I likely will not meet with everyone's approval, but that's not my aim - these are clearly just my observations and opinions - and oh, what opinions they are. So, without further ado, I give you...
The 10 Best/Worst in Gaming of 2010:
10.) BEST: 3-D Dot Games Heroes
3-D Dot Game Heroes for the PS3 really took me by surprise, this year. My expectations for the game were, unsurprisingly, low (my motto is "Guilt, until proven decent"), and when I got into playing the game, I instantly fell in love with it.
The gameplay hearkens back to the days of Zelda Long-Since Past, invoking the very best of The Legend of Zelda
and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
, presenting a slow-paced, traditional style of overhead world map and dungeon adventuring with a twist: you can purchase and upgrade swords to your liking. This can result in any number of hilarious effects, including giant baseball bats, and creates swords that literally fill up the entire screen and kill everything in sight (this is the game's biggest claim to fame). There is actually little else to differentiate 3-D Dot Game Heroes from the Zelda overhead-style games other than these swords, though, which can be somewhat tiresome after the novelty has worn off.
and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, presenting a slow-paced, traditional style of overhead world map and dungeon adventuring with a twist: you can purchase and upgrade swords to your liking. This can result in any number of hilarious effects, including giant baseball bats, and creates swords that literally fill up the entire screen and kill everything in sight (this is the game's biggest claim to fame). There is actually little else to differentiate 3-D Dot Game Heroes from the Zelda overhead-style games other than these swords, though, which can be somewhat tiresome after the novelty has worn off. As far as graphics are concerned, however, there is nothing new to see here...except the amazing detail with which the PS3 can display water effects. Water and the reflections cast in water have always been the challenge for game consoles, and this game provides a much appreciated break from the norm. The surfaces are reflective and brilliant, and do their best to ensnare unwary passersby to a watery grave.
The music is relatively good, I suppose, though like every game in this genre can become taxing when heard on a loop. Most of us have fond memories of the Zelda theme songs by Koji Kondo, and could easily whistle them in our sleep - few of us would like to listen to them for hours at a time. With 3-D Dot Game Heroes, the music goes from "Tolerable" to "Buzz Saw in the Amazon" in a matter of minutes due to the fact that it's either non-existant or at full blast, regardless of the volume setting.
Overall, this game was one of the best games for PS3 in 2010 because it reminded people what good gaming used to be like before better graphics and shorter attention spans led us down the primrose path to cookie-cutter games with little thought or effort put into them.
9.) WORST: Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light was likely one of the most depressing Square-Enix releases in recent memory. The game was touted as a return to the classic style of gaming that made the first Final Fantasy
so popular - a straightforward and simple JRPG, with four heroes on a quest to save a world from darkness. At this prospect, I was wicked excited...a game that finally could restore my faith in Square-Enix's ability to reinvent the Final Fantasy series in a way that stays true to its roots without turning it into a 3D space opera.
so popular - a straightforward and simple JRPG, with four heroes on a quest to save a world from darkness. At this prospect, I was wicked excited...a game that finally could restore my faith in Square-Enix's ability to reinvent the Final Fantasy series in a way that stays true to its roots without turning it into a 3D space opera.God, was I ever wrong.
There are very few games that I am willing to sell as soon as I play them; this is one of those games. The straightforward aspect of this game really speaks more to the linear nature of the gameplay which all but forces the characters to go to specific places and complete specific (easy) tasks, all while collecting crappy ass "gems" from the monsters they beat to use as accessories to upgrade their "Crowns."
There is not a unique thing about this game; every "innovation" is just a poor imitation (read: "ripoff") of another game's idea:
The "Crown" system is FF: T4HoL's answer to a job system. Similar in every way to the Dress Sphere from Final Fantasy X-2
, this system takes a stab at allowing each character to play in the classic roles of Warrior, Thief, White Mage, etc. The only difference from the Dress Sphere, however, is that you must use gems collected from hours of pointless enemy grinding to level up each individual Crown...for each individual character. Basically, all of the level grinding you do is spent casting attempting to get these upgrades so that you can insert better abilities into your customizable list of abilities. It's basically like a Materia system, with all of its drawbacks and hangups, without the same level of tedium it took to level up those glowing stones.
, this system takes a stab at allowing each character to play in the classic roles of Warrior, Thief, White Mage, etc. The only difference from the Dress Sphere, however, is that you must use gems collected from hours of pointless enemy grinding to level up each individual Crown...for each individual character. Basically, all of the level grinding you do is spent casting attempting to get these upgrades so that you can insert better abilities into your customizable list of abilities. It's basically like a Materia system, with all of its drawbacks and hangups, without the same level of tedium it took to level up those glowing stones.The graphics are nothing special, basically importing the same technology used in the Final Fantasy III
Nintendo DS release from 2006. There's nothing really impressive about it, as the characters have the awkwardly shaped bodies with a ridiculous gait that barely gets you where you want to go. The backgrounds and world in which the game is set are also nothing special, being little more than poor renderings aimed to clearly display what type of land they "are." While Matrix's remake of FF III was fantastic because it brought the game to the U.S. for the first time in nearly twenty years, this game's graphics are an inexcusable lapse in modernization.
Nintendo DS release from 2006. There's nothing really impressive about it, as the characters have the awkwardly shaped bodies with a ridiculous gait that barely gets you where you want to go. The backgrounds and world in which the game is set are also nothing special, being little more than poor renderings aimed to clearly display what type of land they "are." While Matrix's remake of FF III was fantastic because it brought the game to the U.S. for the first time in nearly twenty years, this game's graphics are an inexcusable lapse in modernization.The gameplay is, much like the FF III remake, both awkward and uninspired. The touch screen is used only as a last resort because sorting through the menus manually using the directional pad is tedious, at best. Everything from movement around the screen to the flow of battle has an awkward and ungainly feel about it, which for some gamers (primarily children) doesn't present too much of an issue. The controls aren't great; neither are they responsive, nor are they intuitive to use, feeling wholly unnatural.
The music is basically a rearrangement of Nobuo Uematsu's genius scoring for FF III, with reduced sound quality and instrumentation. Naoshi Mizuta has a few inspired moments of genius to his composition, but pales in comparison to Uematsu's talent for capturing a moment.
In reviewing this game, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that I am one of the lone detractors of this game and its so-called "old school" style. Nearly every other reviewer sings this game the praises of a thousand angels in chorus, going on about how fantastically unique it is, and how refreshing it is to see the Final Fantasy series rebooted. These people are likely either being paid to say these things or they're on a really good peyote trip. If Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is the reboot for the Final Fantasy series, I think we can safely say that the future is bleak.
8.) BEST: Nintendo 3DS
The news of the upcoming release for Nintendo's latest handheld domination console certainly rates a spot on my Top Ten list, even if it won't see release until next year...maybe. This console has so much promise, it's sick, with its ability to provide 3D images without the aid of glasses - a marvel of modern technology. Did I mention that this effect is adjustable? Gamers can adjust the "level" of 3D imagery in the game from "Full 3D" to "2D," which is massively revolutionary in and of itself. Never before have players been able to turn off and on major features of a machine; generally, we've only been able to adjust the volume, brightness, or screen position. This option allows the player to really take control of their 3D experience, and use it in ways that best suit their preferences.
The details about the 3DS are not held as closely to Nintendo's chest as are the details about the upcoming iPad 2 (now with greater absorbency), so I can only give a speculative review, but the prospect is very promising. While the price tag seems a bit high, even by Japanese standards, it will likely come down by the time it hits Western shores.
There is a risk, however, with this product following in the footsteps of the woebegone, oft-reviled, and gladly forgotten Virtual Boy
console, the failure of which led to the ousting of one of Nintendo's long time designers who later went on to create a failed handheld gaming device for Bandai. It seems unlikely that this will be the case with the Nintendo 3DS, primarily because the games will be in full-color instead of monochromatic red LED lights.
console, the failure of which led to the ousting of one of Nintendo's long time designers who later went on to create a failed handheld gaming device for Bandai. It seems unlikely that this will be the case with the Nintendo 3DS, primarily because the games will be in full-color instead of monochromatic red LED lights.The Nintendo 3DS will, I believe, be the "Next Generation" of gaming, all but assuring Nintendo's continued domination of the handheld gaming market.
7.) WORST: Final Fantasy XIII
My hatred for this game has already been vented in an earlier post, but not in detail. Let's give it a go:
While visually stunning, Square-Enix managed to deliver yet another recycled storyline with unlikable characters that are simply regurgitations of character from previous games, all of whom are introduced in haphazard ways that leave the player wondering, "Wait...who are these people, and why should I care about them?"
Meet Lightning - Square-Enix's female version of Cloud Strife and Squall Leonhart. Sullen, moody, and seemingly always bitter about the path her life has taken, Lightning goes out of her way to alienate the rest of the characters from her using her icy Bitch Ray. Nothing gets in the way of her mission to...oh, who the hell cares??? Even S-E admitted that she was created to be the female version of these two characters, and they have managed to succeed, though without either the whimsy or likability of either of the originals.
The music is okay - again, not a Uematsu score (I'm a bit biased), but he's moved on to bigger, brighter, and more profitable pastures - making new music and playing concerts of his famous Final Fantasy hits. Though well-orchestrated and certainly well played, the arrangements can, at times, be heavy handed. This is a common mistake when it comes to blending video game genres (do you need a more Action feel, or an epic RPG feel?), and it's difficult to strike that delicate balance, so I have to give Masashi Hamauzu (of Final Fantasy X
co-composer fame) credit for doing the best he could with a lackluster game.
co-composer fame) credit for doing the best he could with a lackluster game.The gameplay is, perhaps, one of the least successful elements of this game. The story is told primarily through a series of tiresome and repetitive cut scenes which take up almost half of the initial run through the game. The battle system is awkward, at best, attempting to blend the real-time fighting feel of Final Fantasy XII
with a new approach to ATB battle gauge fighting. The lead character runs around the battlefield like a chicken with her head cut off and runs into standing groups of enemies, which then launches into a fight sequence. You can surprise these creatures by "sneaking up on them," but it rarely works, and isn't really that helpful. The battle system could easily be the least successful element of the game, trumped only by the overly long summoning cut scenes during battles. Each fight is ranked on the amount of time it takes to finish the battle (which is seemingly subjective, and doesn't really seem to make much real sense); the higher the ranking, the more likely you are to receive marginally better, but ultimately worthless item drops from the enemies.
with a new approach to ATB battle gauge fighting. The lead character runs around the battlefield like a chicken with her head cut off and runs into standing groups of enemies, which then launches into a fight sequence. You can surprise these creatures by "sneaking up on them," but it rarely works, and isn't really that helpful. The battle system could easily be the least successful element of the game, trumped only by the overly long summoning cut scenes during battles. Each fight is ranked on the amount of time it takes to finish the battle (which is seemingly subjective, and doesn't really seem to make much real sense); the higher the ranking, the more likely you are to receive marginally better, but ultimately worthless item drops from the enemies.Enemy design is yet another lackluster element to this game. Though beautifully drawn and very clearly well-thought out, the enemies fail to inspire any real enthusiasm to beat them. Most of the time, the player worries more about beating the crap out of something as quickly as possible to attain the best drop without paying much attention to the creatures themselves.
Another failure is the leveling system, the Crystarium. Reminiscent of Final Fantasy X's Sphere Grid, the character spend certain amounts of Crystarium Points to obtain boosts to MP, HP, and various other attributes. It's no small surprise that gaining these points in the initial ten chapters is both tedious and not worth the effort, but hey...I'm a curmudgeon (hence the name of this blog).
In addition, both Square-Enix and Sony have faced class action lawsuits over "freezing glitches" that damage and physically destroy the PS3 in the process of playing. Of course, both party blames the other for faulty hardware; neither have offered to fix the problem.
Once again, I am the lone detractor in a sea of worshipers. All other reviewers have praised all of the "developments" that I've just bashed, almost to the point of idolatry. What really bugs me about these reviews, both by bloggers and game-oriented publications, is the clearly defined line between what the industry thinks constitutes greatness and what the consumers think constitutes greatness. I've been following video games for most of my life, and reading reviews that sing the praises of each new game that comes out seemingly without ever playing them. I am generally the game hater of my group of gaming friends, but what really gets my goat is how quick these reviewers are to praise the corporations that allow them to preview and review their games. Unless I've missed the mark, most of these reviews are based entirely upon talking points generated by the companies who make the games, and not from any real-life interaction with the game or the consumers who have to buy this crap.
Overall, Final Fantasy XIII has earned its place in infamy on my Worst list because of its all-too-linear gameplay, its sad sack storyline, and its entirely uninspired characters and controls. My advice is to skip this one altogether, unless you're just a collector, like me.
6.) BEST/WORST: Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Limited Edition
When Nintendo announced plans to release their 25th Anniversary Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition for Wii in early November, people went crazy, both here and in Japan. For those of us who are old enough to remember it from the first time around, Super Mario All-Stars
is a re-port of a classic SNES game released in 1993 that compiled the first three Super Mario Bros. games all onto one cartridge, along with the Japanese sequel to the original game that never got released in the U.S. On both shores, this was great, because it allowed the Japanese to play Super Mario Bros. 2
, the American sequel that was released in Japan as Super Mario USA.
is a re-port of a classic SNES game released in 1993 that compiled the first three Super Mario Bros. games all onto one cartridge, along with the Japanese sequel to the original game that never got released in the U.S. On both shores, this was great, because it allowed the Japanese to play Super Mario Bros. 2, the American sequel that was released in Japan as Super Mario USA. This release is both a Best and a Worst for one very simple reason: it is a straight re-port of the original game (Best), but it doesn't in any way live up to the hype from Nintendo of "enhanced graphics" (which are the same from the original - Worst). Additionally, it does not come with Super Mario World
, unlike the link I provided above. SMBA-S had a fantastic second release that included the first Mario game for the SNES, making it a surprisingly fantastic value - five games on one cartridge.
, unlike the link I provided above. SMBA-S had a fantastic second release that included the first Mario game for the SNES, making it a surprisingly fantastic value - five games on one cartridge.What the 25th Anniversary Limited Edition has that makes up for the lack of new content and better graphics is a host of collectables, including a book with original art from the series and history about the games, and a short CD packed with music from the various Mario games. At an MSRP of $29.99 (+tax), this game really does hit the mark on both nostalgia and value, though seeing better graphics, sound, and gameplay control would have been a great improvement, or at least the inclusion of a few of the newer games.
5.) WORST: Final Fantasy XIV
Maybe it's just me and my hatred for all things MMORPG, but this game just sucked, and for once, I'm not the only person in the world who thinks as much. When Square-Enix announced that Final Fantasy XIV was going to be yet another MMORPG, I immediately knew that this was going to be crap. Nearly every reviewer who got a chance to play this game panned it without exception.
The MMORPG genre just isn't my bag; I have to be honest and say that I have no intention of playing this game, nor have I played Final Fantasy XI
- the thought of playing a game with other people just doesn't interest me. This game, however, is special in that it has received nearly every criticism possible, from its lack of innovation to its limiting quest restrictions, and not one reviewer recommended the game in its current form. One went so far as to call it "a step backward in the genre," which is how I've felt about most of Square-Enix's releases, this year.
- the thought of playing a game with other people just doesn't interest me. This game, however, is special in that it has received nearly every criticism possible, from its lack of innovation to its limiting quest restrictions, and not one reviewer recommended the game in its current form. One went so far as to call it "a step backward in the genre," which is how I've felt about most of Square-Enix's releases, this year.Ultimately, the game will likely do well, though I don't see the purpose of paying $50 upfront and $12.99 a month after the first 30 days. It just doesn't seem fiscally responsible, nor does it seem worth either the time or the money.
4.) BEST: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
I've already done an entire post dedicated to this game, so I'll just link you there, now:
3.) WORST: Michael Jackson: The Experience
I will be honest and say that I have not played this game; I will go further and say that I have no intention to do so, after the demos I've seen. First and foremost, I think these dancing games are kind of awful, from the start - worse is that Michael Jackson: The Experience goes out of its way to capitalize on the deceased performer's name, going so far as to use a poorly rendered image of him in the process.
You, too, can learn how to do dumbed down versions of the dances done by Michael Jackson's former back-up dancers, including Beat It and Thriller. The goal of this game (apparently) is to match Michael Jackson's steps step-for-step. To help you understand what to do, he is flanked by two dreadlocked shadows on either side.
The biggest problem, for me, is how distasteful this game is in terms of its unabashed attempt to make money by playing off the Michael Jackson post-death popularity that swept the nation. It's honestly kind of sickening.
2.) BEST: Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
This game is by far one of the best releases Square-Enix has seen in the past five years in terms of new games. Both a throwback to the classic Dragon Quest style and a new venture forward into the 21st century, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is easily the game I've spent most of my year playing since its release in early July, and most likely will occupy my game card slot until mid-February when my #1 entry finally makes its way into the American market for the first time (legally) ever.
There are not enough good things to say about this game, honestly. Everything about this game really speaks to the part of me that resonates with a desire to play great video games, even into my thirties (next year). Koichi Sugiyama delivers yet another fantastic and moving score (his ninth main installment in twenty-one years), and he never fails to deliver a wonderful product. The gameplay is both easy to grasp and fun to master, without seeming tedious or monotonous, making it a fantastic choice for adults and kids, alike. A MUCH appreciated easing of the ability to steal and win items from monsters was incorporated into this game, greatly reducing the amount of time spent grinding for that rare Alchemy ingredient (one of my few qualms with Dragon Quest VIII
). The introduction of the DQVC, a feature that allows gamers to access rare and drastically reduced items by way of a daily download, really does make the game worth playing for a completion freak like myself. Most importantly, the lack of random battles really does save a lot of time and pointless grinding when it comes to finishing one's Bestiary; I love having the ability to hunt for the enemy I'm seeking, find it, and knock the crap out of it.
). The introduction of the DQVC, a feature that allows gamers to access rare and drastically reduced items by way of a daily download, really does make the game worth playing for a completion freak like myself. Most importantly, the lack of random battles really does save a lot of time and pointless grinding when it comes to finishing one's Bestiary; I love having the ability to hunt for the enemy I'm seeking, find it, and knock the crap out of it.There are, however, a few things I should mention that aren't so great about the game:
It is sad that, after so many total failures on behalf of Square-Enix, that Nintendo had to pick up the slack to get this game released in the U.S. After their last commercial success with Dragon Quest VIII, you would think they could read the writing on the American and European walls - Western gamers love Dragon Quest, and can't get enough of it. It is, however, Square-Enix's loss. It's sad to see such a once great company fall into the rut they can't seem to shake off; good for Nintendo for correctly reading the consumer tea leaves.
, you would think they could read the writing on the American and European walls - Western gamers love Dragon Quest, and can't get enough of it. It is, however, Square-Enix's loss. It's sad to see such a once great company fall into the rut they can't seem to shake off; good for Nintendo for correctly reading the consumer tea leaves.The main storyline is also considerably shorter and more linear than any of the previous Dragon Quest installments in the main series. Gone are the days of freely roaming complex and increasingly dangerous world maps in search of whatever you're supposed to do, next; this game tells you where to go, how to get there, and what you need to do once you arrive. I was saddened to see a departure from the fantastic world map view from Dragon Quest VIII, with the first-person perspective in all its glory, but understand that it's just not feasible on the Nintendo DS platform to make a world that lush, details, and intricate without having a larger amount of space on the disc.
, with the first-person perspective in all its glory, but understand that it's just not feasible on the Nintendo DS platform to make a world that lush, details, and intricate without having a larger amount of space on the disc.My last issue with this game is the fact that players are limited to having only one save file for the game. I'm assuming this has something to do with the amount of space on the cartridge that was taken up by the game itself, but this is the first installment in the main series to restrict gamers to the one file, which frankly kind of sucks. I always enjoy going back and starting from scratch, while also having the ability to go back to my more completed game.
Those three issues aside, I highly suggest that you take a look at this fantastic game.
1.) BEST: Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
Three years after announcing their intention to bring Dragon Quests IV, V, and VI to the U.S. newly remade for the Nintendo DS, Square-Enix (by way of Nintendo, once again) has finally come through on their promise to release the never-before-seen (legally) Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation on Valentine's Day, 2011 (February 14th).
I can't express my excitement enough that this game is finally coming out, and must say that it made quite the fantastic Christmas/Birthday surprise for me. Stay tuned in 2011 for my review once I've had a few days (or weeks) to dive into it, and see what the Curmudgeonly Gamer has to say about this beloved title.
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Well, there we go, folks. I managed to finish this post just before the deadline, and hope that you enjoyed my Top Ten for 2010 list. Make sure to spread the word about this blog in the new year, and I look forward to seeing everyone on the other side!
Sincerely,
Marcus J. Hopkins
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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