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Or How I Learned to Forsake My Watch and Love the Con
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Review: Domu – A Child's Dream
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Drunken Otaku: Great Drinker – Conker the Squirrel
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Video games seemed to soar far beyond expectations this year. Without a tentpole release like Bioshock, Halo 3, or Portal, all different kinds of games popped up all over the place, from all platforms. 2008 was a year of games that broke new ground. Games like Far Cry 2 and Mirror's Edge, which took their respective genres to whole new levels. Games like Grand Theft Auto, which broke sales records for video games mere months after the release of the record-setting Halo 3. Games like Fable II, which created one of the first true open-world games to allow you full control over the morality and lifestyle of your character.
Choosing our favorite games was difficult, and there are a lot of fantastic titles that didn't make the list. Please understand that these winners were decided based on votes from each of our staff members, averaged together to form a general consensus. In addition, we had some extra votes from Yumeka of AnimeYume to help even out tie votes. The writeup for each winner has the author's nickname next to it. [Vampt Vo], for example.
Below, our choices for the best video games of 2008.
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Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360
The graphics, the car selection, the paint options, and the soundtrack (not to mention how easy it is to play to your own) never fail to impress. The only bit of nostalgia that lingers is that which adored crash events. Sure, you can start your own total-as-many-things-as-possible-for-as-long-as-you-want event at any time during a race or (I think) in free-roam, but it's not the challenge-based event that made things blowing up all the more fun for destruction engineers with OCD. So if there was ever a reason to keep your junker on cinder blocks on the lawn like a decoration you might work on on alternate Saturdays, that's it. Otherwise, feel free to start immersing yourself in the experience of new-and-shiny-ness with no regrets. My gamertag is King Ink. See you on the strip (in the rear-view mirror). [Ink] |
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Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360
A slight bit of envy between RB2 and GHWT is the add-on drum expansion, which only duplicates colors for RB2 (whereas the GHWT kit adds another color for a better/more varied drumming experience). Still, if you care about anything other than the songs when looking to get this game: 1) you're wrong, 2) GHWT does a better job with character customizations and venue settings/graphics, and 3) RB2 offers many more modes of playing than GHWT, though mostly in playlist form (Challenges, Battle of the Bands, etc). I rock Excellent Guitar/Bass, can sing your sister's knockers off, and mess up the simplest of beats – and I love jamming with anyone, anytime who has the same love of music that is the soul behind this game. [Ink] |
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Platform(s): Nintendo DS
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Personal Choices
(The top video game choice from each of our staff members that voted)
- Mitchell "MitchyD" Dyer: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (360)
- "Ink": Rock Band 2 (360)
- Maxwell "Pigeonflu" McGee: Left 4 Dead (360)
- Evan "Vampt Vo" Minto: The World Ends with You (DS)
- "Yumeka": Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii)
Genre(s): Action, RPG Director: Tatsuya Kando
Developer: Jupiter, Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Console(s): DS
Rated:T for Teen
The World Ends with You is the sort of game youâd expect to see at the end of a consoleâs life cycle.Much like the original Paper Mario or God of War II, the developer obviously knew all of the nuances of the hardware, and how to get the most out of them.Free from the constrictions of an existing franchise, Square Enix and Jupiter have cut loose and crafted a unique and engaging experience that challenges both your combat and fashion sense.
With TWEWY I definitely came for the extensive customization, but I ended up staying for the co-op play, if you can believe it.Being the turn-based strategy game junkie that I am, I have a deep-seated love for endlessly tweaking and adjusting my cast of characters between every encounter (my FF: Tactics game can attest to that).And while this isnât a turn-based game, TWEWY delivers that customizable fix that Iâve come to enjoy so much.From the clothes on your back, to the food in your stomach, to the pins on your chest, everything here affects your characters either numerically, changes their move set, or gives them a special ability.
However, all of these fine details donât amount to much if you canât put them to good use.Luckily, the combat mechanics here will keep you engaged throughout by utilizing both the top and bottom screens of the DS.Up top youâll be using the d-pad, or face buttons, to line up symbols in order to score hits on your opponent.On the bottom itâs the various motions of the stylus that dictate what actions you perform.Sure they both sound simple enough when theyâre separate, but try controlling both at the same time and pretty soon youâll find yourself setting up that auto-play feature.
Now, if youâre like me and canât manage what feels like doing ten things at once, you could always play the game co-op.No, I donât mean wireless co-op, I mean you and your partner sit side-by-side and each controls either the top or bottom screen.Sure there might be some arguments about skipping through dialog too quickly or what items to buy, but being able to devote full attention to both characters at once makes the game much more manageable at higher levels of play.
Aside from missing a true multiplayer component (no, the âlocal co-opâ doesnât count), TWEWY is a game perfectly crafted for the handheld mindset.The missions here never take too long and youâre always able to save on a whim.You can do as much or as little combat as youâd like since the encounters are by choice rather than at random.The game even gives an incentive for you to return by continuing to level up your pins while itâs shut off.Just like the fashion mecca itâs centered around, this game also never sleeps.
TWEWY was a total blast from confusing start to convoluted finish.Believe me, after the credits roll youâll be just as bewildered as I was as to what on Earth just happened.But fear not, once completed youâll be rewarded with a plethora of bonus content â including the ability to replay any day you wish to unlock extra swag and plot info.If you own a DS, put it to good use and check this title out! You have seven days.
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| Graphics/Sound: | 4.0 | Average:  (3.9 stars) |
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| Gameplay: | 4.0 | |||
| Design/Story: | 3.5 | |||
| Lasting Appeal: | 4.0 | |||
| Overall: | 4.0 | |||
