I’ve played a lot of new video games for the first
time this year. From 2018 releases like Celeste
and Super Smash Bros Ultimate, to
older titles such as Mega Man for the
Nintendo Entertainment System and Metroid
Fusion for the Game Boy Advance. I’ve streamed my adventures listed below
on Twitch to boot. The only games I feel I’ve missed out on are God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 (both of which I would have played, had I
still had my PS4.) Also, I don’t feel I’ve missed out on Spider-Man for the PS4 since I watched my friend play through it.
I’ve played hacks, ports and even a 3DO game, and while I haven’t played a ton,
I feel that these 26 games were a full year of myself jumping into digital
adventures. I hope you all enjoy my thoughts on what I’ve played in 2018! (After
my top six, I’m going to only being giving brief thoughts.)
Celeste
(PC) - 10/10
Celeste
is already up there as one of my favorite games of all time and is up there
with Super Meat Boy and Donkey Kong Country 2 as my favorite 2D
platformer of all time. It’s not just a jumpy jump game, it has an emotional
nature of the story, beautiful art, precise gameplay, tight controls and
astounding soundtrack. You can pick up this game a play through it in a couple
of hours, or you can spend countless hours collecting Strawberries and doing
the B and C-Sides of the worlds. All of this adds up to one of the most
complete games I’ve had the pleasure of playing in my life.
Super
Mario Odyssey (NSW) - 9/10
I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Switch in
October, and oh boy was I stoked to get my hands-on Super Mario Odyssey. As a huge fan of Super Mario 64 and Super
Mario Sunshine growing up, Odyssey falls more in line with those to games
than it does with the Galaxy titles. The game is packed with plenty of
collectables (Power Moons, purple coins and outfits), a wide array of
completely unique worlds and an awesome soundtrack to boot. Even if you’re just
finishing the game and not collecting all the Power Moons and purple coins like
I did, there’s an abundance to do.
Super
Smash Bros. Ultimate (NSW) - 9/10
I’ve already put over 30 hours in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and I haven’t even touched the online
yet. I played a healthy amount of my time has, so far, been finishing World of
Light and collecting spirits. I’ve also done a few of the Classic Mode runs to
hit my nostalgia. Both modes are incredibly varied and highly creative (if a
bit repetitive.) I put quite a few hours into Smash 4 between my Wii U and 3DS, but it never really captured my
attention like Ultimate has thus far. The unbelievable number of fighters (with
six more to come), what feels like every stage ever, an incredible array of
original, remixed and reintroduced tracks and gameplay that feels more refined
and faster than the previous entry.
Mega
Man (NES) - 9/10
I need to get to the rest of the NES Mega Man games because this was a blast
to go through for the first time since I was a kid. I’m still not convinced I
beat this as a kid either. This game is tough, but the gameplay is still very
fair. Each stage is challenging, and you feel a sense of accomplishment
finishing a stage and the game. Not to mention this game has some of the best
music from the NES era.
Phoenix
Wright: Ace Attorney (3DS) – 8/10
Ever since I played Danganronpa, I’ve been looking to
get into more visual novels, and the first one I played since finishing Danganronpa V3 was Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The game play is a bit dated, as is
some of the dialogue, but this was a joy to play through. Each case had its own
distinct feel and story. The overall story was great, the characters are memorable,
the music is banging and the gameplay (both collecting evidence and in the
courtroom) will leave anyone satisfied.
Hollow
Knight (NSW, 70% Done) - 8/10
I’d been waiting to play Hollow Knight since it came out but never had the opportunity until
now. I’ve never been huge into Metroidvania’s, but playing the game next on my
list really spurred me to getting Hollow
Knight as soon as I got my Switch. With great gameplay (both platforming
and power-ups), awesome stage and background design, a huge map, challenging
enemies and bosses, this game so far (I’d say I’m about 70% done at the moment)
hits in all the right places.
Metroid
Fusion (GBA) - 8/10
The afore mentioned Metroid Fusion clocks in just outside of my top five. Great gameplay,
awesome design, engaging story and good mechanics, power ups and movements.
Pokémon
Crystal Clear (GBC, Open-World Hack) - 7/10
If you’ve ever played Pokémon over the years, you’ve
been clamoring for an open-world adventure, where you can start off and go
anywhere. Pokémon Crystal Clear gives
you an open world, scaling gym leaders, an abundance of starters to choose from,
following Pokémon, customizable music and a litany of other customizable
options.
Kirby
Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA) - 7/10
I’m not a huge fan of Kirby games, I
would say that these GBA Kirby games were the last exceptional ones. Nightmare in Dream Land is a remake of Kirby’s Adventure and it makes
everything much nicer to look at, listen to and most of all, play.
Kirby
Super Star (SNES) - 7/10
I only put this below Nightmare in Dreamland because of focus. I enjoyed traversing a map
and going from world to world more than going to a main menu to go to the
different portions of the game. Though I will concede, that Kirby Super Star still has the best
gameplay of all Kirby games.
Crash
Bandicoot Trilogy (PS1) - 7/10
I never had a PlayStation growing up, so I had no
nostalgia for these next two series. I liked Crash Bandicoot slightly more than Spyro, but as far as platformers go, you can do way worse, even if
you’re playing the originals. Side note, playing Crash 1 blind is absolutely
brutal.
Spyro
the Dragon Trilogy (PS1) - 7/10
Like above, you can apply everything I said about Crash Bandicoot to Spyro the Dragon as well. It’s a decent time and there’s many other
games you could go to from that era that don’t have the same sense of fun
behind them.
Pokémon:
Let’s Go Pikachu! (NSW)– 6/10
As someone who has played every main series Pokémon
game, this is far from the worst, but I’m not giving it an A+ either. The removal
of random encounters was nice, and it was cool going back to Kanto on my Switch
in HD. But, the game is short, made far too easy and packed with Pokémon Go gimmicks and has a post-game
that simply not worth doing after a few hours.
Detective
Pikachu (3DS) - 6/10
I played Detective
Pikachu after Phoenix Wright and I was hoping for Ace Attorney x
Danganronpa x Pokémon. I kind of got that. This is a short game, with okay mechanics,
a decent story and characters and a vibrant world that just doesn’t quite click
on all cylinders.
Luigi's
Mansion Dark Moon (3DS) - 6/10
Luigi’s
Mansion on the GameCube benefitted from its brevity. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is a game
that plays well and has a good story, but I felt like I was doing too much of
the same stuff over and over and over in each different mansion.
Pokémon
Penumbra Moon (3DS, Difficulty Hack) - 6/10
If you want a little more challenge in your Pokémon
games a difficulty hack is the way to go. I felt sense of accomplishment when I
beat Hau and took my place atop the Alola League that I can’t say I felt after
playing the base game.
Pokémon
Sweet Version (GBA, Full Rom Hack) - 6/10
This is a full hack, with all new “Sweet” inspired Pokémon,
pixel art, with an all new type chart and story. Unfortunately, it takes a long
time to learn the new types, it seems like the Pokémon aren’t placed with any
reason and the story is just okay.
Cave
Story+ (PC) - 6/10
I wanted to like Cave
Story+ a lot more than I did. The platforming and power ups were fun and
there were challenging parts too. But I just wasn’t as enamored by the art and
story as much as a lot of other people.
Mom
Hid My Game (3DS) - 6/10
If you’ve got an hour, you too can save your game console from
your mother who keeps hiding it from you in ridiculous ways. Take the time
to play this gem that’s sure to get a laugh out of you.
Comix
Zone (GEN) - 4/10
The idea and presentation of Comix Zone is great. Unfortunately, this is a game that is difficult
and punishes you as well. On top of that the controls aren’t the greatest and
it’s mired in the arcade style of “you game over, you start all the way over.”
Hatoful
Boyfriend (PC) - 4/10
All visual novels aren’t created equal and this falls
into the “tries too hard” portion for me. In Hatoful Boyfriend you’re turned into a bird and go to a bird high
school. You do anything a Japanese kid would do, but you’re a bird. Yeah.
Plumbers
Don't Wear Ties (PC) - 2/10
In this 90s misfire turned internet meme, you’re trying
to help a man get together with a woman he meets in a parking lot. The writing,
humor, story, acting in this 3DO title is all just awful.
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