Resident Evil 2
My favorite PlayStation game remade from the ground up without tank controls! Resident Evil 2 may be the most serious contender for 2019’s Game of the Year, and for good reason. Capcom did an incredible job rebuilding the survival-horror classic. The change to a third-person perspective was very welcome, added a new level of suspense when being chased by Mr. X, the game’s primary villain. I couldn’t count how many times I would turn around to have Mr. X inches away.
Although the first time you encounter a licker in Resident Evil 2 isn’t nearly as terrifying as the original, I’ll write that off as being a grown man this time around. Everything else was absolutely terrifying, and I would like to believe ten year old me is very proud of what I’ve accomplished in Raccoon City Police Department.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The latest installment of the acclaimed Fire Emblem series landed on the Nintendo Switch this year to rave reviews and impressive sales. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is centered around the Officer’s Academy, where you take the role as a professor in one of the academy’s three houses.
The combat is extremely strategic, and poor decision-making could result in perma-death if playing in normal mode (a casual mode is available for newcomers). Highly recommended for fans of JRPGs and a good challenge.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Adorable and charming, Yoshi’s Crafted World is a very enjoyable take on platforming. It takes place in a 2.5D world that looks to be made of construction paper and yarn, making it a very unique visual treat. I particularly enjoyed the various costumes for Yoshi, which can be unlocked through gameplay as well as Amiibo figures. Endless challenges are presented to the player, giving an excellent sense of value.
The platforming leaves nothing to be desired, mixing up puzzle elements to keep it from being too simple for experienced players, while never getting overly complicated for younger players. Truly a game for the whole family.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Having never played the original Link’s Awakening on Gameboy, I’ve been waiting all year to venture through Koholint Island, and boy did it meet my expectations. The Mario characters a nice surprise. The return to the classic Zelda formula was also very welcome.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was the most wonderful gaming experience I’ve had all year. The dungeons provide just enough challenge while remaining enjoyable for players of any age. The only thing I longed for during my playthrough was an encounter with the Princess herself. Otherwise, it’s almost perfect.
Borderlands 3
Not much needs to be said about The Godfather of looter shooters. Borderlands 3 delivers for long-time fans and newcomers alike with expanded skill trees for all classes, and new takes on old classes. The class choices this time around are much more diverse, with FL4K’s beastmaster abilities being the most interesting, in my opinion.
The gameplay is as great as ever, and all the humor is still intact. There are more guns than one could dream of, with some tweaks such as multi-elemental weapons whose properties can be changed by pressing down on the d-pad. While I will say there is some balancing that needs to take place, Gearbox has been quick with updates and events, with a 10 year franchise anniversary event going for the entirety of October, and I look forward to what they have in store for DLC next year.
Catherine: Full Body
In Catherine: Full Body, the remaster of 2011’s Catherine, you play as Vincent, a normal guy with a not-so-normal love life. Fans of the original welcome a new character in Rin, five new endings, and all the weirdness of the original. Newcomers should expect a wild and strange ride through a demented social world.
Catherine: Full Body is a narrative-driven puzzle-platformer where the player guides protagonist Vincent through a series of nightmares consisting of platforming challenges and deep, moral questions. As the story unfolds, you discover the cause of the nightmares, and your decisions start to mold the outcome. Catherine: Full Body is a must for anyone looking for something different in their game line-up.
Apex Legends
In my humble opinion, Apex Legends is the definitive battle royale experience. Twenty squads of three drop into a massive map called King’s Canyon. From there, you’re tasked with exploring for gear and surviving as the map shrinks.
Where similar games fall short in changing things up and keeping fresh, Apex Legends delivers with new events and new legends on a regular basis. Season 3 just kicked off last week with the introduction of a new legend, map, and a Halloween-themed event coming next week. There’s still plenty to see in King’s Canyon going into next year.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes the charm of Dragon Quest’s famously slime-filled world and mixes it with the building mechanics of Minecraft. Hours can be spent looking for resources, building and crafting, and upgrading your base in Furrowfield Farm.
Besides building, the game boasts plenty of combat and several different enemy types. Certain enemies also drop specific resources so exploration is absolutely key.
Needless to say, I will be playing this game for months to come.
Super Mario Maker 2
Everyone’s favorite Italian plumber is back with another installment in the famed Super Mario Maker series. This time around though, Mario brings us a story mode to accompany the level-making suite. I’m not the most creative gamer, so I welcomed the story mode with open arms. Creators have been furiously uploading stages since release, giving an unlimited amount of content so long as you have an internet connection.
My only complaint with Super Mario Maker 2 is the lack of a packed-in stylus in the US retail release. Otherwise, it’s quite possibly the definitive 2D Mario game on the Switch.
RAD
I have a thing for rogue-likes. More specifically, I have a thing for rogue-likes with style, and RAD is absolutely dripping with style. From the 80s soundtrack to the predominantly neon color pallet, Tim Shaffer and his team at Double Fine made sure to deliver “Turbo Kid with an isometric camera” and I salute him for it.
One can’t help but feel warm inside when hair metal-era guitar solos start ripping right after a kill, and the icing on the cake would have to be the narrator. After death, the narrator declares whether you’re rad or not depending on the stats of your run. Pure neon bliss.
