2020 GOTY
2020 was a real shit show. That being said I had a lot of extra free time on my hands. I spent a lot of it playing video games. Below are my 10 favorite games released this year. Enjoy!
List items
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Original Final Fantasy VII is my favorite game of all time. So you can understand that I was a little worried about current Square deciding to remake the game. It seemed like everything was going wrong with the project. They switched developers early on and announced it was going to come out in parts(still not a fan of that decision). Lets talk about the combat. I would have been more than happy to just have the turn based combat back but I'm glad that they didn't. The combat is this game is a evolution of the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy 15 combat and it feels great. You can freely switch to other members of your party and stop time to use a ability or your materia. Seeing all my favorite locations and characters of the early part of the original game remade in a modern video game was amazing. The new takes on the music are outstanding. The story is expanded upon giving us more time to with characters like Wade, Biggs, and Jessie. They start off making only minor changes but the time we get to the end of the game we see some more drastic changes. That leads me to my only real complaint about the game. I feel like the ending would be completely confusing to a new player. Basically if you really want to understand the games ending as a new player you are required to either do some research or play through the prequel Crisis Core(Good Game). Overall this delivered more than I expected and I'm glad to say it is my game of the year for 2020.
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The Last of Us is probably the best story in any video game. Part II doesn't quite reach the same heights but it comes very close. Naughty Dog said the theme of this game was hate and they did not lie. The brutality of the story and even the melee kills is intense. This time around you play as Ellie on a journey to track down a rival group and kill every last one of them. Last of Us Part II has the best gameplay of any of the modern Naughty Dog games. I had way to much fun hiding in the weeds and shooting enemies with the bow. Naughty Dog continues to be able to make the most realistic games on the market. Remember that flashback scene in Uncharted 3 that was really awesome? This game does that exact thing over and over again. It felt like padding and was very annoying. Also another thing I miss is the multiplayer. Somehow the first Last of Us had some really fun multiplayer. This time around they didn't include any. They did say they were going to release a stand alone multiplayer game so we will see. I know a super dark and gritty game might not sound appealing right now but give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
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Insomniac's Spider-Man game on the PS4 is one of my favorite games of all time. They followed it up with a shorter side game similar to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The game released on the PS4 and PS5 simultaneously. This was the very first game I played on my PS5. This game is amazing. I honestly can't decide which game I like better. This time around you are playing as Miles Morales, the young hero who got his powers in the last game. Peter Parker has been training Miles on how to use his powers and entrusts the city protection to him while he goes overseas on a Christmas vacation with Mary Jane. I never like Miles Morales in the comics but I think the movie Into the Spider-Verse and these two Spider-Man games have completely turned me around on the character. Miles has more abilities in this game than Peter did in the previous. He has bio electricity and is able to turn invisible. This additions make the already fun combat even better. Swinging still feels great and the trick system is unlocked from the start. Also the soundtrack is pretty amazing. The only complaint I really have is the selection of villains. Besides a little bit of the Rhino we are left with the Tinkerer. If you like Spider-Man you need to check this game out.
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Who doesn't like samurai? Sucker Punch released one of the most stylish and visually appealing game I have ever seen. Ghost of Tsushima is the samurai Assassin's Creed game you've been wanting. The combat involves a lot of countering and switching between four different stances depending on the enemy you're facing. Stealth is also a big gameplay mechanic. The stealth is not amazing but it's completely serviceable. The story is about one of the last surviving samurai on the island of Tsushima having to put his honor aside while trying to take back his home from the invading Mongolians. It's nothing special but it's not downright bad either. Sucker Punch also released a lengthy destiny style multiplayer after release free of charge. There are too many side activities and not enough variety. I don't ever want to follow any more foxes or write haikus. I feel the game is a little to long. It took me around 60 or so hours to platinum the game. Overall I'd say if you like old samurai movies or enjoyed the older Assassin's Creed games you should give it a try. I hope we get a sequel.
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Growing up I loved the Tony Hawk games. I think THPS though THAW are all great games. That being said the past 15 years have not been good for the franchise. After the 2015 debacle that was Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 it looked like the franchise was dead. Fast forward to 2020 and Vicarious Visions put out one hell of a remake of the first two games. They did a very smart thing and added moves that weren't introduced until later in the franchise. Everything you could want is basically in this game. The majority of the soundtrack is back and they even added some new songs. All the levels and characters are back(Besides some of the secret characters). Visually this is the best a Tony Hawk game has ever looked. There is not much I dislike about this game. The main thing that comes to mind is the career mode. Once you finish career with a character you can't go through it fresh with a new character. The online part of the game is also a little disappointing. Skateboarding video games are back!
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Playstation 5's pack in game might be the best game on the platform. The game is basically a tutorial of what the Dualsense is capable of. Despite that this is one of the best 3D platformers in a long time. That being said the Playstation references are what make me love this game most of all. I won't lie, I got a little teary eyed looking at the 3d models of all the Playstation consoles and accessories that brought me so much joy in my childhood. Not going to spoil it but the last boss fight of the game is amazing if you know your PlayStation history. My only gripe with this game would have to be its length. I hope they give Team ASOBI! the budget and time to make a even better game. Everyone should play this game when they get a PS5.
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Original Resident Evil 2 is my second favorite game of all time. So I was so happy last year when the Resident Evil 2 Remake was so good that it became my GOTY for 2019. That brings me to Resident Evil 3 Remake. The game is great but it's just not as good as Resident Evil 2 Remake. I don't fault it too much because the original game wasn't as good as 2 either. After surviving the mansion Jill Valentine is back in Raccoon City trying to expose what Umbrella is really researching. The game takes place during the same night as Resident Evil 2. That means you visit some familiar locations and people. This time around you are being chased by Nemesis, who has been tasked by Umbrella to hunt down the remaining members of S.T.A.R.S. Shooting feels as smooth as ever and the amazing map from last year returns. The RE Engine has produced another great looking game. I did find it odd that they seemed to tone down the dismemberment that would happen when shooting the zombies in RE2 Remake. The game includes way to many scripted moments involving Nemesis that makes the game not feel as open as its predecessor. Also the game is very short and unlike 2 you can't playthrough the game again with another character. If you are a fan of the Resident Evil 3 franchise or enjoyed last years game definitely give this a shot.
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I'm a diehard Dragon Ball fan. I've played every game that's come out for the franchise. There are good ones like FighterZ, Budokai Tenkaichi, Legacy of Goku, etc. That being said there is a ton of trash as well. I would place Kakarot somewhere in the middle. CyberConnect2 did a great job recreating Toriyama's style. My problems with this game are all about the exploration and variety of side quests. For some reason the developers thought it was a good idea to populate the world with these floating orbs that you have to collect to upgrade your skills. Not only does it take forever to amass enough orbs to get the higher level skills its just not fun. Side quest as just boring fetch quests. The combat is a lot like Xenoverse. You have a button for strikes, ki, guard, etc. Another weird decision the devs made was making all the fights happen while flying. Once a fight begins you cannot land on the ground. Overall I had a lot of fun with this game and would recommend it for any Dragon Ball fan.
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I like many others played a ton of Animal Crossing this year. It hit at the perfect time with all of us stuck in our homes looking for anything to distract us. Being able to just chill out and tend to my new island was relaxing and just made my anxiety of our current situation melt away. They added crafting to the game this time around and for the most part I enjoyed it. Also props to any game that lets me put a full wrestling ring in my backyard. I was not completely in love with the game like many seem to be though. After about three months I stopped playing the game and haven't picked it back up since. Some of my problems have to do with the amount of supplies and bells Nook makes you amass to do simple stuff like building bridges or building houses for new villagers to live on your island. I hope one day I feel the urge to go back and play this game again. Man my villagers are going to be angry at me.
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I'm not a fan of the Souls games. I've tried to get into Bloodborne and Dark Souls in the past but they never stuck. I was one of the lucky ones able to easily obtain a PS5 this year so I needed stuff to play on my new console. I decided to try Demon's Souls and boy am I glad I did. Bluepoint did such a good job remaking this game. I think it is undoubtedly the best looking next generation game so far. It runs so smooth on and the load times are amazing. Dying in this game isn't as spirit breaking in this game because you no longer have to stare at a loading screen and stew in your anger. The only reason I don't have this game higher on my list is simply because I haven't been able to finish it yet. If you manage to get a PS5 check this game out!
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