Your 2014 GOTY, 2015 Most anticiapted etc etc

[Jonno394]

So that time is upon us, all the major releases of the year have come and gone, many with a whimper, many with disastrous launches. Time to reflect on what has been an average year of gaming. If you're interested lets post a game in each category

Game of The Year Include remasters and late ports if you want, I don't care.

Best Digital title of the Year PSN, XBLA, STEAM titles without a retail disc or released first digitally before being compiled at retail (ie walking dead, wolf among us, Infamous First Light etc)

Most anticipated 2015 title

Best game played this year released pre-2014

I have denoted in () the platforms on which the games mentioned were played on/will be played on

With honourable mentions I imposed a limit upon myself, but include however many you want, I don't care, just try and include a bit of text about your main choice.

Here are mine:

Game of the Year

South Park: The Stick of Truth (PC) - In my opinion the best use of a licensed property I have ever played. Faithfuly adapts the world of South Park and it's characters and manages to make you feel like you're playing an extended episode. Hillariously funny with some of the best humour South Park has seen in a long long time. Great combat and customisation of your main character.

Honourable mentions: The Last of Us Remastered (PS4) Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

Digital Release of the Year

Child of Light (PS4) - A brilliant title from the much maligned Ubisoft. Looks fantastic using the ubiart engine and has a unique time based battle system which feels more like the Paper Mario titles than anything else. Great story, brilliant score, a joy to play.

Honourable Mentions: Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (PS4), Pix The Cat (PS4)

Most anticipated title of next year

The Legend of Zelda (Wii U) - I'm a Zelda fag, you probably all know it. A short trailer at E3 and a play through at the recent VGA show is enough to make me blow my load. Visuals look like a more advanced SKyward Sword (which I loved) and the fact it appears to be returning to a true open world, not seen since the NES days (many think it's a remake of the first LoZ) make this my most anticipated title of next year.

Honourable mentions: Xenoblade X Chronicles (Wii U), The WItcher 3 (PS4)

Best game played this year released pre-2014

Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)- Just an amazing game. Put around 100 hours in to this title because it's that good. The world, set on two giant ancient gods, is amazing to explore with varied environments and flora and fauna making each area unique. Combat is a jot to be involved in, and the OST is one of the best.

Honourable Mentions: Super Mario 3D World (Wii U), Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

 

[Ali]

Game of the Year

The Last of Us: Remastered (PS4) - I didn't particularly want to pick a remaster as the GOTY.... but I don't think I've played a better game this year. Story is still fun to play through, even though I've completed it about 5 times already. The 'Left Behind' DLC is fantastic, and the multiplayer (which could've easily been some tacked on shite a la Tomb Raider), is excellent. I don't play much multiplayer in general, but TLOU multiplayer is up with the best I've played.

Honourable Mentions:

Far Cry 4 (PS4) - Could've been my GOTY, but I'm nowhere near completing it yet, so couldn't really put it up there. Not too much different from Far Cry 3, but enough to keep it fresh. The map is fun to explore, especially when scaling a large cliff face with the grapple rope hook thingybob. Looks bootiful too, and going on a rampage on top of an elephant never ceases to be amusing. I just hope Ubisoft doesn't ruin it with yearly releases.

inFAMOUS Second Son (PS4) - Not as good as previous titles, but a worthy addition to the franchise, and there still isn't many better looking games on the new consoles.

Digital Release of the Year

Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4) - I could've included the standard PS3 edition in my pre 2014 games, but decided to go for the STCE instead. A GOAT game (in many sense.... you'll get my reference if you've played it). Fun platforming, fun combat, fun characters.... just all-round fun.

Honourable Mentions:

The Walking Dead season 2, The Wolf Among Us (PS3) - Decided to lump these 2 together. Both great story based games. And the first episodes were actually released in 2013, but I'm counting these as 2014 games.

The Binding of Isaac (PS4) - I'm shit at it, but that doesn't stop it being a fun arcade shooter. Weird as fuck though.

inFAMOUS First Light (PS4) - DLC released separately on its own, focusing on one of the best characters from the main game. Sucker Punch really goes all out with their DLC, as previously proved with Festival of Blood on the PS3.

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty (PS4) - "Hello", "Hello", "ppppppt", "Hehehe" .... never gets old.

Most anticipated title of next year

Uncharted 4 (PS4) - As a PS4 owner, is there really any other choice?

Honourable Mentions:

Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) - Gameplay vids shown so far look good, and the addition of the Batmobile should be interesting.

Rime (PS4) - Is this due out next year? I'm not certain, but it looks gorgeous from the initial footage.

A fuck load of others (PS4) - Just too many others to name.

Best game played this year released pre-2014

Okami HD (PS3) - Never thought I'd like this game as much as I ended up doing. Only bought it because it was on sale for like £5. Although the cutscenes were often a bit long winded (especially the one at the beginning which seemed to last for hours), the game was always a joy to play. It deserves a proper sequel on a current gen console.

Honourable Mentions:

Deadly Premonition (PS3) - Just a pure WTF game. Easy to love, but equally easy to hate. So bad it's good. Both intentionally, and unintentionally hilarious.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PS3) - Unique gameplay mechanic, interesting puzzles, and a touching story. Anybody who enjoyed Ico will enjoy this.

Rayman Origins/Legends (PS3) - Pure platforming fun, an excellent scroller. [MENTION=196177]IronCity[/MENTION]

Honourable Honourable Mention:

Beyond: Two Souls (PS3) - A lot of reviews completely shat on this game, it doesn't deserve a lot of the hate it got, so I thought I'd give it a shout out.

 

[Lörd TH]

Game of The Year

I would have to say GTA V, it's just unbelivable the amount of stuff they managed to fit into one game. On current gen it looks amazing too. If it wasn't GTA then I would say Shadow Of Mordor.

Best Digital title of the Year
I haven't really played any digital games from this year, but Max The Curse of Brotherhood was available via Games with Gold this year so I guess I could include that.


Most anticipated 2015 title
Tough one but I would say The Division, can't help feel though that I'll be inevitably let down by Ubisoft. . If not that then Rise of The Tomb Raider/Halo 5/ Batman/ MGSV/ Quantum Break. And maybe a shout out for No Mans Sky if it comes out for Xbox.

Best game played this year released pre-2014
Tomb Raider, probably the only AAA title I've played this year which was released last year (Well excluding GTA). Thoroughly enjoyable.

 

[Jonno394]

Good shout with Tomb Raider. Definitely in my top five of games from another year. Awesome experience.

 

[Haribo]

I'm gonna make a new thread in this section soon so I thought I'd deal with this thread even though I barely have any answers.

Game of the Year
Super Smash Bros Wii U - Let's get this straight, I've basically played no titles from this year. So you can dismiss it all as bollocks. But in a year that featured a lot of let-downs and broken games, I haven't seen anybody complain about this game. I think it's gotten the highest metacritic for a new game this year (I realise that isn't the be all and end all) and is crowning achievement of a very good for Nintendo's software.

Digital Release of the Year

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty - It's Abe, it's a childhood classic. Glad to see they didn't fuck with it much.

Most anticipated title of next year

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - Massive Uncharted and Naughty Dog fan. I won't get the same mileage from the game as I will the games below unless I fall in love with the multiplayer (assuming it's there).

Honourable Mentions:

Batman: Arkham Knight - Formula felt like it was getting stale in Origins. We'll see whether that's the fault of the developers or we've reached Assassin's Creed levels of fatigue. But I have faith in Rocksteady.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - Kojima's nuts but I still love him. Hoping for a swerve where Solid Snake appears towards the end of the game voiced by Hayter.

Best game played this year released pre-2014

Borderlands - I'm struggling to even remember what I played this year. This, Brothers, WWE 2k14, old Telltale games, Deadly Premonition..hmm. So I'm picking this by default.

 

[Jonno394]

SOrt your life out Andy and play more games, fag.

 

[Sweey]

This thread has made me realise just how little gaming I've done this year.

Game of the Year

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PC) - a stunning game with a nice narrative, albeit a bit short.

Admittedly, I haven't played enough of Wasteland 2, Divinity: Original Sin, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Legend of Grimrock 2 or Draogn Age Inquisition to consider them.

Best Digital title of the Year

Hearthstone (PC) - a surprisingly interesting game which I initially scoffed at.

Most anticipated 2015 title

The Witcher 3 (PC) - it could be brilliant but it could be a misstep. That in itself heightens the anticipation.

Honourable mentions: Grand Theft Auto V (PC), Pillars of Eternity (PC), Sui Generis (PC), Routine (PC)

Best game played this year released pre-2014

Rogue Legacy (PC) - addictive, challenging and well executed. A nice platformer.

Honourable mention: The Stanley Parable (PC) - Another interesting concept, a narrative experience with multiple endings and interesting quirks.