Best of 2016 - Video Games

So for films its been questionable, for TV its been good, now we come to video games where I just think its been mostly OK. There have been a few bad games, many great games and games that are disappointing to the point where either the developers lied to us (No Man's Sky being a good example of this which even though I reviewed positively, even I am disgusted by the way they handled things even now) or the game just wasn't as good as previous entries have been. Its also been a year where developers have started to not trust reviewers and have therefore not given review copies as a way to make it not affect sales, but the truth is someone has to be the voice of opinion and people don't want to waste their money on games that are bad.

But with all the negativity and less yearly entries of franchises, we have had some pretty good games which I'd say are enjoyable to play. Many sequels and prequels yes, but among them, we have had a film tie in game where for once the game is actually better than the film. We also got to see Blizzard do their take on Team Fortress 2 which even though I haven't played it yet, I've heard a lot of good things about it. And LEGO Dimensions starts off year two with a certain blue hedgehog, a certain Boy Who Lived and a new team of Ghostbusters. So the rules for this list are that it must have been released this year (and much like before, if it was released last year, but didn't hit UK shores until this year, it doesn't count) and I must've played it. But I will however allow DLC and other add-on content that were seen in games released last year to be added to the list as well just as long as it's story based. And absolutely no remasters/remakes but I will accept reboots. So grab your controller, get that gamer fuel inside you and let's game on:

Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India and Russia

Its difficult to change things when it comes to the gameplay of Assassin's Creed. Ubisoft get so used to it that they forget that people want some originality in there and if Black Flag has taught us anything, its that this is possible. So seeing as there wasn't a new triple A game in the franchise coming out this year, we instead got the final two entries in the Chronicles series and like the first one, they are both platformers with a very artistic feel. Are they the best AC games? Well no, but they are still good even if its not the same gameplay that we're used to. They aren't very long either, but don't let that put you off from going out and buying it.

Minecraft Story Mode: Episodes 5-8

So last year, TellTale gave us a game based on a game that didn't really have much of a story, but did have a lot of lore behind it and this year, they were kind enough to give us 4 further episodes which focus on the idea of different worlds in the Minecraft universe. We had one world where the ruler is a computer, one world where the sky is the limit, one world where we meet famous Minecraft players and finally a world where its basically a fight for survival (kind of like Hunger Games). Even though I personally felt there was no need to continue it, I liked the episodes we got this year and whether we see more of this, I wouldn't mind pickaxing a thing or two.

Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.

Well this was inevitable. This year we got two Mario RPGs and while both series are starting to be less fun or enjoyable than before, they do have some good parts about them. So for this one, I liked the idea of controlling three characters with one being a piece of paper and I liked how different versions of the characters come to meet one another and it gives off some interesting results. Its not a perfect game by any means, but it has some things for people to like and whether we see more RPGs or not, I hope Nintendo or whoever does these games actually listens to the gamers and basically understand that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

LEGO Marvel's Avengers

Now I enjoyed the first Marvel game so for me, this game felt like a step back than a step forward. What I like is that we get to play our favourite Avengers moments from the MCU in LEGO form, but I kind of felt that it was just focused on the two main films where there could be the opportunity to also have the solo films expanded to several levels instead of just one. But having said that, the game manages to bring in as many of the Avengers as possible not only from the MCU, but from other things Marvel as well such as comic books and other forms of media. In other words, its a love letter to Avengers fans, but more so to MCU fans. But there's something for everyone here. I can guarantee that.

The Witness

When it comes to indie games, many of them have a shot at gaining more awards than most triple A games. Its probably because lots of work is put into them and that they generally don't follow the common trends most games tend to follow these days (DRM, Have to be online to play etc.). So here we have the Witness. a puzzle solving game that has a very colourful presentation with gorgeous graphics. It is a great game that I'd say is more of a pass the time game and you can play it while listening to music because there is little to no music in it. Its great and given that this came from the creator of Braid just shows how he was able to shift from 2D to 3D. Its great.

Unravel

This was by far the best presented game at E3 last year. It showed that E3 isn't just about money, it's the games that are important and that all that developers really want is to create a game and hope that people will enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed Unravel. Its fun, heartwarming and provoking and like with The Witness, it shows that indie games have a shot at being the best and kind of kick the a**es of triple A titles that try too much and suck as a result. Its a good platformer and a well presented one too. Great stuff.

The Walking Dead: Michonne Episodes 1-3 and Season 3 Episodes 1-2

Returning to TellTale now, this year saw the return of The Walking Dead and not only did we get another great set of episodes from the show, but we also got not one but two new games in the TellTale series. The first was a game about fan favourite Michonne and what she was up to during her break from Rick and the gang which took place in the comic book universe between issues 126 and 139 and this was certainly very interesting to say the least. Then more recently, we got the much anticipated season 3 which brings the events closer to the comic books while also allowing players to port over their choices from the last two games or start anew and has the return of Clementine and a new playable protagonist called Javi, both of which are playable which is a first for the series. Both games serve their purposes well and any fan of The Walking Dead will enjoy playing them. Just know that it will be an emotional journey just like with the last two games so keep that in mind. 9/10 for both games.

Lucky's Tale

As a launch title for the Oculus Rift, Lucky's Tale was actually a pretty good platformer. Its pretty straight forward and very simple to play. Where the VR kicks in is that it serves as the camera so you're kind of playing the game by looking down at Lucky himself. But anyway, it served well as a launch title and practically everyone with an Oculus Rift will have this game and its a good one too.

EVE: Valkyrie

So what I like about EVE: Valkyrie is that it's a pretty cool VR game that puts you in the cockpit of a X-Wing like spaceship and you get to fly around space. No this was a timed exclusive on the Oculus Rift as it then became available for other VR platforms so its not like you won't be able to play it. Graphics-wise its not the best when it comes to graphics, but its still a very enjoyable space fighting game and if you want to truly experience being in something similar to an X-Wing, then this game will do just that.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

So you remember those spy films where they have a bomb and one bad mistake could cause it to explode? Well some developers decided to work on that concept and they came up with this game (VR is optional too). Its a co-operative game where one player has to do the practical work and the other player must use a printable manual to figure out how to defuse the bomb. Its a mostly original game and a good one at that. Perfect for parties and it's fun. Its simple ideas like this that can make great games. 9/10

Ratchet & Clank (2016)

So in an interesting turn of events, the Ratchet & Clank film turned out to be bad even though it was made by the developers themselves and tried to be faithful to the video games. But the good news is that a game came out at the same time. Same plot and everything and yet it turned out to be better than the film. So in a way, you could say that you can enjoy the Ratchet & Clank film in a more playable form rather than going out to watch it. So even though video game films this year sucked, at least one of them had a good and better alternative for people to use.

Star Fox Zero

Even though I felt that this game relied too heavily on the Wii U Gamepad making the gameplay frustrating at times, its good to have a StarFox game after so long. I mean while Mario and Zelda are great, I personally feel that Nintendo's other IPs should get some more games than no games at all. But anyway, its not a perfect game, but its just good to have a different Nintendo IP rather than having Mario and Zelda all the time which isn't me saying that they suck. Its just that we get too many games from those franchises than other Nintendo franchises. That's all.

Stardew Valley

I have to admit. I get sick to death of playing Animal Crossing. I'm sorry, but it is just boring and time consuming. So I'm glad Stardew Valley came around and honestly, its great. It combines everything we know and love about casual games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon and it's far more enjoyable, less time consuming and far less frustrating than those games combined. It's open ended, you can do what you want and the game has its own clock and calendar so you won't have to ever alter the time and day on your device. Its a great and relaxing game and there are plenty of mods for it too.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Well I kind of knew that Uncharted 3 and The Golden Abyss would not be considered the last of the Uncharted games. Its kind of been Sony's flagship game franchise for the PS3 and we now got the official last game of the series, though probably not the last we see of some of these characters that are in them. So Nathan Drake has retired from treasure hunting, but is soon drawn back into it when his brother (a character who hasn't appeared, nor been mentioned until this point) appears and begs him to help him find some kind of treasure to pay off his debts. And so we get all the usual shenanigans with chats, journals, puzzles treasures and so forth. But new to the series is pretty much stuff borrowed from other games. Hiding in grassy areas from Assassin's Creed, cell shading options which were the main graphics for Borderlands and driving cars from pretty much every single game set in the present or the near future. But aside from that, its a fantastic game that keeps everything we like about the games while also upping the graphics and packing in as many Easter Eggs as possible from Naughty Dogs' other games as well as some random games like Monkey Island and Papers Please. A great end to a great series of games, but I suspect this won't be the last time we see some of these characters.

Hitman (2016) Episodes 1-6

So I think its safe to say that IO Interactive did an amazing job with making their next Hitman game. To start with, every level is set on a large scale, giving Agent 47 plenty of room to plan his attack on the people he has to take out. And not only that, but aside from the main story, you also get to return to those places to take out other targets as well which makes things that little bit more challenging. This system works well and like before, you are rewarded for your efforts which can give you opportunities to start the levels from other perspectives. Really the only bad parts are that you have to always be online to play certain aspects of the game (which sucks for those of you who don't have that luxury) and that it does get harder over time. It also follows the system that TellTale use in that each level is released as episodic content which while expensive, its totally worth your time. So you'll enjoy this, but be warned about the online aspect of it. That's all I have to say.

Doom (2016)

Well Doom is back after so long waiting for a new game. Now this game was the start of games having no reviews prior to its release, but unlike the other games, it managed to be a great game as a result. Its action packed, full of things to shoot at but very light on its plot. That's not a bad thing as such, but it would be good to have some kind of plot. But anyway, its a fun game which for a first person shooter its a lot more enjoyable and interesting than say Call of Duty. I like it and I expected nothing less from ID Software and Bethesda.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Well I knew this would be coming. While it isn't the best film of the Star Wars saga, it does make for a good game which not only has moments based on the film, but it expands upon the 30 year gap between it and Return of the Jedi via bonus levels and DLC. It also brings in some new gameplay such as shooting along with some other stuff. Not the best LEGO game, but its good to have another Star Wars one after such a long time waiting.

Inside

Limbo was unusual and so was this. Inside is a very unusual game that like with FNAF, its light on story to the point where its left for the imagination. Its visually breath taking, has a great soundtrack, but becomes very weird later on. But being made by the people behind Limbo, this is actually a good step up from that game. So very dark, weird, has a bit of a twist ending, but visually breathtaking and has a great soundtrack so you may enjoy this.

Batman: The TellTale Series Episodes 1-5

So TellTale's take on Batman during his second year was pretty interesting. Its a new take on it and has us see some of our favourite characters, but in a very different light and honestly, it works well. It also feels very much like a living comic book and I like how players are able to decide on whether to handle situations as Batman or as Bruce Wayne. It is a decision based game much like with the other TellTale games and I got to say, it's probably the most original Batman game I've played in a long time. Its great and definitely up there as one of the best Batman games, story wise that is. 9/10

Grow Up

Grow Home was a very interesting game all about doing Jack and the Beanstalk like things and with Grow Up, it decides to remove that aspect and instead give us a game with a similar scenario, just with some extra things to help you get by. Its not a visually impressive game, but it's definitely a fun and thought-provoking game. But overall, its a good game but I wish we got more things than minimal stuff.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

I will say that when it comes to Deus Ex, it has a lot of themes in there. Religious being one of them. But anyway, Human Revolution was a great game that gave us an interesting and vastly advanced take on combining AR technology with first person shooting and it was great. This game came around and I got to say, its even better than the last game. The graphics have improved, the gameplay has improved, pretty much every aspect has improved. The story may be confusing, but its still a pretty good game anyway. That I can say knowing that its true.

Five Nights At Freddy's: Sister Location

I know people are saying that the FNAF franchise has had its day and if I'm honest, I kind of feel the same way. Though having said that, I like the new one. It changes some things about the formula the games follow, but still keeps the five nights aspect of it. Every night you take on a series of tasks while avoiding the animatronics and you can take your time with them for a change. It kind of changes the lore a bit and manages to make The Silver Eyes book relevant to the games. But don't expect it to be a walk in the park because its still very difficult, but less stressful than before which I'd say is a good thing if anything.

Mafia III

Mafia II was a great game and it was always going to be quite a task to make a better game than it. Mafia III is a good game, but it's not better than II. For a start, it can tend to be very repetitive and it feels very different to II. But that being said, it has some very interesting characters, has a pretty decent soundtrack and it makes you feel like a true mafia boss when it comes to assigning districts to your underbosses. Plus you can use the services they provide to your advantage such as getting a car to your location, sending money to the bank, getting some friends to help you out and even get the police off your back. But the open world aspect feels very bare which is where the game doesn't do well. But again, don't let that put you off from playing it. It is a very good game. Its just not as good as II. That's all.

Paper Mario: Colour Splash

Pretty much everyone hated Sticker Star as it changed too much about Paper Mario and made the game suck as a result. So when this new one came out, the reception was not good and a lot of people hated that the game brings elements of Sticker Star into it. Having said that, the idea of putting colour onto things is nothing new as it has been done before. But this game despite what those who hate Sticker Star felt about it, its actually pretty decent. OK yeah it has a plot that has been overused in Mario games and does feature elements of Sticker Star as well as following a concept that's been used before, but it's actually an OK game. Peach and Bowser are talking again, it is a very heartwarming game and for lack of a better word, it is very colourful too. I hope we do see the return of the gameplay from the first three games, but until then we'll have to stick with this. So its not a great game, but it's decent so you may enjoy it.

Watch_Dogs 2

I think it's safe to say that the first Watch_Dogs game wasn't good in that it was too depressing, didn't really feel like you were being a master hacker and you could only get the best graphics available on a high tech gaming PC. But having said that, it was successful enough to allow Ubisoft to make it into a franchise and only a couple of years later, we got this game. The sequel is much more upbeat and colourful than the first game, plus it also ups the hacking side of things by letting you hack cars, decide what you want to do when it comes to setting traps and you can even use drones and RC cars to get to places that the character you play as cannot reach. Its way more fun, has a lot more stuff to do and it does well to try and be relevant with the rest of the world. Its a great game and I look forward to seeing more games in the series in the future.

Planet Coaster

Its no Rollercoaster Tycoon, but we finally have a realistic theme park simulator after so long waiting for one. Made by Cambridge based developers Frontier Developments, Planet Coaster I would say is pretty realistic when it comes to making theme parks. Plus unlike some very old coaster simulators, its not as annoying and its pretty stress free and fun too. Its like playing Cities: Skylines, just with rollercoasters and its good. Me like.

Clustertruck

Never have I thought of a game that can be so chaotic, so over the top and for lack of a better word, so clusterf**ked. I mean you jump on lorries that are going somewhere, but the obstacles you tackle just makes it all the more fun, but at the same time, very frustrating, but still fun. Its also got some pretty good graphics too. But you seriously need to be a hardcore gamer to get to grips with it. No seriously, its that hard. But it is fun.

Oh...Sir!! The Insult Simulator

Well it happened. We finally got a game all about insulting one another and while it sounds like no easy task, its actually a pretty fun game. You take turns on making up the best insult there is and fight your enemies with said insults. Its fun, cartoony and surprisingly doesn't have swearing, but does put in some adult humour in there as well as pop culture references. Its great, fun and definitely the sort of game that can be used at parties. 9/10

The Final Station

Another depressing game, but the graphics alone just made me want to play it and honestly its not great, but its decent at best. The game has you driving a train to locations where you must find survivors and continue to find a safe haven for you all, or something like that. Its pretty difficult, but that's not why I like it. I like it because it has pixelated graphics which makes me feel nostalgic because I like games with pixels. They are always fun, if not a bit weird and sometimes creepy. 7/10

Street Fighter V

So Street Fighter is back and better than ever. Great graphics, great but familiar gameplay and good settings. However there is a lack of certain things like characters which was at launch, but since then, the game has more variety and its good. I haven't really played many of the Street Fighter games before trying out this one, but I'd say its a great game. Not the best one of the long running series, but its good to have a new main game after a long time waiting. 9/10

And that concludes my list of the best games of this year. Please do check them out and maybe next year, we won't get bad games and not get games which promise a lot and then lie to us (*ahem* No Man's Sky). We shall see.