For the past several months I've been kicking this around and decide whether or not I should bother with this list. I don't play quite as much as I used to, and in particular the last few years I've played less than ever. Writing, even inconsequential stuff, doesn't come quite as easy as it once did for some reason so that's made things even harder. Then this ridiculous pandemic happened and suddenly I've had more free time and started playing a lot more than I had in years, and it's jump started my interest in gaming again in a big way.
Still, the writing part hasn't quite clicked, but after a few false starts I decided to say 'fuck it' and just force it. If it sucks, so be it. Hell, 5 people at most are going to read it so really cares?
So what will the top games be? What will be number one? Will I finish my list before Vader finishes his Top 100? To find out the answers to these questions and more STAY TUNED!!!!
Honorable Mention #3 (yeah I'm still writing them up). Splatoon
Splatoon alone could have justified my purchase of a Wii U, even if no other games had come out for the console. And let's face it, there really weren't many others so thank god Splatoon existed. I spent many many hours playing and losing my shit to cheating bastard Japanese elementary school kids, and despite how often my blood pressure got out of line, I loved it. And as a bonus I learned a little about controlling my anger. Seriously, I actually got banned from playing it by my wife for a little while because I was apparently getting too angry. I'm much better now though.
Splatoon and the word "fresh" go hand in hand. Not only was a it a fresh taken on the team shooter, but it was arguabley just as fresh as a certain Prince of Bel Air. Seriously, the creators knew the game's fan base would respond well to bright splashes of color and a feeling that came straight out of 90's Nickelodeon nostalgia.The aesthetic and the style screamed, "everyone have fun" and it was tough not do so when playing it. And when Nintendo hosted a weekend Splatfest, it turned the game into one huge party that made you genuinely sad or regret when you missed out on it.
While Nintendo nailed the aesthetics and vibe, it came down to the gameplay. I think what made the game so much enjoyable though was that it offered a little something for the casual player and the more hardcore skilled players. If you've got a good connection and good reflexes then you might just be on your way to control the board reach your goals. If you suck ass, you can still play with a roller and paint the ground. And shockingly, both ways of play are fun.
And one of these days I'm really going to have to check out the single-player mode. Still need to get around to that.
The single player was a lot of fun. I really liked the bosses.
Everyone keeps saying it, and one day I'm sure I will get around to it. I've started the single player mode a couple times, but it never really pulled me in, and it was easy to just push aside and go straight into the online game.Does anyone still play Splatoon 2? I'm sure they're still quite an audience for it, but if and when I ever get around to getting a Switch That will be one of the games I want to check out first.
That's a little harsh. I thought the first half of the game was really good. It sort of showed what the intention of STEM was all along, and still found a way to have it fall apart with some crazy monsters to kill along the way. It's a fun dichotomy between the ideal America town and utter chaos.The second half though when they switch the main villain is when it breaks down a little bit. That villain was a little weak/lame and all of the outside world intrigue plays a bigger part, and the game sort of dissolves into a more typical military shooter. Still, enough cool things happen along the way that I still enjoyed it.
My son was playing it yesterday and we play online on occasion.
What’s a Splatoon?
It's a special squid inspired suppository. Try it, you'll love it.Honorable Mention #4. Rayman Legends
The best platformer of the decade was not Mario or Donkey Kong Country (or even Klonoa). Rayman total owned this award and in my mind nothing else was even close. Ubisoft had done some really impressive things with the Framework engine on Rayman Orgins and made an absolutely gorgeous game, but with Legends they took it a step further and did something even better. They made it fast. Really fast. Rayman Legends is designed to be run through as quickly as possible without taking so much as a second to pause (most of the levels anyway, though they do a good job of mixing up a fewer slower paced levels for variety). These levels are are a joy to go through. Lots of variety, and they're designed in a way that pretty much anyone can run them, but skilled players will be able to do it, pick up every lum along the way, and not miss a beat.
While Wii U owners got screwed over pretty well when Ubisoft chose to delay the game shortly before the release (a decision that bit Ubisoft right back on the ass thanks to Grand Theft Auto V), the result was even more quality content than just the awesome levels. Great boss fights were added, along with mini games, the very best levels from Origins and a daily/weekly skill challenge that let players compete in changing scenarios that tested how you fared in a different array of unlimited runner levels.
And if nothing else, the game gave us the single greatest platformer game level of all time...Castle Rock.
Origins I nearly platinumed. Then my PS3 died and i lost my saves. On the bright side, it means i'll never platinum a game ever.