With the end of 2015 fast approaching, we thought we would try a different tact to the standard ‘Game of the Year’ awards we do. Instead of the team picking the ‘best’ game and award just one award we’re going to run through the team and see what we all liked – our favourites.
There’s literally no point for a site as small as us giving a game of the year award and no one ever truly agrees – especially when the year contains so many great games. Now, onto the 3DS…
For many, Majora’s Mask eclipsed the glory of Ocarina of Time in the way it subverted our expectations for a Zelda game in a post-Ocarina of Time landscape. A lot of the game was familiar. Familiar faces, familiar controls, yet there was just something uncanny about the whole thing. Familiar faces were just weird enough to put you off guard. It was a fantastic followup to the quintessential Zelda title of the Nintendo 64 era. Rather than doing another Zelda with the Link to the Past formula, we got to explore a new world taking on the forms of different species from the Zelda universe and with a then unique time manipulation system keeping it all together.
Much like Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora’s Mask 3D gives the game world, Termina in this case, a new coat of paint that makes discovering new locales exciting again for old players while also being impressive to explore for the first time for new players. Having played a bit of Majora’s Mask before on the N64, but never actually finishing it for a variety of reasons, I’m super happy that Majora’s Mask has had this visual refresh for more modern systems. You could argue for or against some of the time system changes implemented, but honestly I wasn’t too bothered by the concessions they made.
Runner up: Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden
Hehe… This is a little embarrassing. I’ve hardly played any 2015 3DS titles. I’ve been spending time playing through my 2014 and prior back catalogue. In fact, the only 3DS game I could comfortably say has been my favourite for this year that I’ve played is The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. It is for good reason though! I have never actually played through the whole game on any platform, be it the Nintendo 64, that Gamecube disc with the Zelda games, Virtual console or even emulated. 3DS has given me the opportunity to finally beat it. And it will happen, I promise.
Being that the last time I played any of Majora’s Mask was ages ago, likely the early 2000’s, it all feels new and fresh to me. I don’t recognise enemies. Boss fights are new to me and the temples are completely foreign. The thing I hate most about video games is dying. That’s why it takes me so long to play them. I’m cautious. I take my time. I don’t want to have to do something I’ve already done. That makes it’s weird that I enjoy Majora’s Mask. It’s constant replaying things you’ve done and you don’t really get the option to take your time.
Honestly, it’s a good likeliness that I would have gone with Majora’s Mask anyway. Out of the titles released this year, unfortunately there are only a few that have appealed to me, but in having said that I haven’t really played them either.
Runner up: Though I am yet to play it I’d have to say Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is my runner up. I would have played it already but someone will be gifting it to me this holiday season. I love all the previous games in both series, (okay, love is a strong work for Paper Mario: Stick Star) so I’m sure It deserves my vote. It might have even been my number one if I’d played it already.
With the announcement of the New 3DS also came the companioning news that not only was another Xenoblade game coming but it would also take maximum advantage of the new platforms performance. This also caused some anger with people upset that they had to buy new hardware, lets just forget that for a moment. This title lived up to the expectations in delivering a compelling and diverse experience.
In terms of the broad overview, there is nothing very new or innovative but what it does deliver is a varied and dense experience that will keep almost all players satisfied and entertained. From the large and vibrant world thought to the deep and varied story. With very strong and varied gameplay demonstrating a brilliant flair for understanding what makes role playing games so immerse – this is large scale gameplay handled with near perfection in a portable format.
As a run up to the release of Xenoblade on the Wii U, this could not have been handled any better. It will go down as one of the true classics of the 3DS platform.
Runner Up: The Legend of Zelda : Majoras Mask 3D
Is picking this game a cop out? Yeah to some degree Yes, and I will take that criticism and promptly ignore it. With that in mind, having Majoras Mask re-released in glorious fashion has been a real delight in terms of reliving a modern day classic.
Having Nintendo give a make over to what was considered, one of the more forgotten Zelda titles; it was a great move and one that I personally felt paid off in big ways. To go through one of the most unique and innovate role playing action games combined with modernised visuals in a mobile format is a wonderful experience. To have Nintendo acknowledge it outside of a Smash brothers level was a excellent feeling.
Even if you have played it before on the N64, I would urge everyone to give this a try to remember and re discover its charms.
This may be an odd pick, but I really enjoyed Code Name S.T.E.A.M., as tedious as it is to type the title. Made by the guys behind Fire Emblem, and it really shows, while still being it’s own thing. This was around the time where I was eager to play some games that used the c-stick on the New 3DS, and having a bunch of shooter elements without needing any fast-paced reactions, it was a perfect fit.
However, me picking this game really does feel like the 3DS is reaching the end of it’s lifespan. As much as I enjoyed the game, it’s no Fire Emblem Awakening, or A Link Between Worlds. I can’t even pick a runner up for the 3DS! Lots of small things I enjoyed, but overall… not enough for me to love the 3DS this year.
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. When I first saw Code Name S.T.E.A.M. I was sold on the concept right away. A 3rd person Turn Based Strategy game from the team who made Fire Emblem and Advance Wars. Set in a SteamPunk Victorian era Earth involving Abraham Lincoln and an elite force of fictional characters taking on HP Lovercraft themed alien horrors, Yes, Sign me up now. Suffice to say I was incredibly happy with the game.
I’m really glad Intelligent Systems tried something different with S.T.E.A.M over the strategy titles they had made in the past. By focusing on a 3rd stage design as opposed to the old schoold 2d stylings of their other strategy titles, they made something unique and new that plays completely unlike anything else. By bringing over-watch and having line of site play a direct role in the way the game plays you are forced to play things cautiously and not rush ahead blindly. Each stage become a fun game of cat and mouse, trying to find out where the aliens are hidden and wiping them out to rid the earth of this scurge. The story also deserves praise, its a fun rollercoaster ride across the earth and even into other dimensions (:P) and has many jaw dropping moments involving this eclectic class of characters
Its not perfect and I’ll gladly admit its one of those flawed classics that those who love it will love it and those that won’t, won’t. But I loved it, I’m really bummed that the game kinda crashed and burned as I think there is a lot of potential in this to be a new series, almost as much as Splatoon. If this is the only entry in the series, then Intelligent Systems made an amazing hidden gem and what is hands down the game I’m going to remember most from 2015 from Nintendo.
Runner up – Etrian Mystery Dungeon
I’ve tried Mystery Dungeon games in the past and they never clicked like this has, I think what I like the most about it is you have a party of 4. You can only control one per turn but you can swap each turn and if you aren’t controlling them they move and act on their own & it adds a strangely Turn Based Strategy twist on the gameplay. Add all of that to the awesome Atlus Etrian Odyssey game designs and you have a fantastic title that will keep RPG fans of all types happy.
This could be a controversial choice as it’s a recent release, but I’m loving it too much to not include it. Yokai Watch took Japan by storm, with its popularity branching out into mountains of merchandise and tie-ins. While I doubt it’ll reach the same heights here, I hope people will give it a chance. It revolves around the idea of Yokai, which are mysterious creatures unseen by humans that go around causing mischief.
If someone you know starts behaving oddly, then chances are they’re inspirited by a Yokai! In the game you recruit Yokai onto your side, using their powers to stop the chaos caused by the bad ones running amok in your town. The game is just really… weird, which is what I love about it. It’s full of all sorts of quirky characters and systems that make it stand out.
The combat is kind of ‘hands-off’ in that while you can influence a Yokai’s actions, you can’t specifically tell them what to do. You can tell them who to target and when to use their special moves, but other than that combat revolves around constantly switching Yokai around to make sure that the right abilities are being triggered and that none of them are getting too close to being knocked out.
Recruiting Yokai involves working out what food they like and feeding them mid battle so that once you’ve defeated them they’ll decide to be your friend. One of the most powerful Yokai attacks you if you cross the road without waiting for the lights to change too many times, and another Yokai has a butt face. It’s brilliant.
Runner Up – Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
I don’t know what wizardry it took to get this game running on the 3DS, but it’s impressive that this could be done. The game features a beautiful world that you’re invited to explore, but the rather lacklustre combat prevents this from being my favourite 3DS title of the year.
While this is in direct contradiction to something I wrote about last year it’s hard to ignore the love and regard that I have for Majora’s Mask. It’s easily Nintendo’s weirdest Zelda game and because of that it’s also easily one of my favourites. Thankfully, while this remake looked amazing, Nintendo weren’t afraid to mess around with the finer details of the gameplay to streamline it and make it much more playable than it was when it released all those years ago. It went as far as possible as it could without it being a brand new, fully fledged remake. Majora’s Mask was restored with care and it’s something I really appreciated with Nintendo’s “remake” style despite my aversion to the whole concept entirely.
Majora’s Mask to this day remains a unique title. The use of the three-day cycle creates new and exciting gameplay opportunities that no other games have managed to recreate to this day. It’s odd. It’s dark. It’s incredibly melancholic. And it tells a much more intense story than other Zelda games without telling as much. Majora’s Mask is truly the embodiment of the moniker to “show, don’t tell” and for that it remains near and dear to my heart.
Runner up: Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Bros.
A late and unexpected surprise from Nintendo and one that I had little hope for given how blatantly it reuses assets from other games – but Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. is an iterative sequel to both the titles it follows inspiration from and thankfully rights most of the wrongs of the game that came before it.
The battle system is tight. The gameplay is fun to play around with. Even better – the localization and humour is spot-on. There are little to no tutorials too, which is one of the biggest issues I had with Dream Team Bros when it released last year. Sure, it plays it a bit safe with a cookie cutter plot, but who cares if it plays well, right?
You all know I’ve been disappointed with the Nintendo 3DS this year and we have to go all the way until February for me to find something I actually can call my favourite of the year. Sure I’ve played more than Majora’s Mask on the 3DS, theres been great eShop titles and games like SteamWorld Heist and Box Boy have been fun but everything else has just been so disappointing, just disappointment followed by crap followed by disappointment.
Majora’s Mask 3D though was amazing, it still is and is a game like no other and one that Nintendo hasn’t been able to make again since. The atmosphere, the despair and the sense of impending doom is real in Majora’s Mask. Having the graphics of the ancient Nintendo 64 game redone, the controls updated to modern standards means its a game anyone can enjoy once again – not just if you were there the first time.
Mercs, Vectorman and ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron.
It's Black, Back Again.
Makes sense to us.
