Rather than wait until the end of the year for our big award blowout, we've created this monthly tribute to the weeks that were. The entire PlayStation Team has come together so that we can tell our readers what we thought was the very best game for each system last month... and why. Though some of us often chime in with our comments at the end of reviews, for the most part, the reviews on IGN are primarily written by one editor. In this feature we had every editor on the channel vote for a single title. What better way to represent a team is there than to speak your collective minds?
How does it work? It's simple. Any game released in the past month is eligible for the award and is taken through a battery of tests by every editor on that particular channel. After we've finished evaluating each game we put our heads together and decide on a single "best of" winner that's worthy of the title "IGN Game of the Month." Pretty straightforward, don't you think?
Now that we have the guidelines out of the way, let's move on, and congratulate this month's winner...
Why We Picked It: You can summon an army of dragons. If that doesn't make you want to run out and pick this game up, we don't know what's wrong with you. In Grim, you step into the tall boots of Lillet Blan, the newest student at the Magic Academy. Poor Lillet thinks she's kicking off a semester of runes, magic and sock hops, but before her first week is over, everyone in school is killed. Luckily, a mysterious force keeps sending the blonde back in time, and Lillet uses four types of magic to try and change history in some lengthy/enthralling 2D RTS battles. Even if you don't back this genre normally, the stunning art and creative gameplay -- which includes fairies, ghosts and huge monsters -- make GrimGrimoire worth your time and money. |
Readers' Game of the Month: It's a tie!
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Developed by Crystal Dynamics
Published by Eidos Interactive
Reader Review quote: "Tomb Raider: Anniversary, in my opinion, is truly the best Tomb Raider game made. It was better than the original, with better graphics, sound and gameplay." (Read the full review)
-- submitted by shadowfox566
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2
Developed by CyberConnect2
Published by Bandai
Reader Review quote: "For all of those people who loved Super Smash Bros. for the N64 and Gamecube this is a great "knock-off" title. For all anime fans who have(and those who haven't), this is a definite play." (Read the full review)
-- submitted by AnimeReaper03
Runner-Up
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Developed by Crystal Dynamics
Published by Eidos Interactive
Why We Picked It: More than a decade ago, Tomb Raider rocked the videogame world, and now, Lara's original adventure is back in all its glory. Using the Tomb Raider: Legend engine, Crystal Dynamics has re-imagined Lara's breakout title and included all of the bears, dinosaurs and brain cramp-inducing puzzles you remember.
Other Games Worth Noting in June:
Woo-hoo, the drought is over! June was full of good PS2 games, and frankly we can't believe it. Can our almost seven-year-old beauty make July a great time to be alive? Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, NCAA Football 08 and a handful of other titles sure hope so.