It's the end of the decade as we know it
New decade, new picture, sounds about right! And the tally for 2019 is...
118 games played! Which isn't an all new high, but it's higher than 2018. Not bad! 2019 marked the year I finally got all the Nintendo 64 games I sold, sans Mario Party 1, and I finally got into GBA collecting. I might be done with my GBA collection by next year. Maybe. Regardless, onto the list:
==== Playstation ====
Time Commando
3.0
Swagman
6.5
Medievil II
7.5
Breath of Fire III
8.0
Legend of Mana
7.0
==== Playstation 2 ====
Yakuza
8.0
Obscure
8.5
Yakuza 2
8.5
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2.0
Obscure - The Aftermath
7.5
The Haunted Mansion
5.0
==== Playstation 3 ====
Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
4.5
Assassin's Creed Rogue
9.0
Yakuza 3
9.0
El Shaddai - Ascension of the Metatron
7.0
Lost Planet - Extreme Condition
7.5
==== Playstation 4 ====
My Hero One's Justice
6.5
Tekken 7
8.0
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure - Eyes of Heaven
7.0
Horizon Zero Dawn - Complete Edition
8.5
Yakuza 6 - The Song of Life
9.5
Mighty No. 9
4.5
Yakuza 0
8.5
Yakuza Kiwami
9.0
Danganronpa Trilogy
10
Devil May Cry 5
10
Yakuza Kiwami 2
9.0
Samurai Shodown(2019)
8.5
Dead or Alive 6
7.0
Tearaway Unfolded
4.5
Resident Evil 2
9.5
The Evil Within 2
9.0
Star Wars Jedi - Fallen Order
9.0
==== Vita =====
Earth Defense Force 2 - Invaders from Planet Space
7.5
Dungeon Hunter Alliance
6.5
Resistance - Burning Skies
6.5
==== Nintendo 3DS ====
Hyrule Warriors Legends
3.5
Luigi's Mansion - Dark Moon
7.0
Hotel Transylvania
4.0
==== Switch ====
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
8.0
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Torna the Golden Country
8.0
Azure Striker Gunvolt - Striker Pack
8.0
Travis Strikes Again - No More Heroes
7.5
Night in the Woods
7.5
Power Rangers - Battle for the Grid
8.0
Capcom Belt Action Collection
9.0
Fate/EXTELLA LINK
7.0
Kamen Rider Climax Scramble Zi-O
2.5
Dead Cells
10
Dragon - Marked for Death
4.5
Asterix & Obelix XXL2
3.5
Oxenfree
6.0
Bendy and the Ink Machine
4.0
Psikyo Collection vol.1
6.5
Psikyo Collection vol.2
7.0
Psikyo Collection vol.3
7.0
Tales of Vesperia
6.5
Super Dragon Ball Heroes - World Mission
7.0
Bloodstained - Ritual of the Night
8.5
Bloodstained - Curse of the Moon
8.0
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 - The Black Order
8.0
The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors
8.0
Fire Emblem - Three Houses
9.5
Guilty Gear 20th Anniversary Edition
8.0
Wild Guns Reloaded
7.0
Yoshi's Crafted World
6.5
Astral Chain
9.5
Lost Sphear
5.0
Megaman 11
6.5
Untiltled Goose Game
7.5
Collection of Mana
10
Evoland - Legendary Edition
5.0
Luigi's Mansion 3
9.0
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
5.0
Detention
7.5
Pokemon Sword
7.5
==== Gameboy ====
Dinotopia - The Timestone Pirates
1.5
Super Mario World - Super Mario Advance 2
9.0
Quest - Brian's Journey
6.5
Breath of Fire
6.0
Astro Boy - Omega Factor
9.0
Tekken Advance
7.5
Sword of Mana
6.0
Aero the Acro-bat
7.0
Breath of Fire II
8.0
Prehistorik Man
5.5
Disney's Magical Quest Starring Mickey & Minnie
8.0
Kong - King of Atlantis
3.0
Rescue Heroes - Billy Blazes
5.0
Eragon
2.0
No Rules - Get Phat
1.5
Fantastic 4 - Flame On
7.5
Tak - The Great Juju Challenge(Gameboy Advance)
1.0
The Ripping Friends
3.0
==== Nintendo 64 ====
Super Smash Bros.
8.0
Mace the Dark Age
8.0
Fighter Destiny 2
8.0
Turok 2 - Seeds of Evil
3.0
Quest 64
6.0
Mario Kart 64
6.0
Snowboard Kids
7.5
Mystical Ninja - Starring Goemon
7.5
Killer Instinct Gold
7.0
War Gods
5.0
Cruis'n USA
8.5
Hybrid Heaven
6.5
Turok 3 - Shadow of Oblivion
5.0
Chameleon Twist 2
7.0
Banjo-Tooie
8.0
Snowboard Kids 2
8.0
Goemon's Great Adventure
7.5
Cruis'n World
8.5
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
4.5
Rampage World Tour
4.0
Mortal Kombat 4
6.5
Cruis'n Exotica
9.5
Nightmare Creatures
3.0
Castlevania - Legacy of Darkness
7.0
Best Action Game of 2019:
I played many great action games this year, so many that I even considered splitting the games into shooters and hack and slash/beat'em ups, but quickly realized that I clearly favored the latter. Both Astral Chain and Devil May Cry 5 delivered in spades, alongside a few oldies but goodies I just couldn't get enough from.
5) Capcom Belt Action Collection
Beat'em ups are one of the genres that have aged the most, their repetitive gameplay loops just aren't up to snuff... but they've definitely got their niche. And I love beat'em ups, and Capcom made some of the best. Belt Action Collection doesn't include every single Capcom beat'em up, it's missing a few classics actually, but the games featured in the cart are pretty much amazing, and some of the best Capcom has to offer. Captain Commando is a timeless classic, Knights of the Round is impressive to this day, and Battle Circuit finally got its time shine.
4) Yakuza 6 - The Song of Life
I'll be the first to admit that Yakuza 6's combat is far from the best in the series, and it actually took a few steps back from 5, it's true, however, the new engine feels fantastic, and I can understand that since they were working with new technology they couldn't just keep everything from the older games. That said, what made Yakuza 6 so darn memorable to me was the fantastic ending to the story of the Dragon of Kamurocho. It features some of the nastiest villains in the saga, even if they weren't the deadliest, as well as an endearing new cast of supporting characters. If Kazuma's saga had to end, this was the best way to end the series in.
3) Astral Chain
Astral Chain was definitely not what I expected. I thought I was getting into a Devil May Cry clone, but I was pleasantly disappointed. It features a completely different combat engine that slowly opens up as you progress through the game, as well as an exquisite 80's cyberpunk anime aesthetic that really pulled me into its world. Once you finally get the hang of how the game plays it really opens up to a ton of possibilities and styles, even if it's not as hack-and-slashy as one would expect out of Platinum Games. The gameplay is tight, playing as both your character and his Legion is fun and open to creativity, and the story is up to snuff, Platinum took a gamble and it paid off.
Runner-up) Dead Cells
If there was a game I couldn't get enough out of this year, it was Dead Cells. It's incredibly addictive, thanks to how quick and snappy the gameplay is, coupled with how every run is different from your last, thanks to procedural generated stages and random enemy drops. I came back run after run after run after run, and it never got old. The patches really brought even more life into the game, with more costumes, weapons and enemies.... Motion Twin created one of the best indie titles I have ever played. Hopefully they'll re-release the game with all the DLC included IN the cart.
Winner) Devil May Cry 5
All it took was a single look at the reveal trailer for me to know that DMC 5 was something I wanted to play. I tried to avoid as much information on the game as I could, but I'll admit that the bit about breakable arms worried me. And how glad was I when I found out that Nero's arms wasn't as limiting as it sounded! Devil May Cry 4's biggest pitfall was how little content there was for each character, and while DMC 5 is a bit uneven in that area, it still felt like Nero and Dante got their fair share of levels to play in. V did get the short end of the stick, but let's be honest, he isn't as fun to use as Nero or Dante! The game looks amazing and plays like a dream, exploring the various levels was pretty fun and the combat was as sharp as ever. As soon as I finished the game, I played it again because it was so darn great.
Best RPG of 2019:
I tried to play more RPGs this year because I felt that lately I just wasn't getting my fill. Thankfully, I managed to knock off a few titles from my bucket list, as well as play a few newer entries I didn't know I needed in my life.
5) Breath of Fire III
So, I wasn't completely sold on the Dragon mechanics of this entry, and I really wasn't feeling the divide between the official art and the in-game sprites, but the former became one of my favorite parts from this game and the latter didn't bother me as much as I thought it would! The game features a rather small-stakes plot, albeit and interesting one and one that feels very personal to your small group of characters, while battles felt quite fun to engage in thanks to the Master system that lets you build your characters the way you want to. It's easily one of the best games in the series.
4) Breath of Fire II
But the best one in the series is Breath of Fire II. Capcom managed to craft a story SO good and so interesting that even the wonky translation couldn't get in the way of your enjoyment. I swear, the game's setup is so original that it's scary, and I loved how Capcom managed to give every character their own scenarios and and part to play in the plot. The combat is a bit more traditional, but it has a few quirks that keeps battles fun, such as the Shaman system and each character having their own personal actions.
3) Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Torna the Golden Country
I was a bit unsure on whether to include this game or the main game here, but at the end of the day the changes they made to the combat system made Torna a bit more fun to play. The game does have a nasty design choice that forces you into doing side content if you want to see its end, but that blemish aside, this game is a fantastic choice as far as original, console-exclusive RPGs go on the Switch. Xenoblade 2 both streamlined and expanded on the original's combat, but Torna adds a few tweaks, such as switching between Blade and Driver during combat, that makes battle more engaging and interactive, thus, more fun. It feels like you, the player, take an even more active role than before. It also helps that, while still being filled to the brim with anime tropes, this cast of characters was more interesting than the one from the main game.
Runner-up) Fire Emblem - Three Houses
Fire Emblem - Three Houses is my first FE game, and what a game to take the plunge with! Featuring a story of war between three kingdoms, laden with social elements not unlike Persona, as well as fun battles, Three Houses is a brilliant, brilliant game. The game made an exceptional job at endearing you with your students, students who'll then turn into either allies or enemies as you go through any of the four different story branches, students that you'll help face their demons... or face their deaths. While series' veterans might be sad to see the weapon-weakness triangle gone, I felt that the combat was pretty fun, and there were still advantages and disadvantages between units and attacks to keep in mind.
Winner) Collection of Mana
Trials of Mana has been one of my favorite JRPGs of all time, and up to now, there has been no way to legally own the game in English. But now, with Collection of Mana, we get an official translation, as well as ports of the other first two games in the series. Final Fantasy Adventure has aged a lot making it a bit boring, and Sword of Mana has aged a bit as well, although it's still a classic, but Trials of Mana feels almost as fresh as it once was. The story setup is brilliant, letting you pick a party of three between six characters and tying their personal stories together, and the combat is one of my favorite combat systems of the SNES era, featuring real-time combat(even though spells do pause the action). No game in this collection is perfect, but this cart is a very precious bit of JRPG history that's worth a look even if for Trials of Mana alone.
Best Adventure Game of 2019:
Having undusted the Nintendo 64 means that now I've played a TON of adventure games, although, surprisingly, most good adventure games I played this year came from other consoles!
5) Castlevania - Legacy of Darkness
It's funny how a few small tweaks can turn a bad game into a pretty decent one, because the mad men at Konami managed to get a decent game out of Castlevania 64! Better camera, better levels, better framerate and more characters made for a better game. It's still a bit lacking in a few areas, but I can't deny how much fun exploring and platforming through this game felt.
4) Mystical Ninja - Starring Goemon
Mystical Ninja was a bit of a childhood favorite of mine, and I'm so happy that it's held up so well! The story is wacky, the cast of characters is ridiculous and your enemies are even more ridiculous! There are plenty of secrets to find and collect around the world of Mystical Ninja, and having four playable characters, with different abilities required to proceed makes for a very varied game that always has something new up its sleeve waiting for you.
3) Horizon Zero Dawn - Complete Edition
It took me a little while to get fully invested in Horizon, but once it sunk its claws it just wouldn't let go! Aloy was an enjoyable character to follow, and I had a fun time getting engrossed in her world. The combat was really something else, because of its more methodical approach, battles with the bigger robots will take a while, but the more you fight the more you'll learn, how best to take them out, which ammo type to use, when to dodge and when to go in for the kill. It also helped how gorgeous the game looked, I frequently found myself taking screenshots mid-trek.
Runner-up) Bloodstained - Ritual of the Night
Konami won't give us the Castlevania games we want? That's fine, because Koji Igarashi will! At times it might hold Symphony of the Night a bit too close to its sleeve, but there's enough original ideas and abilities in here as to keep someone that has played SOTN to death, like me, quite happy. It has to be said, you can tell that Igarashi and his team were new to the engine they used, which translated into wonky performance on all consoles, but the game was so much fun that a few technical hiccups couldn't get in the way of my fun. There are a ton of different weapons to use, plenty of powers to collect, Aria of Sorrow style, and everything and anything fans of Metroidvanias could want, with more on the horizon thanks to free DLC.
Winner) Assassin's Creed Rogue
For an afterthought, Assassin's Creed Rogue was pretty great, but then again, it was pretty much a Black Flag reskin, which automatically made it good. I wasn't completely sold on this 'Templar point of view', because they justified him being all Assassin-ish due to having been an Assassin-turned-Templar, but the gameplay is incredibly fun. I said it before, and I'll say it again, Black Flag/Rogue are the best pirate simulators you can find on the market right now. Nothing sounds lamer than ship-to-ship combat in my eyes, but sinking and boarding ships is so much fun in these games. Plus, Ubisoft knows how to make an addictive game in which even the act of collecting fluff, such as useless money, is fun.
Best Platformer Game of 2019:
Having undusted the Nintendo 64 also means more platforming games. plus, having reignited my interest on the Gameboy Advance also opened up my doors to a whole slew of new 2-D platform games, including a few classics I should've played before.
5) Aero the Acro-bat
I've never been the biggest fan of euro-platformers, they are a bit too loosey goosey for my tastes, but Aero the Acro-bat was pretty fun. I really liked the aesthetics, and the gameplay wasn't half bad either!
4) Goemon's Great Adventure
I swear, it took me a while to really warm up to this game, but once you get used to its physics it turns into a rather neat platforming game. What initially feels like a slippery mess turns into a pretty well made game, with a ton of secrets to find and tough platforming challenges to conquer! The humor is on point, and while it might have less cutscenes than the first game, it's got a few better jokes.
3) Banjo-Tooie
Banjo-Tooie is... different. It's not bad, it's not bad at all, but it's easily one of the most ambitious games I've ever played, and the end result was pretty good. There was something magical about the original Banjo Kazooie game that this game just couldn't capture, which is probably why this game went for a more Metroidvaia-ish take on the genre. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, stages are huge and sometimes even getting your first Jiggy in a world can take over 40 minutes, it's definitely not a game for everyone, but getting new moves and slowly making your way through stages feels good. I think the game was a bit too tiring to play, which means I probably won't be playing it again any time soon, but I'm glad I finally got to play through the game and getting to see such an ambitious project on the Nintendo 64.
Runner-up) Bloodstained - Curse of the Moon
And if Konami won't give us a new Classivania either, that's fine, because Bloodstained's got us covered again, this time with Curse of the Moon. This 8-bit tribute to Castlevania III is fantastic in every way, tight controls, fun gameplay, great stages and memorable sections. The challenge is just fine, and there are multiple ways to play the game: Save everyone and play with multiple characters? Murder everyone and get more moves? Do neither and handicap yourself just because? Whichever is fine!
Winner) Super Mario World - Super Mario Advance 2
I got my first taste of Super Mario World through a bootleg NES that featured a NES port of this game. I was young, it was a bootleg, but as much as I loved it, I still preferred Super Mario Bros. 3. I still prefer SMB3, but now I can finally understand why so many people adore this game and consider it better. It's got a pretty different flavor, but it's still good ol' Mario, precise platforming, inventive stages with tons of different obstacles to clear as well as a few power-ups that add a ton of life to the game. As far as Super Mario Bros games go, this one is easily top 3.
Best Horror Game of 2019:
I could've easily made this one a Survival Horror Category, but since I'm starting to play many different types of Horror games in October I'd rather have a category that contains everything horror-related.
5) Obscure - The Aftermath
The first Obscure game was a bit of an undiscovered gem, doing its own take on the genre and doing it well, and while I don't think The Aftermath managed to hit the same notes it was still a fun survival horror game to play. At times frustrating, at times fun, The Aftermath goes for the same campy teen-horror-slasher movie themes the first game emulated so well, but they might've gone a bit too far with the campy humor. That said, the game is a fun alternative once you've played all the other big-name Survival Horror games on the system.
4) Obscure
Obscure was something really special. It had this very fun 'anyone can die' gimmick that made it so that if you weren't careful, any character could die! Each playable character had their own perks that could help you in combat or exploring, so you wanted to keep everyone alive, at least the ones that fitted your playstyle. The camp factor was just right, it really felt like a slasher movie from the earlys 00s and the gameplay, while a bit sharp around its edges, got the job done.
3) The Evil Within 2
The Evil Within was one of my favorite Survival Horror games EVER, being a perfect mixture of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. The Evil Within 2 is a very different beast, and, in my opinion, not quite as good. Thankfully, it's still a pretty good game that showed how well horror could work in an open world. Some of the new villains were amazing in how creepy they were and how gruesomely they'd murder people, which made it all the more fun to track them and take them down! If anything, its focus on stealth elements really made the game tenser and scarier, since stealth was always the best and most viable alternative.
Runner-up) Luigi's Mansion 3
Luigi's Mansion 2 was disappointing, to say the least, which is why Luigi's Mansion 3 being so GOOD was such a surprise. The amount of interactivity in each room is staggering, the amount of love and care that went into designing every floor, every theme and every boss is just astounding. Even though money was pretty much useless, finding every secret in the game felt so rewarding and so much fun because interacting with the world around you felt so great, in a way, solving the puzzles and finding the games secrets were a reward in and of itself.
Winner) Resident Evil 2 Remake
After Capcom announced Resident Evil 2 Remake they went pretty much silent, for a while I thought that the project had fell through. But it hadn't, and instead they made one of the best remakes in recent memory. The game is so different that it might as well be a new game, but on the same token it also kept true to the original game's spirit, so it deserves its title. Controls area precise and sharp, although your characters aren't as agile as they were in Resident Evil 6, this is a horror game through and through, you have to manage with poor, but sufficient, mobility and have to manage your supplies in order to survive. It's fantastic. The game looks great, monsters are creepy, environments are beautiful, and it also feels great to move around, outmaneuver zombies and even shooting.
Best Fighting Game of 2019:
I was pretty sure that this category would be getting the axe this year, but lo and behold, I actually played some pretty spiffy fighters this year.
5) Mace the Dark Age
I'll be the first to admit that I don't think that Midway made good fighting games before Mortal Kombat 9. But Mace the Dark Age is different, it plays unlike any other fighter that came from their gates, it's got decent controls, characters have very different and unique movesets, and the fact that it feature huge arenas while still being a face-to-face fighting game makes it quite unique. Character designs range between generic and weird which actually plays to the game's strengths. Some people claim that the N64 had no good fighting games. I'd tell'em to play Mace.
4) Guilty Gear 20th Anniversary Edition
This Anniversary Edition was a pretty barebones release, and the joycons aren't a good match for fast-paced 2-D fighting games such as these two... but Guilty Gear XX is still Guilty Gear XX, and I'll admit that being able to finally own the original game was a great selling point. That said, the publishers could've and should've done more to make this duo more appealing.
3) Fighter Destiny 2
Fighter Destiny 2 is Fighter's Destiny but with a few characters removed and a few new characters added. It also looks a bit better. Call it lazy if you want, but these two games are one... erm, two of a kind, you can't find fighting games based on points and knockdowns like these ones anywhere else. And the fact that its gameplay is more than a gimmick, because it's actually a fun change of pace from every other one-on-one fighter makes it all the sweeter.
Runner-up) Tekken 7
Tekken 7 was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On one hand I can appreciate how it feels like the next step in Tekken, with the fancy new crunchy camera angles and super moves, as well as wild new character redesigns that had been missing ever since Tekken found its groove with 5. But on the other hand, it also felt incomplete. It needed more modes and more characters, and I couldn't help but find the graphics rather disappointing. Regardless, thankfully, the core gameplay is as solid as ever, and the new additions only add to the game instead of making it less fun, which helps in me forgiving its lacking content.
Winner) Samurai Shodown(2019)
Alright, alright, so Samurai Shodown also came out with a rather lackluster character roster.... but it also came with a very original, very pretty new graphic-style that makes everything look like a painting. The gameplay relies on simple core basics, it's all about footsies and punishing mistakes in order to maximize your damage output. Matches could last a few seconds, since all it takes is a few good counters to defeat an enemy, or they could last more than a minute as both combatants try to find openings to hurt each other. It's something different that we had been missing, and I'm glad SNK managed to deliver.
Best Racing Game of 2019:
I can't believe that this genre actually got its own section. I used to hate racing games with a passion. That said, spoilers, the entire list is made up of only two franchises!
5) Snowboard Kids
Another childhood favorite of mine, I used to love Snowboard Kids. It's held up pretty well, and it's got one of the most memorable soundtracks on the entire system. It's pretty much a different take on Mario Kart, but with giant-nosed kids sliding down mountains. It's pretty fun.
4) Snowboard Kids 2
Snowboard Kids 2 is a short, but noticeable, step forward from the previous game. More variety on its tracks, more characters, alternate costume, more boards and even a silly new single player story mode. Honestly, both games are pretty fun, and since the courses are completely different I feel safe in recommending both, but SBK2 is slightly better.
3) Cruis'n USA
So I wasn't too sure of what I was getting into with Cruis'n USA, but I got exactly what I've been looking for for a while now: An Outrun clone! It's a bit more than just a 'clone', it's more like an American take on Outrun. And it works so well! I heard that the N64 port was garbage, and the framerate IS garbage, but the game is a bundle of fun.
Runner-up) Cruis'n World
Cruis'n World is a small step up from the first game, being slightly faster and slightly smoother, with a more ample variety of tracks to race through. That's it pretty much, both games are fantastic.
Winner) Cruis'n Exotica
While the two previous Cruis'n games were pretty much amazing, I though that going from 'World' to 'Exotica' meant that this game would be the weird spin-off-like-milking-the-franchise-dry entry. But nothing further from the truth! They finally fixed the framerate issues that plagued the previous games, making this one run like a dream, and they went even wilder with the tracks, which only works in the game's favor. It's the best Cruis'n game on the Nintendo 64, and also the best Racing game I played this year.
Best Other Game of 2019:
And now, for the weirdos, the games that were too hard to categorize or games of genres that didn't get enough entries for their own lists.
5) Psikyo Collection vol. 2
Not gonna lie, when I first got into these collections I thought I was buying the Aerofighters games. I was wrong, thankfully, they weren't a complete disappointment. Volume 2 I felt had the more consistent games, it didn't have the best games, but it didn't have the worst games, it's just a solid selection of some of Psikyo's finest.
4) Super Dragon Ball Heroes - World Mission
I've been wanting to get into the world of Dragon Ball Heroes for a while now, and I was finally able to thanks to Namco localizing the Switch version of the popular card game. It's an interesting game, it can be a bit boring at times since the entire game revolves around short-lived timing minigames, but it's also got plenty of depth for people willing to make the jump. There are various different ways you can build your decks, which can get really fun as you find something that works. Or just use the characters you like the most, either is fine.
3) Night in the Woods
2019 was the year I played(Or rather, watched my girlfriend play) Night in the Woods, and also the year that professional scam-artist and liar Zoe Quinn costed the developer his life. Sadly, this is not about Zoe Quinn being a trash human being, but rather about celebrating the work of Alec Holowca. Night in the Woods was a charming, sometimes quirky, sometimes depressing, and, sometimes, scary adventure in the life of college drop-out Mae. It's a story about friendship and a story about the occult. About growing up, and dealing with demons. Figuratively and literally. I'm not the biggest fan of walking simulators or furries, but Night in the Woods managed to hook me in thanks to its loveable cast of characters.
Runner-up) Untitled Goose Game
Rake in the lake, baby. What's so damn impressive about Untitled Goose Game is how it managed to be as great as everyone expected it to be. Being the world's pettiest villain has never been so much fun, an entire game about bothering people as a honking goose, what's not to love about it? Having to figure out how to pull off your heists from just a vague list of objectives was strangely rewarding, and the objectives themselves offered hilarious payoffs, both which made this one one of the most memorable games I played this year.
Winner) Danganronpa Trilogy
Danganronpa has been one of the finest mainstream visual novels we've had the pleasure of getting overseas. Trilogy contains all three main-numbered entries in the series, in glorious HD. Honestly, I absolutely love the series, and it's the plot that keeps me coming back for more, because I absolutely hate the contrived gameplay each game brought into the table, and that should speak volumes about the plot's quality, because even though I hate part of the game... I keep coming back every time a new game is out. With Trilogy, exploring the series is made easier than ever.
Best Licensed Game of 2019:
Welcome to Wathmojo's top 10 Anime games, wait, wrong channel. Wrong website. Here come the Animu games, and the games based on licenses. The good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.
5) Disney's Magical Quest Starring Mickey & Minnie
Capcom has really been knocking it out of the park recently, so I really wish that they would team up with Disney again in order to make more fantastic little gems like Magical Quest. While I don't think that references and winks to Disney and Mickey go beyond the character themselves, this little game is an incredibly fun platformer based around different costumes and their different abilities, if anything, it's a bit too short.
4) Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 - The Black Order
While the DLC has been garbage, and it's actually starting to make me hate the game a bit, this game was fantastic. It looks fantastic, features a great roster of characters and the game is fun and simple. It's little more than a 3-D beat'em up, that's for sure, but it takes you through the world of Marvel, as you fight tons of famous and obscure villains. The game is pretty lengthy and features a meaty amount of side content to sink your adamantium claws into.
3) Power Rangers - Battle for the Grid
But while Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is only getting worse thanks to DLC, Battle for the Grid is only getting better. Released WAY before it was cooked, Battle for the Grid managed to turn around into a great little fighter. It's poorly balanced, it's pretty shallow... but it's also a blast to play thanks to flashy moves and graphics, as well as a pretty decent character roster, which, admittedly, could've used more Blue Rangers. It won't be dethroning Marvel vs Capcom 3 anytime soon, but it's still a great fighter that puts fun above competition, be it for good or bad.
Runner-up) Astro Boy - Omega Factor
Not only is Astro Boy Omega Factor one of the best licensed games EVER, it's also one of the best games ever made for the Gameboy Advance. Treasure really knew how to make snappy, stylish action games and Omega Factor is proof of that. Beyond how great fighting enemies and knocking them onto each other feels, it also stayed true to Osamu Tezuka's style of using his characters as actors, featuring a lot of cameos from his characters in roles exclusive to this game! The upgrade system made finding characters a fun endeavor too.
Winner) Star Wars Jedi - Fallen Order
While Star Wars has only suffered ever since it was acquired by Disney, be it a lousy trilogy of movies or lackluster, predatory games from EA, something, maybe the Force itself, told me that this was gonna be a good one, so I purchased it pretty much day one. And it was a good one. While taking more than a few cues from the Souls series, this game is pretty accommodating thanks to its difficulty selector, and, like any Metroidvania worth its salt, getting new upgrades and abilities felt great, I kept returning to old planets in order to get every new thing I could with my new abilities. The cherry on top is that the script is rather good, and it was so easy to fall in love with its cast of characters.
Best Franchise of 2019:
As per usual, I set about playing a few franchises here and there, so these were my favorite bunch of games I played this year.
5) Obscure
Sure, the second game wasn't as good as the first one... but it was still a pretty decent Survival Horror game. I feel like both games feel very low-budget, yet manage to be more than the sum of their parts. It helps that I feel like no other horror game managed to get the Teen Slasher-Movie theme as well as these two.
4) Mana Series
Look, I really like the Mana series... but there's no denying that the series never managed to capture back the magic they held during the SNES era. The PS1 game was alright, but the GBA remake felt rather bland. Not as bland as the PS2 entry, Dawn of Mana, which I'm playing right now, though. And the DS games were... questionable at best. Hopefully, Square can redeem the Mana series with Trials' remake.
3) Breath of Fire
Having played every game in the series but 6, I think I can call myself a Breath of Fire connoisseur by now. While 5 is a bit divisive, and I happen to love it, I think every game in the series is a solid JRPG that's worth a look even in this day and age. The first entry is a bit weaker and less memorable than the others, but every other game in the series has at least SOMETHING that makes it stand out. BoF II's plot, BoF III's dragon mechanics, BoF IV's rival-set up or even BoF V's dragon counter.
Runner-up) Cruis'n
While the first couple of games had some pretty nasty framerate issues, these games were pure bliss, through and through. Far from being high art, these are fast-paced arcadey racers that only care about the players having ridiculous fun, and they manage just that with aplomb.
Winner) Yakuza
Not only do I remember loving Yakuza 4, I also remember how fun I found the plot of previous games be thanks to the recaps, so I can't understand why it took me this long to finally play the entire series. But I finally did, and I loved them as much as I thought I would. Even 0, the one I liked the least, managed to impress thanks to its beautiful story. I'll admit that I'm scared for the new direction the series is taking, but as long as they manage to keep writing such fantastic characters they'll be alright.
Best Character of 2019:
Call me an old man, but I'm starting to have trouble coming up with suitable 'best character' material. Either I'm harder to impress or I've already came across all great new characters.
5) Yashamaru(Samurai Shodown)
Enjoying Samurai Shodown without my boy, Kazuki, would've been much tougher if only it wasn't for the series' newest addition: Yashamaru, the crow. This guy looks as great as he plays, and while he is a bit less colorful than the characters that came before him, somehow, he fights right in.
4) Vandham(Xenoblade Chronicles 2)
So at first I thought he looked kinda silly, and he kinda does, but he wound up fitting the 'anime mentor' trope quite well, managing to steal a few of the scenes he was in. He was a fun character to have join the party, even if it was for a little while, and he managed to leave quite a mark on the party.
3) Someya(Yakuza 6)
Someya was an interesting new villain, because he was quite complex and flawed. He had some heroic traits, some honorable traits, some villainous traits and some downright evil traits, and the entire mix made up the entire character of Someya. He also worked as a new-age foil to Kazama's boomer Yakuza ideology, which made them clash on a fundamental level.
Runner-up) Cal Kestis and friends(Star Wars Jedi - Fallen Order)
Fine, so this is actually an ensemble cast, but I don't think any one character from Fallen Order would work so well without the others. I adored every character, and how they interacted with each other, by the end of the game they really had turned into fire-forged friends, each one having their own interesting backstory.
Winner) Kazuma Kiryu(Yakuza)
I mean, d'oh! He's had over 6 games, including a prequel, to get development and his backstory fleshed out, of course he is gonna be the best character of 2019. While he is a bit more like Goku, a character that really doesn't change throughout his story, he's got a very developed personality, an eternal do-gooder who is not afraid to get stern when the situation calls of it, while also being very respectful of traditions. Watching his adventures on every game is always a treat, and you can always count on Kazuma being Kazuma.
Best Surprise Game of 2019:
Games that surprised me or caught me by surprise, in a good way!.
5) Obscure
The game sounds dumb, and first impressions are cringy, I mean, Sum 41? But by the end of the game it had earned my respect because of how well it managed to be exactly what it wanted to be.
4) Assassin's Creed Rogue
While the fact that it's a Black Flag reskin should lead you to believe that it's gonna be good, the fact that the game was a low-effort afterthought just to rake in some last-gen moolah, Rogue managed to be a great entry on its own right.
3) JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Eyes of Heaven
At first I pretty much hated this game, mostly because it wasn't what I wanted it to be: A direct sequel to All Star Battle, but after I stopped searching for a fighting game on its disc and realized that it was actually an action game... I started having fun with it, and wound up liking it a whole lot.
Runner-up) Dead Cells
While I heard the game was good, I was wary of it. "His head is a flame". "It's a Souls game on a 2-D plane". I wasn't sold on the game. But by my second run I was completely in love, and now this is one of my favorite games of all time. Of all time!
Winner) Cruis'n USA
As someone who used to hate racing games, and someone that had played this game before, albeit a very few times, I wasn't expecting too much out of it. Luckily, Outrun had opened my horizons, and, for the first time ever, I managed to enjoy this game. Heck, all three games became some of my favorite games on the system.
Most Disappointing Game of 2019:
Just like the previous category, but quite the opposite.
5) Asterix and Obelix XXL2
While Asterix and Obelix Kick Buttix isn't the best game ever, I've still got fond memories of it, and I expected XXL 2 to be even better. Even ignoring the fact that alternate costumes were removed and that combat somehow feels worse.... this game is so incredibly buggy that it's not even funny. A disappointing release of a disappointing game.
4) Tak - The Great Juju Challenged(Gameboy Advance)
So it's Tak, and thus I shouldn't expect too much, but then again, it's a WayForward Game, and everything they touch is fun in one way or another..... except Tak. This was one of the worst games I've ever played on the GBA, and the fact that WayForward made it only adds salt to the wound.
3) Hyrule Warriors Legends
People just couldn't shut up about Hyrule Warriors. Even people that hated Warriors games were singing it praises. Heck, this Link, Zelda and Impa looked really cool. The 3DS version was announced, so I finally had my chance!... and it was terrible. Even ignoring the huge amount of technical issues, this should've been a New 3DS exclusive, the game is simply a chore to play through. The dumb giant bosses are boring to fight, objectives are just as boring and unlocking stuff on the adventure map is so lame. This is, alongside Ken's Rage 2, one of the worst Warriors games I've ever played, and I can't understand how anyone could like this game.
Runner-up) Yakuza 0
When people talk about Yakuza, when they suggest starting with a game in the series, it's usually 0. I don't get it. Sure, it's got one of the best combat systems in the franchise, I won't deny that, but the way you improve stats is such a snorefest, even by Yakuza standards. You need an ungodly amount of money, and it takes a long, loooooooong time to amass such a fortune, unless you exploit a certain baddie, which shouldn't be a necessity in the first place! That said, the story is really good, and probably one of the better plot in the series, but it just isn't as fun to play as the others.
Loser) Turok 2 - Seeds of Evil
I can't believe this used to be one of my favorite games on the system. I really can't, the game has aged like milk. Environments are large to the point of annoyance, and the framerate makes the game almost unplayable. ALMOST UNPLAYABLE! It's hard to fathom that at one time this used to be acceptable. That at one time 10 year old me was having the time of his life with this sub-10 frames per second First Person Shooter. I almost couldn't believe how bad it was and had to search online for further validation, but pray as I did, my cart was not faulty, the game was THAT bad.
Best Game Cover of 2019:
As per usual, I like covers almost as much as I like games, and these were my faves.
5) Super Smash Bros.
There's something really special about Smash 64's original art, heck, no other Smash game has used hand-drawn art, instead relying on boring 3-D models. Well, until Ultimate, anyways, but that game's art isn't very good. There's also the weird texture they applied to the coloring, which makes the art stand out. All in all, a very pretty cover that tells you everything you need to know about the game.
4) Capcom Belt Action Collection
Character cameo extravaganza! I really like this cover because it features pretty much every playable character from every game in the cart, plus, it's new art made entirely for this game, and it looks GOOD.
3) Dragon Marked for Death
While the game itself could've easily made it into the most disappointing games of 2019, it instead found its way into the best covers of the year. And what can I say? It's a pretty cover featuring Inti-Creates signature style that showcases every playable character in the game!
Runner-up) The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors
Now this cover is S E X Y. featuring all the Ninjas ready to strike, as black splatters of blood highlight the game's title. This is how EVERY game cover should look like.
Winner) Collection of Mana
Just like Capcom's Belt Collection, this is a nice cover because it features hand-drawn renditions of every playable character in the games it houses, but this one has the added benefit of being clearer, and thus easier on the eyes, since there are less characters involved. It's very pretty, and the cover manages to capture the whimsical tone of the series just fine.
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