2007. What a fantastic year for gaming. From Mario to Master Chief, there were so many great games this year that it’s easy to lose count. I’m sure you’ve all seen IGN or Gamespot’s game of the year rankings. Well, we did too, and decided to get in on the action. The following opinions are from the friendcodes writers that you’ve all come to know. Feel free to comment below.
Note: These are OPINIONS. Our staff has many diverse gaming interests. Please keep arguing to a minimum
Snowdog
Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy (
Wii)
I have to admit, when I first heard about Super Mario Galaxy, I was a bit skeptical. Sending him into outer space would take Mario out of the familiarity. In a way, I thought the experiment might fail. In the end, though, it did everything but fail. Super Mario Galaxy changed the way we look at platformers forever. Consider it a fusion of the nostalgic (Mario’s attacks), and the brand new (
Wii control minigames that actually aren't gimmicky). Even the music was presented perfectly, and the graphics were the best I've ever seen on the
Wii. Super Mario Galaxy is a history making game, and one that I will never forget.
Super Mario Galaxy ended up taking a lot of awards
Runner Up: Bioshock (Xbox 360, PC)
Taking a different path from Super Mario Galaxy, Bioshock proves that realistic graphics can also make the game. The Dark environments in this rare shooter really help the player feel like he is standing right next to the protagonist in the underwater city of Rapture. Although it is only single player, the AI are so good that they actually act like human players at times. Music is also spot on, and gives players a very eerie feeing. Bioshock is another game that must be played by all gamers.
Third Place: Call of Duty Four (Multi Console)
Let's face it: COD3 was a disappointment. With that mindset, I was a bit hesitant to buy Call of Duty four. It really didn't disappoint when I did purchase it, though. COD4 is presented more like a movie than a game. It contains excellent storylines and extremely realistic graphics. Not to mention an extremely addicting online multiplayer mode that will keep players occupied well after they finish campaign mode.
Honorable mentions: Halo 3 (XB360), The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS), Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
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Mazumia
Game of the Year: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (
Wii)
This was simply chosen because out of all the games that I have played, by far Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn has everything beat. Why? Well take into consideration the story line, thus far, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn has not failed to provide an enticing story, which continues from its previous game Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (Game Cube), taking place three years after the events of the Game Cube prequel. Music has a lot to be adjusted, such as no Midi format, but other than that, the game dives into excellent story, great game play (over 50+ hours) and does an excellent job executing the gorgeous cinematics that play throughout the game. If it's the game of the year that needs to be chosen, this has to be it.
Runner Up:
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass (Nintendo
DS)
With it's quirky cell shaded graphics, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hour Glass is a unique style game. Though it could be bad for the Nintendo
DS touch screen you control link and all of his items using the stylus throughout the game. It makes things work out to be quite an interesting game in terms of technique, but there is a bit to be disappointed about. The story line could have used a bit more work; it seemed sort of bland compared to the original Wind Waker. Over all an excellent game in terms of music, game play and technique, it deserves the runner up.
Third Place:
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (
Wii)
The graphics in this game are simply amazing, for Retro Studios to go this far was quite the leap. The story line was okay, just like any typical Metroid game. Where it falls is the lack of multiplayer, for their final Prime game, there should of at least been a multiplayer mode. But it does still pull of great use of the
Wii Remote (and in my opinion, the first
Wii Game to pull it off well) as well as the graphics. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption also allowed for use of friend vouchers via w-fi so that you could trade them in to get really neat extra's such as bobble heads and more. Over all it deserves the number three spot because the game was a breakthrough for how well the
Wii Remote can be used.
Honorable mentions: Assassins Creed (Xbox 360), Super Mario Galaxy (Wii), Bioshock (Xbox 360)
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Blinked
Game Of The Year Selection:
Uncharted Drakes Fortune (PS3)
Ok, I’m going to be honest. This year was a real disappointment for me in terms of quality video games. Only a few games really stood out for me. One game that did just that was ‘Uncharted Drakes Fortune’. If you’re a retro Play Station One gamer, like me, all I have to say to convince you to buy this game is that it’s made from the same guys who made the original Crash Bandicoot series. From the animations to the graphics everything about this game is spectacular! At the start I most admit I was a bit skeptical about this game, but after a good hour of playing you realize that this is one of PS3’s surprise hits. A lot of things are great about this game but the moments that really stand out have to be the movie sequences and the graphics. Voice acting is brilliant and characters react perfectly to what is being said. The graphics, well, their simply breath taking! It’s all very smooth while fighting in a jungle or jumping around a temple but when you finally reach an opening and see the sun rising over the sea you literally do stop playing the game and take some time to look around and the detail. A worthy title for game of the year!
Runner Up: Rainbow Six Las Vegas (Xbox360/PS3)
Although the story didn’t go into much detail the design and gameplay of this game certainly made up for it! The ways your allies react to dangerous situations make you really feel as if you are fighting alongside them, and there is a genuine sense of pain when one of your men is killed. The modern weapons and techniques the SWAT team use also helps to express the sense of team play and realism throughout the game. Weapons are solid and feel life like with great sounds and damage control. If you don’t choose the right gun for the right situation you will not survive. You will also find yourself in a few of those proud ‘team’ moments. There’s nothing like having your friends beside you when you bust through a window throwing flash bangs and wiping out 50 enemies within the space of a breath. If you love any First Person Shooters, but this game, you won’t be disappointed.
3rd Place:
Motorstorm (PS3)
You’ve all heard of this game. You should all be playing this game to! Although there is no ‘real’ storyline to the game, there is an arcade style racing element to it. Graphics are brilliant, with damage control being so accurate you can see the smallest scrap after a collision. Soundtrack is ace to! The music is all preformed live by famous bands such as Slipknot and Nirvana, with the crowd cheering in the background of the songs it really adds to the suspense when racing against the 15 other racers. After you have completed story mode, online play will keep you going for months on end. This is really not a game you want to miss.
Honorable Mentions: Halo 3 (Xbox360), Super Mario Brothers (DS), COD: Modern Warfare (Multi)
Fire Fox
Game of the Year:
Super Mario Galaxy(
Wii)
Gaming perfection is something many people think is a rare occurrence, and some don't even think that it's possible. Super Mario Galaxy is one of those games that will totally push you to believe that there is such a thing as a "perfect" game out there. Some may argue against it, by saying there is too much of the same and is just like any other Mario. They would say you're jumping around trying to take back the poor princess that Bowser took away. All of that is true, and is part of the game, but Nintendo decided to spice things up, and let me just say, that adding that one new aspect, would totally change everything up, and create one of the world's best video games to ever exist. The "twist" that Nintendo added was the unique spherical worlds and the sense of each tiny planet having it's own gravitational pull. This fresh concept is what made Super Mario Galaxy such a wonderful game. The graphics are spectacular and the music is phenomenal. All of the galaxies are out of this world (lol pun), and everything about this game is brand new and will blow you away.
Runner up: Phoenix Wright: Justice For All (Nintendo
DS)
One thing Nintendo has been trying to do lately is to attract non-gamers to their two major systems, the
Wii and the Nintendo
DS, and one way they have been doing that is by making different types of game for the more casual audience. Phoenix Wright was one of those games that went against the norm and created something new. The style of Phoenix Wright is rarely found, which is a Point-and-Click style adventure game. It advances in days and switches between the court system and detective system. Including a few voice features, and the option between using touch control or the button scheme, Phoenix Wright was on of those games that would attract the hard core audience along with a casual audience. All the crazy locations, settings, and out of the ordinary plots made this a game any could play.
Third place:
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Although Nintendo does aim for the more casual audience, they have not forgot about all of the other veteran gamers out in the world. Final Fantasy is on of video games big names and the
DS has its fair share of Final Fantasy games too. Unlike the general FF game, Revenant Wings is a strategy type game, which makes it totally different from its older brothers and sisters. It is also a spin-off of one of the PS2's best selling games, Final Fantasy XII. The gameplay is harder then your average game, but is very rewarding after you beat a mission. Some of the earlier levels even proved to be troublesome. And of course, it would be Final Fantasy with out a top notch soundtrack and story. Revenant Wings is no different, and is a great game.
Honorable mention: Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros Treasure (Wii), Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (multi), Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (DS)
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Bloodytl
Game of the Year:
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox360/PS3)
Call of Duty 4 snagged GOTY in my opinion due to the intense storyline this time not set in
WII Germany, I miss trekking through Nazi Germany but with the new monumental maps geared toward the Middle East/Russia I'll get over it. Insane cinematic gameplay puts you right in the battlefield land, sea and air, character models and graphics are staggering taking realistic combat to a whole new level. Multiplayer alone could make this GOTY, intense battles, customizable weapon classes and new factions just to name a few. Out of all the games released in '07, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare takes my #1 spot hands down.
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All proved to be pretty popular as well
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Tsun
Game of the Year: Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock
I really had to think about this for a while. I kept asking myself, "what is my favorite game of 2007?" I came to the conclusion that 2007 was somewhat lame. Sure, Corruption, Galaxy, etc. But those were going to be great regardless. I was really held between Resident Evil 4, Umbrella Chronicles, or Guitar Hero III. Guitar Hero has worked its way up to being one of the best party games in existence, as well as the most known music/rhythm game in America, now that DDR is slowing genociding itself. I stole Guitar Hero I from a friend for a few weeks, and couldn't help but play nonstop. The game was solid gold. Then I bought Guitar Hero II for myself, and only got better. Later, I bought GHI, but then got GHIII as an early Christmas present. At first, it was so weird compared to GHII, but the set-up eventually got very, very comfy. The entire game itself was a fine-tuned version of GHII, and was so much better. Almost every song on the setlist was either a good song, or had an amazing chart. Online playability extended gameplay, and the game was overall fun in the sun on a bun from a nun
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Catagorial Awards: As voted by all contributing staff members
Best Story: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (
Wii)
Best Graphics: Super Mario Galaxy (
Wii)
Best Music: Super Mario Galaxy
Best Multiplayer: Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
Best Gameplay: Super Mario Galaxy
Most Disappointing Game: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (
Wii)
Best Game (Non-Nintendo): Halo 3
Best Game (Nintendo): Super Mario Galaxy
Best Handheld Game: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All (
DS)
Best Shooter: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (
Wii) And Medal of Honor 2 (
Wii)
Best Platformer: Super Mario Galaxy
Best Sports Game: Super Mario Strikers
Best RPG: Super Paper Mario
Worst games: ANY GAME BASED OFF OF A MOVIE!!!!!
Overall Best Game of 2007: Super Mario Galaxy
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To end this, D3FAULT decided to comment on the most overated game of the year
Most Overrated Game of the Year
By Chris (aka D3FAULT)
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Let’s be honest here: Nintendo does one thing really well, and that is recreate the same games over and over. It’s always Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Star Fox, or Pokemon. This time, it’s Zelda’s turn to get another “remake”. This time around, it’s on the Nintendo
DS. The game received good scores almost everywhere, and even won some “Game of the Year” awards. Why? Because it’s a Zelda game. The game itself really isn’t fantastic. The graphics, I will say, are quite impressive. But that’s just about all it has going for it. The controls were worshiped by most, but I don’t understand why. Nintendo chose to go with full touch screen controls, something that really hurts this game. The game is quite hard to control. Most of the time, you’ll run straight into an enemy instead of slashing it to death. Or you’ll slash when you’re trying to run, and fall right off the edge of a cliff. Even when mastered, the controls can be quite difficult. As far as the story goes, it’s pretty classic Zelda. You play as Link, and you have to save none other than Princess Zelda. One thing that is different in this Zelda though, is how easy it is, and how short the game is in comparison to the other Zelda’s. While this is different, it’s different in a bad way. The sounds are also classic Zelda. That’s one thing about Zelda that will never get old, though. So in short, the music, sounds, and graphics are great. But with the basically broken controls and same ol’ story, the game feels rather “meh” compared to the hype and reviews it got. Thus, it wins my most overrated game of the year.
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Contributing Writers: Snowdog, Mazumia, Blinked, Bloodytl, Fire Fox, NintendoGC, Suntro, D3FAULT, Tsun
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