As the end of the year approaches I’m looking back at what I’ve experienced this year. How my life’s changed. I live in my own house now, which I still don’t really believe. I’ve been writing more and more. Seen some great concerts. Lived through more superhero movies than I wanted to. My job is the same, but still all in all it’s been a good year.

As December rattles on towards its end, I wanted to write some posts summing up my year. Starting with my top five favourite games of 2017.

5 – The Evil Within 2

This was a big shock. I enjoyed the first game. It felt like a nice nod towards Resident Evil 4, and I liked it. I wouldn’t say it was spectacular but worth a look at. I wasn’t expecting a sequel. But here we are, and it blew me away. An open world horror game is pure genius. I absolutely loved it. This beats the first game by a mile and a half and I can’t recommend it enough. The first hour feels like more of the first game, which I was expecting and wouldn’t have complained about. Then the game opens up. Side quests, collectables. Hidden stories. So much to find.

There is an optional bit in the game where you can read a diary in a woman’s house. She writes that she is being haunted by something, and once you read it you also become haunted. You don’t have to read it. But for the rest of the game you are haunted by a ghost who will lock you in rooms, transport you into another realm and make your life hell. It’s completely optional. I only read the diary because I like getting all collectables, but this one has consequences. Stuff like this feels original, and changes the way I approached any other collectable in the game.

4 – Super Mario Odyssey

Way back in January when Nintendo went and officially announced Super Mario Odyssey at their Nintendo Switch reveal event, I knew I was going to love it. I love all the Mario games (Apart from the soulless Mario Bros Wii U). It feels like Mario 64 and Sunshine with a side of Galaxy. A love letter to every game that came before while also adding more than enough new things to make it stand by itself. A seriously good game, that I wish was higher on this list. One of the funnest games I’ve played in a long long time. I’m at about 600 moons, and counting. I’m going to get them all.

The only reason it isn’t higher in the list, is the mini-games. Jump-rope, volley ball and all of those races. They are so insanely difficult to get the second moons on. Not so much the races, which I just hate in general. They are doable. The nightmare begins with jump-rope. jumping 100 times seems easy enough, until you add a jump-rope. They aren’t essential, which is good. But a stupid annoying anger-inducing waste of time on the way to 100%

3 – The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild

What a masterpiece this game is. I completely understand why it’s been voted Game of the Year. A launch title for the almighty Nintendo Switch, and what a way to start a system’s life. A game that had so much hype, I honestly know 2 people who took time off work to play it.

You don’t get more open world that this. After a mini tutorial-ish beginning which teaches you how the open world works, you are set free and everything is possible. There isn’t much I can say about this that hasn’t been said before.

The only reason this isn’t higher, for me, is because once I beat the main game (40 hours), I didn’t feel the need to continue. My girlfriend however, has over 220 hours on her file.

2 – Resident Evil 7

This is the game I was looking forward to most this year. When it was announced at E3 last year, I went into hype mode. I was a little concerned that it was a PT clone, but when I finally got to play the game I was reassured. A seriously good horror game, that is actually scary for the most part. The ending gets a little weak, but those opening 3/4 hours are spectacular. Finally a return to form for the long and disapointing series.

I actually did a full review of this game when it first came out, you can find that HERE 

1 – Nier Automata

I don’t even know how to describe how much I love this game. I bought it on a whim and now it’s in my top 3 of all time. I’d seen a few trailers and thought it would be an enjoyable hack n slash game. When the first level is a shoot em up, I knew this was going to be something different. The music, the game play, the plot, tone, characters. Everything perfect.

Once I’d finished the game, I wanted more. I read online, that the game continues after the credits, and that’s why this game takes the top place. I was happy with what I played. It was a decent length and enjoyable. Then in continues and everything I thought I’d know about the plot changed. I don’t want to spoil anything but the twists that come along took me by surprise and really hooked me. By the time I got to the actual ending of the game, I’d experienced something that felt important. Anybody who doesn’t think games can be considered art, will change their minds after playing this.

Biggest disappointment of 2017

Kingdom Hearts 2.8

I already knew 3D: Dream Drop Distance was a bad game, and had no plans to re-buy any remaster. But throwing it together with a 0.2 A Fragmentary Passage as a prologue of such to KH3 made me buy it. 0.2 was a waste of an hour. Nothing of substance and ultimately pointless and I felt ripped off. I started 3D again, maybe it’s not as bad as I remember. No it’s worse. I only remembered being annoyed with the stupid switching characters mechanic. I didn’t remember the equally annoying pet simulator they threw in there as well. At this point I’m not sure whether to be excited for KH3 or not.

Thanks for reading,

Ashley

Games I feel like I’ve missed.

Cuphead
Persona 5 – I’ve started it, just haven’t played it enough to count as played it.
Splatoon 2
Yakuza Kiwami
YS VIII