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[Best New Franchise]So many times a new franchise is just the same genre painted in new colors. That's what gets me down about so-called new IPs. Regardless, this list features my favorite new franchises of 2010. Here are our so-called nominees...
ModNation Racers (PS3)
Let's race! ModNation Racers puts you in control. Want to play the single player campaign? It's awesome. Want to design your own tracks and detail your own vehicles and Mods? That's awesome, too. It really is your race to win, design, control, whatever. Playing the game with friends or complete strangers is a blast as well! ModNation Racers might not outdo Mario Kart, but it is a very competent kart racer nonetheless.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
Let's race even more! It's time to the pedal to the metal, and race with Sonic and his SEGA cohorts! There's Ulala, Aiai, Beat, those two zombies from House of the Dead EX, and so many more! It's a SEGA orgy in here! I'm surprised orgy is actually not being spell-checked. Regardless, with supreme track design, a great musical score of classic SEGA songs, and cool online lobbies, this title reigns on top when it comes to new IPs! Or does it? Tee-hee!
3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3)
Sure, it's the original Legend of Zelda taken under a fine microscope, dissected, and crafted finely into its own 3D adventure, but it's a brand-new adventure old-school Zelda-style! With sword upgrades, intense dungeons, monster and boss encounters, and a clever art style featuring 3D blocks making up everything from the characters to the scenery, 3D Dot Game Heroes may borrow heavily from Zelda, but it's a fun journey nonetheless.
MAG (PS3)
MAG. Massive Action Game. They weren't kidding either. Hundreds of players shooting each other in team warfare is a blast! What makes MAG unique is that is an exclusively multiplayer experience. So don't buy this game if you don't have online capabilities! You'll be sucked... er... pissed! The leveling up system makes a lot of sense with players earning new abilities for reaching new XP levels. MAG is the shit, dawg.
And the winner is...
ModNation Racers (PS3)
Hitting the finish line first is ModNation Racers, a truly impressive title! Who doesn't love racing on the excellent premade tracks, your own custom-made tracks, or zooming around the ModSpot for fun? No one, that's who! The controls are easy to master, the game is a joy to play, and you'll just desire to earn more XP as fast as you can accumulate it. Congrats to ModNation Racers, Best New Franchise of 2010!
Runner-Up: Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
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[Most Unexpected Surprise]This isn't like suddenly becoming pregnant after a rough night of passionate sex. No, no. Did I mention this site was for teens and up? Anywho... No, this is like those games that you played and were expecting them to not be all that good, but lo and behold they were awesome! That's exactly what papa is talking about! Let's get to it, daddios and mommios!
Red Steel 2 (Wii)
The first Red Steel was not a good game. It wasn't even a mediocre one-- it was just bad all around. However, Ubisoft redeemed themselves with the MotionPlus-exclusive sequel featuring gun-toting, sword-slashing gameplay. There was no multiplayer component unfortunately, but what there was of the single-player was one heck of a workout! A fun, enjoyable game, Red Steel 2 made March a great month for Wii owners.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
SEGA has been sucking it up a lot lately. So don't develop the game internally, outsource it to the excellent Sumo Digital. That is exactly what SEGA did. The end result? One of my favorite kart racers of all time with excellent tracks, radical characters, and memorable music from days long past. Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing surprised me as it was even better than Mario Kart Wii! ...But not by TOO much!
ModNation Racers (PS3)
Using LittleBigPlanet's design philosophy of create, play, and share, ModNation Racers brought with it an impressive trick system, XP system, track-creation program, and awesomely designed premade courses to trick out on. Playing with friends is always a blast, or heck, even with strangers! If you like fast kart racing action, and you own a PlayStation 3, then I reckon it's time to bust out a copy of ModNation Racers!
MAG (PS3)
We've talked so much about this game in the various categories it has been in that I'm really running out of ways to describe this game and make it sound interesting! Who knew a game that was multiplayer-only could function with a thriving community? I mean, it's still your typical FPS, but it's a fun one at the very least. Okay. I'm officially out of words now!
Sonic Colors (Wii)
When the wisps were introduced, it seemed the Sonic Cycle was in full swing all over again. However, as hands-on coverage of the game was given out to the media, it seemed this game, Sonic Colors, might actually be good! No way, Jose! Yes way! With incredible level design, rocking music, and a carefully-constructed 2D and 3D levels, Sonic Colors is not just a great Sonic game, it's just a great game all around.
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
I had faith in Retro Studios to produce an excellent return to the Donkey Kong Country franchise, but I was not expecting what I received. It was a full-out awesome adventure with hidden goodies all over the place, multiple shortcuts, barrels to blast between, and Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong-- just how it should be! The game simply outclasses Rare's efforts save for DKC2, and that is no small feat.
And the winner is...
Sonic Colors (Wii)
A true gem in a 3D franchise that just couldn't catch a break from their developers, Sonic Colors is the ultimate 3D Sonic game. It's not just a good 3D Sonic game, it's a good 3D game, Sonic or not. The levels are masterfully-crafted, the game looks great, and the soundtrack is just beautiful when it's not rocking your butt off! Well done, Sonic, you've finally reached the big time!
Runner-Up: Red Steel 2 (Wii)
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[Most Disappointing]Kinect (360)
I hate Kinect. I played it, and it was not fun. I don't like jumping around like a moron while a camera records me. How do you like my third leg, Kinect? It's my penis. With a pathetic lineup of release date software featuring a paltry amount of Wii clones Kinect-ized, Kinect may sell well, but those of us in the know and with some taste know what kind of garbage desperate Microsoft is cooking.
Metroid: Other M (Wii)
A lot of people had a problem with the story bits of this title. I didn't really mind those nor did I mind the somewhat linear gameplay. Regardless, the game opens up immensely around halfway to the end, so there's lots of traditional exploration to do. Nonetheless, many folks were unhappy with Samus' newest adventure, love that the game didn't sell to Nintendo's standards (that's lame gamers for you), and want the series to go into hibernation. Which is more disappointing-- the game or the gamers?
Dante's Inferno (PS3, 360)
Hyped up to be a God of War killer but was anything but, Dante's Inferno sold like bullocks even with multiple Super Bowl ads. I loved the ad with David Letterman, Oprah, and Jay Leno. You know the one I'm talking about, right? Oh, back to the description! The game wasn't very well designed nor did it have any kind of fun factor to make it even resemble God of War. Add to the fact that it was the most pirated 360 game of 2010, and you have a mess of something.
Sonic Colors (DS)
A DS game reaches Most Disappointing status when it resembles a gerbil running through a maze of poorly constructed levels. Speed is key here, but where's the fun in that when you always fall down a bottomless pit without any warning? At least in the damn Wii version they tell you when there's a bottomless pit ahead! Regardless, Sonic Colors for the DS is a disappointing title that could have been so much better had the team spent more time on the level design.
And the loser is...
Kinect (360)
Screw you, Kinect. You raped my sister and dragged my family's name through the mud. Okay, so my distaste for Kinect isn't steeped in that much back-story, but still it's a horrible add-on from a desperate company in greedy Microsoft. The games suck for the most part (when they even work properly), the tech is too expensive, and the selection of games is, again, paltry. I'm going to get a hemorrhage from this. I almost put hemorrhoid! Now THAT would have been embarrassing!
Runner-Up: Dante's Inferno (PS3, 360)
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Hey, dudes! That's all for day two of the SPC Best of 2010 Awards! I hope you had fun tonight reading my picks for best and worst of 2010! Does anyone know how to get grape jam out of a tuxedo? I think I'm screwed. Oh, well. See you tomorrow night, friends!
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