Handheld Game of the Year
The PSP started the year with a bang, and then it quickly cooled off. The DS never really peaked, but a constant stream of gaming goodness flowed forth. Not really a banner year for either platform, but there were quite a few gems. Oh, and one game seems to have clobbered the rest into submission…
Gino D:
Best Handheld Game: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Runner’s Up: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Comments: If only they released the North American version this year, “Best Handheld Game” would have easily gone to Dissidia (which probably won’t be surprising to most of you QJ regular readers). GoW Chains is my vote for 2008 though, with Crisis Core and a very “opposite end of the spectrum” Professor Layton following right behind.
Isaac C:
Best Handheld Game: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Runner’s Up: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Comments: A DS game over Crisis Core?! Do I want to lose all my credibility as a gamer? Well I’m still playing Grimoire, and Crisis is gathering dust, so I’d say my money was better spent there. They’re both Squeenix anyway.
Mabie A:
Best Handheld Game: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Runner’s Up: Loco Roco 2
Comments: Ancient body paint’s never been this hot, thanks to the unbelievable graphics Ready at Dawn managed with God of War. Definitely a shining light in a year where PSP software’s struggling in quality population. Loco Roco 2 because a) they’re cute, b) it’s not just stupid, mindless fun, c) it makes time fly by so fast I quickly find myself having only two hours left for sleep before I drag myself back to the office. That’s when you know a game really is effective at dishing out the fun factor.
Karl B:
Best Handheld Game: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Runner’s Up: God of War: Chains of Olympus, Wild Arms XF
Comments: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Beautiful graphics, tight gameplay, and a story that still manages to elicit emotions even when you know damn well how it’s gonna end.
Seriously, the last battle (not the last boss fight) brought tears to my eyes.
God of War: Chains of Olympus – Graphically speaking, it’s kind of hard to believe that this is a PSP game. The tight control scheme adds to the enjoyment even though the enemies do get a bit repetitive at times. Hey Ready At Dawn, come back to PSP development please!
Wild Arms XF – This game got a lot of flak for a lot of things (story, sound, the way all your equips get wiped once you change job classes or when a party member leaves and then comes back), but for me, this game defined PSP strategy gaming in 2008. The hex-based system is a welcome addition and the different objectives instead of the usual “kill all enemies” is a godsend.
Glenn M:
Best Handheld Game: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Runner’s Up: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Comments: – The pieces of the story come together, and Crisis Core turns a tiny optional story scene in FF7 into a PSP classic.. people just had to get a PSP for this, if they were expecting it to come out on consoles.. it’d be worth buying a PSP just for this game..
– who can say no to kratos? He tops the 3rd person adventure game genre with his brutal hack-and-slash and bloodbaths.. this is the kind of game that you turn on in the day, then look up from your PSP utterly surprised that the sun has set..
Chris C:
Best Handheld Game: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Runner’s Up: Super Stardust HD, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Comments: Confession time, I never really liked the original God of War… it was alright. And then God of War II hooked me, easily one of the best games on the PS2. Would Chains of Olympus live up to it? Easily, Ready at Dawn pulled it off and made it look like an effortless task. It’s a shame their PSP development games are behind them, because they were the best in the biz.
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