‣ Follow me on Twitter!
‣ My backlog progress at Backloggery!
‣ Check out my Up-to-Date Video Game Collection!

• 16Dec 09

  usagi704's Game of the Year Awards 2009

  Welcome to my Game of the Year Awards for 2009! These awards follow three rules:
  
  - THE GAME MUST HAVE BEEN FINISHED TO MY SATISFACTION
  
  - THE GAME MUST HAVE BEEN PLAYED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR
  
  - THE GAME DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY RELEASED THIS YEAR
  
  Without further delay, let's get to it!
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  BEST MUSIC
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
  • Space Invaders Extreme 2 (DS)
  • Gate of Thunder (PCE)
  • Winds of Thunder (PCE)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Winds of Thunder (PCE)
  
  

  BEST SOUND DESIGN
  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
  • Space Invaders Extreme 2 (DS)
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  
  

  MOST SURPRISINGLY GOOD GAME
  • Wolfenstein 3D (PS3)
  • Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams (GB)
  • The Rumble Fish (PS2)
  • Thexder NEO (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Wolfenstein 3D (PS3)
  
  

  BEST GRAPHICS, TECHNICAL
  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PS3)
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  • Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  
  

  BEST GRAPHICS, ARTISTIC
  • Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  • Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PS2)
  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PS3)
  • King of Fighters XII (PS3)
  • Wipeout Pulse (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  
  

  BEST COMPILATION
  • Soldier Collection (PSP)
  • Salamander Portable (PSP)
  • Raiden Project (PS1)
  • Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2 (DS)
  • Samurai Shodown Anthology (PS2)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2 (DS)
  
  

  BEST MULTIPLAYER GAME
  • Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PS3)
  • Bomberman '93 (PCE)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  
  

  MOST IMPROVED SEQUEL
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  • Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2 (DS)
  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • Thexder NEO (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  
  

  BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME
  • Crash Commando (PS3)
  • Wolfenstein 3D (PS3)
  • Thexder NEO (PSP)
  • Tetris (PSP)
  • Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (PS3)
  
  

  MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME
  • King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (PSP)
  • Blood Will Tell: Tezuka Osamu's Dororo (PS2)
  • Valis III (PCE)
  • Tekken 6 (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (PSP)
  
  

  BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE GAME
  • Zone of the Enders (PS2)
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
  • inFamous (PS3)
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  • Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: inFamous (PS3)
  
  

  BEST ACTION/PLATFORMER
  • Hagane (SNES)
  • Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PS2)
  • Akumajou Densetsu (FC)
  • Hoshi no Kirby (FC)
  • Ape Escape 3 (PS2)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Hoshi no Kirby (FC)
  
  

  BEST SHOOTER
  • Killzone 2 (PS3)
  • Wolfenstein 3D (PS3)
  • Crash Commando (PS3)
  • Point Blank (PS1)
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
  
  

  BEST FIGHTING GAME
  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PS3)
  • Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  • King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match (PS2)
  • Samurai Shodown Anthology (PS2)
  • Shin Kidou Senki Gundam W: Endless Duel (SNES)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PS3)
  
  

  BEST PUZZLE/STRATEGY GAME
  • Tetris DX (GB)
  • You Don't Know Jack (PS1)
  • Bomberman '93 (PCE)
  • Tetris (PSP)
  • Bomberman Blitz (Dsi)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Bomberman '93 (PCE)
  
  

  BEST RPG
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
  • Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  

  BEST SHMUP
  • Soldier Collection (PSP)
  • Winds of Thunder (PCE)
  • Recca: Summer Carnival '92 (FC)
  • DoDonPachi (SAT)
  • Gate of Thunder (PCE)
  
  WATCH VIDEO

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: DoDonPachi (SAT)
  
  

  BEST DRIVING/RACING GAME
  • Wipeout 64 (N64)
  • Sled Storm (PS1)
  • Wipeout Pulse (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Sled Storm (PS1)
  
  

  BEST GAME BOY GAME
  • Tetris DX
  • Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams
  • Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
  • Operation C
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Operation C
  
  

  BEST DS GAME
  • Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2
  • Bangai-O Spirits
  • Bomberman Blitz
  • Space Invaders Extreme 2
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Space Invaders Extreme 2
  
  

  BEST PSP GAME
  • Soldier Collection
  • Salamander Portable
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus
  • Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
  • Wipeout Pulse
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
  
  

  BEST FAMICOM GAME
  • Akumajou Densetsu
  • raf World
  • Hoshi no Kirby
  • Moon Crystal
  • Recca: Summer Carnival '92
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Recca: Summer Carnival '92
  
  

  BEST PC ENGINE GAME
  • Winds of Thunder
  • L-Dis
  • Gate of Thunder
  • Bomberman '93
  • Bonk's Revenge
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Bomberman '93
  
  

  BEST SUPER NINTENDO GAME
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
  • Return of Double Dragon
  • Shin Kidou Senki Gundam W: Endless Duel
  • Ninjawarriors Again, The
  • Hagane
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Hagane
  
  

  BEST NINTENDO 64 GAME
  • Wipeout 64
  • Blast Corps
  • Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishousha
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Wipeout 64
  
  

  BEST PLAYSTATION GAME
  • Castlevania Chronicles
  • Garou Densetsu: Wild Ambition
  • Raiden Project
  • You Don't Know Jack
  • Point Blank
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Raiden Project
  
  

  BEST PLAYSTATION 2 GAME
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
  • King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match
  • Samurai Shodown Anthology
  • Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
  • The Rumble Fish
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
  
  

  BEST PLAYSTATION 3 GAME
  • Street Fighter IV
  • inFamous
  • Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
  • BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham Asylum
  
  

  HANDHELD GAME OF THE YEAR
  • Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (GB)
  • Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (GBA)
  • Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2 (DS)
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
  
  

  GAME OF THE YEAR
  • Akumajou Densetsu (FC)
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  • Winds of Thunder (PCE)
  • Shin Kidou Senki Gundam W: Endless Duel (SNES)
  • Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishousha (N64)
  • DoDonPachi (SAT)
  • Garou Densetsu: Wild Ambition (PS1)
  • Samurai Shodown Anthology (PS2)
  • Street Fighter IV (PS3)
  
  WATCH VIDEO
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)
  
  

  ベストオブ2009
  • Posted Dec 16, 2009 10:30 am PT
  • Category: Games
  • 22 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 27Nov 09

  Get Bonus!

  More oldies thanks to a 30% off sale at Rising Stuff:
  
  
  
  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game in North America because the first TMNT game on the Famicom was titled as Geki Kame Ninja Den in Japan. This is a pretty good port the first of two arcade TMNT brawlers by Konami. It won't blow your mind, but I do remember anticipating this game back then since I was already a fan of the arcade version.
  
  Karnov - I haven't tried much of this one yet, but it seems like a good, challenging action game. I think most people are more familiar with the character and his various cameos in other games rather than the game he's the star of.
  
  Super Mario Bros. & Super Mario Bros. 3 - If I have to tell you anything about these two games then you need to get out from under your rock!
  
  U.S. Championship V'Ball - Known as Super Spike V'Ball in North America. Probably my favorite 8-bit sports game ever. I love spiking the crap out of my opponents!
  
  
  
  Final Blaster - Shmup by Namco that's pretty hard. Other than that, I got nothing right now.
  
  Cho Aniki - Everyone's favorite homoerotic themed series of games, Cho Aniki is pretty infamous for it's surreal imagery. This particular entry, which is the first one, is the least strange of them and has the similar jankyness of hit detection that Masaya's other PC Engine shmup, L-Dis, that I own has. It's a pretty decent game otherwise and if you own a Wii, you can go get it off of the Virtual Console store right now! Come on, you know you wanna!
  
  Psychic Storm - A shmup developed by Alfa System who are best known for the Castle Shikigami series of shmups. Like Final Blaster I haven't played it much yet so I have nothing else to add.
  
  
  
  Axelay - An early SNES shmup by Konami that is still pretty good and still looks good too.
  
  Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishousha - Known to most as Sin and Punishment, this is an on-rails shooter by Treasure which is pretty awesome from what I have played so far. You can get it on Virtual Console too, so go do it already!
  
  ------
  I decided to revise my Top Ten Fighting Games list I originally blogged about in 2007 and it has changed a lot! For reference, here's the original list:
  
  TOP TEN FIGHTING GAMES (2007)
  
  Ⅹ. Samurai Shodown II
  
  Ⅸ. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
  
  Ⅷ. Guilty Gear XX Λ Core
  
  Ⅶ. Virtua Fighter 5
  
  Ⅵ. Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei
  
  Ⅴ. Street Fighter Alpha 3
  
  Ⅳ. Garou: Mark of the Wolves
  
  Ⅲ. King of Fighters 2002
  
  Ⅱ. Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
  
  Ⅰ. Super Street Fighter II Turbo
  
  Now check out how much it has changed:
  [Each game series is restricted to only one game per series.]
  
  TOP TEN FIGHTING GAMES (2009)
  

  ***SPOILER***

  Ⅹ. Virtua Fighter 5 (down 3)
  
  Ⅸ. Last Blade 2 (new)
  
  Ⅷ. Tekken 6 (new)
  
  Ⅶ. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (up 2)
  
  Ⅵ. Garou: Mark of the Wolves (down 2)
  
  Ⅴ. Samurai Shodown II (up 5)
  
  Ⅳ. King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match (new)
  
  Ⅲ. Street Fighter Alpha 2 (new)
  
  Ⅱ. BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (new)
  
  Ⅰ. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (new)

  超兄貴
  • Posted Nov 27, 2009 5:11 am PT
  • Category: Games
  • 15 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 15Nov 09

  Recent Gaming Thoughts, Outrageous Prices

  
  
  Resident Evil 2 (PS1) - As you can see, I finally picked up a copy of RE2 after not having a copy since it originally came out in 1998. I popped it in to try it out and that brought back some fond memories! It still seems to hold up today and the "tank" controls didn't bother me at all, which kinda surprised me.
  
  Bomberman Blitz (DSi) - I bought this kinda on a whim when it came out last week on DSiWare because I still had my full 1000 free DSiWare points from when I bought the DSi. Blitz is a Bomberman game with the single-player campaign nixed in favor of a lower priced multiplayer only focused version. You can play single player with bots or play with up to eight players locally or up to four online. It's definitely Bomberman alright and the online works very well. I'd say the 500 pts. spent on it was worth it provided you still care about Bomberman.
  
  Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) - I have to say that Uncharted 2 is definitely a massive improvement over the original is almost every way. The addition of competitive multiplayer and co-op are easily the best new things. I love that they took the way most shooters deal with grenades (e.g. selecting them manually and then aiming and finally tossing) and made it so much better in that now you simply aim like you normally do when you are firing a gun but press the grenade throwing button instead and you will throw the grenade were you are aiming. I find that to be an ingenious way of handling something that used to be a slightly cumbersome thing to do.
  
  I still have two main problems with the game, however. The first is pathfinding. What I mean is when you have to look around the area for a "path" via platforming elements of climbing around and jumping. I found it brought the game to a screeching halt many times when I was trying to find the correct way to get to where I needed to go and that was pretty annoying especially since the hint system would only show you where you needed to go and not necessarily where to start from. The second problem is the same problem a lot of games have had for a long time now: "difficulty increase." When you play a game at a higher difficulty a lot of them aren't content with just making the enemies take more hits, but they also add the unnecessary frustration of giving you less health which I have never liked.
  
  Uncharted 2 is definitely a game worth playing and while I didn't like it quite as much as all of the hyperbolic reviews pretended to, I would still recommend it highly.
  
  inFamous (PS3) - I finished this twice, once as good and once as evil, like I'm sure most people who played it did. I really liked Crackdown when I owned an X360 and this game reminded of that game a whole lot, but better so it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed the hell out of inFamous. The main improvement inFamous has over Crackdown is that inFamous actually has a decent story to tell with a number to legitimately surprising twists you won't expect. Having said that, the reason to play this game is for the fun gameplay with a lot of great powers to use. The worst part was all of the glitches I ran into. I must have experienced at least a few dozen during my two playthoughs, but none of them were game breaking, just slightly annoying at times.
  
  ----
  There is this place in my city that sells used media like DVDs, CDs, BDs, VHS, and video games for most systems called BuyBacks. Most of their prices of pretty average with some good deals here and there, but there are a number of games I noticed that have outrageous prices and I decided to show them to you.
  
  [Click each title to see the picture with the actual price they charge.]
  
  Tekken 2 (PS1) -- normally ~$6
  The Warriors (PSP) -- normally ~$14
  Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition (GC) -- normally ~$40
  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare (GC) -- normally ~$15
  Burnout Legends (DS) -- normally ~$13
  Smarty Pants (Wii) -- normally ~$15
  BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (Limited Edition) (PS3) -- normally ~$50
  Aerobiz Supersonic (SNES) -- normally ~$20
  Super Mario 64 (N64) -- normally ~$20 -- Blurry photo, but their price is $109.99!!
  Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army (PS2) -- normally ~$30
  Rock Band 2 (PS2) -- normally ~$25
  Rygar: The Legendary Adventure (PS2) -- normally ~$7
  
  Also, here are a few price discrepancies among multiple copies of the exact same game!
  SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals (PS2)
  Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
  
  インファムス
  • Posted Nov 15, 2009 12:12 am PT
  • Category: Games
  • 28 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg

See Previous Blog Posts »