Here's my submission in its entirety
Wii
Punch-Out!!
I've been waiting for this game since I first played Mike Tyson's Punch-Out when I was little, and I was extremely happy to say that it did not disappoint. Next Level Games essentially remade the classic game and added in more humor, more style, and more depth. The additions of Title Defense mode and a practice mode helped the game soar over its predecessors and, whether your nostalgia likes it or not, made it the best in the series. While the two-player mode and the motion controls aren't too great, the main game is aces all around, and was, without a doubt, my favorite Wii game of 2009.
A Boy and His Blob
I was enamored with this game when I saw it at E3, and this infatuation held up until the after I played through it. A Boy and His Blob is another game, like Punch-Out!!, that takes an old NES game and makes it modern and fantastic. The interaction between the boy and the blob is adorable, and the gorgeous 2D art is some of the best of the year. The gameplay is a wonderful mix of puzzle and platforming that might be considered too easy by some, but the charm of the game and the challenge of unlocking all the extra levels more than makes up for it.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
If my guesses are correct, then this game will show up on every staffer's list. There's not much else to be said about this game that wasn't already said in TYP and Pedro's reviews. For me, this game was a blast from start to finish. The Koopa Kids, while formulaic, brought some much needed personality and character variety to the bosses. The levels were expertly designed, with tons of hidden secrets for fanatic players and a gentle learning curve for casual ones. I can't imagine playing through another 2D console Mario game without four players now, as that addition turned an age-old game style on its ear and made it a party game. Also, the final boss is freaking epic.
DS
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
If we were to do this type of award last year, Professor Layton and the Curious Village would have been at the top of my list. It is without any surprise that its sequel is at the top of my list the following year. Diabolical Box is kind of like a good movie sequel. You take the familiar characters, and in this case gameplay, put them in a bigger story in a different area with higher stakes, and top if all off with a climatic finale. The changes between the two games are pretty minimal, with the second game featuring some small refinements, but the puzzles are still fun, and the story is still engaging enough. I hope that next year I will be telling you about the third game in the series and how awesome that is.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Unlike Professor Layton, Mario & Luigi's last DS RPG effort would not have been at the top of my list when it came out. Partners in Time was, to me, a disappointment. Bowser's Inside Story, however, was not. The snappy writing and good humor shine as you jump between the two plumbers and Bowser. While the game overstays its welcome a bit, there is a good deal of variety, and both parties feature different combat strategies. The return of Fawful is welcome, and the buffoonery of Bowser is always a joy. I'm also a fan of Mario and Luigi's Italian jibberish.
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
I was not a huge fan of Phantom Hourglass. It was a fun game, but I had some issues with it. Thankfully, Nintendo fixed all those issues in Spirit Tracks. I had tons of fun riding around in the train, though it was slow, and the dungeons were all solid. I think it's worth noting that Phantom Hourglass' weakness (Temple of the Ocean King) was transformed in Spirit Tracks' strength (Tower of the Spirits). Additionally, the cut scenes were well directed and the multiplayer mode was pretty fun, and it is single-card, so you might actually play it.
DLC
NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
I liked World of Goo a whole lot, but I wasn’t wowed by a WiiWare game until NyxQuest. It has a haunting score, gorgeous graphics, and fun puzzle-based platforming. Also, it could only be done on the Wii. I love the game's "pat your head while rubbing your belly" nature as you control Nyx with the analog stick and use the pointer to make use of the God Powers. The game has a lackluster finale, but the quality of the game overall forgives that. Also, the unlockable bonus level is pretty damn cool. I can't wait to see what Over the Top Games does next.
Art Style: Pictobits
If I could get away with picking a series without James getting annoyed, I would have selected the entire Art Style series on DSiWare. Instead, I'm going to go with my favorite: Art Style: Pictobits. It's a Tetris-like puzzle game with an NES aesthetic. It uses Nintendo's own NES games, ranging from Super Mario Bros. to Devil World, as inspiration as you fill in pixilated characters from the games as the music develops in the background. The sound design is awesome, which isn't that big of a surprise considering it's made by Skip. The unlockable levels and the tough yet fair difficulty curve will keep you coming back for more. This is an excellent game.
Let's Catch
I might be the only person on staff to play this game, but regardless, this is my multiplayer game of the year. The Bomb Catch mode, which is playable with four people, is simple, but it is riddled with strategy. It's merely a variation of Hot Potato, but if you get people of equal skill, it is tons of fun. I have sunk countless hours into this mode, and truthfully, only Nintendo titles such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Sports have gotten more multiplayer play than this game. Outside of that awesome mode, there is also a ridiculous story that begins with you playing catch with a kid in a park talking about how his dad isn't around and ends with you playing catch with an alien on the moon. There's also a baseball player who is a C.I.A. agent.
Topic: Games We Loved 2009 (Read 8236 times)
