gaming in 2005: the year's best

The list is shorter this year, because frankly I felt 2005 was a weak year for gaming. There were a lot of very good releases, but there was no game that stood above the rest, immediately recognized for its strengths or unique contribution to the medium. World of Warcraft made great strides in capturing audiences worldwide in 2005 - what is it, five million concurrent subscribers now? The XBox 360 launched with one of the worst lineups since the Saturn, with an engineered product shortage that somehow convinced people they actually needed one. But in terms of a singular victory on any platform, I am hard pressed to name one. I also could have easily padded a list with the other games that I played last year that left me satisfied, but to do that would lessen the meaning of the other selections. These are, after all, the best games I played from last year, and as such should come across as titles actually worth playing, not just looking into.

The list is not in any way intended to be comprehensive, and I encourage the discussion of 2005's other releases - I would have loved to have checked out Guitar Hero or Battlefield 2 if I had the means. And so:

8. F.E.A.R.

Like Battlefield 2, F.E.A.R. was one of those releases that made PC gamers realize their computers were teetering dangerously close to the line that divides "decent gaming rig " and "fan-cooled slag heap". With some careful tweaking I managed to get the game running well, and was extremely pleased with what I experienced. Unlike Doom 3 that insists we're still in 1993, F.E.A.R. relies on pacing and the paranoid thoughts of the player. The effective use of lighting and many "did I just see that?" moments placed the game's atmosphere firmly into more sophisticated territory. Though the game is no stranger to cliché; the requisite inclusion of the "scary little girl" and blood soaked corridors occasionally kill the mood. With short bursts of realistic firefights broken up by periods of wondering what could possibly happen next, F.E.A.R. contends with Half Life 2 in the way it presents the game world. I've convinced myself F.E.A.R. is the excuse I need to upgrade my computer.

7. Advance Wars: Dual Strike

This is the stuff I was talking about when I reviewed Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Turn-based strategy is only better served on the DS, where you are able to use the the stylus as if it were a mouse. It's the most natural god damned arrangement I've ever been subjected to away from the PC. While proficient Advance Wars players may breeze through the initial half of the campaign fairly quickly, the additional units and the ability to combine the powers of two C.O.s within a map add a significant amount to the game's strategy. And once again Intelligent Systems has included a map editor, which begs the question: when are other console games going to start offering this?

6. Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich

The original Freedom Force basically came out of nowhere, and helped gamers realize that they really did want a game with superheroes. Not the bulging chest or angst-filled/tortured-soul antiheroes that were foisted onto the scene in the late 80s and early 90s, but the ones from the golden age of comics. A time when being a superhero meant wearing a stupid looking costume and right and wrong were clearly delineated. Upon first playing, I was laughing at it, wondering what I was doing listening to the completely over the top dialogue, stereotypical characters and plot, and subjecting myself to the flamboyant costumes. Then I was laughing with it. Afterwards the laughing became something else - appreciation - for a unique approach to party-based RPGs. Irrational was on to something when they made Freedom Force. Let's hope they continue to stick to their vision.

5. Mario Kart DS

I partially retract what I said about puzzlers being the key to a portable platform's success, because a game like Mario Kart DS is just as capable of capturing the interest of the casual gamer. Using the universal appeal of this title to introduce Nintendo's Wifi service was an ingeneous move, convincing DS owners of the platform's multiplayer capabilities. There are no mental investments required; Mario Kart DS provides the conventions of kart racing in one deftly designed, comprehensive package. [Read the full review]

4. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Just when, exactly, did 2D games become unfashionable? Is it through some need of the game developoment industry to justify the hardware arms race? I can't stomach the thought of having to suffer through another bad port on a portable instead of seeing the preservation of a genre through a dwindling number of developers who deem it worth pursuing. Annoying seals system aside, Dawn of Sorrow chooses to refine the formula instead of building upon it. Put simply, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow was the best game for the DS released last year. [Read the full review]

3. Brothers in Arms: The Road to Hill 30 / Earned in Blood

Finally, somebody gets it. I'm actually quite annoyed at the outright hostility shown towards the WW2 FPS genre. Aside from an interest in how the games adapt history, I relish experiencing the weapons and technology at a point where they are modern enough to be powerful, but not to the point where you can put a bullet directly into someone's nostril. Where Brothers in Arms differs is in its relentless application of suppress-and-flank tactics, but implemented in a hands on way so you can actually take charge on the battlefield, instead of playing the part of omnipotent field commander. Health meters, first aid kits and an aiming reticle are nowhere to be found; part of the game's learning curve is figuring out how to shoot a gun using the ironsight while compensating for recoil. Like every other WW2FPS, Brothers in Arms tries to be heavy on story and culls many cinematic references, but it's completely natural in a game where you actually learn about your squad mates, and are expected to care if they die.

And then Gearbox releases a sequel in the same year, which essentially improves enemy AI and increases the difficulty approximately 1,000,000 times. There is a 3,500 word review of Brothers in Arms sitting on my computer. I swear I will post it someday, because the gaming climate in the early part of 2005 did not do the game justice. Or perhaps FPS gamers just weren't ready for this level of realism. It doesn't matter. I was. And I want more.

2. Civilization IV

When Pirates! was released in 2004, it received heavy accolades despite it essentially being a remake of a ten year old game. I agreed - it was certainly the most fun I had playing a game that year. Similarly, Civilization IV is considered mostly a graphical upgrade to 2001's Civilization III, yet it somehow manages to succeed as an outstanding game in its own right. Its endless replayability and immediately engaging gameplay assures a long-term stay on my computer. Civilization IV is a superb balancing of gameplay for both veteran and novice players that still manages to convey what made the original concept so great. [Read the full review]

And who will be number one? Who? Due to my unbridled affection for the game in question, I have decided to go into great detail about why it's deserving of such praise. Honestly, my comments simply cannot be contained in a single paragraph, so expect a full length review.