{"id":13658,"date":"2015-07-03T00:01:09","date_gmt":"2015-07-03T00:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/?p=13658"},"modified":"2015-06-30T12:03:26","modified_gmt":"2015-06-30T12:03:26","slug":"carys-best-games-of-2015-so-far-awards-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/03\/carys-best-games-of-2015-so-far-awards-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Cary’s Best Games of 2015 SO FAR Awards Show!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SQUID\"<\/a>Can you believe this year is already half over?\u00a0 What I like to do this time of year is write about the best games of the year 2015 so far.\u00a0 Everyone is all excited over the E3 announcements, and most of the really good titles come out during the Christmas season at the tail end of the year, and the games that come out earlier tend to be forgotten.\u00a0 So this is where those games get their due.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that no outside opinions went into the making of this list.\u00a0 It\u2019s just my own picks.\u00a0 And if a game is missing from my list, it either didn\u2019t appeal to me as much, or I just simply haven\u2019t played it yet.\u00a0 Can\u2019t play all the games out there, you know!\u00a0 Plus I do apologize if this list leans toward the Nintendo side.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have an Xbox One or PS4 yet, so you\u2019ll just have to deal with it.<\/p>\n

I also have to note that last year at this time; we had more interesting and better games than we do at this point in the year.\u00a0 Last year at the halfway point, we had a new Kirby game, a new Yoshi\u2019s Island game, Shovel Knight, and Mario Kart 8.\u00a0 But not so much this year so far.\u00a0 Hopefully it\u2019ll get better as the year goes on.\u00a0 Anyway, without further ado, welcome to the Cary\u2019s Best Games of 2015 SO FAR Awards Show!<\/p>\n

BEST PUZZLE GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pokemon Shuffle (3DS)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This has really been the year for puzzle games so far.\u00a0 And all of them on this list are by Nintendo, no less!\u00a0 I really didn\u2019t want to give the award to a free-to-play game, but Pokemon Shuffle does two things right.\u00a0 One, it doesn\u2019t really pressure you too much to buy things, or make the game overly difficult so you can\u2019t continue without spending money.\u00a0 I got to past stage 150 before I felt it was getting too hard, and that\u2019s not bad at all.\u00a0 The other thing the game does right is that it\u2019s just plain fun.\u00a0 Not too simple, but not too hard either.\u00a0 And they have lots of special events and Pokemon you can catch, too!<\/p>\n

Runners Up:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Puzzle & Dragons Z\/Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition (3DS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I REALLY wanted to give the award to this game instead of Pokemon Shuffle.\u00a0 This one\u2019s not a free-to-play puzzler and it has loads of content, what with it being two games in one.\u00a0 But at the end of the day, I felt that Pokemon Shuffle was more fun.\u00a0 Puzzle & Dragons just got too hard and fiddly, even on the Mario version, which was supposed to be easier.\u00a0 It took me forever to get to World 3!\u00a0 And there are 8 worlds plus 8 harder worlds after that!\u00a0 I just don\u2019t think it should\u2019ve been that hard, and managing all your teams and powers just got too complicated.\u00a0 I guess I just wanted a more relaxing puzzler, and this wasn\u2019t it!<\/p>\n

Stretchmo (3DS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I really like the Pushmo games.\u00a0 In this one, you can stretch blocks to the side as well as the front.\u00a0 You can even buy a whole set of levels based on NES characters.\u00a0 But the character you play as in these levels is the old guy.\u00a0 What are they trying to say with that?\u00a0 Are they saying I\u2019m old?<\/p>\n

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Wii U)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Lemmings style puzzler plays almost exactly like the ones on the DS, but this one has a more involved online community where you can build levels and share them with others.\u00a0 You buy level packs with stars, and while you can earn stars in the single player game, it\u2019s easier to earn stars online by playing a bunch of people\u2019s levels.\u00a0 If you want a good idea how Super Mario Maker is going to work, you can download this game and try the level builder.\u00a0 I even made my own level that looks like the original Donkey Kong arcade board.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how you can find it, though, but the level is called \u201cArcade Bliss.\u201d\u00a0 Also, if you download the Wii U version, you\u2019ll get it on the 3DS for free, and vice versa!<\/p>\n

Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (3DS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is just a collection of Dr. Mario games that includes the original, Dr. Luigi, and Brain Age\u2019s Virus Buster.\u00a0 And they added new miracle pills to keep the game somewhat fresh.\u00a0 I\u2019m working on a review of it right now, so keep your eyes open for it!<\/p>\n

WEIRDEST GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Galaga: Tekken 20th<\/sup> Anniversary Edition (iPad)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

So apparently, Tekken is 20 years old.\u00a0 So how does Namco celebrate it?\u00a0 In the weirdest way possible: combining Galaga with 8-bit graphics of Tekken characters!\u00a0 But the game is still pretty fun (you can\u2019t ruin Galaga) and best of all, it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n

Runner Up:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dot Arcade (Wii U)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember the old Mattel electronic games from the 70\u2019s that didn\u2019t use graphics, but blinking lights instead?\u00a0 Well someone made three of their own and released them on the Wii U eShop!\u00a0 They\u2019re actually pretty neat mini-games and even the artwork looks like something you\u2019d see back then.<\/p>\n

BEST EDUCATIONAL GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Never Alone (Wii U)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a puzzle platformer where you play as a Native American Alaskan girl and her white artic fox.\u00a0 But the story of this game is based on a legend from the native people in that area!\u00a0 They even have videos and images of artifacts and stories of their way of life.\u00a0 So it\u2019s like a Social Studies lesson in a game.\u00a0 And the game is pretty fun, too, and very calming.\u00a0 I\u2019m working on a review of it right now, so keep an eye out for it!<\/p>\n

Runner Up:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fruit Ninja Academy: Math Masters (iPad)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This one teaches elementary school math skills with Fruit Ninja gameplay.\u00a0 It has some problems here and there, but if Halfbrick keeps at it and improves, they could become as good as educational game maker greats like Humongous Entertainment!<\/p>\n

BEST RPG<\/strong><\/p>\n

Story of Seasons (3DS)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This one kind of wins by default, since it\u2019s the only RPG I\u2019ve played.\u00a0 And some wouldn\u2019t even consider this an RPG, but it\u2019s as close as I get for now.\u00a0 It\u2019s really a Harvest Moon game, but since they have a new publisher now, they had to call it something different since Natsume still owns the Harvest Moon name.\u00a0 It\u2019s still a fun game, though, and Iris is still my favorite character.<\/p>\n

BEST 2-D ADVENTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a sequel to Kirby Canvas Curse on the DS.\u00a0 Believe it or not, Canvas Curse is one of my least favorite Kirby games.\u00a0 But this one is a little better.\u00a0 It\u2019s still not the best Kirby game out there and it does have some problems here and there.\u00a0 But it\u2019s still fun, the clay graphics are amazing, and the multiplayer mode is nifty.\u00a0 It has catchy music and replaying levels to find all the hidden treasures is fun.\u00a0 So yeah, still a pretty slick game.\u00a0 It probably won\u2019t beat out Yoshi\u2019s Woolly World later this year, though.<\/p>\n

Runners Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adventure Time: Game Wizard (iPad)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The main game is a fun little Metroid style 2-D platformer where you can play different Adventure Time characters in a sketchbook world.\u00a0 That part is pretty fun on its own (surprising for an iPad game), but what\u2019s cool is that you can draw symbols on graph paper and scan them into the game to make your own levels!\u00a0 Or just use the in-game level editor, which works a little better.\u00a0 It\u2019s not perfect, but still a neat idea, I thought.<\/p>\n

BoxBoy! (3DS)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In this puzzler platformer, you play as a box in a black and white world.\u00a0 You can create boxes to solve all sorts of creative puzzles.\u00a0 You can use boxes like stepping stones, shields, and even use them to climb up ledges.\u00a0 This game was made by HAL Laboratory, makers of Kirby, so you know it has to be good!<\/p>\n

Adventures of Pip (Wii U)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

There sure are a lot of games out there where you just play as a box, huh?\u00a0 In this 2-D platformer, you can defeat certain enemies to evolve from a pixel, to an 8-bit sprite and even a 16-bit one!\u00a0 Each type has different skills and abilities, and you\u2019ll use them to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.\u00a0 It\u2019s also made by ex-WayForward employees, so you know it\u2019s good.\u00a0 It\u2019s not quite \u201cthis year\u2019s Shovel Knight\u201d like I had hoped it would be, but it is still very fun and reminds me of SNES games I used to rent back in the day.<\/p>\n

BEST 3-D ADVENTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

LEGO Jurassic World (Wii U)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s still very buggy and not a whole lot different from other LEGO titles, LEGO Jurassic World is still fun and probably one of the silliest and absurd in the series, at least as far as humor goes.\u00a0 And video games can certainly use more humor.\u00a0 There is actually a better 3-D adventure out there, but it won an even better award, so here it is\u2026<\/p>\n

Taiko drum roll, please\u2026<\/p>\n

BEST VIDEO GAME OF 2015 SO FAR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Splatoon (Wii U)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was on the fence about this game for a long time, because it was a shooter and I\u2019m not as big into those kinds of games.\u00a0 But it was colorful and neat looking, so I still kept my eye on it.\u00a0 I enjoyed the Global Test Runs they did, but I still wouldn\u2019t get the game unless I could get the Splatoon Amiibo 3-pack, because it would unlock some single player modes you couldn\u2019t get anywhere else.\u00a0 Luckily, I got the 3-pack so now I have the game!<\/p>\n

I think what I like best about Splatoon is that it is very accessible and not intimidating.\u00a0 A non-gamer could look at a game like Call of Duty and be very intimidated by it.\u00a0 Heck, I\u2019ve been playing games for 30 plus years, and I would be intimidated by Call of Duty.\u00a0 But Splatoon is very encouraging to play.\u00a0 In fact, I\u2019ve had several non-gamers and inexperienced players over to my house, and they pick up Splatoon right away and even win in online matches!\u00a0 Like Wii Sports, anyone can look at Splatoon and say, \u201cI can do this!\u201d\u00a0 And that\u2019s a really good thing for a game to be.<\/p>\n

Splatoon does have some problems here and there.\u00a0 There\u2019s not a whole lot to the game if you look at it closely.\u00a0 I think it would\u2019ve been an arcade game if arcades were still popular.\u00a0 But it\u2019s still really fun, uses all the unique features of the Wii U, and best of all, it\u2019s a new Nintendo IP.\u00a0 You can\u2019t complain about Nintendo making nothing but Mario and Zelda games now (well, you still could I suppose).\u00a0 And it looks like Splatoon certainly has legs to stand on, and should have a future at Nintendo.\u00a0 So that\u2019s why it wins the award.<\/p>\n

Conclusions<\/strong><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s my awards show!\u00a0 In the comments section, let me know what you think of my picks, and tell me YOUR favorite games of 2015 SO FAR!\u00a0 That\u2019s all for now, later!\u00a0 –Cary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can you believe this year is already half over?\u00a0 What I like to do this time of year is write about the best games of the year 2015 so far.\u00a0 Everyone is all excited over the E3 announcements, and most of the really good titles come out during the Christmas season at the tail end […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13658"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13660,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13658\/revisions\/13660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}