Joystiq's 2005 game guide

by Blake Snow { Dec 31st 2005 at 8:00AM }

2005 was what many would call the final push of the current console generation. Regardless of where the year ranks on your list of gaming annuals, many great titles hit store shelves, home consoles, portables, and PC's alike in 2005. Without further adu, let us introduce Joystiq's 2005 game guide as selected by our team of bloggers.

Be sure to also check out our top hidden gems of this generation along with the greatest hits roundup for gamers on a budget. It's good to be a gamer.

Ludwig Kietzmann's Picks:

Lumines (PSP)
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Xbox)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Psychonauts (Xbox)
Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)

Ross Miller's Picks:

Ape Escape (PS2)
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (GCN)
King Kong (All)
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (Xbox)

Adams Briscoe's Picks:

Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Mario Kart DS
Perfect Dark Zero (360)
Burnout Revenge (PS2)
Conker: Live and Reloaded (Xbox)

Chris Grant's Picks:

Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
We Heart Katamari (PS2)
God of War (PS2)
Half-Life 2 (Xbox)

Vladimir Cole's Picks:

Geometry Wars (360)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP)
Metroid Pinball (DS)

Conrad Quilty-Harper's Picks:

F.E.A.R. (PC)
X-Plane 8.21 (Mac/PC/Linux)
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (PS2/Xbox/PC)
Mario Kart DS (DS)

Dan Choi's Picks:

Burnout Revenge (PS2/Xbox)
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA)
Capcom Classics Collection (PS2/Xbox)
Guitar Hero (PS2)
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection (Xbox)

James Ransom-Wiley's Picks:

Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (Xbox)
Mercenaries (Xbox)
Far Cry Instincts (Xbox)
Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
Resident Evil 4 (PS2)
Lumines (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (GBA)

Blake Snow's Picks:

Zelda: Minish Cap (GBA)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Nintendogs (DS)
Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)

Ben Striegel's Picks:

Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)
WarioWare: Twisted (GBA)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GCN)
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)

Raffy Espiritu's Picks:

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP)
Lumines (PSP)
Indigo Prophecy (Xbox)
Psychonauts (Xbox)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)

Ed Stasick's Picks:

Kameo: Elements of Power (360)
Call of Duty 2 (360)
Nintendogs (DS)
Tiger Woods 2006 (PSP)
Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
Advance Wars Dual Strike (DS)

Jennie Lees's Picks:

World of Warcraft (PC, European release)
Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy (PC)
City of Villains (PC)
Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack (Xbox)
Nintendogs (DS)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Zero_ @ Dec 31st 2005 8:55AM

I really feel sorry for the GCN this year, with only one 'excellent' game this year, which was also released on the PS2.

vadermaggot @ Dec 31st 2005 9:11AM

only ONE vote for Call of Duty 2?!?! you have two choices pc or Xbox 360 very daissapointing that a group of gamers would only have one among you who has the love. my hat off to you Ed Stasick.

the antique @ Dec 31st 2005 10:22AM

uh... why so many votes for HL2 on Xbox? Go and get the PC version.

Doug teh H-Nut @ Dec 31st 2005 10:28AM

Call of Duty 2 is great. But only one vote for We Love Katamari? Come ON.

I need to get Psychonauts.

Sean DL @ Dec 31st 2005 11:06AM

Vote? There uhh..picks, and with limited spots(and blog space), it's dog eat dog...

But it's nice to see such a diversity, with every gaming system and all...

Lansing @ Dec 31st 2005 11:29AM

Not everyone had shadow of the colossus as their pick, apparently they have yet to beat the game. Play shadow everyone, buy it so the company makes more games. If you don't like the first few, don't worry, they get better.

C. Grant @ Dec 31st 2005 11:45AM

Damn! I should have added WarioWare: Twisted! That game had me hooked for days. And Minish Cap... and Geometry Wars... and Indigo Prophecy... and Guitar Hero... and...

adamsb @ Dec 31st 2005 12:43PM

I need to break out more portables. Yeah WarioWare is classic, I almost got tunnel vision from that game.

Dusty @ Dec 31st 2005 12:50PM

I guess Dragon Quest _still_ isn't popular in America. *sigh*

Momus @ Dec 31st 2005 12:52PM

Minish Cap was pretty rockin', yeah. Shadow of the Colossus deserves every gamer's attention.

http://www.insertcredit.com/reviews/wanda/

The above is the best article I've yet read about the game. And go buy Ico, too.

GOD @ Dec 31st 2005 3:58PM

Good list, a few games I really need to pick up. But I was sad to see so few PC games on it, such as Battlefield 2.

Einhanderkiller @ Dec 31st 2005 5:06PM

SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS

Incredible game.

Joel @ Jan 1st 2006 11:34AM

Looks like there are a lot of people on staff (except for Dan Choi) that didn't play Guitar Hero.

If you don't think Guitar Hero was a Game of the Year candidate, you either haven't played it, (esp. two player,) or you have no soul.

Dan Choi @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:23PM

I'm with you, Joel (well, maybe not about the missing-soul part): Guitar Hero deserves a lot more attention from the gaming (and non-gaming) public.

Paul Gale @ Jan 6th 2006 4:24AM

That's good to see some diversity in your guys' picks for your favorite games of 2005. It's been a good year, and 2006 is going to be really exciting! DS is coming off a stellar 1st year in the industry and will have a brand new 2D Super Mario Bros. game, Metroid Prime Hunters, and a new Zelda which will be revealed at E3 '06. GameCube's going to have what could be the next "Best Game Ever" which of course is Zelda: Twilight Princess. The Xbox 360 will have big games like Splinter Cell 4, and announcements at E3 including Halo 3. And of course, we're going to get two brand new systems: Nintendo Revolution and PlayStation 3. You can almost feel the electricity in the air...can't you!? :)

- Paul Gale -