With 2006 just about said and done, I believe it's time now to get the ball rolling for our annual 'Best Of' video games awards.  Although there's no set category, I'm going with an overall top five model, along with an honorable mentions listing.   You are, of course, free to add in your own categories as you see fit, but just to get things started:

-TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2006

-BEST EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS OF 2006

-BEST GAMES YOU'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR RELEASED BEFORE 2006

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Will be back with my own entries in a bit!

Top 5 games of 2006:

1 - Final Fantasy XII
2 - Valkyrie Profile 2
3 - Civilization 4
4 - Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

(That's it I'm afraid! I haven't played much new stuff that's greatly impressed me).

Best old games discovered in 2006:

1 - Diablo 2
2 - Freelancer
3 - The Sims 2
4 - Fire Emblem: Sword of Flame
5 - Zangband TK

I've not heard of Fire Emblem:  Sword of Flame, Sabreman.  Although I need to get Diablo II back since I got this computer upgraded (for Civ IV, which is a great game).

Is your Top 5 in order of preference?  Twilight Princess ranks lower than FFXII, VP2 and Civ IV?

Fire Emblem: Sword of Flame is Fire Emblem on GBA in the U.S.

Top 5 games of 2006
1. Okami
2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
3. Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria
4. Trauma Center: Second Opinion
5. Elite Beat Agents

Top 5 from 2006

1)  Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
2)  Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence (PS2)
3)  New Super Mario Bros (DS)
4)  Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS)
5)  Mortal Kombat Armageddon (PS2)

Zelda obviously takes the cake for me in 2006, considering how my entire life was put on pause for a week while I annihilated that game, loving every second of it (except for that stupid carriage part). I scored a LE version of MGS3 Subsistence, and played it through three times within two weeks back-to-back-to-back. NSMB provided hours of entertainment, both in single player (100%!) and in the insane multiplayer, while the recently released Castlevania PR sucked up a good 15 hours of my time since its release. I feel it's the strongest portable Castlevania yet, maybe with the exception of Aria. And, last but not least, MK Armageddon is my favorite multiplayer fighter since, well, MK Deception. There is nothing like cracking open a twelve pack with a buddy and playing random select with the 60-something characters for a night. Carnage! Fun!

Top 5 Discovered in 2006

1)  Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney (DS)
2)  Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (PS2)
3)  Shadow Hearts Covenant (PS2)
4)  Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
5)  We <3 Katamari (PS2)

I'm late on the gravy train for some of these obviously awesome games, but I'm glad I played them all when I did. PW is the best DS game I own, and while Castlevania DS was very good, it felt like a less impressive Aria; been there, done that. I'm still slugging through Shadow Hearts II, but it's one of the most enjoyable RPGs I've played in a while. I'm a little disappointed that more people don't dig Sly Cooper, because Sly 3 (while slightly less awesome than Sly 2) is an excellent, excellent platformer. I can't recommend any of the games in the series is an A+ sure winner in my books. And Katamari! Come on! We love this game. Rolling things up is a great time for Us. Even if We know you can do better, roll the katamari much faster than that, make the katamari bigger than that!

Well, I only played a few games in 2006, so...

1: Tales of the Abyss (What can I say? I loved everything about this game, from the gripping story to the engaging characters).
2: Twilight Princess (I'm still playing this but it's definitely near the top of my list).
3: Okami (Working on this as well but I'm further in it than Zelda. Definitely a great game).
4: FFXII (Gameplay mostly good, characters and plot dull as dirt. I probably won't replay it, unlike the rest in the series).
5: Final Fantasy V Advance (Great port, addicting game).

... oops? Did Suikoden V come out this year. My mistake.

1: Suikoden V
2: TofT
3: TP
4: Okami
5: FFVA

Best:

1. Suikoden V
2. New SMB
3. VP2
4. Tetris DS
5. Princess Peach

Sort of an off-year overall and not too many new releases on my table, but these are definitely the classics I'll be looking back to from 2006. I had to give the edge to Suikoden V just because it has become a rarity for an RPG to hook me like that did...One of those deals where I took a gamble of setting everything else aside and it paid off. New SMB was great, but far less of a surprise.

Discoveries:

1. Burnout 3
2. Lords of Thunder
3. Growlanser 3
4. Super Ghouls and Ghosts
5. Tiny Toons: Scary Dreams

Yeah, I discovered Burnout this year...Amazing, addictive stuff. I'm saving Revenge for once I completely finish off everything 3 has to offer. A new Burnout is probably something I'd consider going next-gen for. I was considering selling my Turbo Duo, then a quick round of Lords of Thunder put that idea to rest...I completely forgot what a good shmup that was. Finished Growlanser 2 ages ago and just now started on 3 and I'm enjoying the quick pace and storyline. Very noticable after playing a lot of recent RPG's. Super Ghouls and Ghosts was a nice diversion during study time...Getting to Level 3 in a game never felt so rewarding. Made school-work seem easier after a quick session. And Tiny Toons was a complete surprise: A 2D platform-brawler with MvC2-style helpers and great overall design (it's quite difficult, which I liked). Oh, and it's by Treasure...Just figure I'd throw that out.

News-wise, nothing really surprised me this year. Nintendo got the jump on a lot of people and Sony seems to be losing steam, something I kind of expected to happen since everyone knew PS3 was going to be expensive (though PSP is crawling into being respectable) and Wii was very much a last-resort on the console end. Ys Origin and the new SNK vs Capcom: Cardfighters surprised me and it's good to see Nintendo's 2D platforming franchises coming back at an alarming rate. Keep 'em coming!

Goldfish, I just started Super Princess Peach because Yoshi's Island is ... not good.  I must say I am rather enjoying SPP.

As for Burnout, definitely go next-gen for Burnout Revenge---the 360 version is improved over the PS2 and XB versions.  I'm currently playing through Burnout 3 again on the 360 (yay for the bc list!) and it only confirms my suspicion that Burnout 3 is harder than Revenge.  It was Burnout Revenge that sold me the 360 earlier than waiting out for Dead Rising.  The 360 is the biggest surprise purchase for me---it is much improved over the Xbox and has got me to play games I really never did before (although Gamefly also helped with that too).

Also, 2007 has two Burnouts in store for you---one made for the PS2 (subtitled Dominator and not made by Criterion IIRC) and one for next-gen (numbered as 5 and for 360 and PS3 only).  Criterion has hinted that if the Wii were to get a Burnout it would be one built just for it, which means that there might be three console Burnouts in 2007.

Burnout is pure impulse most of the time, so I can see the Wii controller being very useful in that situation.

That's the other reason I haven't gotten Revenge yet...I might go next-gen on it, but 360 doesn't have a lot else I'm interested in yet. Better than PS3 right now, but I'll give XBLA some time to develop before jumping in. I'm planning on getting a Wii (and probably a PSP, but that's iffy) sometime next year, so 360 will need to come out with some serious gas.

I wasn't thrilled with Peach at first, but it got really good past the 3rd World. A tad easy and I miss holding 'B' to accelerate, but great fun nontheless.

TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2006:

5) Final Fantasy V Advance (GBA) - At long last, one of my most favorite Final Fantasies of all time, in portable form - and best of all, it came out relatively butcher-free. I was ecstatic when Square Enix announced that FF4-6 would be coming to the GBA last year, and while FF4 was a decent appetizer, FF5 is my main feast. The battle backgrounds got a pleasant graphical boost, the music resonates just fine, we got an excellently re-written script (much better than the PSOne Final Fantasy Anthology), and the game is thankfully just as brisk as the Super Famicom original. With its deep character customization system and speedy battles, this is, in my eyes, one of the absolute best RPG to own in portable form.

4) Rhythm Tengoku (GBA) - Though it doesn't have the depth or the longevity of, say, Ouendan or Elite Beat Agents, this is one little gem of a rhythm title, and dare I say -- perhaps the last truly great original GBA title. An action-rhythm game in its purest form; the execution is ridiculously simple but expertly executed, with some of the highest quality music to ever grace the GBA. Wonderful variation in music and scenarios offer lots of playability, though accomplishing those Perfect Campaigns forced onto me a few grey hairs I could've done without. All in all, a fantastic pick up and play title that offers good wholesome fun, and another first class effort from the Wario Ware folks.

3) Okami (PS2) - Clover's opus magnum, and final hurrah as a game developer. Twilight Princess may have ended up being the better action-adventure game, but there's no denying what Okami is; an aesthetics tour de force of the purest kind, combining a wonderful musical score, and a deep story with interesting characters. A gorgeous living piece of art, one of the PS2's best, and a title for the ages.

2) Elite Beat Agents (DS) - Surprised? Though it may not win my Game of The Year, EBA clearly won my most anticipated - and I'm happy that it met and exceeded my lofty expectations. Along with the same, loving amount of detail and care iNiS puts into all its games, I think the thing I appreciate most is that they didn't dumb it down for the overseas audience. Indeed, EBA contains all the same fine qualities as Ouendan, while adding and polishing features that make it even better. The gameplay is still challenging and insanely addicting, the song selection/cover work fantastic, and the stylized Japanese-fused-American artwork and presentation is just as wacky and fun. From the looks of things, the game has been well received, which I'm happy about. I've never wanted a game to succeed as much as Elite Beat Agents, as it could very well be iNiS's big break to truly put them on the map as a first-rate developer.

1) New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - In a way, this was both a difficult and easy choice for my GOTY. I knew this would be running neck to neck with EBA, but in the back of my mind, I knew it would tough to near impossible to beat the Brothers. I really had so much fun with this one. I can understand the haters' arguments, but once I got into the mind-frame that this was more a throwback to the original SMB rather than a direct progression of the series, I appreciated it so much more. A true Mario platformer, 2.5D style, with both classic and new sensibilities. The various new moves suddenly feel so apt (I can no longer imagine a Mario platformer without the ground pound and wall jump), and the new coat of graphical paint flourishes into a beautiful looking DS game. The short level lengths mirror those of SMB3's, which are absolutely perfect for pick up and play bursts, and it also has one of the most addictive multiplayer VS modes ever. All in all, a great return to form for our goomba-stomping plumber. Great job, Nintendo!

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Ape Escape 3 (PS2) - It seemed like an eternity for SaruGetchu 3 to arrive over here, but I'm glad it finally did, and it certainly made for an excellent title to start the year off with.  More worlds, more gadgets, more monkeys to capture.  Being able to play as two separate characters with two differing story lines was a nice touch, and the new Morph System, though somewhat unbalanced, was intuitive and fun to use.  The nagging hitches in the framerate is offset by the neat locales, a crazy amount of things to unlock, and surprisingly excellent music by Soichi Terada.

Mega Man X Collection (GC) - Although those promised "extras" were a no-go in the end, the collection itself was admirably done. Unlike past Capcom compilations, few compromises were made and the emulation for every game turned out to be near perfect. I'm still amazed at how FAST the load times are, particularly on the Gamecube version.

Mega Man: Powered Up (PSP) - A bright and bubbly remake of a game I didn't think I'd want to play through again. How wrong I was; being able to unlock and play as so many characters, along with the Challenge mode, Construction mode, and the on-the-fly difficulty mode setting makes this a very accessible Mega Man, and certainly one that's easy to keep coming back to again and again. I sure wish Capcom would continue with these remakes, because if they're as good as this one, I'd pick them all up in a heartbeat.

Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP) - Although not quite as expansive as Powered Up, the game deserves mention just because it's a remake of freaken-awesome X1. The sharp new 3D is a treat to look at, and the gameplay mimics the original faithfully. The placement of the different body enhancement parts threw me for a loop, but it adds a different spin to the same old arrangement of mavericks I've always taken on. There are some unfortunate flecks of slowdown here and there, but it's negligible so as to not detract much from the excellent pseudo-nostalgic experience. So tell me: have you "gone maverick?!"

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS) - I can see how people might be tiring of the "Metroivania" styling of IGA's 2D outings by now, but not me. Certainly not when what we're getting continues to be as polished and well put together as these games. Portrait boasts gameplay that's just as tight as ever, while the dual character system is surprisingly not an intrusion, making for some pretty decent platforming puzzle elements. The skills statistics and weapon/attack combination tweaks are as fun as ever, but I think the biggest merit is how challenging the game is. I didn't find myself breezing through the quest quite as easily as Aria or Dawn, so I do appreciate that added boost of difficulty.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2) - Almost as much as a new Metal Gear title do I cherish getting these addendums. In this case, though, Subsistence felt more like a necessity than anything else. Taking nearly everything that needed fixing in the original Snake Eater, such as the choppy radio codec, load time lags, and adjustable camera, we basically end up with a far more polished and complete version of MGS3. On top of which, the jam-packed bonus features and additions were a great excuse for the double dip. I only regret not being able to try the online modes; I've heard they have their flaws, but danged if people said it's not great fun.

Super Princess Peach (DS) - For the very reason it had been ostracized is the reason I love the game; its light, breezy nature made for a enjoyable romp. Coupled with some of the brightest, most vibrant graphics on the DS, I actually rate Peach as having more lasting power than NSMB; there's oodles more to unlock, and there's a wonderful feeling of progression, what with coin collecting, Toad rescuing, and ability-upgrading.

Loco Roco (PSP) - Although perhaps a bit too one-sided for its own good, I still had a great time with Loco Roco. It's just refreshing to jump straight into a game, not having to read or listen through two dozen tutorials just to know how to play. The physics are a tremendously neat aspect to the gameplay, and if nothing else, the overwhelming charm and adorable factor deserves mucho credit. The music score is just too C&C! (Cute & Catchy!)

Mario vs Donkey Kong: March of The Minis (DS) - As a fan of the original GBA game, I was curious to see what they could do with this one. The gameplay is a DS-functional yet familiar take on the Mario vs DK formula -- kind of "touch-capabilities meets Lemmings." Though it's a simple affair controlling the Mini Marios via the stylus, the vast number of environmental hazards and obstacles you're presented with give the game excellent depth, and even I was surprised that what should be feeling like a tiring formula, actually felt fresh and innovative.

Gyakuten Saiban 2 / Phoenix Wright: Justice For All (DS) - Who hasn't been dying for more Phoenix Wright after experiencing the first game? Although decidedly less impressive than its predecessor, due to a script that isn't quite as sharp and music that's generally regarded as the weakest in the trilogy, the cases are still engrossing to play through, and the story further embellishes on the ongoing journeys of these wonderful characters. Capcom also deserves props for another great GBA to DS port job, once again utilizing the excellent streamlined touchscreen format, quick text scrolling feature (after finishing the cases, of course), and upgraded music. Everybody needs to buy up the domestic version to make GS3 happen. Part three really is the finest in the series.

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BEST EVENTS & SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENTS 2006:

The release of Nintendo's DS Lite was huge; sales were astronomical, and for good reason; it's a sleek and practical reworking of a system that's already fueled by established success.  The announcement of Phoenix Wright: Justice For All is proof positive that the series has been doing well outside of its native land, which means the chances of seeing the entire trilogy (and the upcoming fourth) released domestically is looking better and better.  iNiS announcing a sequel to Ouendan in the form of Elite Beat Agents put me in fits of happiness for weeks.  Okami and Twilight Princess finally seeing release this year, and the Konami Shooter Collections (Parodius, Twin Bee and Salamander) coming next year for the PSP is high on the list of games to get.

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BEST GAMES YOU'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR RELEASED BEFORE 2006:

Ninja Five-O (GBA, 2003) - I considered myself lucky for being able to snag this hard-to-find Konami gem from 2003 -- brand new, and at such a great price.  The game is so deliciously old school, that I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear as I blew through mission after mission.  Superb challenge, tight controls, and a nifty time trial mode offers great replayability.  This one instantly flew up the ranks as one of my most favorite GBA games ever.

Virtua Tennis: World Tour (PSP, 2005) - I played the hell out of the Dreamcast version, and now being able to get my freakishly competitive game on a portable version has made me ecstatic.  It's a fantastic looking port that thankfully plays identically to its big brother. I've barely touched the likes of Portable Ops, DJ Max or Alpha 3 because I'm just so helplessly addicted to this game.  Bring on VT3!

Kessakusen! Ganbare Goemon 1+2 (GBA, 2005) - GBA ports of the first two Ganbare Goemon games for the Super Famicom, packed onto one cart; I've been waiting for the original Mystical Ninja for most of the GBA's lifespan, and here it was already released last April. With the exception of some very minor hit collision issues in Goemon 1, the ports are pound for pound faithful.  The graphics and nifty use of SNES effects (rotation, mode 7) are replicated perfectly, with Goemon 2 in particular looking downright gorgeous on the small screen.  The new save feature for Goemon 1 is also appreciated, though you still need to visit the damned password vendor to make the save.

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GAMES THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT (Either because I've yet to pick them up, or I've played much too little of them to really formulate a solid opinion):

Chibi Robo (GC)
Cooking Mama (DS)
DJ Max Portable (PSP)
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (DS)
Final Fantasy III (DS)
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
Grandia III (PS2)
Lego Star Wars II (GC)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)
Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX (PSP)
Suikoden V (PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GC)
Yakuza (PS2)

Totally with you there!  I'm playing through in Nightmare difficulty right now, and it's awesome   If you haven't already, make sure to get the Lord of Destruction expansion -it's a must!

I actually don't really purchase new games in general, because they're too expensive, and price will certainly go down.  I did however purchase the New Super Mario Bros, and it was the most dissapointing Mario I've ever played (I've played SMB, SMB2, SMB3, SMW, Mario Sunshine, and Lost Levels).  Now some people (Angela) loved it, and I respect that.  However, I found it too easy, and with little innovation.  I actually had much more fun playing the Lost Levels, which for the most part is the same as SMB only much harder.  Anyway, I am looking forward to getting a Wii and Zelda TP (I don't think I'll be dissapointed there

cheers,

-avatar!

Yeah, I have to say right off the bat that I'm not a major Zelda fan but I loved OoT, and Twilight Princess (so far - I've only had it a few days) is giving me that same vibe. The top three particularly appeal to my tendencies towards meticulous tinkering.

I probably won't replay FFXII anytime soon either, but the sheer pleasure of this first playthrough puts it right at the top of my list. I believe the structure of it means that I won't have to start over in order to find things I missed out on - I can just go back and make sure everything's done.

Hitman: Blood Money.

no love for gears of war?
c'mon!

Zelda Twilight Princess, Yoshi's Island DS, Gears of War, Dead Rising, New Super Mario Bros, Test Drive Unlimited, Lumines Live, Metroid Prime Hunters, Guitar Hero 2, Okami, Beatmania IIDX 11th MIX(import).

Just a general, no real thought, listing.

2006

Dead Rising
Gears of War
Zelda TP
FFV Advance
New Super Mario Bros.

As for the other list, I probably played loads of non-2006 games but my memory is just not up to the task right now. In general, the est gaming thing for me has been buying a 360 - a machine I had no interest in until I just bought one on a whim and it's one of the best gaming decisions I made.

OK, let's do this. I should mention before starting that while I got both FFXII and Twilight Princess for Christmas (and a boatload of others, but that's for another topic), I haven't put much of a dent in the former and don't yet have the system for the latter (though it's already paid for). This list is only for games I've finished or played an appreciable amount of. So try not to get your underoos in a bunch because they're absent from my lists, OK?

Best of the Year 2006
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5. New Super Mario Bros. - I still can't believe how many people sniffled their nose at this one, but that's the Internet for you. I say that if booting up an elegant new Mario sidescroller doesn't give you a little shiver of delight, you are dead on the inside and doomed to a life devoid of joy.

4. Okami - Didn't Kamiya head up the Capcom Studio that helped Nintendo develop the handheld Zeldas? That would explain a lot. Okami is beautiful, yes, but it's much more than that. It's a perfect example of a game that encourages doing everything, while actually making you want to. And it's got a great sense of humor to boot.

3. Megaman ZX - Don't call it a comeback. Call it what it is - the most polished and enjoyable Megaman sidescroller in almost a decade. The forms, the boss biometal system, the sidequests...if only Inticreates had made the Zero series like this from the start. Oh, and best soundtrack and arrange of 2006. No debate.

2. Ape Escape 3 - I'll come right out and say that since Mario Sunshine came out and shot itself in the face, Ape Escape has had the title of Most Awesome 3D Platformer all to its lonesome. AE3 just raised the bar that much higher. My 'Cameo Leon' Highlight of the Year Award for 2006 has to go to the Monkey Blue Battle...fun in its purest form.

1. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition - I didn't actually try DMC as a series until March of last year, but even 4 years late, I loved it. That Capcom chose to release a perfected iteration of its best entry on my birthday was something special. The flexibility, the bonuses, the cutscenes, the playable ending...brilliant, the whole thing (well, maybe not the music, but hey). One of those games that has enough to it, and in it, to never grow old.

Events of the Year 2006
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Kingdom Hearts 2 Day at the local game shop was pretty fun. They had a 50-inch TV set up with a Kingdom Hearts 1 file maxed out and people took turns trying to take out Sephiroth while everyone else in the room heckled them. When KH2 arrived for purchase and the crowd formed into a few lines, the one who was playing the system at that time decided to leave the Coliseum and take a stab at the final boss. Seeing a 30-something guy yelling at Goofy for being 'a stupid motherfucker' with his daughter on his shoulders, scolding his language, is the sort of thing you can only fully enjoy in person.

Oh, and the first day with a DS Lite is a special occasion, too.

Best of the Year Not-2006
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5. Chu Chu Rocket (GBA) - Neglected it back when, but snorting hard now.

4. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow - Yeah, I like this one better than Dawn of Sorrow. Kinda surprised me, too.

3. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - Not the Grand Slam the first one was, but a solid triple.

2. Shadow of the Colossus - Always wanted to try it, finally did. Worth the wait.

1. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Oh, like this was even a contest.

All in no particular order, was hard enough to pick 5.

TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2006

Tetris DS
Great reincarnation of a classic fav + no brains international multiplay= great!
Final Fantasy XII
Love Matsuno games so this is a no-brainer. Solid!
Suikoden V
Had some issues with this one but the music and story won me over.
Final Fantasy V advance
Excellent port of an excellent game.
Albatross18: season two
Great learning curve + simple and fun (free) online golf game

BEST EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS OF 2006
New FF Tactics games FTW! I was afraid we wouldn't see any more Tactics games after Matsuno left SE but thank god I was wrong. Can't wait for FFTA2.

Also, the release of the DSlite (and me purchasing it, didn't have a DS) made quite some impact: the amount of quality titles is staggering and it truly marks the beginning for Nintendo's next golden age.

BEST GAMES YOU'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR RELEASED BEFORE 2006
Animal Crossing: WW
Fun little game which I gave too little playtime unfortunately.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Didn't impress me as much as I thought I would; still a great game.
Ace Combat 4
awesome in every way: story, gameplay, music, graphics. The best Ace Combat.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Smooth as hell with a great ability system; one of those games you can't stop playing.

What does "FTW" mean?  :?

*clueless*

For the win

I finally found a used copy of this, and I wondering, is there a code to erase all the save data so I can start from scratch?  I don't have the manual so I'm wondering if anyone knows.  Thanks!

I just checked the manual, and unfortunately, there's no mention of an erase option.  Doubt you'd want to try this, but it does state "Do not turn off the power during saving, as it could delete or CORRUPT save data."  Either that, or you could try turning the game on and off repeatedly a couple of times -- which, of course, isn't recommended either. 

Those Time Trial records must be bugging you, huh? o_O

Man, I simply couldn't imagine playing D2 with LoD, it adds so much to the game. It's a good game to go back and play every so often.

I find it just fascinating that in a forum devoted to a sub-culture like VGM its members favor games made by the Japanese that by and large fuel the hobby. Does our taste in music therefore affect our taste in games?

That being said...

TOP FIVE/2006

1.    Final Fantasy XII - The spiritual sequel to Vagrant Story – which would be enough right there, personally. After 5 years of waiting and almost that much time experiencing hype and lofty expectations, it managed to exceed everything. A game I will treasure for a long time to come.

2.    Final Fantasy V Advance – The first time I was able to experience a pure form of FFV – and what a surprise it turned out to be. While my playthrough of it was really nothing more than an excursion in level-grinding, I had fun the entire time.

3.    Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin – The fact that nearly a year’s worth of hype and build-up didn’t crash and burn right in my face is reason enough for PoR to be on the list. Imported the Japanese version, then bought the domestic release a week later. That has to say something, right?

4.    Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence – Camera control turned what was a clunky and unforgiving Snake Eater experience into an infinitely more accessible and fun game. I played Snake Eater once then left it alone. Subsistence I played through multiple times within weeks.

5.    The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – I bought Oblivion as an experiment if you will. I own very few non-Japanese games, and I wanted to find out why. Oblivion turned me from being apathetic towards Western games to, well, a liker I suppose. Not a perfect game (the constant and jarring loading really got on my nerves), but good enough to broaden my horizons.

TOP FIVE/NON-2006

1.    Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne – This rates as my favorite game of the year, even above FFXII. It wasn’t the high encounter rate that did it, nor was it the repetitive dungeon designs. It was the way the story and themes were presented – it had a story that was actually thought-provoking and set in an environment unique and distinct; not to mention it was populated by an accurately represented assortment of mythological figures, the collecting of whom became wonderfully addictive. The ambient/rock soundtrack and the hauntingly fitting simplicity of the art style were just the icing on a cake for which I’ll always have room for seconds.

2.    Digital Devil Saga 1&2 – Mostly the same as above, but put better emphasis on Meguro’s soundtrack and the cast of memorable characters and the story they drove along smoothly. DDS1 probably has my favorite soundtrack of 2006, edging out FFXII in the parallel dimension where they came out in the same year .

3.    Valkyrie Profile – I was able to find an original copy of VP at Gamestop right before EB/Gamestop decided to close the doors on the previous generation of consoles. The game was just as fun as I had imagined and once the story gets going on the path to the “good” ending, I just couldn’t put it down. At certain points I found myself tearing up – quite a feat for a game that has “bad” voice acting and a largely stagnant 2-dimensional presentation. A testament to the great memory of the PS1 era RPG.

4.    Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Any moment where I was able to point out a contradiction in a witness’s testimony causing Phoenix’s theme to play was one of the greatest moments I had all last year. The over-the-top flashiness and zaniness of the title was able to overcome bouts of boredom stemming from having no clue how to advance the game.

5.    Shadow of the Colossus – Scale and atmosphere made SotC one to remember. The irony is that I really don’t remember my specific emotions while playing it, as that was well over a year ago in last year’s January! Damn good game though, that much I do remember.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

1.    Final Fantasy III (DS) – Slow. Slow. Slow. Slow. Slow. Getting FFIII on the same day as FFV Advance is more or less 12 nails in III’s coffin. I’ve played through the Famicom version of III but this version suffers in the 3D translation. I didn’t get more than 20 minutes into the game before I put it down and plugged FFVA in its place.

2.    Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Saying it was a disappointment is a bit of a misnomer – I enjoyed the majority of the time I spent with TP. However, it reaffirmed that personally the magic of the Zelda series is lost for me in 3D. Or, more accurately, that the games need a new direction to this aging formula of predictable temple-grinding. See also: N64-like MIDI soundtrack. BARF!

3.    Okami – I put it in and was almost immediately bored with it. Loved the concept, music, art – I don’t know what was “wrong” with it. Perhaps I’ll give it another try in 2007?

4.    Megaman ZX – The poor map function really killed this one. Getting lost frequently makes you lose interest in an otherwise above-average title pretty fast.

5.    SIXAXIS Controller – My time playing the meager PS3 launch titles gave me enough experience with the Sixaxis to be disappointed with it. It feels too light, which is forgiveable – the worst part about it is the “trigger” treatment they gave the L2 and R2 buttons. It just feels too awkward pressing those buttons – hard to describe really, but you’ll know it when you feel it. The only motion sensing experience I had was with Genji 2, so I suppose its utter failure there I shouldn’t be so hasty to judge, eh?

I haven't actually messed with the time trial yet, but it would be nice to be able to work only against myself instead of the previous owner.

Oh well.  Thanks for checking.  I looked at GameFAQs, but there aren't any FAQs for it and the only "codes" just mention how to unlock the additional difficulty levels which are already unlocked on my cart.

I must say that I am so happy that I'm not the only one still playing Diablo 2. A week ago, I f---ing went and bought the game FOR THE FOURTH GODDAMN TIME.

As far as my favorite games of 2006, I have to admit that the best game I played this year was Okami, by a wide margin. Yeah, that's right. I liked it better than Twilight Princess, so back off.

I was ultimately underwhelmed by Twilight Princess for the first half. While the game looks and sounds spectacular, I just felt that it didn't really live up to Okami's standards, at least not until the second half. I did end up falling in love with the minimalist expressionism used in the game, however. From the facial expressions (that, while nowhere nearly as 'ham-fisted' as those found in Wind Waker, managed to convey the same amount of emotion), to the bleak scenery found in the Twilit realm, to Link's relationship with Midna (who is, in my opinion, the best new character of 2006, male, female, or otherwise), to the ambiguous ending, the game succeeded on levels that escape description. As a side note, I should mention that I much preferred the 'Cube version to the Wii version. Anyone else feel that way?

As for Okami, what else can be said? Zelda made you feel like a true hero, but Okami made you feel like a legend reborn. Battling alongside mythical allies, utilising the many brush techniques, transforming bleak landscapes into breathtaking works of art (all of which left me, personally, in a state of abject awe), this game will be revered forever. I'll never forget the intense relationships between Ammy, Issun, and Waka, or the absolutely bizarre, and unforgettably colourful cast of characters (Susano for the win, man!), or the boss fights, which are the stuff of gaming legend, right up there with ZOE, and Shadow of the Colossus for epicicity (is that a word?) and impact, respectively. Finally, I loved that the game didn't take itself too seriously sometimes, but managed to come off with a dark tone at other times. Easily my game of the year.

As for portables, I have to go with Elite Beat Agents for my pick of the year. I never got to play Quendan, but I did snap up EBA shortly after it was released, and played the shit out of it subsequently. Everything about the game is done really well. The song list mostly contained songs that I've either never heard of ("Walkie-Talkie Man"), or don't particularly care for outside the context of a rythm game (Anything by Hoobastank, Sum 41 or Steriogram), but the game managed to make these songs really, really, really fun to play. The scenarios were utterly hilarious (my favorite being the . . . uh . . . hrmm . . . they were all totally awesome). And for some reason, I found the Agents to be charming, and endearing on a level I don't think their Quendan counterparts could match.  Elite gov't agents saving lives through the power of song and dance? Why, yes, I do believe I'll want seconds!

Look forward to next year, wherein I hope to play the speculated Fatal Frame in development for PS3, and Gundam Musou, if it does indeed make it's way over here.

Finally, Nintendo! Get to f---ing work on localizing Mother 3!

Okami is admittedly very slow to start, namely for the first 8 hours (although in retrospect, it might've actually been less). And while that sounds like a huge chunk of time for the introduction quest(s), I should also note that the beginning to end kept my girlfriend and I busy for nearly 60 hours (58:14 was our recorded playtime, I think).

As for Megaman ZX, I couldn't agree with you more. I think that the semi-open-ended world killed the game for me, along with a horrible map system. I'll add that I felt that the narrative felt very unnecessary to me (I can't find the words to explain it, but to best sum up my feelings, I felt that ZX was a totally unnecessary entry to the Megaman lore). I was, however, extremely impressed that Capcom fit anime cutscenes of such quality onto the DS card. That really shocked me. Instead of focusing on ideas that seem hit and/or miss, I'd really love to see a continuation of Megaman Legends.

I think it would be impossible for game music fans to not have at least a small slice of passion for the games that bore its music.  Most of us grew up on the console video games of yesteryear - particularly the Japanese ones - and that's an established comfort zone when it comes to recognizing the correlation between games and their music.  And although, the gap between Japanese and non-Japanese game developers/music composers has readily narrowed throughout the last decade, the market is still predominantly Japanese-driven; it's a reasonable observation that the majority of VGM gamers would continue to gravitate more toward titles developed by the Japanese.  It is a fascinating subject, actually.

Anyway, welcome to the forums.  And a great first post, too.  :)

I think it's the other way around.  Our taste in games fuels our taste in music.  Most of us got into VGM by playing Japanese-made games.  We liked the music, so we sought it out and eventually discovered VGM.

Thanks Angela! When I get a chance I'd like to start up a topic devoted to this subject - I'm very interested in hearing what others say! (I'm very interested in topics devoted to East compared to West.) And as you could tell by my best of list, I definitely fit that phenomenon!

EDIT: Looks like I barely got to breathe before XLord007 chimed in his two cents on the matter! I'll start up the topic now, then!

EDIT 2: Topic now here: http://altpop.com/stc/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2130

I didn't buy many games in 2006 since I more or less was buying more soundtracks
However, here's what I did manage to play and my thoughts on them:

**Final Fantasy XII**
Big waste of money in my opinion... will NEVER blindly buy a Final Fantasy title again. It took them five years to make this? Yeah, it's pretty to look at but it practically has no soul - where did all that excellent character development that made me fall in love with past FF characters go? The sidequests were complete dreck.

**Valkarie Profile 2**
I felt a little better about VP2 than I did about FFXII. Overall it was a pretty rewarding experience and my only real gripe is I honestly could have waited to play it until the recent price drop... after playing I felt buying it on launch day for $50 wasn't as necessary as I initially deemed so.

**Wild Arms 4**
Outside the decent attempt to update the series' battle system everything else fell pretty flat... story, length, most of the characters/villians and the soundtrack. I will say I think Xseed did a good job with the translation (outside the one error that keeps you from unlocking all the addition content). I didn't think that error was as *grave* as some gamers did.

**Mega Man X Collection**
I actually haven't played these games on the collection yet (I have the original copies/carts except X3) but this collection in itself is an excellent history lesson of a series with various ups and downs. Still, outside of my "silly need" to have some version of X3 in my gaming collection this isn't a real winner as I'd more or less play each game on their original systems anyway.

**Street Fighter Alpha Collection**
I actually liked this collection a lot but I forgot why the PS1/PS2 controller is so bad for games such as these: BLISTER CITY! Unfortunately, putting all these games together had a negative effect. When you get down to it the Alpha games are more less upgrades of each other then being individual entities: there is little to no reason to play the original Alpha. I sold this one off as I quickly lost interest despite being a fan.

I largely agree on this one, but I am a mild Alpha 1 fan for 2 reasons: It's the only true SF that's focused on chain combos (custom combos became derived from them) and the difficulty level is quite high in 1P mode...I have way more trouble beating Bison in this one than even the super form in Alpha 3.

I skipped this because I owned every game in some form or another (including 5 versions of Alpha 2!) and because we got absolutely screwed out of online play. It's ironic that paying $300 or so for an Alpha 2 coin-op sounds like a good deal that is really difficult to pass up (if I had a place to put the damn thing, I'd have gotten it already), whereas $30 for all three games and more just sounds like too much.

One major plus of the X collection...The load times in the PS1 games are amazing. It's like playing the games on a cart.

And yeah, FFXII is one where you definitely have to look past the name. I'm not really sure the FF name means a great deal anymore when the series' mastermind is working over at Mistwalker (along with the series' most famous composer) and the number of pseudo-sequels and spin-offs is reaching mind-boggling heights (were there 2 or 3 different FFXIII's coming out? And what's the FFVII count up to?).

Last time I checked... there are three official FFXIII games (two PS3, one mobile) though there might be another one that hasn't been announced yet, though that one may be a related project and not actually a game.

FF7 is up to six games I think (PSX, PC, PS2, PSP, and two for mobile) plus the DVD movie and short anime thingy.  I wouldn't be too surprised if FF7 sees something special happen later this year for the 20th anniversary deal, but who knows.

I guess we're due for a Wii FF7 spin-off  where you can use the Wiimote and control Cloud's huge sword. That would be pretty neat, actually...Wiimote Omnislash!

Same here, especially considering the way Mega Man Legends 2 ends and all...