HDRL Game of the Year Awards 2007

As the year comes to a close, and the holidays draw close, HDRL prepares to shut its doors until the ripe young days of 2008. Unlike last year, though, we decided to participate in the heated and often debated Game of the Year list war.

Since this is the first year, let’s establish the rules:

1) Remakes and enhanced ports are disqualified from the running for GOTY.

2) If a game wins one category, it is not disqualified from winning other categories.

3) Lists include both US and JP releases. In the case of games like Persona 3, since I played through the Japanese version when it released last year, it is disqualified from running this year.

4) Handhelds are not disqualified. I do a lot of gaming on my PSP and DS. There’s no way I’m disregarding them.

Without further ado, let’s get to the awards!

Technical Achievement in Graphics

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Not only was Uncharted devoid of any of the overused “next generation” techniques that other developers seem so fond of, but they managed to make a living environment that’s not only vibrant and colorful, but becomes a character of its own, swaying in the wind, camouflaging deadly traps, and impeding Nate’s progress. Anyone who says that Uncharted isn’t the best looking game this year is either blind, or lying. Plus, Naughty Dog gets major respect for making an unlockable “next gen” bloom filter, just for fun.

Technical Achievement in Art

gRiM gRiMOiRE

While the game was created as a money making title while Vanillaware worked on Odin Sphere, its real magnum opus, the game ended up not only being surprisingly good for a console Real Time Strategy game, but each hand drawn unit was downright gorgeous. Combine this with the Playstation 3’s upscaling, and you have some of the most beautiful sprites to ever grace a TV. George Kamitani and his team should truly be proud of this amazing achievement, especially considering the game was released exclusively for the seemingly immortal Playstation 2.

Technical Achievement in Sound

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Uncharted’s sound design is not just well done. It’s not even just well composed and arranged. Uncharted’s sound design is plain stellar. From the sweeping and swelling soundtrack, to the incredible sound of weaponry, echoes, voice and directional sound sources, Uncharted has sound of the year written all over it. Add to the fact that the game runs natively in DTS, and it’s difficult to find another game that even comes close.

Best Soundtrack

Mass Effect

Eschewing the normal orchestral route that most would normally consider for an epic space opera, Bioware instead drew upon the influence of 70’s and 80’s science fiction movies and TV shows for their Mass Effect soundtrack. The result is something that’s not only strange and jarring, but wholly original and bizarrely compelling. The soundtrack even straddles a wide range of situations, from a traditional love theme, to techno-driven heart-pumping action set pieces. If there was one surefire way Bioware could distance its new IP from its far more well known Knights of the Old Republic, establishing an aural precedent was it. Mass Effect’s soundtrack is simply awesome.

Best Intro

Lost Odyssey

Hironobu Sakaguchi’s newest Mistwalker title might have excessive load times and an overabundance of cinematics, but if there’s one thing the creator of Final Fantasy knows, it’s how to make an epic adventure. The introductory sequence to Lost Odyssey is nothing short of epic, combining a city montage showing everyday life and commerce, with a magnificent soundtrack written by veteran composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Best Ending

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

It takes a special brand of cinematic direction to elicit emotions from a viewer, even when they know exactly what is going to happen. We all know Zack Fair’s tragic defeat prior to Final Fantasy VII, but the ending to Crisis Core is so powerful, it manages to make more than a few gamers cry. Now that is an achievement.

Biggest Surprise

Aquaria

There could not be a bigger surprise this year than Aquaria. Not only did the game come completely out of left field, but it’s also one of the most beautiful 2D games this year, despite being developed by a team of two people. The controls are intuitive and simple, the soundtrack is haunting and beautiful, and the entire package makes for an incredibly high class game, despite being independently developed and published.

Biggest Disappointment

Odin Sphere

Despite being George Kamitani’s magnum opus and spiritual sequel to Princess Crown, Odin Sphere ended up becoming the biggest disappointment of 2007. Not only was the game’s beautiful aesthetics marred by considerable, almost game-breaking, slowdown, but players were forced to endure the same bosses over and over again as different characters. Combine that with a considerably uninteresting player character near the middle of the game that killed the game for a lot of players, and you have a game that ended up not delivering on its promises. Ironically, Vanillaware’s stopgap game gRiM gRiMOiRE ended up being the better game.

Best Game I Never Got Around to Playing

Etrian Odyssey

I’ve never gotten more hate than from fans of Etrian Odyssey who realized I never got around to playing the game this year. It was not for lack of want, but lack of time. Like all people, I have limited time, and this was one of those great games that fell through the cracks. I don’t know if it’s actually good, but I’m not willing to risk my life by not giving at least a nod.

Most Endearingly Bad Voice Acting

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles

At this point, it has become a staple for Biohazard/Resident Evil games to sport some of the most god awful voice acting in the industry. When the first game was released, it was more for financial reasons, as well as available talent. Even with excellent actors and higher budgets now available in our industry, Capcom still believes Resident Evil is not Resident Evil without deplorable, laughable voice acting. We totally agree.

Top Ten Games of the Year

10. gRiM gRiMOiRE

9. 勇者のくせになまいきだ (For a Hero, You sure are Impudent!)

8. Bioshock

7. Puzzle Quest (XBLA Version)

6. 宝島Z (Zack and Wiki)

5. すばらしきこのせかい (It’s a Wonderful World/The World Ends With You)

4. Mass Effect

– Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Uncharted did not just manage to grab the third place spot for GOTY this year, it truly surprised me. The controls are a further refinement of the cover and gunplay first shown in both .killswitch and Gears of War, combined with fantastic climbing mechanics, intelligent flanking AI, and a story that draws both from adventure pulp and action games of the past. Uncharted really is much more than merely the sum of its parts. It’s execution is so incredible, it’s a wonder it hasn’t appeared on more GOTY lists.

– Super Mario Galaxy

Placing Galaxy on the GOTY list is a no-brainer for anyone who actually played their way through the game. Not only does it offer a new twist on the basics established in Super Mario 64, but it returns a sagging series (tarnished partly by Super Mario Sunshine) to greatness, proving why Mario is not only the pioneer of modern platforming, but also its King. To say that any other platformer comes close to matching the greatness that is Super Mario Galaxy is merely wishful thinking. Nothing beats Galaxy, except…

– よすみん (Yosumin)

The pick for this year’s Game of the Year might turn a few heads, but I assure you this isn’t to grab hits for HDRL. Yosumin as a concept is not only one of the most addictive puzzle games in my entire collection, but it continues to draw me in, even after picking up other games. The trophies, challenges, modes and story mode all serve to draw me back into its sugary sweet word of emotional shapes. Truthfully, even after unlocking all the challenges and modes, and long after getting all the game’s available trophies, I will still be playing Yosumin. It’s just that good.

Are we wrong? Are we right? Think our GOTY list is total crap? Let your voice be heard by posting in the comments box below!