My top 10 games of 2010 (finally!)

Now then, after some careful consideration of all the games I played that were released last year I have come up with my top 10 favourites. Without any further delay let's start!

10. Donkey Kong Country Returns

It's a good challenging 2D platform game but it's so low in this list because it's nowhere near as excellent or as magical as the original SNES trilogy were for several different reasons. I probably shouldn't go into too much detail about them here but there is one I can't let pass and that is the blow move. What a stupid idea that was.

9. Ace Attorney Investigations

This is an interesting third person adventure spinoff of the brilliant Ace Attorney series. I often found my interest waning while playing but I can't think of any other reason why than it being so different to the original series. There's still a lot of great humour and characters, especially the charming and quixotic sidekick Kay.

8. The Crystal Bearers

I hate calling this game by its full title: "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles The Crystal Bearers". It's just too damn long. Anyway this is a rather enjoyable sandbox style adventure game where you throw things at other things with your telekinetic powers. The game's plot is fun in an Indiana Jones kind of way and it isn't too long. It also has extremely quick load times!

7. Dragon Quest IX

This traditional RPG is advertised a lot for its networking features and it's many many extracurricular quests but I have to say I completed the main game without doing any of the extra stuff and found it to be a pretty solid RPG all on its own! I love the fact you can avoid enemies too. I was doing that most of the time and just had a really nice time adventuring in the world! Met some great characters too - my favourites being the kidnappers. It may not be as good as DQIV or V but it's a genuinely solid entry in the series.

6. Last Window

I've posted a lot about this enjoyable and easy going point n' click adventure game. The dialogue between the characters is what kept me playing the most and it hits that sweet spot of "cosiness" that makes you want to keep playing. Makes for a fantastic way to pass a boring commute.

5. Pokémon Ghost Black ReTold

Not actually a game but a "kinetic" style visual novel where you just press a button to advance to the next section. This game is FREE homebrew and a whole playthrough lasts 10-15 minutes. It's great because of its use of images and music to tell a wonderfully eerie story and it brought one of the most compelling experiences I've had this year on my DS. Please play it on your DS!

4. Sin & Punishment 2

Fantastic sequel to the N64 rail shooter that improves upon it in every conceivable way! It's very high on this list because it's incredibly stimulating and satisfying to play!

3. Sonic Colours (Wii version)

I've posted alot about this game already but here I'll say why Sonic Colours is higher than Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Generally it's a much purer, more addictive game than the other two and it is much more considerate to the player, therefore earning it all the praise it can get. Also, no load times!!!

2. Cave Story (WiiWare)

This is number 2 because it's already been topping lists for six years and it took an unbelievably long time to be available on WiiWare. Actually that's not the real reason. I'd nearly still put it at number 1 if it wasn't for the next and final entry on this list:

1. Watching "X's Adventures in Minecraft" on YouTube

I couldn't play Minecraft over the last year because my computer was extremely temperamental so I had to watch this video series recommended to me by everyone I expressed curiosity of this game to.

So wow, two things that I loved straight away about this. One was where X was spending his first night in a tiny cubby hole he dug out for himself while he could clearly hear the eerie moans of zombies outside. The second was where he was making his way into a deep dark unexplored cave. It was an amazing experience watching all this going on accompanied by his commentary.

This is my game of the year because it captured my imagination like no other. I still haven't actually played it but I will now that I have a newer, less temperamental computer! I won't actually build much I'd say. Just whatever I need to go adventuring and exploring!

The way I'm playing Donkey Kong Country Returns

So I've been playing a good bit of this game and I'm enjoying it quite a lot. There's a lot of extra stuff to do like collect jigsaw pieces, banana coins, KONG letters, uncover bonus stages, buying things in Cranky Kong's shop... etc.

I find I'm doing very few of these things. I'm buying the key from each world from Cranky's shop alright to get the extra level. When I'm playing the levels themselves I find I'm rushing through them or that I'm trying to bulldoze my way as much as possible. I really like the game so how come I'm doing this?

It seems the levels are made with speedrunners in mind! That'll add a nice bonus to the game. Another thing is that this is reminiscent of all those times I played through DKC3 as fast as I could and putting in cheats to make the game harder and get a better endgame score. This is one of the nice things that has carried over to this new game even though its quite different in many ways!

Donkey Kong Country Returns has controls hacked for use with Classic Controller

I'm not sure I'd play this game with a classic controller... I mean, it feels different enough from the other DKC games that I wouldn't really miss not having the chance to... but I'm glad it's there I suppose. It's a voice that should be heard if people feel that way.

Iwata Asks About Donkey Kong Country Returns

I haven't read this feature yet but I did read one part where a Japanese person was talking about their experience about being in England and what it was like going to Rare in Twycross. I find this especially interesting because usually when it comes to video games you read all kinds of accounts where people from the west are going to Japan and talking about their experiences there. I don't usually see it the other way round!

Donkey Kong Country Returns is out today!

At long last! I got it today and braved really icy conditions to the shops and back. Anyway, I must go play some more.

Just so you know as well, it makes you install the same firmware Metroid Other M did(4.3) and it also installs Everybody Votes Channel, Today and Tomorrow Channel and the Mii Contest Channel(I think).

UK - Use a bunch of bananas to pay for Donkey Kong Country Returns!

Just heard about a promotion by GAME that if you're one of the first so many customers to bring in a bunch of bananas to the store that you can use that to pay for Donkey Kong Country Returns!

I have no idea if GAME stores in Ireland are doing this promotion too though...

But hey, what a fantastic and fun idea! Nintendo really promotes like no other. (more on that tomorrow by the way!)

Donkey Kong Country Returns out this week!!

My apologies for the lack of a post yesterday. I was feeling really sick and could only think about going to bed. I really hope I'll be well again by Friday though, as that's when DKCR is out here in Ireland! I can't wait!

Donkey Kong Country Returns is getting some good reviews

The reviews are just coming out for this game and many of them have very high scores, which is great to see. It's coming out here in Ireland on the 3rd of December and I can't wait to play it!

NGamer Issue 56

This issue comes with reviews of Kirby's Epic Yarn for the Wii and Golden Sun for the DS. It also has a big feature about Donkey Kong Country Returns. It comes free with DKCR skins for Wii and Wii remotes as well as a big poster of the game's title.

A beanie with the Nintendo logo also comes free with it which sounds cool but the material seems a bit thin for these cold winter months.

Retro Gamer Issue 83

This month as you can see Retro Gamer is doing a retrospective on the Donkey Kong Country series in order to celebrate the release of the new installment for the Wii being released in a few weeks time.

See where the hands come out? You can open those two flaps to reveal the cover art for DKC Returns and a tiny little timeline of the seven games spanning the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, the Donkey Kong Land trilogy and Donkey Kong 64.

Unfortunately they make the dumb mistake of calling DKC 3 the "weakest game in the core trilogy". None of the DKC games are the weakest anything!

Oodles of Donkey Kong Country Returns Trailers

Lately there have been a lot of DKCR trailers making the rounds on the net, including the Japanese one which still has the title "Donkey Kong Returns" along with some Kanji characters before it. Does it mean "Super"? I'm not sure since Japanese titles of games often have "Super" written as it is. I wonder what it translates as?

There's also some new features like the super guide that Super Mario Bros. Wii had and a shop where you buy stuff. Not sure what that's for yet.

Donkey Kong Country Returns promises challenge

The general impression from those who have played DKCR at press events and such have found that it provides a good challenge. This is in stark contrast to the other new game that has people excited, Kirby's Epic Yarn.

The DKC games were certainly challenging in a decent way so this sounds like it could be on par with them. This is something else that is making fans happy and excited!

Brand new Donkey Kong Country Returns trailer released!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjwPYj-HQHY

Enjoy!

Famitsu article of Donkey Kong Country Returns shows a difference in the game's title.

In this page of Famitsu, the Japanese games magazine, Donkey Kong Country Returns' title is shown here to be without the "Country". Is the title just going to be "Donkey Kong Returns"?

The Donkey Kong Country games are known in Japan as "Super Donkey Kong". On top of that the sequels are also numbered so it's "Super Donkey Kong 2" and "Super Donkey Kong 3". Maybe this will be "Super Donkey Kong Returns"?

Retro Gamer editor replays Donkey Kong Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnAcwyUjoI


Retro Gamer is one of my favourite magazines besides NGamer. Here's the editor Darran Jones refamiliarising himself with Donkey Kong Country.

He says he's preparing for a special feature in the magazine that ties in with the release of the new DKC on the Wii. I'm really looking forward to reading it!

At one point during the video he skips Cranky's Cabin, saying he's going to go straight to the boss. The thing is, it was only the end of the first part of the first area's map. Is he less familiar than he thought he was with the game? No matter, as long as he gets more so (and has a bit of fun in the process of course) so he can produce that article with his team.

Here's some interesting DKC trivia for free:
-Like Darran mentioned, Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong and the current Donkey Kong we play as in the game is his son who used to be Donkey Kong Junior.
-Diddy is the current Donkey's nephew.
-Dixie is Diddy's girlfriend.
-Kiddy is Dixie's cousin.

My favourite in the trilogy is DKC3 as that's the one I grew up with. I really hope they don't treat it like it was the "worst" one. None of those games are the worst anything!

Looking forward to Donkey Kong Country Returns, watching new trailer with Rambi

Nintendo's show at E3 this year was REALLY entertaining! There were many things announced but nothing got me more excited than the reveal of Donkey Kong Country Returns! I absolutely adore the SNES trilogy, the third being my favourite, but I love all three of them like no other. Naturally I'm following the hype up to its release in Ireland, which is currently for the 3rd of December this year.

One of the latest bits of hype is the trailer showing Rambi the Rhino. Never doubted that he'd be coming back! I wonder if the other animal buddies will come back too? I always thought it was really clever naming the swordfish "Enguarde"!

Anyway, check out the Rambi trailer and let's all get excited for the game's release together!