Top 5 of 2015

Overall, 2015 was a much better year for video games than the abysmal 2014. Whether in part because it contained anticipated sequels in series where games aren’t released every year or because we just got lucky and a lot of interesting stuff got released this year that managed to gain mainstream attention, but I look back on this year with much higher hopes. With 2016 looking equally as interesting, things are looking pretty up for the world of video games right now.

As an aside, here are a list of things I haven’t played yet but plan to, as to explain their possible absence from this list: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, Undertale, Super Mario Maker, Resident Evil Revelations 2, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Jotun, Life is Strange, Pathologic HD, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Dying Light, Age of Decadence and Fallout 4.

5. Splatoon

For a long time, I always wondered why Nintendo never attempted to make their own variant of the shooter. Nintendo has always had far simpler sensibilities that looks for unique ways in which to explore a genre on its own terms. Splatoon manages to fill that void admirably, taking that leap into online shooter in their own backwards Nintendo way. While the actual matchmaking and online infrastructure is garbage, the important part, the gameplay, is fast, smooth, and fun. A game less concerned with K/D ratios and more concerned with interesting take on a tired genre is openly welcome in my mind, especially one with such a clean function.

4. Rocket League

Somewhere during the long years of the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii, developers and publishers — outside of Nintendo, I suppose — decided that multiplayer would be dedicated to how many military shooters we could conceivable fit into an already crowded arena. As one of the outliers of that time, a small company named Psyonix developed a car-combat, sports-game thing called Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, which boldly defied that trend. Not a lot of people played that game, but a lot did play the similar but excellent follow-up Rocket League.

There is nothing to say about Rocket League outside of the fact that it is exactly what it promises, rocket car soccer, and lives up to the potential in every conceivable way. Play it.

3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Once having gotten over the souring realization that the ending of the game is terrible and kind of meaningless, it becomes a lot easier to recognize that MGS V is the king of open-world gameplay this year. MGS V does not manage to strike the balance between story, post-modern implementation of gameplay elements, or solid fundamentals of those said elements, it manages to exceed expectations in the most important one. MGS V‘s open-ended mission design, as repetitive as it may be, let’s it be one of the most varied experiences of the year. It also plays great as well, which is more that can be said for the next game.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 is almost the exact opposite of Metal Gear Solid V. MGS V has excellent gameplay, TW3 is more of a mixed bag. MGS V fails to tell a compelling story in most ways, TW3 is one of the better written games of the year. MGS V‘s open-world is barren and tacked-on, TW3 is packed with compelling and unique content and is the game’s biggest strength. TW3 succeeds primarily on its tertiary elements, which elevate it to one of the best games of the year and one of the best open-world games of all time.

1. Bloodborne

Occasionally, I feel as though I’m going to be really depressed when this Souls train comes into its last stop. Since Demon’s Souls hit the scene in 2009, I’ve fallen in love with every game in the series, and each for their own different reasons. Bloodborne also proves that this is a series that thrives on strength’s of its core gameplay and setting, that having a combination of near-perfect, if familiar, mechanics coupled with a brand new setting to explore is these game’s really come into their own and stay fresh. Dark Souls II felt like a retread because it was tied to heavily to a known universe. Each other Souls game feels more original because that sense of self-discovery isn’t lost, it becomes a focal point of the game itself. Bloodborne readily and gladly ranks up with both Demon’s and Dark Souls.

 

Honorable mentions:

Sunless Sea – At some point I will dedicate more time to this game, but with my short few hours with it I was intrigued by what the game had to offer and wanted to explore more.

Her Story – Likely the most unique game of the year, Her Story is an excellent little tale about solving a mystery in a naturalistic yet non-linear fashion. Anchored by a strong central performance and a lovely conceit, Her Story is almost an excellent introductory game for someone hesitant to explore the medium due to its outwardly violent nature.

The Top 5 Games I Played that Came Out This Year

Overall, I would call 2014 a disappointing year. Most of what I was looking forward to ended up being pushed back to 2015 and what did release mostly left me feeling underwhelmed or ambivalent. However, there were still quite a few surprises to be had and while my back catalog from 2014 isn’t quite complete, here is a rough look at my Top 5 in no particular order.

1. NaissanceE

Released early this year to little fanfare, as are most things relegated to Greenlight that aren’t building/survival sims, NaissanceE was both a visual and sensory treat, giving me bright, distinct visuals and absolutely breathtaking atmosphere. I spent all of my time with the game either in awe of it or terrified of it, it’s great big cityscapes coupled with an excellent use of licensed music led it to be at the forefront of my memory, even through the rush of holiday releases late this year. A beautiful game that makes me look forward to whatever the devs bring next.

2. Divinity: Original Sin

I haven’t reviewed Divinity yet for the sole reason that I haven’t finished it yet. That being said, I don’t imagine there is much I could do that could cause it to drop in my mind. With hassle-free and tactical — if not exploitable — combat that gels seamlessly with the exploratory elements and a full co-op campaign that feels designed for such, Divinity was just a treat to play at almost every turn. Minor quibbles about delay inputs in the UI aside and sometimes juvenile writing aren’t enough to turn me away from my most pleasant surprise of 2014. Here is a Kickstarter I wish I had backed.

3. Drakengard 3

No other game on this list will be as technically incompetent or frustrating to play. Framerate and screen-tearing issues abound in the title which only hampered by the fact that the game looks like an early-era PS3 game with the budget to match. Gameplay is straight forward and repetitive to a fault and is only playable in the sense that it plays better than previous titles in the series. It’s a crude, ugly game all the way through.

And I think I’m in love with it.

While NaissanceE continues to be in the forefront of my mind, Drakengard 3 never quite left all this year either. While it fails to live up to the batshit zaniness of it’s predecessors, a great performance by Tara Platt as Zero and one of the most dysfunctional RPG casts in recent memory lend itself well to just being unforgettable. Add in the best damn score of the year and some truly wonderful directorial touches by Taro Yoko and you have a game that’s all the right levels of crazy to sometimes pull it off just right to make something so ugly become beautiful.

4. Bayonetta 2

No, I don’t think I can add anymore that needs to be said Bayonetta 2. It isn’t the masterpiece others make it out to be, but no other game will play better or gives a better bang for your buck action wise. Add to that often humorous characters and truly dazzling set pieces and you have a game that never forgets to have fun.

5. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Awful title aside, I have to love Nintendo for being one of the last few bastions of playing with friends on a couch. And no game better serves that point than Super Smash Bros. I may gripe and whine while playing — I am one of the saltiest people you’ll ever meet while playing fighting games — but I still always come back.

I find it funny that we praise Smash Bros. for having loads of content when almost all of it is terrible. Smash Tour sucks, the single player content still hasn’t evolved past what it was in Melee, this time without a goofy mode like Subspace Emissary to give me wonderful cutscenes (Shut up, I liked Subspace Emissary for the cutscenes and felt the mode would have been fine if it cut back on the repetitive gameplay elements). But the core gameplay is just so simple to grasp and fun to play around with that we kind of forgive how throwaway the rest of the game is. And I will admit that while 8-player smash is awful, I appreciate the mode because it allows for 5 people to play with little to no repercussions. No more having to rotate loser.

Honorable mentions this year include: Endless Legend (an easy choice for number 6, one of the best 4x I’ve played in a long time), Grand Theft Auto V (belongs on a 2013 list), Mario Kart 8, InFamous: Second Son, Persona 4 Arena: Ultimax.

That’s not quite it for 2014 for me (Like I said, I got backlog I’m working on right now) but this is the list in time for year end. Tomorrow I’ll highlight the games I’m looking forward to most next year.

Happy New Years, I guess.