Review of the Year - part 1

And so the time has come where we traditionally look back on the year. 2007 has been a very solid year for games. I've had plenty to get stuck into and really it's been the year of the 360 for me. While it's still no where near breaking into the mainstream market (to my way of thinking anyway) the steady stream of excellent driving and FPS's has been a gamers wet dream. Well perhaps not quite that exciting but not far off.. It's not had it all it's own way though as the PS3 has finally had some games to smile about.

So in reverse order here are my highlights.

5. Ratchet & Clank : Tools of Destruction

Far and away my favourite PS3 game of the year. It's always nice when something comes out of nowhere to provide one of the most flat out entertaining experiences of the year. It doesn't do anything particularly new but it's been polished until it shines both graphically and more importantly gameplay wise as well. A must have PS3 game.

4. PGR 4

Probably the game PGR3 should've been. For me neither of the 360s efforts have captured the multiplayer magic of the second game on X-Box but as a single player driving experience it's hard to beat. A great selection of cars and tracks and an awful lot less dry than Forza 2. Combine a great career mode with a fun arcade mode and many happy hours where spent on this in '07

3. Super Mario Galaxy

My first (And still only) experience of Wii delights from the first wave of teh Wii-mote. Yes there's an annoying ice level, Nintendo still insist on giving you 'lives' in this day and age, you still can't turn the music off and it's very annoying to have to press teh 'A' button about 30 times per conversation... but somehow none of it matters. The thrill of navagating the worlds and collecting star bits helped by a fantastic in game camera makes for a joyful experience.

2. Bioshock

Notably the only new IP to make my top 5 Bioshock submerges (haha) you in it's world right from the off. Exploring Rapture and gleaning details about the world you're in is every bit as much fun as shooting and using your plasmid abilities.. Some may say that it didn't fulfil it's early potential but that's rather to miss the point of what it does achieve. Great characters, Great enviroments, A involving plot that doesn't lead you by the nose and some solid gameplay.

1. The Orange Box

It was going to take a lot to better Bioshock this year and it's not just the generosity of this package from Valve that means it takes the top spot. I haven't tried Team Fortress yet (there's been a lot of stuff to play and this year has seen multiplayer gaming take a back seat for me) but from the surreal voice over of Portal to the cliff hanging ending of Episode Two there isn't a duff moment in the Box.