Top 5 Games of the Year - 2019
-1- Luigi's Mansion 3
Luigi's Mansion 3 surprised many a player with what exceptional craft and care was poured into this game to create one of the most memorable and creative ghost-busting adventures of the year. The art direction and animation continues to raise the bar with this latest installment in the series, making me quite excited at the potential of the new Super Mario movie to be made if it's anything of this caliber. Each floor of this haunted hotel that you explore is full of such clever ideas and themes that continually keep the player engaged, even if it does follow the more slightly linear structure of Dark Moon. And this game features some of the most ingenious and imaginative boss battles found in most any game to recent memory. So if you have the itch for a humorous, fun fulfilling single player adventure, pack your bags and check in to the wickedly impressive Luigi's Mansion 3.
-2- Ape Out
If you ever wanted to play as a runaway gorilla while having a live jazz band from something such as the movie Whiplash orchestrate your every action, look no further than Ape Out to fill this wildly unusual wish. With a brash and bold art style played along a unique top-down perspective, this game perfectly captures the essence that is to be a scared and brutal beast on the run. And as previously mentioned, the adaptive music that accompanies brilliantly emphasizes these feelings. Each level is procedurally generated so as to make each run feel unique, reactive and that much more frantic. If you're not squeamish to the rather violent imagery this game presents, Ape Out is an addictive, arcade-like thrill ride you'll enjoy banging and crashing along with over and over again.
-3- Nintendo Labo (VR Kit)
I'm a bit surprised myself to be ranking Labo VR so highly on this list here, but when I think back to some of the most memorable moments in my gaming this year, this game actually holds many a genuine sense of wonder and joy shared among family and friends alike. While it may not stand in the same league of technical prowess compared to that of other VR headsets, it contains its own merits and strengths as being both an affordable taste of VR and an easier means to share the device, just quickly passing off the headset with no bothersome cables or the like. And you'd be amazed just how remarkably effective some of the crafts feel and add to the experience, such as the gust of wind produced from the fan pedal or the satisfying reload of a pump from the blaster. Let's also not shortchange the quiet pleasure that comes from crafting these exceptional peripherals and learning the finer details of their inner workings. If you haven't had the pleasure of trying your hand at a Nintendo Labo kit yet or ever been curious as to the world of VR, Labo VR is the perfect answer to meeting both these desires.
(For more impressions on Labo VR and other titles updated to use Labo VR, click here.)
-4- Tangle Tower
Tangle Tower earns a spot among the best games played in 2019 with an absolute stunning art direction, animation, voice acting, and soundtrack that all just blew me away. I recognize the game is not without its faults, namely being a little light on puzzles and a bit of an awkwardly paced, rushed conclusion. But the polish found in every other facet of this point-and-click adventure is so exceptional, I was delightfully engrossed in the entire experience and likewise became equally attached to all the characters. I sincerely hope for more continuing adventures of Detective Grimoire and Sally, and I heartily encourage all to give this game a look if you're in the mood for a remarkably crafted, murder-mystery adventure. Fun side fact: This game is also developed by the fine folks who brought you Snipperclips.
-5- Untitled Goose Game
Stealing the fifth and final slot of this honorable list, it is almost too fitting that such goes to the unruly goose of the Untitled Goose Game pilfering away this last slot to what are so many other well deserving games. Just as players enjoy being a jerk and causing havoc in the likes of any Grand Theft Auto game, Untitled Goose Game feeds this same inherent desire to, well, be a jerk. But as a goose, and for a much more rated "E" audience of course. The game takes place in a quaint and idealistic little village that reminds me very much of the perfect village of Sanford in Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz, of which the setting could not be more perfect to upturn all order and sensibilities. The animations and controls of the goose are so superbly brought to life, you truly embrace the goose and all the inner malice that they embody. Although this game is very much a repeated one-punch joke, its execution is so well done you can't help but laugh along at every silly gag and commend such for being a wholly original, creative experience.
Honorable Mentions
When I look at the games I had to exclude from this Top 5 list, I realize what an exceptional year 2019 has actually been for such a wealth of quality and varied games. As such, I have to give a shout out to Fire Emblem: Three Houses for taking bold leaps with its latest entry on Nintendo Switch. While it may falter in its pacing and execution in certain elements, it makes up for in its wide wealth of content, rich and interesting characters, and willingness to experiment with new ideas. And another shout out goes to Super Mario Maker 2 for delivering a satisfying extension of Mario crafting and platforming goodness to the good home of Nintendo Switch. Though the likes of Mystery costumes will be missed and online multiplayer still needs some polish, the new additions have reignited the imagination for many once again and promises countless hours of more fun still to be had.
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This next category is sorely needed as for mentioned above in the initial foreword, there are just too many games that are otherwise missed, be it due to time, resources, or sneaking into the calendar year at the last minute. Whatever the case may be though, these are games that are assuredly deserving of recognition from all I've heard and seen, and have the same potential to be some of my favorite games of the year had I the means to give them their due in time. As such, they deserve equal shout outs and my full attention into the new year; These are my Top 5 Follow-Ups:
Top 5 Follow-ups - 2019
-1- Sayonara Wild Hearts
One of the few bright notes to come from the largely lackluster Video Game Awards show this year was the discovery of Sayonara Wild Hearts, which has skyrocketed to one of my must-play games in the near future. It's as if No More Heroes and Rez had a beautiful, weird musical love child, and I can't wait to dive fully into this strange and entrancing experience. The soundtrack is absolutely stellar (more on that below) and the visual presentation contains so much flashy flair and such complete confidence. Not to mention that there are some thrilling and wickedly creative gameplay ideas on display here, one of the coolest I've seen being a level where players are in a high speed pursuit between two shifting realities that alternate to the beats of the music. Sayonara Wild Hearts, you have already managed to capture my heart.
-2- Shovel Knight: King of Cards
Sneaking end to close the year comes the final DLC campaign expansion to the acclaimed Shovel Knight that is King of Cards. And from the little bit that I've managed to play thus far, I am constantly reminded and enamored by the abundant polish Yacht Club continues to display with every one of these exceptional games. The platforming is as tight as ever. The new card game is intriguing and unique. And the writing is as puny and pleasant as ever. So steel thy blade and shine your crown, but don't ignore this last entry the fantastic Shovel Knight saga.
-3- Baba Is You
Baba is You is both a wickedly brilliant and cruel puzzle game, and perhaps one of the most innovative and ingenious concepts of this year. I have played through a good portion of this game, but not enough to come to a firm standing on it, thus its landing in this Follow-Ups category. For those unfamiliar with Baba, the game has players move about the screen trying to reach some sort of win condition. But the catch is the rules are also displayed on screen and can also be pushed around to break, alter, and create new rules. As a simple example, if there's a set of words that say "Wall" "Is" "Stop", players could move one of those words and walls would no longer stop the player in that level. Of course, the puzzles get infinitely more complex, and it can feel rather frustrating to overcome many of them, especially as the level arrangement is a little odd and open-ended. But for those who persevere, the awe and wonder at uncovering such creative and unusual solutions is immensely satisfying.
-4- What the Golf?
If games like Untitled Goose Game have taught us anything, it's that the world needs more humor and is all the better for games that deliver just that. What the Golf? takes the premise of golf and then turns every expectation on its head as you golf every conceivable thing except the golf ball itself. It looks like an ever escalating degree of ridiculousness as if a WarioWare game were focused solely on golf, and just a silly grand old time to be had.
-5- Creature in the Well
Last but not least, I choose to highlight what looks to be a unique mix of game genres of action pinball adventure that is Creature in the Well. With its distinct art direction and captivating world to explore, it's an intriguing little indie game I'm poised to keep an eye on and give a go down the road.
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2019 proved to once again be another big year for notable and surprise ports / remakes. As an opportunity in which to explore some stellar older games in beautiful new ways and on enticing new homes, I like to highlight a few such games here with my Top 5 Ports / Remakes released this year:
Top 5 Ports / Remakes - 2019
-1- Collection of Mana
One of the most notable ports of 2019 in my opinion is the Collection of Mana for Nintendo Switch, which finally brings the sequel to Secret of Mana (Trials of Mana) to eastern shores for the first time since its initial release back in 1995, from which I've heard is an amazing game for fans of the series and still holds exceptionally well today. Aside from this momentous release, the collection also contains of course Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy Adventure, the first game in the Mana series. Not to mention Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana can be enjoyed with multiple players (I haven't yet tested if the former is 2 or 3 players yet). In either case, a fantastic collection not to be missed for those who are looking for some solid action RPG's to play.
-2- Resident Evil 2
I have to give respect for when developers not only deliver eye-catching remakes, but breathe new life into them by re-imagining them essentially as a new game. The new Resident Evil 2 is able to reintroduce this classic to new audiences by bringing it up to modern standards, while still paying the appropriate amount of respect to that of the original. With the success of this impressive remake, the Resident Evil series has managed to invigorate new life into its series.
-3- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Zelda fans the world over were stunned and delighted when Nintendo made the surprise announcement during one of their Directs that Link's Awakening would be finally graced with a remake. And love it or hate it (I love it), the game boasts a beautiful new art style that looks like adorable little toys to be picked up and played with. While it is mostly a safe and faithful adaptation of the original, there are a number of quality of life improvements to be enjoyed in this remake, such as more buttons to map key tools and a shifting overworld map which makes it easier to navigate. For those who've yet to experience this classic (to which I'm surprised how many truly haven't yet), this remake proves that this 1993 Game Boy adventure is as solid as ever.
-4- The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
Telltale's Walking Dead games set a high bar for point-and-click adventures back upon their initial release in 2012 and for fans of this particular series that stuck with it, the primary reason was to find closure to the satisfying character growth and arc that was Clementine. An engaging and memorable mechanic to these games was the fact that characters would remember your choices and to a certain degree those choices would have some impact later in the episode(s) and even through later seasons. Of course, this became a bit muddled as the series spanned across multiple console generations and development cycles, and the difficulties of carrying over save data led to some shortcuts needing to be taken. But having such all packaged on one disc in this Definitive Series edition makes for a beautiful and seamless means of enjoying this saga. And while the final season doesn't quite hit the same highs as the first two seasons of this series, it still is a satisfying conclusion to Clementine's tale.
-5- Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition
To many a gamer's surprise, Nintendo and Microsoft have shown exuberant cooperation in 2019 with the release of Microsoft exclusive Cuphead on Nintendo Switch and Banjo-Kazooie coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And such continued even so with another Microsoft exclusive property, Ori and the Blind Forest, releasing for the Nintendo Switch on September 27th. Not only that, but it was treated with such care coming to this hardware, keeping a solid 60 frames per second for that gorgeous animation and including the extra content that makes this the definitive edition. It's just so wonderful to see such quality games extend their reach to more players.
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To close off this 2019 year review, it is time to take note (pun intended) of some of the phenomenal musical scores displayed in games this year. So without further ado, let's have a listen and take a look at my Top 5 Soundtracks. (See also links below for music whose tracks are purchasable to support these talented artists if so inclined)
Top 5 Soundtracks - 2019
-1- Tangle Tower
If the vivid art style of Tangle Tower isn't enough to completely entrance the player, then surely the game's astounding soundtrack will finish the job. Every track found in this game is full of such whimsy and personality, perfectly setting the mood to unravel mysteries and interrogate such curious, colorful characters. You can't help but sucked into this riveting world.
https://sfbgames.bandcamp.com/album/tangle-tower-ost
-2- Sayonara Wild Hearts
Right from the title screen of this game, I become enthralled and feel a surge of uplifting, inexpiable happiness. And likewise, the game's soundtrack ends on the perfect note of swelling emotion. There are of course some other great grooves to be found between these two stellar bookends of which your degree of head-bobbing will vary from track to track, but overall, this is one beautifully stirring pop album to be enjoyed.
-3- Ape Out
Like the above game, Ape Out is a beautiful marriage of music and gameplay. But where Ape Out stands out is that the music is entirely free form and dependent upon the player's actions. It's so incredibly energetic, chaotic and just completely engrossing to the experience, you'll get swept up in the fury and fervor of all the drums and boisterous beats.
I understand it's a little difficult to see the appeal of this game's soundtrack without the accompanying visuals, so see below for a link to the video. Just a reminder and word of warning - Though only rated T for Teen, this game contains violent imagery, so parental discretion is advised before viewing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnDfbPZerQs
-4- Super Mario Maker 2
It's hard to argue against the notion that some of the best music to be found is in the brilliant and comfortably nostalgic soundtrack that is packed into any Mario game, and Super Mario Maker 2 packages that all that cozy history into one. What's more fun per this imaginative level creator of a game is that there are all new tunes created per the new terrain types that never existed in older Mario games, but these new melodies still feel right at home and are so catchy to hop along to.
-5- Luigi's Mansion 3
Last but not least, I extend some recognition to the enticing scores presented in Luigi's Mansion 3. Every floor and to that matter ghost hunt per floor presents a distinctive take on the overarching motifs of the game, matching the tone and theme of the current floor. It's this little extra level of effort that truly makes the entire experience all the more immersive and memorable because of it.
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And there you have it - Another year in the books and a gratuitous amount of splendid games to grace its records. How does my list compare to your own? Any games or soundtracks I overlooked that I should keep an eye on for the year to come? Be sure to share and discuss in the comments below. And here's to a happy holiday and another stupendous year enjoyed! Cheers and happy gaming!
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