Here we go ladies and gentlemen: The second to last piece of this WAY TOO LONG feature. Well, too long if you’re the only guy writing it. 42 pages of text so far not to mention research and creating spreadsheets of all this stuff to organize it.
Today, we’re looking at the best PS2 game and the System of the year. Come inside and enjoy!
40. Best PS2 Game
Award Winner in 2003: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Nippon Ichi
Release Date: 08/27/2003
Genre: Strategy RPG
Award Winner in 2004: Katamari Damacy
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Release Date: 09/21/2004
Genre: Puzzle
Award Winner in 2005: Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1
Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer: Atlus Japan
Release Date: 04/05/2005
Genre: Turn Based RPG
Award Winner in 2006: Okami
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studios
Release Date: 9/19/2006
Genre: Action
Diverse mix here. I will spoil tomorrow a bit by saying every year except in 2006, the PS2 GOTY was also the OVERALL GOTY. Crazy, huh? It just shows that the PS2 might not have been the best overall system each year, but you were almost certain to find the very best game on it.
We’ve covered each of these game earlier in the series, so it’s not really necessary to recap. Instead let me just state how odd it is that the PS2 is having a better year than the PS3 and that most systems, in their last real year of life tend to stink it up, but the PS2 is having an amazing 2007 with games like Odin Sphere, Persona 3, and more. This long running system from Sony just might surprise you with how many awards it picks up when all is said and done from us. It’s even feasible than in 2k7 it will win System of the Year as well as host the best game of 2007. As much as I dislike Sony, you have to respect that it was the dominant system in the last console war and it still remains a player today.
Reviews:
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (Lee Baxley)
Katamari Damacy (Liquidcross)
Digital Devil Saga (Lucard)
Okami: No Review Found
41. System of the Year
Award Winner in 2003: Nintendo Game Cube
Award Winner in 2004: Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Award Winner in 2005: Sony Playstation 2
Award Winner in 2006: Nintendo DS
And here we are. As you can see, Nintendo tends to be the system of choice. It’s also interesting to note that not only has there never been a system to win this award twice, but after each system won, the next year was a bit of a downfall for it. 2003 was the last good year for the Cube, and everything after was crap. The GBA met the same fate. 2006 wasn’t kind to the PS2, as the DS and Wii took everyone’s attention. 2007 was good for it though, but it is still a shadow of its former self. As for the DS? Well, there’s been what? Two games this year for the system I really enjoyed: Pokemon D/P and Phantom Hourglass. Still, both are contenders for GOTY nominations, along with the PS2’s Odin Sphere and Persona.
Look for the Wii or PS2 to win in 2007, although the DS is still a dark horse.
That’s it. Join us tomorrow as we look at the GOTY, along with some statistics I discovered while running through this freakshow. It’s been fun writing this look back, and I’ve noticed it’s rejuvenated a lot of gamers interest in not only playing older games, but writing about them too. This makes me happy.