Last year, you could easily make the case that the 3DS and Vita categories had some of the strongest games of the year, with any one of the finalists having a legitimate shot at Game of the Year. Could this year be just as strong? We’ll see. Revealing the winners for Best 3DS and Best Vita games are Eric Chetkauskas and Justin Guillou.
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BEST 3DS GAME |
| Previous Winners 2012: Kid Icarus: Uprising 2013: Fire Emblem: Awakening |
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ERIC: The Nintendo 3DS has come a long way since its mediocre launch. What used to be a system that had “no games” has not only grown its library considerably, but has been the home to many of the best games released over the past couple years. With a plethora of first-party, third-party, and indie games, the 3DS is now a powerhouse for this generation, and dismissing it–and its games–just because it’s a handheld would be a grave mistake.
Which 3DS game will rise to take the crown this year? Let’s take a look at the nominees:
Let’s face it, 2014 was the year of Smash hype. Predicting and reacting to new character announcements seemed like a weekly occurrence — which it actually was, for us. The newest incarnation of Nintendo’s fighting series pits legendary Nintendo mascots and characters more on the obscure side against each other. The 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. was the first to be released, and most people didn’t have to play past the demo to decide that they loved the game.
Probably the single most-wanted localization by North American JRPG fans in recent years is Square Enix’s Bravely Default. A Final Fantasy title in all but name, Bravely Default brings back the classic turn-based battles that old-school gamers are used to, and a job system ripped from Final Fantasy V. In Bravely Default, fans that were starving for more traditional JRPGs found exactly what they were looking for.
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Persona Q is a spinoff of the main Persona games. Focusing more on dungeon-crawling than other entries in the series, it combines characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4, allowing you to play as the heroes of either game. As the first entry of the series to appear on a Nintendo system, this crossover is a perfect chance for fans to adventure with their favorite characters again.
- Fantasy Life
Fantasy Life takes one part Animal Crossing and one part Final Fantasy, and combines them to make a rather unique game. Fishing and catching bugs aren’t just things you can do, they’re actual quests for you to complete as you try to master unorthodox job classes such as carpenter, tailor or cook. Add in a whimsical story and an Uematsu-penned soundtrack, and you can see why this cute little game is considered to be one of the best games on the 3DS last year.
Nintendo’s lovable pink puffball made a triumphant return in 2014. Kirby: Triple Deluxe makes use of the 3DS’s 3D feature in a rather unique way: Kirby can move back-and-forth between the foreground and the background. Otherwise, classic Kirby gameplay combines with mini-games and keychain collecting to provide players a way to enjoy the game well after they finish.
AND THE WINNER IS…
Bravely Default
It’s rare for a game that received so much hype and build-up to live up to fans’ expectations. But that’s just what Bravely Default did. While mainline Final Fantasy titles have been going in a more experimental route, Bravely Default promised fans a modern twist on the old-school RPG gameplay. It not only featured a wonderful cast of characters, amazing storytelling and a beautiful soundtrack, but it also gave the player the creature-comforts of one-handed controls, fast-forwarding battles and skippable cutscenes, resulting in a game that was not only an artistic masterpiece, but lacked frustrating gameplay. Releasing early last year, it didn’t fade from memory as the powerhouse titles came out in Summer and Fall. It even managed to out-slug Super Smash Bros. in this poll, which is a feat unto itself. If anything, the love given to Bravely Default shows that there is a fanbase hungry for games like this in the West.
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BEST VITA GAME |
| Previous Winners 2012: Persona 4 Golden 2013: Tearaway |
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JUSTIN: Ah, the Playstation Vita. You are so beloved by your owners, yet outsiders seem to forget you exist. Walk into a game store and you only see one tiny little shelf while the 3DS section is bigger and generally gets more attention. Whether you are playing on an OLED or a LCD screen, Vita owners had quite a bit of good stuff to enjoy this year. Today, we are here to talk about some of the most notable titles to come in 2014. LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!
Here is a game for all you fans of the ever popular vocaloid. Seriously, she has become so big in recent years to the point of even appearing on David Letterman! I’m pretty sure no one thought the Project DIVA games would make it to the west. In fact, most people I know who were into vocaloids already imported the Japanese versions. If you have not already and are a fan of Miku, this is one you need to check out. It’s also on PS3, so you can jam to your vocaloids at home or on the go!
A nice trip back to Gamindustri, except this time with enhancements to make the game a lot more enjoyable. The Neptunia series prides itself in poking fun at itself. The main character is supposed to represent the SEGA Neptune. The Neptune was a canned console that was being developed right before the SEGA Saturn came out and would have been a standalone 32X console. What is a SEGA 32X? well it was that weird mushroom thing you put on the genesis that let you play Knuckles Chaotix. What is a SEGA? …Never mind… Just play the game…
A nice bitesize beat-em-up for when you are out in public. However, you may get some weird stares from anyone who happens to see what is on screen. Look past that however, and you will see a nice little gem with a great variety of characters, special moves, and just pure fun. The music is also really awesome. This game is packed with content and bonuses along with some fun DLC for those of you who want just one more round.
OH THIS ONE…..This is one of the few video games I played where I honestly wished a character in it actually existed in real life. I am not usually the type to get attached to a character this much, but this game did it for me. Danganronpa is pretty much what happens when Ace Attorney meets the movie Battle Royale and adds a bit of Zero Escape. What we have here is a visual novel that is quite the emotional rollercoaster. If you have not checked it out and you are looking for a great story, look no further. Also, Chiaki is my waif-NO! I will NOT say it! She isn’t real…..*cries*
A remake of a Nintendo DS game, Tales of Hearts R snuck right into hands of PS Vita owners in November. What can I really say about it? It is Tales of on the go! And for a lot of people, that is all it needed to be. Yes there are some translation issues and it only has the japanese dub, but when you are performing sweet air combos and stylish attacks, it hardly matters.
AND THE WINNER IS………………..
Well, I personally think it’s a better game than the real winner of the award. I mean, that game is not even that good. It is repetitive, the story is dumb, the women look as brainless as dolls, their proportions are out of control. Also it’s like super perverted. Can we not get a panty shot every five seconds? Gross! Like what kind of loser wants to play that game anyways?
Well the reality is, a lot of people, myself included, want to play it. Which is why THE REAL BEST VITA GAME IS…
Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus
I have to say, this game surprised me the most this year. See, I was not terribly interested in the series to begin with. “Bounciness” aside, the gameplay from the 3DS one did not look too great to me, but this one appealed to me more since it seemed like a bit of an improvement. Also, the sweet limited edition motivated me to pre-order it. So I put it in the Vita thinking this is going to be an average game. Well, about 40 hours and a platinum trophy later, I ended up really enjoying it. The battle system is simple yet really addictive, the music is so good, and the graphics are really nice with some well “Detailed” characters.
Next, Best Multiplatform Game and we say farewell to those we lost last year.
