Okami wins different AP game of the year award

by Blake Snow { Dec 28th 2006 at 7:25PM }

Not to be outdone by other top 10, 50, or even 100 year-end gaming lists, the Associated Press swoops in and dubs a second "game of the year" award to Capcom's Okami (PS2) authored by a different writer (intended for a different region, perhaps?). The former AP year-end list merely cited the PS2 adventure title as "best game for older consoles," but now it reigns supreme at number one; at least until a third AP game of the year is awarded, another outlet announces a winner, or the coming of next year's honors.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (360, PC) took the second spot on this list, followed by Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, GCN), Gears of War (360), Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2) to round out the top five. Hit the link for the full 10 in addition to five games the news wire counsels to avoid. What would the good be without the bad, right?

See also: Metareview - Okami (PS2)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nate @ Dec 28th 2006 7:38PM

I'm currently playing Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin...

I think it deserves a spot on any year-end "best-of" list....it's easily in my top 5, and probably the best portable game I've ever played.

v1cious @ Dec 28th 2006 7:51PM

man with all the rave reviews coming in, Clover must me printing money...

ok i know i'm horrible.

Car2oon @ Dec 28th 2006 7:58PM

Got for Christmas. One hell of a game. It saddens me this game isn't gatting the attention it deserves.

Car2oon @ Dec 28th 2006 8:02PM

Whoops-
*Got it
*gEtting

Vlad @ Dec 28th 2006 8:15PM

Okami is my game of the year so far (I'm still playing FFXII and I haven't played Zelda yet...), and it's actually one of my top 5 favorite games of all time.

Was Xenosaga 3 that good? I heard it was alright, but nothing to write home about. I don't see how it could be better than FFXII or some of DS fare we saw this year

Chris @ Dec 28th 2006 8:23PM

I like the game as well... but come on, the dialogue "noise" is annoying, and so is the fact that some cutscene dialogue can't be fast-forwarded or skipped.

The Jaded @ Dec 28th 2006 8:28PM

Was Xenosaga III good?

In short: yes. It was certainly the best in the series. Was it one of 2006's top five games? ... Not so much. If you're being charitable it might show up in the top 15 or so. Maybe.

Josh @ Dec 28th 2006 8:49PM

Nate (#1), I'm with ya. I just started playing that game today, and now I see why so many people love Castlevania! It's so freaking fun and beautiful!

otakucode @ Dec 29th 2006 6:08AM

I'm a huge Xenosaga fanboy (and actually liked Xenosaga 2 the best because it had some downright DISTURBING storyline elements, which means it had great writing and direction) but even I wouldn't put it on a game of the year list... game of the year lists have to list games that appeal to everyone. Xenosaga 3 doesn't because lots of people apparently have a problem with the sublime perfection that is a sci fi RPG with turn-based battle. In my book there's no such thing as a better game, but different strokes for different folks.

Silver R. Wolfe @ Dec 28th 2006 9:14PM

Castlevania is a fine game, but I wouldn't put it up there in the the top five games of the year. It would make it in my top 5 portable games of the year though, behind MGS:PO.

Okami deserves to be up there, maybe not the best game of the year but definitely a surprising one to many. Too bad it was doomed to mediocre recognition due to the fact that there are no guns, no real mature content, and no Zelda.

SammyDKat @ Dec 28th 2006 9:16PM

Got Okami for my 9 year old niece & the noise/text does get very annoying. As beautiful & inventive as it is, you'd think they'd have shortened the 1/2 hour text intro.

E8 Foe @ Dec 28th 2006 10:56PM

Wow, nicely done, v1cious. And SammyDKat, agreed 100%. Took me out of the game before it even started.

Pretty game, and pretty fun, but a bit overrated? Maybe I just wasn't as pleasantly surprised as most reviewers were to play it, as I had a chance to read and buy into their hype.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a fine game.