Best of '06?
Tuesday, 2. January 2007, 18:34:15
Over in the N + Community the other Moderators and I are putting together our picks for the best Nintendo Games of 2006. Below are my thoughts so far:
| Nintendo DS
Even though animal crossing came out in december of 05, the game is timeless in that it's purpose is to be played daily, offering players something new and things change completely season by season, month by month, and sometimes even day by day. nintendo has managed to keep thier promise of new items, presents, and the community approach in this version. adding hundreds of more collectables and new things to do, better communication and wifi, this game will be fresh to anyone playing for the first time, or the 365th time. With it's first complete year taking place almost entirely in 2006, save for a few weeks, this is my pick for the best DS game this year.
| Game Boy Advance/micro
Nintendo DS had quickly become a cultural phenomenon worldwide like Game Boy Advance/micro before it. In it's maturity, if I can call it that, the Game Boy has seen a shift in purpose and function over the past 2 years. Now functioning as a full featured media player, having interchangeable stylish faceplates (hundreds in Japan, few in US) and shrinking in size, Nintendo has pushed the Game Boy technology to a different crowd, primarilly in Japan. Even though sales of the micro aren't anywhere near that of it's successful big bro, the DS lite, Nintendo published a series of 7 puzzle/style/substance games that take simple retro style gameplay and merge them with deep concepts like polar, sound, visual, and mental mechanics. But this series of games, called bit Generations, offer a potential favorite for seasoned gamers, or someone getting into it for the first time. For style concious or simple thrill seekers, these games are easy to jump into an love, but hard to pull off and master. The videos speak for the games better than I can.
| Gamecube
To me, Chibi-Robo means a lot. I had been following the game since it's very early previews of the Japanese version (over 4 or 5 years ago) where they were using an on screen pointer to control the little guy, and yes, this was one of the titles that the Wii Remote was to be used for when it was still supposed to come out as "a new revolutionary peropheral that will breathe new life into the Gamecube." And while we all know that didn't happen in the long run, and Chibi was given direct controls when the game released, there were no compromises made in this game. Overall, the game is great fun, has refreshing humor, cool style, and an entertaining and engaging story that begs completion. From clearing up trash on the floor, to reuniting a family on the brink of divorce, this little guyshows everyone a thing or two about perspective, relativity, boring chores, and the hazards of the nuclear family. Combined with the fact that there is nothing else like it on any platform, it is my choice.
| Wii
For reasons that will no doubt be repeated over and over, Wii Sports and The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess are tied for me. Wii Sports because no game in my personal history has ever grabbed so many DIFFERENT people's interest so completely. THey Don't just want to play, they want to make a Mii and play a lot. It's funny to see 6 people from 3 generations taking turns on 4 remotes rather than 2 of the same people taking turns on one controller, only a year ago. This game has changed things. As for Zelda, i've seen it earn all 10's a cross the board from nearly every site and publication. Boasting a lengthy story, new controls, beauty, and depth it is no suprise that this Zelda title will be historic.
With the games I've chosen above, I feel Nintendo has succesfully widened the gaming demographic to include more female gamers, more first timers, old timers, and brought gaming simplicity back into the picture while allowing for style and customization to play a larger role, helping users to identify with thier entertainment on a different level and games to be adored by the player.
From connecting a virtual family back together in Chibi-Robo, to connecting actual families over a game of Wii Tennis, to connecting millions of players world wide over Nintendo WiFi Connection, these titles have helped melt the stigma of the "Guns, babes, explosions, solitary teenage boy gamer" that would have destroyed the industry if it was allowed to continue.
Agree? Disagree?
Let me know your thoughts, and your picks for the best Nintendo Games of 2006!
| Nintendo DS
Even though animal crossing came out in december of 05, the game is timeless in that it's purpose is to be played daily, offering players something new and things change completely season by season, month by month, and sometimes even day by day. nintendo has managed to keep thier promise of new items, presents, and the community approach in this version. adding hundreds of more collectables and new things to do, better communication and wifi, this game will be fresh to anyone playing for the first time, or the 365th time. With it's first complete year taking place almost entirely in 2006, save for a few weeks, this is my pick for the best DS game this year.
| Game Boy Advance/micro
Nintendo DS had quickly become a cultural phenomenon worldwide like Game Boy Advance/micro before it. In it's maturity, if I can call it that, the Game Boy has seen a shift in purpose and function over the past 2 years. Now functioning as a full featured media player, having interchangeable stylish faceplates (hundreds in Japan, few in US) and shrinking in size, Nintendo has pushed the Game Boy technology to a different crowd, primarilly in Japan. Even though sales of the micro aren't anywhere near that of it's successful big bro, the DS lite, Nintendo published a series of 7 puzzle/style/substance games that take simple retro style gameplay and merge them with deep concepts like polar, sound, visual, and mental mechanics. But this series of games, called bit Generations, offer a potential favorite for seasoned gamers, or someone getting into it for the first time. For style concious or simple thrill seekers, these games are easy to jump into an love, but hard to pull off and master. The videos speak for the games better than I can.
- Bit Generations Official Website
- Bit Generations Presentation Movie page
- Bit Generations import page
| Gamecube
To me, Chibi-Robo means a lot. I had been following the game since it's very early previews of the Japanese version (over 4 or 5 years ago) where they were using an on screen pointer to control the little guy, and yes, this was one of the titles that the Wii Remote was to be used for when it was still supposed to come out as "a new revolutionary peropheral that will breathe new life into the Gamecube." And while we all know that didn't happen in the long run, and Chibi was given direct controls when the game released, there were no compromises made in this game. Overall, the game is great fun, has refreshing humor, cool style, and an entertaining and engaging story that begs completion. From clearing up trash on the floor, to reuniting a family on the brink of divorce, this little guyshows everyone a thing or two about perspective, relativity, boring chores, and the hazards of the nuclear family. Combined with the fact that there is nothing else like it on any platform, it is my choice.
| Wii
For reasons that will no doubt be repeated over and over, Wii Sports and The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess are tied for me. Wii Sports because no game in my personal history has ever grabbed so many DIFFERENT people's interest so completely. THey Don't just want to play, they want to make a Mii and play a lot. It's funny to see 6 people from 3 generations taking turns on 4 remotes rather than 2 of the same people taking turns on one controller, only a year ago. This game has changed things. As for Zelda, i've seen it earn all 10's a cross the board from nearly every site and publication. Boasting a lengthy story, new controls, beauty, and depth it is no suprise that this Zelda title will be historic.
With the games I've chosen above, I feel Nintendo has succesfully widened the gaming demographic to include more female gamers, more first timers, old timers, and brought gaming simplicity back into the picture while allowing for style and customization to play a larger role, helping users to identify with thier entertainment on a different level and games to be adored by the player.
From connecting a virtual family back together in Chibi-Robo, to connecting actual families over a game of Wii Tennis, to connecting millions of players world wide over Nintendo WiFi Connection, these titles have helped melt the stigma of the "Guns, babes, explosions, solitary teenage boy gamer" that would have destroyed the industry if it was allowed to continue.
Agree? Disagree?
Let me know your thoughts, and your picks for the best Nintendo Games of 2006!
(45%)
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