Game Of The Year 2005

Did your favourite games of 2005 make the list?

Every year games come along on a variety of platforms which just blow others out of the water. These games are praised and touted as the game to be matched up to. This year NZGamer has selected the very best of the crop to be awarded with the 'Game of the Year' title.

Following are the specific platform awards, and then, the muchly anticipated overall Game of the Year 2005 award.



God of War
God of War emerged on the PlayStation 2 scene early 2005, and news of it’s simple, yet addictive, gameplay spread amongst gamers quickly and God of War became the game to have for 2005. God of War takes a story set in the Greek mythological times and combines it with puzzles and enemies which will keep you on the edge of your seats. The weapons you use throughout the game are the key to the intuitive gameplay, and the Blades of Kaos, of which the chains are forged into the arms of Kratos, provides an innovative combat system which just ‘feels right’. For it’s intense action and compelling story, God of War wins the PlayStation 2 Game of the Year.

Runners-up: King Kong, Resident Evil 4, Gran Turismo 4



Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 took the series in a new direction, resulting in more of an action/adventure experience, than the 'Survival Horror' of the previous games. This time around, you take the role of Leon and rescue the Presidents daughter from a lunatic called Lord Saddler and his army of possessed monks. The control scheme remains the same, forcing you to stand still while aiming, this does however allow for headshots and monks react accordingly when you shoot them in a given part of their body. Although ported to the PS2, the GC version remains the best version graphically and is the best GC title to come out in 2005. For the above reasons, RE4 wins the GameCube Game of the Year 2005.

Runners-up: Geist, Dancing Stage Mario Mix



Far Cry Instincts
Making the leap from PC to Xbox, Far Cry Instincts delivered a bigger, faster and scarier game. And to top off the sweet deal, they gave you claws. Literally. Playing as Jack Carver, you have to fight your way across a remote island hell that’s crawling with guys dying to get a clear shot at you. Luckily you learn to unleash your inner beast, until your enemies are the ones being hunted. The graphics are sharp, the sounds are loud, the guns are plentiful and the maps are huge. The multiplayer gives you a solid range of match styles that tie in well with the single player mode. While not ideal for everyone, the beauty of this game is that it has no real weak point. Every aspect of the original Far Cry game has been improved upon to deliver a polished and remarkably well-rounded FPS.

Runners-up: Fahrenheit, Forza Motorsport



Civilization IV
Sid Meier’s Civilization series is a revered institution in the world of Turn-based Strategy, so a new addition to the franchise invariably causes some stir. Civilization IV, though, more than any of its forerunners, preached to the unconverted, wooing Civ-outsiders by presenting a beautiful animating 3D world with a more familiar RTS-style interface.

But not only is Civ IV more friendly to new players, it is also streaks ahead of previous instalments in terms of gameplay and balance. Rebuilding from the ground up, Firaxis overhauled the combat system and injected a healthy extra dose of strategy. New features such as religion and civics make for even more interesting empire-building. And fully-functional multiplayer straight out of the box is, to invoke a slightly tired expression, the icing on an already delicious (not to mention addictive) cake.

Runners-up: Guild Wars, F.E.A.R, Battlefield 2



Lumines
I have, in all honesty, never played any game quite as addictive as last year’s genius PSP puzzler, Lumines.

This game is the perfect example of a simple idea stunningly executed. Lumines plays out like Tetris, except that instead of forming lines across the screen, you must form squares of colour. The concept takes only a couple of minutes to grasp, but mastery comes gradually (and can involve many sleepless nights).

What separates Lumines from so many other Puzzle games, however, is its presentation. As you play through the game, you move from ‘skin’ to skin, with both the graphics and the smoothly changing to indicate your progression. And the game’s music is not only great, it also integrates with the sound effects, making extended periods of intense gaming far more enjoyable.

Runners-up: WipEout Pure, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, GripShift



The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
A joint development project between Nintendo and Capcom studio Flagship, Minish Cap serves up a top notch gaming experience. And despite the fact the game lacks a desirable length it’s possibly the best top-down Zelda title to date. It is fair to say that the gameplay basics are very little different from that of the recent Link to the Past remake or The Four Swords. But as the final product proves, that’s no bad thing at all. When it comes down to it, any Zelda fan, any adventure game fan, hell, anyone with a GBA should own this game. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a traditional Zelda game at heart, but with so many new elements in the mix there’s no chance you will think you’re playing another series re-hash.

Runner-up: Donkey Kong Country 3



Mario Kart DS
In 2005 a phenomenon hit the racetracks, no not a high-powered V8 nor was it a screaming Formula 1 car, it was that one-and-only red hat plumber Mario. Of course he couldn't just race alone, so he decided to bring his friends and foes, down to the racetrack and the end product was Mario Kart on the DS.

Mario Kart DS is the best games to hit the Nintendo DS to date. The game plays every bit as well as any of its predecessors on various consoles, and adds just enough new features to the mix to make it worthy of your attention, even if you're still playing any of those games on a regular basis. The online play is undoubtedly the icing on the cake, but even without online play, what you are left with will more than fill your appetite.

Runners-up: Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing Wild World


And now, NZGamer presents the 2005 Game of the Year...


Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Nine years ago Capcom unleashed upon the gaming world a title which redefined a genre, and paved the way for one of the most memorable series of any generation. Enter Resident Evil, enter, Survival Horror. Zombies had been the forefront of the series, almost being as synonymous to the franchise as violence is to the GTA series. So when it was announced that zombies had made a departure from Resident Evil 4, and there was to be no more Umbrella Corporation (the dastardly conglomerate whom developed the zombie-inducing virus) many thought RE4 would be a nail in the coffin for the fabled series.

However change is exactly what the doctor ordered, and as we all know, doctor knows best. Not only was the zombie element removed but RE4 turned to a third person following camera perspective, a feature unheard of in Resident Evil. Not to mention a lack of claustraphobic corridors and mansions. All the change was for the better, the game finally controlled incredibly well, had an original and exciting story, and is quite simply the best looking game currently out on current-gen consoles. Resident Evil was back, and scarier than ever.

Nine years later Capcom have done it again, they've successfully redefined the genre and paved the way, yet again, for a new breed of Resident Evil. With Resident Evil 5 already in development for the next generation of consoles we're certain you'll be seeing it amongst our GOTY's for whichever year Capcom decide to unleash it upon us.

The sum of superb gameplay, a memorable gaming experience, stunning graphics and surprise beyond surprise is one heck of a game which we like to call Resident Evil 4, or, NZGamer's Game of the Year 2005.