THE BEST GAMES OF 2018:
- 2018 was a great year for games. For one thing, this was the year that several long-awaited AAA games finally came out - and many of them more than lived up to the hype. God of War, Spider-Man, and more have been on people's radars for years ... and yet, the games were so good that it ultimately didn't really matter if they'd been overexposed prior to release. For another thing, the amount of great indie games we're now getting is staggering. It's hard to keep up ... but on the other hand, these smaller games are a great alternative to the at-times overwhelming scope and length of the big blockbusters. Going from giant open world game to giant open world game is not necessarily sustainable for most, so the glut of great indie gems is a real boon for people like me. It's allowed me to sample a lot more new games than I otherwise would have in recent years. It also doesn't hurt that so many of these games are available on Switch. While the Switch wasn't exactly an AAA powerhouse in 2018 (after 2017's incredible launch year, one-two punch of Mario and Zelda) - but man, it was an indie-lover's dream. I almost didn't notice or care about the absence of big first-party exclusives on Switch, when amazing indies like Hollow Knight, The Messenger, and Celeste were available.
I've often talked about how it's hard to keep with games as a busy adult who's trying to balance so many things. Especially when we're talking about a world in which the gold standard for blockbuster games is 60 - 100 hours of open-world epicness. More on that in a second. But for now, let me give a shout-out to the always-entertaining Kotaku Splitscreen podcast. This has become one of my favorite podcasts, and has really kept me excited about the world of gaming and attuned to new games I should be playing. The team of Kirk Hamilton, Jason Schreier, and Maddy Myers talk about games with passion and intelligence, and it's not unusual for them to take conversations about games into the realm of the philosophical, political, or abstract (bonus: they have good takes on movies and TV and books as well!). While there are undoubtedly still many toxic elements of "gamer" culture out there, there are also places (like Splitscreen) that are a forum for really smart, interesting discussion about games - and super helpful for navigating what's out there and worth playing.
But back to the subject of these huge open-world games ... it's funny, despite not being a regular purchaser of the Assassin's Creed games, I bought a copy of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey after I saw it highly discounted on Amazon over the holidays (and after it came highly recommended on Splitscreen). Part of me was eager to dive in, but it arrived as I was still finishing up Horizon: Zero Dawn (which I've been playing since early last year), and still working my way through God of War *and* Spider-Man ... among other games. These are all massive games, and there are way too many of 'em. And it's an interesting discussion as to whether we need our games to be this expansive, or this detailed, or this complex. Case in point is arguably 2018's biggest game release: Red Dead Redemption 2. I've played a decent amount of the game so far (and I'll talk more about it below), but you do definitely wonder if the obsessive attention to detail and detailed systems is "worth it." From a player perspective, you have to wonder if the scope and detail in a game like Red Dead 2 truly adds anything material to the gameplay experience, or if it's more a novelty that is better off being streamlined. And you also wonder if it's worth the "crunch" - the insane hours and crazy work conditions that go into making a game like this. Personally, while I can admire the detail of a game like RD2, I also wish that games would stop trying to earn medals for length and complexity. Sometimes simpler is better. Sometimes artistic vision trumps number of side quests. Sometimes we don't actually need crafting systems (let alone multiple crafting systems). And yet this is now the norm. I'm not taking anything away from these games - but I am suggesting that there's a legit discrepancy between what developers think they need to put in games vs. what the majority actually want. Because while a game like Red Dead still sells like gangbusters, it's also the kind of high-profile game that, I worry, helps alienate a lot of people from gaming. I mean, as big as Red Dead is, look at Fortnite - easily the biggest gaming phenomenon of the last few years - in comparison. Fortnite is simple and streamlined. It's pick up and play. In some ways - despite being an online multiplayer shooter - it's a throwback to the kinds of social multiplayer games that have been popular across multiple gaming generations. So my hope here is that Red Dead and games like it are not the new template for what is considered a viable AAA game. I think many of us are okay with shorter, simpler, and more streamlined.
With that in mind ... it's going to be an interesting year for games up ahead. In 2018, I was lucky enough to once again attend E3. The show is still a sugar rush and total sensory overload - but it does feel like this year marked the end of an E3 era. Sony has pulled out of the 2019 show - so it will be the first show without them since the launch of the original Playstation. I'm a total Sony mark, but even I'll admit that they tend to get overconfident and foolish towards the end of console generations that they're leading. Sony is the clear leader right now, but they had better not get too cocky. This year, XBOX bought up interesting developers left and right - developers likely working on cool games that will finally give Microsoft some compelling exclusives. And Nintendo, unpredictable as they are, is getting a lot right this go-round with the Switch. And they likely have some big guns loaded up for next year (Metroid, anyone?). There's still totally a chance that Nintendo could blow it - they could under-deliver on new games and lose major momentum. But still ... Sony needs to end this console era strong. Time will tell if skipping E3 turns out to be a major slip-up or a big nothing. It could very well be the latter ... some of my most anticipated games are Sony exclusives, from The Last of Us 2 to Death Stranding. This competition though ... this is part of why it's so fun to follow the world of gaming. And why it's sad that Sony won't be part of E3. I love the hype and excitement of it all - it's a shame to lose part of what makes this industry special. That said, no question there will be many big surprises in 2019. You never know which big blockbuster may reign supreme, and you never know which under-the-radar indie title could become the next word-of-mouth sensation.
So with that, let's look at the best new games I played in 2018. Keep in mind, I spent plenty of time in 2018 still plugging away at 2017 holdovers like Horizon, Mario Odyssey, and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And keep in mind, I'm still knee deep in games like Spider-Man and Red Dead 2, so opinions could change over time. But let's get to it:
DANNY'S BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR:
1.) GOD OF WAR
- I was pretty skeptical of this one for a while. I was a *huge* fan of the God of War series in its previous incarnation, and was definitely worried that Sony's semi-reboot was going to make one of the best action games of all time just like every other big AAA open-world game out there. When I first started playing it, I felt like my fears might be justified. Gone was the blistering arcade action and button-mashing goodness of the old games - replaced by more methodical gameplay that took a lot of getting used to. But once I did acclimate and accepted that the series had evolved, I found myself enthralled by what is, I think, one of the best action/adventure games of this generation. Sony Santa Monica's new God of War is still action-packed, but it's also got a giant world to explore and a surprisingly deep and affecting story to tell. On the action side, there's a great new axe-throwing mechanic that makes you feel like Thor. On the narrative side, there's a touching story of father and son that adds a lot to the gameplay as well. I guess I should have known not to doubt Cory Barlog and the talented team at Sony Santa Monica - these guys are among the absolute best in the biz, and they made a new classic in God of War.
2.) MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN
- I'm a longtime fan of Insomniac. The Ratchet & Clank developers have an uncanny knack for combining kinetic action with best-in-class storytelling - and they outdid themselves with Spider-Man. The game takes a lot of what worked about the Batman: Arkham series but gives everything a new level of polish and fluidity. Namely, the web-swinging mechanic is awesome - you truly feel like Spider-Man as you swing through the skies of New York City. Additionally, the story here is not just great, but legit one of the best modern Spider-Man stories, period. Intrigue, romance, and even a great Stan Lee cameo that might just bring a tear to your eye. The voice-acting is universally excellent, and the score rivals that of any recent MCU movie. Between this and Into the Spider-Verse on the big screen, it's been a landmark year for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
3.) HOLLOW KNIGHT
- Technically, Hollow Knight came out in 2017, but no one played it. It was a PC-exclusive, and ... who plays platformers on PC? In any case, the game got ported to Switch in 2018, became a word-of-mouth sensation, and became perhaps *the* indie game of note this year. Now, so many "Metroidvania" games have come out of late that it's honestly becoming a glut. It's one of my favorite genres, so it's hard to be upset about it ... but man, it's hard to keep up. That said, if you make time for one Metroidvania, Hollow Knight should probably be your go-to. It's amazing. It's got an eye-popping, ethereal, hand-drawn art-style. An incredible, haunting musical score. Tight controls. Tough but not unbearably tough challenge level. And a shockingly huge world that's easy to get totally immersed in. This one doesn't hand-hold, so you need to give it a little time. But soon enough, this game will consume you. And it's 100% the perfect Switch game to boot.
4.) RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2
- Keep in mind: I've still only barely scratched the surface of this one. And I definitely have some mixed feelings overall, as described above. But my experience so far is this: for every annoying thing in this game that feels overly complex or non-intuitive, there are many more things that this game does mind-blowingly well. The level of storytelling here is jaw-dropping. Rockstar has never had a better narrative than this one. When the core missions work, they work amazingly - immersing you in cinematic moments that truly put you in an alternate Old West reality where you're the star of your own personal action-packed Western-adventure.
5.) SOULCALIBUR VI
- I've always loved the Soul Blade / Soulcalibur series of fighting games. Back in college, I spent many, many hours squaring off against friends, family, and roommates as Cervantes, Voldo, Sophitia, and the rest. And now, after a lengthy absence, we finally got a new game in the series in 2018. While not revolutionary, the sixth entry in the series was extremely polished, loaded with single and multiplayer modes, and a ridiculous amount of fun to play. The Soul games have always been distinguished by their weapon-based combat, and that returns in full force here, as good as ever if not better. Namco-Bandai had a winner on their hands last year with the return of Tekken, and now they're two for two with the triumphant return of their "tale of souls and swords."
6.) THE MESSENGER
- There have been a lot of retro, NES-style indie games of late ... but none grabbed me quite as much as The Messenger - a hilariously subversive take on old-school games that has some really crazy twists and surprises. First of all, the game starts out as a Ninja Gaiden-esque 2D platformer, only to become ... well, I won't spoil it. Except to say this game totally subverts what you think it is. Secondly, The Messenger is funny. It's not just an homage to classic games, but a satirical take on them. There's some major winking-at-the-audience going on here. It's a ton of fun. And great on Switch, too. For anyone who grew up as I did in the NES and SNES eras, this is a must-play.
7.) UNAVOWED
- I got my first new PC in several years this past year, after my old one finally conked out. I didn't spring for a powerhouse gaming PC, but my new computer runs well enough that I finally started dipping my toes back into the world of PC gaming a bit. My first order of business was scouring Steam for old-school favorites. It's crazy how much is available for download, often for insanely cheap prices. But loading up on old-school LucasArts adventure games made me curious about whether there were any really good *new* point-and-click games I should be checking out. Enter Unavowed - a new game that's exactly the kind of thing I LOVED back in the day, in the vein of the old LucasArts or Sierra classics. But it's got some great storytelling too that is decidedly modern (going to some very dark places), and some big twists to boot. If you're looking for a new game that channels the spirit of stuff like Gabriel Knight, download this one asap.
8.) DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ
- Okay, so I know basically nothing about Dragon Ball Z - so I was probably not the target audience for this new fighting game. However, I am a longtime fan of the insane pedigree of fighting games from developer Arc System Works (creators of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue). I love the way their games look like action-packed cartoons brought to life. And I love their games' over-the-top energy and insanity. Dragon Ball FighterZ my be their craziest game yet. It looks like nothing else I've ever seen - the graphics are truly something to behold. And the gameplay is pure button-mashing goodness. It's no wonder that this one has quickly become an e-sports fave.
9.) ICONOCLASTS
- Another really cool indie 2D platformer, Iconoclasts was created completely by one man - Joakim Sandberg, who spent seven years crafting this one from the ground up. And it's clear that it's a labor of love - an ode to the games of yesteryear that still feels fresh and modern due to its eye-catching and screen-filling sprite-based graphics, memorable music score, and innovative gameplay. To top it off, not only is the game just plain fun, but it's got an interesting story that has some surprising thematic depth.
10.) CELESTE
- Rounding out the list is one more 2D indie platformer that garnered a ton of critical acclaim in 2018. I'll be honest, while I really enjoyed the time I spend with Celeste ... I also found it to be challenging as hell. At the same time, I 100% admired the game's devious devotion to meticulously-timed platforming, as well as it's distinct aesthetic, great music, and resonant themes of overcoming adversity. If you managed to beat this one, hat's off - you're a true platforming champion. But for everyone else, this one is still a game that begs to be experienced and appreciated.
Other New Games I Enjoyed in 2018:
- Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon - when the creator of Castlevania makes a loving homage to his own Castlevania 3 - a concentrated dose of old-school fun.
- Mega Man 11 - not quite the masterpiece I was hoping for, but a cool return for the blue bomber nonetheless.
- Gris - a gorgeously-rendered arthouse game for Switch, this Journey-esque experience is a visual delight.
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