If
you were to ask… well, any gamer really, how they felt about the year in gaming,
it would probably be along the lines of “One of the best.” Then if you were to
ask them what their favorite game was, you would be presented with a myriad of
answers. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a game could be found in every
month on the calendar that could be game of the year material. Sure, there
would be very strong leanings. I’m sure you’d find more Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild fans than Cuphead, but the fact remains that a strong argument can be made
for any of them.
With
this myriad of games, I’ve been able to fend of the worst of emotional distress
this year, and boy was there a lot of it. I no longer had the drive to write or
make movies or do anything creative really. I found myself constantly locking
myself away due to my immense feelings of anxiety that I get just talking to
close friends or even my parents on the phone. I often cancelled last minute to
parties or get-togethers, being a complete flake, because I was deathly afraid
of being ignored at some point during any kind of interaction. What’s crazy is
that some games this year that I’ve escaped to would actually encourage me to
pick myself back up! Like any good book I’ve read or any great film I’ve seen,
I was compelled to move. These games have meant a lot to me and I can only hope
that with this list maybe one more game will be played by someone who reads it.
As silly as it sounds, maybe they too will be compelled to move and understand
that even a small action for someone else can do a whole lot more than they
realize, even if it’s just words of encouragement.
So without further ado
here are...
MY
FAVORITE, MOST IMMACULATE, PERFECT GAMES OF THE YEAR! JUST KIDDING, BUT PLAY
THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE V GOOD.
(DISCLAIMER:
Haven’t played Horizon Zero Dawn or Super Mario: Odyssey, but plan to)
10.
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Puyo
Puyo Tetris harkens back to my love of two classic
games. If you don’t know what at least one of those are (very likely it’s that
game, Tetris, that you know), then
really I just don’t know why you’ve read up to this point. Not knowing Puyo Puyo is understandable. Any
iteration of the game hasn’t been localized in the good ol’ US-of A since 2004,
and even then the only reason I know the name is because of the game Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine, which
was included with my copy of the Sonic
Mega Collection on the Nintendo GameCube.
Really simple about this
one, if you have any love for a good classic puzzler this game will scratch
that nostalgia itch while also changing up any preconceptions you had of either
game. Just the simple act of combining the two throws all sorts of mind bending
perplexities your way, which only makes it much more satisfying when you pull
of either of the trademark devastating moves: the aptly named “Tetris” or “Puyo
Pop.”
While the game is an
absolute blast in multiplayer with a ton of game modes, the single player is
such a charmer. It’s not brilliant writing or anything, but hearing the voice
actors really sell this wacky story about how the world of Puyo Puyo and Tetris
collide through some kind of space-time continuum is just a treat. Combo that
with truly difficult puzzles that test your knowledge of either game as well as
your game-based dexterity, you have a near perfect nostalgia puzzler of a
system that makes it seem quite at home… It’s just a treat to play on your
couch or on the go. Thank you Nintendo Switch!
9.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
My roommate would
probably get mad at me for including this on my list because… confession time…
I’ve never finished it. The game is unnerving. I often don’t feel like subjecting
myself to some of the things that the game does. I’m sure for plenty of people
it’s not bad at all, but for me personally I just can’t do it. So if that’s the
case, why is it on my list?
I once actually stayed up
for about an hour more than I expected just to hear my roommate talk to a
friend over Discord about what makes this game so great. The friend over
Discord had just finished it while my roommate had time to let that game simmer.
The fact is this game is a bold exploration in what a game could be. Not only
that, but the game isn’t afraid to tackle some of the harder hitting subject
matters. These run the gamut, evoking thoughts that could range from one’s
perception of A.I. to thoughts of emotional and physical abuse that can occur
even in one’s home.
By the end of the
conversion my roommate would ask “Hey dude, are we keeping you up?”
I say “Yes,” to be one of
those “functioning” adult fellows and not get up late for work.
But what I really meant
to say was “No. I want to learn more about this truly special game.”
8.
Yakuza 0
I don’t think I’ve ever
played a game funnier than Yakuza 0. Prior
to playing, the only thing I knew about it was that they at one point fight
zombies in another game of the series. This was because of me playing both Project X Zone 1 and 2. When my roommate
bought it and we began playing I had no idea what I was getting into.
Diary
entry: Day 3 of playing Yakuza 0
To anyone that can hear me. Send help. I
need water. I have yet to stop playing the collectible Crane game or the
Karaoke mini-game in Yakuza 0 for some time.
Good
GOD are the mini-games so addicting here. From the endless sea of crane game
collectibles to the gut wrenching defeat of slot cars, I just can’t get enough!
Just that assortment alone was enough to hook me. WHICH MAKES ME SOUND LIKE AN
INSANE PERSON.
While
I’m content with just those aspects of the game, the rest of Yakuza 0 wouldn’t
have it. “Nope,” said the game. “Check this out this dope Yakuza beat down of a
main story!” A lot of the characters shine as icons of the criminal underworld.
They’re tough. They’re mean. And man is it satisfying to show them who’s the
new boss in town. This is completely juxtaposed with the super wacky side
stories that are strewn throughout. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder when
we had to teach a dominatrix how to have the confidence to dominate someone. It
seemed like a longshot that these games would even come to America, but I’m
glad that this one has. Pick it up for a good laugh or to waste your life away
racing slot cars.
7.
Tales of Berseria
So Tales of Berseria is a really great
entry in the series. I wasn’t crazy about the last game (Tales of Zesteria) primarily because I couldn’t get over the camera
controls. It’s an even bigger problem considering I only play the Tales games
multiplayer: when my sister and I aren’t working. My sister and I have enjoyed
Tales games ever since that brilliant masterwork known as Tales of Symphonia.
So really that’s what this game, and the series, mean to me.
The controls feel better
than Zesteria, which goes a long way if you’re playing a multiplayer RPG. The
main character is more of a brooding anti-hero which is a nice departure from
the rest of series. The game has Magilou, who I thought was going to be
annoying, but turns out to be one of the most fun and eccentric game characters
of the year. And above all, I get to spend time hanging out with my sister,
playing a great game. Also, just like every Tales game, religion is bad.
6.
Resident Evil 7
Oh
baby what a comeback. I have yet to find anyone who actually enjoyed their time
playing the previous installment: Resident
Evil 6. Even playing with my funniest friends, RE6 would be a chore and a
huge waste of time. Thank Yeezus Capcom decided to right this ship by taking a
couple steps back… all the way to their roots.
A
couple years ago I lived with a roommate who would play Resident Evil: REmake every year. While I loved the series myself,
it was a profound experience to live with a person who played it annually as if
some sort of Holiday. I mean, that’s how special those games were. Resident Evil on PS1 is the exact moment
that I can register where I felt fear and was actively traumatized by it. My
older cousin invited me over to the other room to watch “A Cool Video Game!”
The moment that would occur is the famous zombie-dog through the window
sequence which left me saying “There’s no such thing as zombies” over and over
again in my bed that night.
I
harken back to those games so passionately because RE7 is just such a great
example of taking what made the older RE games a religious experience and
adapting it into something fresh and exciting. What I’m trying to say is that
it’s the contestant on Chopped that managed to transform the basket of
ingredients while still keeping the integrity of the food they originally
started out with.
5.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
What
is there to be said about Breath of the
Wild that hasn’t already been said? Many people consider it a masterpiece
and easily one of the greatest games of all time. It even, to most, stands out
in a year like this where there are MANY games that could possibly be in the
top 100 of all time. It’s a master craft in open world execution. It places
gamers in a unique state where they dictate their own pace and it never feels
bad. A friend explained to me that one of his biggest reasons for loving this
game is the ability to pick it up after being gone for a while and being
completely fine as he continued to explore all the mysteries the world had to
offer.
Now,
it seems rather low on the list for a game with so many accolades. While I didn’t
take to it to the extent that many have, I’ve played enough and appreciate what
it has done and what it will continue to do for the gaming community as far as
what future game devs can take out of this. It’s a lovely anchor for a game console
that continues to explore the endless sea of possibilities that can be found in
the fine craft of gaming.
4.
Cuphead
One
of the first games I ever beat as a child was Contra III: Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo. I was able to get
through it with the help of my much older cousin. He obviously wasn’t a very
good influence considering he had me, an 8 year old boy at the time, playing
this run and shoot everything game. Despite that, the family-bonding stuck and
the joy of actually beating a game would never leave. I would buy more
iterations of Contra III in my life
and play with friends who have never played it before or my sister because of
those initial feelings. I’d say that’s the starting point, the seed if you
will, of my still growing love for the run and gun shooter. And here I am with
a true landmark of the genre: Cuphead.
To be honest, anything I
could say about the game and its amazing usage of the rubber hose style
animation is better covered in the wonderful video essay “The StylisticInfluences of Cuphead” by Super Eyepatch Wolf. So if you haven’t gotten enough
of what people have to say about it and are looking for something really
insightful on the subject, look no further. Other than that, I have a rather
simple appreciation for this game. It’s nostalgic on so many levels. It’s
challenging, yet rewarding. It’s a grand parade of all things horrifying yet
imaginative. Cuphead is the type of
game that easily gives me a sense of accomplishment and raises the bar as far
as the design of what a run and gun shooter can be.
3.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is…
well, it’s hard to say without giving something away. It’s the third game in a
series that has drawn constant comparison to Ace Attorney as well as one of the best films of the 90’s: Battle Royale. The series is famous for its
off-the-wall twists and turns as well as having something to say about the
never-ending battle between hope and despair. So what can I do if I don’t want
give away the juicier bits of this game while still convincing you that it’s
worth playing?
I can
tell you it has a first case that is easily one of the all-time greats of the
series.
I can
also tell you that this game brings into question who I am as a person. Yeah, I
think that’s it. That’s the big one. Danganronpa is a mirror in which I reflect
on why I played this series in the first place as well as the significance of
why I play games at all. It might be shaky at times in execution, but the heart
is there. If anything I’d say give the first case of the first game a try. If
you like that I highly recommend seeing it through to the very end; the end of
V3 that is. Its message is very special. This is especially significant if you
feel that maybe 2017 was more of a year for despair. Maybe some hope is what
you need? Or maybe something else entirely?
2.
Persona 5
To be
completely honest, it is the biggest shock in the entirety of my existence that
this didn’t end up being my favorite game of the year. It was certainly my most
anticipated game, considering I almost flunked out of college when the 4
th
one came out. It definitely lived up to and beyond the hype. It is also truly
the new gold standard of the JRPG. Really, if you want to make the best JRPG
out there, this is the newly established bar.
With
that, it has everything to be on this list regardless of whether or not it’s my
number 1. The style, ever since its first reveals, are breathtaking and exhilarating.
The animators have clearly done their studying in human motion as captured in
the cut scenes. The gameplay is there that we love: part student romancer part
dungeon crawler. It’s unique in how it captures both a steady and accommodating
pace. The dungeon crawling movement and in-battle sequences capture a free
flowing feeling, especially if you understand your enemy’s weaknesses. The game
rewards you for being studious as far as the dungeon you’re in and the combat
system. The rewards are even better if you planned your in-game schedule
correctly. The HUD is so perfect I could play a game that involved just
navigating the HUD.
But then
there’s the story. I’ve thought about it for a while and while I don’t love
this story as much as Persona 4’s (I
mean, Persona 4 features THE premiere
character for exploring one’s sexuality), it’s a wonderful message. You’ll
notice that with these final three games on my list I will mention hope. For a
game to convey that, to give me that feeling, in the real world… it’s just
important. That’s why I needed to begin this list with an explanation of some
of the feelings of being low throughout the year, because a game like this, one
that takes the future head on, even when it feels like a lot of things are
keeping you down… we need games like that. We need art like that. The band of
rebels here in Persona 5 might be
needed now more than ever. So if JRPGs are in your wheelhouse, I can’t
recommend it any more than any other JRPG I’ve ever played. Let the Phantom
Thieves steal your heart!
1.
Nier: Automata
It’s
weird to think that I’ve cried multiple times during multiple games this year.
One was during the end of the aforementioned 1st case of Danganronpa V3. Oh, but Nier: Automata takes the cake. This game
absolutely obliterated me. First off, I must mention that I love the allure of
Yoko Taro as a game director. He has this reputation as a rather strange
person, but creates these games that showcase a full blown understanding of the
human condition. Nier: Automata is
the pinnacle of the games he has made thus far. Beyond that, it is a landmark
game that I feel will only get better and more significant with time.
What
a smart decision to take Yoko Taro’s direction and combine it with Platinum
Games’ development team. This was guaranteed to make the game incredibly clean
as well as a sure fire way to realize his vision. Some games have maybe 2 or 3
stand out moments. If I were to just think off the top of my head with Nier: Automata, I would say this game
has 3 times that. They all run the gamut of emotion too! These standout moments
would have me laugh, gasp, or cry. And what’s amazing is that anything character-development
wise is conveyed by actually playing the game. They develop in a way that makes
sense, based on how their gameplay operates. An example: There’s a character in
the game that’s cold and more straight-edged. She kills because it’s the job
and she doesn’t bat an eye. Then you have another character whose primary skill
is hacking. When he hacks a machine, he gets glimpses of their past or who they
are. During the moments that you are playing as the straight-edged sword type,
the hacker would openly convey his developing… emotions. Gross. But it makes
sense when you control the hacker and he doesn’t have to flat out say: I’m
developing emotions because I hack into things and they give me feelings. You
feel that very naturally as a gamer because of his inherent mechanics.
It’s
no secret that, at this point, to fully embrace Nier: Automata, you have to play at least through endings A, B, C,
D, and E. With each play through you learn something new about the characters
involved in this narrative, the over arcing story, and finally, who YOU are as
a person. That might sound really cheesy but I don’t care. The game has a pure
intrinsic value that’s shaped by your own point of view as far as what games
mean to you and how you view interacting with other people. The final, true ending
(E) is one of the best endings I’ve ever seen. This is in regards to any
medium: movies, books, you name it. I was floored. Please, please play this
game. By the end of it, I hope you realize that often times it might feel like
you’re carrying the weight of the world, but also that you’re not alone. Don’t
be afraid to reach out, someone will listen. The world is big, it’s beautiful,
and even though sometimes it feels empty, that’s not a burden you have to bare
all by yourself. So thank you Yoko Taro and everyone who helped make this game.
You’ve made something that not only reminded me of why I play games, but also
something that reminds me of why I get up in the morning; adding even more clarity
to the value of my own life and others.
