5 Games in 2004

Saturday, January 29, 2005 »

Now that the year is drawing to a close, it's time to talk about the five best games of 2004!

#5 - Unreal Tournament 2004
Thanks to the construction of my PC (which I have christened "Metabble") in April, 2004 is the first year that I've been able to include non-console games (besides, like, MacMinesweeper, or something) in the running. However, I'm undecided about how I feel about rating them alongside console games. I'll probably straighten things out by next year, but for now I'm just going to toss my one PC game onto the list at a symbolic #5, just to PUT PCS IN THEIR PLACE. CONSOLES4LIFE. But anyway.

I cannot tell a lie: If not for UT2004, I would probably not have gone through with assembling the PC. (I definitely would not have walked, for lack of available transportation, a mile and a half to the FedEx depot to pick up a replacement motherboard.) The original UT may have been my favorite FPS of all time, and this year's edition builds upon its excellent arcade-style shooting with the fantastic Onslaught game mode, slick graphics, and just an unclassifiable playability that makes other FPSes, whether they're strictly deathmatch or vehicle-based, pale in comparison.

#4 - Gradius V
The much-overlooked revival of the king of shooters has it all: Incredible graphics, a dramatic soundtrack, and a new option/multiple select system that provides an unexpected level of depth and strategy. And, of course, it's as difficult as ever. Unlike many shooters, though, there are very few parts where it feels like you died because the game cheated. Every situation has a pretty obvious solution, whether it's bringing along a different option configuration the next time or just brushing up on your piloting skills. That is, every situation except that regenerating wall in stage 4. Still not sure what the deal is there.

#3 - Katamari Damacy
Here's proof that innovation doesn't necessarily mean a million new features. Katamari Damacy succeeds because of simplicity, and its insane sense of humor didn't hurt it, either. It's easy and intuitive to pick up and play, and there's enough replay incentive to keep people coming back.

#2 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The latest entry in the GTA series pushes the M-rating envelope in every way imaginable, which I'm sure has Joe Lieberman & co. up in arms, as usual. That's what these games are best known for, anyway. The real genius of San Andreas, though, is the way it drops you off in the middle of an immense, fully-realized virtual world, and then basically just says, "go have fun." Of course, you're free to go run over a prostitute with a riding mower at this point, but the point is, it's completely up to you. San Andreas has such an overwhelming range of activities it's difficult just keeping track of them all. Oh yeah, there's also an entire storyline containing a ton of additional missions and some fine voice acting, but you might be too busy skydiving or just driving (or walking, or flying) around the map sightseeing to notice. And, hey, unless you land on someone, that's completely nonviolent!

#1 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
I am actually still amazed that I'm putting this over GTA San Andreas, but it was just that good. It's a shock trying to adapt to radar-less, camouflage-based stealth, but it ends up being much more tense and, if it makes sense, even more stealthy than previous Metal Gears. After coming to grips with the camouflage, I was able to take in just how polished every other aspect of the game is. The environments are well-designed and graphically stunning, especially for a PS2 game. The boss battles are as intense and unique as always (in particular, an epic sniper duel that puts the rest of the series' sniping to shame). The dialogue is well-written and voiced by a talented cast (especially Jim Piddock as Major Zero), and it never reaches the point where the game takes a backseat to the story, as with some of the lengthy codec sequences late in MGS2. The cutscenes are brilliant, both in direction and choreography, and receive an extra air of cinematic authenticity from Harry Gregson-Williams and Norihiko Hibino's score, which is miles beyond their previous work. Combine that with frequent opportunities to take control of the camera during said scenes, the most incredible endgame sequence ever (nothing else even comes close), and, just in case you had any doubts, a fantastic ending, and you have the closest anyone has ever come to producing the much sought-after interactive movie. Hideo Kojima should be proud. Metal Gear Solid 3 is the #1 game of the year, and the best game to come out in a very long time.