The 2005 Grey Fox Video Game Awards
Welcome to the First Annual Grey Fox Video Game Awards.
It was a big year for video games, sadly having to come at the end of 2005, rather than the explosive titles that hit the summer of 2004. Nevertheless, the gaming world wasn't disappointed, nor was I, except by the delay of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the Notre Dame loss in the Fiesta Bowl. Still, the year ended with a bang thanks to Arizona's double overtime victory in Seattle against Washington.
Moving on, this was a rather big year in my WWII gaming. Call of Duty 2 and Brothers in Arms really shined in the genre of War Games this year. BIA's system of commands were groundbreaking in the genre itself, while CoD 2 still provided the dramatic and incredible feel of what WWII was. Then, there was Medal of Honor European Assault on the PS 2. While similar to CoD Finest Hour, it still provided a great story-telling system through William Holt and the fact it combined OSS with team play.
With that said, here are the games of the year for 2005
Best Action Game
Runners Up:
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (93%)
This series has always been a compelling thriller. I've long been a fan of Rainbow Six and when I heard of this series by Tom Clancy, I knew it was going to be excellent. The gameplay finally got corrected from the first two: you won't be in huge trouble from being caught, guards finding bodies won't end missions, and Sam Fisher has some new kick ass skills. The graphics engine on the shading was nicely done as well. As for the story, it is quite suspenseful and gripping. Splinter Cell is not my favorite stealth game, but it is my favorite tactical one over Metal Gear Solid.
Quake 4 (88%)
While it is the typical, bigger weapon wins, type of game, it still is a blast to play. Quake 4 went back to its roots of exploring levels, killing baddies with awesome weapons, and having a form of plot. In this case, the plot was more solid than it has ever been from its predecessors. This game took what Doom 3 offered in horror, and added extra graphical upgrades, squad-based play (you're not always alone), and a rather disturbing part of where you're captured and have rather horrifying things happen to you. The multi-player sticks to the great fun every Quake game provides. It doesn't really expand on anything else besides having the best plot out of the first 2, but its still top notch action and a blast to play.
Winner:
F.E.A.R. (94%)
Take psychological horror (A-type), add impressive A.I., a creepy cover-up style story, and some great tactical shooting, and you get First Encounter Assault Recon. This game takes FPS to a new level of play not only through its duck and shoot style of action, but it also throws some martial arts into the mix. The A.I. is EXTREMELY intelligent, as it changes its style of play based on yours. I found myself at times having to mix my play style up from rushing and shooting, to dodging and sneaking to lobing grenades all over the place. The graphics and atmosphere add to the spooky suspense of being worried as to what is behind the corner each time. Its not a Resident Evil style, zombie crashes through a window, sort of thing, but more of a, you see a little girl pop out of no where as you climb down a latter, and then she disappears. The sounds add fright to the already horrifying atmosphere each level brings. My only fit with this game is its length. I managed to beat it in 4 days on hard difficulty. Regardless, this is the BEST FPS to date for a modern shooter.
Best Adventure
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (95%)
It was on the PS 2 last year, I know, but this genre of gaming is so weak nowadays, it's sad. This genre was strong in 1993 to about 2000, then just fell off the radar. I think another Gabriel Knight should be made.
As for GTA San Andreas, it keeps the traditional style the previous 2 3D GTAs had and adds a whole bunch of new elements such as new haircuts, outfits, relationships, body stats, and other abilities. It even finally added a lot of graphic language and a controversial sex scene (but its GTA for christ's sake). The map is expanded big time as well, 3 cities are at your disposal, espcially Las Venturas (which is like Las Vegas and there is gambling too!). The story is really detailed, going to a vendetta style more aimed for revenge of a murder than trying to commit crime for the sake of it (which is still fun, don't get me wrong). If you haven't played this yet, then get your ass to the nearest game store and buy it for whatever console you own that has it.
Best Expansion Pack
Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood (90%)
One could argue this isn't an expansion pack, but I haven't seen or played any expansions as good as this one. You play as Joe "Red" Hardstock, the gentleman who got a promotion at the end of the original game, through some missions before and after the Baker's Dozen Campaign to Hill 30. It was still the same hide and shoot style from Hill 30, but what made it even better was its transition to urban warfare, giving the "Quarterback" style play, as I call it, a different twist. It added the FG42 and the M3A3 Greasegun to the arsenal, both very fun to use. The story and voice acting are as great as they were in Hill 30, with the addition of brief pauses in some levels, as a flashback voiceover takes place from Red speaking to his superior. It added a stronger and more emotional feel to the game. The game flaw is that this game can be extremely frustrating to play. At times, I found myself stopping just after one level because of how difficult it was to flank positions on many levels. This isn't the best WWII shooter, but it is one of the best story-telling games of WWII. If Call of Duty 3 can do this when it comes out, then I'll be in great graces.
Best RPG
Runner Up:
Dungeon Siege 2 (90%)
Adding stronger graphics, another great plot, and more fun dungeons to romp through makes this sequel a blast. I was hoping Oblivion would make it here, but sadly, that was delayed until March. The voice acting, spell casting, and character design for this game are superb, but it has some graphic glitches in it that I find annoying, especially since this game was meant for ATI cards and I have an x800XT PE.
Winner:
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords (92%)
Better than the first one in almost every way, KOTOR 2 isn't ground-breaking RPG, but it is fun in combat, item creation, force advancement, and plot. Characters have a similar flow from their counter-parts in the first one, but the villains are more ruthless than before, especially Darth Nihilus, whom I find more frightening than Darth Vader himself. KOTOR 2 added new lightsaber styles, force powers, and even item creation and breakdown, to expand on its already successful predecessor. It's graphics and sound stayed true to the SW universe, giving off a great feel of a lightsaber crackling through the air to a blaster bolt flying to its target. A bit too short, but still, a great game.
Best Sports Game
NCAA March Madness 2006 (90%)
Not much to say either than it improves upon play calling. Still retains its season-round recruitment style and great graphics and atmosphere.
Winner:
NCAA Football 2006 (96%)
This is what college football is all about. The dynasty mode gets deeper each year. The crowds finally react like they should. They have some pre-game stuff from college gurus Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. The new modes like heisman story add much greater depth to one helluva sport. This is possibly one of the GREATEST sports games ever made.
Best Strategy Game
Sid Meier's Civilization IV (93%)
I never was a Civilization fan. In fact, I am not much of a Strategy fan (except for Kohan, which was a blast to play), but this game happened to surprise me in extreme ways. In the past, this game was merely a graphical upgrade with a few extra units, then a new number. The fourth installment, however, is a total re-development, and one that adds more depth and management than ever before. You finally have more time to develop strategy and the game can run through at your pace rather than the tedious time it took in the past. With the addition of better audio and graphical visuals, C IV really comes a long way from its prequels.
Best War Game
Runner Up:
Brothers In Arms The Road To Hill 30 (92%)
I have to admit, I still love Medal of Honor and Call of Duty more than this title, but BIA has some really innovating styles of play and story-telling that separate it from previous WWII games. At times, the story was so emotional, I found myself feeling angry and even sad from all that Baker and his company had to suffer through. The graphics are decent, though it has some some AA issues on GeForce FX cards. Despite that, it does a great job in the design of Normandy villages and much of the Bocage you see in films like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. The gameplay was quite a treat through the command system, where you could direct squads and tanks to certain locations or even have them surpress enemies while the other squad flanked them. It is a masterpiece in war gaming.
Winner:
Call of Duty 2 (98%)
This was my most anticipated game of 2005 and it did not disappoint. Impressive graphics and character models, weapons looking more realistic than before, great campaign runs, etc. That's the usual you get with great WWII games (and it always works and rocks). This game takes what its predecessor did and makes it better with new weapons (like the scoped Gewehr 43, my FAVORITE WWII rifle), team chatter that points out locations of enemies, a fantastic musical score, more WWII video footage, more innovative atmospheres and locations, and some of the most INTENSE combat I have EVER gotten into in an FPS. Nazis just swarm from all over at some points and it can get really crazy out there (like in Da Ruba, Egypt while playing as The Desert Rats of the 7th Armoured Division). There are tons of sniper spots, tank blasting, area defending, raids, and dramatic moments, such as the D-Day raid on Pointe Du Hoc. My only fit is the loss of sprinting, but it doesn't take away from the masterpiece this game truly is. I can't wait for Call of Duty 3. Well done, Activision.
Best Multiplayer
Before I continue, let it be known that it's the fun and excitement I love in playing online against people, but outside of that, I mostly play MP shooters just to tease those who take it too seriously (checking scores every second, crying or complaining about lag, calling me a fag for using a shotgun at long distance, and then smoking them again during their essay about how a shotgun isn't a long distance weapon). So, remember, don't EVER get mad at a MP game, just make fun of those who do :D
Runners Up:
Quake 4
Good ol' lightning guns and rail guns and the scary sounding announcer. Quake 3 on steroids.
Call of Duty 2
Fighting in great maps, WWII weapons are awesome, but, everyone uses the Trench Gun over and over and over. Kind of takes away from the fun :(
Winner:
Battlefield 2 (95%)
One word: ADDICTING. While many find WoW to be addicting, I found this game last summer to be far worse. Customizable guns, incredible graphics that add to the awesome maps, great backgrounds on the objectives, and tons of vehicles to control. Sadly, the clans of this game take away from the fun, since all they do is sit around finding the best sniper spots (and not moving), take passenger helicopters by themselves, like and AI would, and not working as a team (not healing, repairing, etc). What's worse is C4ing entire areas to where your own teammates are constantly victims to the blasts. Despite all of this, find the right server, and you'll find it harder and harder to go to work or school (assuming you're not the average "quit my job gamer").
Best Dark Horse Game
Medal of Honor European Assault (91%)
With its story being told through the eyes of OSS 1st Lt. William Holt and the dramatic musical score accomanying it, many can easily overlook this game since it's obviously a "been there, done that" sort of thing that is like Rising Sun or Frontline. However, it prominantly introduces more teamplay, several objectives, new weapons, and great WWII video footage accompanied by the old and young voice of Holt. I personally enjoyed this game and am glad to add it to my humongous WWII game library.
Best Graphics
Call of Duty 2 and F.E.A.R.
CoD 2 may not look as good as FEAR does in many people's eyes, but upon closer inspection, CoD 2 has great character models, nearly realisticly looking weapons, great weather effects, and impressive backgrounds and terrain. FEAR really has fantastic character models and great building and object designs combined with the horrifying atmosphere surrounding it. An office building looks like an office building should be, abandoned apartments look comdemned and dirty, the secret lab gives off the feel of those movie labs, and so on. Next year, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. looks like it might be running the show, hell, even Oblivion looks absolutely gorgeous.
Best Sound
Call of Duty 2 and F.E.A.R.
When out in the battlefield, it should sound like a battlefield. Guns blazing, artillery smashing, explosions, shouts of desparation, tank rumblings, rain hitting the ground, etc. Sound is so crucial for many war, horror, and stealth games (Thief still has the BEST sounds to this date, imo). FEAR, of course, adds ambient noises, as many horror games do, and even adds it into the weird views your character enters at various points. Whispers, guns, radio chatter, rattling, all the goodies any horror shooter needs.
Best Music
Civilization IV
African drums, orchestras, chanting, soothing, upbeat. I love classical-isque sort of themes outside of my usual music. If music can match the style of gameplay, its a plus (SimCity always did that for me, the music giving off a commerical or industrial design feel to it).
Best Level
Runner up:
"Tom and Jerry" from Brothers in Arms The Road to Hill 30
You are in a church tower in Carentan. Your objective: snipe the germans trying to reclaim the chruch, then destroy 3 tiger tanks. It doesn't sound like much, but its totally awesome to have a sort of intense role as being a sniper and dispensing of desparate german troops. The name is amusing too, since sniper games are a cat and mouse affair (a la Tom and Jerry), but another thing to think about this level name is that Tom is a common American name and Jerry is a slang term the Brittish used for the Germans. Pretty cool, eh?
Winner:
Pointe Du Hoc from Call of Duty 2
My god, just when you think D Day has been done with, here comes the 2nd Rangers! Of course, you start on a rickety Higgins Boat heading for shore, but 10 seconds before you hit it, grappling rocket hooks shoot from the sides of the boat and attach to the cliff, where the Germans have dug in. You then get blown out of the boat, dragged to shore, and have to take out the german MG42 nests above with your Springfield (nice touch, btw). Once up the rope, you run through trench after trench of well-trained nazis who want you dead. Beyond that, a small French Village where 6 80mm cannons are being used and prepared to fire on Omaha and Utah beach. This is quite a dramatic and intense level to play, and beyond that, it gets more and more fierce.
Best Story
Runner Up:
F.E.A.R.
FEAR is loaded with so much confusion and bizarre events, you wonder through the whole game if it'll even be explained in the end. It is, but clues to the climax are thrown in the beginning, so pay attention! This is, by far, the best FPS story to date next to Half Life in originality (Star Wars games pull out awesome stories, but they're in the genre of being backed up by big movie benefits).
Winner:
Brothers In Arms
After Medal of Honor Pacific Assault, it looks like people finally got the idea of how to make a war game better: put in character story developments. This game plays out like Band of Brothers does: humor, tragedy, understanding, duty, honor, and everything else an individual feels in a war. As mentioned before, if future WWII games continue this movement, they will be some of the greatest games ever made.
Best Character
Runner Up:
Operative Holiday from F.E.A.R.
The way he talks to FEAR Agent Suomi (if you hang out long enough after the helicopter wreckage in Auburn) is classic, as he hits on her while he tends to her wounds. She plays hard to get, but from the tone of her voice, she wants it. Mack on, Holiday, mack on.
Winner:
Sgt. Baker from Brothers in Arms The Road to Hill 30
Sgt. Baker didn't want to lead what was referred to as "The Baker's Dozen." As you continue through each mission, you see how he evolves into a true leader and how he handles tragedy (and it strikes a lot in this game). Baker portrays a decent accuracy of what it was like to be fighting on and after D Day. The voice actor gives GREAT emotion in his remembrances as well.
Best Game Innovation
Squad Tactical Interface in Brothers in Arms
Although Hidden and Dangerous 2 (great game) has something similar to this mode, it was not as effective sadly. In BIA, you can get a clear view of flank and enemy positions, giving you not only the squad order placement commands, but accurate spots on where to direct them. I consider this to be ground breaking for this game and hopefully will be refined if Hidden and Dangerous 3 comes out.
Biggest Disappointment
Notre Dame vs. USC
In what was one of the most classic games in the history of College Football, Notre Dame took all media criticism of how they were going to get killed, ate it up for breakfast each day, and spit it in the faces of every Trojan fan and doubter. Up 31-28 with less than 2 minutes to play, ND cornerback Tom Zibikowski makes a critical error allowing WR Dwayne Jarrett to run 63 yards down field on a 4th and 12. After that, the most controversial event takes place as Leinhart is hit, but literally pivots the ball back to the 4 yard line as he was going into the endzone. This is an illegal move, but the refs bought into it, put 7 seconds back onto the clock, and marked it at the 1 rather than the 4. Then, overrated USC QB Matt Leinhart gets into the endzone for the win. A sad game, despite its greatness, since (this is the satire talking) the refs wanted USC's legacy to continue. Thank God the Longhorns stopped their bullshit dynasty and Mark May can shut the fuck up about how great USC was this year (the teams they picked to match up against USC would have killed them). Next year, Notre Dame will beat them in the Lion's Den and possibly win it all.
And now, Grey Fox's Game of the Year for 2005
This is obviously a no brainer now. It might have had serious competition had Oblivion not been delayed, but now, I can easily crown it.
Several games this year impressed me. The impact wasn't as big as 2004 was, but 2005 came out with some spectacular games. F.E.A.R. is a runner up candidate for game of the year, but this one game did it all for me, not solely through its genre alone, but the fact that it did just about everything right and did not disappoint me.
That game, of course, is CALL OF DUTY 2
Congrats to all games that made it here and I'll see you next year for Grey Fox's Games of the Year 2006!
It was a big year for video games, sadly having to come at the end of 2005, rather than the explosive titles that hit the summer of 2004. Nevertheless, the gaming world wasn't disappointed, nor was I, except by the delay of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the Notre Dame loss in the Fiesta Bowl. Still, the year ended with a bang thanks to Arizona's double overtime victory in Seattle against Washington.
Moving on, this was a rather big year in my WWII gaming. Call of Duty 2 and Brothers in Arms really shined in the genre of War Games this year. BIA's system of commands were groundbreaking in the genre itself, while CoD 2 still provided the dramatic and incredible feel of what WWII was. Then, there was Medal of Honor European Assault on the PS 2. While similar to CoD Finest Hour, it still provided a great story-telling system through William Holt and the fact it combined OSS with team play.
With that said, here are the games of the year for 2005
Best Action Game
Runners Up:
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (93%)
This series has always been a compelling thriller. I've long been a fan of Rainbow Six and when I heard of this series by Tom Clancy, I knew it was going to be excellent. The gameplay finally got corrected from the first two: you won't be in huge trouble from being caught, guards finding bodies won't end missions, and Sam Fisher has some new kick ass skills. The graphics engine on the shading was nicely done as well. As for the story, it is quite suspenseful and gripping. Splinter Cell is not my favorite stealth game, but it is my favorite tactical one over Metal Gear Solid.
Quake 4 (88%)
While it is the typical, bigger weapon wins, type of game, it still is a blast to play. Quake 4 went back to its roots of exploring levels, killing baddies with awesome weapons, and having a form of plot. In this case, the plot was more solid than it has ever been from its predecessors. This game took what Doom 3 offered in horror, and added extra graphical upgrades, squad-based play (you're not always alone), and a rather disturbing part of where you're captured and have rather horrifying things happen to you. The multi-player sticks to the great fun every Quake game provides. It doesn't really expand on anything else besides having the best plot out of the first 2, but its still top notch action and a blast to play.
Winner:
F.E.A.R. (94%)
Take psychological horror (A-type), add impressive A.I., a creepy cover-up style story, and some great tactical shooting, and you get First Encounter Assault Recon. This game takes FPS to a new level of play not only through its duck and shoot style of action, but it also throws some martial arts into the mix. The A.I. is EXTREMELY intelligent, as it changes its style of play based on yours. I found myself at times having to mix my play style up from rushing and shooting, to dodging and sneaking to lobing grenades all over the place. The graphics and atmosphere add to the spooky suspense of being worried as to what is behind the corner each time. Its not a Resident Evil style, zombie crashes through a window, sort of thing, but more of a, you see a little girl pop out of no where as you climb down a latter, and then she disappears. The sounds add fright to the already horrifying atmosphere each level brings. My only fit with this game is its length. I managed to beat it in 4 days on hard difficulty. Regardless, this is the BEST FPS to date for a modern shooter.
Best Adventure
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (95%)
It was on the PS 2 last year, I know, but this genre of gaming is so weak nowadays, it's sad. This genre was strong in 1993 to about 2000, then just fell off the radar. I think another Gabriel Knight should be made.
As for GTA San Andreas, it keeps the traditional style the previous 2 3D GTAs had and adds a whole bunch of new elements such as new haircuts, outfits, relationships, body stats, and other abilities. It even finally added a lot of graphic language and a controversial sex scene (but its GTA for christ's sake). The map is expanded big time as well, 3 cities are at your disposal, espcially Las Venturas (which is like Las Vegas and there is gambling too!). The story is really detailed, going to a vendetta style more aimed for revenge of a murder than trying to commit crime for the sake of it (which is still fun, don't get me wrong). If you haven't played this yet, then get your ass to the nearest game store and buy it for whatever console you own that has it.
Best Expansion Pack
Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood (90%)
One could argue this isn't an expansion pack, but I haven't seen or played any expansions as good as this one. You play as Joe "Red" Hardstock, the gentleman who got a promotion at the end of the original game, through some missions before and after the Baker's Dozen Campaign to Hill 30. It was still the same hide and shoot style from Hill 30, but what made it even better was its transition to urban warfare, giving the "Quarterback" style play, as I call it, a different twist. It added the FG42 and the M3A3 Greasegun to the arsenal, both very fun to use. The story and voice acting are as great as they were in Hill 30, with the addition of brief pauses in some levels, as a flashback voiceover takes place from Red speaking to his superior. It added a stronger and more emotional feel to the game. The game flaw is that this game can be extremely frustrating to play. At times, I found myself stopping just after one level because of how difficult it was to flank positions on many levels. This isn't the best WWII shooter, but it is one of the best story-telling games of WWII. If Call of Duty 3 can do this when it comes out, then I'll be in great graces.
Best RPG
Runner Up:
Dungeon Siege 2 (90%)
Adding stronger graphics, another great plot, and more fun dungeons to romp through makes this sequel a blast. I was hoping Oblivion would make it here, but sadly, that was delayed until March. The voice acting, spell casting, and character design for this game are superb, but it has some graphic glitches in it that I find annoying, especially since this game was meant for ATI cards and I have an x800XT PE.
Winner:
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords (92%)
Better than the first one in almost every way, KOTOR 2 isn't ground-breaking RPG, but it is fun in combat, item creation, force advancement, and plot. Characters have a similar flow from their counter-parts in the first one, but the villains are more ruthless than before, especially Darth Nihilus, whom I find more frightening than Darth Vader himself. KOTOR 2 added new lightsaber styles, force powers, and even item creation and breakdown, to expand on its already successful predecessor. It's graphics and sound stayed true to the SW universe, giving off a great feel of a lightsaber crackling through the air to a blaster bolt flying to its target. A bit too short, but still, a great game.
Best Sports Game
NCAA March Madness 2006 (90%)
Not much to say either than it improves upon play calling. Still retains its season-round recruitment style and great graphics and atmosphere.
Winner:
NCAA Football 2006 (96%)
This is what college football is all about. The dynasty mode gets deeper each year. The crowds finally react like they should. They have some pre-game stuff from college gurus Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. The new modes like heisman story add much greater depth to one helluva sport. This is possibly one of the GREATEST sports games ever made.
Best Strategy Game
Sid Meier's Civilization IV (93%)
I never was a Civilization fan. In fact, I am not much of a Strategy fan (except for Kohan, which was a blast to play), but this game happened to surprise me in extreme ways. In the past, this game was merely a graphical upgrade with a few extra units, then a new number. The fourth installment, however, is a total re-development, and one that adds more depth and management than ever before. You finally have more time to develop strategy and the game can run through at your pace rather than the tedious time it took in the past. With the addition of better audio and graphical visuals, C IV really comes a long way from its prequels.
Best War Game
Runner Up:
Brothers In Arms The Road To Hill 30 (92%)
I have to admit, I still love Medal of Honor and Call of Duty more than this title, but BIA has some really innovating styles of play and story-telling that separate it from previous WWII games. At times, the story was so emotional, I found myself feeling angry and even sad from all that Baker and his company had to suffer through. The graphics are decent, though it has some some AA issues on GeForce FX cards. Despite that, it does a great job in the design of Normandy villages and much of the Bocage you see in films like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. The gameplay was quite a treat through the command system, where you could direct squads and tanks to certain locations or even have them surpress enemies while the other squad flanked them. It is a masterpiece in war gaming.
Winner:
Call of Duty 2 (98%)
This was my most anticipated game of 2005 and it did not disappoint. Impressive graphics and character models, weapons looking more realistic than before, great campaign runs, etc. That's the usual you get with great WWII games (and it always works and rocks). This game takes what its predecessor did and makes it better with new weapons (like the scoped Gewehr 43, my FAVORITE WWII rifle), team chatter that points out locations of enemies, a fantastic musical score, more WWII video footage, more innovative atmospheres and locations, and some of the most INTENSE combat I have EVER gotten into in an FPS. Nazis just swarm from all over at some points and it can get really crazy out there (like in Da Ruba, Egypt while playing as The Desert Rats of the 7th Armoured Division). There are tons of sniper spots, tank blasting, area defending, raids, and dramatic moments, such as the D-Day raid on Pointe Du Hoc. My only fit is the loss of sprinting, but it doesn't take away from the masterpiece this game truly is. I can't wait for Call of Duty 3. Well done, Activision.
Best Multiplayer
Before I continue, let it be known that it's the fun and excitement I love in playing online against people, but outside of that, I mostly play MP shooters just to tease those who take it too seriously (checking scores every second, crying or complaining about lag, calling me a fag for using a shotgun at long distance, and then smoking them again during their essay about how a shotgun isn't a long distance weapon). So, remember, don't EVER get mad at a MP game, just make fun of those who do :D
Runners Up:
Quake 4
Good ol' lightning guns and rail guns and the scary sounding announcer. Quake 3 on steroids.
Call of Duty 2
Fighting in great maps, WWII weapons are awesome, but, everyone uses the Trench Gun over and over and over. Kind of takes away from the fun :(
Winner:
Battlefield 2 (95%)
One word: ADDICTING. While many find WoW to be addicting, I found this game last summer to be far worse. Customizable guns, incredible graphics that add to the awesome maps, great backgrounds on the objectives, and tons of vehicles to control. Sadly, the clans of this game take away from the fun, since all they do is sit around finding the best sniper spots (and not moving), take passenger helicopters by themselves, like and AI would, and not working as a team (not healing, repairing, etc). What's worse is C4ing entire areas to where your own teammates are constantly victims to the blasts. Despite all of this, find the right server, and you'll find it harder and harder to go to work or school (assuming you're not the average "quit my job gamer").
Best Dark Horse Game
Medal of Honor European Assault (91%)
With its story being told through the eyes of OSS 1st Lt. William Holt and the dramatic musical score accomanying it, many can easily overlook this game since it's obviously a "been there, done that" sort of thing that is like Rising Sun or Frontline. However, it prominantly introduces more teamplay, several objectives, new weapons, and great WWII video footage accompanied by the old and young voice of Holt. I personally enjoyed this game and am glad to add it to my humongous WWII game library.
Best Graphics
Call of Duty 2 and F.E.A.R.
CoD 2 may not look as good as FEAR does in many people's eyes, but upon closer inspection, CoD 2 has great character models, nearly realisticly looking weapons, great weather effects, and impressive backgrounds and terrain. FEAR really has fantastic character models and great building and object designs combined with the horrifying atmosphere surrounding it. An office building looks like an office building should be, abandoned apartments look comdemned and dirty, the secret lab gives off the feel of those movie labs, and so on. Next year, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. looks like it might be running the show, hell, even Oblivion looks absolutely gorgeous.
Best Sound
Call of Duty 2 and F.E.A.R.
When out in the battlefield, it should sound like a battlefield. Guns blazing, artillery smashing, explosions, shouts of desparation, tank rumblings, rain hitting the ground, etc. Sound is so crucial for many war, horror, and stealth games (Thief still has the BEST sounds to this date, imo). FEAR, of course, adds ambient noises, as many horror games do, and even adds it into the weird views your character enters at various points. Whispers, guns, radio chatter, rattling, all the goodies any horror shooter needs.
Best Music
Civilization IV
African drums, orchestras, chanting, soothing, upbeat. I love classical-isque sort of themes outside of my usual music. If music can match the style of gameplay, its a plus (SimCity always did that for me, the music giving off a commerical or industrial design feel to it).
Best Level
Runner up:
"Tom and Jerry" from Brothers in Arms The Road to Hill 30
You are in a church tower in Carentan. Your objective: snipe the germans trying to reclaim the chruch, then destroy 3 tiger tanks. It doesn't sound like much, but its totally awesome to have a sort of intense role as being a sniper and dispensing of desparate german troops. The name is amusing too, since sniper games are a cat and mouse affair (a la Tom and Jerry), but another thing to think about this level name is that Tom is a common American name and Jerry is a slang term the Brittish used for the Germans. Pretty cool, eh?
Winner:
Pointe Du Hoc from Call of Duty 2
My god, just when you think D Day has been done with, here comes the 2nd Rangers! Of course, you start on a rickety Higgins Boat heading for shore, but 10 seconds before you hit it, grappling rocket hooks shoot from the sides of the boat and attach to the cliff, where the Germans have dug in. You then get blown out of the boat, dragged to shore, and have to take out the german MG42 nests above with your Springfield (nice touch, btw). Once up the rope, you run through trench after trench of well-trained nazis who want you dead. Beyond that, a small French Village where 6 80mm cannons are being used and prepared to fire on Omaha and Utah beach. This is quite a dramatic and intense level to play, and beyond that, it gets more and more fierce.
Best Story
Runner Up:
F.E.A.R.
FEAR is loaded with so much confusion and bizarre events, you wonder through the whole game if it'll even be explained in the end. It is, but clues to the climax are thrown in the beginning, so pay attention! This is, by far, the best FPS story to date next to Half Life in originality (Star Wars games pull out awesome stories, but they're in the genre of being backed up by big movie benefits).
Winner:
Brothers In Arms
After Medal of Honor Pacific Assault, it looks like people finally got the idea of how to make a war game better: put in character story developments. This game plays out like Band of Brothers does: humor, tragedy, understanding, duty, honor, and everything else an individual feels in a war. As mentioned before, if future WWII games continue this movement, they will be some of the greatest games ever made.
Best Character
Runner Up:
Operative Holiday from F.E.A.R.
The way he talks to FEAR Agent Suomi (if you hang out long enough after the helicopter wreckage in Auburn) is classic, as he hits on her while he tends to her wounds. She plays hard to get, but from the tone of her voice, she wants it. Mack on, Holiday, mack on.
Winner:
Sgt. Baker from Brothers in Arms The Road to Hill 30
Sgt. Baker didn't want to lead what was referred to as "The Baker's Dozen." As you continue through each mission, you see how he evolves into a true leader and how he handles tragedy (and it strikes a lot in this game). Baker portrays a decent accuracy of what it was like to be fighting on and after D Day. The voice actor gives GREAT emotion in his remembrances as well.
Best Game Innovation
Squad Tactical Interface in Brothers in Arms
Although Hidden and Dangerous 2 (great game) has something similar to this mode, it was not as effective sadly. In BIA, you can get a clear view of flank and enemy positions, giving you not only the squad order placement commands, but accurate spots on where to direct them. I consider this to be ground breaking for this game and hopefully will be refined if Hidden and Dangerous 3 comes out.
Biggest Disappointment
Notre Dame vs. USC
In what was one of the most classic games in the history of College Football, Notre Dame took all media criticism of how they were going to get killed, ate it up for breakfast each day, and spit it in the faces of every Trojan fan and doubter. Up 31-28 with less than 2 minutes to play, ND cornerback Tom Zibikowski makes a critical error allowing WR Dwayne Jarrett to run 63 yards down field on a 4th and 12. After that, the most controversial event takes place as Leinhart is hit, but literally pivots the ball back to the 4 yard line as he was going into the endzone. This is an illegal move, but the refs bought into it, put 7 seconds back onto the clock, and marked it at the 1 rather than the 4. Then, overrated USC QB Matt Leinhart gets into the endzone for the win. A sad game, despite its greatness, since (this is the satire talking) the refs wanted USC's legacy to continue. Thank God the Longhorns stopped their bullshit dynasty and Mark May can shut the fuck up about how great USC was this year (the teams they picked to match up against USC would have killed them). Next year, Notre Dame will beat them in the Lion's Den and possibly win it all.
And now, Grey Fox's Game of the Year for 2005
This is obviously a no brainer now. It might have had serious competition had Oblivion not been delayed, but now, I can easily crown it.
Several games this year impressed me. The impact wasn't as big as 2004 was, but 2005 came out with some spectacular games. F.E.A.R. is a runner up candidate for game of the year, but this one game did it all for me, not solely through its genre alone, but the fact that it did just about everything right and did not disappoint me.
That game, of course, is CALL OF DUTY 2
Congrats to all games that made it here and I'll see you next year for Grey Fox's Games of the Year 2006!
posted by Grey Fox at 11:19 AM
1 Comments:
call of duty 2 was awesome, man! good choice!
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