Sotswba
03-Mar-2010, 05:32
Hace un par de semanas me llego la revista del mes de Marzo de Nintendo power y decidi compartir esto con ustedes, los juegos a los cuales Nintendo Power les llama los mejored de la decada.
time line representa los mejore lanzamientos de cada ańo...
#10 The World Ends With You (DS)
The Nintendo DS handheld was conceived by thinking outside the box, and few games exemplify that philosophy like The World Ends With you. It takes a smorgasbord of crazy ideas –controlling different characters on each screen simultaneously being the most noteworthy- and somehow gets them to meld together to create something wholly original and powerfully engaging. The intimate, character-driven quest is a nice change of pace from your typical save-the-world storyline, and the eclectic soundtrack fits like a glove, boldly mixing disparate music styles to fantastic effect. Please Square Enix, may we have another one?
Defining Moment: When the insane, dual-screened battle system finally clicks and you suddenly realize how brilliant it really is.
-Craze of the Decade- Pokémon
Sure, Pokémon mania may have begun in North America in 1998, but the phenomenon continued to dominate the next decade. 2000 was the year that saw the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions, and the craze continued to grow from there. Fueled by a hit trading card game, TV series, 12 movies, game sequels, and spin-off titles like Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Ranger and Pokémon Rumble fans were all to eager to catch ´em all. Many imitators have come and gone since then, but Pikachu and company are still going strong.
Time Line 2000 – 2001
Feb-Mar: Pokémon Stadium (N64)
Mar-Apr: Tony Hawke´s Pro Skater (N64)
May-Jun: Perfect Dark (N64)
Oct-Nov: Pokémon Gold and Silver (GBC), The Legend of Zelda: Majora´s Mask (N64) [Game of the Year]
Nov-Dec: Banjo Tooie (N64)
#9 Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
It wouldn´t be out of the question to see any of the last decade´s Mario Kart titles on this list, but we´ve had the most fun with the latest, Mario Kart Wii. The game has a good variety of tracks, karts, characters, and power-ups, and the controls are rock-solid. (We prefer playing with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck ourselves). Add the fact that up to 12 players can race against each other via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection (Mario Kart DS can only support 4 players online), and you have the definitive kart racing title.
Defining Moment: When you´ve used a mushroom to dodge the incoming spiny shell.
Time Line 2001 – 2002
Feb-Mar: Paper Mario (N64)
May-Jun: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages / The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
Jun-Jul: Game Boy Advance, Castlevania: Circle of Moon (GBA), Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Sep-Oct: Advance Wars (GBA)
Nov-Dec: Nintendo Game Cube, Golden Sun (GBA), Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (GC), Luigi´s Mansion (GC), Pikmin (GC)
Dec: Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) [Game of the Year]
#8 Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
This GBA remake of Samus´s original NES adventure is not only one of her best titles, but one of the decade´s top examples of 2-D gaming. Zero Mission is classic Metroid game play at its purest, and also at its most advanced. In fact, with totally redone graphics, new level designs, and a long list of additional moves and features –including a surprise new ending- it´s hard to call the game a remake. The Metroid mix of mazelike rooms, sci-fi action and tricky platforming has often been imitated, but has never been done better than this.
Defining Moment: Samus shed her armor and gets sneaky
Time Line 2002 – 2003
Feb-Mar: Sonic Advance (GBA)
Apr-May: Resident Evil (GC)
Jun-Jul: Shantae (GBC)
Aug-Sep: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
Sep-Oct: Animal Crossing (GC), Star Fox Adventures (GC)
Nov-Dec: Metroid Prime (GC) [Game of the Year], Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Dec: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords (GBA)
#7 Elite Beat Agents (DS)
Music and rhythm games exploded in the past decade, and one of the finest examples of the genre is Nintendo´s Elite Beat Agents. The musical selection is great and the timing-based tap-and-drag action is perfect for the DS, but Elite Beat Agents is so much more thanks to the inclusion of the awesomely heroic agents themselves and the silly situations they had to overcome. The title set a high bar for music games (especially on handheld systems), and we´d it has yet to be beaten.
Defining Moment: The tearjerker of tearjerkers, in which you brighten a girl´s holiday after the loss of her father to the tune of Chicago´s ¨You´re the Inspiration¨.
Time Line 2003 – 2004
Mar-Apr: Game Boy Advance SP, Pokémon Ruby/Pokémon Sapphire Versions (GBA), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC) [Game of the Year]
May-Jun: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA), Wario Ware Inc. Mega Micro Games (GBA)
Aug-Sep: Soul Calibur II (GC)
Sep-Oct: Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GC)
Oct-Nov: Viewtiful Joe (GC)
Nov-Dec: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (GC), Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga (GBA), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (GC)
Dec: Beyond Good and Evil (GC)
#6 Metroid Prime (GC)
You could almost hear the collective groan of gamers around the country when Nintendo announced that not only was Metroid going first-person, but that the beloved series was ebing handled by a rookie development studio in Texas. Fortunately, Retro Studios proved the naysayers wrong, delivering a masterpiece more than worthy of a spot in the franchise´s storied legacy. Metroid Prime deftly retained the spirit of its predecessors while immersing us in its incredible 3-D world. Better still, it boasted that same extraordinary level of polish as Nintendo´s internal Japan-developed efforts. Two fantastic sequels followed. We can´t wait to see what Retro is up to next.
Defining Moment: The very first time that you see Samus´s reflection in your visor.
Time Line 2004 – 2005
Jan-Feb: Sonic Heroes (GC)
Feb-Mar: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GC), Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mar-Apr: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GC)
Jul-Aug: Tales of Symphonia (GC)
Aug-Sep: Pikmin 2 (GC)
Sep-Oct: Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen Versions (GBA)
Oct-Nov: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)
Nov-Dec: Nintendo DS, Super Mario 64 DS (DS), Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GC) [Game of the Year]
Dec: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories(GBA)
Event of the Decade: Nintendo´s E3 2004 Press Conference – unveiling of Twilight Princess.
There are lots of video game happenings every year: the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Tokyo Game Show, and countless press conferences and publisher-specific events. Most of the time what´s unveiled there is forgotten once the next big thing rolls around. But nobody who witnessed Nintendo´s E3 2004 press conference is going to forget the reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. As soon as the audience saw Link´s revamped appearance and realize that they were witnessing a new Zelda game for the first time, it erupted with applause, yells, and cheers, complete with a much-deserved standing ovation.
System of the Decade: Nintendo DS.
The Nintendo DS handheld is the system that pushed the limits of what gaming could be. With two screens, a touch interface, and a microphone, as well as the usual Control Pad and buttons, it opened up the options for gaming creativity like never before. With such flexibility, the DS became the most popular gaming machine in the world, catering to players of all types with experiences that ranged from the traditional (such as New Super Mario Bros) to the completely unheard of (such as Nintendogs and Brain Age). Further refinements of the DS have only served to make it better. The system also helped set the stage for the similarly ground-breaking Wii console.
#5 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
The Super Smash Bros. series reinvented all the rules of fighting games. There are no life meters to deplete and no complex joystick motions, and the battles frequently aren´t even one-on –one. What started on N64 was vastly improved upon for GameCube, and the polished to the nth degree in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Wii. It has pretty much anything a Nintendo fan could want: an all-star cast, backgrounds from your favorite games, a mindblowing sound-track, an epic story mode with stunning cut-scenes, hundreds of collectible bonus goodies, the ability to make your own stages, and even classic game demos. Brawl may contain more gameplay goodness than any other title out there.
Defining Moment: Mario and Sonic finally facing off in a true throwdown.
Time Line: 2005 – 2006
Jan-Feb: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA), Resident Evil 4 (GC) [Game of the Year]
Aug-Sep: Nintendogs (DS)
Sep-Oct: Game Boy Micro
Oct-Nov: Trauma Center: Under the Knife (DS), Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS), Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
Nov-Dec: Mario Kart DS (DS), Sonic Rush (DS), Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS)
Surprise of the Decade: The name of the wii console.
For many months, everybody had referred to the Nintendo´s next game system by its code name, Revolution, and most assumed that´s what the final system would also be called. They couldn´t have been more wrong. In April 2006, Nintendo announced the system´s final name: Wii. Gamer´s couldn´t believe it. Some were confused. Others giggled. But the name made perfect sense given the all-encompassing nature of the console. Almost four years later, the Wii system and the name have become a part of global culture, and it´d be hard to imagine the system ever being called anything else.
#4 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC)
The game is so amazing that it stands as one of the decade´s top titles despite a fairly significant flaw: the tedious work of sailing across the ocean. However, the adventure that awaits you at each destination is always well worth the trip. The Wind Waker provided us with some of opurfondest Zelda moments, and it remains one of gaming´s top artistic achievements, with an unmatched cartoon style that looks impressive today as it did back in While many fans breathed a sign of relief with the return of realistic graphics in Twilight Princess, The Wind Waker stands as one of the series´s most daring and innovative installments, and that´s saying something.
Defining Moment: What? Hyrule is at the bottom of the ocean?
Time Line 2006 – 2007
Mar-Apr: Metroid Prime Hunters (DS)
Apr-May: Brain Age: Train your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS)
May-Jun: New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
Jun-Jul: Nintendo DSLite
Nov-Dec: Nintendo Wii, Elite Beat Agents (DS), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC), Wii Sports (Wii)
Dec: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruins (DS)
Innovation of the Decade: Wii Remote.
In what was arguably Nintendo´s most creative period, the revolutionary Wii Remote controller stood as the company´s most influential new idea. It changed the way we play, and judging by the unprecedented response to Wii and the rush to duplicate the remote by Nintendo´s competitors, motion control is here to stay. The device expanded the definitions of ¨game¨and ¨gamer¨by both broadening and deepening the interactive experience. And although not every experiment with this new control style has worked, the successes have been astounding. If you ask us, we´ve only scratched the surface of what motion control can offer.
Time Line 2007 – 2008
Feb-Mar: Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)
Apr-May: Super Paper Mario (Wii), Pokémon Diamond/Pearl Verions (DS)
Aug-Sep: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
Oct-Nov: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS), Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii), Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro´s Treasure (Wii)
Nov-Dec: Contra 4 (DS), Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) [Game of the Year]
Dec: NIGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
#3 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC)
In many ways, Twilight Princess id the ultimate realization of the Zelda series on a home console. In an attempt to outdo the high water mark of The Legend of Zelda.: Ocarina of Time (N64), the folks at Nintendo crafted the biggest, most absorbing version of Hyrule yet, and filled with instantly classic swordplay, puzzles, and tools (gotta love those Double Clawshots). A darker story took the series into compelling new territory, and the incredible visuals delivered the detailed fantasy look that fans demanded. The fact that it also brought us one of the series´s best supporting characters (Midna) is icing on the cake. We can´t wait to see where Zeda goes on Wii from here.
Defining Moment:
Link, trapped in wolf form, carrying the injured Midna to Hyrule castle while the elegant ¨Midna´s Lament¨plays in the background.
Creator of the Decade: Eiji Aonuma
Talk about pressure. Imagine the most revered person in the history of your profession (Shigueru Miyamoto) handing you the reins to arguably his greatest creation, which is loved by millions of people around the world. That´s essentially what happened to Eiji Aonuma, who became the shepherd for The Legend of Zelda beginning with 2000´s Majora´s Mask. Ten years later, the series remains atop its perch as the pinnacle of the medium. From The Wind Waker to Twilight Princess to Spirit Tracks, Aonuma and his team have consistently delivered one memorable adventure after another. In our experience, he also happens to be one of the nicest developers you´ll ever meet.
Time Line 2008 – 2009
Jan-Feb: No More Heroes (Wii)
Feb-Mar: Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)
Mar-Apr: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) [Game of the Year], Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS)
Apr-May: The World Ends With You (DS), Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
May-Jun: Wii Ware, Boom Blox (Wii), Wii Fit (Wii)
Sep-Oct: Mega Man 9 (WW)
Oct-Nov: World of Goo (WW), Wii Music (Wii), Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS)
Nov-Dec: Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)
Dec: Rock Band 2 (Wii)
#2 Resident Evil 4 (GC)
After numerous samey iterations since its debut in 1996, the Resident Evil franchise had started to become stagnant. Jump ahead to 2005 and the release of Resident Evil 4, a game that revolutionized the survival-horror series with a new over-the-shoulder camera perspective, smarter enemies, a bevy of extraordinary set pieces (not to mention, it transformed naďve rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy into one of the biggest badasses ever). Resident Evil 4 isn´t just one of the best games of the past decade; its one of the best of all time.
Defining Moment: The first time you enter the village at the beginning of the game, get overrun by the weapon-wielding townsfolk, and hear a chainsaw revving up.
Time Line 2009 – 2010
Mar-Apr: Mad World (Wii), Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Apr-May: Nintendo DSi, DSi Ware
May-Jun: Klonoa (Wii)
Jul-Aug: Little King´s Story (Wii), Wii SportsResotr (Wii), Tales of Monkey Island Chapter I (WW)
Sep-Oct: Contra ReBirth (WW), Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days(DS)
Nov-Dec: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) [Game of the Year]
Dec: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS), Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii), Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (WW)
Series of the Decade: The Legend of Zelda.
With 10 classic games spread across 6 different systems, no other series wa as prolific or consistently great as The Legend of Zelda. When you consider the exceptional amount of time and effort required to develop a Zelda game, it´s remarkable that Nintendo managed to average a new installment each year while maintaining the series´s specially high standards. From Majora´s Mask on N64 to Four Swords on GameCube to Twilight Princess on Wii, every entry of the offered something fresh whilestaying faithful to the tried-and-true gameplay that fans crave. That record of meeting and exceeding fans´ expectations time and time again leaves no doubt about that, for the last 10 years, The Legend of Zelda set the standard by which excellence was measured.
#1 Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Mario´s landmark Wii adventure might be as close as any game can come to perfection. At once comfortingly familiar and startlingly brand-new, Galaxy is an unbeatable example of how a long-running series can continue to deliver the kind of fun that fans expect while staying fresh. 3-D gaming was still in its infancy when we rang the year 2000, and Galaxy showcases just far modern games have come. Players no longer have to be burdened by wonky camera controls or sacrifice graphic detail for polygonal worlds; titles like Galaxy show us that anything is possible with enough talent and raw nerve. We can´t think of a better game to kick off the next decade than this year´s Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Defining Moment: Super Luigi Galaxy.
time line representa los mejore lanzamientos de cada ańo...
#10 The World Ends With You (DS)
The Nintendo DS handheld was conceived by thinking outside the box, and few games exemplify that philosophy like The World Ends With you. It takes a smorgasbord of crazy ideas –controlling different characters on each screen simultaneously being the most noteworthy- and somehow gets them to meld together to create something wholly original and powerfully engaging. The intimate, character-driven quest is a nice change of pace from your typical save-the-world storyline, and the eclectic soundtrack fits like a glove, boldly mixing disparate music styles to fantastic effect. Please Square Enix, may we have another one?
Defining Moment: When the insane, dual-screened battle system finally clicks and you suddenly realize how brilliant it really is.
-Craze of the Decade- Pokémon
Sure, Pokémon mania may have begun in North America in 1998, but the phenomenon continued to dominate the next decade. 2000 was the year that saw the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions, and the craze continued to grow from there. Fueled by a hit trading card game, TV series, 12 movies, game sequels, and spin-off titles like Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Ranger and Pokémon Rumble fans were all to eager to catch ´em all. Many imitators have come and gone since then, but Pikachu and company are still going strong.
Time Line 2000 – 2001
Feb-Mar: Pokémon Stadium (N64)
Mar-Apr: Tony Hawke´s Pro Skater (N64)
May-Jun: Perfect Dark (N64)
Oct-Nov: Pokémon Gold and Silver (GBC), The Legend of Zelda: Majora´s Mask (N64) [Game of the Year]
Nov-Dec: Banjo Tooie (N64)
#9 Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
It wouldn´t be out of the question to see any of the last decade´s Mario Kart titles on this list, but we´ve had the most fun with the latest, Mario Kart Wii. The game has a good variety of tracks, karts, characters, and power-ups, and the controls are rock-solid. (We prefer playing with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck ourselves). Add the fact that up to 12 players can race against each other via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection (Mario Kart DS can only support 4 players online), and you have the definitive kart racing title.
Defining Moment: When you´ve used a mushroom to dodge the incoming spiny shell.
Time Line 2001 – 2002
Feb-Mar: Paper Mario (N64)
May-Jun: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages / The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
Jun-Jul: Game Boy Advance, Castlevania: Circle of Moon (GBA), Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Sep-Oct: Advance Wars (GBA)
Nov-Dec: Nintendo Game Cube, Golden Sun (GBA), Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (GC), Luigi´s Mansion (GC), Pikmin (GC)
Dec: Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) [Game of the Year]
#8 Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
This GBA remake of Samus´s original NES adventure is not only one of her best titles, but one of the decade´s top examples of 2-D gaming. Zero Mission is classic Metroid game play at its purest, and also at its most advanced. In fact, with totally redone graphics, new level designs, and a long list of additional moves and features –including a surprise new ending- it´s hard to call the game a remake. The Metroid mix of mazelike rooms, sci-fi action and tricky platforming has often been imitated, but has never been done better than this.
Defining Moment: Samus shed her armor and gets sneaky
Time Line 2002 – 2003
Feb-Mar: Sonic Advance (GBA)
Apr-May: Resident Evil (GC)
Jun-Jul: Shantae (GBC)
Aug-Sep: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
Sep-Oct: Animal Crossing (GC), Star Fox Adventures (GC)
Nov-Dec: Metroid Prime (GC) [Game of the Year], Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Dec: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords (GBA)
#7 Elite Beat Agents (DS)
Music and rhythm games exploded in the past decade, and one of the finest examples of the genre is Nintendo´s Elite Beat Agents. The musical selection is great and the timing-based tap-and-drag action is perfect for the DS, but Elite Beat Agents is so much more thanks to the inclusion of the awesomely heroic agents themselves and the silly situations they had to overcome. The title set a high bar for music games (especially on handheld systems), and we´d it has yet to be beaten.
Defining Moment: The tearjerker of tearjerkers, in which you brighten a girl´s holiday after the loss of her father to the tune of Chicago´s ¨You´re the Inspiration¨.
Time Line 2003 – 2004
Mar-Apr: Game Boy Advance SP, Pokémon Ruby/Pokémon Sapphire Versions (GBA), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC) [Game of the Year]
May-Jun: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA), Wario Ware Inc. Mega Micro Games (GBA)
Aug-Sep: Soul Calibur II (GC)
Sep-Oct: Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GC)
Oct-Nov: Viewtiful Joe (GC)
Nov-Dec: Mario Kart Double Dash!! (GC), Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga (GBA), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (GC)
Dec: Beyond Good and Evil (GC)
#6 Metroid Prime (GC)
You could almost hear the collective groan of gamers around the country when Nintendo announced that not only was Metroid going first-person, but that the beloved series was ebing handled by a rookie development studio in Texas. Fortunately, Retro Studios proved the naysayers wrong, delivering a masterpiece more than worthy of a spot in the franchise´s storied legacy. Metroid Prime deftly retained the spirit of its predecessors while immersing us in its incredible 3-D world. Better still, it boasted that same extraordinary level of polish as Nintendo´s internal Japan-developed efforts. Two fantastic sequels followed. We can´t wait to see what Retro is up to next.
Defining Moment: The very first time that you see Samus´s reflection in your visor.
Time Line 2004 – 2005
Jan-Feb: Sonic Heroes (GC)
Feb-Mar: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GC), Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mar-Apr: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GC)
Jul-Aug: Tales of Symphonia (GC)
Aug-Sep: Pikmin 2 (GC)
Sep-Oct: Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen Versions (GBA)
Oct-Nov: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)
Nov-Dec: Nintendo DS, Super Mario 64 DS (DS), Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GC) [Game of the Year]
Dec: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories(GBA)
Event of the Decade: Nintendo´s E3 2004 Press Conference – unveiling of Twilight Princess.
There are lots of video game happenings every year: the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Tokyo Game Show, and countless press conferences and publisher-specific events. Most of the time what´s unveiled there is forgotten once the next big thing rolls around. But nobody who witnessed Nintendo´s E3 2004 press conference is going to forget the reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. As soon as the audience saw Link´s revamped appearance and realize that they were witnessing a new Zelda game for the first time, it erupted with applause, yells, and cheers, complete with a much-deserved standing ovation.
System of the Decade: Nintendo DS.
The Nintendo DS handheld is the system that pushed the limits of what gaming could be. With two screens, a touch interface, and a microphone, as well as the usual Control Pad and buttons, it opened up the options for gaming creativity like never before. With such flexibility, the DS became the most popular gaming machine in the world, catering to players of all types with experiences that ranged from the traditional (such as New Super Mario Bros) to the completely unheard of (such as Nintendogs and Brain Age). Further refinements of the DS have only served to make it better. The system also helped set the stage for the similarly ground-breaking Wii console.
#5 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
The Super Smash Bros. series reinvented all the rules of fighting games. There are no life meters to deplete and no complex joystick motions, and the battles frequently aren´t even one-on –one. What started on N64 was vastly improved upon for GameCube, and the polished to the nth degree in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Wii. It has pretty much anything a Nintendo fan could want: an all-star cast, backgrounds from your favorite games, a mindblowing sound-track, an epic story mode with stunning cut-scenes, hundreds of collectible bonus goodies, the ability to make your own stages, and even classic game demos. Brawl may contain more gameplay goodness than any other title out there.
Defining Moment: Mario and Sonic finally facing off in a true throwdown.
Time Line: 2005 – 2006
Jan-Feb: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA), Resident Evil 4 (GC) [Game of the Year]
Aug-Sep: Nintendogs (DS)
Sep-Oct: Game Boy Micro
Oct-Nov: Trauma Center: Under the Knife (DS), Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS), Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
Nov-Dec: Mario Kart DS (DS), Sonic Rush (DS), Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (DS)
Surprise of the Decade: The name of the wii console.
For many months, everybody had referred to the Nintendo´s next game system by its code name, Revolution, and most assumed that´s what the final system would also be called. They couldn´t have been more wrong. In April 2006, Nintendo announced the system´s final name: Wii. Gamer´s couldn´t believe it. Some were confused. Others giggled. But the name made perfect sense given the all-encompassing nature of the console. Almost four years later, the Wii system and the name have become a part of global culture, and it´d be hard to imagine the system ever being called anything else.
#4 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC)
The game is so amazing that it stands as one of the decade´s top titles despite a fairly significant flaw: the tedious work of sailing across the ocean. However, the adventure that awaits you at each destination is always well worth the trip. The Wind Waker provided us with some of opurfondest Zelda moments, and it remains one of gaming´s top artistic achievements, with an unmatched cartoon style that looks impressive today as it did back in While many fans breathed a sign of relief with the return of realistic graphics in Twilight Princess, The Wind Waker stands as one of the series´s most daring and innovative installments, and that´s saying something.
Defining Moment: What? Hyrule is at the bottom of the ocean?
Time Line 2006 – 2007
Mar-Apr: Metroid Prime Hunters (DS)
Apr-May: Brain Age: Train your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS)
May-Jun: New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
Jun-Jul: Nintendo DSLite
Nov-Dec: Nintendo Wii, Elite Beat Agents (DS), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC), Wii Sports (Wii)
Dec: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruins (DS)
Innovation of the Decade: Wii Remote.
In what was arguably Nintendo´s most creative period, the revolutionary Wii Remote controller stood as the company´s most influential new idea. It changed the way we play, and judging by the unprecedented response to Wii and the rush to duplicate the remote by Nintendo´s competitors, motion control is here to stay. The device expanded the definitions of ¨game¨and ¨gamer¨by both broadening and deepening the interactive experience. And although not every experiment with this new control style has worked, the successes have been astounding. If you ask us, we´ve only scratched the surface of what motion control can offer.
Time Line 2007 – 2008
Feb-Mar: Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)
Apr-May: Super Paper Mario (Wii), Pokémon Diamond/Pearl Verions (DS)
Aug-Sep: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
Oct-Nov: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS), Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii), Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro´s Treasure (Wii)
Nov-Dec: Contra 4 (DS), Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) [Game of the Year]
Dec: NIGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
#3 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii/GC)
In many ways, Twilight Princess id the ultimate realization of the Zelda series on a home console. In an attempt to outdo the high water mark of The Legend of Zelda.: Ocarina of Time (N64), the folks at Nintendo crafted the biggest, most absorbing version of Hyrule yet, and filled with instantly classic swordplay, puzzles, and tools (gotta love those Double Clawshots). A darker story took the series into compelling new territory, and the incredible visuals delivered the detailed fantasy look that fans demanded. The fact that it also brought us one of the series´s best supporting characters (Midna) is icing on the cake. We can´t wait to see where Zeda goes on Wii from here.
Defining Moment:
Link, trapped in wolf form, carrying the injured Midna to Hyrule castle while the elegant ¨Midna´s Lament¨plays in the background.
Creator of the Decade: Eiji Aonuma
Talk about pressure. Imagine the most revered person in the history of your profession (Shigueru Miyamoto) handing you the reins to arguably his greatest creation, which is loved by millions of people around the world. That´s essentially what happened to Eiji Aonuma, who became the shepherd for The Legend of Zelda beginning with 2000´s Majora´s Mask. Ten years later, the series remains atop its perch as the pinnacle of the medium. From The Wind Waker to Twilight Princess to Spirit Tracks, Aonuma and his team have consistently delivered one memorable adventure after another. In our experience, he also happens to be one of the nicest developers you´ll ever meet.
Time Line 2008 – 2009
Jan-Feb: No More Heroes (Wii)
Feb-Mar: Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)
Mar-Apr: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) [Game of the Year], Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS)
Apr-May: The World Ends With You (DS), Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
May-Jun: Wii Ware, Boom Blox (Wii), Wii Fit (Wii)
Sep-Oct: Mega Man 9 (WW)
Oct-Nov: World of Goo (WW), Wii Music (Wii), Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS)
Nov-Dec: Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)
Dec: Rock Band 2 (Wii)
#2 Resident Evil 4 (GC)
After numerous samey iterations since its debut in 1996, the Resident Evil franchise had started to become stagnant. Jump ahead to 2005 and the release of Resident Evil 4, a game that revolutionized the survival-horror series with a new over-the-shoulder camera perspective, smarter enemies, a bevy of extraordinary set pieces (not to mention, it transformed naďve rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy into one of the biggest badasses ever). Resident Evil 4 isn´t just one of the best games of the past decade; its one of the best of all time.
Defining Moment: The first time you enter the village at the beginning of the game, get overrun by the weapon-wielding townsfolk, and hear a chainsaw revving up.
Time Line 2009 – 2010
Mar-Apr: Mad World (Wii), Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Apr-May: Nintendo DSi, DSi Ware
May-Jun: Klonoa (Wii)
Jul-Aug: Little King´s Story (Wii), Wii SportsResotr (Wii), Tales of Monkey Island Chapter I (WW)
Sep-Oct: Contra ReBirth (WW), Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days(DS)
Nov-Dec: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) [Game of the Year]
Dec: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS), Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii), Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (WW)
Series of the Decade: The Legend of Zelda.
With 10 classic games spread across 6 different systems, no other series wa as prolific or consistently great as The Legend of Zelda. When you consider the exceptional amount of time and effort required to develop a Zelda game, it´s remarkable that Nintendo managed to average a new installment each year while maintaining the series´s specially high standards. From Majora´s Mask on N64 to Four Swords on GameCube to Twilight Princess on Wii, every entry of the offered something fresh whilestaying faithful to the tried-and-true gameplay that fans crave. That record of meeting and exceeding fans´ expectations time and time again leaves no doubt about that, for the last 10 years, The Legend of Zelda set the standard by which excellence was measured.
#1 Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Mario´s landmark Wii adventure might be as close as any game can come to perfection. At once comfortingly familiar and startlingly brand-new, Galaxy is an unbeatable example of how a long-running series can continue to deliver the kind of fun that fans expect while staying fresh. 3-D gaming was still in its infancy when we rang the year 2000, and Galaxy showcases just far modern games have come. Players no longer have to be burdened by wonky camera controls or sacrifice graphic detail for polygonal worlds; titles like Galaxy show us that anything is possible with enough talent and raw nerve. We can´t think of a better game to kick off the next decade than this year´s Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Defining Moment: Super Luigi Galaxy.