Marcus Orchard – Final Fantasy VII Remake
There were nearly impossible expectations for Final Fantasy VII Remake. It almost feels like a project this big was destined to fail. Somehow, this remake came out far better than anyone could ask for. The reimagined battle system feels buttery smooth when it clicks. The story allows the characters to be more dynamic than ever before. The story makes some fantastic changes that allow for the series to feel like an entirely new experience. The music is full of fantastic rearrangements, adding an incredible amount of energy to every encounter. While it’s only a small piece of the entire story, Final Fantasy VII Remake is simply the most entertaining JRPG of the year.
Alexander Cole – Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS Maxi Boost ON
This should come as no surprise. I mentioned in my review that it would probably be my game of the year. It’s the end of the year and nothing else has topped this title for me. A balanced 3D arena fighter is rare in fighting games but to see one this finely tuned is amazing. The move sets are varied, and there’s very little repetition amongst the huge roster of mecha to play. To top it all off you get solid single-player options along with the online co-op modes. This was not only a great game for Gundam fans but it’s a terrific fighting game in general.
Kila Panaretou – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2021 has been an unprecedented year for obvious reasons. Times have been hard and like many video games can offer a respite and a welcome escape from this. The release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, could not have come at a better time. It’s a relatively simple game where you live and manage a small island with your animal islander friends, but for many this sweet game has been a huge source of comfort. This game has touched so many of my friends and made an awful year amidst the pandemic, that little bit more bearable. It comes as no surprise then that this is my top pick for best game of the year.
Honourable mentions go to Final Fantasy VII Remake, Genshin Impact
Jack Che – Hades
Hades is a game that has existed for some time in early access on steam. I didn’t think much of it as it seemed like a new knock on the Diablo/Path of Exile genre. After finally getting a chance to play it though, the rest of the game shines beyond the gameplay. You get pulled into a game with rich characters and story, playing out like a soap opera. The music and sound design are deep and enriching. The art style is a standout point of the game, providing rich backgrounds to the action. Overall, I think Supergiant Games knocked it out of the park here and will be glad to see where their next endeavors go from here.
Hunter Sandlin – Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is everything I want in a video game; fast combat, insane soundtrack, replayability, little social interaction, ripping, and most importantly, tearing. The combat is tight and precise, you have to make multiple decisions every second and, via the difficulty, and tell the game how much room for error is allowed. Every demon has a unique way of ruining your day and keeping you moving. Gameplay any fast would hardly be playable by a human. The soundtrack takes the gameplay from fast-paced action to intense carnage. After beating the game three times on PS4, I decided it was time to buy a PC and have beaten it multiple times on there as well.
Pashtrik Maloki – Doom Eternal
Saying that 2020 was a crazy year would be an understatement. The start of March felt like an anxiety-inducing fever dream, with everyone, everywhere going crazy and not knowing what they were doing. So naturally, booting up Doom Eternal felt like a godsend. It was a perfect game that came out at the perfect time.
The strategic, resource-management aspect, combined with the intense and fast-paced combat meant you had to maintain a laser-sharp focus. Jumping around the arena, switching between weapons and blowing up enemies felt more like a dance to the groove of Mick Gordon’s masterful soundtrack than your run-of-the-mill FPS. And slaughtering hordes of evil demons just felt so cathartic. For two weeks, Doom Eternal provided me with the perfect escape. And I am eternally thankful for it.
Matt Dillon – Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition (Switch Port)
It’s been a bad year in a lot of ways but at least we can enjoy a further improved version of Devil May Cry 3 on the Switch. Everything looks great and handles perfectly, as this year’s port lets you venture up to the top of Temen-ni-gru as Dante (or Vergil) one more time. Thrashing demons and building up the style meter has yet to get old.
Nicky Bleakley – Yakuza: Like a Dragon
To change pretty much everything the Yakuza series is known for was an incredibly risky choice on the part of RGG studios, but it paid off in dividends. The new RPG combat meshed perfectly with Yakuza’s signature sense of humor and the new protagonist’s reliance on allies over brute force allowed for emotional beats the past Yakuza games shied away from due to Kiryu’s lone wolf attitude. This game is a great sequel for long time fans and a great gateway for newbies alike and sets a great new precedent for the gameplay and writing of future Yakuza games.
