Take Risk. Simplify the rules and create a bunch of new maps. Add an intuitive web-based interface and a complex worldwide ranking system. Make the game entirely free to play and attract a solid stable of online players, available at all hours of the day. The result is one of the most addictive strategy games you've probably never heard of.
Sure, it just the same old third-person shootfest at its core, but the incredible, organic environments, impressive character animation and the amazing sense of jump-where-you-want freedom kept me playing. The year's best script and voice-acting this side of Portal didn't hurt either.
Sudoku is dead, as far as I'm concerned. The new reigning champion for game-to-play-while-watching-a-horrible-TV-show-in-the-background is now officially Picross DS. While the concept isn't exactly new, the interface and wide variety of puzzles on offer in the DS version makes it a winner. Plus you get a cute picture at the end, instead of Sudoku's random jumble of numbers. Beat that!
Note to whoever developed Defender for the PS2... this is how you do a classic remake. Equal parts old and new, Pac-Man Championship Edition was instantly familiar and instantly intriguing at the same time. The high-speed action and constantly changing environments combine to create a uniquely smooth experience -- the whole thing just flows better than any game since Geometry Wars. Now, if only there were a mode without the time-limit ...
Yeah, the constant flipping got kind of annoying, and the 3D puzzles were often obvious and/or gimmicky, and the game fell apart a bit at the end. It's hard to care, though, when you're hopping on enemies and stringing together mid-air bouncing combos like it was still 1985. And any game that so effectively makes fun of geeky game-player stereotypes is hi-technicaaaaaaaal in my book.
Forsooth! Verily, a game that dost try to be Oblivion but fails to have decent combat, a sensible story, or really anything at all interesting to do shalt hereby be declared the worst game of the year. And yes, all the characters do actually talk like that.
New Year's Resolution
Re-launch Games for Lunch and keep it updated daily.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
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I sold all my Tony Hawk games, because after playing skate I will never be able to play any of this "button mashers" again.
http://www.gamedesign.jp/flash/dice/dice.html
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I guess I'll have to play kdice to find out... good advertising Kyle, good advertising.
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Just askin'. Never played any of the two before.
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The voice acting was great, the story was compelling, the characters were likeable, and the scenery was beautiful, but the game played like it was on rails...rails where throwing wave upon wave or "Pirates 'R' Us" rejects seemed like a good idea at the time.
I'm sorry, I enjoyed the game, but it wasn't anywhere as near as good as people keep saying it is. It copied elements of Gears of War and Tomb Raider/Prince of Persia, but did a mediocre job with each (Drake shimmying along a ledge like an over caffeinated monkey did amuse me to no end, though...nowhere as smooth as TR/PoP, but funny to watch). The great story/storytelling and beatiful scenery was the only thing that saved this game.
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