Stacking The Favs

If you've always wondered why media outlets compile their annual lists of "Best Of" before the year actually ends... take a look at the sparse list of new games that we have to fill shelves the next three weeks. In fact, I only found a few of any note.

March Madness 08 for the 360 and PS3... because nothing says Christmas like March.

And for the Wii: a very possible contender for some prizes... Nights: Journey Into Dreams, the long awaited sequel to the Sega Saturn original. The hype hasn't been too big, but hope is high that this game could be mesmerizing. Also coming: Super Swing Golf Season 2. Not a particularly award winning franchise, but I enjoyed the first one with all the stuff you could buy, and decent controls. Oh, and M&M Kart Racing was delayed from last month. That ought to put some sparkle under your tree, right?

So, excluding Nights for now, this is how I see Best Of lists shaping up for each major console (I'm no longer including the PS2 as a major console. I'll put my support behind the PS3 and hope Sony does the same.).

Nintendo DS:
Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - an obvious choice.
Picross DS - A well liked game, but is there enough content to win top honors?
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl - These games built well onto the solid Pokemon foundation, but will the media embrace the aging franchise?

Other DS contenders: Brain Age 2, Worms: Open Warfare 2, Puzzle Quest

Sony PSP:
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters - That was this year, right? It seemed so long ago.
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness - Just a port of a PS game, but that's what most PSP games are, but this is actually quality gaming.
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow - PSP shooters aren't my thing, but people seem to approve of this one.

Other DS contenders: Honestly, I stretched to find those three games. The PSP could use some more support.

Nintendo Wii:
Super Mario Galaxy - Very polished and smooth. If only all Wii games we like this.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - A grand step forward for 1st person shooter controls on the Wii.
Super Paper Mario - Aside from too much text, this game added some nice elements to the franchise.

Other Wii Contenders: Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure, Resident Evil 4

PS3:
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction - Two Ratchet & Clank titles up for honors in one year should be a testament to their quality gameplay.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - Still being so new might give this adventure game the edge.
Heavenly Sword - If it wasn't so short, it'd probably be a shoo-in just for its incredible animation.

Other PS3 Contenders: Folklore, Lair, Ninja Gaiden Sigma

Xbox 360:
Mass Effect - The massive size of this RPG might work against the game, if people are still too immersed in it to vote.
Bioshock - This polished HypeWagon had pretty much everything most people were expecting, except multiplayer.
Halo 3 - The biggest bang for your multiplayer dollar.

Other 360 Contenders: Virtua Fighter 5 Online, Forza Motorsport 2, Eternal Sonata

Multi-platform Games:
The Orange Box - If anything, the fact that there's so much different content may work against the title. It might be split into different genres, but looked upon as an outsider in each of those categories.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - To me, the graphics don't look much more realistic than Call of Duty 3... but the multiplayer mayhem is undeniable.
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock - I personally found this one a bit disappointing and unable to hold my interest for long. However, the wireless guitar was well worth the price.
Rock Band - All the wires and the difficulty perfecting the singing and drumming may keep this one out of the top spot, but it has drummed up interest unlike any game since the Wii itself launched.
Assassin's Creed - A contentious pick, it may either be the top of the list, or completely left off. The graphics and animation are the superstar here... half the story could have been left on the cutting room floor.
Madden 08 - An uninspired game, but I'll still be unsurprised to see this on the standard list. When it wins Sports Game of the Year, it's time for everyone else to reevaluate the games they're making.


So those are what games I predict will be appearing on any given critic's website/magazine awards banquet. My personal picks, as I always grade games, are directly tied to the fun factor, so they're a slightly different bunch:
Rock Band - Friends I hadn't seen in month keep showing up wanting to play this game. And I often curse other games that get in the way of my Rock Band time.
MLB Power Pros - Cartoony Graphics and a goofy college story mode are featured in this game, which is the best baseball game I've played in years... if not ever? And find me another game with this many stats analyzing each game. It's just too bad the Miis and motion controlled portion of the game wasn't fully integrated.
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 - Not a perfect game, but some of the best wackiest minigames ever assembled. If they'd just dump the over-long music portion, this would be even better. Fun to play in a group, and even fun to watch those crazy, crazy rabbids.

I didn't post any downloadable game awards, though I'm sure gaming sites will try to throw out as many awards as possible. Since the Wii Virtual Console is all old games... would they compete with brand new Xbox Live Arcade titles? I dunno. But a few of my favorite titles this year are: Super Mario Bros 3, Metroid, Super Puzzle Fighter Turbo HD Remix, and Bomberman Live.

Here's to next year, when I hope they add Game Boy & Game Gear titles to the virtual console... at three bucks a piece.