Today we’ll be looking at three awards we started back in 2006. This will be your first chance to vote on which game you think is the best overall for the award amongst the winners, but as there will only be two choices, it won’t be as interesting as a full 3-4 choices.
6. Best Graphics
Award Winner in 2005: Project Gotham Racing 3
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studio
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Release Date: 11/16/2005
System Released On: Xbox 360
Award Winner in 2006: Okami
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studios
Release Date: 9/19/2006
System Released on: Sony Playstation 2
I couldn’t find a review for Okami, but Lee Baxley reviewed PGR3 two years ago. Both games were considered by your Games staff as the most 
visually impressive for their respective year of release. I personally haven’t played either one. I can’t even remember what I voted that far back in this category.
It is interesting to note that a PS2 game won last year, when both the PS3 and 360 had games open for nomination.
7. Best Sound
Award Winner in 2005: Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Atlus Japan
Release Date: 04/05/2005
System Released On: Sony Playstation 2
Award Winner in 2006: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Release Date: 12/05/2006
System Released On: Nintendo DS
I reviewed both of these games. You can find DDS’s review here, but alas the PoR review was lost forever when IP had that massive two week server failure. I have it my old blog archives and my hard drive somewhere, but it’s going to take forever to find it, and I wasn’t that happy with it anyway. The review I mean.
The winners of this award were considered to offer the best aural experience for that year. The musical score for the game, voice acting, and sound effects were all taken into consideration. It’s interesting to note that both years a horror/RPG combo won. PoR only won this award in 2006, but in 2005, DDS won a whopping SIX awards, so you’ll be seeing it a few more times in this feature.
8. Best Gameplay
Award Winner in 2005: Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Atlus Japan
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Inis
Release Date: 11/06/2006
System Released On: Nintendo DS
The great Tom Pandich raved over EBA when he reviewed it. If you check above, you’ll see the link for my review of DDS1.
The winners of this award were chosen to have the best control and gameplay out of everything we played that year. I haven’t played EBA, but the other members of the Kliq loved it. I personally haven’t really been able to get into the DS, and as a long time hand held gamer this is a huge disappointment for me. Look to Tom’s review for why it won.
As for DDS, it was just a solid well made turn based RPG with a lot of depth to both the engine, and the leveling up process. DDS won more awards than any other game in the history of IP/411 (6) and is just one award below the most winning franchise in out history which is of course…Pokemon. I know, right? Pokemon and Megaten. You’d think I was the only person voting.
Tomorrow we’ll look at three more awards that have only been around for two year. The first two began in 2005 like the ones we looked at today. The second was an award we did only for the first two years of the Kliq’s existence before we realized it wasn’t necessary. See you then!