I think I'll post my #2 and #1 at the same time. Really, they're my favorite 2D and 3D games of all time, and every other day I change my mind on which I love more. Both are timeless classics and remind me why I love this medium we call video games. ^_^
#2: Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis/GameCube/DS)
Release Date: October 17, 1994
Last Year: #1
When it comes to 2D games (if you haven't gotten it by now, I think they're pretty great), I think that Sonic & Knuckles is the greatest of the great. Words cannot begin to describe what this game has meant to me over the years that I've been a gamer... but I'll try to explain what makes me love this game so much. Perfect controls, stellar and diverse level design, superb physics (a necessity for a platformer), an engaging story (that is actually told during gameplay. A hidden art to many game developers), characters that you care about, goregous sprite based graphics, a killer soundtrack... Like I said, this game really does it all for me. No other game will have a single moment that means more to me than Sky Santuary Zone does. The atmosphere, level design, and music come together so wonderfully... it puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. I play this game every year, just to have a taste of something that is so great. A true masterpiece.
This is My Ringtone: Sky Santuary Zone
Favorite Robotnik Battle: Giant Eggman Robo. Truly an Epic battle!
#1: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Release Date: May 23, 2010
Last Year: #2
Wii had a pretty rough year this year. The first half was devoid of any games that I really wanted... so instead I went back and played games on my backlog, or games I wanted to play all over again. So I once again inserted my Super Mario Galaxy 2 disc... and I fell in love once more. I think this game is one of the extremely few games I've played that is absolutely perfect in its execution. And with its plethora of brilliant new ideas and gameplay mechanics... that's quite an incredible feat. It was easy to underestimate this game before its release, as we all wondered what more the team that gave us the brilliant Galaxy 1 could offer us... but this game both expands and perfects the ideas of old, as well as introduces us to brand new features that once more give a breath of fresh air to the supposedly faltering Platformer genre. But it's more than that too... with the soundtrack (now my favorite video game soundtrack ever) and artstyle (the mixture of Mario and Outer Space give them no limits at what they can present us) create something that is magical... Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a game that doesn't come around very often... but it's brilliance cannot be denied. The game is a wonderful example of what this medium is capable of. I tip my hat to this incredible game.
Favorite Music Track: The Credits
Daredevil Run GrandMaster Galaxy: Punch-me-in-the-Face-Difficulty, but I loved every second of it.
