The obligatory Game of the Year 2009 thread

[Eusis]

It'll be even BETTER though if both DQs hit and Strange Journey is as awesome as they say. Hell, it's off to a good start with Sands of Destruction (well, maybe) and Glory of Heracles.

[Ryos]

The DS looks like it is going to have a really good year for RPGs.

Just like 2009. And 2008. And 2007.

Commence the whining of people who refuse to get portable systems.

[Dincrest]

PSP's looking good too- Valkyria Chronicles 2, Hexyz Force, Mimana (okay that's supposedly a cliche game, but it's original and not a port/remake), Lunar...

Again, 2010 is looking to be a killer year for gaming across the board. 

Considering how long it's been in development and all the delays, Alpha Protocol could go either way: contender or disappointment.  I hope that game is good.

[Robert Boyd]

After trying the Lunar demo, I'm not too excited about the game. It's changed just enough to throw off my nostalgia, but not enough for it to become a significantly better game. Moreover, the loading is annoying (stopping the music every time you change screens) & they got rid of the world map.

But overall, I do agree that 2010 looks like a strong year for RPGs. The DS & PSP both should have strong lineups & the HD consoles are getting Final Fantasy 13, Mass Effect 2, and Alpha Protocol, all of which should rock.

[Ryos]

Moreover, the loading is annoying (stopping the music every time you change screens)

Do they give you the install option in the Lunar demo?

[Hoshino_Kid]

2010 will basically have loads of RPGs, not just the DS but the HD consoles too.

[Gen Eric Gui]

Moreover, the loading is annoying (stopping the music every time you change screens)

Do they give you the install option in the Lunar demo?

...The demo is a download, if I'm not mistaken.  You can't -not- install it.

[Ryos]

Moreover, the loading is annoying (stopping the music every time you change screens)

Do they give you the install option in the Lunar demo?

...The demo is a download, if I'm not mistaken.  You can't -not- install it.

My apologies, I meant an install option designed to provide a smoother playing experience like with Dissidia or Mana Khemia (in theory).  Based on what I see here, I may have to cancel my preorder based on some comments elsewhere, but I'll have to take a look. :\

[Robert Boyd]

It's not so much that the load times are really long (they aren't), but just that the music fades out every time you hit one. Exploring a town and having the music cut out every time you enter or exit a building is highly annoying when the music is as good as it is in a Lunar game.

Maybe the full game will change my opinion, but it seems like a fairly weak remake all in all. Whereas with Persona, I would have no hesitation recommending it at full price over a theoretical $10 PS1 classic port since the remake is a lot better than the original, with Lunar, I'd much rather just be able to buy the original game and sequel on the PSN.

[Ryos]

It's not so much that the load times are really long (they aren't), but just that the music fades out every time you hit one. Exploring a town and having the music cut out every time you enter or exit a building is highly annoying when the music is as good as it is in a Lunar game.

Well, at least they took out the BS enemy leveling crap of the PSX remake (judging mostly by comments of how easy the import was, given that the demo just lets you steamroll enemies, which you could do in the PSX remake other than a select few bosses).  That alone makes this a lot more like the original, just without sheer one man army overpoweredness of the main character and with the shoddily ported PSX movies.  I'm also not a big fan of some of the new voices.  It's certainly not like WD's actors were the pinnacle of the crop (they REALLY weren't even back then, though Truitt brought an interesting sort of interpretation), but some of these new ones are pretty godawful, judging by the XSeed clips.  The hell happened to Nash and Nall?!?  Regardless, I'm now back on being tentatively optimistic for this game, even though like you I'm just not getting that good of a vibe from this as I did with the Persona remake.

[Dincrest]

Okay, they can't all be winners.  Someone has to "fail" and be disappointment of the year, right?  

EDIT: aside- for style points alone, Resonance of Fate piqued my interest. 

[Ryos]

Growlanser has a lock on that category if Atlus doesn't bring it over, which is getting more and more likely. :P

[Eusis]

My apologies, I meant an install option designed to provide a smoother playing experience like with Dissidia or Mana Khemia (in theory).

That, and other games with the install feature, grey it out if running off a memory stick.