NBrid

2005's Sweet Freakin' Game of the Year (as told by bone)

Originally I was going to do a 'Best of this Generation' vote since thanks to the premature release of the 360, the 'current' generation has come to an end. However, thanks to Nintendo delaying Zelda (which was sure to be a high vote getter), I've decided not to. Yes, I agree. It will be hard for Zelda TP to beat out RE4 and Metroid Prime, but I was going to list the top 5 for each system (and overall). So we'll have to wait and see if Zelda can beat out Eternal Darkness some other time.

This fall has been one of the weaker falls in recent memory in terms of blockbuster games. All the really big games (RE4, God of War, Killer 7... cough/) came out in the spring or summer. No wonder 360 sold to people willing to cash in their 401K for another generic FPS. Even me, "Mr. Hardly Ever Buys Games Anymore", only got one game this fall (Fire Emblem... which you all should go out and buy right now!). So it seems pointless to do any kind of vote whatsoever (is that one word? or should it be hyphenated?).

We all know Resident Evil 4 will win everything (except for maybe best RPG... well, it does have resource managment thanks to that merchant...). Gamespot has already come out and declared RE4 the winner. So what can we here at Con-T...err, NBrid possibly add? FEAR the best PC shooter? Battlefield 2 the best online multiplayer? Fire Emblem the best strategy game? Killer 7 the best story impersonating a game since Shenmue? God of War the runner-up in every category? Star Fox Armada the biggest let down since, well, Star Fox Adventure? Half-Life 2 the best game of 2005 that actually came out in 2004? Guild Wars the best Diablo-clone since PSO? GTA: San Andreas the game I most don't want to ever see mentioned again?

It's not easy being a one console gamer (especially when that one working system is a purple box...), but I did have some fun with several PC games. So that's something. But come on, Nintendo hurry the fuck up and get the Revolution (or whatever it's going to be called) out on the streets. And don't let the games be too gimicky or the graphics too painfull on the eyes. That's all I ask, or else I may give up on gaming forever and do something more productive with my time. Like seeing how many envelopes I can seal in an hour, and then trying to beat that... that or look for a new job where I don't ever have to look at code again. (Disclaimer: If you're my "boss", that last statement was a joke...)

Oh I almost forgot, some people (err, person) tells me the DS had a very good year. (Editor's Note: Bonesquad doesn't actually own a DS. He's not as smart as this post makes him seem.) So if you're into handheld gaming, and don't mind graphics circa 1996 (sigh... I'm guessing I better get used to dated graphics for the Rev though), you should check out the DS. It's only $130 bucks. It's not like you have anything better to spend it on. I mean damn, your parents don't even charge you rent for living in the basement. (Hmm, what other gamer cliche can I come up with... Ah!) And your girlfriend... well I better not go there since I'm not one to talk. Sigh... and now I'm depressed. Thanks a lot.

What's the deal with my brain?
Why am I so obviously insane?
    -R.C.