Top ten games I completed in 2013 (Pt 2)

Welcome to part two of the top ten games that I completed in 2013.

Let's move straight onto number five.

5. Big Bang Mini - (DS)

I picked up BBM on the recommendation of a friend who knew that I liked to play the more obscure games that are out there and I'm pleased that I did as it's a simple but fantastically enjoyable game.

The premise is that using the stylus you shoot fireworks from the bottom screen to the top one to hit and destroy enemies. That's it but like a lot of simple games it can be very addictive and fun. The levels are split across real life cities such as Hong Kong and New York (though designed slightly differently as per the graphics) and each city consists of nine levels and then a boss. Each city also includes different abilities that are used to kill the enemies.

There are around one hundred levels in the game (split across four modes) and levels can be completed quite quickly depending on how well you do (you need to collect stars to be able to proceed to the next level) which means that the games doesn't outstay it's welcome. Not that it could as once you get into the game it's rather addictive and fun


4. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - (DS)

Despite being the first game in the series AA is actually the second one that I've finished (the first being Justice for All). Just as I enjoyed JFA I also massively enjoyed AA.

The funny thing is that due to playing this one second it almost feels like a prequel due to characters being introduced that you are already familiar with and storylines starting that continue on through the games. Aside from that the actual game is just superb as one would expect from the Phoenix Wright series.

The graphics are vibrant and bright and the characters are interesting and likeable which is good when you spend so long with them. For me this is one of the key things about the series, the characters, as the more time that you spend with them the more you become absorbed in the world that they live in, especially as you spend a lot of time investigating it as well as time spent in the courtroom. The main purpose of the game is to successfully defend your client(s) and you do this by picking apart testimonies by objecting via using things that you have picked up from what people have said or by using objects that you have found at crime scenes. This all adds up to being a very enjoyable and enthralling games and series.

3. Dragon Quest: Chapters of the Chosen - (DS)

COTC is the second DQ game that I've played and the first that I've completed. The other one that I've played is nine and I have to say that I enjoyed this one that little bit more.

One of the main reasons being the difficulty between the two games, whilst I did enjoy nine at times it (especially with grinding) it felt like a slog to get through but with this one it didn't feel like that at all. This was especially evident when you could fight an enemy that awarded you around 10,000 XP points if you managed to defeat it. This as well as the shortened time span that it took to complete made COTC a far more enjoyable game.

The things that made me really enjoy this game were the likes of the simplicity of the game compared to a lot of other RPG type games, the characters introduced though out the chapters, that fact that there were two optional side quests that were not that difficult to complete. It makes me sound like I don't enjoy RPG's but that is far from the truth as they are possibly my favourite genre but it was just nice to be able pick the game up and play through it without worrying about spells and whether I'm leveled up enough and what not and that is why COTC is number three on the list.


2. Tomb Raider - (360)

The second Tomb Raider game to appear in a top ten list since I began doing them and it's no wonder why when they keep releasing games as good as this. I'll be honest and say that it took me a couple of hours to really get into the new Tomb Raider and it was only the persuasion of someone I know that kept me going through that beginning section as I really wasn't getting on with it. As you can see from it's place in the list once I did...

I've only completed once previous Tomb Raider game so it didn't bother me either way when it was announced that the franchise was being re-booted/relaunched/re-something, which also meant that I didn't really have anything to compare this new version to. Due to that it meant that I could just (hopefully) enjoy the game on it's own merit. At first this didn't happen as I found it to be incredibly boring for the first couple of hours and as mentioned nearly gave up on it. I'm glad that I didn't though as despite it's flaws by the time I had finished it I didn't want it to end.

Yes, to me it does have it's flaws but only minor ones such as decisions within cut scenes and the final 'fight' being rather disappointing but overall I found the new Tomb Raider game to be very absorbing with lots to do and see and I'm definitely glad that I persevered through those first couple of hours as if I hadn't, well, it would be a different game in the number two position.

1. Mirror's Edge - (360)

The number one game for me this time round is the rather excellent, and some would say underrated, Mirror's Edge a game that I bought on a whim due to it being ridiculously cheap. As you can see from it's place at the top spot I'm very glad that I did.

Mirror's Edge is billed a s being a 'first person action-adventure' game but it's a lot more than that, it's a game that once you get going really immerses you in it's world. Once you get up and running (no pun intended) you will not want to put the game down, even during a couple of frustrating bits near the end when a level or two has a lot of climbing to get through. That is the thing though, even when things can and do get a little frustrating you still want to clear that jump or reach that bar or get past that enemy and it's kind of games that make you want to play games and enjoy them.

Graphics wise the game is bright and colourful with nicely done animated cut scenes which advance the plot, though the plot sadly is one of the weak points in the game though it does have an interesting sub-text. The basic premise of the plot is that you take on the role of Faith a runner/courier and a person who rebels against the totalitarian government and who must try and prove her police officer sister's innocence in a murder. It's not the best plot in the world but it does the trick I suppose. One other criticism is that the game is too short which is a massive shame but all good things have to end. The important thing though is the game play and Mirror's Edge has absolutely fantastic game play which is why it takes the number one spot.

So there we have it, another year done. A bit more of a mix of format this year and some absolutely cracking games in the list.