Wait, that's the blonde from Haven. God that show sucks.

I've had a morbid curiosity about Resident Evil spinoffs since the early days. In my mind Umbrella Corps occupies the same wasted space in RE canon like Survivor and Outbreak. I don't know who was asking for these game and I don't know why they continued to make them. When it comes to spinoffs the Revelations games were miles better.

T_Prime said:

I've had a morbid curiosity about Resident Evil spinoffs since the early days. In my mind Umbrella Corps occupies the same wasted space in RE canon like Survivor and Outbreak. I don't know who was asking for these game and I don't know why they continued to make them. When it comes to spinoffs the Revelations games were miles better.

Woah woah woah, Outbreak games were great. Don't ever mention them with that other crap. That game was so good online.

Revelations isn't a spinoff, it's just a portable main line title. It's part of the main series.

I tried both Outbreak and File#2 and honestly that's all I remember about them, that I played them. They were released around the time of RE4, yes? Gone from my memory, unlike the time I watched a friend play Survivor. I think it looked alright then, but I never actually played it hands-on and everything I've read tells me it plays horribly.

I suppose "Revelations" works like "Code: Veronica" in the main RE series. "These totally count but we didn't put a number on them because fuck you," also perfectly applicable to the GTA series.

Has anyone here tried RE Gaiden, the GBC game?

In Resident Evil Outbreak, you could put book cabinets in front of doors, and sometimes that would stop the people you were cooping with from progressing in the level as you got away, so they became zombies. It was always so fucking funny....until they became zombies and killed you near the finish line of the level : (

edgecrusher said:

Well Code Veronica was the true RE3 but the suits at Capcom wouldn't let Mikami call it that because it was on Dreamcast instead of Playstation. So the the side story (Nemesis) got the number. True story.

I remember this. The PS1 had contractual dibs on any numbered games, right? It wasn't simply that the suits were jerks. Even though CV started development before Nemesis it came out after. CVX was a great game, for the time at least, I haven't replayed it in years. I actually think I own it twice, on GameCube and an HD PS3 version. I'll check later.

Gagan said:

In Resident Evil Outbreak, you could put book cabinets in front of doors, and sometimes that would stop the people you were cooping with from progressing in the level as you got away, so they became zombies. It was always so fucking funny....until they became zombies and killed you near the finish line of the level : (

That sounds fantastic! Now I wish I'd seen that. Guess you had to be there at the time.

edgecrusher said:

Yeah I had bought a Dreamcast specifically to play Code Veronica. Back then, Resident Evil was pretty much my top franchise....it could do no wrong. Obviously I wanted DC for the other great stuff too, but RE was the one that got me to NEED it. I remember thinking OMG RE on this hardware is going to be amazing....and it was. Just that opening cutscene alone left my jaw on the floor. The tech leaps back then were so much better than they are now. I feel bad for the kids today.

Same I got a DC for CV and a GC for RE as well.

Time for my GOTY top 11 (forgot a game and didnt want to delete one).

11. Titanfall 2

Amazing single player campaign with great unqiue mechanics and awesome setpieces. Varied and exciting throughout but a bit short. Online is very fast and fun. A big surprise this year.

10. The Last Guardian

An epic adventure with one of the most impressive AI characters ever put in a game. Lots of platforming, some puzzles, good action moments. Plus a very strong emotional ending. It may not be SOTC but its a great game.

9. Watch Dogs 2

One of the most lively and packed cities ever put in a game, there is something to do around nearly every block. The hacking is better, gunplay got worse though. Online remains a total blast. Another great open world game.

8. Deus Ex Mankind Divided

Hey its the exact same game from 5 years ago, but its still great. The freedom the game gives you to explore and find ways to finish missions is impressive. Still a great stealth RPG.

7. Ratchet and Clank

Feels so good to have these two back. Yeah its still the same formula but it still works, its still a blast and most games aren't this fun.

6. Another Metroid 2 Remake

This might not count to some as its a fan made game but I honestly don't care who makes great games only that they are great. This is every bit as good as a Nintendo metroid game, its one of my favorite 2D metroids. it blows away all these damn metroid clones that are not as good as metroid. Play this game, its free.

5. Xcom 2

They managed to take the great xcom formula and sort of twist it around. This sequel is more brutal, more intense and every bit as fun as the reboot. I miss some of the base building around the world but I enjoyed the tactical part more.

4. Doom

Holy shit they did it! Its DOOM in modern times. Finally a fast paced, non stop action FPS with no stupid down sights or cover. Its just run and shoot things while looking for keys and navigating complex levels. Its DOOM!

3. Dark Souls 3

Another year another Souls games. The formula is incredible so just having one of these games out instantly means its in the top 10. DS3 is the culmination of the entire series, if it came out in a vacuum it would be the best one. But its the latest in a now yearly franchise and that fatigue is setting in.

2. Uncharted 4

Yes this one could have been better. Yes there are large chunks where you do nothing but walk. The pacing is a total mess. Still when its on, there is no game better. The setpieces are mindblowing. The action is better than ever, better gun play, the ability to use vehicles, and the hook for incredible movement through levels. Its the best looking game ever with some of the most incredible acting. The story is the best by a mile in an Uncharted game. It has another really fun multiplayer component. It may not be the masterpiece Uncharted 2 was but its a stand out game.

THE GAME OF THE YEAR

The Witness

An absolute masterclass in game design. The Witness should be studied in game design classes as the best example of a singular vision perfectly executed into a grand adventure. This is no small three hour indie game, this is the size of a Zelda epic with near non stop game variety and surprises around every turn. I have never played a puzzle game that felt like Metroid except instead of new weapons to open new areas it's knowledge the player learns that acts as the keys.

While on the surface it seems like it's an entire game of line puzzles what Blow and his team does with that interface is nothing short of astounding. You will have puzzles that focus on sight, on sound, on perspective, on math; it's like the greatest interactive IQ test where the questions aren't some boring static words on a paper but a living breathing world you actively explore and can see in so many different ways.

The best part is how it never loses the identity that it is a video game first. This medium allows us to interact, it is the key ingredient that differentiates games from all other forms of entertainment. By allowing that interaction the puzzles are allowed to go beyond the scope of our reality, you cannot replicate these puzzles in the real world, it allows for this new kind of discovery which is what the game is about. And boy when you discover the game's biggest secret that was right in front of you the entire time it's a mindblowing experience.

To top it off the theme of the game is so perfectly woven into every fabric of this game that I feel it's also a shining example of storytelling even though it's all done in the background. This game is about the scientific method, it's about you entering an unknown world with unknown rules and applying logic and science to further explore. As you go deeper you find audio files and videos of past scientists and philosophers who's words resonate with what you are doing in game. I cannot praise the design of this game enough, it's a masterpiece.

So this is what a 2016 list looks like with 2016 games Good list. I REALLY wish I liked Jonathan Blow's stuff. The gushing I hear about The Witness is tempting, but consensus, smaller, "you gotta play this," universally praised games like Braid and Journey have left me cold before. Having said that, you may have convinced me yet. Hmmm.

Great write up.  I think UC4 is MTV fav with Paper Mario a close second.  I really wish Uncharted had more amazing set piece, action scenes. But the multiplayer was phenomenal.  I'm sure I sunk over a hundred hours into multiplayer.