GOTY 2005: Calling it Early?

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AnthonyRoundtree

CAGiversary!
Games of the Year 2005: Calling it Early?

Wow.

Not even half-way into the year and we're already treated to some serious contenders for 2005's Best Games.

Seriously, think about.... this year isn't even half-way over, E3 is still a month away, and for all we know... we could have a new box in our homes by the holiday season.

For the love of god.... our pockets in trouble.

Anyway....

Take a look at some of the BIG AAA titles already available that would be a good bet for either Genre, Platrom, or Overall GOTY ballots at the end of the calender year.... as well as unreleased games that are arguably aiming for the same status.


Since Jan 1st, the list of AAA titles we've already got:

Resident Evil 4

Splinter Cell 3: Chaos Theory
Brothers in Arms
Doom 3 (will anyone count it if it was out on PC a year before? will there be room for it? me things not...)
Mercenaries
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Jade Empire
Psychonauts

God of War
Tekken 5
Gran Turismo 4

Lumines
Wipout Pure
Ridge Racer

Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap



________________________
So....
Moving on to the "Coming Soon" section of "BIG" Releases
(Big doesn't necesarily mean good.... but I'm talking production values and performance expectation)


The Legend of Zelda (2005)
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Killer 7
Darkwatch
Pariah
Advent Rising
Shadow of the Colossus
Final Fantasy XII
Kingdom Hearts II
Animal Crossing TO GO!
Sly Cooper 3
Ratchet 4 (Will they fuck it up?)
We Love Katamari (will everybody love more of the same?)

Plus.. the dozens and dozens of titles yet to be revealed for the remainder of the calender year that, for lack of a better explaination, could fuck -up our minds, pockets, and lives so radiacally that we won't have the will to resist playing, saving our money, and going outside and doing something.
____________

What do you guys think?
What's on YOUR watchlist?
What's on the shelves today as of Jan 1, that you think we'll still talk about on Dec 31st?

Anyone?
 
God of War.

I've played 1000's of games, and I can easily say it's one of the best I've ever played. Probably my second favorite game of all time, after Half Life 1/2
 
GT4 shouldn't be anywhere near this list. It's an updated GT3 with very few new features. With no online mode, it shouldn't even be considered. Oddworld and Doom 3 don't deserve to be on the list, either. Oddworld is alright, but not GOTY-worthy. Doom 3's graphics are too dumbed down and it won't sell systems. Tekken 5 shouldn't be up there because it's a damn fighter with some half ass story. None of the PSP games deserve a nod, ESPECIALLY the racers. I'll agree with Chaos Theory, RE4, Brothers in Arms (XBox version only), Mercenaries and Jade Empire.
 
You might want to add "Geist" to your coming soon list. I think Nintendo has high hopes for it and it looks pretty innovative.

I haven't played enough of the games yet to start making predictions but i think it will be interesting to see how some of this generations best are compare to the early releases of the next.
 
[quote name='SneakyPenguin']God of War.

I've played 1000's of games, and I can easily say it's one of the best I've ever played. Probably my second favorite game of all time, after Half Life 1/2[/QUOTE]

I second this choice!!! GoW so far has kept me up the latest and the most interested. Half-Life 1 and 2 what can I say...awesome.
 
[quote name='defiance_17']Resident Evil 4: Game of the year, game of the generation.[/QUOTE]

except for the "shaq fuing" controls (i can't walk and hit?) the AI is the best of any game.... I have yet to try Jade Empire.. but from the amazing people at Bioware its hard to fault them.
 
[quote name='urzishra14']except for the "shaq fuing" controls[/QUOTE]

It's so rare when people actually bother to type it out.
 
[quote name='Scorch']GT4 shouldn't be anywhere near this list. It's an updated GT3 with very few new features. With no online mode, it shouldn't even be considered. Oddworld and Doom 3 don't deserve to be on the list, either. Oddworld is alright, but not GOTY-worthy. Doom 3's graphics are too dumbed down and it won't sell systems. Tekken 5 shouldn't be up there because it's a damn fighter with some half ass story. None of the PSP games deserve a nod, ESPECIALLY the racers. I'll agree with Chaos Theory, RE4, Brothers in Arms (XBox version only), Mercenaries and Jade Empire.[/QUOTE]

so a fighting game cannot be GOTY because it is a fighting game?

Tekken 5 is a really good game and should not be faulted because of its genre (still not as great as Virtua Fighter though)
 
i agree with casey on this one, just because its a fighter dosent mean it cant be goty.

by scorch's definition of games, halo 2 was just an upgrade of halo 1 and should therefore be discredited from any awards.
 
[quote name='punqsux']i agree with casey on this one, just because its a fighter dosent mean it cant be goty.

by scorch's definition of games, halo 2 was just an upgrade of halo 1 and should therefore be discredited from any awards.[/QUOTE]

No, because Halo 2 had an actual story. It'll win GOTY, if it doesn't, fanboys will pop an eye vein or something. Tekken 5.. just.. no. Not because it's a fighter, just because the story seems so mish-mash whatever they could think up or something. No online mode didn't help the case, either.
 
[quote name='Scorch']No, because Halo 2 had an actual story. It'll win GOTY, if it doesn't, fanboys will pop an eye vein or something. Tekken 5.. just.. no. Not because it's a fighter, just because the story seems so mish-mash whatever they could think up or something. No online mode didn't help the case, either.[/QUOTE]

it is a fuckin fighter! Fighting games are supposed to have in-depth stories now? There is no fighter on the market with a decent story, as no one wants to listen to a story mode that is going to go into depth about this and that, when all they want to do is fight. I know that anytime I see story in a fighting game, I am hitting start like crazy because I never want to listen to it.

and as far as no online play, judging a game solely on lack of online play is no reason to not make it the best game of the year.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']it is a fuckin fighter! Fighting games are supposed to have in-depth stories now? There is no fighter on the market with a decent story, as no one wants to listen to a story mode that is going to go into depth about this and that, when all they want to do is fight. I know that anytime I see story in a fighting game, I am hitting start like crazy because I never want to listen to it.

and as far as no online play, judging a game solely on lack of online play is no reason to not make it the best game of the year.[/QUOTE]

I realize it's a fighter.. thanks. I was stating that i'm not excluding it just because it's a fighter. For a game to be GOTY, don't you think it should have a story? Online mode? Something that offers replayability? My point is that it shouldn't be a contender.
 
Don't forget Burnout Revenge, Destroy All Humans!, Prince of Persia 3, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, and Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse.

There's also the often rumored Super Mario 128 which Reggie says they'll be talking about it at E3.

I really thought Burnout 3 should've won GOTY last year because it was simply the most fun and adrenaline pumping game I played last year. Online was great, and offline was so damn addictive.
 
[quote name='road3283']You might want to add "Geist" to your coming soon list. I think Nintendo has high hopes for it and it looks pretty innovative.

I haven't played enough of the games yet to start making predictions but i think it will be interesting to see how some of this generations best are compare to the early releases of the next.[/QUOTE]

i dunno man...
I hit up geist for a good 30+ minutes last may at E3 (line for RE4 stretched over to it)

anyway... i had high hopes for it then... and unless they've been pouring some SERIOUS effort into it... i have my doubts about it being more than a slightly above average FPS version of Tsugunai.... and a less visually appealing game than Killer 7.
 
[quote name='Scorch']No, because Halo 2 had an actual story. It'll win GOTY, if it doesn't, fanboys will pop an eye vein or something. Tekken 5.. just.. no. Not because it's a fighter, just because the story seems so mish-mash whatever they could think up or something. No online mode didn't help the case, either.[/QUOTE]

i dont think you understand the whole mythology behind the tekken games, theres actully a very involved story. just because YOU dont get it dosent mean it isnt there.

http://www.nz.playstation.com/news/the_history_of_tekken.jhtml
 
[quote name='Scorch']I realize it's a fighter.. thanks. I was stating that i'm not excluding it just because it's a fighter. For a game to be GOTY, don't you think it should have a story? Online mode? Something that offers replayability? My point is that it shouldn't be a contender.[/QUOTE]

i think to be game of the year it should be the most enjoyable game released that year. period. not best graphics/story/online whatever. most enjoyable.
 
[quote name='Scorch']I realize it's a fighter.. thanks. I was stating that i'm not excluding it just because it's a fighter. For a game to be GOTY, don't you think it should have a story? Online mode? Something that offers replayability? My point is that it shouldn't be a contender.[/QUOTE]
How can a fighting game not have replayability? They are some of the most replayable games on the market. And as far as story, if the story is good it gets brownie points, but I spend enough time hearing lame ass stories and do not want to be bothered with them the majority of the time (I am probably a third of the way through Halo 2 and the story in that game is just horrible, so if we are rating GOTY by the type of story it has, this was def. not GOTY by a longshot). Also online mode is a bonus rather than an essential aspect in most games, unless your game is an Unreal or a Battlefield, then I have no problem giving GOTY to a game with no online mode. Because if online modes were what made GOTY, everyone would end up tacking on some lame ass online modes to their games (hell how many useless online modes do we see in games on the PC? I personally would rather see developers not tack on shitty online play and focus on what they know best)
 
again im with you casey.

im sick of half assed attempts at some online mode only to have no active community a month after the release. im also sick of people crucifying games because they lack online modes. a good online mode is a great bonus, but unless its an ONLINE GAME (re:eek:utbreak, ff11, ect.) there no NEED for an online mode. thats like saying final fantasy x is a bad game because it does not have a 2 player mode. yes, it sounds as retarded as that statement.
 
System-wise I'd have to say:

PSP: Lumines
PS2: God Of War
Xbox: Spinter Cell: CT / Doom3 / Jade Empire
NGC: RE4
GBA: LOZ: TMC

The overall GOTY is going to be a variation of one of the above (though I doubt anyone will pick Doom3, simply because it's a port)

Sticking my 2 cents into the Tekken 5 debate; I'd say Tekken 5's very good, easily the best fighter this year, and possibly the best of the Tekkens, however there's still some work to be done to close the gap to Viryua Fighter level of gameplay. Besides, Jinpachi might very well be the cheapest boss in the history of Video Game Bosses.
 
[quote name='punqsux']again im with you casey.

im sick of half assed attempts at some online mode only to have no active community a month after the release. im also sick of people crucifying games because they lack online modes. a good online mode is a great bonus, but unless its an ONLINE GAME (re:eek:utbreak, ff11, ect.) there no NEED for an online mode. thats like saying final fantasy x is a bad game because it does not have a 2 player mode. yes, it sounds as retarded as that statement.[/QUOTE]

Actually no it doesn't sound as retarded...RPGs are and pretty always have been one player games and if they aren't they are co-op. Fighting games have gained multiplayer popularity trhough versus modes, just like FPS games and so forth. And it's much, much easier to boot up the system and find some people playing online than it is to round up some friends for multiplayer.

Online play will never take the place of having actual people there IMO and you shoudn't sacrifice gameplay for online multiplayer, but for games that rely on versus multiplayer modes like FPS, sports, and fighters online play is much more than just a simple bonus. Now Tekken 5 is a great game without online play, but to say it's retarded to think of it as a useful feature on a fighter doesn't make much sense. A simple bonus is the other stuff namco managed to put on the disc besides online play, why does a fighting game need an Adventure mode? Thoguh it does increase aplayability, to me that is rather useless. Other comanies have mangaed to put online play in a fighter prior to Tekken 5 and Namco seems to be too lazy and worrisome to try and get online play right (further evidenced by their refusal to consider it for SC 3), I don't buy this global audience BS.
 
[quote name='joystickz']i dunno man...
I hit up geist for a good 30+ minutes last may at E3 (line for RE4 stretched over to it)

anyway... i had high hopes for it then... and unless they've been pouring some SERIOUS effort into it... i have my doubts about it being more than a slightly above average FPS version of Tsugunai.... and a less visually appealing game than Killer 7.[/QUOTE]

I had the impression that it was under the process of recieving a major overhaul, but I may be wrong. The latest egm had a small preview on it making it seem pretty cool. They talked about it something more akin to a Metroid Prime than a standard shooter, saying you'd be doing just as much thinking as shooting. But of course, like any game you can never really tell until you've played it.

I was just throwing it out there because it's a Cube exclusive and think for Nintendo it's a hot property.
 
Take Splinter Cell and GT 4 off that list.

Not that they're not good. They're just not "new" enough.


God Of War is the game Jesus would make if Jesus made video games.

All aspects of it kick ass. It's fun to watch, it's fun to play, the puzzles make you think but not so much that it takes time away from playing. Mini game fighting button masher parts, not too many jumping parts (Which is a deal breaker in some other games)

Vote early, add this one to the top of the list and build from there.
 
[quote name='JimmieMac']Take Splinter Cell and GT 4 off that list.

Not that they're not good. They're just not "new" enough.


God Of War is the game Jesus would make if Jesus made video games.

All aspects of it kick ass. It's fun to watch, it's fun to play, the puzzles make you think but not so much that it takes time away from playing. Mini game fighting button masher parts, not too many jumping parts (Which is a deal breaker in some other games)

Vote early, add this one to the top of the list and build from there.[/QUOTE]

I couldn't have said it better myself. The Icon summed it up perfectly in that one paragraph.
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']Actually no it doesn't sound as retarded...RPGs are and pretty always have been one player games and if they aren't they are co-op. Fighting games have gained multiplayer popularity trhough versus modes, just like FPS games and so forth. And it's much, much easier to boot up the system and find some people playing online than it is to round up some friends for multiplayer.

Online play will never take the place of having actual people there IMO and you shoudn't sacrifice gameplay for online multiplayer, but for games that rely on versus multiplayer modes like FPS, sports, and fighters online play is much more than just a simple bonus. Now Tekken 5 is a great game without online play, but to say it's retarded to think of it as a useful feature on a fighter doesn't make much sense. A simple bonus is the other stuff namco managed to put on the disc besides online play, why does a fighting game need an Adventure mode? Thoguh it does increase aplayability, to me that is rather useless. Other comanies have mangaed to put online play in a fighter prior to Tekken 5 and Namco seems to be too lazy and worrisome to try and get online play right (further evidenced by their refusal to consider it for SC 3), I don't buy this global audience BS.[/QUOTE]
there are only two other online fighters that are 3D available to play on consoles today and both are basically carbon copies of games that came out two and three years ago. Also, the online modes in almost every fighting game have been quite laggy from what I have heard (I still have not played them on Live yet because I have been busy playing other things).
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']there are only two other online fighters that are 3D available to play on consoles today and both are basically carbon copies of games that came out two and three years ago. Also, the online modes in almost every fighting game have been quite laggy from what I have heard (I still have not played them on Live yet because I have been busy playing other things).[/QUOTE]

Some are laggy (especially earlier ones) but a good number aren't that laggy as well and last I checked they didn't exactly rebuild the entire engine and gameplay style for Tekken 5. Many fighting games 2D and 3D move at speeds faster than Tekken 5 even online. Guilty Gear X2 runs quite fast and largely without lag and despite the fact it's 2D to make the game run as quick as it does is amazing. I've had lag in a couple DoA Ultimate matches, but that's out of dozens and it runs every bit as fast as Tekken 5 with very comparable graphics. Of course it all depends on connections and such and now we're talking about different hardware with the PS2 and I don't think there are any 3D North American online releases for Ps2, so maybe it can't be done as well (is so all the more reason they need to release SC 3 on something other than just PS2). But I feel as though Namco is getting lazy now days and just doesn't want to take the time to try and get it right no matter what system it's for.

Either way Tekken 5 is a great game and no doubt deserves at least a look for Game of the Year IMO. I simply meant to point out it's not such a trivial or needless feature as Punq made it out to be and there's clearly a demand for it and strong reasoning behind it.
 
For now, it's definitely Jade Empire. But it's gonna battle between that and the 3D Legend of Zelda. Resident Evil 4 for GOTY? Honestly, I don't think it'll even be close.
 
The new Legend of Zelda when it gets released in Fall (hopefully), or Jade Empire.

Bioware owns me.

I honestly don't see RE4, GT4, or SC:CT being game of the year.
 
I honestly think RE 4 should be up there with Zelda, Jade Empire, and all the other AA titles that will come out this year. But I think the simple reason that it was released so early in the year will hurt its chances alot.
 
[quote name='joystickz']i dunno man...
I hit up geist for a good 30+ minutes last may at E3 (line for RE4 stretched over to it)

anyway... i had high hopes for it then... and unless they've been pouring some SERIOUS effort into it... i have my doubts about it being more than a slightly above average FPS version of Tsugunai.... and a less visually appealing game than Killer 7.[/QUOTE]


I hope it turns out ok, GCN needs a killer FPS. All we have right now are the TimeSplitter games and to me those get boring kinda quickly except for the multi-player.
 
Just based on the reception the game has received, I'd have to go with RE 4 as my early prediction of GOY. I do think coming out early in the year will hurt it though. What are the chances that MS will come out with a killer launch title for the Xbox 2 that will steal the crown for 2005?
 
[quote name='chickenhawk']Just based on the reception the game has received, I'd have to go with RE 4 as my early prediction of GOY. I do think coming out early in the year will hurt it though. What are the chances that MS will come out with a killer launch title for the Xbox 2 that will steal the crown for 2005?[/QUOTE]

Perfect Dark Zero?

*bursts out laughing, cries a little, cracks open a beer*
 
Out of the list of games that are out so far--

RE4 by miles and miles and miles. it's the only one that exapands upon it's predecessors, is a blast to play, takes risks in terms of design, and blows you away in every minute of gameplay.
 
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