Here comes the pain! Captain Falcon rears up for a Falcon Punch. (Provided By Nintendo)
Game On readers, itap been an honor to write for you this past year. The opportunity to review video games professionally has been a welcome one and I am a truly living a childhood dream.
With 2014 drawing close, I was inspired by to write my own final thoughts and rankings on some of the titles that I reviewed this year.
So, without further ado, I present my picks for the top three games of the year — drawn from a sample of games I reviewed — and my three biggest disappointments of 2014.
Let’s start with…
2014’s Biggest Surprise
Desert tanks battle for supremacy in World of Tanks.
Say what you will of “Freemium” games or free-to-play titles that include microtransactions for improved gear and added benefits, but Wargaming.netap World of Tanks offers a great experience for the low, low price of nothing. With multiplayer matches that can hold up to 30 people and an extensive arsenal of British, German and American tanks to research and upgrade, World of Tanks offers plenty of content for players who choose to play completely for free. Of course, spending cash has its advantages but itap not required for a good time.
Runners Up: Strider (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC); Bayonetta 2 (Wii U)
2014’s Most Disappointing Games
3.
It seemed that many lost faith in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy after the first installment introduced stagnant characters and linear gameplay. But for those who stuck with — and perhaps enjoyed — the trilogy, the final chapter was a big slap in the face. Square Enix chose to bog down what could have been a moving finale with a never-ending litany of side missions. Any and all momentum the story had in the first two games dissipated thanks to the flat and disjointed main story headlined by Lightning’s monotony. LR:FFXIII crushed what little hope there was left for this maligned trilogy, leaving only relief that itap finally over.
2.
Bungie’s first project after Halo would have taken the top spot as the year’s most disappointing title, but the first three months of Destiny’s shelf life have given us more insight into what Bungie intends Destiny to be. Since releasing in September, Bungie has offered up a slew of new content including new weapons, new game types, more factions for players to join and rank up in, and (most important) a pair of six-person raids. These raids are difficult missions comprised of a series of puzzles and battles that require constant communication as each player has a job to do. They truly showcase Destiny at its best. The raids don’t get Destiny off the hook, however, as the endgame content (i.e. after the main story) is so obnoxiously repetitive and tedious that even the most patient souls may tire of it. The game requires players to complete the same set of missions over and over. One particular quest asks gamers to complete 25 strike missions in exchange for a powerful weapon. This wouldn’t be problematic except players have to trek through the same four strike missions again and again. Destiny isn’t a bad game but it isn’t great, and while Bungie has made some improvements in the early-going, the game still falls woefully short of our expectations.
A guardian unleashes a destructive super ability on his foe (Provided By Bungie)
1.
Ironically, Bungie’s IP before Destiny takes the cake for biggest disappointment of 2014. Yes, 343 Industries’ revamped Halo 2 visuals are a wonder to behold and the game still plays, looks and sounds like what a next-gen Halo title should be. But the multiplayer STILL isn’t working. Bungie has released patches and updates to remedy the situation, but the experience isn’t up to par with Halo 2’s original release, let alone the standards of modern-day gaming. A Halo game without a working multiplayer is akin to a “Star Wars” film having no Jedi or Sith, or a Thanksgiving meal with no turkey (no offense to any vegetarians). While itap a big plus that the game offers four titles for the price of one, 343’s of amazing multiplayer is a colossal failure.
The Nintendo Sweep, a.k.a the Best Games I Reviewed in 2014
Peach shows off her drifting prowess. (Provided by Nintendo)
3.
In 1992, Super Mario Kart delivered a unique racing experience to Nintendo fans that featured a host of wacky characters from the company’s flagship franchise. 22 years and seven installments later, Mario Kart is still as fun today as it was back then. Mario Kart 8 shines by putting an increased emphasis on vehicle customization and offering a much more in-depth and challenging experience. Bolstered by intuitive level design — which includes zero-gravity racing and a host of shortcuts — as well as seamless multiplayer and a massive roster (like Link from Legend of Zelda) Mario Kart 8 offers a can’t-miss experience.
Bayonetta can don alternate outfits as well, as evidenced by this outfit inspired by Star Fox (Provided by Nintendo)
2.
This gory, profanity-infused, innuendo-laced title takes the No. 2 spot because itap an epic action game that pits players against the full fury of the Heavens above and Inferno below. The game follows Cereza (or Bayonetta as she is called) in her quest to save a friend from Hell’s clutches. What stands out in this title is the outlandish design of the angelic host and the demonic horde coupled with the sheer power with which Bayonetta eviscerates her enemies. The game also excels at making Bayonetta a unique and powerful figure through a multitude of combos, intense boss fights and visceral quick time events that add to the plethora of action and eye-candy the game already offers. Simply put, Bayonetta 2 is a shocking but very much welcome addition to Wii U’s generally family-friendly lineup.
1.
With some big-name titles rounding out the list of the year’s biggest disappointments, itap nice to know that Nintendo can still deliver an elite gaming experience to a AAA title. Smash Bros. seems to operate under the simple philosophy that more is better. There’s simply no end to the fun one can have in the game. Super Smash Bros. expands on numerous old favorites including Stadium mode, Stage Builder, Classic and All Star Modes. The new Smash Tour and Special Orders modes also add an extra layer of fun. Smash emphasizes customization by allowing players to create Miis and alternate versions of characters with diverse movesets.
Of course, the main event is the multiplayer, both local and online. While Smash serves up a solid online experience featuring solo and team play, itap the local multiplayer that received the biggest upgrade. Again operating under the more-is-better motto, Smash Bros. doubled the amount of players that can duke it out on a single console from four to eight. Yes, the game becomes infinitely more hectic and insane but itap a blast, and the best part is Nintendo allows gamers to use six different controllers spanning three generations of consoles. The sheer amount of volume the game has demands high marks. When playing with seven other friends, gamers rarely have to put down the controller and thatap a very good thing.
Honorable Mention: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC)
