My Top 10 Games of 2014 (That I have played)
I need to preface this with the fact that this list is entirely composed of games released this year that I -have- played! I do not need to have completed or even beat the game for it to be included. I Just have to have played enough of the game to get a full sense of the game's feel. This has been mostly a back-log year for me, so there is a chance that some amazing games just didn't make it on the list (Dragon Age Inquisition, I'm looking at you). So The Criteria are: Released in 2014, and I think I've played enough to comment on it. I may end up writing more on some than others. So without further adieu, here is Talcon's top 10 games release in 2014! All below the read more
#10 Five Nights at Freddy's
Initial release date: August 8, 2014 Series: Five Night's At Freddy's Genre: Point and Click Survival Horror Developer: Scott Cawthon Rating: No ESRB rating - Personal T for Teen Publisher: Valve/Steam Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
The premise is simple. A pizza joint needs a security guard to look at their camera's over night for five days. The old guard is on vacation or something. He serves as the closest thing to a Navi-like guide, leaving messages on the answering machine each night. Most of the game's world is built through these one sided phone conversations. The pizza joint has a host of colourful animatronics, in the vein of something like Chucky Cheese. From there you spend the night looking at a tablet that lets you sift through the various security camera feeds. A battery back up is all that the place has to rely on for power through out the night. Accessing the Tablet drains electricity, closing one or two doors to the room drain power. Turning on lights drain power. Finally, just letting time pass drains power. What though is the threat that has you turning on lights and closing doors while frantically looking from security camera feed to security camera feed? It's not burglars! It's not mice with the plague! It's not even undead space cows from Alpha Centurion, it's animatronics! It turns out they kinda go whacko after hours and try and turn any person into one of their kin. How they do it is quite graphic, and I"ll leave the game to to explain it. Overall the game does an amazing job at the build up to a jump-scare. You don't have a health meter. You're just trying to survive till 6 AM. If you do, you go on to the next night of your job. One night more alive. One night closer to your pay. The folly of the creaks of buildings and the static of fuzzy displays leaves for a heart pounding experience that is culminated in either elation of the dawn bells ringing or the horror of the startling appearance of the animatorics coming in to assimilate you into their fraternity. They occasionally spook you by their just vacant expressions appearing on security monitors as you switch feeds but that's not the crux of the game's mastery of the uncanny. The game is great in the dread of waiting knowing there's very little you can do. The game gives you a lot of agency over your fate with minimalistic controls. The game is shallow with only five nights of game play. The only real scares are simple jump scares. Still, it rightfully caught gamer's attention by storm upon its release. It more than earned its spot as # 10 on this list.
#9 The Binding of Issac: Rebirth Initial release date: November 4, 2014 Designer: Edmund McMillen Developer: Nicalis Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, OS X, GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows Rating: No ESRB rating, My personal Rating M For Mature Genre: Twin Stick Shooter, Rogue-like, Horror
Okay. I will admit this is kind of cheating. The Binding of Issac is an indie horror game that originally released in 2011. The original game was fun and addicting. With Tones of content and a couple DLCs to boot. How could it get better? What if the engine was overhauled - making it more optimized, 100's of new items, and a few extra characters to play as were added? Also A host of -brutal- challenges that make the already INCREDIBLY difficult game, (remember folks, this is a rogue-like) even more difficult. That not enough for you? What if we take this precisely, but loosely controlled game and turned the twin stick shooter into a bullet hell in the additionally added level for the remake? The game's plot is dark and disturbing. It involves the voice of God demanding that the titular character's mother abuse, and then kill the boy. Issac, after having all his worldly possessions taken from him escapes into the basement. As he destroys hundreds of previously killed brothers and sisters, destroys fires, kills flies, explodes bombs, vanquishes demons, and makes deals with both the devil and heaven, Issac is constantly crying. That's right, your main weapon is your tears! This game is great and so much of the content is procedurally generated. With that in mind, you won't have to worry about retreading the same areas. This is a game of stories. About "that one run". It begs for you to come back to it again and again. It also has seed support. So you and your friends can share the same experience by creating the same dungeons to explore with the same seed. This is great for races. Ultimately though, it is just a refresh of an older game, so it is lower on my list. #8 South Park: The Stick of Truth Initial release date: March 4, 2014 Designer: Matt MacLean Publisher: Ubisoft Awards: The Game Award for Best Performance Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows Developers: South Park Digital Studios LLC, Obsidian Entertainment Rating: M for Mature Genre: RPG
About two years ago, nobody would have ever guessed a license title would be making it onto anyone's top ten games of the year. The first usual problem with license games is that they don't feel like their license! Stick of Truth does not have this problem at all. The game lives and breaths being South Park. The humor is crude, but critical (most of the time, sometimes it's just a poop joke, and that's okay). The Game -looks- like the show. The animations everything just emits the feel of South Park. It's fabulous. The game-play is really solid, if not a little bit -easy-. Not that a game being easy is a bad thing. It lets you feel like you've really entered into the South Park world. This game is a lot of fun. It is comprised of simple, traditional RPG mechanics, with timed hits that harken back to RPG classics like Super Mario RPG Legend of The Seven Stars. It's great fun, and the exploration of the world is surprisingly interactive. You can walk into people’s homes and destroy their stuff like you’re Link and you’re in a pottery barn. This is definitely a great addition to the the gaming realm.
#7 Pokemon ORAS (Omega Ruby + Alpha Sapphire)
Initial release date: November 21, 2014 Developer: Game Freak Games: Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon Omega Ruby Publishers: The Pokémon Company, Nintendo Platform: Nintendo 3DS Nominations: The Game Award for Best Remaster Genre: RPG Rating: E for Everyone
A remake, but Pokemon remakes are NEVER just carbon rehashes. I have to trust others, as I've never played pokemon games from generation three, but this game, based on LPS alone, is nothing like their Gen III versions. Is it a good series of improvements/changes though? 7.8/10 too much water That's the consensus. But seriously, this is a game of polarizing opinions for me, much like the two different criminal organizations. The PokeNav is great and the Dex data on screen, with the chance to catch Pokemon in the wild with Egg moves is super neat. They just keep adding more agency to the -catching- side of pokemon and the -raising- side of Pokemon, making the online battle scene much more accessible without having to resort to more illicit, hacking-oriented routes. With way less work, you too can have a Max IV, perfectly EV trained Pokemon in about 1/4 of the time it would have taken in the original Ruby and Sapphire. That's all great. The music, the animations, they're the best the games ever had. The new Megas are all super cool too! Flying on Laitias back. AMAZING. I hope this becomes a series staple. My problem is in exploration. Gen III was the most HM heavy of the generations. 8 HMs. How we interact with the map in Pokemon is fundamentally flawed, besides fly and surf, I would never seriously use any HM move. MAYBE strength on a normal pokemon that I didn't know what to do with. To fully get around, you need to teach pretty much everything. There's a reason HMs in newer games have been allocated to only secret areas. Perhaps it's time for Pokemon to get a field move slot for HMS separate from TMs.That's really the only solution I can think of. Beyond that I am not sure of the solution, but I do know it needs one.
I will admit there's a certain level of dullness in the game, but maybe it's more just the timing between my last run of X and this current run of Alpha Sapphire. I really like the cosplay pikachu. It's just so cute~ Overall though, it is still a phenomenal game with great additions giving it its own identity. The demo version sucked though.
#6 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Initial release date: October 2, 2014 Series: Kingdom Hearts Designer: Tetsuya Nomura Publisher: Square Enix Platform: PlayStation 3 Rating: E10+ Genre: Action -Adventure RPG
I swear, this is the last remake on this list! I will admit this one is sort of a cheat. However, much like 1.5, 2.5 is a great example of how to do an HD remake right! The game really feels like a PS3 game. I'm still not a fan on how they handled the cut-scene delivery for Kingdom Hearts RE: Coded, but it is what it is. That said, having Mickey read the texts dumps to you as opposed to just having dull text on a static background is a vast improvement. The trophy creation is good, and the game controls better than ever. Admitedly, there is a lot of slow down. The PS3 struggles to run these fast. The wait isn’t too bad, but you will find a much longer wait for drive forms than was required in the PS2 version of Kingdom Hearts 2 and BBS’ load times have somehow even gotten worse than the PSP version of the game. Never more have I wished that Square had decided to install game data to help with the running of these titles. These are old games, and part of my favourite franchise. The original Kingdom hearts 2 is my favourite PS2 game. I adore everything about this exisiting and am just glad to finally have the final mixes of 2 and BBS in North America. This is the perfect chance for people to pick up a modern rendition of the franchise as they play Dream drop distance on the 3DS and wait for the PS4/XB1′s Kingdom Hearts 3.
#5 Luftrausers Initial release date: March 18, 2014 Developer: Vlambeer Publisher: Devolver Digital Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, OS X, GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows Rating: No ESRB rating, personal rating E 10+ Genre: Shoot-em up
This game one of my close Designer friends first got me excited for. It's an action game by a well spoken designer who embodies the "Juice" concept of game design. Shots give great feed back, every ship you destroy is DESTROYED. And the game is hard as dicks. As you go through, you are presented with challenges that unlock new parts for your plane to get better. Playing as German fighter pilots in a clearly WW2 kind of setting is a little unsettling, but the story is as minimalistic as possible. The character designs are fun and interesting and feel right for the super powered plane that shoots laser beams and can fly through the the ocean and other vehicles (assuming you pick the proper parts). The game is fun and addicting. The short quick challenges you complete to up your rank (which you can compare against your friends and the world) are handed out frequently enough to keep things fresh and interesting. It's constantly giving the "just one more run" vibe, which is exactly what you want from a fast paced shoot-em up. I've probably launched my craft 100 times in my short playtime. Every time you do a run, the run will last from 30 seconds to a few minutes. This game is just fun! Exactly what a game needs to be! #4 - Super Smash Brothers - For the Wii U Developer: Bandai Namco, Sora Ltd. Publisher: Nintendo Designer: Masahiro Sakurai Release: November 21, 2014 November 28, 2014 November 29, 2014 December 6, 2014 Genre: Fighting Rating: E10+ Series: Smash Bros. I was not a fan of the 3DS port of this game. To the point I regret buying the 3DS version. The Wii U version of this game is much better. One of the key aspects is the controller, The game-pad, classic controller, and GAMECUBE CONTROLLERS are just superior input peripherals for Smash than the 3DS. (Gamecube controllers especially) The biggest offender is the Circle-pad. It's just too clunky.That said, if you disagree with me, you can use your 3DS to control it! Smash Wii U updates the graphics, displays the game in stunning HD. The Roster is great. The maps are wonderful and some have super neat Gimmicks. I don't own the game right now, and I don't own a Gamecube adapter (which have been painstakingly under-produced), but over the Christmas Break I logged close to 25 hours into Smash Bros for the Wii U at various houses. I know it's once again the perfect party mode game. 8 Player smash is way more fun than I expected. 8 Captain Falcons on a small map is great! The controls are the tightest they've ever been. I love the roster and it has the most different feeling cast. Even Marth and Lucina feel different just from their attack boxes. This is by far the definitive version of Smash brothers. Sakurai has done a great job! Their effort to appeal to competitive players AND party players with For Fun and For Glory is fabulous. I love this smash brothers. However, unlike size, controller matters ;)
#3 Hyrule Warriors Initial release date: August 14, 2014 Series: The Legend of Zelda, Dynasty Warriors Developers: Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja, Nintendo Publishers: Koei Tecmo, Nintendo Genre: Action, hack and slash Rating: T for Teen
This game is so much more than I was expecting. This isn't JUST a dynasty warriors game with a zelda skin (which is what I was expecting and Eager for), it is a Zelda game made in the fashion of Dynasty Warriors. There are puzzles, and the world breathes likes a Zelda world breathes. The game though makes you feel POWERFUL like only Dynasty Warriors, or Warriors Games as people call them, can. No matter who you're playing as, there is just an immense sense of might garnered to the player. This game draws heavily on that. Equipment like bows, bombs, the gale boomerang, and the hookshot help in the matter. THE HOOKSHOT POWERED UP VERSION SUMMONS A LITTLE MOON TO CRUSH YOUR OPPOSITION. It is a shame that it is only adventure mode you can do online - and even then it’s just playing against your friends AI characters like some sort of street pass mechanic, this isn’t Fire Emblem and the lack of online multiplayer is a set back for sure, But, that being said, the couch co-op is super solid and playing on the gamepad feels really natural. The game's story is simple enough, but I found it fun, if predictable. The game is a little grindy for unlocking all of the weapon variantss. There's also tones of DLC, which is definitely worth the price you pay for it. Horse combat feels so different, when i thought it would just be dumb. I LOVE fighting with the electricity book! It's the best weapon. Every character feels super unique, as do each of their weapon types. For any Wii U owner, this game is a must have. #2 Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor Developer: Monolith Productions Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One Release date: Microsoft Windows,PlayStation 4 & Xbox One NA September 30, 2014 EU October 3, 2014 AUS October 8, 2014 JP December 25, 2014 PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 NA November 18, 2014 EU November 21, 2014 AUS November 26, 2014 JP March 5, 2015 Genre: Action role-playing Rating: M for Mature
Shadow of Mordor is also insanely fun. I haven't played it extensively, only 3 hours, but in those three hours I was instantly hooked. My roommate informed me that there's major texture popping and massive menu load times on the PS3/X360 version so I only recommend the PS4/Xbone/PC versions of the game. This game is massive and so pretty. The combat is fabulous and you really feel like you're in the heart of the armies of Mordor. The Captains can be brutal to fight. The Nemesis system is wonderfully rewarding. The RPG mechanics add so much more mechanical depth to the protagonist. This game took Devil May Cry, Assassin's Creed, and the Batman games, and made a WONDERFUL love child. You need to play it NOW. #1 Bravely Default Developer: Silicon Studio Square Enix Publisher: JP Square Enix NA / PAL / KOR Nintendo Platform: Nintendo 3DS Release date: JP October 11, 2012 For the Sequel JP December 5, 2013 EU December 6, 2013 AUS December 7, 2013 NA February 7, 2014 KOR April 16, 2014 Genre: Role-playing Rating: T for Teen
I know. There was another version, and this is technically a remake. However, that was Japan exclusive, while For the Sequel is the only one people outside the land of the rising sun ever got. Therefore, I'm keeping my no more remakes on this list promise. Totally. I love RPGS. So of course an RPG is on my number one spot. There's two mechanics in the game that alone cemented it as my #1 for the year. The Brave/Default System. This adds a whole new host of risk/reward to the battle system. The best part to me is that default is also your guard command, so not only are you taking less damage, you're building up the ability to do more damage next round. The second thing is the ability to control encounter rate. I LOVE it. Just it's fabulous, paired with speeding up battles and the brave/default system, grinding has never been easier. On top of that, only really boss encounters threaten to ever drop your party as you can literally TURN OFF RANDOM encounters. The characters are great. THE MUSIC IS AMAZING. The voice acting is spot on. The story is simplistic, but I think that's a benefit not a boon. The party talks are a nice touch, but I wish they were voiced. With the Tales games having had voiced ones for awhile, this makes them just feel a bit empty. The world is beautiful, both the maps and the interiors, especially towns really pop out and just feel so vibrant! This game is the pinnacle of all the JRPG genre has been up to this point. The sense of comradeship, adventure, power, and exploration are all there in spades. It uses great use of both street passes and sleep mode. The game incentivises you to pursue both with the town you can rebuild, the (way unbalanced) summons you can get, and Bravely second points which accumulate while the game is in sleep mode. These are all just neat add ons. I never saw the price of Bravely Second potions in the e-shop but you CAN buy them. You in no way need to, so I don't mind at all that you can. This game is just chocked full of features and components, but it doesn't ever feel too cluttered. I love that enemies also have jobs and can end up using the super broken job team ups that players can use. The game is full of so much attention and love and it all gets siphoned back into the player as they play the game. This game is a testament to learning from the past and looking towards the future. The title even has that, as the offical japanese name is, Bravely Default: For the Sequel. This game is great and has revitalized my hope for Games, and RPGS from the east. You know I will be picking up the sequel on day one! Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear all of your own lists and ideas. Games that interst me off the top of my head that I have not played released in 2014 Alien: Isolation Sunset Overdrive The Walking Dead Season 2 Borderlands The Presequel Tales from the Borderlands Telltale Game of Thrones Game Dragon Age Inquisition The Crew Far Cry 4 Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Watch Dogs Dark Souls II Shovel Knight Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair The Wolf Amoung Us Fantasy Life Professor Layton vs. Pheonix Wright:Ace Attorny Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Drakenguard 3 Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Bayonetta 2 Tales of Hearts R Tales of Xillia 2
