Angry Robot

2007: The Best, the Most Played, and the Disappointing

I probably don’t need to say this, but these lists are entirely subjective, if only because I didn’t play every game released. But what are you gonna do?

Best of 2007

1. Portal – excellence in every regard, especially the writing, and an entirely original experience to boot.
2. Halo 3 – not the gameplay innovator that the first Halo was, but an outstanding single player, gold standard multiplayer, and some incredible utilities (saved films, forge, the bungie.net features) that I wish every game had.
3. Bioshock – a pinnacle of game design, no question
4. Crackdown – the most fun
5. Puzzle Quest – weird and awesome and original and addicting.

Biggest Disappointments of 2007*

1. Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – if it wasn’t for that damned repeating dungeon with time limits and crappy stealth, this would be up there in the best-of pile.
2. Mass Effect – just plain didn’t live up to previous Bioware titles.
3. the PS3’s games library – I want to buy a PS3, so good work on getting the price down from $7 million or whatever it was, but I wish there were more than two games on it that I want to play.
4. Two Worlds – there need to be more games like Oblivion, but this one failed.
5. Rock Band delayed in Canada – yup, disappointing. (Okay, I had trouble thinking of a fifth disappointment. I guess that’s a good thing!)

• I realize that disappointments are all about expectations, and indeed these are all games I was extremely excited about. Which is probably something I should avoid. I mean, Mass Effect is a good game, no question.

Games I played the most this year

1. Oblivion – I’ve been meaning to write about it all year, but it’s like trying to review France. Oblivion is pointing where games need to go.
2. Crackdown – see above
3. Halo 3 – again, see above
4. Advance Wars: Dual Strike – easily my favourite game on the DS.
5. Civilization IV – just a handful of binges over the year, but it’s still like crack.