Ah, this was a great year. Except that I spent a good half of it getting through two of the longest console JRPGs ever made for the PS2: Persona 3 and Persona 4. And I'm still not done.
Nevertheless, I still had time to play through some of this year's crop. Being limited to only 4 systems (the DSi, Wii, PSP, and PS2), there's definitely some bias here, but you can forgive a poor college student for skimping on those other, far more expensive systems.
An unbelievable game. There isn't one single genre description that can fit this, but I call it a Real-Time Strategy game with Bullet Hell elements. BULLET HELL.
A (nearly) completely stylus-driven game, Knights in the Nightmare is an innovative, but also difficult, game that requires you to destroy monsters with virtually stationary units while avoiding the brightly colored bullets they shoot. There's nothing quite like it, and it's addicting while also friendly for gamers on the go.
And if the multitasking is too easy, then try Nightmare mode.
It's Mario. In 2-D. On a home platform. With multiplayer?
What more can you want?
My first introduction into Shin Megami Tensei, it also has the distinction of being the only game I've completed three times. The double whammy of a unique battle system that combines traditional turn-based combat with a turn-based strategy game, along with series classic demon summoning and fusion, this game is simply a pleasure for RPG and Strategy fans to play.
If only demon fusion was as accessible as in Persona 3 and 4.
You know all those old RPGs? Well, condense them into 30-40 second bursts, and you've got Half-Minute Hero. An RPG that makes fun of RPGs (and all their cliches), as well as shooters, RTSs, and escort missions.
A very old Turn-Based Stratey game makes its way to America for the first time. Finally, we get to see where Brawl favorite Marth came from: an exciting and challenging war simulation about a prince seeking to restore his country.
With impressive graphics and a refined, but still faithful gameplay system (notably missing is the ability to rescue units), the game is still highly playable today, even though its original Japanese release was back in 1990.
A pretty old RPG makes its way to America for the second time, in a much purer form. While it now looks pretty bland and dated, especially in the first-person dungeons, the revised amd refined menu system, addition of new animated cutscenes, and classic Shin Megami Tensei demon/persona fusion keep the game interesting to people today.
It's also a great look back at the origins of cult hits Persona 3 FES and Persona 4.
Another pretty old and traditional RPG finally makes its way to America. Gameplay-wise, it's a by-the-books RPG with a Pokemon-esque monster taming feature, but the story is charming and fresh even by today's standards.
A new game pretending to be as old as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, it's a collection of fake old games, which range from a very good Galaga ripoff to an excellent Dragon Quest ripoff to a faithful Ninja Gaiden ripoff. And not content with replicating the feel of old games from the 80s, it also replicates the game magazines and manuals.
It's as if people in the 80s knew everything about game design today!
Another new game pretending to be old. Or at least look old. it's best summarized as an ant farm simulator, except that your ants are monsters who have to protect the Badman from those cocky adventurers. Build a thriving ecosystem and a devious dungeon, then sit back and laugh.
If only it were that easy.
It's Zelda! On the DS! With stylus control!
While it's mostly a refinement of what Phantom Hourglass did way back, it's still a highly polished adventure with some devious dungeons, psudo-cooperative play with the ghostly Zelda, and epic boss battles.
But, just like Phantom Hourglass, it's also a brief ride. Except you're on a train instead of a boat.
It's Space Invaders, but flashier. What's not to like?
