In joint 9th place:

Ape Out (12)

What you said:

stormyskiesahead: “Looks amazing, sounds amazing. Played every single session sporting a huge grin.”

monkey: “Piss.” 


Fire Emblem: Three Houses (12)

What you said:
regmcfly: “As we worked through the year, we became more fixated on ensuring we had a good Summer holiday (we did - which helped) but I became fixated on the release of Fire Emblem. I became a relatively late convert to the series, only starting with Awakening, but I have really loved the emphasis on creating bonds (strands? no) between  characters and also the sheer brutality of the combat model. Whilst I still believe that Awakening (you never forget your first time) was the most pure / efficient of the ones I have played (Awakening / Fates / Echoes / This) the concept of basically being a lecturer in Harry Potter town was one that really engrossed me. I've played through it twice, and need to see the trifecta out, but I was shocked the second time about seeing the impact my taking time in lectures had on the durability of my gang. It's a damn fun game that looks at the same concept from three perspectives - objectively, subjectively and shit-headedly - and it's an absolute blast.”

You good, Jon. Some us should read the words.

In 7th place:

Astral Chain (14)

What we said:

hylian_elf: “Slow start but once this got going and you unlock some abilities and skills, the combat is good Platinum stuff as always. The mix of styles is good and works really well. Not the best example of each genre it puts into the mix, but the overall game is far better than the sum of its parts. [9]”

JonB: “Platinum at its best. Finding a new twist on those peerless combat mechanics and building a comprehensive future cop simulator around them. The genius is in how it ties the chain and the legions into everything you do, from rescuing cats to battling enormous trans-dimensional beasts.”

Unfortunately I am going to have to stop there for the night. More tomorrow!

Soz.

Supermarket Shriek maybe

I have a 2.4, was 2.8 on H2.

Haven't played since Reach came out, just like riding a bike tho eh.

I'm genuinely gonna get the 360 out this weekend and practice, is online still up for that?

Lag was real for you, it's no joke. I remember those days fondly tho m8, Ringo avatar and all.

Rrxyy

I totally outed myself at work saying I was checking k/d spreads of entrants, and asking if bxr and rrxyy was allowed. Yes we are playing h3.

Lol.

https://youtu.be/JMVv_Zm6RcE

Erm. What’s the relevance of all this...???

Am confused.

In joint 4th place:

Apex Legends (16)



Yes, it’s Apex Legends, which from most of the screen shots I’ve just looked at appears to be a game about people posing in colourful outfits. Probably with attitude. I think there’s some shooting involved as well. A bit like Overwatch or Fortnite or something like that. People like those too, I hear. Fortunately, some of you lot wrote about it:

What you said:

Djornson: “Got me back into Multiplayer for a while, really great stuff.”

regmcfly: “Dung-Dung-Dung-Duuunngg - that four chord landing theme has been my go-to-melody this year. Apex feels perfect. The mechanics of moving around, of sliding, of reloading, and generally working your way around the terrain are all remarkable, and speak to a team with considerable experience in dealing with first person mechanics. The squad options (although all you need is Pathfinder) are deep and varied, and Respawn even managed to expand upon these with their season 2 character launches. The game does not feel absolutely bogged down in the 'you must buy' mechanics that other games have, and every game feels 'fair'. It's my fault when I disengage from my team, it's their fault when they don't spot the shotgunner behind the door. It's a frankly incredibly distillation of the Battle Royale format, and to be given it for 'free' is even more ludicrous. I can't want to see where it goes next - Tomorrow is in their hands (I'm SORRY).”

MattyJ: “Talk about making your mark in competitive gaming. Came out of nowhere and changed everything. The ping system is phenomena, making it genuinely possible for me to play with strangers and not feel like I need to talk to succeed. Had several victories with strangers and they felt great.

Updated throughout as well with good community engagement. Can't help but feel many games will be trying to emulate this for years (fortnite already added ping).”

stormyskiesahead: “Apex Legends - 500+ hours sunk on this so far and I'd be very surprised if I don't sink another 500 this year. Apex fixed so many of the issues I had with BR in general, and a good few others I didn't realise I had 'til they pointed 'em out. The quirky cast are fantastic and their unique abilities are almost perfectly balanced with the gunplay. Speaking of which, that gunplay is sublime, as is the movement. My only real issue is that I don't much care for the current map, but that's not because it's bad or anything, it just doesn't suit my playstyle. Anyhoo, Apex is my favourite BR by far, and the most fun I've had with a new game this year. Just bring back King's Canyon for good, okay Respawn?”

Resident Evil 2 (16)



Ah, this is more like it. A tarted up old game that we all know and love, because let’s face it, people would rather have that than an actual new game with new ideas. Yes, Capcom, we would. Well, at least if you’re going to do this good a job of it.

What we said:

regmcfly: “Right at the time when we were in the worst of the above January stuff with regards to babies, one Sunday morning, I got a message from Elm that I had been gifted a copy of Resident Evil 2 on XBox. Being in a naturally fragile state I burst into tears and was obviously ridiculously grateful. January became a time when I retreated into the past, playing games that instilled nostalgia and reminded me of positive memories. Resident Evil 2 felt like the Bridge (Baby) for this (yes, I can't stop thinking about Death Stranding.) It has always been my favourite in the series, and on previous consoles, I could run it without even thinking. But this remake added so many interesting elements, not least making Mr. X into a real force of nature, something not even Nemesis managed. It's a fantastic version of how to update a game. I haven't put Link's Awakening on my list, even of to think about games, because it was so faithful, it felt like playing a 1993-ass game again. Resi 2 Remake showed how to take the mechanics of the past and bring them up to date.”

JonB: “The new benchmark for remake games. It's so clear that the developers have looked at the original in great detail, pulled it apart and understood exactly what to keep, what to improve and what to ditch to make a top-tier modern action game that still respects its source.”

Tempy: “A really worth remake of a game I never played, but read about obsessively as a kid. It's gorgeous, Mr. X is a great mechanic, and zombies are actually scary again.”

XOMuggins: “A beautiful melding of the great combat of 4,5 and 6 with the pacing and puzzles of the original games. Gorgeous to look at, really very scary and so damn satisfying. My only gripe would be it's a *little* bit too hard for me, which has stopped me doing a second or third playthrough. I am positive though that it is my game of 2019.”