I know there's still a few games coming out before the end of the year, but aside from portrait of ruin I doubt they cant compare to what HAS been released. My picks:
Playstation 2 --The PS2 had a great year, especially considering all the focused placed by gamers caught up in the hype of a future yet unrealised.
My PS2 GOTY is my favorite RPG since Skies of Arcadia. It's been a very long time since ive been so focused on not only the gameplay of an RPG but the story and characters as well. Some will argue the original is better, but I was honestly happy the exposition was removed for the sake of telling a very important story. The original is referred to as Lenneth, but I think Silmeria did a better job covering Silmeria than Lenneth did cover Lenneth.
The runner up is Clover Studio's Okami a title that out zeldas zelda in every way. The most vocal complaints from gamers was that characters talked too much in cutscenes. Funny, they would eat that shit up in a Nintendo game, even if it was written poorly. lol double standards. Fact of the matter is Capcom was responsible for the best PLAYING Zeldas, and the influence can be seen in Okami, one of the best action/adventure games in a very long time.
Clover was later rewarded for its hard work by being dissovled as a group and absorbed into Capcom.
XBox 360 ---360 had sorta a meh year. I've played Arcade almost more than actual game releases. For shame for shame. That being said its excellent at media streaming and I DO like Arcade A LOT.
Lol arent I edgy and clever, I picked an XBLA game as my GOTY. Honestly almost all of the big name 360 games have failed to hold my attention for more than a week, and that includes by favorites. Mutant Storm is highly underrated. Still i've played it a helluva lot more than the runner up title which I adore for everything it is, but even so, I play maybe 3 hours of it a week right now:
This one came outta left field. I saw screens months ago and thought "Wow, another Open Season". Soon the buzz started getting around that this game involved BEATING things to death and forced mating. Awesome. The LIVE features are intelligent and the amount of crap in the game is pretty nuts. Make no mistake tho, the game doesn't have a universal appeal. If youre sick of sim games you wont wanna play this.
I have a REALLY good feeling that the 360 GOTYs for most people will be different across the board.
Sony PSP ---Tough category for me, I feel sorta the same about most of the PSP release this year.
Maverick Hunter X and Mega Man Powered up both did great jobs moving Capcom's famous mascot to the PSP, but neither game made as graceful a leap as Ultimate Ghosts n Goblins. Each level is rich with style and creativity. The game is packed with weapons and challenges, and I MEAN challenges. This isn't for weak gamers that wanna waggle their wii through easy games. This is a balls to the wall oldschool platformer that will spit on your grave lol.
As for my runner up, I really wish Every Extend Extra would get the credit it deserves. What I cant fathom is how people cant figure out this game. I actually had a game clerk ask me point blank how the games mechanics work cause he didnt 'get it'. What's so hard to understand? You chain explosions, collect crystals, kill bosses. The games incredibly pretty and sounds good to boot. This was made by 'that rez guy' so chance are it will get good word of mouth after copies are no longer being sold and everyone will worship it despite never having played it.
DS Lite/Lunchbox --What a crazy fucking year for this platform. I mean the amount of AAA games is just staggering. Im honestly playing through a QUEUE of AAA games. If I picked an overall GOTY for all systems it would be from the DS Library of 2006 I think.
First off, yes, the first few levels of YI2 are similar to the original, but hey hey, is that bad? Not only is it only the FIRST FEW LEVELS that are similiar, but they are JUST AS GOOD. I think people haven forgotten how good the original YI is, and while the original YI was REALLY FUCKING good, its not like it innovated a whole shitload EITHER. So why suddenly expect the sequel to be any different. OH I GET IT. YOU WANT STUPID ASS TOUCH SCREEN SHIT. motherFUCKERS.
Anyway YI2 is a platforming game that is leaps and bounds above New Super Mario Brothers. NSMB was great, a technically excellent title. However it lacked challenge and the creative situations that got the original YI its accolades. There are a few new additions to YI2, but thank god the dumbass touch screen shit isn't the focus of the game. Some guy on this forum actually LIKED pokemon CIRCLE SHIT ranger. Wtf. If you MUST use a stylus get Elite Beat Agents or March of the Minis.
As for the runner up, this was a tough choice. Squeenix's other offering, FFIII is really fucking good, but it also stands up against FFV which provides an interesting contrast. Children of Mana however stands alone on the DS as the best Hack n Slash for DS owners. It DOES lack the amount of story found in the more traditional secret of mana, but god damn this isnt that kind of game, why hold that against it. Aside from the character classes, the 8 different spirits, the gem system, the loot, the missions and sidequests, the main story is still bigger than what was found in Diablo II.
People need to accept this game for what it is and have some goddamned fun. Jesus.
Gameboy Advance --- This system is almost done. The DS is out in full force and showing 'its quality'. There was still a few gems in particular:
I decided Yggdra Union was my GBA GOTY over FFV because in typical Atlus fashion it dares to be a little different and provide me something interesting AND fun. FFV is a really great port, but it isnt like I havent played this emulated, with the much cooler pirate talk to boot
Personal Computer ---This was definately the YEAR OF THE RTS for PC gaming. Not at all disappointing either. Not a tough choice till I had to decide on a runner up:
Company of Heroes is A MANS game, and thats really all I gotta say. Its beautiful, lots of guns explosions, an insane amount of tactical gameplay and OMG OMG OMG it makes WWII seem fresh again.
My runner up is Half Life 2: Episode One. While its clear Valve's whole idea about releasing game content more often with smaller PARTS of a game is complete bullshit, the results we have seen with just Episode One is fucking nuts. Not to mention that Episode Two comes with the much anticipated PORTAL and Team Fortress 2 titles hot on its heels. OMG OMG OMG
