RedNumberFive
Banned
Why For? said:
If you're using old games as an example, let us not forget "The Last Guy".
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Gamasutra: Top 5 console downloadable games
- Thread starter vermadas
- Start date
If you're using old games as an example, let us not forget "The Last Guy".
gofreak said:
Fair enough, and there's nothing wrong with Metacritic. I don't see any other way you CAN measure that sort of thing.
But just as an example. I keep reading Fat Princess in here, and I'm sorry, I don't mean to piss too many people off, but thank GOD there was a demo of that and I didn't just buy into the SonyGAF hype on that one.
Shitty boring game.
But is there a demo for Flower? It LOOKS nice, but I haven't tried it yet.
RedNumberFive said:
That was fun. Enjoyed that. But that's my point, I personally can think of more great PSN Exclusives BEFORE this year. Maybe the guys that made this list were the same.
Whereas with XBLA THIS year, there was at LEAST a ahndful of games that were just a league above. And genuinely better than most full retail games.
I don't think people in this thread actually realise how good Trails HD is, and it is AMAZING value for what it gives you.
PepsimanVsJoe
Member
Yo Rlan you need to go back and include some PSN games in your top 5. It doesn't matter if you like them that much or not but you gotta do it out of respect for something or other.
Just like how I think PS3's exclusive retail offerings this year completely outshined the 360, the big XBLA releases were better than what came out on PSN.
Those top 3 would probably be my top 3 games as well, same order even. I played 4 and 5 on the PC and would probably replace those spots with Wipeout HD Fury (if an expansion counts) and Shatter. Flower was a pretty awesome and unique experience but it is only a game in the barest sense. Depending on your particular tastes, that might not matter.
Those top 3 would probably be my top 3 games as well, same order even. I played 4 and 5 on the PC and would probably replace those spots with Wipeout HD Fury (if an expansion counts) and Shatter. Flower was a pretty awesome and unique experience but it is only a game in the barest sense. Depending on your particular tastes, that might not matter.
TheChillyAcademic
Member
All of them 360 titles huh?
Equal representation etc etc.
Oh and I did like splosion man.
Equal representation etc etc.
Oh and I did like splosion man.
RedNumberFive
Banned
Why For? said:
I'm a pretty unapologetic Sony fan, and even I thought that game is pure crap. I can't believe I bought into the GAF hype on that one.
gofreak said:
There were lots of PSN on the list, just in the honorable mentions section. I bought and loved Flower and Nobi Nobi Boy, and might end up buying Shatter but Trials HD, 'Splosion Man and Shadow Complex would be on my top 5. If anything we can say that 2009 was the year for Downloadble Games.
Death Tank! Oh if only you were priced right! There might have been people playing and the community wouldn't have been dead a week later 
RedNumberFive said:
Much like Scribblenauts, Fat Princess is one of those games where the IDEA of the game is FAR better than the game itself.
Some great ideas for games just don't translate into great games unfortunately.
When I read up about Fat Princess, I was like "Shit this sounds really quirky and different, I might pick it up".
Downloaded the demo, and couldn't play for long at all. Just so.....shitty. I can't think of a more apt word.
jvm said:
I still need to finish the last couple of worlds, but I found the gameplay extremely frustrating and the game itself gorgeous. I would rather watch someone who has mastered the controls play it then play it myself which is not very high praise.
As for that list, all solid games, but I thought it was overall a weak year for XBLA, and the lack of demos for so many of the PSN games has kept me away from trying some of them. PixelJunk Shooter will be my next purchase for sure. Splosion Man was probably my favorite of the year.
Lion Heart
Banned
Why For? said:
I know there was lots of prehype for the game, but after the beta, and especially around the time the game came out, most people would have told you the game isn't as good as we hoped for. That's what I witnessed anyway. I played the beta and knew the game just wasn't fun.
A someone who owns both a 360 and PS3 and has played most of the major downloadable games this year, the list is pretty spot on. I'd take 'Splosion Man off, but whether that would be replaced with Fat Princess (maybe), Critter Crunch (better on iphone), Flower (fuck no) or something else from XBLA isn't immediately apparent. Shadow Complex, Trials HD, Defense Grid and Peggle are very solid picks.
Seriously, all this whining for what? Which 2009 PSN game can stand up to Shadow Complex, Trials HD or Defense Grid in terms of depth and quality? Those three are top of the class. Peggle, too, if you've been living under a rock and haven't played the PC version. XBLA had a very nice year and PSN was a bit light, unfortunately. Maybe next year will be different, but all this whinging seems more like sour grapes than truly classic PSN games going unrecognized.
Let's put it this way, I wish PSN had it's own Shadow Complex, Trials HD and Defense Grid this year. Instead it had a few nice looking but cliched puzzle games in Critter Crunch, Shatter and Trash Panic, a gorgeous non-game in Flower and the very cool but unfortunately flawed Fat Princess.
Personally I'd have put Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge in my top 5 by a mile, but RTS have always been under appreciated by most gaming media.
Seriously, all this whining for what? Which 2009 PSN game can stand up to Shadow Complex, Trials HD or Defense Grid in terms of depth and quality? Those three are top of the class. Peggle, too, if you've been living under a rock and haven't played the PC version. XBLA had a very nice year and PSN was a bit light, unfortunately. Maybe next year will be different, but all this whinging seems more like sour grapes than truly classic PSN games going unrecognized.
Let's put it this way, I wish PSN had it's own Shadow Complex, Trials HD and Defense Grid this year. Instead it had a few nice looking but cliched puzzle games in Critter Crunch, Shatter and Trash Panic, a gorgeous non-game in Flower and the very cool but unfortunately flawed Fat Princess.
Personally I'd have put Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge in my top 5 by a mile, but RTS have always been under appreciated by most gaming media.
cr_blah_blah
Member
leroidys said:
Because it wasn't released in 2009. How the fuck about that.
Funny but I didn't play any of the games on the list :lol
Yet I still bought a crapload of downloadable console games. Maybe instead of whining about the lack of PSN we should be happy that this is becoming such a diverse and well represented part of consoles nowadays. Just saying.
Yet I still bought a crapload of downloadable console games. Maybe instead of whining about the lack of PSN we should be happy that this is becoming such a diverse and well represented part of consoles nowadays. Just saying.
Chromax said:
Speevy said:
Chromax said:
GeoramA said:
RedNumberFive said:
vazel said:
kadotsu said:
gofreak said:
Torgo said:
bryehn said:
vehn said:
jett said:
RedNumberFive said:
DeadGzuz said:
McBacon said:
I feel like I need a quote page for this thread instead...all from just the first and left out quite a few :lol
Anyways about the list. Splosion was fun when I first played it. But it definitely sunk afterwards. Shouldn't be on. Haven't played Defense Grid so no comment. And Shadow Complex was a fun metriod like game, but I wouldn't say it is tops either.
Trials HD and Peggle deserve it. I would probably add Shatter and Pixel Junk Shooter in also. And finish it off with VooT. And damn anyone who says Peggle doesn't deserve it. One of the most addicting and simple games I ever played.
Haunted
Member
I don't agree with that list, as can be seen in my post in OJG's thread.
Don't take a page from the Halverson playbook, Speevster.
That said, they did include PSN and Wiiware titles in their honorable mentions to prevent misconceptions like "they didn't even play the other services".
Uh, no. If you make a list of the best 5 downloadable titles of the year, you fucking list the 5 downloadable titles you think were the best in that year.Speevy said:
Don't take a page from the Halverson playbook, Speevster.
That said, they did include PSN and Wiiware titles in their honorable mentions to prevent misconceptions like "they didn't even play the other services".
OldJadedGamer made a better thread. Let this one die.
Some nice variety and good choices here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382452
Some nice variety and good choices here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382452
NemesisPrime
Banned
vehn said:
Maybe *gasp* those are really good games???? No surely not.
I would add Torchlight and Gratuitous Space battles. I think you then have my 7 most played downloadable games in 2009.
mikekennyb
Member
Dissapointed to not see Shatter or Flower on the list.
Gamasutra is the last site to accuse of fanboy bias though, IMO the best gaming journalism site in the business.
Gamasutra is the last site to accuse of fanboy bias though, IMO the best gaming journalism site in the business.
iconoclast
Member
Splosion Man, while a good game, is a little overrated. Not a bad list though.
edit: Wait, this is 2009 only isn't it? D'oh.
edit: Wait, this is 2009 only isn't it? D'oh.
Quick question for Rian: Do you own a PS3? I noticed in your profile that you only have a 360 gamertag listed.
It's not that I think your list is bad or wrong, it's your list, so it's your opinion and I'm not trying to invalidate your opinion, and I only have a PS3, so I can't comment on the XBLA offerings. I was just curious if you have a PS3 or not?
It's not that I think your list is bad or wrong, it's your list, so it's your opinion and I'm not trying to invalidate your opinion, and I only have a PS3, so I can't comment on the XBLA offerings. I was just curious if you have a PS3 or not?
Let's put this to rest:Shurs said:
Ryan has a PS3.
It's in the comments now below the Gamasutra story. He's recently moved (new job, IIRC) and hasn't his PS3 with him at the moment, so he hasn't played Shooter.
Ok, that's settled, I hope.
Son of Godzilla
Banned
Splosion Man deserves all the praise it can get. It's got the simple platforming mechanics of old such that any little brat can enjoy it, enough difficulty to make you scream, and a flat out insane co-op mode. Seriously, the co-op is fucking magical. I don't think that ever got enough praise because the netcode was broken upon release, but that shit got fixed and holy crap.
Would knock off Defense Grid for Plants Vs Zombies or Magic: The Gathering XBLA though.
Would knock off Defense Grid for Plants Vs Zombies or Magic: The Gathering XBLA though.
I completely didn't see this topic at all, it died before I woke up in the morning, and I only saw it now because I checked my iPhone before I went to bed! :lol
For all of those yelling at me, I *do* own a PS3, I own Shatter, Critter Crunch, Trine and Flower, but I didn't feel they were my favorites of the year.
Flower looked great, but I didn't think it was an amazing game. Shatter's soundtrack is fantastic, and Sidhe should be commended for making a great game as it is, but I thought those others were better. I didn't like Trine as much as others have, and I'm a huge proponent of sidescrolling platformers.
Critter Crunch looks great, and as I said it's commendable to make a puzzle game that doesn't use "gems" and stuff, but it didn't hook me. To be honest I've actually become fairly addicted to Gyromancer (lol 360 bias!1) more than Critter Crunch.
As I noted in the article, there have been over 250 new games on XBLA, PSN and WiiWare this year. Giving a Top 5 is really difficult, especially for WiiWare games. I loved Lost Winds, but wasn't a fan of the NyxQuest demo. I love the idea of Fat Princess, but I didn't like the demo whatsoever.
I actually really loved the hell out of Mushroom Wars and RA3: Commander's Challenge too, games way overlooked by everyone eve here. They probably would have been Top 10 contenders.
The Trials HD anecdote was just that - it is not a bias at all. I played Trials HD when I went to E3 this year and saw that it was going to be a fantastic game, and so playing it on a partnernet system ASAP was a must!
And again, Shooter was not in there because I haven't the chance to play it on my PS3. My PS3 is in another state at the moment and so I am unable to play it. It would be unfair to add a game I had not played at all
But yes, in my opinion, these 5 games are the best on offer this year.
For all of those yelling at me, I *do* own a PS3, I own Shatter, Critter Crunch, Trine and Flower, but I didn't feel they were my favorites of the year.
Flower looked great, but I didn't think it was an amazing game. Shatter's soundtrack is fantastic, and Sidhe should be commended for making a great game as it is, but I thought those others were better. I didn't like Trine as much as others have, and I'm a huge proponent of sidescrolling platformers.
Critter Crunch looks great, and as I said it's commendable to make a puzzle game that doesn't use "gems" and stuff, but it didn't hook me. To be honest I've actually become fairly addicted to Gyromancer (lol 360 bias!1) more than Critter Crunch.
As I noted in the article, there have been over 250 new games on XBLA, PSN and WiiWare this year. Giving a Top 5 is really difficult, especially for WiiWare games. I loved Lost Winds, but wasn't a fan of the NyxQuest demo. I love the idea of Fat Princess, but I didn't like the demo whatsoever.
I actually really loved the hell out of Mushroom Wars and RA3: Commander's Challenge too, games way overlooked by everyone eve here. They probably would have been Top 10 contenders.
The Trials HD anecdote was just that - it is not a bias at all. I played Trials HD when I went to E3 this year and saw that it was going to be a fantastic game, and so playing it on a partnernet system ASAP was a must!
And again, Shooter was not in there because I haven't the chance to play it on my PS3. My PS3 is in another state at the moment and so I am unable to play it. It would be unfair to add a game I had not played at all
But yes, in my opinion, these 5 games are the best on offer this year.
:loljvm said:
Actually, i should add that while Gyromancers story is a bag of crap, i've enjoyed tge puzzle aspect more than Critter Crunch
also, me asking for Leaderboard info on the PSN pages is do i can try to get leaderboard data from them and try to specify their sales. XBLA games all have demos and all have leaderboards, so i don't need to ask all the time.
Jvm also loved savage moon, i didn't like it at all
Trials HD really is something else. I hit the 500 try limit and the 30 minute limit several times while completing Inferno 2. Can't wait for the DLC.
I don't agree with the rest of the list outside Shadow Complex but I'm guessing that's why it isn't called "SmokyDaves Top 5 Downloadable Games".
Just keep going. I hit so many walls early on with Trials (arf arf) but you can overcome them with practice.
I don't agree with the rest of the list outside Shadow Complex but I'm guessing that's why it isn't called "SmokyDaves Top 5 Downloadable Games".
Variable said:
squicken said:
Just keep going. I hit so many walls early on with Trials (arf arf) but you can overcome them with practice.
No Flipnote Studio.
A complete animation programme with web link up and all for free. Pretty sound deal to me.
Also Pictopict/bits needed at least a mention, if only for the awesome music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNWlcfhgT14
A complete animation programme with web link up and all for free. Pretty sound deal to me.
Also Pictopict/bits needed at least a mention, if only for the awesome music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNWlcfhgT14
Mmm, one thing springs to mind - based on the criteria we saw, Virtual Console games should be eligible to be considered, too. And taking that into account, I'd consider Majora's Mask significantly better than at least some of those games. I'd say much the same about Banjo-Tooie, which at least made it into their honorable mentions section.
But yeah, matter of preference, an' all that. I'm just curious whether the VC was excluded from consideration for some reason, when I can't really see justification for that in the criteria.
But yeah, matter of preference, an' all that. I'm just curious whether the VC was excluded from consideration for some reason, when I can't really see justification for that in the criteria.
SecretBonusPoint
Banned
I think to be in a position to have made a Top 5 of the Year across all formats, you would have had to have played at least most of them all the way through for reviews, not just demos of some of them. Thats when personal circumstances of not being able to afford all of them (it seems you don't get given review copies)/have the hardware to hand affect the list as 'bias', but not the slanted opinion type.
For instance will PixelJunk Shooter and other PS3 games just out be eligible for the 2010 list or will it simply be ignored and fall into an in-eligible gap because you haven't had a chance to play it?
For instance will PixelJunk Shooter and other PS3 games just out be eligible for the 2010 list or will it simply be ignored and fall into an in-eligible gap because you haven't had a chance to play it?
I think it's a fair point that releases in December get shafted (specifics of this situation aside, like whether Rlan's got a PS3 at the moment or not).SecretBonusPoint said:
I thought Super Stardust Portable was a fantastic PSN exclusive for PSP owners. It came out in December 2008. No one put it on a best of 2008 list and by this time in 2009, hardly any of those guys are thinking about December 2008 releases (or simply dismiss them because they are from 2008).