My favorite games of 2005, in order. I played more handheld games this year than in any year of my life, not because I had lots of time with my DS, but because the DS simply had the most appealing games that year. This is not a list of the ten BEST games of 2005, just the ten games that I enjoyed the most.
I was and still am blown away by this game. I bought it because of critical praise and went in not sure what to think. During the first case, you're sort of laughing at the game rather than with it as they take you through the absurd gameplay quirks. It is anything but serious until it flips the soap opera switch and really pulls you in. There are five cases in the game, each one significantly longer than the last. The first case is a short, maybe 30 minute introduction. The second case is a 3 or 4 hour tour-de-force where you watch your mentor get murdered and then have to defend her sister. It was so dramatic that I thought it might even be the end of the game, actually. But no, the third case came along, and while not quite as strong as the second, lasts 5 or 6 hours. Then the fourth case lasts 8 or so hours and blows all the other ones away completely, as you have to defend your friend and rival, Miles Edgeworth. Then the credits roll, and you say, wow, what an incredibly satisfying game. Then the fifth case starts. And it blows the fourth case away. I don't think I will ever play a game that paces itself as well as this one did. Just unbelievable writing and storytelling, some of the best you'll ever see.
This game really reminds you of a great big-budget movie. From the plot to the ridiculous violence, it was just a joy to watch, may even more fun to watch than to play. I don't mean that in a Medal Gear Solid sort of way - it's not the cutscenes I'm talking about. The gameplay ultimately isn't terribly complex but it looks so impressive on screen as it's happening. The opening scene with the Hydra.... wow, what a first impression.
Without a doubt, Resident Evil 4 was the best game of 2005, with God of War being a safe runner up. I have it third on this list simply because none of the characters were in any way interesting and the story was idiotic. I don't think this is the game's fault... I mean, I understand that it's a Resident Evil game. But really, what's more interesting, Leon S. Kennedy and whoever that bad guy was or Kratos and Ares? What's more memorable. From a gameplay perspective though, it was fabulously executed and was the best game of it's kind until Dead Space came out a full three and a half years later.
Definitely the best Fire Emblem game that I've ever played. Strongest setting, strongest villains, and a really great narrative to go along with the traditionally excellent gameplay.
I may be the only person in the universe who thinks this is the best Mario & Luigi game. To me it wasn't QUITE as funny as the original but was just a vastly superior game from a gameplay perspective. Sure, Superstar Saga was a more inventive and creative game at the time but this one is just much better executed.
The Prince of Persia trilogy pretty much nails my taste in games right on the head. This game is awesome.
This is possibly the second best Fire Emblem game of the year but also the second best US-released Fire Emblem game of all time. Even though the Fire Emblem experience is best done on a handheld, in my opinion, this game had great story and characters and led to a sequel that reminded me of the Hindenburg.
Probably the funniest and most innovative WarioWare game. Seriously one of the craziest Gerstmann reviews of all time - he argued that the game relied too much on the touch screen. This is like arguing that Halo relies too much on dual joysticks, just insane babbling.
I remember really enjoying this game at the time because it had solid shooter action and immensely satisfying melee attacks. It was surpassed almost immediately by about 15 other first person shooters but I had a lot of fun at the time.
