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DS Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
D Nintendo EAD| P Nintendo
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runner up: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
In a year where the DS was by far the highest selling system in every territory, there was a surprising lack of 'defining' titles. Sure, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl made it to the West this year (they were 2006 games in Japan), but they were Game Boy carry-overs. With Nintendo's focus primarily on their other platform, it was left up to third parties to satisfy both casual and core DS gamers. That is, until The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was released.
One of the best looking games on the DS, Phantom Hourglass straddles the line between accessibility and depth with remarkable ease. The touch-screen control scheme works brilliantly, bringing new life to old weapons and giving combat the precision of a surgical strike. And from now on, every other adventure game made should allow drawing on the map.
PSP Game of the Year
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
D Kojima Productions| P Konami
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runner up: Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
Snake finally made a card-free appearance on the PSP in this sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and the wait was worth it. Eschewing the 'lone spy' form of its console brethren Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops sees Snake recruiting troops for his own army, offering a fresh experience well suited to the console.
Working within the button limitations of the PSP, the developers crafted a game with all the trappings of a full-size console title, yet with a structure and gameplay that work well as a portable title. High production values and near PS2 quality graphics and sound round out one of the best games ever released on the PSP.
PlayStation 2 Game of the Year
Okami
D Clover Studios| P Capcom
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runner up: God of War II
Developed by the now defunct Clover Studios, Okami had the distinct disadvantage of being released in the US during the lead-up to two major console launches, and it got lost in the end of year shuffle. A delay to 2007 gave the game some breathing room in PAL territories, where many discovered the watercolour adventures of Amaterasu. Based on the Legend of Zelda template, Okami sees the player traversing an overworld, exploring dungeons, and fighting bad guys in a bid to defeat the mythological Japanese demon Orochi. The innovative paintbrush mechanic adds some spice to the formula, and the incredible Viewtiful Joe-like cell-shaded graphics didn't hurt either.
While the combat and puzzles are not quite up to Zelda standards, Okami remains great looking throughout, and beats out a strong field to be PALGN's PS2 game of 2007.
Xbox 360 Game of the Year
Mass Effect
D BioWare| P Microsoft
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runners up: BioShock, The Orange Box
BioWare’s Sci-Fi RPG was one of the most hyped games for the Xbox 360 this year, and thankfully the game delivered, offering one of the deepest experiences so far on the console. With great art direction and an enthralling forty-plus hour story, Mass Effect manages to combine traditional RPG elements with an over-the-top Sci-Fi setting for an innovative experience.
Set in one of the most detailed game worlds ever created, the amount of high quality voice work is also impressive. Despite some annoying glitches, Mass Effect is one of those games that will be talked about for a very long time to come
Wii Game of the Year
Super Mario Galaxy
D Nintendo EAD Tokyo| P Nintendo
PALGN Review: 10.0
Runners up: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Super Paper Mario
Mario takes the Wii crown in a near-unanimous decision, soundly beating the only other real contender Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Mario's adventure into space brings the old and new together in a game that's fresh yet familiar and a joy to play from start to finish. It also doesn't hurt that the game is a technical marvel for the Wii, shaming the visual quality of all but a handful of games on the system.
With great use of the Wii controllers, a majestic orchestral soundtrack, and a huge amount of variety, Super Mario Galaxy re-invents and re-ignites the stale 3D platforming genre with its mind-bending and innovative gravity mechanic.
PlayStation 3 Game of the Year
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
D Naughty Dog| P Sony Computer Entertainment
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runners up: Singstar, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Jak and Daxter developer Naughty Dog’s first PlayStation 3 game was greatly anticipated, as gamers were desperate to see what the developer would come up with next. What they created was a hybrid of Tomb Raider and Gears of War, combining puzzle platforming elements with intense gun-fights.
Running through the jungle killing pirates in what is one of the better-looking games of the year is great fun. The game is filled with likeable characters and an interesting if clichéd storyline, and good variety of gameplay. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is easily the most exciting game to be released on the PS3 this year, and we wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel is just around the corner.
PC Game of the Year
Portal
D Valve| P Valve
PALGN Review: 8.5
Runners up: BioShock , Team Fortress 2
With Portal, Valve reminds us of the value of concentrated game design mixed with unabashed wit. Here is a game that prides itself on short but carefully paced gameplay. A puzzle set where each level is as much it's own self-contained challenge, as a memorably gratifying solution. A narrative where the villain is as hilarious as she is underhanded. A dramatic sidekick that isn't even a living entity. And of course, an ending theme song that will be reinterpreted for some time to come.
Portal alone is worth the already bargain asking price of The Orange Box. Unlike the questionable existence of baked desserts, this award is not a lie.
Best Graphics
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
D Infinity Ward| P Activision
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runners up: Crysis
The main Call of Duty games have always been good looking, but with Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward took it to another level. With great modeling, crisp textures and excellent effects, Call of Duty 4 is one of the most realistic looking games yet produced, and it achieves all this while running at a fantastic framerate. And for that, it receives our award for best graphics of 2007.
Best sound
Mass Effect
D BioWare| P Microsoft
PALGN Review: 9.0
Runners up: Super Mario Galaxy, BioShock
With every piece of dialogue from hundreds of different characters all spoken fluently, the voice-over work in Mass Effect is one of the many reasons the game is enjoyable all the way through. It helps greatly in building the story and along with an epic soundtrack and generally great sound effects, it adds up to one of the most impressive sounding games so far this generation.
Best Value
The Orange Box
D Valve| P Valve
Since the contents of The Orange Box had either been previously released or were available for purchase separately, we didn't consider the PC version a single game for the purpose of these awards. However, when it comes to value as a purchase, The Orange Box was in a league of its own this year, particularly for those who had yet to play Half-Life 2.
Packing the full original game, two expansions, the long awaited multiplayer mayhem of Team Fortress 2 and the cerebral first person puzzler (and our PC game of the year) Portal, the disc features enough content to last the average gamer weeks.
Overall Game of the Year
Super Mario Galaxy
D Nintendo EAD Tokyo| P Nintendo
PALGN Review: 10.0
Runner up: Portal
What more is there to say? After becoming only the second game in PALGN history to score ten out of ten, Super Mario Galaxy has also been voted our Game of the Year 2007.
What makes Galaxy so great? Probably that it puts inventive gameplay above all else. In an era of detailed plots and complicated controls, Mario presents players with 120 good old fashioned challenges of dexterity with controls so tight it's a joy to play every one of them. Nearly relentless in its ingenuity, Galaxy keeps producing new ideas its entire length, and we don't think there's ever been a game that contains so many 'wow' moments. Crisp graphics and a fantastic soundtrack round out one of the most complete single player packages ever pressed onto a disc.
On oft-quoted line of Chris' review covers it pretty well:
'Super Mario Galaxy is without doubt the finest game Nintendo have produced this decade - endorsements don’t come much stronger than that.'
Most Anticipated for 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV
D Rockstar North| P Rockstar
Runners up: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metal gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto games were the highest selling games of last generation, and the long awaited full fourth installment promises to return the 'sandbox' genre crown to its rightful owner. The power of the new consoles will hopefully re-invigorate the formula with more interactivity, though many are simply looking forward to an overdue dose of the classic GTA humour. Whatever the reasons, PALGN staff have voted Grand Theft Auto IV as our most anticipated title of 2008.
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You've seen our picks, now have your say! Click here to vote for your choices in each of these categories in the PALGN reader awards.
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