Man, it’s hard to believe we’re coming up on four years of the Nintendo DS. The GBA lasted 6 years (2000-2006), so the DS is going pretty strong compared to most hand helds (save the original Game Boy itself). We’ll also be taking a look at the Best Online Game, which is an award we did, then stopped, then brought back in 2007 because the current staff wanted it. Go figure.
20. Best Nintendo DS Game
Award Winner in 2004: Feel The Magic: XY/XX
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Release Date: 11/16/2004
Genre: Puzzle
Award Winner in 2005: Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Atlus Japan
Release Date: 10/04/2005
Genre: Simulation
Award Winner in 2006: Yoshi’s Island 2
Publisher: Artoon
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 11/13/2006
Genre: Platformer
I’ve said before the DS has left me underwhelmed in terms of quality. This just proves it as none of these games were particular interesting, fun, or good to me. But then, everyone else is loving the DS, so I’ll chalk it up to bad taste on my part. 2006 should have a big battle ahead with Pokemon D/P and LoZ: Phantom Hourglass being out!
Alex Williams reviewed Feel the Magic, Liquidcross reviewed Trauma Center, and A.J. was the reviewer for Yoshi’s Island 2. Go by their judgement of the games and not mine.
21. Best Online Game
Award Winner in 2003: Dance Dance Revolution: Ultramix 2
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami Hawaii
Release Date: 11/18/2004
Genre: Rhythm
System Released On: Microsoft Xbox
Award Winner in 2004: Halo 2
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie
Release Date: 11/09/2004
Genre: FPS
System Released On: Microsoft Xbox
Award Winner in 2006: Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Turbine
Release Date: 02/28/2006
Genre: MMORPG
System Released On: PC
This is an award I wish stayed dead. I just don’t see the point in it when we have so many already. Again, I was in the minority here.
All three of these are highly enjoyable games. Ultramix 2 brought DDR to Xbox Live, and Halo 2 and DDO exist mainly to be played with friends over the internet, but by two very different audiences with two different mediums. Ultramix was an odd choice to me, but 2003 was our first time doing awards and we made some “odd” choices to say the least.
If you’d like to check out the reviews, you can see my review of DDO here. Alex Williams reviewed DDR UM2, and Mike O’Reilly has reviewed all three Halo’s for us. Check out Halo 2 Here
Tomorrow, we start to take a look at the RPG awards. As that’s what so many of you always want us to review, it should be right up your alley.