Head to Feros and seek out the computer terminal that will alert you of a side quest in the Voyager Cluster. After examining it, save your game, restart, and examine the terminal again. The experience gained is small, but it is infinite. Super Mario Galaxy ended up being our ultimate victor in our Game of the Year voting for , and it won for good reason.
Sure, the Wii doesn't play in HD, nor does it have the capabilities of the more powerful Playstation3 and Xbox consoles.
But Super Mario Galaxy delivers where it counts, in the gameplay department. Our favorite "cheat" in the entire game is in relation to what happens after you collect all Stars in the game. When the th Star is obtained and the game is beaten once through, Mario's brother Luigi will become a playable character. You can then play through each stage over again, collecting all Stars not with Mario, but with Luigi.
And yes, Luigi does handle differently than Mario, providing a completely new gaming experience. Squad-based shooters are among the games fans are most passionate about. Call of Duty 4 takes it to the near future, however, with their "Modern Warfare" approach. CoD4 delivers in every conceivable way, from story to gameplay, and will remain a popular title for both single player and online multiplayer well into and perhaps even beyond.
If you're looking for good hints and cheats, look no further than IGN Cheats. For instance, you can unlock an otherwise unplayable mission simply by beating the game once through and watching the credits scroll.
The mission will become unlocked thereafter. The beginning of hasn't brought gamers much as far as worthwhile games are concerned. But here on IGN, we love to give the readers something to read and talk about even during the infamous gaming lulls. First, we gave you our Top Games of All-Time list. But we've also given you our Game of the Year awards, and that's what this edition of GameSage Weekly is all about.
Was this article informative? YES NO. In Partnership with Wal-Mart. No Time to Die Review. IGN Logo Recommends. It is a far cry from the overblown symphonic scores and typically computer-esque electronic soundtracks of most games, but it also does something that is sadly rare these days: it genuinely fuses with the gameplay.
Clearly taking some cues from the work of Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Mak's layered tracks form the backbone of each stage of Everyday Shooter, pulsing and expanding with the trippy backgrounds and providing a crucial part of the game's immersion. While independent studios are increasingly becoming absorbed by the ever-consolidating group of major publishers, Bungie pulled off a baffling maneuver earlier this year--it achieved independence from owner Microsoft.
Founded in and becoming a fully-owned subsidiary in , Bungie is somehow again able to completely call its own shots, and allocate its development resources as it sees fit.
Some would say that a studio of Bungie's success and clout explain why it was able to split off from its corporate parent--true to an extent, but those factors also make it all the more remarkable that Microsoft was able to be convinced to let the studio go, retaining only a minority stake. We wait with bated breath for what the company will develop as its next major project, which is almost certainly not Halo. There is little dispute that Valve is one of the most consistently high-quality developers around--this year alone, The Orange Box contained some of the best gaming experiences on multiple platforms--but the independent studio has also demonstrated considerable success outside the world of development alone.
Its Steam delivery service has become the de facto digital distribution platform on PC, and with the release of The Steam Community it has continued to extend its stabilizing roots throughout the world of PC gaming, slowly bringing more shared functionality and standards to an often lawless platform.
With the disappointing launch of Games for Windows Live, Valve is introducing the closest thing PC gamers have to a unified online platform, and it's free. It is our overall Game of the Year, and it is also the standout experience on the platform that we know is its true home. Mouse control allows for those depressingly intimidating speedruns you watch on YouTube, and modability allows for post-release custom levels. Portal is something you should play on any of the platforms for which it was released, but if you can play it on PC, make that a special priority.
A spiritual successor to Crytek's debut effort Far Cry, now owned by publisher Ubisoft, Crysis returns to the large-scale, island-set shooter genre, a genre of which the German developer seems to be the sole current proprietor.
Its massive environments, weapon customization, and ability-enhancing nanosuit allow for a considerable variety of approaches in achieving its objectives, and gorgeous visuals--providing your rig can handle it--top off the experience.
Relegating our recognition of Rock Band to a mere music category seemed unfitting, and awarding it over other strong, platform-dominant candidates was proving a hotly contested subject. Deadlocked on many fronts, we finally found a way out--an easy way, but ultimately, the right way--by handing it a trophy for overall console excellence. It's a consistent experience across several platforms, while really achieving platform status in its own right.
Mario, Mario. You're stuck in second place this year, my friend. You're the Luigi of our Game of the Year Awards. Perhaps the cooler brother, but forever pigeonholed as the co-star. I fought for you, Mario. I wanted you to make it. I wanted you to have your day in the sun. And who wouldn't, after your cloudy showing in Sunshine?
This was your year, a perfect year, a banner year for the big N, and you shouldn't have to sit in the shadow of other giants after conquering your own. So even though you may not be first place in our minds, for your magnificent return to form, you sit first place in my heart.
We've already told you why we love BioShock as a game. But despite being a first-person shooter, and one with a strong PC heritage at that, BioShock was a surprisingly great, and consistent, experience on Xbox In some ways, its systems even felt particularly suited to a controller, and the audience responded by making the game a deserved success.
We really liked Portal a whole lot, and we were thrilled to discover that it made the transition to Xbox with nary a major problem. Though some other of the other Orange Box offerings didn't make it to consoles unscathed, the Xbox edition of Portal looks and runs great--the provides the control demanded by its tricky puzzles and the presentation demanded by the dry-witted GLaDOS.
It's not quite like using a mouse, and the capacity for custom levels isn't here, but it's still a top-notch experience. The PlayStation 3 boasts plenty of solid games, but few stand-outs. The fact is, Rock Band is the best game on the system, and thus deserves another turn at the podium. And what more can be said of the gem-scrolling rock simulator at this point?
We all thought it was a late April Fool's joke, but Harmonix made us believe, and largely succeeded in completing a deceptively ambitious project. Not only did the fourth game in Infinity Ward's long-running series break free of the World War II shooter mold, but it also coincided with a large stride forward in gameplay. Its multiplayer component made it a strong consideration across many categories, while the sometimes inspired but ultimately uneven single-player campaign held it back from attaining GOTY status.
Super Mario Galaxy was a shoo-in for this category since it was announced, but it bears mentioning that the game really did considerably exceed our seriously massive expectations--this is quite a feat for a bunch of jaded game journalists. Taking the system to new visual heights, integrating its pointer-driven controller in a useful but not obnoxious manner, and simply providing one of the most joyful and endlessly surprising game experiences of the year makes it the clear choice.
Despite Mario's victory, Retro Studios' conclusion of its well-loved Metroid Prime sub-franchise was not far behind. It was the first of a devastating one-two punch on Wii in late that served to remind hardcore gamers that they were not forgotten.
First-person control on the Wii made a big leap with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, proving the genre's viability on the system. Nintendo's long-running Zelda series has gained a reputation in recent years for being in a creative rut, even as it maintains its impressive standard of quality. As such, it was a relief that this portable incarnation proved to be much more of a kick in the green cloth pants than the last home console entry was.
Using the DS hardware to capably take on the expressive cel-shaded style of The Wind Waker gave the game a strong identity, while the much-improved sailing component and inspired stylus-driven puzzles contributed on the gameplay side.
Triangulating the location of buried treasure by mapping and connecting coordinates is fresh and fun, and the overall adventure is substantial for a portable system.
Even if you think you don't like puzzle games, this one may shock you. The DS stylus and Puzzle Quest are the perfect match, nailing the interface for the Bejeweled-like gameplay on a portable. You will find yourself trapped constantly playing the adventure-quasi-RPG-Diablo-item-hunt mode whenever a free moment comes up. It sucks you in. Your life will be changed forever. Tell your family that you'll miss them before picking this up. You will.
One of the year's most refreshingly innovative titles, Crush has players constantly switching between 2D and 3D perspectives as they explore environments and attempt to solve puzzles by literally crushing the level from different angles, which can cause all sorts of paths and platforms to appear. Brilliant in both concept and execution, Crush delivers an experience that is perfect for the PSP hardware.
Not just content to finally bring the long-lost Castlevania: Rondo of Blood to North America, Konami opted to redo the entire 2D game with a slick 3D look and toss in a PSP edition of its well-known sequel, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, for good measure. Symphony of the Night got the primo treatment as well, adding content from the import-only Saturn version along with new English localization, complete with new voice acting.
With two classic Castlevania titles looking and playing better than ever--one of which North American fans aren't likely to have played--and the original PC Engine version of Rondo of Blood included for purists, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles marks some of the best both the franchise and the portable system have to offer.
As evidenced by God of War II's first stage, a sprawling level-long battle against a towering colossus, SCE Studios Santa Monica took special care to ensure Kratos' sophmore outing went far, far beyond his action-filled debut.
Filled to the brim with a number of memorable moments and pushing the PlayStation 2 harder than many thought possible, God of War II isn't just 's best PlayStation 2 game; it's one of the best games on the platform.
Level-5's swan song for the PlayStation 2 continues the developer's pedigree of highly-polished, content-packed RPGs. As Jaster Rogue and friends explore the game's many large planets with nary a load time, the game's action-based combat keeps players entertained while its lengthy narrative and numerous side quests--including the optional Pokemon-like Insectron tournaments and an item creation mini-game--keep them coming back for more.
Valve's Half-Life 2 episodes may feature campaigns of single-digit hour counts, but Episode Two demonstrates the company has no intention of letting that gameplay duration translate to a lax development attitude. Episode Two is arguably the most consistently well-paced Half-Life game yet, adding numerous new gameplay ideas to the mix, improving the series' already successful elements, opening up the environments a bit, and ending in a hell of a bang.
It is an intense and exquisite gaming experience with a number of excellent firefights. On the other end of the shooter spectrum from the highly directed Half-Life 2: Episode Two is the much more open Crysis. It constantly allows you to change up your style of play, from roof-jumping sniper to shotgun-wielding Rambo-wannabe to stealthy Predator-like stalker. When Crysis is at the top of its game--that is, in the first two thirds, before it starts to settle more into rails--it has some of the best shooting around.
Not just impressive for a portable game, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an excellent adventure all around. The series' blend of clear goal-driven gameplay with a large, explorable world makes for good pacing; the excellent arsenal of weaponry sees new functionality with the stylus control; new types of puzzles and navigation surface thanks to the stylus; and the world is brought to life in charming fashion thanks to the Wind Waker-esque styling.
In an age of increasingly cynical expectations for games and exceedingly gratuitous violence, it takes a to label a game as brutal. That said, we can think of no better word to describe God of War II.
Its fights are brutal and unforgiving affairs, both in terms of difficulty and in the actions players exact upon their foes. While its best moments are left for players to discover on their own, few encounters are more satisfying or shocking than when Kratos repeatedly slams an ornate metal door against a boss's ever-softening cranium.
Dwarf cock! CD Projekt's lengthy RPG opus is a perfect combination of riveting, off-beat dialogue and engrossing scenarios.
The character of Geralt does for RPGs what Duke or Max did for shooters, giving us a dark persona to get behind as we high-tail it around a rainy, imperfect world. You won't see Mass Effect's prissy Captain Shepard getting drunk and fighting zombies before settling into bed with the local honey pot.
BioWare spent a long time working on its original sci-fi opus. It falls short in part, but succeeds with its major brushstrokes, presenting a cinematic picture that is largely unprecedented in gaming. The first scene of dialogue will have you wondering why no other RPG looks and works this smoothly, while the last sequence of the game will have you hoping for a more consistently-polished sequel. There have been but a handful of great 3D platformers in the decade since the release of Super Mario even most of the games that call themselves 3D platformers tend to be essentially action games with some jumping thrown in for good measure.
Thankfully, Mario returned to show the rest of this shameful segment how things are done. Super Mario Galaxy understands the joy of platforming, that finely-honed sense of control and the negotiation of environments it allows, and it goes absolute apeshit with it. Not only is this one of the finest platformers ever released, it incorporates elements from just about every type of platformer ever released, including the 2D ones.
It is hard to decide exactly to what genre Portal belongs--and therein lies one of its many charms--but it is certainly as much of a platformer as it is everything else, and it handily outshines nearly all of its competition there. Featuring one of the cleverest game mechanics to be seen in years, Portal's physics-driven spatial puzzle-solving essentially incorporates first-person platforming, something that is rarely attempted and even more rarely done well.
Here, it is exceptional. Massive's multiplayer-focused, action-RTS hybrid takes all the fun of being a Battlefield 2 commander and doles it out to every player. In doing so, it not only innovates in the genre, but also emphasizes teamwork in a way that few games have. And to its credit, despite the heavy reliance on team players, jumping into an RTS has never been this easy, or this instantly--and consistently--gratifying.
While Supreme Commander innovated in the realm of mechanics, World in Conflict challenges what a strategy game can be. And judging by how rewarding a massive last-second nuclear detonation is, or how enjoyable a simple coordinated flanking maneuver proves, that's a challenge safely won.
All your favorite units and all of your favorite terrible acting in those laughable cut scenes are back in equal measure. It could be called a step back from Generals as far as "fun factor," but it's a good ride, and a high-quality experience throughout. The gameplay speed slider is always welcome too. Say all you want of Blizzard's behemoth--it's still the best flavor of MMO available. The Burning Crusade may have only amounted to a few sprinkles on top, but those sprinkles made it seem like an all-new dish for a little while, which is really all you can ask of any expansion.
And though the best flavor of ice cream may dull in taste over time, every few months, a craving is inevitable. Give in. Beginning with perhaps the smoothest launch in MMO history, Lord of the Rings Online has offered a surprisingly pleasant alternative to those burned out on other fantasy offerings.
Turbine has somehow created a world that feels friendlier than World of Warcraft, while also remaining a distinctive experience, which is no small feat considering the challenge of overlapping material. Worth a look. Episode Ice Station Santa ranks among the dog and rabbit duo's best adventures yet, with a suitably surreal plotline, new locations amen and characters, and increasingly sharp writing and puzzle design.
A spate of technical additions along with the continued improvements to design and presentation provide more evidence that the second season will be even better than the first, despite Telltale currently carrying the episodic flag alone. Broken up into stages, the game emphasizes exploration and creative solutions to its various puzzles. Savage monsters standing between you and a shiny treasure? Throw a rock at a snake to distract them, then drug their food with a sleeping mushroom while they're not looking.
Best of all, most of this is accomplished by performing the actual motions with the Wii Remote. Unlike many games, these motions don't feel gratuitous or tacked-on, they feel like a natural extension of the gamplay.
Harmonix was born to win this category. It's in the company's blood. If it's not replicating a full band dynamic in a video game, it's creating music-based games for your iPod. Rock Band is the ultimate representation of this mentality, the best musical video game yet.
How can they top this? Where do they go from here? Considering we knew nothing about Rock Band around this time last year, the potential is scary. Everyday Shooter may not be a rhythm game in the traditional sense, but it is certainly a musical game, a rhythmic game.
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