I didn't play quite as many games this year as I did in 2023. I was busy doing stuff like getting engaged and whatnot. But I still played some pretty cool stuff, so it's time to ramble about it.
Dr Robotnik's Ring Racers
Dr Robotnik's Ring Racers is a game of two halves. If you asked me what I thought of this game based solely on the Single Player content, it'd be a shoo-in for a Worst Games of the Year list before this one. Ring Racers' main Grand Prix is plagued by a slew of poorly thought-out mechanics such as
overly-aggressive dynamic difficulty scaling, and a 'rival' system that doesn't bring anything to the table besides an AI that cheats so blatantly it'd make Super Mario Kart blush. Playing it is an exercise in frustration, rather than something akin to F-Zero GX from last year's list - that's a game that's brutally difficult, but satisfying
to overcome. Winning a GP in Ring Racers only brings a sense of relief that this time, you got lucky with the AI. This also goes for the tutorial, which at launch was all but mandatory - an absolute slog that cares more about telling a story that the game does nothing with, and focuses on mechanics you'll barely use while totally ignoring
others that you will. It's all handled with a sense of pretension that just rubs me the wrong way - the patch notes basically disparaging people for struggling with mechanics that the game didn't do a good job introducing to the player didn't help, either.
"Bloody hell Tracker, are you sure this is your Game of the Year list?"
Yes! Thankfully, this Grand Prix mode is not all that Ring Racers has to offer. And its multiplayer is so absolutely, ridiculously fun that it arguably entirely overrides the torture of that single player mode and earns it a spot on this list. Ring Racers is kinetic, chaotic, and a really fun time with a lobby full of other racers across the globe. Despite the developers clearly wanting to make a 'serious, competitive' kart racer, they've essentially achieved what I'll dub a 'reverse Smash Bros Effect' - the game has an almost party game like feel with how insane each race can get, and in multiplayer it works beautifully. While the game's random nature can be a source of frustration in Single Player, in Multiplayer it just feels like part of the ride - without unlockables and Grand Prix standings on the line, Ring Racers becomes utterly hilarious, and brilliantly entertaining (although I do like the unlockables system in this game - just a shame it's largely tied to GP Mode). If that wasn't enough, the game also has bar none the best Battle Mode in any kart racer I've played. Battle Mode is something I ignore in most of these games, but in Ring Racers, you could make a convincing argument that it's even better than the racing.
On a more general note, Ring Racers is maybe the most packed Sonic fangame to ever exist. It has a staggering amount of tracks, with an impressive ratio of great to naff ones, and an array of characters from Sonic, SEGA, and beyond to play as. They even included my beloved Popful Mail! The presentation values are through the roof, with a fusion of 2D and 3D assets that truly evokes the feeling of the SEGA Saturn's finest. The sheer adoration for Sonic and SEGA as a whole is totally on display here, and it's perhaps the most a Sonic fangame has ever felt like a labour of love. While the game has an overwhelming amount of mechanics (many of which are poorly communicated, and have ill-fitting names for the sake of making Smash Bros movement tech references), once the muscle memory starts to build up it becomes second nature. And if the content included somehow isn't enough for you, the game has a bustling mod community making tracks and characters en masse. I even made a few myself!
But the main point here is that unlike its predecessor, Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart, Ring Racers doesn't feel like it needs mods to feel complete. You could go into Ring Racers completely vanilla and still have an amazing, fulfilling time - at least, with the multiplayer.
From a personal standpoint, Ring Racers leaves me with complicated feelings, for various reasons. But while for the solo player it's not an especially good game, the multiplayer experience reveals something truly special, and well-deserving of a spot on this list - if I had to compare it to another game in that regard, Sonic Shuffle would come to mind. The game is still being worked on, with the upcoming 2.4 patch promising to overhaul a lot of stuff - I somehow doubt GP's gonna be one of those things, but a man can dream. It also takes the crown for my most played game of 2024, with around 100 hours clocked...
"Bloody hell Tracker, are you sure this is your Game of the Year list?"
Yes! Thankfully, this Grand Prix mode is not all that Ring Racers has to offer. And its multiplayer is so absolutely, ridiculously fun that it arguably entirely overrides the torture of that single player mode and earns it a spot on this list. Ring Racers is kinetic, chaotic, and a really fun time with a lobby full of other racers across the globe. Despite the developers clearly wanting to make a 'serious, competitive' kart racer, they've essentially achieved what I'll dub a 'reverse Smash Bros Effect' - the game has an almost party game like feel with how insane each race can get, and in multiplayer it works beautifully. While the game's random nature can be a source of frustration in Single Player, in Multiplayer it just feels like part of the ride - without unlockables and Grand Prix standings on the line, Ring Racers becomes utterly hilarious, and brilliantly entertaining (although I do like the unlockables system in this game - just a shame it's largely tied to GP Mode). If that wasn't enough, the game also has bar none the best Battle Mode in any kart racer I've played. Battle Mode is something I ignore in most of these games, but in Ring Racers, you could make a convincing argument that it's even better than the racing.
On a more general note, Ring Racers is maybe the most packed Sonic fangame to ever exist. It has a staggering amount of tracks, with an impressive ratio of great to naff ones, and an array of characters from Sonic, SEGA, and beyond to play as. They even included my beloved Popful Mail! The presentation values are through the roof, with a fusion of 2D and 3D assets that truly evokes the feeling of the SEGA Saturn's finest. The sheer adoration for Sonic and SEGA as a whole is totally on display here, and it's perhaps the most a Sonic fangame has ever felt like a labour of love. While the game has an overwhelming amount of mechanics (many of which are poorly communicated, and have ill-fitting names for the sake of making Smash Bros movement tech references), once the muscle memory starts to build up it becomes second nature. And if the content included somehow isn't enough for you, the game has a bustling mod community making tracks and characters en masse. I even made a few myself!
But the main point here is that unlike its predecessor, Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart, Ring Racers doesn't feel like it needs mods to feel complete. You could go into Ring Racers completely vanilla and still have an amazing, fulfilling time - at least, with the multiplayer.
From a personal standpoint, Ring Racers leaves me with complicated feelings, for various reasons. But while for the solo player it's not an especially good game, the multiplayer experience reveals something truly special, and well-deserving of a spot on this list - if I had to compare it to another game in that regard, Sonic Shuffle would come to mind. The game is still being worked on, with the upcoming 2.4 patch promising to overhaul a lot of stuff - I somehow doubt GP's gonna be one of those things, but a man can dream. It also takes the crown for my most played game of 2024, with around 100 hours clocked...
SSX Tricky
Snowboarding games are something I've somehow largely avoided, despite my brain being rearranged on a fundamental level by Sonic Adventure 2's opening level. I did enjoy Alpine Racer 3 a few years back, but SSX Tricky is truly a class above.
A slew of tracks, a cast of colourful characters, and a trick system that feels amazingly rewarding to master makes SSX Tricky utterly thrilling to play. Although the progression is repetitive (forcing repeat playthroughs of the same stage over and over just to count as one win), the gameplay's so exhilarating that it's hard to be bothered by this. These tracks are so much bigger than they initially appear, with skilled play rewarded by a huge assortment of different paths to the goal. Learning where to trick, what tricks to do, and how to get that TRICKY meter filled as soon as possible quickly becomes an obsession. On paper, having this state where you can achieve infinite boost for the rest of a race with no way to lose it might seem like it'd make the game too easy - but building the skills to get to that level is a journey in itself, and when you finally start to land those TRICKYs earlier and earlier in the race, it feels great.
The rival system is also a very fun twist, and reminded me a bit of Road Rash of all things - I suppose this is an EA game. Being able to go out of your way to attack people is a bizarre twist, but it's a fun way to take out your anger on that one character who keeps getting in your way, and really adds to the already larger-than-life personality these characters have. This is helped by the post-race cutscenes that show your character either chatting to other racers, or having a war of the words with their rival. Punching people also happens to be a really, really effective way to get TRICKY as soon as possible, so the game sort of encourages being a dick!
The track designs are also fantastic, and provide a variety of locales. The Japan-based tracks were probably my favourites, with a mix of gorgeous cityscapes and pinball-esque aesthetics that feel right at home in a game driven by arcade sensibilities.
SSX Tricky is yet another PS2 game I wish I'd had as a kid, instead of crap like The Energy Thieves. Watching my friend Azookara run the game was terrifying, but it also gave me something to aspire to, and the feeling of getting within swinging distance of those laser-focused skills felt like an adventure.
A slew of tracks, a cast of colourful characters, and a trick system that feels amazingly rewarding to master makes SSX Tricky utterly thrilling to play. Although the progression is repetitive (forcing repeat playthroughs of the same stage over and over just to count as one win), the gameplay's so exhilarating that it's hard to be bothered by this. These tracks are so much bigger than they initially appear, with skilled play rewarded by a huge assortment of different paths to the goal. Learning where to trick, what tricks to do, and how to get that TRICKY meter filled as soon as possible quickly becomes an obsession. On paper, having this state where you can achieve infinite boost for the rest of a race with no way to lose it might seem like it'd make the game too easy - but building the skills to get to that level is a journey in itself, and when you finally start to land those TRICKYs earlier and earlier in the race, it feels great.
The rival system is also a very fun twist, and reminded me a bit of Road Rash of all things - I suppose this is an EA game. Being able to go out of your way to attack people is a bizarre twist, but it's a fun way to take out your anger on that one character who keeps getting in your way, and really adds to the already larger-than-life personality these characters have. This is helped by the post-race cutscenes that show your character either chatting to other racers, or having a war of the words with their rival. Punching people also happens to be a really, really effective way to get TRICKY as soon as possible, so the game sort of encourages being a dick!
The track designs are also fantastic, and provide a variety of locales. The Japan-based tracks were probably my favourites, with a mix of gorgeous cityscapes and pinball-esque aesthetics that feel right at home in a game driven by arcade sensibilities.
SSX Tricky is yet another PS2 game I wish I'd had as a kid, instead of crap like The Energy Thieves. Watching my friend Azookara run the game was terrifying, but it also gave me something to aspire to, and the feeling of getting within swinging distance of those laser-focused skills felt like an adventure.
EGGCONSOLE Popful Mail
Gee, Popful Mail! How come Tracker lets you be on two Game of the Year lists?
OK, this one is sort of cheating. Popful Mail's Mega CD version was already on my 2022 Games of the Year list, but having now played the original via the fancy new Switch port released via EGGCONSOLE, I think it deserves yet another nod.
The original version of Popful Mail is actually shockingly similar to the Mega CD adaptation, and it feels far better to play than I'd have imagined. Seeing it in screenshots, you're sort of led to envision a clunky, jerky platformer that clearly shows its age, but considering the hardware it's running on, Popful Mail feels very nice to play. The big difference from the Mega CD version isn't so much the platforming, but the combat. The game actually takes the 'bump combat' system of Falcom's Ys series, and adapts it to a 2D plane. I bounced off my first attempts to play the original Ys, so I didn't expect to love this, but it makes for snappy and easy to understand action. The only place it really falters is in boss fights, which can sometimes feel like luck of the draw when it comes to the collision detection. At least this port includes a rewind button...
The game's graphics, even so many years later, are still super-vibrant and cute. I actually prefer the cutscene artwork of this version to the Mega CD's take, too; Mail and co are a lot less lanky here, and it's got a super charming look to it. Perhaps the biggest catch with this game is just the fact it's untranslated for this release. While the frontend menu is translated, and gives lots of handy tips for breaking through the language barrier, you'll still probably need to use a guide once or twice when the game breaks from its largely linear progression on the odd occasion. That being said, if you've played the Mega CD game (or the PC Engine version, which appears to be even closer to the original - watch for that in 2025's list), a lot of things are actually 1:1, and having the SEGA version under my belt definitely helped with getting through this one without much trouble.
As well as the translated frontend, this release also includes extra features such as a handy scene select, and even high-res scans of the game's manual. I'd honestly say that you shouldn't be put off by the game itself being limited to Japanese-only; Popful Mail's PC88 version holds up even today, and I'm very glad I gave it a shot.
OK, this one is sort of cheating. Popful Mail's Mega CD version was already on my 2022 Games of the Year list, but having now played the original via the fancy new Switch port released via EGGCONSOLE, I think it deserves yet another nod.
The original version of Popful Mail is actually shockingly similar to the Mega CD adaptation, and it feels far better to play than I'd have imagined. Seeing it in screenshots, you're sort of led to envision a clunky, jerky platformer that clearly shows its age, but considering the hardware it's running on, Popful Mail feels very nice to play. The big difference from the Mega CD version isn't so much the platforming, but the combat. The game actually takes the 'bump combat' system of Falcom's Ys series, and adapts it to a 2D plane. I bounced off my first attempts to play the original Ys, so I didn't expect to love this, but it makes for snappy and easy to understand action. The only place it really falters is in boss fights, which can sometimes feel like luck of the draw when it comes to the collision detection. At least this port includes a rewind button...
The game's graphics, even so many years later, are still super-vibrant and cute. I actually prefer the cutscene artwork of this version to the Mega CD's take, too; Mail and co are a lot less lanky here, and it's got a super charming look to it. Perhaps the biggest catch with this game is just the fact it's untranslated for this release. While the frontend menu is translated, and gives lots of handy tips for breaking through the language barrier, you'll still probably need to use a guide once or twice when the game breaks from its largely linear progression on the odd occasion. That being said, if you've played the Mega CD game (or the PC Engine version, which appears to be even closer to the original - watch for that in 2025's list), a lot of things are actually 1:1, and having the SEGA version under my belt definitely helped with getting through this one without much trouble.
As well as the translated frontend, this release also includes extra features such as a handy scene select, and even high-res scans of the game's manual. I'd honestly say that you shouldn't be put off by the game itself being limited to Japanese-only; Popful Mail's PC88 version holds up even today, and I'm very glad I gave it a shot.
Shadow Generations
In 2022, I put Sonic Frontiers on my Game of the Year list. And I do enjoy Sonic Frontiers, it's pretty solid!
Shadow Generations though. Now this is Sonic. Or... it's Shadow, I guess.
When Shadow Generations was announced, I was expecting something no more comprehensive than the Episode Shadow portion of Sonic Forces. Just crack out something quick to tie into Shadow's movie appearance, sorted. What I didn't expect were tight controls and some of the best 3D level design Sonic's had in over a decade. Immediately, Shadow Generations opens with cutscenes that blow literally any choreography Frontiers had out of the water. The stages are gigantic, full of seamlessly integrated spectacle and an almost overwhelming amount of alternative routes. I don't subscribe to the whole 'hur hur they put an 06 level in they should be embarrassed' logic, but even then it's crazy how Kingdom Valley is probably the best level in the game by far. The dramatic improvement made to Sunset Heights from Sonic Forces is also much appreciated. Even the 2D stuff is strong here, with level design that feels more focused to the Boost forumla's strengths, rather than clumsy platforming plagued by controls that don't suit it.
Shadow himself also brings lots of unique gameplay to the table. Chaos Control is woven in brilliantly, with each stage giving it plenty of unique uses. Some can be simple as 'stop these missiles to make a platform', while others may be 'stop this falling debris so you can use it as a target to reach a different path.' There's still dozens of routes that take advantage of this power that I haven't found! And that's just one of Shadow's various abilities, as the new Doom Powers give some extra variety to proceedings. Even something like the Doom Morph, which initially felt unwieldy and clumsy, fast becomes a brilliant speedrunning tool. Really, the only issue I have with how Shadow handles here is his weirdly harsh airbrake upon jumping - but even that can be solved by, for some reason, doing rapid Chaos Spears to preserve momentum. I have no idea if Sonic Team realised this was a thing you could do, but to me it harkens back to the kind of physics tomfoolery you could pull off in the Adventure titles, so I honestly kind of dig it. Bosses are never a strong suit for Sonic, to be honest - as Sonic Superstars only recently proved - so it's a testament to Shadow's success that even these encounters feel superb, with a good blend of intuitive design and excellent action sequences.
The game's story gives a melancholic tour through Shadow's troubled past. Gone is the fear of acknowledging the 'bad' Sonic games, or trying to pretend Shadow's 2005 outing wasn't a thing. The Black Arms are here, Mephiles is here - I'm shocked they didn't cram Infinite into this thing. It's done in a way that feels so confident, that even if you didn't like those games (I personally love Shadow 2005...), your feelings towards them won't cloud how you feel about the way Shadow Generations celebrates them. That's the best way I can describe this game; a celebration of Shadow, and to some extent one of Sonic's mid-2000s outings. It's great to have a Sonic title that's simply good without major caveats again - if it's got one big flaw, it's that the adventure's on the short side (though it's still about as long as the original Generations!). I know full well that development is probably well underway on 'Frontiers 2', but I sincerely hope it's not too late for them to factor this game into that equation. As I put it on Twitter, in a perfect world the next Sonic game would see the people behind this one given all the money in the Sonic piggy bank, because they clearly know how to make a Sonic game.
Shadow Generations though. Now this is Sonic. Or... it's Shadow, I guess.
When Shadow Generations was announced, I was expecting something no more comprehensive than the Episode Shadow portion of Sonic Forces. Just crack out something quick to tie into Shadow's movie appearance, sorted. What I didn't expect were tight controls and some of the best 3D level design Sonic's had in over a decade. Immediately, Shadow Generations opens with cutscenes that blow literally any choreography Frontiers had out of the water. The stages are gigantic, full of seamlessly integrated spectacle and an almost overwhelming amount of alternative routes. I don't subscribe to the whole 'hur hur they put an 06 level in they should be embarrassed' logic, but even then it's crazy how Kingdom Valley is probably the best level in the game by far. The dramatic improvement made to Sunset Heights from Sonic Forces is also much appreciated. Even the 2D stuff is strong here, with level design that feels more focused to the Boost forumla's strengths, rather than clumsy platforming plagued by controls that don't suit it.
Shadow himself also brings lots of unique gameplay to the table. Chaos Control is woven in brilliantly, with each stage giving it plenty of unique uses. Some can be simple as 'stop these missiles to make a platform', while others may be 'stop this falling debris so you can use it as a target to reach a different path.' There's still dozens of routes that take advantage of this power that I haven't found! And that's just one of Shadow's various abilities, as the new Doom Powers give some extra variety to proceedings. Even something like the Doom Morph, which initially felt unwieldy and clumsy, fast becomes a brilliant speedrunning tool. Really, the only issue I have with how Shadow handles here is his weirdly harsh airbrake upon jumping - but even that can be solved by, for some reason, doing rapid Chaos Spears to preserve momentum. I have no idea if Sonic Team realised this was a thing you could do, but to me it harkens back to the kind of physics tomfoolery you could pull off in the Adventure titles, so I honestly kind of dig it. Bosses are never a strong suit for Sonic, to be honest - as Sonic Superstars only recently proved - so it's a testament to Shadow's success that even these encounters feel superb, with a good blend of intuitive design and excellent action sequences.
The game's story gives a melancholic tour through Shadow's troubled past. Gone is the fear of acknowledging the 'bad' Sonic games, or trying to pretend Shadow's 2005 outing wasn't a thing. The Black Arms are here, Mephiles is here - I'm shocked they didn't cram Infinite into this thing. It's done in a way that feels so confident, that even if you didn't like those games (I personally love Shadow 2005...), your feelings towards them won't cloud how you feel about the way Shadow Generations celebrates them. That's the best way I can describe this game; a celebration of Shadow, and to some extent one of Sonic's mid-2000s outings. It's great to have a Sonic title that's simply good without major caveats again - if it's got one big flaw, it's that the adventure's on the short side (though it's still about as long as the original Generations!). I know full well that development is probably well underway on 'Frontiers 2', but I sincerely hope it's not too late for them to factor this game into that equation. As I put it on Twitter, in a perfect world the next Sonic game would see the people behind this one given all the money in the Sonic piggy bank, because they clearly know how to make a Sonic game.
E.X. Troopers
I finally hacked my PS3 recently, and so I figured it was finally time to cross off the sole PS3 game on my 'Games to Beat' list for the year - Capcom's Japan-only E.X. Troopers, which only saw an English patch in very recent years.
E.X. Troopers is actually a spinoff to another Capcom series, and looking at it you'd struggle to guess which one. It's actually set in the Lost Planet universe, a series that I only know from the 10 minutes of it I played when my dad bought it for our shiny new Xbox 360 back in the day - and from one of the mechs showing up in Tatsunoko vs Capcom. The game follows Bren Turner, a lovably over-the-top, 'hot-blooded' protagonist who aims to be the 'brightest star'. After an action-packed battle sequence in space, you're flung into Advance Base, where you start combat training to tackle a variety of alien foes and space pirates inhabiting the planet. In some ways, the academy setting almost gives it a bit of a Persona vibe; and I'm aware saying that is very low-hanging fruit, but it's just what came to mind first. But this game excels at giving just about everyone you meet in the base a unique personality, including the 'not-obviously-a-main-character' NPCs you wouldn't think much of in other games of this type. Just about every character has some kind of arc or story across the course of the game, and it's fun checking in with them every now and then to see what the latest gossip is, or to pick up a sidequest for some extra goodies. Other side characters can also provide team-up missions, and forming bonds with them allows them to be used in the game's VR missions too.
The main combat missions take the form of a third person shooter, and an extremely satisfying one at that. You're equipped with a rocket pack that allows quick dashes or the ability to speed across the landscape, and you can combine this with gunfire to go sliding around like a Virtual-On mech. You can also combine it with melee attacks for some brutal uppercuts - these can then lead into juggles with your gunplay. It's all very fun to string together in the heat of battle. These movement options, while simple on paper, keep the game moving at a rapid pace. You can also use the dash as a dodge, and there's a perfect dodge mechanic that allows a powerful cancel attack, complete with anime-style cut-ins. And speaking of Virtual-On, there's also a healthy amount of mech battles to go around, and they feel excellent - they make for some awesome setpieces, even as soon as the game begins.
The game's visual style hasn't aged a day, even - dear god - 12 years later. The cel-shaded look and drawn faces do remind me a bit of the style that games like Mega Man Legends went for. In fact, there were rumours E.X. Troopers was put together from Legends 3's remains... although Capcom denied this, and it does seem to be hearsay to me at least. The artwork by Chisato Mita is perfect, and the character designs are superb. These are the kinds of characters you should be shoving in your crossovers, Capcom!
The story isn't exactly going to win awards for originality, but it's definitely pretty feel-good. That's owing largely to Bren himself, who is perhaps the most unrelentingly positive character I've seen in any video game ever. He's loud, he's proud, and he wants to be everyone's friend. It's just really refreshing to have a protagonist who's just... so damn happy. And the supporting cast are also wonderful, like the adorably dorky Luan, the mech-obsessed Julie, and the cold and calculating Chris - who I promise, you'll like by the end. The Instructors are also really entertaining, such as Walter's over-the-top rage at the smallest things and Diana's insistence on using the word "BOY" as much as possible.
On PS3 there's also online multiplayer, which I haven't been able to take advantage of. I did look up some footage though, and I've gotta say, it looks really fun! I'd love to give it a shot someday.
On the whole, it's sort of a crime that E.X. Troopers got passed up for localisation. It's a remarkably fun game that deserved a much bigger audience than it got; even with the English patch being a thing, PS3 emulation is still not particularly mainstream, nor are hacked systems, so it feels like this game is still just as under the radar as it was. There is arguably an easier way to play it, as somehow the game has a Nintendo 3DS port. But I can't imagine that'd be a totally comfortable way to experience it... I'd recommend the PS3 version, personally. Hopefully Capcom sees sense at some point and queues this up for a Steam port or something, because it's tragically overlooked.
E.X. Troopers is actually a spinoff to another Capcom series, and looking at it you'd struggle to guess which one. It's actually set in the Lost Planet universe, a series that I only know from the 10 minutes of it I played when my dad bought it for our shiny new Xbox 360 back in the day - and from one of the mechs showing up in Tatsunoko vs Capcom. The game follows Bren Turner, a lovably over-the-top, 'hot-blooded' protagonist who aims to be the 'brightest star'. After an action-packed battle sequence in space, you're flung into Advance Base, where you start combat training to tackle a variety of alien foes and space pirates inhabiting the planet. In some ways, the academy setting almost gives it a bit of a Persona vibe; and I'm aware saying that is very low-hanging fruit, but it's just what came to mind first. But this game excels at giving just about everyone you meet in the base a unique personality, including the 'not-obviously-a-main-character' NPCs you wouldn't think much of in other games of this type. Just about every character has some kind of arc or story across the course of the game, and it's fun checking in with them every now and then to see what the latest gossip is, or to pick up a sidequest for some extra goodies. Other side characters can also provide team-up missions, and forming bonds with them allows them to be used in the game's VR missions too.
The main combat missions take the form of a third person shooter, and an extremely satisfying one at that. You're equipped with a rocket pack that allows quick dashes or the ability to speed across the landscape, and you can combine this with gunfire to go sliding around like a Virtual-On mech. You can also combine it with melee attacks for some brutal uppercuts - these can then lead into juggles with your gunplay. It's all very fun to string together in the heat of battle. These movement options, while simple on paper, keep the game moving at a rapid pace. You can also use the dash as a dodge, and there's a perfect dodge mechanic that allows a powerful cancel attack, complete with anime-style cut-ins. And speaking of Virtual-On, there's also a healthy amount of mech battles to go around, and they feel excellent - they make for some awesome setpieces, even as soon as the game begins.
The game's visual style hasn't aged a day, even - dear god - 12 years later. The cel-shaded look and drawn faces do remind me a bit of the style that games like Mega Man Legends went for. In fact, there were rumours E.X. Troopers was put together from Legends 3's remains... although Capcom denied this, and it does seem to be hearsay to me at least. The artwork by Chisato Mita is perfect, and the character designs are superb. These are the kinds of characters you should be shoving in your crossovers, Capcom!
The story isn't exactly going to win awards for originality, but it's definitely pretty feel-good. That's owing largely to Bren himself, who is perhaps the most unrelentingly positive character I've seen in any video game ever. He's loud, he's proud, and he wants to be everyone's friend. It's just really refreshing to have a protagonist who's just... so damn happy. And the supporting cast are also wonderful, like the adorably dorky Luan, the mech-obsessed Julie, and the cold and calculating Chris - who I promise, you'll like by the end. The Instructors are also really entertaining, such as Walter's over-the-top rage at the smallest things and Diana's insistence on using the word "BOY" as much as possible.
On PS3 there's also online multiplayer, which I haven't been able to take advantage of. I did look up some footage though, and I've gotta say, it looks really fun! I'd love to give it a shot someday.
On the whole, it's sort of a crime that E.X. Troopers got passed up for localisation. It's a remarkably fun game that deserved a much bigger audience than it got; even with the English patch being a thing, PS3 emulation is still not particularly mainstream, nor are hacked systems, so it feels like this game is still just as under the radar as it was. There is arguably an easier way to play it, as somehow the game has a Nintendo 3DS port. But I can't imagine that'd be a totally comfortable way to experience it... I'd recommend the PS3 version, personally. Hopefully Capcom sees sense at some point and queues this up for a Steam port or something, because it's tragically overlooked.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Dead or Alive Dimensions provides the best fighting game I've played on a handheld, and even turns in a better result than its closest console contemporary, Dead or Alive 4. It's buttery smooth and plays incredibly well.
Victory Heat Rally is a loving tribute to Power Drift, one of my favourite games ever. I've not had a chance to finish it yet, but it's a blast. It is a shame that the Super Scaler-style billboarded track had to be removed before release, though.
Dangeresque: The Roomisode Triungulate? Only on the honourable mentions? Looks like I'm gonna have to juuuuump...!
Halo: Combat Evolved still holds up really well, and is a total blast in co-op. I'm excited to check out the rest of Chief's adventures!
Those sure were some games. Of the year. But not of this year, for the most part. Here's to playing more games next year! Lots of stuff I didn't get around to in 2024...