Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Top 5 of the 1st Half of 2006
Since I don't anticipate buying any more games by the end of the month, nor the end of the summer even, I figured I might as well do my Top 5 of the 1st of 2006 for shits and giggles.
I've bought 22 games since the beginning of the year, which would seem like a lot but most of those games are games released before this year. I bought 7 which were released this year. Fun. So anways:
Chris's Top 5 Games of 2006
5. Tetris DS (DS)- I haven't really played a new version of Tetris since the original GB version that was released many years back. As far as presentation this one is great. Several themes based on classic Nintendo games and many great modes which provide tons of enjoyment in their own right. Online play, like all DS Wi-Fi games could be better but its still fun and enjoyable enough to play.
4. Brain Age (DS)- Not really a game so much as a mind-sharpener. Despite this the various exercises are plenty addictive in their own rights (I particularily like the math ones and Sudoku) and if you do poorly you honestly kind of feel ashamed of yourself. The voice recognition and handwriting programs could work better but they are relatively small problems. Amazingly the game has sold well even here in NA which is impressive and while I'm going to presume might show that Nintendo might be on to something. But who knows?
3. Mega Man X Collection (GCN)- I loves me some Mega Man. Particularliy the first 3. The PSX ones are okay but not up to their quality. The gameplay from the first three hold up well even today and actually still look quite excellent in their sprite based glory. Proves to me the adage that graphics may fade but solid gameplay doesn't age.
2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence - The way Metal Gear Solid 3 should have been. With the adjustable camera and all. Makes for a far better gameplay experience while retaining all the stuff that made Snake Eater a blast in the first place. The extras on the 2nd disc are also great. From a blooper reel (some of that stuff is hilarious) to the original MSX versions of Metal Gear (beaten it) and Metal Gear 2 (going to start eventually).
1. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - It had been 15 years before there was a 2D Mario platformer starring Mario and this game itched the scratch I'd been feeling quite effectively. Inventive level designs, decent challenge (despite the plethora of 1-ups thrown at you), and a very high level of quality makes this Super Mario Bros. homage well worth the price of admission. More uses of the new power-ups would have been cool and all but there is something about Mario and the fireflower which makes me all happy inside. In the end I feel it stacks up quite well to past Mario games and proves that 2D can still provide excellence in a world taken over by 3D.
What I'm Looking Forward to For the Rest of 2006
1. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GCN) - Can you say, duh? I think this has topped by most wanted lists since they announced it.
2. Okami (PS2) - I love the artstyle of this game and since it is from the guys who did Viewtiful Joe I have little reason not to be excited.
3. Nintendo Wii - Despite the silly name my excitement level for this system has been steady. I've very interested to see if Nintendo's promises will come true and at $200 bucks at most seeming to be likely price this won't kill my checking account like the PS3 or even the 360. I don't expect Nintendo to retake the industry (maybe raise some serious eyebrows) with this system but at the same time even if it sells moderately it won't kill Nintendo for the attempt.
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii) - I'm a big fan of the Prime series and if everything goes right this could be the best of the 3. With free-look (not that I ever really was bothered by its absence) some cool uses of the Wii-mote and nunchuck, voice acting (which surprised me) and the already very good Prime gameplay this should be a great finale.
5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - I actually really enjoyed Super Mario Sunshine and this looks to be another fine 3D Mario. It is too bad that it probably won't be a release game as Mario games (prior to the GCN) were prime system sellers and showed what the system can do. But it won't be a big deal with the other 2 of Nintendo Big 3 ready for launch.
6. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) - I've actually seen very little of this aside from the early videos but its a Zelda game and I have no doubts it will be high quality. It'll be interesting to see how they integrate the gameplay to be played via touch screen. Plus it continues to the fantastic Wind Waker art design which I have always been quite fond of.
7. Super Paper Mario (GCN) - This was a surprise honestly. Another art style I'm fond of and the gameplay videos I've seen look to be taking full advantage of the style. If it retains the Paper Mario humor along with hybrid-classic gameplay it should be a fantastic final big GCN game.
8. Yoshi's Island 2 (DS) - Yoshi's Island may be my favorite 2D platformer ever and this looks to be retaining the same artstyle while making interesting use of the babies as more than just passengers.
9. Red Steel (Wii) - If UbiSoft can pull this game off it could be a bit of a coup for Nintendo. Particularily if they can do the swordplay in a way that believable and enjoyable.
10. Star Fox Command (DS) - I'm hoping that they do more of what made Star Fox 64 such a classic and veer away from some of the more recent stuff.
Also anticipating
Rayman: Raving Rabids (Wii)
Harvest Moon DS
Metal Gear Solid 4 (it's probably not due till 2007 at least and even later for me but still I love MGS) (PS3)
Super Smash Brothers Brawl (also not due till 2007 but still) (Wii)
Final Fantasy III (DS)
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I've bought 22 games since the beginning of the year, which would seem like a lot but most of those games are games released before this year. I bought 7 which were released this year. Fun. So anways:
Chris's Top 5 Games of 2006
5. Tetris DS (DS)- I haven't really played a new version of Tetris since the original GB version that was released many years back. As far as presentation this one is great. Several themes based on classic Nintendo games and many great modes which provide tons of enjoyment in their own right. Online play, like all DS Wi-Fi games could be better but its still fun and enjoyable enough to play.
4. Brain Age (DS)- Not really a game so much as a mind-sharpener. Despite this the various exercises are plenty addictive in their own rights (I particularily like the math ones and Sudoku) and if you do poorly you honestly kind of feel ashamed of yourself. The voice recognition and handwriting programs could work better but they are relatively small problems. Amazingly the game has sold well even here in NA which is impressive and while I'm going to presume might show that Nintendo might be on to something. But who knows?
3. Mega Man X Collection (GCN)- I loves me some Mega Man. Particularliy the first 3. The PSX ones are okay but not up to their quality. The gameplay from the first three hold up well even today and actually still look quite excellent in their sprite based glory. Proves to me the adage that graphics may fade but solid gameplay doesn't age.
2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence - The way Metal Gear Solid 3 should have been. With the adjustable camera and all. Makes for a far better gameplay experience while retaining all the stuff that made Snake Eater a blast in the first place. The extras on the 2nd disc are also great. From a blooper reel (some of that stuff is hilarious) to the original MSX versions of Metal Gear (beaten it) and Metal Gear 2 (going to start eventually).
1. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - It had been 15 years before there was a 2D Mario platformer starring Mario and this game itched the scratch I'd been feeling quite effectively. Inventive level designs, decent challenge (despite the plethora of 1-ups thrown at you), and a very high level of quality makes this Super Mario Bros. homage well worth the price of admission. More uses of the new power-ups would have been cool and all but there is something about Mario and the fireflower which makes me all happy inside. In the end I feel it stacks up quite well to past Mario games and proves that 2D can still provide excellence in a world taken over by 3D.
What I'm Looking Forward to For the Rest of 2006
1. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GCN) - Can you say, duh? I think this has topped by most wanted lists since they announced it.
2. Okami (PS2) - I love the artstyle of this game and since it is from the guys who did Viewtiful Joe I have little reason not to be excited.
3. Nintendo Wii - Despite the silly name my excitement level for this system has been steady. I've very interested to see if Nintendo's promises will come true and at $200 bucks at most seeming to be likely price this won't kill my checking account like the PS3 or even the 360. I don't expect Nintendo to retake the industry (maybe raise some serious eyebrows) with this system but at the same time even if it sells moderately it won't kill Nintendo for the attempt.
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii) - I'm a big fan of the Prime series and if everything goes right this could be the best of the 3. With free-look (not that I ever really was bothered by its absence) some cool uses of the Wii-mote and nunchuck, voice acting (which surprised me) and the already very good Prime gameplay this should be a great finale.
5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - I actually really enjoyed Super Mario Sunshine and this looks to be another fine 3D Mario. It is too bad that it probably won't be a release game as Mario games (prior to the GCN) were prime system sellers and showed what the system can do. But it won't be a big deal with the other 2 of Nintendo Big 3 ready for launch.
6. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) - I've actually seen very little of this aside from the early videos but its a Zelda game and I have no doubts it will be high quality. It'll be interesting to see how they integrate the gameplay to be played via touch screen. Plus it continues to the fantastic Wind Waker art design which I have always been quite fond of.
7. Super Paper Mario (GCN) - This was a surprise honestly. Another art style I'm fond of and the gameplay videos I've seen look to be taking full advantage of the style. If it retains the Paper Mario humor along with hybrid-classic gameplay it should be a fantastic final big GCN game.
8. Yoshi's Island 2 (DS) - Yoshi's Island may be my favorite 2D platformer ever and this looks to be retaining the same artstyle while making interesting use of the babies as more than just passengers.
9. Red Steel (Wii) - If UbiSoft can pull this game off it could be a bit of a coup for Nintendo. Particularily if they can do the swordplay in a way that believable and enjoyable.
10. Star Fox Command (DS) - I'm hoping that they do more of what made Star Fox 64 such a classic and veer away from some of the more recent stuff.
Also anticipating
Rayman: Raving Rabids (Wii)
Harvest Moon DS
Metal Gear Solid 4 (it's probably not due till 2007 at least and even later for me but still I love MGS) (PS3)
Super Smash Brothers Brawl (also not due till 2007 but still) (Wii)
Final Fantasy III (DS)
