1. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze ; Retros claim of having unfinished business in Kong Country is evident throughout Tropical Freeze which as a sequel successfully builds upon the already stellar groundwork of its predecessor taking greatness and ascending it further to platforming excellence.
The approach to world design is marvelous to behold, Tropical Freeze is rich with subtle visual storytelling in its stages be it the level progression setting up an escalating journey from the humble beginnings of a rural countryside up to the islands ominous peak or jumping through a factories fruit harvesting and juicing process across numerous stages with said processes making up each stages respective gimmicks. The levels themselves have a fantastic way of grounding all their platforming elements so that they fit within the world itself, nothing just floats in the sky with no rhyme or reason (okay, some barrel cannons do, its just how they work), be it simple platforms, vines or ziplines theres always something connecting these elements to the scenery and In no way is the level design hindered being held to Retros own world building rules. Every stage in Tropical Freeze stands out as its own experience with backdrops crafted solely for it and as a result of all of these elements the game feels like a full on journey culminating in a return to DK Island that pays homage to DKCR in such a strong way that I felt nostalgic for a game that only came out around three years ago.
The carefully coordinated level structure extends to housing both explorative secret scrounging play and speed running stage mastery, its almost like having two stages in one. Understanding DKs eruptive roll jump expands possibilities and the realization that enemies that initially hindered progress double as stepping stones to satisfyingly spring off in order to make death defying leaps across chasms without needing to slow down is like becoming enlightened to the true path leading to platforming nirvana.
The weight of Donkey Kongs movement meets the challenge of feeling suitably heavy yet agile and responsive. Taming DKs movement and successfully wrestling with the momentum for the desired result is a reward in itself, throw in the almost rhythmic timed enemy bounces complete with ever so satisfying ker-plunk impact and you have what may well be my favourite character control in the genre as well as top tier pogo antics courtesy of Cranky Kong.
This sense of weight even extends to the swimming mechanics, it applies many of the same rules to underwater movement to those of the land making it feel wholly consistent.
Attention to detail across all Kong characters from idle easter eggs to the way they scramble on slopes grants them personality. DK and Diddy retain their previous animations with the same care applied to the newcomers, Cranky manages to look both a bit old and tired when strolling yet bursting with sudden energy when upgrading to a sprint and Dixie is just flat out adorable carrying a playful air to her more springy movements. The Snowmad foes and their world capping bosses not only leave a greater legacy than the previous Tiki rogues gallery but also put in work to step up on the underwhelming bosses of Returns, theyre tough and a bit gruelling yet treated as important as the standard stages with shifting phases and heck theres a Viking Owl Wizard which is just the best, THE BEST.
Actually the best might be reserved by the other returning DKC character, composer David Wise is back with an instant classic soundtrack that elevates the action on screen further jumping between jaunty and moody when the setting demands it which Ive already gushed about in the SotY thread (cheap plug!).
This game is anything but wasted talent, its a showcase of Retros talent that strolls into my pantheon of platformers, pulls up the throne and squeezes in alongside DKC2, Im going to need a bigger throne.
2. Bayonetta 2 ; As the imposing emissaries of both heaven and hell go on the offensive with screen sweeping blows theres an uncanny sense of clarity within the visual discord, no matter what the game throws at me I feel in complete control within the chaos, such is the strength of Bayonettas finely honed fighting mechanics and character control that makes offense and evasion flow together as one.
To the untrained eye a standard Bayonetta brawl is almost overwhelming to witness, fast paced, acrobatic and stylish as they come like watching a well choreographed fight scene yet this isnt something you watch, youre playing it out in real time and it feels great.
Bayonetta 2 explodes out of the gate and just doesnt let up for the games entire duration, it can be almost exhausting in its execution with an ever expanding catalogue of new foes to both test your skills against and offer experimentation with the mix and match weapon options that help you define your own playstyle.
As a sequel Bayonetta 2 focuses very much on ironing out the creases of the original, instant death quick time events? Gone, overly long and clumsy minigame stages? Dialed down and honed into much stronger changes of pace. While this process may streamline things a touch too much in places its hard to argue with the result as the mirror sheen here is positively blinding.
Platinum almost make their mastery of the action genre seem effortless with their work here, its just so fun and fluid to play that Ill bust out a big grin mid fight because this is a thing that is actually happening, I did indeed just explode into a swift panther form to lunge at my foes, elegantly flip out avoiding the assault whilst wielding a CLAW SYCTHE with blades that erupt into a scatter shot and then switching to a gargantuan hammer on the fly to mash an angelic mook so hard into the floor that theyre grounded within an impact crater. If thats not empowering then I dont know what is.
The lyrics from tomorrow is mine dont lie, the fuel in its fire really wont run dry, it burns bright.
3. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U ; SSB could be viewed as a celebratory feast in honour of Nintendo, you arrive in its lavish halls almost overwhelmed by the options of which to dine upon, do you load up that first plate with a round of classic, a side of events or just gorge on the new 8 man smash? At some point youre gonna have to walk all that off so take the time to see the sights and gaze at the showcases of trophies detailing Nintendos rich history. And whats an event this grand without its guests of honour? Rub elbows with Nintendos mainstays and more, yeah Links the one surrounded by legions of adoring fans but Id sooner kick back with the Radiant Hero Ike anyway, woah is that the Duck Hunt Dog over there? Boy I havent seen him in years, Mega Man?! Reports of your death were exaggerated it would seem!
Shulks eyes glow with a grim premonition, seconds later its clear why as Diddy Kongs drunk arse winds up in the punch bowl lamenting why Dixie couldnt be with him tonight (yeah, Im disappointed to), an embarrassed Donkey Kong goes to forcibly remove his distressed nephew only to get tie tugged into the bowl, a family spat is on our hands setting off a chain reaction as Mario makes a snide remark about the year of Luigi setting off his bros Karting face. Greedy King Dedede inhales the entire strawberry shortcake for himself and Kirby goes from crestfallen to irate in seconds, I think its time to settle it in smash!
The latest instalment of Smash seeks to greater connect the respective strengths of both Melee and Brawl and thus creates an enjoyable compromise, it doesnt pull things off perfectly but in any event youve got yourself a loaded disc full to the bursting point with content and more remixes of DK Island Swing than anyone actually needs. With such wealth theres certainly a few things that can be nitpicked at though something with this much scope cant truly please everyone so taken for what it is its really quite the achievement and thats still with a bit more in the pipeline.
Most newcomers this time around cant simply get by on name value as we approach the lesser knowns of Nintendos library, yet they stand out through the strength of their movesets offering something different to the established characters, some of the old guard look almost too simple by comparison now showing just how far this series has come from its humble N64 origins to the hype garnering behemoth it is today.
Meanwhile back at the banquet things are breaking down completely, the party balls exploded, A giant purple space dragon is trying (and failing) to fit through the front door to join the ruckus, Samus and Captain Falcon are competing for the Mushroom Kingdoms bounty on the Koopalings and the only Doctor in the house is bludgeoning his dungaree doppelgänger with pills of pain, I dont know how I got embroiled in all of this, Im just a simple Mii after all.
4. Shovel Knight ; It would be so easy for an 8 bit throwback title like Shovel Knight to lose itself in winks and nods to the classic games that inspired it, however Shovel Knight doesnt just dig up the past, its trusty shovel unearthed a more important treasure and thats its own character.
From the immediately memorable knights of no quarter to its punny NPC banter the world of Shovel Knight delights and amuses in equal measure and the simple motivation that drives Shovel Knights quest onwards is punctuated with a few surprisingly effective scenes that have a lot of heart for all their simplicity proving that you dont need lavish production values to get points across.
The gameplay is tight and responsive giving you precise control over Shovel Knight with an expanding arsenal of sub weapon relics to expand attacking options further as well as the ever enjoyable shovel pogo, while not a revolution in level design it delivers a strong example of carefully tuned action platforming staples invoking the strengths of past 8 bit titles while mostly steering clear of the difficulty pitfalls of the same era.
Shovel Knight is one of the more welcoming games of its kind, itll test your ability but it wont beat you down, its balanced enough to be enjoyed by those who cut their teeth on the golden oldies as well as those that would fear the more punishing past.
As it stands Shovel Knight executes the collective aspects that make up its whole with finesse, be it clashing with the numerous bosses, optional sub stages emphasizing relic usage and the authentically retro soundtrack, it does it all to a solid standard and even then I cant help but think that theres still room to improve further if the Knight chooses to pick up his shovel again in the future and break new ground.
5. Mario Kart 8 ; The race doesnt truly begin until the first item patch, or perhaps thats when the race turns into something much more than a friendly karting session. The roulette wheel of fate determines the tools of battle and in just a few seconds pandoras box springs wide open unleashing all manner of destructive weapons, the bob-ombs, shells and boomerangs fly, coins and karts tumble across the track in their wake, one racer desperately tries to make an escape from the warzone with a mushroom boost but in their panic succumbs to a simple comical banana peel. As first place barely breaks ahead and looks back in the mirror at the aftermath they let out a sigh of relief, yet deep down theres a longing for that middle of the pack chaos, to fight against the odds and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, that is Mario Kart.
The Mario Kart formula reaches its arguably most refined state, for the first time since the DS outing the entry here feels like an event as opposed to just another Mario Kart where mechanics have been tweaked to their most satisfactory feel, where the visuals burst with bright and bold colours and music is treated with the extra care of live instrumentation. Mario Kart 8 is a wonderful looking game, the characters are expressive and environments deep with detail that make it a vivid visual feast in a way the series has never seen before. Kart control is punchier than ever always keeping the player engaged with a series of simple but effective moves such as trick hops and drifting to compliment the hectic racing action, the result is the most immediately enjoyable to play Mario Kart game of them all where I can forgive the rather sparse single player content in favour of just how enjoyable the act of karting is in general.
The new tracks deliver the right balance of spectacle and satisfying circuit design, each one is distinct and thanks to strong visuals and careful usage of track gimmicks they become memorable small worlds themselves. At times things get turned literally upside down with the bending anti gravity sections, more than just a neat visual gimmick it ever so slightly changes the game mechanics in a way that has you actively trying to collide with other racers for a burst of speed, theres nothing quite as exhilarating as two evenly matched racers clashing with continuous collision boosts.
Where they skimped on side content and the half hearted execution of battle mode its clear that the time spent in the workshop here was ensuring that the racing itself was the best in the series and it shows, MK8 is a joy to play and saves the series from stagnating.
6. Dark Souls 2 ; The youngest of the Souls siblings emulates the middle child of the trio but doesnt always grasp the lessons his big bro is trying to teach, hes explaining the intricacies of creating an interconnected world map yet all the little dreamer wants to do is throw in everything that comes to mind. The big brother is steps away from crushing the hopes of a lava dripping steel castle in the sky with super cool electric samurai citing that it makes no geographical sense in its current location floating above a perilous poisonous peak but just cant, the youngest is beaming with delight at the deathly contraptions hes concocted and why take that away from him? this is the legacy of Dark Souls the second, he lacks the nuance of his elders but is full of surprises, it also helps having those strong souls series genetics.
So Dark Souls 2 continues the bleak and challenging lineage the series is known within another expansive world full of discovery. Theres something to be said about the vast amount of areas within Drangleic, not all of them are winners but uncovering the various paths branching off from the central hub like area of Majula is always full of intrigue, if theres one benefit from the immediate ability to warp from bonfires its that you can always jump around the numerous possibilities instead of being halted by a wall of difficulty.
Perhaps one of the strongest factors of this game for me is that it presents another opportunity to swap tales of victory and loss with my friends, its not often that our purchasing tastes all line up and the Souls games present the opportunity to all chime in with our own experiences, not just a solid game but also an event in that respect.
Theres no denying that DS2 falls short of my expectations, even so it stands strong as one of the highlights of my 2014.
7. Freedom Planet ; This modern day dose of speedy 2D platforming doesnt look to hide its Sonic the Hedgehog inspiration nor does it stay entirely shackled to it, a trip to this planet brings the appropriately named freedom from the blue blur that expands its scope further to feel almost like a lost Sega title of yesteryear.
Freedom Planet makes an effort to present a plot as well as building its world and goes as far to throw in voice acted cutscenes but fortunately understands that this isnt everyones cup of tea especially in this genre and has the foresight to allow you to play through the game without any cinematic intrusions, its an interesting approach to have both and personally I find Classic Mode just flows that much better putting gameplay first.
Stages tend to shift between blazing across the multi-tiered environments and slowing down to tackle more precise platforming with a touch of exploration, it balances both angles well and on the speedy front wont punish you for simply running into stationary foes which is much appreciated
The little details give the game more charisma, for instance the characters idle animation replaced by dancing when under the disco ball of Fortune Nights interior and a few interactive background elements in the same stage be it a simple bench to sit on or entering a mens restroom door that shot me straight back out, touches like this could be easily missed yet I love stumbling across them.
Speaking of characters you have a choice of three here each with their own style of play, the game seems much more geared around Lilac to me with Carol not quite as well implemented and Milla as a further divergent style of play serving more as a nice bonus, while this can highlight a few issues in the level design and some bosses at points its neat that each character stands out as wholly unique adding to the replay value.
Of all the games in this list this was the one that came closest to flying under my radar, I knew of it but didnt give it a chance until very late, if youre a fan of fast and fluid action platformers then by all means get this on your radar and let it direct you to Freedom Planet.
(this is how I write my lists)
8. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney ; Layton and Wright working together makes a winning combination, actually it makes the whole versus angle in the title seem out of place. That is until I solved the puzzle using Wright style out of the box thinking (no hint coins needed!), the series VS clash here is not between the lead characters but their respective styles of plot twist.
Laytons far out lunacy makes Ace Attorneys convoluted murder schemes seem down to earth, while the world of Labyrynthia is a new and strange place for both leads its definitely Wright who finds himself in more unfamiliar territory and you know what? That suits him just fine. Layton still seems to actually know all the solutions and keeps them under his top hat until the time is right while Wright still fumbles through the dark eventually grasping onto the truth and yanking it dramatically out into the light, its true to both characters and even if it makes me think the Professor is being a bit of a smug git behind his gentlemanly smile and I wouldnt have it any other way.
Gameplay is also true to both series with the different styles of puzzling getting equal footing and meshing together well, while the plot goes predictably mad under the Layton influence it never fails to engage through its enjoyable writing that makes the characters shine. As a fan of both series and their protagonists in particular seeing Wright and Layton solve mysteries side by side is actually enough to send me into fanboyish glee, Link in Mario Kart? Smash bros crossover madness? Never mind that, Layton just shouted objection! The more novel pairing in place here makes it my most enjoyed crossover of recent franchise mash ups, it just feels so right.
Also the Storyteller is my kind of guy, Owl emblems and imagery everywhere in his kingdom.
9. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc ; Having hope snatched away leaving despair in its place, not unfamiliar in my 2014 but I guess it could always be substantially worse, like the harrowing situation the students in Hopes Peak Academy find themselves in.
Danganronpa juggles a grim oppressive murder mystery angle while letting you simultaneously build relationships with the other characters, this creates an interesting dynamic where the character you recently chose to hang out with could be the victim of a brutal murder or even the culprit. The nefarious setup that leads to trust among characters being severed despite the best efforts to work together creates a gripping experience thats hard to put down. The Ace Attorney style Class Trials have a sense of urgency with the clock ticking down throughout, piecing together the events that transpired at the end by arranging a comic/manga panel summary serves as a visually striking final test of the players understanding of the murder. Slowly but surely the cast whittles down, each loss darkening the atmosphere further be it a loved or loathed character, the creeping influence of despair never felt so perversely enjoyable.
The sequel is just as good if not stronger at points with its later twists and turns in particular (chapter 5!) but falters slightly in other respects (improved hangmans gambit my arse) so Ive given the nod to the original here.
10. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker ; A weighty backpack alone creates a twist on an otherwise familiar 3D World, Captain Toad loses his races swift shroom properties and even the vital ability to jump under the weight of his adventuring tools, not that this ever stopped the good captain from being ready for adventure. Captain Toad is my feel good title of 2014 sneaking out right at the end to deliver a leisurely paced puzzler that enraptures me in the small details. Toad and Toadette saunter around detailed dioramas in a gleefully captivating fashion thats fun just to watch, the croaky wailing and expressive animations give Toad such an oddly endearing character.
Nintendo EAD prove themselves smart at reusing 3D World staples in a new way to take them further, 3D Worlds gimmicked platforms and the double cherry are given a different spin under Toads limitations while even older titles from the Mario-verse are paid tribute to such as the manic pickaxe swinging calling back to Donkey Kongs Mallet and more notably the radish plucking of SMB2 that gave Toad his first playable role all those years ago.
Honestly the brief teasers of this game to come within 3D World did very little for me so I wasnt quite as ready for adventure as Toad and Toadette, here the concept is expanded upon in such a way that makes Toads taster sessions back then look small time compared to the well honed full package, while its not exploding with content it does all it needs to well and wraps up nicely in an adorable package.
And if youre not convinced its totally Viewtiful JCs game of the forever, he left it off his list on account of not being fair to the other games.
Honourable Mentions
x. Towerfall Ascension; Most Devious is what they call me and its a moniker I earn with pride, as the round begins Im the one who scopes out all the possible points where an arrow can be fired out from one side of the screen to pop out in the other for those surprise shots, still it aint going to do a lot of good if I get skewered by my opponents first, its hard to be devious when the game keeps everyone aware often bestowing me with the award on a regular basis.
The simplicity at the core of Towerfall makes it easy to grasp and helps bridge the gap between player skill levels, the fast paced and frantic shoot outs can be over in a flash or come down to a prolonged tense showdown, in either case theres an addictive factor that ensures just another round.
x. The Evil Within ; Buzzsaw Roombas.