CCIV: Game of the Year 1997 Round Three

[Neon Ignition]

Picking up the baton, 2023 begins with the third round of voting for what you feel were the high points of 1997's gaming offerings.


Which of the above games were amongst the best of 1997 and why?

[Atticus]

Didn't know there was an Ecstatica II. I enjoyed the first one.

Got to be Captain Obvious and go for FFVII. It was my first proper JRPG. I remember talking to a friend after playing it on launch day and I was complaining about the random battles interrupting the flow of the game all the time and he said you have to do those to get stronger. Aha. Enlightenment. What a class game.

[Cepp]

FF7 was so good it got its own entry twice!

I adore FF7 but I think I'll have to give it to Diablo, which is still my favourite in the series. The music, the atmosphere, "fresh meat". Absolute classic that I've run through many times over the years.

[Neon Ignition]

Dammit

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
The second listing for Final Fantasy VII is supposed to say Final Fantasy Tactics

[QualityChimp]

Was struggling with this list as there's a few I like, but came to later.

Then I saw Final Fantasy VII (twice, LOL) and that sealed the deal.

Yes, it wasn't the first game like this, but it was most Western gamers introduction to JRPGs and it was magnificent.
High-budget, funny, emotional and ludicrously deep.
In the days before common internet access, I'd dip into games mags to find tips like Barrett's 888 skill, but by the time I'd got there, it was a downgrade!
I'd done all the chocobo races, bred a gold chocobo and ran to the secret area the get the Knights of the Round Materia.
That, plus Mimic meant the final boss was a breeze, albeit a long-winded one!
I was all-in, at a time where I was (if I'm honest) pretty lonely.

[Cepp]

Ah well that changes everything. I love Diablo but Tactics edges it out, it's still my favourite SRPG. I'd do Straight Character Challenge runs where you'd pick just one job class and try to beat the game back in the day.

[Neon Ignition]

Diddy Kong Racing for me, was a real surprise that game and showed a way forward for kart racers none seem to have followed

FF7... to be honest, I never really rated

[Travesty]

For me there is no competition to Fallout. I've spent countless of hours on playing the first 2 Fallout games, with the first being better in my opinion, even though the second game did ditch the time limit which was really really really annoying on the first game. Great story telling and mood, the user interface has certainly not aged well but back when Fallout was released the UI was pretty good.

[SilasSting]

FF7 is regarded as the best game ever by many, so this isnt a hard vote! Taking that one away, I did have an amazing summer playing Road to World Cup as a kid!

[Cepp]

Road to World Cup was a belter, absolutely rinsed it with mates.

[Mayhem]

FF7... to be honest, I never really rated

Hah, Neon and I agree on something...!

[Asura]

Voted for FF7 because I never played JRPGs before that, as I'm not some kind of nerd