It's a thread! (Games discussion, etc.)

[Moge]

My very late GOTY 2023 list. Sorry, meant to post this way, way earlier

10. Metal Max 3 (DS) -- B

9. Blaster Master Zero (PC) -- B
8. King's Field with mouse control hack (PS1) -- B

7. Gimmick! (NES) -- C
6. Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64) -- B

5. Private eye dol  (PC-Engine Super CD-ROM²) -- A
4. Jet Set Radio Future (X-Box) -- A

3. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch) -- A
A pure delight to play from start to finish. Every level having some sort of new gimmick meant I never grew bored. Now, the problem with this is that it scales the game to not be difficult at all, with each level serving as a mini tutorial. Personally, I didn't have a problem with this design and was fine with it being a game i can blast through (final bonus level notwithstanding; it's brutal, although it felt great once i conquered it). That aside, the graphics and animation deserve special mention. I'm happy to see the polygonal Mario universe evolve to be more expressive with its visuals.

2. Street Fighter 6 (PC) -- A
Fighting games usually feel like a beta for at least the first or second year, but SF6 feels like a complete package from top to bottom, and more importantly, has been relatively controversy free when it comes to its game mechanics, the character balance, and the network code. You can't really say that for just for any other new fighter in 2023 and 2024. Capcom has reclaimed its crown as the king of the fighting genre.

1. Wild Guns with mouse control hack (SNES) -- A
A controversial pick for my first choice 'cause it's a game i already played in previous years, but a recent rom hack to add in mouse control completely transformed how i enjoyed the game. No longer being restricted to a dpad for aiming feels incredibly liberating. Despite the huge control upgrade, the game is still very difficult, so it strangely all balances out.


Honorable Mentions:

Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge -- F
Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman Zero -- D
Armored Core -- D
The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes -- D

Michigan: Report from Hell -- C
Jumping Flash! -- C
Kick Master -- C

Gaiapolis -- B
Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 27: Panzer Dragoon -- B
Treasure Conflix -- B
Streets of Rage Remake -- B

Anticipated Games:
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn
Stray Children
Victory Heat Rally
Dragon Quest III remake
Perfect Dark

Biggest Worry:
Game industry layoffs

Favorite New Gadget:
Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse

Best Anime:
Onimai - Onii-chan wa Oshimai!

[JG]

Was Tears of the Kingdom not played in 2023?

[Moge]

Decided to pass on Tears due to being so close to SF6's release. Still plan to play it, perhaps when it's enhanced on Switch 2.

Forgot to mention that the games on my list that have a mouse hack, i was able to play with gyro controls. That's the secret sauce that makes me come back to them again and again.

[JG]

I have to agree with you on the SF6 bit as well. I don't really follow fighting games, but typically, a month or two after release, there's a bajillion posts online about tiers, or which character is busted, or how the recent patch nerfed some overpowered character so they aren't fun anymore, and what not. I didn't see any of this for SF6 so the character roster appears to be very well balanced.