2004: another year in review

Consider this a prelude to the list of my favorite games released last year. I'm having a lot of trouble trying to consolidate the games I've played into a list of only ten; clearly 2004 was an absolutely incredible year for gaming. Although my exposure to other media was minimal, the following are selections that were firmly lodged in my craw for one reason or another. I also made a conscious decision to note some games that were worthy of recognition, but not necessarily the best of the year.

Album of the Year: n. lannon - chemical friends.

This record has all but moved me to tears. n. lannon triumphantly carries the torch lit by Elliott Smith's entire catalogue; each song is either brimming with melancholy or the apathy of a musician that just wants to share his experiences with us. A perfect blend of electronic and acoustic sounds. Put simply, I cannot get enough of this album, and its melodies will be forevermore etched upon my soul.

Most over-rated band/release of the year: The Arcade Fire - Funeral

It's pretty good...but not that good. I'm really tired of the indie scene convulsing upon the first hipster critic to declare their Greatest Album of the Year. It seems to me it's been more like a search for the most off the wall, tangential sound conceivable. This happened with Broken Social Scene last year, interpol the year before it...you get the picture. Also, someone should tell The Arcade Fire to stop wearing their David Byrne/Talking Heads influences on their sleeve. It's extremely telling when this "unknown" band gets praised by the indie music press for what mainstream bands get slagged for doing every fucking day.

A CD that should be destroyed should you see it in the wild: Keane - Hopes and Fears

The first time this record reached my ears, I was overcome by such a strong feeling of nausea mixed with deja-vu I could have sworn I was listening to Franz Ferdinand or whatever else those fucktards are playing on the radio. Make no mistake: these guys are ripoff artists plain and simple, mixing influences like Jet and making no effort to hide it. Compared to Keane, Coldplay would seem revolutionary. Any friend caught with this album in their possession should be flogged with their own arms. There's no need for it. American Eagle already has it on their in-store playlist.

Best Movie of the Year

Spider Man 2 was terrific, and Hellboy was a fairly well recieved take on a cult favorite, but I'm not so sure it will stand the test of time. The Aviator was certainly the most interesting movie I've seen all year, and will be picking up the requisite Oscars for DiCaprio's quirky performance. Maybe this is just a sign of my focal point for the year, but there wasn't a particular film that stood out in my memory as being "the best". And knowing the commercials and head splitting previews that await the start of any film, actually going to the movies is becoming less and less lucrative, when the DVD can be purchased months later for roughly the same amount as two tickets.

Worst Movie of the Year: Van Helsing

I don't remember ever watching a movie that made me want to hurt myself while watching it. Van Helsing was embarassing. I saw this on Halloween weekend with Dawn of the Dead, a fucking masterpiece in comparison, and infinitely more fun than having to solve the riddle of why so much bad makeup, acting and story made their way into one movie.

Best Movie tie-in: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

However many told me that Spider Man 2 didn't suck, I remain completely unimpressed by what it had to offer, and maybe one day I'll reveal my scathing review. I only had a short time with the XBox version of Butcher Bay, but there was enough in my play session that easily deemed it worthy of some kind of award. Though the game's design does it's fair share of walking you through the action, it's hard to believe that a game that was supposed to promote a movie turned into such a high quality title. I couldn't stop talking about the engine while playing; it was simply amazing considering that it's completely original. In some respects the environments are comparable to Doom 3 - the textures are similarly brown and lived-in, and all of the characters have decently animated, plastic bodies. I would have preferred a third person option for the stealth-based components of play - Deadly Shadows and Splinter Cell handled a lot better in this regard.

Gaming Event of the Year: World of Warcraft's launch (with the arrival of Half Life 2 a very close second)

I don't think anyone anticipated the reaction to this game. It should most definitely be recognized for smashing PC game sales records and letting people know that MMORPGs can be for everyone. I haven't heard from some friends since the game's release at the end of November. The unparalleled efficiency in which this game absorbs lives is absolutely incredible, even if the game's principles aren't that different from MMORPGs to come before it. I've been putting off getting a copy for this reason exactly, though the lag and overcrowded new character quests are a bit disconcerting as well. Perhaps this is something for the slow summer months.

Most actual fun I've ever had playing a game: Sid Meier's Pirates!

It's really hard to explain what makes this game so great, because as soon as you start describing the courtship of a governor's daughter with an evening of ballroom dancing, or the frustrating search for your lost relatives based on a few landmarks and your entire fleet of pirate vessels in tow, things kind of get lost in the shuffle. Pirates! takes elements of every genre, and blends them into a sweeping adventure. This is a game that you can comfortably occupy your time with, not having to worry about "levelling" or arbitrary mission objectives. Avast!

Worst Game of the Year: Advance Guardian Heroes

Forget the subjectivity of the word "Worst"; this game made me want to destroy my Gameboy Advance. I can't even write a review, as it would be completely worthless to you for all of the profanity and variations of how despicable the game is. Just stay away from it. My suggestion is to find a nice Sega Saturn on eBay and get Guardian Heroes. You're better off.

Most Disappointing Game of the Year: Doom 3

An easy target, but it needed to be said. John Carmack and id software broke our hearts again. But just think of the wonderful games that will arise from the engine's wake!

Game I wished I got to play: Katamari Damacy

It's pretty hard to ignore the buzz around this title, and so I will put in on my "To Play" list for 2005, assuming I can get my hands on a PS2 again. But how, exactly, do you pronounce it? Like, if I wanted to rent a console and a copy of this game. Katta-mahr-ee Dam-ace-ee? Kattamary Dammasee? Maybe when I ask I'll just act like the guy that's renting NFL Street 2 so my ignorance doesn't look out of place.

I never knew what I would find