SG Games of The Year 2G6

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:07 am

Because Waward won't post it

Almost totally ripped off from his format last year (don't think the winners were ever announced), so blame him if the categories are rubbish, and feel free to suggest your own.
You can nominate 3 games for a category. First gets 5 points, second gets 3, and 3rd gets 1 point.

If you haven't played a game in the category that you would never qualify as GOTY, like say XS3, but still want to put it in because your fanboy tastes enjoyed it besides it mediocrity, you can still award it a honorable mention by putting it to second or third position. And please don't vote for games you haven't played.

Here are the categories:

Adventure Game/RPG OTY
Action/Platform GOTY
Sports/Racing GOTY
Puzzle GOTY
Strategy GOTY

Handheld GOTY
PS2/PS3 GOTY
GC/Wii GOTY
Xbox/360 GOTY
Arcade GOTY

Overall GOTY

and for the negative ones...
Most Disappointing GOTY
Worst GOTY

P.S. If you have no opinion on a certain category, don't vote in it.
If you son't have a second or third choice, just put in your first.
If you need any categories clarified, ask Ward.
Games must be ones released in [google]2006[/google].

For reference, last year's theread is here: http://www.squaregamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=871

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:34 am

Mine (to be thought about and revised).

Adventure Game/ RPG OTY
1) Disgaea II
2) Final Fantasy XII (amazingly o_O)
3) Suikoden V

Action/Platform GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) Dead Rising
3) Gears of War

Sports/Racing GOTY
1) Outrun 2006
2) Pac Man World Rally
3) Wii Sports

Puzzle GOTY
1) Pokemon Link
2) Tetris DS
3) Monkey Business

Strategy GOTY
1) Viva Pinata

Handheld GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) Final Fantasy III
3) Pokemon Link

PS2/PS3 GOTY
1) Disgaea II
2) Final Fantasy XII
3) Pop'n Music 13 Carnival

(This is certainly a category I'll have to go abck itno, can't currently think for the life of me what I've played, other than Bemani and RPG. I'm sure there are things I liked a lot mroe than FF12 ).

GC/Wii GOTY
1) Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2) Wii Sports

Xbox/360 GOTY
1) Dead Rising
2) Viva Pinata
3) Gears of War

Arcade GOTY
1) Dance Dance Revolution/ Dancing Stage SuperNova
2) Monkey Business (itbox)
3) Time Crisis 4

Overall GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) Disgaea II
3) Dead Rising

Most Disappointing GOTY
1) Children of Mana
2) Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
3) Sonic The Hedgehog (360)

Worst GOTY
1) Sonic The Hedgehog (360)

[spoiler=Old categories and votes]

Here are the categories:

Action GOTY
Platform GOTY
RPG OTY
Adventure GOTY
Puzzle/Strategy GOTY
Racing GOTY
Sports GOTY

Handheld GOTY
PS2/PS3 GOTY
GC/Wii GOTY
Xbox/360 GOTY
Arcade GOTY

Overall GOTY

and for the negative ones...
Most Overrated GOTY
Worst GOTY

Action GOTY
Will need Ward to clarify what he means by "Action"

Platform GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) New Super Mario Bros

RPG OTY
1) Final Fantasy XII (amazingly o_O)
2) Disgaea II
3) Suikoden V

Adventure GOTY
Again, I never understood this one

Puzzle/Strategy GOTY
1) Viva Pinata
2) Pokemon Link
3) Tetris DS

Racing GOTY
1) Outrun 2006
2) Pac Man World Rally

Handheld GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) Final Fantasy III
3) Pokemon Link

PS2/PS3 GOTY
1) Final Fantasy XII
2) Disgaea II
3) Pop'n Music 13 Carnival

(This is certainly a category I'll have to go abck itno, can't currently think for the life of me what I've played, other than Bemani and RPG. I'm sure there are things I liked a lot mroe than FF12 ).

GC/Wii GOTY
Pending...

Xbox/360 GOTY
1) Viva Pinata
2) Gears of War
3) Dead Rising

Arcade GOTY
1) Dance Dance Revolution/ Dancing Stage SuperNova
2) Monkey Business (itbox)
3) Time Crisis 4

Overall GOTY
1) Yoshi's Island DS
2) Final Fantasy XII
3) Viva Pinata

[/spoiler]

Why's it so hard to rememebr the games I liked

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:01 pm

I'll probably add some games to that list later but I guess I need to start somewhere so here we go

RPG OTY
1) Disgaea 2
2) Suikoden V (not played due to lack of time but seen enough to know I like it)

Adventure GOTY
Does Phoenix Wright count as an adventure game

Puzzle/Strategy GOTY
1) Tetris DS
2) Pokemon Link (don't really like it but don't think I've played other new puzzle games

)

Handheld GOTY
1) Phoenix Wright
2) Tetris DS
3) Braintraining or whatever that game is called

PS2/PS3 GOTY
1) Disgaea 2
2) Pop'n Music 13 Carnival
3) Guitar Freaks V Drum Mania Masterpiece Silver

Arcade GOTY
1) DrumMania V3 (was it released in 2G6 though

)
2) Monkey Business (itbox)
3) Dance Dance Revolution/ Dancing Stage SuperNova

Overall GOTY
1) Phoenix Wright
2) Drum Mania V3
3) Disgaea 2

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:35 pm

I'd call Phoenix Wright more puzzle/strategy
Phoenix Wright was last year rly (though it did come out stupidly late in Europe, so I'll let you off this once

).
V3 was indeed 2G6

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:26 pm

I've played fuck all games this year, so won't participate.

Calbrena wrote:Adventure GOTY
Does Phoenix Wright count as an adventure game

Yes. Well, more an Adventure/Puzzle.
It has exploration sequences, as well as puzzle sections.
("Visual novel" or "Interactive Novel" is more precise)

逆転裁判2 DS-version was 2G6, btw (the original 逆転裁判 was 2001 on the GBA, and as Chris said Sept 2005 on the DS. Does Phoenix Wright actually count since it is functionally equivalent to 逆転裁判DS? ;p ). I've not played it, so can't comment tho.

Calbrena wrote:3) Braintraining or whatever that game is called

"Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is your Brain?" ...?

I know for a fact that V3 was after April 2G6

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:43 pm

I haven't played PW2 so I can only vote for PW1

And the European DS version was released in 2G6 so I'm allowed to count it as a 2G6 game

(and I agree with Adventure/Puzzle but it would feel really wrong to list it in the same category as Tetris and Pokémon Link

)

"Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is your Brain?" ...?

That's the one

I know for a fact that V3 was after April 2G6

Aaaawwww sorry

So yeah, V3 is definitely my second fav game of the year

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:48 pm

Better than V2 (which got a CS release this year, but which you may have played on the arcade)

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:09 pm

Also played V2 in HK indeed

Tbh I played more arcade games than anything on consoles this year, and I played most of them in HK...

Anyway, enough spam for now

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:16 pm

Calbrena wrote:I haven't played PW2 so I can only vote for PW1
And the European DS version was released in 2G6 so I'm allowed to count it as a 2G6 game (and I agree with Adventure/Puzzle but it would feel really wrong to list it in the same category as Tetris and Pokémon Link )

Puzzle and strategy. Things that get your brain working.
Puzzle is more broad than blocks and bubbles, and strategy fits in well with the whole idea, thus my inclusion of Viva Pinata here.

Entr0pi3 · Post by **Entr0pi3** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:01 pm

Hmrph. Won't elaborate again on the issue, but I think this genre categorization is quite shit (and yes I'll blame Ward, I guess

)
And really, I don't know of any game that doesn't get your brain working. That's what games do.

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:02 pm

Except PW isn't really strategy, at any point. There are no real tactics, long term goals, breaking down large objectives into checkpoints... instead there is solving problems (=Puzzle) and exploring a narrative (=Adventure).

Investigating things, exploring things... rolling your cursor over everything in the screen to make sure you haven't missed any little bit - them be the sure-fire hallmarks of Adventure, fo' sho'.

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:06 pm

Entr0pi3 wrote:And really, I don't know of any game that doesn't get your brain working. That's what games do.

True, but I think the distiction between cognitive-emphasised games and more reaction-based/co-ordination based/psycho-motor-emphasised games is a sensible one.

But yes... the genres are a bit weak ;p

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:15 pm

Anybody want to suggest better categories?
Personally I'd put racing and sport together.
I don't want to split it down too much.

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:27 pm

* Strategy (turn-based, real time, strategy RPGs... all are covered. Anything involving multiple concurrent units, serious tactics/stratgems, considerations of positions)
* Adventure/RPG (RPGs are a subcategory of adventure, after all.)
* Puzzle (includes 'mind' games, sudoku, etc)
* Sports/Racing Wot it says on the tin, tbh.
* (Other) Action (Does not include anything better described by ANY of the above categories. includes shooters, fighters, etc. Anything requiring physical dexterity, timing, etc. is an action)

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:31 pm

I'm up for including adventure and RPG together (seeing as I never knew what was an "adventure" anyway

).
I did try changing Ward's ones from last year a bit, but I was at work (and still am) so have little room to think.
Will revise the rules tomorrow I think

Thx

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:33 pm

I bought fuck all games this year...

Adventure/RPG
1) Kingdom Hearts II
2) Wild Arms 4
3) Dirge Of Ceberus: FFVII

Other
1) Tekken Dark Resurrection

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:37 pm

Did you not even tinker with anything else?
This is why you need to come visit us in London!

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:38 pm

Apart from PSP ISOs and some PSone emulation, I've not bought that much.

Everything else is from the bargain bin, released ages ago, and therefore not eligable.

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:49 pm

Damien wrote:I'm up for including adventure and RPG together (seeing as I never knew what was an "adventure" anyway ).
I did try changing Ward's ones from last year a bit, but I was at work (and still am) so have little room to think.
Will revise the rules tomorrow I think
Thx

Adventure games to me are more like Phoenix Wright and good old point and click games like Day of the Tentacle or Monkey Island, they are nothing like RPGs imho

There is indeed some puzzle solving in that kind of game but the most important things are the (linear) plot and character development so they don't belong to the puzzle/strategy section either.

Also maybe that's just me but in my book consoles RPGs=party of more than one character, where you have equipments and stuff like that to upgrade regularly. Obviously that's just one aspect of RPGs but it's a major one that doesn't exist at all in lots of 'adventure' games. So ya, keep these 2 categories separate please

Other than that I agree, Sport and Racing can go together

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:52 pm

Did you never rent a game, or try and game in a shop/somebody's house?

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:57 pm

Damien wrote:

Did you never rent a game, or try and game in a shop/somebody's house?

Me?

Nah. I usually see a game I want, forget about it, then pick it up cheap about a year later.

So I'm about a year behind the industry really. Stuff I picked up this year on time is stuff I remembered to pre-order.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:06 pm

You should vote in last year's poll then tbh

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:10 pm

Ha ha.

Maybe Ward is waiting for my entries before he announces the winner!

Edit: Wahey! The bots have found this topic. *Becomes mod of deletion*

Entr0pi3 · Post by **Entr0pi3** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:18 pm

Resource management games such as Sim City would be strategy, then, I guess?
But what about the Sims? or Animal Crossing? Supposedly, AC (and somewhat similar games such as Harvest Moon) is an RPG...

I suppose as far as sim games are concerned, you could draw a line between those played from an individual 1st person perspective (=> adventure/RPG... even Nintendogs???

not sure where that one would fit

I guess Adventure/RPG should also involve an emphasis on story/dialogs with NPCs?) and those played on a larger scale, from a "god-like" perspective (=> strategy) ?

(Though I'm not sure it works that well. I'd say Black&White and Doshin are strategy, even though they're more or less 1st person

... Just because you have god-like powers on the environment such as leveling ground, Populous style?

+ there is little emphasis on story, too)
And should Pikmin or Lemmings be considered strategy, or puzzle? Lemmings probably is puzzle, but Pikmin is more RTS like, as there is more resource management involved. Yet both share quite similar concepts

And what about (what I tend to call) Action/Exploration games à la Metroid or Castlevania SotN? Adventure or Action? (I'm assuming here Zelda is Adventure? (unless by Adventure you mostly refer to point & click game? Would that make Zelda action, then?)... These games are somewhat Zelda like, as they involve both real-time action and puzzle solving, and share similar core gameplay mechanics: lots of maze exploring, and unlocking access to new areas by getting new abilities after defeating a boss and/or finding some new items)
Castlevania SotN and its clones are more RPG like, I guess (with XP and equipment and such), while Metroid is a bit more action oriented (be it the 2D shooter or 3D FPS version), yet the limit between both kind of games is a bit blurry in my mind: I enjoy both mostly for the exploration aspect, and apparently I'm not the only one, as these two series often seem to share the same fan-base

... I don't mean to contradict the game design expert, of course

I like the fact you picked up only 5 generic categories. Problem is, games these days tend to easily cross the border between traditional genres

But maybe we should start by establishing a general list of games of the year (by system?), then start thinking where they fit in your categories (and possibly rethink categories if necessary?)

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:24 pm

Game Taxonomy has always been a bit of a grey area though, what with titles mixing and matching common elements of two categories to seemingly create something vagely new.

I pretty much follow the taxonomy as spoken by Chris Crawford, but even he needs to update a bit to keep up with the times.

Edit: Chi is a game design expert?

Entr0pi3 · Post by **Entr0pi3** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:45 pm

yuka wrote:Game Taxonomy has always been a bit of a grey area though, what with titles mixing and matching common elements of two categories to seemingly create something vagely new.

So true, especially as the original taxonomy in use in the real world was mostly built by marketing fags (meaningless buzzwords FTW) and random VG magazines/websites (with different keywords depending on the community: computer VG, console VG, arcade VG, etc.)

Edit: Chi is a game design expert?

Well,
1) if you went to SGUK meetings, you'd know

2) if you call a university lecturer an expert, then yes, I guess

Anyway... where do music games fit in that taxonomy? I suppose they're action, but that category might then be a bit too wide... putting Doom, Mario, Street Fighter and Pop & Music (and Singstar? it is coordination in a way, I guess, but still) in the same category doesn't make that much sense to me

Also, should party games have a category of their own?

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:52 pm

Both Alices have made good points.

Sadly, Chi is not (strictly speaking) a Games Design Expert, but Chi does lecture on Games Design... and one of those lectures* is a discussion on categorisation, genre, etc. However, this doesn't mean that Chi isn't talking total shit, either ;p

(* Another is Games History, which explains why Chi is also so totally out of touch with modern gaming ;p )

In terms of categories, I was suggesting the generic big 4 (Action, Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle), and then branching out for one specific category (sport, 'cause there are always hundreds of sport games, and we'd end up with Winning 11/Pro Evo and Fifa (and all the other 556 different sports game sof the year) swamping the normal leaderboard for action). Less is often more.

RPG (more properly, cRPG ;p) is certainly a subgenre of Adventure (or, depending on nature, Action/Adventure - e.g. Dungeon Master is a n Action/Adeventure, whist The Bard's Tale is merely an "Adventure") - or at least is at the mo, until someone comes out with some dashingly new twist on the genre. 'Pure' adventure games are pretty rare nowadays (most of 'em are cRPGs), so no point in seperating out the category, IMO.

Finally. There is no reason why games cannot be categorised as cross-genre (in the same way that we have romantic comedies in film). Action adventure is THE most common game category right now. There is also no reason why a game cannot neatly fit into more than one judged category if they are truly cross-genre, but usually one is more dominant than the other, tbh.

My key argument is: if there is enough entrants to justify a new category, then add it! ;p

I could write a whole essay here, tbh. I need to go and mark though D:

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:07 pm

Argh. I don't get to branch into Level Design until next year. I'm stuck with an elaborate form of 'Game Discussion'

Which isn't teaching me much at all.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:13 pm

We can discuss the tits off this in the coming year (for GOTY 2G7), but for now I'll go with Chi's categories (unless somebody makes a quick and blatant OBJECTION!) and update this thread later.

Btw, the strategy and puzzle grouping was pretty much my doing, I had a quick look at the complains in the threads last year, and tried quickly to address it (while at work)

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:47 pm

Fix0red! :frank

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:57 pm

You've got Strategy twice, and missed Puzzle

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:01 pm

I've been changing the thread a few times. The computers here at work are shite

Changed Over rated GOTY to Disappointment as the year, as that's more about valued personal opinion than prejudice.

Chi · Post by **Chi** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:12 pm

Damien wrote:unless somebody makes a quick and blatant OBJECTION!

OBJECTION!
This, uh, clearly... um. Never mind.

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:28 pm

I suck and have played absolutely pretty much nothing this year

I want to be able to vote though, so I'll game harder next year so I can! :O

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:39 pm

Surely you've played something I know you have

Hi btw

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:49 pm

Hi- I took your request <3

Uh... Pop'n Music 13 Carnival? ^^; I played Dirge of Cerberus which basically sucked, I have Kingdom Hearts 2 and haven't played it yet.

I'm hoping for a DS for Christmas which should open up my gaming quite a bit, part of my problem is not having any up to date consoles and not really being interested in the stuff coming out for the older consoles.

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:49 pm

I nearly deleted her post by accident. A bot got in just after her so I just started X clicking thinking she was one too!

I'm an idiot.

Hi, welcome to Damien Gamer!

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:51 pm

Noes, I'm not a bot ;< I'm here because Damien requested I come show my face and I have nothing else worthwhile doing

And thanks!

Edit: Is Viva Pinata as fun as it looks? I'm hoping to get a Xbow 360 in the new year-ish if money allows me.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:56 pm

What's wrong with Pop'n Carnival?

And yes, welcome to Damien Gamer

Yuka · Post by **Yuka** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:03 pm

Am I the only person registered on this website who Damien hasn't met?

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:06 pm

yuka wrote:Am I the only person registered on this website who Damien hasn't met?

You probably were until Naki came along

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:17 pm

Damien wrote:What's wrong with Pop'n Carnival?

And yes, welcome to Damien Gamer

Thanks <3

Nothing, I really enjoyed it actually. But I'd look like a bit of a sad case voting for one game across all catagories, so I chose not to

As for meeting, that'll hopefully change in February if things go to plan

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:21 pm

But your one game will count.
Better than nobody voting, as may be the case

Sephira · Post by **Sephira** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:13 pm

Only doing two categories...because I feel like it.

Adventure Game/ RPG GOTY
1. Xenosaga III
2. Zelda: TP (Wii)
3. Xenosaga III (so good, it gets two places)

Dissapointment GOTY
1. FINAL FANTASY XII (what a piece o' crap)

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:24 pm

Haha. You cheated

I knew you'd have Xenosaga III at the top, but I didn't think you'd have it twice

FFXII really wasn't bad once i got into the swing of it and learnt to accept it for what it was.

naki · Post by **naki** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:32 pm

Damien wrote:But your one game will count.
Better than nobody voting, as may be the case

Alright, add Pop'n Music 13 as best game in each catagory it can count for and GOTY for me

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:35 pm

Hopefully not many more people vote now, as it's going to be madness counting up, the way people are voting

fuse · Post by **fuse** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:34 am

No fighting game category

I'd probably find myself just naming the odd game in every other category, I don't like categorising stuff and a lot of the time I've probably just played one game of each genre in the year...

So, to completely ignore your structure (:D), my games of the year would be Okami, Outrun 2006 C2C, Devil May Cry 3 SE, KOF XI, GF/DM Masterpiece Silver, Gyakuten Saiban 2, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Rythym Tengoku, and DJ Max Portable.

I'm reserving judgement on God Hand / FF3+12 / Disgaea 2 as I've not played them yet, but am expecting them to be good. Even from a very short play though, I'd say Valkyrie Profile 2 is probably the most disappointing

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:45 am

I can't see how God Hand would be good, personally.

No Fighting Game and no Bemani category :frank

fuse · Post by **fuse** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:52 am

Damien wrote:I can't see how God Hand would be good, personally.

God Hand looks excellent from first impressions, and from a quick blast through the first few levels. Challenging, balanced, fun, with a very customisable and technical system. Plus it has a quite refreshingly fruity sense of humour.

Damien wrote:No Fighting Game and no Bemani category :frank

No bemani/fighting/shmup categories

You might as well have banned me from posting ;p