For the last time in the decade.... it's time to finish the fight.
Worst game of 2019:
Jesus christ, I played a ton of crap this year. Mostly on the GBA, like, Jesus, whenever publishers could, they'd go with the cheapest option possible, almost as if it didn't care since it was a handheld device. A ton of crappy games managed to avoid getting into the list thanks to my self imposed 5-entry limit, lucky bastards!
5) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
I should've known what I was getting into, but the first glimpse I caught of the game actually looked... really good. The graphics look quite interesting, so I gave it a chance. And I regretted it immediately. The concept behind the game isn't completely awful, but the game feels lifeless, and I don't understand how they managed to make such an endearing artstyle feel devoid of any life.
4) Eragon(Advance)
Eragon is a sneaky one, because the first few minutes with the game are actually quite fun, and the Xenogears-inspired combat is pretty dope. But then the fights get longer and duller, while progressing in the game turns into a chore since the game does a poor job at guiding you, which usually ends with you stepping into the wrong tile and triggering a random fight you just can't win. The game also happens to look like vomit, which feels like the cherry on top.
3) No Rules - Get Phat
No Rules Get Phat is pretty much the epitome of shovelware on the GBA. It might be based off a license, it might not. It has horrible sprites and animations, shoddy gameplay made up of poor collision detection, horrible platforming and terrible level design and, worst of all, bad controls. This game had absolutely no redeeming qualities.
Runner-up) Dinotopia - The Timestone Pirates
I feel like TDK where the LJN of their time, they spent their time filling the GBA with shovelware, although, very rarely, they'd actually manage to pull themselves together and make something good, like Lady Sia. Unfortunately, Dinotopia is not one of said rare occurrences, instead being one of the most confusing and poorly made platformer games I've played in recent years. Someone in TDK must've really hated the Dinotopia books and tried their best to sink the franchise with this game.
Loser) Tak - The Great Juju Challenge(Gameboy Advance)
I hate to say this, but with Tak - The Great Juju Challenge Wayforward managed to create a masterclass in how not to make a platform game. Poor camera that gets in your way, undercooked mechanics, horrible minigames and absolutely terrible level design make Tak one of the worst games I've ever played, and the worst game I played this year. Wish I would've never found out that Wayforward made this game, and thus keep their logo shining in my mind.
Best Gameboy Advance Game of 2019:
While the GBA was home to some of the worst games I played this year, it was also home to a few great ones.
5) Tekken Advance
While Tekken 7 was a bit of a disappointment, Tekken Advance was one impressive showcase piece on the system. Namco managed to cram a ton of moves and characters from Tekken 3 into a tiny GBA cart, and it works surprisingly well. It's far from being an alternative to the home console/arcade releases, but it works very well for what it is.
4) Disney's Magical Quest Starring Mickey & Minnie
Originally a SNES game, Magical Quest didn't lose any of its luster when it made its way to the GBA. It's a fantastic looking platform game that shows how great licensed games can be, even if they forgo fanservice in lieu of making a great game.
3) Breath of Fire II
Breath of Fire II was one of those games that I started a ton of times but never really spent time to finish it, until now. And I'm sorry I didn't, because BoF II is a brilliant JRPG for the SNES and GBA. Capcom really improved on everything that was lacking in the first game, making for a game that is very fun to play, but also to watch thanks to a very endearing cast of characters and a very engaging plot, even if poorly translated.
2) Runner-up) Super Mario World - Mario Advance 2
It's easy to take a few Mario staples for granted nowadays, but SMW was the game that introduced a rideable Yoshi into Mario's repertoire, and it really changed things up, granting new tools to Mario. It also added alternate, hidden exits that would open up secret stages! In other words, World's footprint can be felt even in Modern Mario games, so its influence can't be understated. What's even better is that the game itself is as fun as any other game in the series, with tight platforming and very ingenious level design, making for a proper platforming treat.
Winner) Astro Boy - Omega Factor
Speaking of great licensed games, we've got Astro Boy - Omega Factor, not only is it a fantastic game by its own right, it also makes the most of it license, paying tribute to Tezuka's work. The game is a very fast-paced beat'em up with a few adventure elements in the way of hidden character cameos that help upgrade Astro's abilities. No GBA owner should miss Astro Boy - Omega Factor.
Best Nintendo 64 Game of 2019:
What began last year with a few Nintendo 64 games, almost ended this year. I own pretty much every N64 game I did back in the day, plus I'm almost done with the games I wanted back then, so expect more N64 coverage in 2020.
5) Super Smash Bros.
Smash 64 is easily the worst game in the franchise, it feels like a beta, with crude graphics, a minuscule character roster and the smallest moveset-per-character in the series. And yet, it's still a brilliant game, and the previously mentioned crude graphics actually add a lot of charm to the game. Even though the other entries are better, I still think that this game has a certain flair that makes it worth a look every now and then.
4) Snowboard Kids 2
Say what you will, SBK2 is one of the most appealing mascot racers out there. The game looks pretty decent and the sountrack is absolutely amazing. The snowboarding motif makes it stand out from other mascot racers, and the items you can use during the race are ridiculously silly. SBK 2 is a sweet, sweet good ol' time.
3) Cruis'n USA
Fine, fine, it might be a poor port of the Arcade original, but that doesn't stop this game from being grade A amazing. Being a point A-to-B racing games already makes it stand out, but unpredictable physics makes it ridiculous... in all the best ways.
Runner-up) Cruis'n World
A tiny step forward from USA, but a step forward nonetheless, World offers the same arcade racing from the first game but with a few new additions that make it even more fun, as well as better, more varied tracks and vehicles.
Winner) Cruis'n Exotica
The previous games were really fun despite their technical issues, but Exotica blew them out of the water because they finally fixed the framerate. They also decided to go completely off-the-wall with the courses and vehicles, completely embracing the sillier parts of the previous games, which were also the better parts of the previous games. Exotica is everything I look for in a racing game, papa bless.
Best Nintendo Switch Game of 2019:
Well, Nintendo won me over again, the Switch is now among my favorite game consoles next to the PS2, DS and SNES. I love the joycon design, even if the drifting issues are a huge problem, and being a handheld-home console hybrid makes it such a comfortable device to play with! It helps that its ever expanding game library is pretty damn good.
5) Luigi's Mansion 3
This is how you learn from mistakes. Luigi's Mansion 3 takes the best parts from the first and second game to create one great game that succeeds were the previous games faltered, so now we get a huge place to explore, ghosts with personalities, but also a very varied set of environments to explore. Going through every nook and cranny, searching for stuff to interact with is always a pleasure, and the game ends just when it starts getting a bit long in the tooth, making for the perfect Halloween game.
4) Fire Emblem Three Houses
Seems Nintendo were on a redemption quest, because with Three Houses they also learned from the previous game where and how they failed. But it's not just 'more of the same but better', the developers tried new things that could've alienated the fanbase, but they pulled them off so well that I think we can agree that Three Houses managed to hit all the right notes. A fantastic cast of characters tied together with a very interesting plot made for a very memorable experience.
3) Astral Chain
Astral Chain was not what I wanted, but rather, what I didn't know I actually wanted. It features a completely original combat system that works very well with the 30FPS cap the game runs with, but it goes beyond having fun battles, the world itself is very appealing thanks to its 80s cyberpunk anime aesthetics which really makes it feel as if you were walking through the world of Akira or Ghost in the Shell.
Runner-up) Collection of Mana
At this point it doesn't even matter if Trials of Mana's remake sucks, at least we got a completely official release of the original game, which happens to be one of the SNES most original and ambitious JRPGs. It's the best game in the Mana series, and it comes packaged with the first two games, Secret of Mana being a tried and true classic as well, making Collection of Mana one big bundle o' joy.
Winner) Dead Cells
When I purchased Dead Cells I didn't know I was getting one of my new favorite games of all time. The game is tough, but fair, with snappy, fast-paced action that keeps you on your toes. Unlocking new weapons, spells and abilities is a blast, and the randomness factor of each runs means that you'll get to try everything at one point or another. Subsequent updates added the ability to customize your runs as well as costumes, which made an already fantastic game even better, something I didn't know was possible.
Best Legacy Playstation Game of 2019:
For the first time on my blog's history, I didn't play many PS1 and PS2 games, which is a bit sad so I had to fuse both console entries into a single list. Sadly, the few Vita games I played this year weren't up to snuff.
5) Breath of Fire III
I avoided this game for a while, and I regret that now, because in BoF III I found a pretty great JRPG. The dragon gene mechanics offer a ton of possibilities in how you'll deal with each battle, but you've also got Masters to consider, which help you build your character the way you want them. There's a lot of freedom in how you play the game, and the story is a relatively decent guiding thread that keeps you moving forward.
4) Obscure
Obscure feels very low-budget at first, but the more you play the more it grows on you, until you realize that you're playing a pretty good survival horror game. The fact that any character can die adds a lot of tension to the game, but it's also one of the games best hooks. This is one of the most underrated games on the console, and one any Survival Horror fan could ejoy.
3) Yakuza 2
Yakuza 1 was pretty good, but with Yakuza 2 the stakes were raised higher as the developers found their footing and expanded on everything that made the first game great. It's a fantastic beat'em up for the PS2, and it showed how the Beat'em up genre didn't have to die out, it just had to adapt to modern times, the way Yakuza did.
Runner-up) Assassin's Creed Rogue
The final PS3/X360 entry in the series is little more than a reskin, but with a base game so good it doesn't really matter. Everything that the series has amounted to is present here, alongside the fantastic mechanics surrounding travelling with your ship and partaking in naval battles. It's almost pathetic that the best pirate games ever made happen to be Assassin's Creed games, but here we are!
Winner) Yakuza 3
I don't know why I thought Yakuza 3 would be the weakest entry in the series, but it isn't, it's actually one of the best. The story takes a while to get going, but that's kind of the whole point of it: Kiryu's dad life getting derailed due to the Yakuza not being able to clean their own mess as well as Kiryu being too much of a good guy to leave weakling to fend for themselves. The jump into the HD era made combat feel crunchier and more visceral than before, so busting heads is as fun as enjoying Kazuma's fatherly adventures!
Best Playstation 4 Game of 2019:
While I'm really not fond of the current era of videogames, for some reason I found myself playing plenty of PS4 games.
5) Star Wars Jedi - Fallen Order
It almost makes me sad having Fallen Order this low in the list, if only because the game was so good. Easily the best thing that has come out of Star Wars since Disney acquired it. The game has fun combat elements that seep well with the story about Cal being a Padawan that never finished his training, and obtaining new upgrades and moves feels extra rewarding thanks to the huge amount of useful collectibles for you to find. A sequel can't come soon enough.
4) Yakuza 6 - The Song of Life
A Dragon's trial is never over, as Kiryu picks up his grey suit one last time. The story is brilliant, the villains are nasty and Kazuma's allies are a lovable bunch, exactly what we've grown to expect out of the series. The new engine, while clearly in its infancy, shows a lot of potential, and the combat felt so incredibly satisfying that I didn't mind Kiryu forgetting so many moves. It plays great and the game is a fitting end to the legendary Dragon of Dojima.
3) Resident Evil 2(2019)
Capcom managed to pull off a brilliant remake to one of its most beloved games of all time. This game could've easily underdelivered, since expectations where high, but Capcom managed to please most people, me included. The game plays great, and for the first time in the series since REvil 1, it feels like a proper horror game, in which you have to be mindful of your supplies if you want to survive. While losing the different plots from the A/B scenarios, there's still a lot of content in here that will keep anyone interested in the game busy for a long while.
Runner-up) Danganronpa Trilogy
Danganronpa has been a bit of a favorite of mine ever since I first stumbled into the first game. I found the second game to be a bit too anime for my taste, but the third part managed to feel more like the first one, thankfully. I was a bit worried about how this game would play on a home console, since the series felt like a perfect fit for the Vita, but it plays just fine and it doesn't feel weird at all. Regardless, when it's all said and done, Danganronpa features hours upon hours of macabre, deadly fun to invest your time in, provided you're not too squeamish.
Winner) Devil May Cry 5
I quite liked Donte and the DmC world, but I'm so glad that Nero and company are back. DMC 5 is not a huge step forward for the franchise, but rather a pure polished distillation of what made DMC 4 so good. We've got more content per character than before, a few new moves for Nero that really add a lot to how he plays as well as new ridiculous weapons for Dante to style on his enemies in a ton of a fun new ways. Devil May Cry 5 is pure bliss.
Best Game of 2019:
Well, time for la creme-of-la-creme.
5) Astro Boy - Omega Factor
Proving time and time again that licensed games can be good, Treasure were given another anime property to work with and they delivered big time, with a game that stayed true to its creator's pathos and style, while also being a fun game to anyone that doesn't care about the license.
4) Yakuza 3
Yakuza is a series of games that add on top of each other, very rarely removing features or gimmicks from previous games. With Yakuza 3 the series made the jump into HD with a whole new engine, and yet, managed to only add on top of what Yakuza 2 had added into the series. Yakuza 3 made a fantastic first impression on PS3, and gave us one of the best entries in the saga.
3) Cruis'n Exotica
I've been searching high and low for a game like Outurn, and with the Cruis'n series, I finally did. Exotica is the culmination of what Midway managed to achieve with the series on the console, finally ironing out all the little kinks that the series had been carrying over from entry to entry. What's even better, the developers hadn't ran out of ideas by then, far from it, so course design and the new vehicles perfectly matched how silly the series was at its best.
Runner-up) Dead Cells
Souls' games wish they were THIS good. The game plays like a dream, responsive controls that compliment the required split-second reflexes perfectly, as well as a huge arsenal of weapons, skills and tools to try out as you try to amass a huge amount of Cells... in order to further expand said arsenal of tools! Impossibly addicting and endlessly fun, Dead Cells is easily one of my favorite games of all time.
Winner) Devil May Cry 5
Capcom have done a lot of good recently, which has helped fix the money-hungry image they managed to build last year. They haven't fixed it completely, however, due to a few hiccups with Street Fighter V and how they won't release the entire game inside a disc yet, but they are slowly inching closer to a clean image! Regardless, the best thing they did this year was Devil May Cry 5. A return to form for the series which doubles as one of the best hack-and-slash games of all time. I'm still debating to this day whether I prefer this game over 3 or not. Regardless, DMC 5 is pure brilliance in every sense of the word, fun movesets, great levels, even greater graphics and a silly story that is exactly what the game deserves.
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