2016 Game of the Year, The 2016 Game of the Year

2016 Game of the Year, The 2016 Game of the Year

And finally, the winner. I’ve presented to you the very best games of 2016[ref]Or at least, those I played in 2016, remember[/ref] in two previous posts, and now it’s time to tell you which game was best of all the animals. Not in my opinion, but in fact[ref]Facts mean nothing now, as we all know[/ref].

But before that, I just want to say a few words about some other games which didn’t make the Best, nor the Best of the Best, but are still Best in some way.

Virginia (PS4)
It’s The X-Files crossed with Firewatch, so there’s no chance it can’t be excellent. The vagueness of the plot, the dialogue-less exposition of the story  – you have to play it.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PS4)
Older, longer, more involved, but in a similar vein to Virginia, this is another narrative discovery game with a massive twist at the end even M. Night Shyamalan probably couldn’t come up with.

Fantasy Zone II (Arcade)
Very old now, but new as in a recent port – in 3D – to the 3DS. Back in the day I never gave the cute sideways scrolling shoot ’em up series more than a passing glance, but in 2016 I was hooked on them. This is the best.

PaRappa the Rapper 2 (PS4)
Another re-release. It isn’t as good as the original, perhaps due to a slightly weaker selection of songs, but it’s still great. I’ve actually owned the PS2 version for 10 or more years but couldn’t play it as it was the US version. Now – I can!

StreetPass Trader (3DS)
The best of the newest wave of StreetPass titles, and probably the least indepth one. You simply buy stocks when they’re cheap, and sell when they’re not – but it’s horribly addictive.

Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair (PS4)
Look, if you think that walking around in a massive mech punching Neon Godzilla in the face isn’t a fantastic thing, we can’t be friends any more. It’s janky, it’s wonky, and it’s more fun than it has any right to be.

Which means, finally, the winner. No, honestly this time. Activate Drum Roll for…

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (Wii U)

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

When I first saw this game, on an E3 reel or something, I thought “Hahaha! This looks ridiculous!” and that was it. Then I discovered it was a JRPG with singing elements. Then, having played Akiba’s Trip and some Persona 4 Golden, I realised it appeared to be something halfway between the two and I wanted it.

And I got it. And it was amazing.

The locations, the incredible soundtrack, and most of all, the satisfying combat. Tokyo Mirage simplified the Persona system from that series into something more manageable, added a touch of Fire Emblem in the story and characters, and then wrapped it up in a Akihabara setting.

It’s basically all the best things ever mashed up into one game, and the best JRPG I’ve played in a very long time. If you own a Wii U you have to get this, and if you don’t own a Wii U, what even are you?

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