Strategy Game of the Year for 2005
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (NDS)
D Intelligent Systems | P Nintendo
PALGN Review: NDS
Runners up: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
The strategy genre has always been close to completely exclusive to the PC - on consoles, games tended to be simple and fiddly, thanks to cumbersome control layouts. The Advance Wars series, on the Game Boy of all things, has been the biggest exception to the rule. Advance Wars: Dual Strike, the third game in the series, keeps the simple formula of the past games. You take command of an army - made up of all sorts of different units - and move them across a map, which is divided into a grid of squares, in an attempt to eliminate the enemy in a turn based battle. It sounds simple, but behind this facade is a strategy game with a ridiculous amount of depth - which shows a lot more in multiplayer. Things could have been better - more work on the Combat mode and improving on how the stylus works would have been nice - but, really, that's nitpicking. Really, really minor nitpicking. Advance Wars: Dual Strike is the epitome of quality, and something every DS owner should own.
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Best Fighting Game of the Year for 2005
Tekken 5 (PS2)
D Namco | P Sony
PALGN Review: GCN
Runners up: Soul Calibur III
Admittedly, the fighting genre wasn't terribly crowded this year, with minimal entries from SNK and Capcom only really leaving the two 3D heavyweights to battle it out - but, when it came down to it, Tekken 5 downed Soul Calibur III in the final round to score a narrow victory. Tekken 5 is undoubtedly the strongest game in the Tekken series. To the delight of fighting game fans everywhere, Namco have finally given the game a healthy injection of speed - rejoice! No more super-slow-motion fighting! Fighting areas are much more open this time around, removing the cramped spaces of Tekken 4 and opening up the action - even if some of the locations, such as the Antartic, are a little bizarre. The game doesn't really add anything new to the genre, but it is still tremendous fun to play. If that wasn't enough, the first three Tekken games come on the same disc - great for fans of the series, and newcomers alike.
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Platform Game of the Year for 2005
Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves (PS2)
D Sucker Punch | P Sony
PALGN Review: PS2
Runners up: Kirby: Canvas Curse, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
The Sly series may not have as much publicity as some of the other platformers on Sony's platform, but that doesn't stop it from being a great series in its own right. Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves took the lead set in previous game and improved on an already winning formula, creating a game that was fun and easy to play. The unconventional gameplay mechanics in using Sly's cane to make your way around well designed levels are still as solid as they were three games ago and the plentiful mini-games offer a change of pace just when you need it. The game presents itself with a unique look that you could only call Sly's own, and still remains one of the best looking cell shaded games on the market, possibly thanks to the fact the series helped usher in the style. It's a credit to this heavily under-rated series that it beat out such original games in Kirby: Canvas Curse and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat to win platformer of the year. - Lahiru
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Action Game of the Year for 2005
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Also released on PlayStation 2
D Capcom Production Studio 4 | P Capcom
PALGN Reviews: GCN, PS2
Runners up: Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, God of War
2005 was a big year for action games, particularly if you owned a PS2, with gems like God of War, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and the especially action infested Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening. However, our pick for the winner was - surprise, surprise - Resident Evil 4. It is worth pointing out that we've gone for the GCN version, as it is the definitive version of Resident Evil 4 - although the PS2 outing is no slouch either. Action was a much stronger focus than it had been in past Resident Evil games, thanks to the focus moving away from 'shock' scares, to more of a psychological horror created by overwhelming numbers and dreary settings. The arsenal of weapons was also quite healthy - the various shotguns were the stalwarts of the attack, with the useful pistols and machine guns helping out in times of crisis. And then were the magnums, which made you feel invincible, even against those gigantic bosses. Action Game of the Year then - just the first in a long list of honours for Resident Evil 4 in 2005.
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Sports Game of the Year for 2005
Ricky Ponting/Brian Lara Cricket 2005 (Xbox)
Also released on PlayStation 2 and PC
D Codemasters | P Atari
PALGN Review: PS2
Runners up: ESPN NHL 2K5, Pro Evolution Soccer 5
Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, what's the difference? None, as it turns out. Cricket games have always been few and far between, with good ones being especially thin on the ground. Thankfully, this latest effort from Codemasters is easily the greatest cricket game ever made. While it is painfully obvious that it doesn't have the budget of an EA or Sega sports game - presentation is a real step below, commentary is atrocious, graphics well short of par and a lack of an official license (no real player names, bar the game's namesakes, are in the game, but close variations are) - the game has it where it counts. Namely, the gameplay. It's not frustratingly tough like EA's game. It isn't the other extreme either, where every ball goes for six (unless you're in slog mode, anyway). It's a good, solid game of cricket, which is easy to get into for new players, and challenging enough for veterans. The potential for an excellent sports series is here - and with the game selling through the roof, bigger budgets should ensure the game gets the looks it deserves in 2006.
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RPG of the Year for 2005
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (PS2)
D Nautilus | P Midway
PALGN Review: PS2
Runners up: Baten Kaitos, Jade Empire
The RPG genre is becoming ever so popular, and this was shown through the quality of titles that were released throughout the year. Fable: The Lost Chapters, Baten Kaitos, Jade Empire and Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call are just a few of the big name RPGs that were released during 2005. However, none seemed to shine quite as bright as the uniquely-styled Japanese RPG Shadow Hearts: Covenant, the second title in the Shadow Hearts series. Despite sporting a risky, new, and unique battle system, the game seemed to pull it off exceptionally well, becoming one of the most refreshing role playing games for several years. With excellent depth, character interaction and story development, the light-hearted Shadow Hearts: Covenant proved to be one of the finest RPGs every made, and, to us, the clear-cut RPG of the Year. - Mark
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Racing Game of the Year for 2005
Mario Kart DS (DS)
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
PALGN Review: NDS
Runners up: WipEout: Pure, Gran Turismo 4, Burnout: Revenge, Forza Motorsport
Gran Turismo 4 came out in 2005. As did its Xbox equivalent, Forza Motorsport. Two very serious racing games, which absolutely excel at doing what they do. Then there was Burnout: Revenge, the sequel to what is probably the greatest arcade racing game ever. Yet, despite these three powerhouse titles, not one of them was our racing game of the year. Hell, even second place went to WipEout: Pure. Are we all insane? Possibly. But, there's just something about Mario. Mario Kart DS is a healthy combination of refined handling, addictive tracks, nostalgia, and a simple yet powerful multiplayer mode. It doesn't have the speed of Burnout: Revenge, the car selection of GT4 or the depth of Forza Motorsport. But, again, there's just something about the game that makes us pick up the DS for one more go, be it an online match, a quick 150cc grand prix, or even just a faster time on Mario Circuit 1. Who knows? But, whatever it is, it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, much more than the serious racing games, which is why it's our favourite racing game of 2005.
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FPS of the Year for 2005
Battlefield 2 (PC)
D Digital Illusions | P Electronic Arts
PALGN Review: PC
Runners up: F.E.A.R, Timesplitters: Future Perfect
As soon as you start playing Battlefield 2, you know you've found something special. Stepping out onto one of the wide open maps, as part of a squad discussing how to assault the upcoming flag on over microphones is truly an awesome experience - and that's before the guns start firing. Tanks start shelling your position. Enemy jeeps run down your squad members. The squad medic dives into action, restoring life to your fallen comrades. Jets overhead bomb the tank, killing six of your own men in the process. But, more tanks, along with a few infantry squads, keeping coming. Your commander decides your entire squad is expendable, planting the dreaded sign of artillery on the map. You try to find cover, but it's futile - you are killed by your own artillery. It's just another day in the wonderful world of Battlefield 2 - one of the craziest multiplayer first person shooters of all time.
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Multiplayer Game of the Year for 2005
Mario Kart DS (DS)
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
PALGN Review: NDS
Runners up: Battlefield 2
This is a surprise. We thought the 64 player madness of Battlefield 2 would be guaranteed for this award - but it wasn't to be, with Mario Kart DS winning out. It shouldn't be too much of a shock though, as Mario Kart DS is fantastic in multiplayer. Get a few DS consoles together, and multiplayer 150cc grand prix races get pretty intense, pretty fast. Then there's the battle mode which, while not as good as that seen in Super Mario Kart, is still pretty damn fun. Oh, and did we mention the online mode? Be it at home, McDonalds, or nestled in the corner of your local EB, Mario Kart DS is fantastic online, thanks to its incredibly simple set up (in most cases, anyway). Be it taking on a young kid who just got given the game for their birthday, or a karter who dedicates his life to the ancient art of snaking, Mario Kart DS captures players of all ages in a system where anybody can win thanks to the power ups. Nintendo, you've done it again.
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GBA Game of the Year for 2005
WareWare: Twisted!
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
Runners up: Dragon Ball: Advance Adventure, Gunstar: Future Heroes, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Despite the fact that of the two Nintendo handhelds it’s been the DS receiving the most games this year, the GBA has had its fair share of gems. While Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has been a big hit with RPG/Strategy fans and Gunstar: Future Heroes proved a worthy update to Treasure’s Mega Drive classic, it is Wario Ware: Twisted that was our highlight on the GBA in 2005. Taking the basic template for fast and frantic mini games from original game last year, Twisted introduces actual physical movement into the equation. Using an in-built tilt sensor, players have to spin, twist and shake their way through a mountain of bizarre mini games that are somehow crazier than those found in the original. With a ton of weird and wacky unlockables, it even outdid last year's game in terms of longevity, helping make it 2005’s most essential GBA game to own. - Chris
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PSP Game of the Year for 2005
WipEout Pure
D Sony | P Sony
PALGN Review: PSP
Runners up: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Burnout: Legends
Welcome back, WipEout. After a few console-defining games on the PSX, the WipEout series had somewhat deteriorated. While the PS2 effort, WipEout Fusion, wasn't bad, something was missing. Whatever it was, WipEout: Pure has brought it back, resurrecting a franchise from the brink of destruction. WipEout: Pure is a fairly simple little futuristic racer. You take your peculiar little hovercraft type thing, equip it with some devastating, and visually impressive, weapons, then race around the roller coaster tracks at breakneck speeds in the hope of capturing the illustrious #1 position. However, while picking the game up might be easy, but getting good at it might take a lot longer, thanks to a perfectly judged difficulty curve. Oh, and then there's the staggering amount of downloadable content online - something unprecedented for a handheld. WipEout is back, and it is good.
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NDS Game of the Year for 2005
Mario Kart DS
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
PALGN Review: NDS
Runners up: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Nintendogs, Meteos, Animal Crossing
While the DS might have had a slow start - especially in PAL territories, shock horror - things really kicked up at the end of the year. And we mean really kicked up - look at all those games tied for second runner up! But, it was Mario and his band of merry karters than managed to grab the title of NDS Game of the Year. Despite the so-so Double Dash, expectations for the second handheld karting outing were still high - this is Nintendo, after all. Well, they delivered all right. With twenty brand new tracks, and twenty retro tracks, Mario Kart DS can be considered to be a 'best-of' Mario Kart, while at the same time introducing enough new elements - updated handling, new karters, some stellar new tracks - to make it stand strong on its own. Oh, and then there's the multiplayer, both online and offline, which has sucked countless hours of time. The offline mode may be basic, but we can't deny it really, really works. Hats off to you, Mario.
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GameCube Game of the Year for 2005
Resident Evil 4
Also released on PlayStation 2
D Capcom Production Studio 4 | P Capcom
PALGN Review: GCN, PS2
Runners up: Killer7, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
No matter how hard of a die-hard Nintendo fan you are, you can't say it's been a great year for the little purple box. New games in general have been few and far between - let alone good ones. Then there has been the return of disgraceful NTSC-PAL delays, ranging from a few months, to still TBA. But, if there is one overwhelming positive to come out of 2005, it's the definitive version of Resident Evil 4 - when it was released in March, and when Twilight Princess was delayed to 2006, there was absolutely no doubt as to what the GameCube Game of the Year would be. Resident Evil 4 was head, shoulders AND torso above all other GCN games this year, and it was reflected in our staff voting, with absolutely everyone putting it at #1. Its complete rejuvenation of the stale Resident Evil formula, complete with engaging story and insane combat help make it the supreme title it is. We could go on, but we'd better save it for later...
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PC Game of the Year for 2005
Battlefield 2
D Digital Illusions | P Electronic Arts
PALGN Review: PC
Runners up: F.E.A.R, Civilization IV
The PC this year was dominated by countless super-sequels - Civilization IV, Age of Empires III, Quake IV, and so on. However, there was one sequel ahead of the pack in our view - Battlefield 2. The game does, admittedly, have its share of problems. It is a bit buggy. The combat can seem extremely random at times. Team killers are the most annoying people of all time. Oh, and the EA and Digital Illusions opening videos which cannot. Be. Skipped. Well, not without modifying a file, anyway. But, despite all that, we absolutely adore Battlefield 2. Never before has a game truly captioned the thrill of a mass scale battle so well. On one map, countless fire fights can be happening at once - jets can be duking it out for air supremacy, tanks can be attempting to capture a flag and infantry troops can be fighting over a buggy. Add the squad based combat, and Battlefield 2 is the standout choice for PC game of the year.
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Xbox Game of the Year for 2005
Burnout: Revenge
Also released on PlayStation 2
D Criterion Games | P Electronic Arts
PALGN Review: Xbox
Runners up: Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Fahrenheit, ESPN NHL 2K5
It's a testament to the sheer addiction a quality arcade racer can cause that Burnout: Revenge is our Xbox game of the year, after Burnout 3: Takedown won this very same award last year. Revenge isn't a whole lot different from last year's game. There's a new shiny coat of EA paint (although we're not so sure if we like that), a few new modes and cars - nothing major. But the differences are enough to make you completely addicted yet again, just after you thought you finally kicked the Burnout 3 habit. The game is all about speed - race down this stretch of road as fast as you possible can, pulling off daring feats in traffic and, even better, causing your opponents to crash and die in a fiery inferno. Burnout: Revenge may lack the depth of Forza Motorsport, but for sheer thrills that will leave you with a grin from ear-to-ear, it's really, really hard to beat.
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PlayStation 2 Game of the Year for 2005
God of War
D Sony 4 | P Sony
PALGN Review: PS2
Runners up: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Resident Evil 4
With so much to choose from on the PlayStation 2 this year, it was difficult to pick a clear winner. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Gran Turismo 4, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and Resident Evil 4 all saw the light of day this year. However, these massive names have all been overshadowed by God of War, an action game set in ancient Greece. It is all a bit surreal. However, God of War is more than justified in its place. It mixes the sublime, action packed combat seen in the Devil May Cry series, adds the platform and puzzle elements of the modern Prince of Persia series, and spits out what is one of the very finest games on the PS2. Then there's the terrific story. And fantastic visuals. And brilliant score, especially through a decent surround sound system. God of War is absolutely the complete package, and we have no problems putting it at the top of a very fine list of candidates for the PlayStation 2 game of the year.
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Biggest Letdown of the Year for 2005
Conker: Live & Reloaded (Xbox)
D Rare | P Microsoft
PALGN Review: Xbox
Runners up: Star Fox Assault, Pokemon: Gale of Darkness
Conker's Bad Fur Day was the last really good N64 game, and, as a result, many people missed it the first time around. Rare decided to jazz the whole package up a bit and re-release it on Xbox, along with a brand new online mode for Xbox Live. The result? Well, it's all a bit meh, really. The single player is, funnily enough, just as good as it was four years ago - if you completed the game back then, there's only really a quick dose of nostalgia to be found here. The new multiplayer mode is, really, underwhelming - a third person shooter, only really loosely related to the main game. Third person shooters are never going to be the pinnacle of Xbox Live, especially when you consider how generic this one is, and how confusing many objectives can be. If there were any question marks as to whether Rare had lost their touch, this game removes all doubt.
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Surprise of the Year for 2005
LEGO Star Wars (PS2)
Also released on Xbox, PC, GameCube
D Traveller's Tales | P Eidos
PALGN Review: PS2
Runners up: God of War, The Warriors
It was a struggle to pick our surprise of the year, with God of War and LEGO Star Wars neck and neck. In the end, we went with the underdog - LEGO Star Wars. Bringing the Star Wars experience over to a game made of LEGO blocks and making it worth playing seemed an impossible task, but developer Traveller's Tales somehow managed it and the end result left many of us pleasantly surprised. From the unmistakable levels like the droid factory on Geonosis, to the spot on sound effects and definitive John Williams score, this truly was a Star Wars game but unlike any we have experienced to date. Whilst the gameplay may have been targeted towards children, there was enough humour and pickup and playability that allowed adults to join in on the fun. Add the fact that just about every Star Wars character of note ever seen in the films was either playable or made an appearance, this was one game that Star Wars fans had to get their hands on, even if they didn't know it yet. - Lahiru
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Best Game Nobody Played in 2005
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (GCN)
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
PALGN Review: GCN
Runners up: Fahrenheit, Baten Kaitos
If we had a 'Most Insane New Concept' category, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat would win it hands down. But, as it is, it will just have to settle for being the best game nobody played in 2005, narrowing beating Fahrenheit to the punch. Jungle Beat is a platform game, controlled with the bongos also used for Donkey Konga. Yes, you did read that right - a platform game controlled by bongos. It sounds really stupid - but it works. Quite well, as it turns out. Drumming on the right or left bongo will cause Donkey to run in that direction, depending on how fast you hit them. Hitting each bongo simultaneously will cause Kong to jump, while clapping will perform whatever context sensitive action is appropriate. And that's it. Incredibly simple, but also incredibly fun. While the game is a little bit short, there is incentive to keep playing with a high score system, so all is not lost. Jungle Beat is a fantastic little gem that you should definitely check out, if you were among the many that missed it the first time around.
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Worst Game of the Year for 2005
Cricket 2005 (Xbox)
Also released on PS2, PC
D HB Studios | P EA
PALGN Review: Xbox
Runners up: AFL Premiership 2005, Tenchu: Fatal Shadows
Because of the nature of this category, the voting was heavily spread - after all, who really wants to play a game that scores 1.5/10? Hence, the worst games of the year score wise aren't really reflected here. Still, we did manage to agree on one game that threw away all its potential - Cricket 2005. We're all for realistic sports sims, but we draw the line at being unable to play a single shot without being caught. We don't like a limited number of areas to hit the ball. We don't like being bowled out without reaching double figures. We especially don't like it when our all out score of 5 is quickly surpassed by the CPU, who quickly races to 0/250. We don't like that a game of Cricket 2005 almost as long than its equivalent in real life. We don't like games full of bugs, which range from irritating to infuriating. Basically put, we don't like Cricket 2005.
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Overall Game of the Year for 2005
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Also released on PlayStation 2
D Capcom Production Studio 4 | P Capcom
PALGN Reviews: GCN, PS2
Runners up: Mario Kart DS, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Battlefield 2
Was there ever any doubt that Capcom's magnum opus would secure Game of the Year? It is, after all, the only game we've ever scored a perfect 10. Ever since the first screenshots surfaced years ago, people everywhere knew that this one was going to be special. The Resident Evil series was going through a bit of a rough patch when this game hit. It had peaked with Resident Evil 2 many, many years ago, and was suffering a severe milking, with basically every Resident Evil game known to man being ported to the GameCube. The series was stagnant. A complete re-working was in order. Resident Evil 4 re-worked the formula, alright. Fixed camera locations were eliminated, replaced with an over-the-shoulder view. Zombies were gone - sort of - replaced with virus-ridden evil villagers. Analog control was - finally! - introduced. Most importantly, the aspect of 'shock' horror was shuffled aside in favour of creepy settings and overwhelming numbers. The result is one of the best all-round games of all time, with arguably the greatest visuals this generation, a wonderfully eerie soundtrack, and some of the best, most intense action you're ever likely to see. We salute Resident Evil 4 - 2005's Game of the Year.
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Most Anticipated for 2006
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GCN)
D Nintendo | P Nintendo
Runners up: Shadow of the Colossus, Okami
This is bizarre - how can a game win most anticipated game twice in a row? Damn you, Nintendo! Damn you and your infernal delays! We want to play The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess right now! Ah well. The Zelda series has always been about pure quality, and we expect no different from the final significant GameCube game. The Wind Waker drew its fair share of critics with its cel-shaded design and mind-numbing triforce hunting at the end of the game - but yet, it is among the GCN elite all these years later. It just shows the sheer quality we've come to expect from Shigsy and his band of merry men. How else could be comfortably sure that Twilight Princess will (probably) be the best game of this generation? With even the most early trailers showing the visual prowess of the purple box, combined with the prowess of the combat system first seen in Ocarina of Time and a host of lovable characters, we really can't see how we will be wrong. Bring on 2006.
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So there you have it. Resident Evil 4 is our game of the year - but what did you readers have to say about it? We'll be announcing our reader awards at some stage in the next week, so keep your browser locked to PALGN.
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