Episode 50 - The 2006 List

I’m just going to throw up a short list… maybe it will be a top 10, maybe it will only be five, I’m just making it up as I go… of games that I enjoyed this year and a brief reason why.

I know you’ve probably seen hundreds of these types of things as of late, but oh well here I go. In no particular order my top whatever:

Sketch Fighter - Mac - Sorry Windows gamers this is a Mac only game. There really aren’t too many of those, well none that are good anyway. This game rocks. It is a hand drawn space shooter. It looks like the kinds of things I drew when I wasn’t paying attention in school. Oh, who am I kidding, it looks like something I draw now when I’m not paying attention to anything. You can download a free trial version or purchase it for 19 dollars. Totally worth it. I read somewhere that they were looking to get LIVE distribution. I’m crossing my fingers.

New Super Mario Bros. - DS - Game that brought me most nostalgia. This is one of the best side scollers since the launch of the N64. Yea that’s right. I said it. This game to me represents everything that a Mario game should be. Fun, Exciting, Adventurous, and full of adjectives hat remind you of being a kid. This game brings me right back to 1990… when Super Mario 3 was released.

Geometry Wars - Xbox Live - Best reason to get a 360. Well… best reason to plug your 360 into the Internet. Seriously downloading this game may have been the best thing I did for my console. This is the single game that opened me up to the idea of downloading games onto my console for casual play. Shapes have never been more devastating to my ego.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 - DS - Puzzle game of the year. With out a doubt. I love this game. It has great use of the stylus, innovative game play and great replay value. I have played through it twice and it didn’t loose its touch. The levels are short enough that you can take it with you and pop out a few levels wherever you are then come back later. What’s also awesome is the level creator… because you can send the levels you make to your friends over Nintendo Wi-Fi. Now if I only had some friends…

Dead Rising - Xbox 360 - This was the game I anticipated the most for the 360 his year. And I love it. I love slaughtering zombies. It’s true. Matthew (you know the writer that doesn’t write) actually considered getting a 360 after playing this game. It’s that good. The guys over at Capcom thought of just about everything. Different outfits, mostly sandbox style, and of course… using everything as a weapon. Did you ever think you would be able to throw a guitar at a zombie? Me neither, but you can. If you own a 360 this game is defiantly worth getting. If you don’t then this game is worth getting the system.

Gears of War - Xbox 360 - If Halo was combat evolved then Gears of War is combat re-defined. Best looking game of the year, with out a doubt, best game play by far. And it captures my inner man and makes me really want to kill Locusts. It’s a pretty fantastic feeling. I’ve never loved cover so much. Ducking, hiding popping out and then blasting the crap out of something that’s not human makes me feel real good. You should try it sometime. It also has a great multi player, so there’s that as well.

Wii Sports - Wii - Best game to bring home to mom… seriously, your mother will play this game. I don’t actually own a Wii… I know scandalous… but I have played it quite a bit and this game is so much fun to play. And you get to play as yourself so that’s even better.

Mario Hoops - DS - Hardest goddamn game I’ve played in a long time. You know how usually with enough persistence you can get past a certain part of a game? That is NOT the case in Mario Hoops. Unless you get lucky you will not be able to beat the game. Difficulty aside, it was also a lot of fun. Mario Hoops is to Basketball what Maro Kart is for Racing… only the basic fundamentals are there. Everything else has been Mario-ized. There’s even a red turtle shell.

Biggest Let Down: After waiting since 2004 to play Twilight Princess I have no Wii, and the game I was most excited for has moved out of my grasp until I can get a hold of one. :(

So there it is. The games I have enjoyed this year. I guess the winning console this year goes to my DS Lite since it procured 3 of my top titles (and has Mario Kart as an honorable mention). Congratulations DS Lite.