Favourite Games of the Year! 2015 (PAL), 2/2
Top 5 Fav Games of 2015 by Crescy
Some elements that make a game really special, in my opinion:
Great sense of wonder and mystery
Highly emotional narrative
Motivating, strong and (the most important thing) memorable soundtrack
Most of my picks seem to follow these so I realised that these are probably my biggest video game-ideals. But enough talk, here is the top 5 (not in any kind of order)
The first Western adventure-game that made me care. Very wistful and atmospheric character-drama with actually relatable themes and characters. Also some of the saddest moments in video game history, symbolism and psychoanalytic horror. “Life is.. messed up.”
A small, unique game with a big heart. A heart that has sides of quirky comedy, tragedy, tearful drama, adventure, mystery and horror. One of the catchiest soundtracks in years. Gameplay is inspired by series like Shin Megami Tensei, Touhou and Mother. I don’t want to say anything else. You should play it yourself. There is a reason why Undertale is the such a huge phenomenon.
A massive open world RPG (”bigger than Skyrim, Fallout 4 and Witcher 3″) that does things most Western (and also Japanese) RPGs seem to lack completely. The soundtrack is extremely rich, the world is imaginative and gameplay dynamic. It’s simply breathtaking. And, as a more pure scifi-RPG (compared to more fantasy-like Xenoblade (Wii)), the best of its kind since maybe Phantasy Star IV or original Xenogears. It has a ridiculously big world and exploration for hundreds of hours but the main point is that everything seem to matter. And it proves that open world RPGs can be bright and imaginative. (XenoX also has courage to be cheesy.. and cool. Two words: Flying. Mechas.)
I’m convinced that this game wants to hurt you. It lacks maturity and social intelligence but manages to make you cry with strong developments of characters and well-written, tragic plot. From my own short review: “Unforgettable and a really sad story about time travel, hope and loss”. The game was originally released years ago but we got it finally this year (PS3- and Vita-versions).
A gothic nightmare with one of the cleverest, maze-like world designs I’ve ever experienced. The combat is also highly intense and one of the best of its genre. Lacks Dark Souls’ replayability but, in terms of world and story, there are some scary details you won’t necessarily notice before it’s too late...
Other great games 2015 (games I would pick to top 10):
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 - Record Breaker
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to finish Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth (Vita) but that is probably my Otome-game of the Year (versus Amnesia and Norn9).
..My Game of the Year 2015? It’s either Undertale of Life is Strange.
