CCIV: Game of the Year 2005 - Round 04

[Neon Ignition]

Critics Club Goes Fourth! The next round opens taking us further into the charge on titles


Which of the above games are among the best of 2005 and why?

[Tobal]

2 big titles for me, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns a superb update to 'Z' and would be the last Fire Pro released until 'World' hits in 2018. While Spike did release King of Colosseum 2 the previous year, this was the last good wrestling game for 12 years.

And don't laugh, but Dynasty Warriors 5 was unbelievable, still the pinnacle of Koei's hack'n'slash that they've never matched since, not in any of the franchise spinoffs and certainly not any of the DW/SW and Orochi main line games which hit the generations that came after. The Quality and quantity, 50 character all with unique movesets, all with their own story mission mode along with 'what ifs' for changing the events where generals died Rottk, and countless maps, understandable level grind and the best guitar wankery omega force has ever done.

Do not pursue Lu Bu!

[fuse]

ESPGaluda 2 rules. First game already had arguably some of the most interesting (to me) shmup mechanics, and the second game added another layer that saw that ratcheted up even further. Cancelling huge curtains of bullets and/or spawning even more while you nervously watch your gem counter plummet rules. It's hard as heck and I've not come anywhere near the end of it, but I do have a lot of fun playing it.

[egparadigm]

Farenheit aka Indigo Prophecy in the states, in case anyone didn’t recognise its European name.

[Neon Ignition]

Ditto - For its time, with the exception of the end portion of the game, it was great

[Cepp]

I would say it went to hell the moment the demo ended. Still regret buying it.

[egparadigm]

It did get a bit weird at the end, that’s fair to say!

[Asura]

I would say it went to hell the moment the demo ended. Still regret buying it.

I never bought it, as everyone was saying this. Loved the demo.

[Cepp]

It did get a bit weird at the end, that’s fair to say!

Yeah it got very weird very quick. I remember nearly breaking my keyboard trying to pass a QuickTime event whereby some unknown force suddenly tries to drag the main character out of their apartment window. I think he later dies and comes back to life also, and there's some ancient, secret society of hobos?

I never bought it, as everyone was saying this. Loved the demo.

The demo was amazing and much more grounded than the final game. I was hyped after playing through it multiple times.

[egparadigm]

Yeah probably was a secret hobo society, I forget the details. I think they went on to make Heavy Rain which was very successful narrative wise, good twist therein. Hopefully that delivered on the promise in a more consistent way.

[Asura]

Yeah probably was a secret hobo society, I forget the details. I think they went on to make Heavy Rain which was very successful narrative wise, good twist therein. Hopefully that delivered on the promise in a more consistent way.

I went off that too I kinda felt like it was more of an interactive movie... But a movie of a level of acting ans scripting quality that I would switch off.

I honestly got more out of The Nomad Soul than both.

[egparadigm]

Nomad Soul is a good shout. I have it on DC somewhere I’m sure. When I’ve tried to play tho I couldn’t get over the Shenmue-style tank controls.

[egparadigm]

Incidentally I picked up Twelve Minutes the other day which was a good price on Xbox store. It does get a bit frustrating with all the repetition, but it’s reasonably tight if you can get over the point and click nature.

[Colin]

I must've been busy in 2005, as looking at that list I definitely didn't seem to be playing video games!

[Hirst]

Enthusia was a decent Gran Turismo clone, even down to having an overly pretentious opening FMV.