[Question] The Gamingforce Game of the Year 2010: Vote a Go Go

Metroid Other M - 40 points. Finally a sequel to Super Metroid we've always wanted and a story decades in the making that completely expands the Metroid universe in a huge direction while answering age old questions and posing new ones. The character of Samus Aran is fleshed out in a way we've yet to see and she's a character we can relate to and understand each moment of anguish, triumph, frustration, and even panic. It's an interesting narrative that is fleshed out through mostly silent posturing and facial expressions as Samus interacts with her old team that we learn even more about through short but intriguing interactive flashbacks. These flashbacks which some have annoyingly and wrongly accused of Family Guy Syndrome also serve a purpose for Samus to relearn some of her more advanced techniques by reliving certain moments of past Metroid games recreated completely in stunning 3D. Excellent gameplay with a multitude of optional controller setups. I particularly found the dual wiimote setup a blast but thought the myriad of ways to configure the Gamecube and Classic controllers to my taste to be very thoughtful of Nintendo. Everything about this game was just perfect from the short but incredibly well thought out stage design that you will revisit again and again in between bouts of cleverly used wank wagon homages to the Metroid series which even includes certain pieces of Metroid Prime finally giving it proper canonization by master Sakamoto. This is an engaging romp Metroid has never seen before and hopefully opens up the world for more sequels that I am dying to play. I won't spoil the ending but if you've played Metroid Fusion you probably know a few things but you'll understand and fully appreciate why a certain fellow is so respected. I'll have to admit I cried towards the end. Play. This. Game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - 40 points. It takes the best of Sonic 2 & 3&Knuckles, improves the Sonic physics while still retaining the properties which made controlling the blue blur a blast, and goes all out crazy with stunningly animated pixel graphics individually made for 480p, 720p, and 1080p resolutions - it is drop dead gorgeous. Sega's bold decision to go back to the drawing board and relook at what made Sonic good in the first place while using the best techniques they've learned from their Genesis era to make an incredible looking game in the year 2010 using pixel graphics was something I just wasn't expecting and firmly destroys the Sonic Cycle for good as long as they keep this up. The game has a simple story in the background that is told similar to how Sonic 3 was able to have a few silly things at the end of a stage that would then lead to the next stage. Everything is seamless and while mostly linear we get to see the lush and varied world of Mobius like never before. It's true that we do visit a few older locations but the game cleverly disguises a few of them as ruins or inbetweens or simply has them in the background as homage to past games. Also as with Sonic 3 the second player isn't completely useless and is actually required to get through a couple areas. Don't worry though if you don't have any friends available because they included online co-op and also a very clever computer AI if you are just a complete social reject which isn't an uncommon thing in the Sonic community (but I guess that can be said of any fandom). And while it's true we're still mostly facing off Eggman/Robotnik who has decided in this game he'd rather just be called Dr. Ivo or just Ivo if all the sign's and classic colorful level swipes like Ivo's Casino Palace and Ivo's Laboratory and Ivo's Flying Ivory Fortress are any indication he serves as a great antagonist just the same with old tricks and new tricks alike. There is a little bit of voice acting in this game but it's mostly just Ivo talking over the loud speaker in some of his abode's to sick robot guards if Sonic is spotted by his security system or in some of the laboratory files you can access to get a bit more background on what Ivo is trying to achieve. There are some really interesting blueprints you can view which turn out to be critical in some later stages. All and all I can't say enough good things about Sonic 4. I even found Amy's help in the background to be done in good taste. No unnecessary characters, no demon hell spawn, no awkward moments, and no taking itself far too seriously to have a fun time. Welcome back, Sonic. You've been missed.

Kirby's Epic Yarn - 10 points. It's a short, easy game that presents very little challenge if we're just going for main game completion but it's an incredibly enjoyable romp through a world rendered through yarn and felt that feels and plays exactly like a world made out of yarn and felt should. There's just so much that is right about this game and as a massive Kirby fan there's just no way I couldn't mention this game. If you feel you need to relax and have a nice time instead of blasting away fools over Live then get this game now if you haven't already.

Donkey Kong Country Returns - 10 points. Retro Studios has done it again. They've resurrected a franchise and breathed fresh life into it while maintaining the feel of what made it amazing originally. DKCR is a challenging game but it is worth the trouble. This game kicked my ass. It kicked my ass hard. I loved every moment of it. Even the moments I completely was fuming trying to achieve KONG while wasting tens of tens of balloons. If you have a Wii and call yourself a fan of platforming games then you NEED this game.

Well there we go - 100 points. I think this year has been an absolute smash for restoring fresh life into old franchises. I look forward to 2011. Maybe we'll see some of these with more sequels. =)

Jam it back in, in the dark.