The Fourth Annual Coint and Plick Video Games Poll - Part Two: #80 - 105

Continuing from here:
The Fourth Annual Coint and Plick Video Games Poll - Part One: #106 - AKA the 26 games that got one vote and five points

What's come before:
#:106: Achievement Unlocked – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote - FREE
Official Game Site
#106: Bit.Trip.Beat – Wii/PC/Mac/iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Chaos Rings – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Cut The Rope – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: DC Universe Online (Demo) – PS3/PC – 5 pts – 1 vote[/b]
Official Game Site
#106: Deathsmiles – 360 – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Desktop Dungeons – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote – FREE!
Official Game Site
#106: Epic Citadel – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Espgaluda II – 360/iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: FIFA 2011 – 360/PS3/PC/Wii/iPhone/PSP/DS – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Final Fantasy XIII – 360/PS3 – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Galaxy On Fire 2 – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: GunGirl 2 – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote – FREE!
Official Game Site and Download Hub
#106: Lara Croft and The Guardians of Light – PS3/360/PC/iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Monkey Island 2 Special Edition – PS3/360/PC/iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Monster Hunter Tri – Wii – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Osmos – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Playpen – Web Based – 5 pts – 1 vote - FREE
Official Game Site
#106: PrincessRL – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote – FREE!
Official Game Site and Download Hub
#106: Shoot First – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote – FREE!
Official Game Site and Download Hub
#106: Sin and Punishment 2: Star Successor – Wii – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Sleep is Death – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote – Only two bucks (minimum)!
Official Game Site and Download Hub
#106: Slingo Supreme – iPhone – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Sly Cooper Collection – PS3 – 5 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
#106: Taberinos – Flash – 5 pts – 1 vote – FREE online
Official Game Site
#106: Teppoman 2 – PC – 5 pts – 1 vote - FREE
Official Game Site

#105: NBA Jam – PS3/360/Wii – 6 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc45/snesfreak/neogaf/NBAJam-bish2.gif

EZ Snappin: NBA Jib Jab Jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2CeU43aj9s

The Voice of NBA Jam

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nba-jam.jpg

Jamescobo: Yes, I shelled out for the PS3 version; nothing against the Wii but if you have an arcade stick, you fuckin' play it on the system you have the stick for. And really, it's everything you could want in a modern NBA Jam game: more players, more crazy characters, more dunks, more everything. Also online, but really who the fuck wants to play NBA Jam against people without them sitting right next to you, ideally while bragging about how much more fun you're having with the arcade stick vs. them on the gamepad? Sure, there's plenty of fat on this particular sacred cow - hence its relatively low position on my ballot - but at the end of the day, come on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUm4_dyiI4

Mayor Jingleberries: Can we talk about how its some bullshit that this game was supposed to be like $15 DLC but once NBA Elite got flushed down the shitter it turned into a $50 release?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EVdh90QaI4

Can you name all the players from the 1993 Arcade Edition?

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/110/1109971/nba-jam-20100802100756465_640w.jpg

The Original

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLMDeJBZ0wM

http://latestvideogame.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NBA-Jam.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h28PbzPS4E

The All-Stars

http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/nba-jam-wii-magic-johnson-screen.jpg

Wii Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyeFt5xO9MI

Pleasant Plains: Bill Clinton and Al Gore heads always sent me over the edge.

Dev Interview

http://www.gamezone.com/images/screenshots/EA_Sports_NBA_Jam_-_1.jpg

We Both Know Your Initials Aren’t ASS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hncvGSwO1-E

ZS: Can't buy a bucket! For two! Grabs the rebound! He's heating up! He's on fire! Head fake! Hello! Is it the shoes? It's a turnover! Jams it in! Oh my! Puts up a brick! Rejected! Swish! The nail in the coffin! Boom Shaka Laka! = my personal favorite!

http://www.thetanooki.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NBA-Jam-Screen.png

Forksclovetofu: Malone and Stockton was essentially unbeatable if Stockton got the rebound.

In addition, his entire dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is devoted to remembering the time he did a helicopter dunk from half-court with Shawn Kemp at the buzzer to beat the Charlotte Hornets 82-81 in NBA Jam: Tournament Edition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-0-tZEPT8A

#105: Tilt to Live – iPhone – 6 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97mp_Kg4ZoU

http://thefwa.com/library/5-ROUE.jpg

Craig G: At first it’s a game that's overwhelmingly random in its assaults, but as you get better you’ll discover that surviving isn't luck; strategy in power-up usage plays a big part in lasting just a little bit longer. Unfortunately, my 3G load times are a little too long to make this a truly great portable (read; toilet break) game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bNmVo09sBY

Accelerometer Usability Assessment

http://www.platformnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Tilt-to-Live-3.jpg

Why is it So Darn Good?

http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Code-Red.jpg

Dev Interview

http://www.whitakerblackall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/TiltToLiveScreenshot2.jpg

Dev Interview II

http://iappsin.com/uploads/2010/12/ipad_game_tilt_to_live_hd_1.jpg

App Advice Review

http://img.technospot.net/Tilt-to-Live-Game-Types.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8cY6IpmFzA

http://sentient.skjoldbroder.dk/void/articles/gametip01/gametip01b.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bDqGYtRYxM

If I don't care about online, is the Wii version of NBA Jam the best?

Not if you care about graphics.

actually I think all I care about is maximizing the # of unlockables

I prefer the 360 controller so maybe that's what I should think about

gathering there's no *obvious* best console for it?

bummed that it's still $30

i want to hear some scores from that "name all the original jam players" online test

I got a 13. Shitty.

I played it way more on the SNES, which mighta boosted my score by 2 or 3, but still...

I'm surprised that one of my 5-pointers got a second vote.

MORE

sorry im just bored at work is all, wanna yell at people for liking things that i dont or vice versa

i'm stressed at work and throwing out posts elsewhere but having a hard time doing a focused research job to make these
gonna work on it tonight tho and get back on track

no actual pressure dude

trust me, i am creating internal pressure about this project
THE GUILT

I'm glad I didn't vote for Alpha Protocol in the end. I've fought the same boss about 40-50 times. I'm playing on normal difficulty but apparently because I did Moscow before the other places he is unreasonably hard and my options are to fight him another 40-50 times hoping I kill him or starting over. Fuck this game.

so maybe i won't pick that up after all.

*poke*

http://i52.tinypic.com/xc3ixg.jpg

forks is having an orgasm or

not so much
will be working on this over the weekend

I can help if that would be useful!

just do the top 10. otherwise we will be playing 'half life 2: episode three' before you are done. /nerdlol

oh man i just realized that the usual Duke Nukem stand in for that joke is lost forever now that it actually has a release date

cryingeagle.jpg

don't worry, we'll always have Chinese Democracy oh wait fuuuuuuuuu-

know ye the signs of the coming end times

like are there any entries in the mayan calendar about dudes in muscle shirts shooting aliens in strip clubs because if so its been a lot of fun knowing yall

I guess the Loveless remaster is the last of a dying breed.

Sorry I fell off guys, will work to do better.
Two way tie for #102

#102: Qrank – iPhone/Facebook – 7 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://www.geardiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/iTunes4.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm_mkDz2seE

jamescobo: I makes mah money doing social media marketing (i.e. Facebooking it up for corporate clients), so admittedly part of my infatuation with Qrank (pronounced "Crank", not "Cue-Rank" as I stupidly called it for like five straight months) stems from constantly talking about it as a bandwagon clients need to be hopping on board with both feet. Still, as an object of game design, it's pretty much the perfect example of how an iOS trivia game (or really even a mobile trivia game all-in) should work: the questions are always both new and pertinent (I still give props to the question-writers for throwing one in about Kevin Costner's Gulf-cleaning doohickey literally the day after the news broke), the power-ups are helpful without being game-breaking and the location-based applications are a stroke of genius. I actually made sure my flights home for Christmas break went into as many airports as possible just so I could pick up badges for playing in those states. It’s always fun to brag about adopting early enough to actually unlock the badge for being top-10 in the world one day... now that there's an actual userbase, I doubt that’s ever gonna happen again though.

http://a4.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/059/Purple/0f/9b/49/mzl.wkjgveno.320x480-75.jpg

Pocket Gamer Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0itcSD5Xq8

http://techcocktail.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Qrank3.jpg

Strategies

http://iphonegamerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/qrank-1.jpg

Portable Gamer Podcast

http://platform.ak.fbcdn.net/www/app_full_proxy.php?app=4949752878&v=1&size=o&cksum=da3fae9452eb63f4cfed8eaba1682dc1&src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qrankthegame.com%2FFacebook%2Fimages%2FFBLandingPage_Abe_v3.png

#102: Half Minute Hero (UK Release) – PSP – 7 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/954/954124/hero-30-20090213083340955_640w.jpg

if: While there was decent humour in Half Minute Hero’s retro-parody style, the surprise was that it actually succeeded in being an excellent 8-bit RPG (or rather 50 8-bit RPGs) with all of the boring bits taken out.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2009/10/500x_500hero.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n2zF_VCmpg

Eurogamer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaV16Zue6uQ

Hall of Half Minute Heroes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6gIB0hksdU

Translated Famitsu Interview

http://i.neoseeker.com/p/Games/PSP/Role-Playing/Fantasy/half_minute_hero_profilelarge.png

goole: Thought this was TMI for a sec...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-CJXwQJZaM

You should take it easy, forks, especially if work is busy and you're stressed. If it took all year that would still be cool! It would give is something to look forward to.

#101: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood – Wii – 8 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/4231/972906-r13_super.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sME5_tyRbkg

abanana: A classic that got its first stand-alone US/UK release this year on a platform people actually own.

Igarashi Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_HGn-wLo4

Complete OST for Download!

http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/161763-rondo.jpg

Maps

http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/ul/77197-rondocometh1.jpg

Obsessive Review

http://www.wingdamage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/castlevania-x-rhondo-of-blo.jpg

Tons of game info and artwork

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qoSXxWHV7Q

http://turbo2k.net/images/screens/AkumajouDraculaX-ChinoRondo0017.png

Kingfish: This game is funky; it borrows art from SQ and Castlevania IV plus plenty of familiar baddies show up, usually with the exact same animation of later games.

forks bringing heat! Thanks man.

i'm starting my second job on March 15 so i'd like to be done by then.

god, I really have to play rondo of blood already. esp since I've played nearly every other side-scrolling castlevania.

rondo of blood is pretty good - definitely a cool missing link between the classic CVs and Symphony

qrank looks kinda interesting, but that might be residual YDKJ interest

Well now I am on qrank thx to you bastards, username is ilx username

ditto. sadface at heavy american question bias though.

me too - name is Mordy

me third. tried adding all of you

Qrank owns bones, my username is trdn89

You guys sold me. Under the secret name bnw.

And I'm Jimdoo. This had better turn out to be less shit than slingo.

I really wish Half-Minute Hero were out for any of the 41684834354643437 gaming platforms I can actually play on but nooooooooo, it's gotta be a PSP exclusive

Qrank reminds me how much i miss 1 vs 100. Mostly because I could play that more than once a day.

#100: Metro 2033 – PS3/360/PC – 9 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://media.psu.com/media/metro_feature_04.jpg

Gametrailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc2hhef-Nzo

Eurogamer Tech Interview

http://media.psu.com/media/metro_feature_02.jpg

Craig G: I bought this when I had finished with all the Fallout 3 I could handle but still had a post-apocalyptic yearning, hoping that this would fill a void while I waited for the next Fallout. Despite it's shortcomings (and there are a lot; serious texture problems, weirdly Irish/American Russian accents, infuriating 'tap a button to do something', all the NPCs shouting in unison with the jibber jabber when you walk through a crowd, too many Quick Time Events), I still really enjoyed this game. The story is well told in bite size chunks around short 'missions', and kept me on the hook. A nice post-apocalyptic nine hour distraction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO6uBPQcLdQ

The Brainy Gamer

http://www.projectstashman.net/web_images/metro2033pic1.jpg

Rock Paper Shotgun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B4jwmatO98

http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/184344_m/Metro-2033.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcwHjP_ZAww

Exit/Warp

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/11/metro2033.jpg

ok thats been on my to buy list for a while so def going to spend some time digging into all those links (for which again thanks a billion times over, forks)

I really want to try Metro but I don't think I'll like it enough or play it enough to justify the pricetag. Does anyone have it and want to trade for Alpha Protocol (another game worth trying but probably not worth owning)?

gamefly is selling for 19 bucks

16 way (sigh) tie for #84, aka all the one vote 10 pointers.

#84: Alice in Wonderland – DS – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/uploads/ds_alice_in_wonderland02.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be_0YC3lkfQ

Diehard Gamefan Review

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/A/Alice%20in%20Wonderland/Bulk%20Viewers/DS/2010-03-19/WII47.rev_alice.3--screenshot_viewer_medium.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QckcK-Kntg

Telegraph Review

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Lzi5pIL7euM/0.jpg

Salsa Shark: This game isn’t particularly challenging or long, but the art direction is thoughtful with a limited but striking colour palette and characters who move gracefully. Alice in Wonderland is rarely ever irritating, save for some of its longer battles, which are marred by having to use the stylus to swipe in odd ways/directions. It’s still a visual treat and a pleasurable 10-12 hours of gameplay.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9QknjGKfFUo/hqdefault.jpg

Zappi: Really like the art style and reviews seem to be favorable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLSqYAh-5xk

http://www.nintendo.com.au/web_images/Games/Mad_Hatter.jpg

#84: MLB ’10: The Show – PS3 – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0301/MLB10_Giants_4_576.jpg

Jordan S: Damn, I love the shit out of this game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYyKDUKsR8Y

Metacritic
http://wireninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mlb01.jpg

Mayor Jingleberries: I'm kinda getting the hang of this. I tweaked my sliders a bit but even so it seems like the key is to take until you have one or two strikes and then wait for something in the zone to swing at. Also is a good idea to look at the bottom of the zone in certain situations because it gets rid of a part of the plate you have to look after during a pitch. It’s really a friggin commitment to get your stats up. I'm on my fourth season and I barely have more than 70 contact against righties and lefties, 70 power against righties and 50 against lefties and the rest of my stats are kinda horrible, esp stealing which Id like to do but its pretty much impossible to improve significantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17KGrxoEPIQ

How to Handle Your Stick

Jimmy The Mod: This is v hard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKnrdon_1UA

http://www.7milesdown.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mlb10_firstlook8_800x450.jpg

Gametrailer

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/game-hunters/2010/02/10/joemauer10x-large.jpg

Jeff LeVine: My main problem with The Show right now is that the games simply take too long to play... the idea that a game takes an hour fifteen to two hours to play through is something I just can't face . It gets quite boring (just like real baseball).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB2jBdMI9Ww

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0301/MLB10_Giants_6_576.jpg

Senior Producer Interview

http://a.onionstatic.com/images/media/game/640/mlb_10-the_show_jpg_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXFKGfm63YA

#84: NBA 2K11 – PS3/360/Wii/PC/PSP – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://nba-2k11.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nba-2k11-tim-duncan-demo.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ozIrjw_bWE

MJ Speaks

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/2kgames/2ksports/nba2k11/NBA2K11Teaser610.jpg

Gametrailer

http://www.bomeiquan.cn/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/James-Worthy-face-patch-for-NBA-2K11-1.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRE8QgGBRLQ

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nba_experts__62/ept_sports_nba_experts-83980883-1285164811.jpg?ymLM6zDDLfGC_vXz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZljyn_Zqco

Simulation Silliness

http://images.thekoalition.com/2010/09/NBA2K11-570x320.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMMAtXFf5kA

http://adventoutpost.com/wp-content/uploads/Snoop2k11.jpg

Elite Killer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYtAVaRvyM

http://wethegamerz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/news_michael_jordan_moments_in_nba_2k11-9968.jpg

guys naughty bear is on clearance at my local target - do i do this to myself?

(sorry im just excited about this thread rolling out but i dont do sports games so i wanted to say something)

I sold back nba2k11. One of the best looking games, but I grew to hate the controls and contextual animations that made me feel like I was playing Dragon's Lair instead of a good sports game like PES or World Cup. Though it is a huge improvement over last year's version.

you guys are gonna be shocked when naughty bear places in the top 10

guys naughty bear is on clearance at my local target - do i do this to myself?

I would say that it is worth... hmm... three dollars? Five tops.

oh well, i think it was 12.48 so maybe it just isnt meant to be.

btw qrank is pretty great, although today i got pwned by 3 of the 4 thousand point questions so it wasnt a banner day for sure

http://www.bomeiquan.cn/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/James-Worthy-face-patch-for-NBA-2K11-1.jpg

berore?

before F was invented.

surely you mean "berore F was invented"

#84: NHL 11 – PS3/360 – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://www.digitalbattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/nhl11.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEqkKf67Hg

Dev Diary

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/N/NHL%2011/Bulk%20Viewer/PS3%20360/2010-08-10/puckhandling_-_det_vs_col_-_duchene6--article_image.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnRN9_3rE4w

http://files.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/238992_S/NHL-11.jpg

Gametrailer

http://www.puckgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nhl-11-uniform-creator.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI-LKjGAwes

Producer Interview

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A9_3DLQSLcI/TIglY6OP5qI/AAAAAAAAABU/CPWb72kz-gs/s1600/178808-nhl-11-dev-diary-1_header.jpg

is it just me or is realism in video games right at the tipping point where it's difficult to tell if you're looking at a photograph or a simulation?

"in sports video games"

I like how nobody ever writes anything defending their votes for sports games; the closest we get is a bunch of supremely British pullquotes from the FIFA/PES threads.

forks, I don't think it's just you... at least, when the games are in full-arena view, I think it can be hard to tell at times, like if you just glance at the screen (because obv in normal games people don't have little arrows hovering over their heads). I remember my cousin visited just after FIFA 10 came out, so it was a regular fixture in my house at the time. I think the only giveaway for her that it wasn't real was that she could see my bf holding the controller (pretty sure she actually asked "is this a real game or a video game?" at one point)

#84: Puzzle Quest II – DS/360/iPhone/PC – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2939/puzzlequest2ss2.jpg

DS Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-I3gCPNiU

Craig G: Somehow the 'quest' wrapper on this game turns it from just a simple Bejewelled vs. mode to a game that I can't put down. I don't understand why; I never know what the actual purpose of the overall quest is, as I never read any of the game text. I wander from place to place wherever the arrow tells me to, fightin' stuff, levelling up and getting more spells. I know I'm basically just playing battle after battle, but I can't stop myself from playing this game… just like its predecessors. My main gripe with this one, unlike Puzzle Quest and Puzzle Quest Galactrix, is the curve just seems too gentle; it never gets difficult.

http://ipadgames.org/wp-content/uploads/Puzzle-Quest-2.jpg

Extensive Dev Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCUd6TS0u-A

http://www.geardiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Puzzle_Quest_2-700x393.jpg

Gametrailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ6ebYHXrSY

Jenny: It's great on the iPad and decent enough on the iPhone.

http://www.platformnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PQ2-gameplay-525x295.jpg

#83: Settlers 7 – PC – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://mimg.ugo.com/200909/11322/cuts/settlers-7-village_480x360.jpg

GameTrailer Dev Diary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5AO9prmXOs

http://www.g4g.it/g4g/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/settler_6_patch_01.jpg

Producer Interview

http://www.settlers7tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/settlers7-screenshot.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7oirnOzAcc

Co-Designed by Civ/AoE vet Bruce Shelley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDQDFeSZmV0

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/S/Settlers%207%20Paths%20to%20a%20Kingdom/Bulk%20Viewer/PC/2010-03-23/PCG213.rev_settlers7.gen7--article_image.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5e3jXb2EAo

Nice Game if you can Play It

http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/106/1066584/the-settlers-7-paths-to-a-kingdom-20100204003954592_640w.jpg

had no idea there was a 7, or that they were that far along at all. looks beautiful.

it looks nice but i wonder if its too finnick-y & limited? curious to know who voted for it

i played puzzle quest 2 (PC) a lot but ultimately didn't vote for it -- it's too similar to the first one, and plays slower due to the new map system. also the minigames were worse.

man I would play the f out of Settlers 7 except that it's PC only & I hate booting over to XP & anyway something that gorgeous demands a horse of a PC rather than my Mac laptop, alas.

huh - I guess I was the only one who voted for MLB Show 10, NBA 2k11 and NHL 11 - seriously? - your loss ...

haha, i did wonder if all 3 were from the same voter. i thought there was love for the Show on ILG.

I love the whole The Show series but this year 9 Innings was the only baseball game I needed. this year's version looks insanely sick though.

did fewer people vote this year? because iirc nba/fifa type games have finished a lot higher in previous polls

I voted for two sports games out of the five I voted for. Neither has shown up yet.

more people voted this year than for any previous c+p

I voted for two sports games -- also neither have shown up (and I expect they'll both do pretty well)

Puzzle Quest 2 was pretty fun for a short while, it just didn't bring enough new to the table. The slow map speed definitely hurt, and made it less crack-addictive than the original.

Also, in between parts 1 and 2, that Might and Magic game came out, which was superior in several ways

*cries*

#83: Soosiz – iPhone – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/soosiz-5.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVowHErySnc

Gamasutra Top 5 iPhone games

jjjusten: The only new iPhone game i really enjoyed this year. Soosiz is a criminally undersung platformer with some great level design, lots of content and great implementation of touch controls. In a perfect world would have gotten more people to notice it, but eh what can you do.

http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/soosiz-6.png

TouchArcade Review

Polyphonic: A lot of fun.

http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/soosiz.jpg

Developer Interview

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aU4-JPiW0GE/S9l-HQFIdnI/AAAAAAAAFD0/B4aIjnsXAKA/s1600/034soosiz.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqeOQB9ZgWw

http://ui18.gamespot.com/177/img0558_2.png

i was on board until the comic sans usage in the final pic ;_;

hands down the best platformer ever for iphone - and btw it also gets stupid hard at times

#83: Space Invaders: Infinity Gene – PS3/360/iPhone – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://static.arstechnica.net/assets/2010/06/space_invaders_infinity-thumb-640xauto-14799.jpg

Touch Arcade iPhone Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShO9rtyIX-0

Daniel Primed on Constructing the SMUP

http://www.ps3vault.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Space_Invaders_Infinity_Gene_-_360_PS3_-_10.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnPHz55PJ-A

Matt D: A solid mobile shooter that will procedurally generate levels based on any music stored on my device? The core gameplay of Space Invaders Extreme with brand new presentation and added elements? This is one of a few iOS titles that convinced me I never need to own a mobile gaming platform other than my phone

http://www.thedarkwheel.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/si_infinity_gene_7.jpg

Taito designer Reisuke Ishida Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k5LRV_gG1M

http://www.games-down.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Space-Invaders-Infinity-Gene-XBOX360-Review-Image-2.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KjDh9a_L3c

It would be hyperbole to suggest that a 3 dollar iPhone game saved my soul. But it sure helped hold it together.

http://www.gamezone.com/images/screenshots/Space_Invaders_Infinity_Gene_-_360_PS3_-_9.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpErelxcrSg

PS3 Metacritic

http://media.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/space-invaders-skull.jpg

Another Ishida interview

http://media.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/space-invaders-types.jpg

whoa, had never heard of that one. looks really good!

starts out good but then the "tilted" fake-3D stages are annoying

#83: Space Miner: Space Ore Bust – iPhone – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/space-miner-space-ore-bust-1.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYoIdZUk_v4

Touch Arcade Review

http://img.slidetoplay.com/screenshots/space-miner-space-ore-bust_5.jpg

Jeff: Good game but way too short.

http://artoftheiphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Space-Miner-Ore-Collection.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mfzbaOHrTk

Dev Interview

http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Screen-shot-2010-02-06-at-12.54.25-PM.png

A testament to what you can do by honing a simple formula until it is razor sharp.

http://www.onemetal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/space_miner_1-450x300.jpg

Jamescobo: An incredible Asteroids/RPG mashup game with good production values and insane gameplay hooks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taJTv8ntRw

http://a.onionstatic.com/images/articles/article/38912/08_spaceminer_jpg_627x1000_q85.jpg

It's in some kind of MOON LANGUAGE!

hands down the best platformer ever for iphone - and btw it also gets stupid hard at times

do you count Canabalt or Super Hook Champ as platformers? those are the only superior iOS platformers I can think of, although it's not exactly a bumper crop.

Hook Champ was pretty sweet, I gotta say

never played super hook champ - canabalt didnt really grab me i guess - soosiz def seems way more varied and old schooly

I'd have played Soosiz by now if it wasn't for the design style, but I've just played a few too many average games that look like that (like Rolando, and iBlast Moki, and that one on the PSP that they're all ripped from). Is it honestly better than all those? Cos none of those were really that good.

Didn't know Space Invaders existed though, bought.

Enjoyed Space Miner while it lasted, and played through the whole thing, but kind of can't remember much about it now? Except that it was maybe a bit too easy.

The Settlers 7 vote was mine. Fanastic-est RTS ever, wrapped in a hilariously inappropriate (actually very annoying) cartoon-princess storyline.

It's monstrously complex, but perfecly pitched so as to keep you trying & learning. The in-map graphics are lovely; watching your little people mooching about never gets old, even when they're bitching about the lack of sausages. Skip the campaign and go straight for skirmish mode.

#84: Super Mario All Stars: 25th Anniversary Edition – Wii – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://images.gamefreaks.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/NIN_25th_anniversary.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWK01D5PmT0

ilxor: More nostalgic than revolutionary in 2010 but still a great game.

http://cdn2.spong.com/screen-shot/s/u/supermario339712l/_-Super-Mario-All-Stars-25th-Anniversary-Edition-Wii-_.jpg

Primary Ignition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxl4xb7I2ek

Mario: A Retrospective

http://cdn3.spong.com/screen-shot/s/u/supermario339713l/_-Super-Mario-All-Stars-25th-Anniversary-Edition-Wii-_.jpg

Metacritic

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2010/12/6/1291636429404/Super-Mario-All-Stars-006.jpg

iwata asks

http://www.primaryignition.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Super-Mario-All-Stars-2.jpg

PopMatters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiMLGgvRbb4

Gamasutra’s Critical Reception Rundown

http://purenintendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/redwii1007.jpg

oh hi dere, i voted for this

hope they're not as lazy with the Zelda 25th anniversary stuff that they've got planned

yeah, this was basically a repackaged super mario allstars, right?

sad because a sega ages quality SMB anthology would be pretty amazing.

yup xp-- mario all-stars for wii

i mean, i agree the repackaging is lazy, that's why i gave it 10 points. but can't f/w the games imo, and i played the shit out of this in Q4 2010. had to throw points since i played it a bunch...

#84: Super Scribblenauts – DS – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://www.pubarticles.com/member/user_img/468/1287114468.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyaM1B-adU

Metacritic

http://gamerpops.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/super-scribblenauts-1.jpg

Ars Technica

http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/super-scribblenauts-screenshot-ds.jpg

Salsa Shark: I found the first version of Scribblenauts to be a bit disappointing. Conjuring up random things and making various beasts/humans fight one another was entertaining enough, but the control system when actually trying to complete tasks was so frustrating that I didn’t get very far before shelving the game. Super Scribblenauts was a huge improvement; something as simple as moving Maxwell with the D-pad instead of the stylus actually turned the entire game around. Oh, and the addition of adjectives is pretty fun, too. When your lexicon is exhausted of adjectives and obscure nouns, you can always resort to good ol’ random fights to the death between depressed ninja velociraptors and posh metal Cthulhus or other descriptive monsters of your choice. Super wicked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icFT0SRdhEE

Grinding Down

http://www.thereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/super-scribblenauts-4.jpg

Dirty Word List

http://o.aolcdn.com/os/kol/Games_2/VideoGames/DS-DSi/super-scribblenauts-game-page

GameTrailers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPzajw2cP10

Eurogamer

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/07/scribblenauts719.jpg

Complete Adjective List

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onFU8xJ4Hj8

forksclovetofu: I honestly wish I wasn’t once bitten, twice shy about this game but I still feel a bit wary of trying what sounds like the game the first one should’ve been after struggling with the janky controls and ???? puzzles in 2009, especially given the mixed reviews. Plus at this point it just feels like 5th Cell should join forces with Media Molecule and make a Little Big Scribblenauts and get the job done right.

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/game-hunters/2010/09/07/scribblenautsx-large.jpg

#84: Trauma Team – Wii – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://www.gamingnexus.com/images/Article/vxbjox2612/2.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry60m3ZBmLE

zappi: Trauma Team is really good except for the Endoscopy section where they really screwed up the controls. Luckily though you can skip any sections you don't want to play. The Forensics section is kind of like Phoenix Wright with Persona 4 graphics, which would probably would bore a lot of people but i love it. And there's lots of death. How 'adult'.

http://admintell.napco.com/ee/images/uploads/gamertell/trauma_team_wii_diagnosis.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NamSBZYwNM

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/07/500x_custom_1278443029060_traumateam.jpg

Atlus Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-238ib5Tmdw

http://gamernode.com/upload/manager///Dan%20Crabtree/Reviews/trauma_team_fantastic_voyage-thumb-550x309-299651275675396.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4mkB4oPgGA

Gametrailers

http://www.gameplayreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Wii-Trauma-Team.wmv_000274786.jpg

my futile one-man campaign starts here : give Naomi Kimishima her own game Atlus, dammit!

hope they're not as lazy with the Zelda 25th anniversary stuff that they've got planned

if they really want to celebrate Zelda's 25th anniversary their first step needs to be firing Aounama

http://mmii.info/_ign/36421.gifhttp://www.rphaven.org/gs/bc/0beetle.gif
http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/SuperMarioBrothers/sprites/BuzzyBeetleDark.gif
http://www.mariowiki.com/images/d/dc/SMBWGiantBuzzy.png
I just want to give a shout-out to Buzzy Beetles
The last one is unused data from NSMB wii

woop woop

Only eight more #84s to go!

four actually.
then four #80s
then sixty two #13s.

I wish I rated one of my number ones higher now that I've completed the game

was it bad dudes?

http://i.imgur.com/GuewQ.jpg

lol'd at the first Trauma Team pic

62 #13s? srsly!?

no, i'm being silly.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene is now the first mobile handheld game to ever make me walk into a wall.

#84: Veggie Tales 3D – PC – 10 pts – 1 vote- FREE!
Download Hub
http://i1-games.softpedia-static.com/screenshots/Veggie-Tales-3D_1.jpg

Dev interview

http://i1-games.softpedia-static.com/screenshots/Veggie-Tales-3D_3.jpg

Bamcquern: A mock punk scribbly adventure game so nihilistic that it crashes when you win.

http://i1-games.softpedia-static.com/screenshots/Veggie-Tales-3D_2.jpg

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do in that game.

BUMP

lol

fwiw, forks, all of the pictures and youtubes and blurbs are awesome, but if stripping it down to just a single picture and maybe a link makes things easier, I'm sure no one would be pissed!

I'm actually finding this rate of unveiling to be pretty great, because it means I get time to try these games out as we go. Unlike previous years, where the sheer volume of stuff to play gets quickly overwhelming and I end up never get round to most of them.

this is a valid point; I've been playing Desktop Dungeons relentlessly ever since its entry. definitely would have made my ballot if I'd played it last year!

ditto! that game is fab

yyyyyyeah, it's all part of a plan

#84: Victorian BMX – Flash – 10 pts – 1 vote – FREE!
Official Game Site
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mgyYTW2w19c/TF3uWnEHyCI/AAAAAAAAJEs/MCdRCLf0n3Y/s1600/Victorian+BMX.gif

Nhex: I played A LOT of Flash games this year, even more than usual. It seemed like there was inventive, fresh stuff coming out every week in 2011 from every corner of the web. Victorian BMX was easily one of my favorites. This game had wonderful art, tight controls, addictive score chasing and an amusing, stupid metal riff that plays nonstop in the background to pump you up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98YevAJQxg

jjjusten: AWESOME

http://media.kotaku.com.au/wp//2010/08/victorian-bmx.jpg

Gamasutra

http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2010/08/14/bmx.JPG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsjsHnFOsA]

forksclovetofu: Joe Danger/Excitebike lite but good for whiling away an hour or two. Price is right!

#84: World of Goo – iPad – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site

http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/world-of-goo-ipad-announcement-1.png

Dev Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEdo-C5dfe8

By the Numbers

http://img.slidetoplay.com/screenshots/world-of-goo-2a.PNG

Braid as told by World of Goo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpf55Sin-jo

Forksclovetofu: Clever design and execution, comparable in some ways to Katamari. My downstairs neighbor is a mechanical engineer who knocked out the first fifteen boards in under an hour; he says this should be called “Building a Bridge”. But it’s an AWESOME bridge.

http://theappera.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/world-of-goo-ipad-announcement-2.jpg

Gravel Puzzleworth: Interesting how they packed so much so content in; every level had new ideas. I do sort of resent that I was never stuck. Maybe a bit too easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLI0H--9gsc

http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/worldofgooiphone-thumb-640xauto-9094.jpg

Durrr Durrr Durrrrr: OMG, that level with the balloons and the windmills, is probably the most graceful thing ever shown by monitor! Holy fucking shit! Who's with me?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bNsaK-M77g

2d Boy Website

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/imgthumbs/na-wqpd/world_of_goo_iphone_art.jpg

are you splitting up the same game for different systems? coulda sworn i voted for Goo... or was this my vote?

your vote dude.

ah okay, i voted for the iPhone version, not iPad... hence the confusion :/

i don't think there IS an iphone world of goo yet? has it released?

Search "world of goo" on iphone app store gives me "did you mean word of god?"

2D Boy won’t put a specific date on World of Goo's iPhone debut, but it's currently targeting March 2011

http://tinyurl.com/cez93k

*sigh*

#84: World of Goo – jailbroken iPhone – 10 pts – 1 vote

hahaha <3

i mean it's essentially the iPad version but w/e

btw- iPod touch, to be specific

and now i realize i fucked it up the first time when i voted. meant IPOD TOUCH. i dont even have a fuckin iPhone ;_;

I think we need to repoll to make up for this critical error

#84: Yakuza 3 – PS3 – 10 pts – 1 vote
Official Game Site
http://www.dpadmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Yakuza-3-01.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctqX1SrAQo

Matt D: Underworld melodramatic soap opera and karaoke simulator. It's an old-fashioned action-RPG, sending you wandering around its massive world searching for some arbitrary trigger to advance the story with depressing regularity but the environment is so fantastically well rendered that you walk away from the story at any time and find something to do, and it's charm / presentation is more than enough to overcome its deliberate anachronisms. The NA version apparently has a pile of cut content and I'm hoping for more localized development in #4.
http://www.cheatcc.com/imagesps2e/yakuza_3a.jpg
Eurogamer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL6kzPYJ0Ho

Dev Interview

http://www.psu.com/media/yakuza-3/site_yakuza-3-ss-8.jpg
Daniel_Rf: The most fun I've had doing chores for children ever.

Hysterical Impossibly Badly Dubbed Video Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9L2pButdCU

Jamescobo: It sucks that they're removing content, but I never got as much into the hostess stuff as other Yakuzatards so I'm not slitting my wrists over it or anything. As long as I can still win a fight with a tiger by sticking a cigarette in its eye, I'll be good. Anyone who doesn't buy this game should be reincarnated as Amy Winehouse's taint.

Composer Interview

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/yakuza_005.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo8YoAS2XZE

Yak Tested
http://gamestyle.com/media/images/games/screenshots/large/ps3-yakuza3-240310-04.jpg
Cozen: Massive, despite the cuts.

Sega claims to know what’s up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5EW6fq07_c

Four way tie for #80

#80: Halo Reach – 360 – 10 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site
http://www.everybodyplays.co.uk/images/screenshots/picsforarticles/Halo-Reach-Jetpack.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PeDW4tHlVU

Polyphonic: My favorite Halo is Pretty Hate Machine.

http://www.shoppingblog.com/pics/halo_reach_ss1.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMYrKTU8Hmc

Zero Punctuation

http://nogamenotalk.com/files/2010/09/Halo-Reach-Funan-14-Sep-b-1.jpg

Over 200 Mil in sales for day one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQwXVgNHLo

bnw: One nice thing about Halo games: colors and light as opposed to all the drab, rusted out worlds most FPS games put us in!

http://turbo.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2010/04/halo-reach-advert.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttaL_7tGl7c

On an “M” Rating

http://www.teamteabag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/HaloReachSpartanSkull.png

Mitch Krpata: Bungie's best effort to date, Reach is an incredibly polished, multifaceted offering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2TPo7z0sM

The Beta Story

http://www.softsailor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Halo-Reach-012.jpg

Four way tie for #80

the Minutemens lost prog epic

Haha, I just laughed out loud at my own joke.

#80: Infinity Blade – iPhone – 10 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site
http://nerdreactor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/500x_infinity_blade.jpg

Autumn Almanac: Run to glowing spot, hit knight, run to glowing spot, hit knight. Dull. But pretty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvPIhCd8N4

Metacritic

http://timenerdworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/586_infinity-blade.png

Eurogamer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uySr31INttM

Jim D: Probably voting for the engine more than the game here, but dude it's GORGEOUS.

http://gamersleak.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/infinity_blade.jpg

Even better on iPad2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ssd4P0bgSM

Dev Interview

http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/05-infinity-blade.png?w=610

A beautiful garden with very high walls

http://touchreviews.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Infinity-Blade-God-King.png

#80: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 – Wii/DS/PC/PS3/360/PSP/iPhone – 10 pts – 2 votes
Official Game Site
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4478873931_67b1f48ff9.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDu_0TxQLM

2.7 Million sold

http://www.gaminglives.com/wp-content/uploads/lego_harry_potter_hermione_enlrg.jpg

Producer Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv4KZhi_GMU

Gametrailers

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hOEkcXiPJVM/TFApR4On-qI/AAAAAAAAAeU/vxbpMXuvGfk/s1600/Lego-Harry-Potter-Years-1-4-01.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nv9p4tbcbI

http://wireninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lego-harry-potter-emma-watson.jpg

Euler: My son is playing the heck out of it, so I voted for him.

http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/baby-lego-harry-potter.jpg

Dev Interview

http://www.marriedwithvideogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/LegoHarryPotter-SS5.jpg

#80: Ys 7 – PSP – 10 pts – 2 vote
Official Game Site
http://admintell.napco.com/ee/images/uploads/gamertell/ys_7_psp.jpg

Metacritic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpbwTNORntk

Captain Lorax: I'll rep for any Ys game from Oath in Felghana onward. Ys has basically nailed the winning formula for top-down action-RPGs… and it’s more action than RPG. If you enjoyed the gameplay for A Link to The Past then you will like Ys games.

http://www.rpgland.com/content/media/2009/07/7thys01.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QHR-azBa4w

Dev Interview

http://www.japanator.com/elephant//ul/17465-japanator-recommends-ys-the-oath-in-felghana/Ys%207-620x.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnHt0-GfMhg

Localization Interview

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l7nkd65kq31qd4q8ao1_500.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFrVdoq3WY

aaaaand that's finally it for this thread.
New thread for 53-79 is forthcoming sometime this year.

i can see why you kept putting this off now

Just going to rep for Lego Harry Potter for a minute (I gave it its other vote and, like Euler's, it was really a vote on behalf of our junior household gamer).

The original lego star wars was pretty solid in 2005, and this is what, the fifth or sixth iteration now? So it's a) great that TT are even bothering to continue making improvements to the core game (they could very easily just be re-skinning the same idea over and over), and b) even more great that they're making really intelligent improvements, which are aware of and focussed on their core audience of under-10s.

Basically it seems Travellers' Tales are the only people making kids' games that don't insult kids at this point.

(The improvements, btw, come down to more puzzles, less fighting, smoother co-op experience. All good stuff).

^^^ yes; I've been watching my son play this a bunch & I agree with this take on the improvements, though I oughta try playing co-op with him.

I've read that Toy Story 3 is a pretty good kids game but I haven't picked it up yet, gonna let my boy drain the Harry Potter game first.

I periodically check the Ys Forum for Ys Origin (Ys Six for the pc) fan-made translation patch. Ys fans have been waiting years for that patch. If you don't feel bad about torrenting Japanese games then I say go ahead and get Ys The Oath in Felghana (Ys Five for the pc) and the translation patch for that one (some low end PCs can play it just fine).

Ys = fast smooth hack'n'slah action that isn't as simpleminded as many hack'n'slash games since there is more emphasis on dodging, memorizing boss patterns and not all enemies can be powered through with a flurry of sword strikes -- many have unique patterns and attributes that will change up the way you approach combat with them. Ys hack'and'slash is rewarding because it's fast, like I already mentioned, and there is a variety of attacks/combos. Plus the graphics are always good looking. There isn't really many puzzles or as many kinds of items as A Link to the Past but I still think that's a good game to compare Ys to.

I can't believe someone else voted for ys 7! all of the town/plot/dialogue stuff is incredibly dull but the hackin' and slashin' is the heart of it and it just feels so right.

Whoa, another PSP game to play? Awesome! It is pretty much all I have been playing all year, I figured after Tactics Ogre I'd have to pu it down.

yeah, the first hour or so is insanely dull. I wouldn't fault anyone for putting the game down because dull and overlong introductions to a story i don't care about/endless training tutorials RIGHT AT THE START OF A GAME are my number one pet peeves with game design. it amazes me that games still do this to people. my time is limited and I want to actually PLAY SOMETHING, people!!

but if you can soldier through, you'll be rewarded with a very fun hack n slash rpg.

playing the PSP remake of ys 1 & 2 right now. highly recommended if you've never played these games before in one of their thousands of other reincarnations.

the Settlers 7 post is the most highly-trafficked post in the history of the blog by like a factor of ten

Which what where? Linky?

http://cointandplick.wordpress.com

the Settlers 7 post in question: http://cointandplick.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/coint-plick-2010-84e-settlers-7/

wow, i honestly didn't know you had caught up. fuck, now i feel extra guilty. will post more tonight.

also james: i can provide you with the raw html if that would make doing the blog easier?

no problem! with Wordpress it's basically just a matter of cutting everything straight from the posts & pasting it straight in; the biggest hassle is grabbing the YouTube links and that ain't no thang. at this point the tagging probably takes longer than pulling the info from the post.

james, any idea why it's so trafficked? is it getting hit on GIS?

just GIS'ed it: answer is YES. I run a SNES blog and the pages that get the most hits are accidentally SEO'd into getting mad hitz.

What's with you guys running these awesome game blogs and not sharing the links? Post em here! :)

i think i have pimped it on this site before but it's everygame.wordpress.com and it's not v good anymore

givf part threeeeeee

okay, i'll take a stab at this today/tomorrow.

Yay! And sorry for mithering.

le sigh

Was a best of the decade (2000s) poll ever done on ILG?

I think the only non-yearly one we did was the attempt at the PS2 poll but I don't think that even made it to the polling stage

We did the poll for the PS2 one, I have the results, I was just kind of bummed by the turnout so I never published it -- I may do so when Forks is done, though! I am still sitting on the list!

aw i wondered what happened to that, trying to choose 10 made me go back & play some of the ps2 games i missed the first time round - think my 10 would be a lot different today

c'mon forks!!!!

It may make more sense at this point for me to completely re-run the polling & maybe even the nominations for PS2, and anyone who doesn't send in another list I'll just use their old one to beef up the numbers. That's somehow unethical though I bet. Ha.

i would be down with that, will m

oh man, was wondering what happened to the ps2 poll. think I voted for that one. will be pretty into this if it happens.

The Fourth Annual Coint and Plick Video Games Poll - Part Three: #53 - 79
will try to add new stuff tonight