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Gamasutra's Best Of 2007
Here it is: Gamasutra wraps
up 2007 in a compilation of all of the lists we've been doing over the
course of the past two weeks. Visiting such important topics as the
Top Developer, Most Poignant Moment, and Top Trends, this offers the editorial staff's (hopefully) educated and personal
take on the year as it draws to a close.
In addition, after publishing #10 to #2 of our Top 10 Game list recently, we finish things off by revealing our pick for top video game of the year. We also take a look at what
you thought on our various countdowns, by including comments made upon the first publishing of
many of these stories.
Top 5 Downloadable Games
First up, we take a look at
the top 5 downloadable console games released this year, from Everyday
Shooter through Pac-Man CE. The games picked are the editor's
choice, and are chosen from the titles released in North America during
2007's calendar year to date.
5.
PixelJunk Racers (Q-Games, PlayStation 3)
The folks at the Kyoto-based
Q-Games (Star Fox Command), led by former Argonaut coder Dylan
Cuthbert, have been trying to take things back to the '80s with simple,
iterative self-funded downloadable titles for the PlayStation 3.
Racers is the first
of these, and it's intentionally incredibly simple - just acceleration
and lane changing needed, slot car style. Perhaps because of this, it's
relaxing and addictive all at once, and bodes well for further titles
in the PixelJunk series for PSN coming soon.
4.
Jetpac Refueled (Rare, Xbox 360)
For those who grew up in Europe
in the 1980s and remember the original Jetpac, this enhanced
remake is even more enticing - but even for those who don't, the gameplay
is beguiling.
It's particularly notable that
the gravitational physics behind the Joust-style thrusting, transplanted
wholesale from the Stampers' 1983 Ultimate Play The Game original --
the first ever title from the now-departed Rare founders -- work just
as well almost 25 years later.
3.
Everyday Shooter (Queasy Games, PlayStation 3)
A gloriously abstract shooter
that originally won multiple prizes at the Independent Games Festival
this year (Disclaimer: original writer Simon Carless is IGF Chairman), Jon Mak's title
is particularly enjoyable because of its careful blend of strategy,
stylish visuals, and action-generated music.
In addition, the concept of
radically changing gameplay and look on a level by level basis -- something
that Mak has compared to a music album -- is particularly progressive
as a concept. It's also nice to see high scores as a success arbiter
returning in such a prominent manner.
2.
flOw (ThatGameCompany, PlayStation 3)
One of the games released this
year that is least like a... game, the depth-based eating/growing experience
that is flOw had already been well-tested in Flash by creator
Jenova Chen and his associates.
The reason that flOw
works so well is because of its serene experience, carefully basic motion
controls, and simply understandable game mechanics. Even the state of
navigating the game is relaxing. The fact that such an organic-feeling
experience had an explicit end is sad, though -- algorithmically generated
levels next time?
1.
Pac-Man Championship Edition (Namco Bandai, Xbox 360)
The original Pac-Man
is simply one of the best games ever created. And, in this world of
enhanced remakes, the Japanese developers at Namco Bandai worked with
Pac-Man's father Toru Iwatani and created something incredibly special
- a remake that improves on the original.
With all the flavor and excitement
of the original, the multiple new modes - many of them with explicit
time limits and related high scores - layered even smarter strategic
gameplay upon the peerless original. And with smart art direction, the
title looks amazing in HD. Tremendous.
You said:
Jim McGinley: "What
an odd list. I'll agree with Everyday Shooter, but the rest?"
Anonymous: "I think
Space Giraffe (XBLA) is at least worth a mention. It is an absolutely
gorgeous new IP with such a rich/deep gameplay for anyone who is willing
to learn by playing."
Oliver Snyders: "Space
Giraffe is exactly the kind of game indies shouldn't make
-- it's caught in the 'complexity VS simplicity' conundrum of the days
of yore with the visual confusion that is enough to alarm even hardcore
players, let alone casuals."
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Comments
Playing Rock Band (solo) created more enjoyment for me this year than GH3. They really went that extra mile, the star note chains - that I have always complained about not being in GH - appeared. Also, since Activision was cool with destroying the only character I enjoyed in GH - Judy Nails - it really let me down, Rock Band allowed me to get that user-created-character/band that this generation is big on.
In short, Guitar Hero III was more of the same so to put it along with games like Pac-man CE or Portal would be kind of disheartening.
Pac-Man CE definitely deserves the number one slot.
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