This is really cool. There haven’t been many quality 2.5D games as of late. Super Paper Mario was a cumbersome experience at best, while Fez is still a ways off from release. In the meantime, there are videos like this one to help us dream of the possibilities that could exist…
Thanks to Peter Sjostrand for creating this awesome video!
When choosing your favorite games of the year, what should the criteria be? Is it about innovation, refinement, or the emotion it brings out in you? Each title I’ve selected is easy to get into and lures you into a deeper, specialized concept such as precision coupled with continuous improvement, tension, or discovery. Enjoy!
Mario Kart Wii - Simple, fun, yet hard to master. Casual racers will have fun just learning to drive, but more “professional” drivers will be thrilled as they successfully pull off precise maneuvers and juggle multiple threats. In Mario Kart Wii, you’re not just driving; you’re aligning yourself to the next boost pad, performing a trick in midair that will give you another boost, landing near an opponent and slipstreaming behind them, and then finally throwing your vehicle into a corner with a power slide. Oh, and don’t forget to watch out for others who will try tirelessly to knock you off course. And then there are the environmental obstacles… Mario Kart Wii is an addictive adrenaline rush that gets away with its flaws because of its core gameplay is tested, tweaked, and proven. In addition to the gameplay, the online ranking system and ghost races help bolster the “just one more” mantra. The game is packaged with a plastic wheel; thankfully you can choose to play it with a number of alternatives such as my favorite, the Wiimote and nunchuck.
Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice - The Ace Attorney series is more of a visual novel than a game, but they cleverly dish out a little information here and there, doing a superb job at building up tension through storytelling. When you finally present the damning piece of evidence, the limited interactivity proves its worth in a thrilling climax in the courtroom. And then there are the characters… While some are overly cheesy and make a total mockery of the courtroom, the characters are memorable and their dialogue is filled with witty (and some objectionable) humor and allusions.
Dragon Quest IV - By today’s standards, Dragon Quest IV is a limited adventure. Your options are few and the world is relatively small, but these are also its strengths. By leaving out so many extras, Dragon Quest IV engages the player through their learning and mastery of its simple mechanics. The world might be small, but there are plenty of secrets to be found. The storytelling is still phenomenal in how it divides the the quest into small, digestable chapters, only to come together in a grand finale.
Here’s a game designed around the simple joy of experimentation. In Eets, the player places these little creatures around the screen in order to set up a chain of reactions to reach the always seemingly near goal. Eets uses a colorful backdrop that not only features creatively designed puzzles, but pays considerable attention to the effects of the player’s actions. Even a mistake can be satisfying to watch. A miscalculation in placement could change a single explosion into a massive catastrophe that destroys the entire stage.
As I was playing it, I couldn’t help but think that the gameplay would be well-suited for the iPhone or iPod Touch. A perfect match?
Eets by Klei Entertainment
