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 On 07/01/2014 at 07:35 AM by Cary Woodham See More From This User » |
Can you believe this year is already half over? What I like to do this time of year is write about the best games of the year 2014 so far. Most of the really good titles come out during the Christmas season at the tail end of the year, and the games that come out earlier tend to be forgotten. So this is where those games get their due.
Keep in mind that no outside opinions went into the making of this list. It’s just my own picks. And if a game is missing from my list, it either didn’t appeal to me as much, or I just simply haven’t played it yet. Can’t play all the games out there, you know! Plus I do apologize if this list leans toward the Nintendo side. I don’t have an Xbox One or PS4 yet, so you’ll just have to deal with it.
Anyway, so without further ado, welcome to the Cary’s Best Games of 2014 SO FAR Awards Show! I’m your host, Cary, and today we’ll have special guests like Chibi-Robo, Yumi, Agnes from Bravely Default, Aurora from Child of Light, Kirby, Toad, and Pablo form LocoCycle. So let’s take a look at our first category.
WEIRDEST GAME
This list is a pretty big category (and admittedly a little vague, too), but I do like to play weird games, and there sure were a lot out there this year so far!
Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder (3DS)
I love the Chibi-Robo games. They’re so creative and fun. Too bad we didn’t see the DS sequel to the GameCube game outside of Japan. Anyway, this downloadable oddity isn’t the best Chibi-Robo game around, but it sure does use the 3DS camera in unique ways. Your job is to take pictures of items so they can be in a special ‘NostalJunk’ museum. You must take pictures of things that have a particular outline around them, like a coffee cup, plug outlet, or roll of toilet paper. It’s like a photo-taking scavenger hunt. To earn money for the film you use, you’ll play Chibi-Robo themed mini-games.
Runners Up:
It’s like a Cooking Mama game mixed with a music game, except you’re a blacksmith making weapons for RPG characters!
Combining 2-D platforming with…fishing? This game actually isn’t new, as it dates all the way back to the Super Famicom in Japan. But Natsume brought over the remake on the 3DS. Folks who enjoyed Bionic Commando will love this. But be warned, this game is hardcore! The main character is cute, though.
NES Remix 2 (Wii U)
I think this is the shortest time for a sequel to come out after the original. NES Remix 2 lets you play challenges from classic NES titles in WarioWare fashion. What makes the sequel better is it has more ‘contemporary’ games that more people probably remember playing, like Mario 2 & 3, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Kirby’s Adventure, and many more. Only problem is the price is just a tiny bit too high.
Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends (3DS)
Any of the ‘Mama’ games are weird by default. But this one is a great kids’ game as it plays like a very simplistic Harvest Moon title.
Tomodachi Life (3DS)
It’s like The Sims except a bit more simplistic. But you can use your Miis you’ve created in the game to make some fun and silly (and impossible situations). For instance, my Mii married Princess Zelda and we had a baby. I named him Zelda Jr. Yeah I know that’s a weird name, but no weirder than me marrying Zelda in the first place!
BEST ARCADE CLASSIC COLLECTION/REMAKE
Since this was the only kind of game I played in this category, it wins by default. It’s a decent downloadable collection of Pac-Man classics, but the ‘Arrangement’ version is from the PSP, not the arcade, which is much better. And they use the ‘Ghostly Adventures’ version of Pac-Man in the game. Ugh.
BEST RPG
I thought that Bravely Default would win this award by, well, default. But Child of Light came out of nowhere and won the award by being simple and NOT being too long and meandering. Plus its creative mix of 2-D platforming and turn-based battles won me over, as well as its hand-painted graphics, hauntingly beautiful music, and memorable characters.
Runner Up:
This was a good RPG, too. Just a straight-up JRPG that used every feature of the 3DS very cleverly, even if they didn’t explain everything clearly. They should’ve just called it a Final Fantasy game, though. Probably would’ve sold better.
BEST 3-D ADVENTURE
The LEGO Movie Videogame (360)
The LEGO Movie was one of the best films I’ve seen this year so far. While the video game based on the flick is just a typical LEGO game, it’s still pretty fun. Especially if you enjoyed the movie. I should also give a shout out to the LEGO Hobbit game that came out this year as well, as it was fun, too. Even if I’ve never seen the movies of that or read the books (and don’t plan to either).
BEST 2-D ADVENTURE
Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)
If you’re trying to settle an argument with someone who complains that Nintendo doesn’t do anything new and different anymore, do not show them this game. It’s so much like the original SNES classic that it’s almost shameful. BUT, that’s also a good testament to how fantastic the SNES game was, that if another game that comes along that’s just like it is still extremely fun. There is a better 2-D platformer that came out this year, but it’s getting an even better award so keep reading to find out what it is!
Runners Up:
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack (360)
This one kind of came out of nowhere and surprised me. You play as a blob and try to eat everything in sight to grow bigger so you can eat more things. It’s like a cross between Katamari Damacy and an old SNES game called Smartball (Jelly Boy in Japan). This game was done by the same folks who did Guacamelee. I’ve never played it, but I’ve heard it got a lot of praise.
Shovel Knight (Wii U)
This downloadable gem reminds me of the many NES games I rented back when I was a kid. Back then, game rentals only cost a buck at the local movie rental place, so I rented a lot of games instead of buying them. Sometimes even renting games multiple times (like with Mega Man and Final Fantasy). Only problem I have with this one is that it’s a little on the hard side. But the music is VERY GOOD!
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
I originally wasn’t going to put this one on my list, because it’s too much like DKC Returns and way too hard for its own good. But the level designs are so clever; I had to at least give it that.
BEST RACING GAME
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)
Yeah you know this would get the award. Of course I don’t really play too many racing games. It may not be my favorite Mario Kart game in the series, but it certainly has the best visuals.
Runner Up:
Not really a racing game, more of a driving battle & chase game like Spy Hunter. But it was made by Twisted Pixel so it has lots of laughs and fun arcade action.
BEST SPORTS GAME
Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS)
It really just wins by default, as I don’t play too many sports games. I really haven’t gotten into this one as much as I did with Mario Golf on the GameCube. I don’t know what it is. Maybe the touch screen controls or the fact that half the single player game is DLC. Still a pretty decent game of golf otherwise.
And now it’s time for Cary’s Best Game of 2014 SO FAR! Taiko drum roll, please…
BESTGAME OF 2014 SO FAR
Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)
Yeah this probably comes at no surprise to anybody. But this was a really good Kirby game with lots of stuff to do. Not too hard yet not too easy either. I imagine that it probably won’t win my overall Game of the Year award. But I have a feeling that award will go to a game that has Kirby in it, as well as some of my other favorite characters like Pac-Man and Mega Man. Can you guess what game that’ll be?
Conclusions
And that’s all for now! In the comments section, let me know what you think of my picks and tell me YOUR favorite games of 2014 SO FAR. And tell me if you would watch me on TV if I had my own awards show like this. Later! --Cary
I would totally watch u on TV. Maybe you should set up a youtube channel. CaryTV.
I'm playing Child of Light. I really like it too. IT's really neat and beautiful. I think it should have gotten better reviews.
Haven't played Kirby Triple Deluxe.
I don't know what my best game of the year so far would be. Maybe Mario Kart 8. It's pretty good.
If I had the time, resources, and knowhow, I'd totally have my own YouTube channel.
I've seen good reviews for Child of Light, myself.
You should play Kirby! Mario Kart 8 is good, though.
No Dark Souls II Cary?
I think I need to re-evaluate this friendship of ours now...
Well, if Dark Souls had things I like, such as pink dinosaurs who throw cupcakes at bad guys, then it might've gotten on the list. :)
Why the aversion to J.R.R. Tolkien?
Lord of the Rings stuff is just boring. Unless it's in LEGO form.
Haha. I actually like it ok now, but I know how you feel.
Yeah I just could never get into Lord of the Rings. What's strange is that I really like the Chronicles of Narnia books and movies. I loved reading the books as a kid, and even appreciated the Christian overtones (me being a Christian and all). LEGO Narnia would be neat. I was kind of sad that they didn't make any more Narnia movies to finish out the rest of the books, like what Harry Potter did. I never really got into Harry Potter either. I read up until the fourth book and got tired of it, and stopped watching the movies after that, too.
I read Lion, Witch and Wardrobe in 2nd grade since I went to Catholic school and was always surprised people didn't know it was a Christian allegory, since obviously we were taught about it and C.S. Lewis's conversion and all that.
I think the first Narnia book is required reading for a lot of elementary schools. Strangely enough, i never had to read it for school. I just read them on my own. I would've loved to do a school assignment on the books, though.
LEGO LOTR was just $5 on Xbox Live this week. I was so close to snagging it. I may play LEGO Hobbit sooner though.
Only reason why I played LEGO Hobbit is because I had to review it.
Oh, I want to play it for real. After LEGO Star Wars, I have to play as many LEGO games as I can get my hands on.
Like my friend says, the LEGO games aren't very good, but they are very fun. If that makes any sense.
I really enjoyed LEGO Star Wars. It's not groundbreaking or anything, just simple fun.
Yeah it was a big hit for Travellers' Tales so now that's all they make are LEGO games. They should change their name to 'We Make LEGO Games.'
Not only that, but each LEGO game has almost identical menu screens and overall design. It's like each one is just palette swapped for whatever license they get.
Yeah they really are all practically the same.
I played through Yoshi's Island on SNES recently and that game is still as great as I remembered. I wouldn't mind playing the 3DS version, but alas, no 3DS. I'm really excited about Shovel Knight though and hope to play that soon.
Yoshi's Island is one of my favorite Mario games. It would be my top favorite, but sometimes I like Super Mario World better, depending on my mood.
I apparently need to get on those 3DS platformers like Kirby and Yoshi's Island. Since I have not played either of them I cannot comment on whether or not they are better than Shovel Knight, but I really do love Shovel Knight. So, at this point in the year Shovel Knight gets my best 2D platformer award.
You should play Kirby and Yoshi. I put them higher up than Shovel Knight because they weren't as hard.
I would probably add
Transistor (Steam)
Dark Souls 2 (PC)
Really? So other than those two, your list would be the same as mine? :)
Yup! We pretty much have the same taste in games, except I like the occasional MMO or wierd Indie game. I like a lot of Nintendos games. I <3 WiiU.
I like weird indie games, but I could never get into MMOs.
"...but I could never get into MMOs."
*covers ears incredulously 
Call me if they ever make a Pac-Man MMO. :)
I'll probably pick up Shovel Knight at some point. Anything that looks like a cross betwwen Wizards & warriors and Duck tales is good by me!
I didn't see too many similarites between Shovel Knight and Wizards and Warriors, but then, Shovel Knight is actually GOOD and Wizards and Warriors...not so much. Really, it's more like a mix between Mega Man and DuckTales, with bits of Zelda 2 and Mario 3 thrown in.
With Wizards & Warriors I was simply talking aesthetics. As in you're a knight going after various creatures and it's in a somewhat fantasy setting. (Though I guess the enemy knights could be mechanical golems so it could be more steam-punk?)
There are 8 main bosses in Shovel Knight, each one ending with "Knight." Replace that with "Man" and you get the idea of where I'm going with this.
I'll probably pick up Shovel Knight at some point. Anything that looks like a cross betwwen Wizards & warriors and Duck tales is good by me!
Is there an echo in here? Ha ha! Just teasing! :)
Oops. Did I double post? lol. Sorry,Cary! But I got your point....as in how Shovel Knight borrows more from mega-man. (Which is a pro considering Mega-man 2 was my first nes game I bought for the system and that I've loved the series ever since!)
I think the first NES game I got was Arkanoid because it came with a paddle controller. I got the first Zelda pretty early on, too.
The only game I have so far of 2014 is Valdis Story: Abyssal City, but I haven't started it yet.
I saw Pac-Man Museum on Steam, i'll be sure to check it out.
But I love the challenge of DKC Returns!
I think my friend reviewed Valdis Story and really liked it.
I don't really like games where it's one hit and you die most of the time.
Except that Donkey Kong doesn't have one hit.... it has two :P (yeah, I know the statement doesn't help).
Especially since what kills you most are bottomless pits. And even if you have DK and Diddy, that'll still get you.
Mario Kart 8 is the only game that I played on this list
You need to get cracking on some of these other games, then! :)
Weapon Shop de Omasse is a Level 5 game! Oh, now I want to play it.
Best game of the year so far? Hum. I guess I'd have to say Wolfenstein: New Order, but there's so many games I haven't gotten to yet this year. I'm doing my darnest to get to them all.
Yeah, Level 5 made Weapon Shop. It's not their best game. In fact, a reviewer here at PixlBit slammed it pretty hard. But I liked it anyway, which just goes to show you that there's no accounting for my tastes sometimes.
I put it on my playlist. I hope I can get to it sometime this summer. Gotta follow my playlist though.
I bet your playlist is big.
I got 21 titles listed for this year so far. I've played four of them nearly to completion, and I have Weapon Shop at number 14.
Wow I don't think there are 21 titles I wanted to play this year!
Here's my list starting with most recent:
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Pinball FX2 Deadpool
Enemy Front
Wolfenstein: New Order
Bound By Flame
Child of Light
LEGO The Hobbit
Witch and the Hundred Knight
Yaiba: ninja Gaiden Z
Dark Souls 2
South Park Stick of Truth
Tales of Symphonia Chronicles
DKC Tropical Freeze
Weaponshop de Omasse
EDF 2025
The LEGO Movie Game
Fable Anniversary
Halo Spartan Assault
Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
Banner Saga
Broken Age Ch. 1
Hey I don't see Kirby on your list!
That's why I feel so fortunate that I review games semi-professionally. I have more opportunities to play games I normally wouldn't be able to.
Oh no! It's a mad Kirby! HELP!!!
Yeah it's hard to be scared of Kirby.
No, I am really scared of him, it, whatever. The things Kirby can do. I want him on my side.
He's one tough cream puff!
My best games of the year so far are Bravely Default and Mario Kart 8.
Let's see Mister RPG Man, have you played Child of Light yet? You should. And what's that in your gamerpic?
Indeed I have, PS4 version.
My gamerpic is a cosplayer of Pokemon X/Y's Serena.
Yay, you played it!
I can't keep up with all the Pokemon characters and monsters anymore. And to think at one time, I was the "Pokemon Expert" go-to guy for The Dallas Morning News.
I'm gonna play that Kirby game for sure! Not really interested in Yoshi's New Island, but Kirby is a must-buy for me (along with a bunch of other 3DS games I wanna get).
Have you played the Yoshi's Island games? They're really good.
I've played the original (awesome!). Haven't played YI DS 'cause I heard it's pretty awful. And this one sounds to be samey and not that interesting. Yoshi's Wooly World, on the other hand, looks very awesome!
Honestly, I don't think the DS one is as bad as everyone says it is. At least they tried new things, which is somehting New Island on 3DS didn't do. It was still fun, though. But that's why I'm looking forward to Woolly World as well, because the yarn aspects promise some new gameplay ideas for the Yoshi's Island format.
i'm with you on Pac Man Museum so far. After reading your review AND waiting for a price drop (which happened this week during Microsoft's Ultimate Game's sale) I'm the proud owner of the game. Pretty fun actually even if some of them are really oddball titles. I can't believe they went that far with pac man, so many odd versions of gaming. Keys and fruits instead of pellets?
The only downside for me is that there isn't a way to change the aspect ration so I can try to make the game take up most of the screen size. I play on a 60" anyway but it would've been nice. Also glad I DLed the free Ms Pac man title when it was offered back in March. the original pac man and Ms pac man go for about 4.99 each separate so I say it's a pretty sweet deal and worthy for a collection vote this year.
Hey I like Super Pac-Man.
On the old Namco Museums on PSOne, there was on option to tilt the screen sideways so you could play it in 'tate' mode like how screen are on arcade games!
I really liked what I've played of Kirby Triple Deluxe so far, it's just so fun.
Oh you have it then? Yay!
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