the difficulty at a degree just enough to be challenging and allow the player to learn. Personally, I found my first play-through pretty smooth, but depending on your aptitude with the Wii Remote, your mileage may vary. As with other 3D Zeldas, combat is pretty forgiving. But this time, Link isn’t always operating with a full tank of gas, so to speak. He has a stamina meter now that limits running and dictates your combos, so you have to be creative in pacing your battles. There’s no more endless rolling to gain speed, either, as the A button now makes the hero sprint. I found this a very welcome change. To prevent shield spamming, Link’s shields now have a durability meter. If your shield takes enough hits, it’ll be useless, and the next attack will leave you open and robbed of stamina. Repairing and upgrading your shields in Skyloft’s town is essential, and easily accomplished.
You can also carry multiple shields and multiple instances of certain assist items, as well as mix a complex brew of potions with varying effects; there aren’t as many gadgets time around, but the item management and upgrades in Skyward Sword provide a more complex experience than the traditional item sets in Zelda, where historically, once you’ve found something, you don’t need to work to upgrade or maintain it. For the collectors like myself who love to chase the rare bugs (no fishing this time around, sadly), the net upgrades are very worth it.
The Frontier For Motion Controls: The MotionPlus Knows When You Waggle
I have no idea how the MotionPlus works, but unlike in the Wii version of Twilight Princess, you can’t just waggle the Wii Remote anymore. Link’s onscreen avatar actually holds the sword in the manner you do, and while full-arm swings are thankfully not necessary for the most part (the same effect can be achieved through swinging from the elbow), the tech gets the job done in terms of immersion and accuracy. Link can swing horizontally, vertically and diagonally with ease, and the enemies this time around are programmed so that there’s always a smart way to dispatch them. The Stalfos and Lizalfos are especially fun to fight. Protip: if you have a Wii Remote with a MotionPlus built in and you daisy-chain a Motion-Plus attachment onto it, it makes the controller’s response even more fluid. Link can also perform two-handed vertical and horizontal spin attacks by holding the Wii Remote and nunchuk together and swinging. You bash with his shield, as well as parry, using the nunchuk. The signature move this time around is the Skyward Strike – raise the Wii Remote to the air and Link will charge up a powerful blow that can travel across a room. The move functions just like the charged shots from the 2D games. It’s all quite intuitive. Menu controls are a breeze. Skyward Sword also has the easiest access to the inventory screen out of any 3D Zelda ¬– simply hold the B button down and motion your wrist towards items on a large wheel, then release B when you’re ready. You can even move whilst selecting items.
The gadgets this time around make the most of the Wii MotionPlus without relying on it. The best example of this is the remote-controlled beetle that controls better than it has any right to, lending itself to complex flight paths. If the calibration veers off, as it inevitably does, just tap the d-pad with your thumb and the beetle will right itself. It’s a brilliant fix for a common problem with the Wii Remote’s gyro controls. As mentioned previously, there are now upgradable items, often used to accomplish side-quests, and getting these upgrades can be mini-quests of their own, as Link is sent to various locales to find the necessary materials. Not to worry, these fetch quests aren’t a large part of the game. A few of the upgrades are downright useless (who needs an upgraded slingshot when you have a bow?) but I found myself investing in all of them.
Riddle Me This: Puzzles, Level Design and Epic Bosses
People who thought that Twilight Princess was lacking in difficult puzzles will find that the same rule unfortunately applies to Skyward Sword. There are a few moments where I’ll admit I had to stop and think for a few minutes, but for the most part the game is a very straightforward experience.
From a lifetime of playing Zelda, the series’ game design rules are clear to me. That said, if the same winning formula is at work, some kid out there will have the same feelings of wonder and satisfaction that I did playing Ocarina of Time at ten years old. Perhaps it’s inevitable that things would be easier for someone who’s grown up playing Zelda, but never once did I encounter an obstacle that stumped me for more than a quarter of an hour. Some would say that’s a sign of good game design, but to me this is a radical change from what I expect from a Zelda game; taking away that feeling of frustration at not knowing what to do next takes away somewhat from the satisfying completion of those tasks.
After all, isn’t challenge an essential ingredient in the elements of an epic game? My deaths in Skyward Sword were few and far between. Most of them can be chalked up to The Imprisoned, a powerful recurring boss. Maybe that’s why we have Hero mode (unlocked by beating the game), where you take double damage and there are no random/dropped hearts… but I haven’t finished my Hero mode play-through, so let’s not get into that.
One of the cooler things about Skyward Sword’s level design is how it blurs the lines between field areas and dungeons. It often feels like the entire game is a dungeon, in that there’s always some gameplay-driven puzzle to solve before you can move forward, even in areas you’ve already explored. You’ll often find yourself utilizing Fi’s dowsing ability, which has you searching with the Wii Remote to find hidden areas or objects. So while there isn’t much backtracking within dungeons, the large environments on the surface are used and re-used for multiple events and even transform throughout the game depending on the needs of the story. Essentially, there’s less of an overworld as much as there are common ‘satellite worlds’ that you revisit from time to time – a desert area, a mountain area and a forest area. The large size and variety of these areas makes for a game that’s packed with content and will take even a seasoned gamer between thirty and forty hours to finish for the first time – just the right amount of time you want to spend in Hyrule.
A new element that I really enjoyed was the introduction of the Silent Realm. In these visually stunning segments, Link must sneak past towering Guardians, avoid the glowing ‘Waking Water’ and collect Goddess Tears scattered throughout a shadowy version of the familiar satellite locations in order to ‘grow his spirit’ and obtain some essential upgrade or item. Think of it as Zelda Gear Solid, only you can’t fight back against your pursuers, and you’re on a time limit. Since one hit from the Guardians will force you to repeat the entire trial, there’s no way you can beat these trials on your first go. Memorization and smart playing are necessary.
Every one of the dungeons this time around is a delight, with visual wonders around every corner. Although there are basically seven dungeons in fewer locations, each is distinctive, with some focusing on enemies and others on puzzles. One of the things that struck me this time around is the sheer beauty of these fully rendered dungeons, and the variety of gameplay styles that they take you through (one dungeon has Link rolling around on spheres floating on a looping river of lava, while another one takes place entirely on an ancient, but technologically advanced, pirate ship).
The standout dungeon this time around is actually (surprise!) the traditionally hated Water Temple, “Ancient Cistern”, which is split into two opposite but beautiful halves around a giant state of a Hyrulian stand-in for Buddha. My brother tells me that the dungeon is based on an ancient Buddhist story. It’s all quite Zen until things take a darker turn, with some of the creepiest, most atmospheric moments in Zelda history. The dungeon’s boss is also one of the best in the entire series, with an epic fight that recalls the more difficult bosses in the old-school games, even though figuring out how to damage the boss is half the challenge. On the other hand, the aforementioned boss “The Imprisoned”, and of course Ghirahim, are difficult every time. These fights provide a lot of the game’s tougher moments and are well staged to make it difficult but rewarding to the attentive player.
Speaking of bosses, Skyward Sword’s most intense and rewarding side attraction is the Boss Rush, unlocked towards the end of the game. True to its name, you attempt gauntlets of every boss, with no life regeneration. You can wuss out at any time and go away with a consolation prize, or keep chugging on and try your luck. It’s a fantastic mode that I hope Nintendo includes in subsequent games. For us old fogeys who grew up playing games in the 16-bit era, the only thing the 3D Zelda games (aside from Majora’s Mask) have been lacking in is a serious challenge. Boss Rush mode is very welcome in this regard, especially since most of the bosses are actually quite challenging and the order in which you fight them is randomized. The real fun begins when you attempt to take on every boss on the unforgiving Hero Mode. I won’t spoil my favorite prize, but it’s more than worth the toil, not just for its practical use, but also for bragging rights.
Presentation: A Zelda That Shines Story-wise, Visually and Aurally
Without spoiling anything, I would like to say that I think Skyward Sword, as the official first game in the Zelda timeline, features the best story and writing out of any other game in the franchise. You can see where a lot of Hyrule’s mythology comes from here. Nintendo has officially woven together the seemingly disconnected threads of the story that is The Legend of Zelda and the result is damn near magical. The most important questions have been answered, leaving only a few gaps left in the storyline. If Skyward Sword were the last Zelda game ever made, it would at the very least be a major triumph in story from a company that usually puts narrative considerations to the side in lieu of emphasizing gameplay mechanics.
There’s also a pretty strong focus on character development, featuring writing that turns Zelda from an aloof princess to a moè-infused girl next door as well as a major character throughout the game, and providing Link with a strong comedic foil in Groose. A huge cast of funny side characters rounds out the ensemble. While there are a few animé tropes and, once again, Nintendo decided not to go with voice acting, the result is probably the first Zelda game where I was as thoroughly invested in the story as I was in the gameplay.
Fan reaction has been hotly divided on the graphics and art style of Skyward Sword. Early word-of-mouth was positive, but some felt that it was trying too hard to strike a balance between the look of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Personally, I think the game looks fine. Taking into consideration the fact that this is meant to be the very first Zelda before Ocarina of Time’s timeline split (which results in the alternate universes of Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past and Wind Waker), the art style fits perfectly. I just wish that the game were in HD, and that the textures were more detailed. Certain things like leaves on trees don’t hold up under close inspection. But overall, the pastel-colored palette fits the game very well. I wouldn’t mind if Nintendo continued to use a similar style for the next game in the series.
Perhaps the lack of an unbroken overworld and muted details in the textures can be explained by the fact that Skyward Sword boasts a fully orchestral soundtrack with over three hours of original music, something that would tax the storage capacity on a single Wii disc. The soundtrack is soaring, with the main theme, The Ballad of the Goddess, made from the reversed notes of Zelda’s Lullaby, being one of the best in the series.
While I thought Twilight Princess had a great soundtrack, many of the tracks were synthesized. With a full orchestra following Link’s every move (even the familiar chimes are orchestrated), this game just takes composer Koji Kondo’s work to the next level. For hardcore Zelda fans, I highly recommend checking out the original soundtrack, as well as the Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary disc, which contains rousing arrangements from the touring Zelda concert. What excites me the most is thinking of what the next Zelda will be like on the Wii U, since storage space won’t be a factor on the console’s discs, which utilize Blu-Ray tech.
Closing Thoughts: A Trip To Hyrule Worth Taking
If you have a Wii and consider yourself a Zelda fan, even if it was once upon a time, I highly recommend Skyward Sword. I even classify it as one of the best games of this generation. The biggest complaint I have about it is that due to its motion controls, it follows the same pattern as Twilight Princess in that there is a lengthy introductory phase where the game has to teach you how to play it. But once that hump is over and done with, the experience really shines, delivering a game that’s polished from beginning to end, down to every little side mission. It hardly ever repeats itself throughout thirty to forty hours of gameplay. The story is worthwhile, the music is excellent, the items are fun to use and the bosses are epic. There isn’t a sour note struck throughout this entire game.
The love and work that went into this title is clearly evident. The only problem is that Nintendo took their sweet time in releasing it. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait nearly as long for the next Zelda game.
Score: 9/10
Pros:
- Fun and immersive new control scheme - Fantastic dungeons and level design - A story that ties together the entire Zelda franchise - Completely orchestral soundtrack takes you into another world - Hero mode difficulty turns the game into a hardcore experience
Cons:
- No real overworld map - Still no voice acting or cinematic cut-scenes - Certain textures could have been more detailed
Another video review. This time for the Dragon War Garand gaming headset. Still not used to talking to a camera so again, forgive the crudeness of this review.
Score: 8/10
Taken from the Dragon War website:
Product Code: G-HS-001
Features:
Vibration functions 5.1 Channel Dolby surround sounds Microphone connected USB Master volume control USB powered, no additional power Detachable microphone with Quick On connection
Headphone:
Front Sound Frequency: 25 – 18 KHz Front Speaker: Ø 40mm x 2.35 ohm Rear Sound Frequency: 100 – 18 KHz Rear Speaker: Ø 30mm x 2.32 ohm Center Sound Frequency Response: 100 – 18 KHz Center Speaker: Ø 33mm x 2.32 ohm Heavy Bass Sound Frequency Response: 20 – 160 Hz Heavy Bass Vibration Speaker: Ø 30mm x 2.8 ohm Impedance: 32 ohm Sensitivity: 112 +/- 3dB Maximum Input: 40mW Cable Length: 220 cm Connection: USB Weight: 220g Microphone: Microphone Sizes 6 x 5 mm Frequency: 50Hz – 16 KHz Sensitivity: -58 dB Impedance: 2.2 ohm Connection: 3.5 mm plug Directional: Omni-directional
I am just at a loss of words at how amazing this is. Before you hit the play button, place your hands under your chin because you jaw will literally drop.
It's that time of the year again. Last year was a beast! Tons of games landed on 2012 on different kinds of platforms that I'm surprised we survived the year. We look back and pick the the top 5 games of 2012. When you talk about the best games, we all have our own personal favorites, but here's ours. Don't hold your breathe, this post is going to be a long one.
Carlos' Top 5 of 2012
What a great year. Thanks to 2012, the list of games I'd like to play have doubled. Max Mayne 3, Sleeping Dogs, FTL: Faster Than Light, Darksiders , and Trine 2, these are just some of the games I still want to try . I'll eventually find some time to look back and play them, but for now, here's my top 5.
# 5 Mass Effect 3 (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC)
Screw everybody that call this a horrible game because of the ending. In truth, this is the best Mass Effect has ever been. It’s true that Bioware did not deliver in wrapping up this beloved series, but people forget the epic journey that led to that disappointing end. The combat was fluid, the game looked amazing, and they wrapped up every character we grew to love in three games perfectly. You have no idea how big my smile was when my Shepard and Garrus was shooting for fun at the citadel, talk about the what we went through, right before we headed out for the final battle. No matter what, Mass Effect 3 delivered in all fronts… except the last 15 minutes.
# 4 Dragon’s Dogma(PS3 / Xbox 360)
I love seeing new IP’s try to make a name for itself. This one in particular, Dragon’s Dogma, scratched an itch that I had for years. A game that borrowed features from games like Shadow of Colossus or Monster Hunter made it stand out from the crowd. The ability to climb the big monsters of this game and it’s unique pawn system kept the game fresh all throughout my playthrough. This game is also pretty deep in character customization with each class bringing a completely different set of skills. The world is large and viscous. It provided a sense of challenge that requires preparation before heading outside the gates of Gran Soren. If Capcom makes a sequel, I’m on board 100%.
# 3 XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC)
XCOM: Enemy Unknown was one of my most anticipated game of 2012, and it did not disappoint one bit. A re-imagining of the 1994 classic with the same name, this game captures everything that made the original game so great. Gameplay on the field and during base management was well polished, making this a game that can just suck you in for hours. It’s one of the hardest strategy games you will ever play, but if you stick with it all the way in the end, the feeling after a successful mission is oh so satisfying, especially when someone doesn’t die in your squad, and that is rare. Just like the old game, I will definitely see myself popping the disc every now and then for another go at XCOM.
#2 The Walking Dead (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC)
It’s rare to see a game that gets all this attention just by character progression and narration. The Walking Dead deserved that attention because it had one of the best story I've ever encountered in a video game. It has a good number of interesting characters and a comic art style that fits the world of The Walking Dead. This game is all about player decisions. Hard decisions that pressures the players with consequences that make you stop and think. Will it be good for the group if I choose this? Or will this benefit Clementine? It’s all about Clementine. When you get to the first three episodes, you will feel this responsibility over this little girl, as if you will move heaven and earth just to protect her from this doomed world. This game was a breath of fresh air, and deserves my number 2 slot.
#1 Guild Wars 2 (PC)
When I sat down to write my top 5 my number 1 slot was already filed. Guild Wars 2 is a prime example that the standard formula of MMORPG's can be broken and find success. This game brought back the fun in leveling a character. The combat always keeps you at the edge of your seat, and exploring has never been this fun in an MMO. Cooperation with other players is greatly encouraged too, even if you don't like playing with others you will find yourself fighting a giant with a bunch of players that appeared out of nowhere to help. The world of tyria is massive, and the game looks amazing, It's hard to believe that this game has no subscription fees with the amount of content this game has to offer. PVE, PVP, WorldvsWorld, I can never get enough of GW2.
Miggy's Top 5 of 2012
I'm at that spot again where I wasn't able to play a lot of games that were released in 2012. The real world just likes to kick my ass that way. Yes, Migoy is still playing catch-up. However, all is not lost. Even with my lack of modern game dosage, I do still have a top 5 for 2012.
#5 Hitman Absolution (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC)
Having missed out on the Hitman franchise, it's nice to see that the series was not abandoned. While not being a full return to form factor, Hitman: Absolution still gives you (the player) a good feeling of satisfaction when completing missions with pure stealth. Sure there are fixed segments where you just have to haul ass in an action-movie-esque fashion but I like being giving the option to either sneak buy or just gun it down. Though gunning it down, in my opinion, has become stale these past years.
#4 Dragon's Dogma (PS3 / Xbox 360)
I had no interest in this game prior to seeing and then playing the public demo that was released. Having not seen any gameplay or trailers up to that point, I just thought that Dragon's Dogma was just a weaker Skyrim. The fact that it was published by Capcom (evil, modern Capcom) didn't really help it either. I changed my mind instantly after seeing the combat and then eventually trying it out myself. I am still far from completing this game and it does have some glaring problems but my initial impression of it's world is still up there plus seeing the image of a giant cyclops coming out of the night shadow still gets the heart racing.
#3 Max Anarchy(PS3 / Xbox 360)
Though a bit of a grey area in terms of release, I did import a copy of Anarchy Reigns (Max Anarchy in Japan) which did get released in 2012. Being a huge fan of anything that Platinum Games releases, this was a no brainer. With it's insane cyber-punk world, fun brawler / beat-em up style of combat and having Bayonetta as a DLC character. Anarchy Reigns should be on everyone's list of best 2013 games.
#2 Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (PS3 / Xbox 360 / Wii U)
It may just be Tekken 6 but with more characters and a gimmicky tag system but this game is near perfect. Tekken 6 was great, add to that the added depth that new tag mechanic brings in plus a magnitude of characters from both old and new Tekken games, a rich character customization menu and a fantastic online netcode. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 should be a standard in everyone's game library.
#1 Persona 4 Arena (PS3 / Xbox 360)
This may not be the most popular game around or the most diverse. Having only 13 characters in a time where the standard character count in most fighting games are 40 and above, it doesn't sound too appealing. However, even with only 13 characters in the roster, I still find myself baffled by most of the cast when facing characters that I am unfamiliar with. You'd think with the small amount of characters, I'd have tried all of them at least once. With great looking sprite animation, an easy to pick up but hard to master combat system, a very good netcode, and still so much to explore. Persona 4 Arena, or "Persona 4 The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena" as it is called here in Asia, still takes the number 1 spot on my top 5 games in 2012 list.
Joseph's Top 5 of 2012
Whew, 2012 was quite a year! I finally acquired an old-school PS3, started up a farm with my family and caught up with some of my backlog. Didn’t get the chance to pick up too many AAA titles, since I buy mostly used games, but for the most part I enjoyed my purchases. Games I wish I could have played include Zone of the Enders HD Collection, Darksiders II, Legend of Grimrock, Halo 4, Assassin’s Creed III, Tales of Graces f, Torchlight II, Nintendo Land and ZombiU. But alas, I’ll have to have a look into those some future time. These are my favorites of 2012.
Runners-up: The Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb DLC (PC), Kid Icarus Uprising (3DS), Katawa Shoujo (PC)
#5 Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
The only reason this game is only #5 is that it’s essentially a port of a hard-to-find PS2 title. As a JRPG lover, I may have some bias towards the genre, but despite its setbacks including a main character that is annoying at first and takes some time to come into his own, I heartily recommend this game. The Tales series’ trademarks are all here in one lengthy package: dozens of hours of gameplay, voice-acted cut scenes, numerous character skits, a wide world to explore and a story filled with colorful characters and rich political intrigue. The tried-and-true battle system is relatively unchanged and easy to get into, and Artes can be assigned to four buttons on the touch screen for ease of use. If you’re itching for an epic JRPG fix on the go, look no further.
#4 Sonic 4: Episode II (PSN)
I’m going to get some flak for this one, I’m sure, but this one hit me right in the childhood. Hot off the heels of Sonic Generations, Sega releases this gem. Forget the terrible Sonic 4: Episode I, this is the real deal. Levels have the same nostalgic feeling as the Genesis games, especially those from Sonic 2, the series’ best. It’s like somehow Sonic Team remembered how to do old-school Sonic again. Even the music is better, and the bosses tough and memorable. Getting that last Chaos Emerald is nearly impossible unless you have a second player helping as Tails. Definitely worth it for any Sonic diehards out there (yes, all two of you).
#3 Final Fantasy Theatrhythm (3DS)
The most played game on my 3DS by far, Theatrhythm is a dream come true for any Final Fantasy fan who enjoys rhythm games. It’s fast-paced and addicting, and the randomized Dark Notes kept the challenge coming. I was stuck living in a trailer with no Internet access for months, and I can’t tell you how many long nights I spent lying in bed playing this game. With almost all of the best Final Fantasy field and battle songs available either in the game or available as DLC (the downloadable “Force Your Way” from FFVIII is the most challenging song I’ve ever encountered in a rhythm game), this is really a must-have for collectors.
#2 Journey (PSN)
If you had told me that one of my favorite games of the year would be one in which you wander across a desert landscape having vague interactions with other players and jumping across ancient ruins, I would have laughed. But there’s something positively magical about this short but sweet title. Maybe it’s in the presentation, or the way the story is told piece by piece, without a single word spoken or read, lending the whole experience a universally appealing quality. Sony’s Santa Monica Studios really delivered with this beautiful, atmospheric game that’s both simple and wildly ambitious. You can take the journey alone if you remain offline, but it’s more fun to replay the game multiple times with different people. You’ll never have the same experience twice.
#1 The Last Story (Wii)
For my top pick, I’m endorsing a game that is sure to become a cult classic among JRPG fanatics. Mistwalker Studio’s latest effort is much better than it had any right to be. After producing the underrated Lost Odyssey and straightforward but enjoyable Blue Dragon for the Xbox 360, Hironobu Sakaguchi breaks new ground once more with the first game he’s directed in almost a decade. The Last Story is a surprisingly strong reinvention of the action-RPG, featuring an epic, fully voice acted story (the British dubbing is great), and a real-time battle system that’s easy to learn, but tough to master. Who would have thought that you could put a cover system in a JRPG and have it as one of the centerpieces of the battle system? Well, here it works wonders. Focusing your control on one character but always needing to keep your teammates’ positions in mind, sniping far-off enemies and being aware of your surroundings allows for fun, fast-paced fights. I haven’t tried the acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles yet, but this is the best JRPG I’ve played on the Wii.
That's our top 5, what about you? What games deserve to be on your list?
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