PixlBit

2014 was a great year for me, and a great year for gaming. Lots of great games! Daftman suggested to me that I make a list of games to beat for the year, so that's what I did. Actually, I made two lists: one for games I beat, and another for games I bought. I won't bore you by telling you the 73 games I bought last year; many of them were old games 'cause I love old games and used many of those for Retro Game of the Week. Some were fairly recent and just a few of them were new. Anyways, I beat 24 games in 2014, easily the most games I've ever finished in a year. They were all good games, worthy of being finished. Here they are, in the order in which I beat them.

January

None. Not a good start to the year.

February

Rayman 2: The Great Escape (N64)

This is a great 3D platformer for the N64. It's very creative, many of the levels introducing new things so the game always stays fresh. The final boss is really frustrating, but besides that, awesome game. It seems like Rayman is done with 3D games for now, his last two games being 2D platformers, but maybe we'll see him in one again soon.

March

Shinobi (3DS)

The old Shinobi games are awesome, but very hard. This game was challenging, but beatable. It certainly had its share of frustrating moments, but overall it was great. Shinobi could do a lot, like use his sword, throw shuriken, use ninpo, wall-jump, and look really stylish while doing it all. This game felt like a retro throwback while still feeling modern.

April

Final Fantasy III (SNES)

I finally got to completely play through and finish my favorite RPG ever! FF6 is nothing short of a masterpiece. The characters, the story, the music, the gameplay, it all comes together perfectly. The final boss fight was so intense and nerve-wracking for me, when I beat it, I felt truly satisfied, like I had actually saved the world. FF6 holds up very well after all these years.

Mighty Switch Force (3DS)

This downloadable WayForward game is so full of charm and personality. Its simple mechanic of switching the red and blue platforms at the press of a button is fun and addicting. The bite-sized levels are perfect, being challenging yet never becoming frustrating. Had a lot of fun with this one. You can be sure that anything WayForward does is gonna be good. They just get it.

Wario Land II (3DS VC)

This Wario-centered game is so creative and clever. Wario cannot be killed; anything bad that happens to him will transform him, such as fire, giant mallet, zombies, and then he can use that form to get past a puzzle. Instead of getting hurt, he'll lose money (what's worse?). When fighting a boss, Wario can be kicked out of the room, forcing you to start the fight over. Creative, funny, and fun, WL2 is pretty sweet.

Star Fox 64 (N64)

I've been wanting to play through this one for a while now; I've played it many times, but never finished it. Wow! SF64 is probably the greatest on-rails shooter ever. The ship movements and levels are crafted perfectly. Of course, you can't say you've beaten this one if you didn't get the real ending. This can be challenging, but I did it. Following your "dad" out of the exploding base is such a memorable moment. Loved this game. Not a hard game, but a very good one.

Castlevania Rondo of Blood (Wii VC)

I love classic Castlevania games, so I really fell in love with this one. It's a gorgeous game, boasting colorful graphics and details in the spritework. The music is amazing too. It wasn't an easy game, but with a little persistence I was able to beat it. Exciting to the very end!

May

Castlevania Symphony of the Night (PS1)

The first Castlevania game to truly change things up, Symphony is a brilliant game. It's Super Metroid in a giant creepy castle. The music and details brought everything to life, and exploring the castle was tons of fun. I can see why this is the best Castlevania game: it nails everything it sets out to accomplish.

June

Blue's Journey (Wii VC)

I enjoyed this quirky platformer for the Neo Geo. Yes, a platformer on a system filled with fighting games, which was refreshing. It's pretty simple and a very easy game, but fun. The graphics, while small, were very colorful, and the whole game was bursting with charm.

Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes of Light (DS)

It took me some time to get into this game, but once I got into the groove I was hooked! I really enjoyed this overlooked oldschool FF game, which is the precursor to the much-loved Bravely Default. The battle system was unique, the characters were fine, the story was sorta interesting, and the music was great. I had to beat it, and the final boss is no push-over. Great game!

Phoenix Wright 5 Special Episode DLC (3DS)

Technically, this isn't a game, but I had to include it because I love Phoenix Wright games. In this DLC episode, you have to defend a killer whale. It's as outrageous as it sounds. Once again, the characters and story are fantastic all the way to the end. This is certainly worth a few bucks.

July

Gunman Clive (3DS eShop)

This game was like 2 bucks, so I thought I'd try it out. Wow. Simple yet profound, GC is a very cool take on the run 'n gun genre. It's not a hard game, but its clever mechanics and creative level design can certainly give you a challenge. Even the art style is unique. Really enjoyed this cowboy.

August

Cubic Ninja (3DS)

This Ubisoft game is all about tilting your 3DS system to get your ninja to the exit. At first I thought, "Great, the whole game is a gimmick," but I quickly found myself enthralled with each level. As you progress, you get new ninjas to use, each one having unique abilities. Some levels are insane, and the bosses are great, making it to the end is very satisfying. Fun game. This is a good ninja game, which makes me really happy.

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

This is a brilliant game. I think it has the best use of the 3D (I couldn't turn off the 3D). The levels are designed with 3D in mind, meaning the game is like a fun ride. I loved the Bowser fights! The last one especially was so fun. Very easy game, but very fun, and what's more important? Loved this one all the way through.

September

Pulseman (Wii VC)

This nearly-forgotten Genesis game was developed by Game Freak, the people behind Pokemon. Pulseman is an awesome game. It's all about utilizing Pulseman's powers of electricity, and this is implemented in creative ways all the way to the end. Pulseman travels to different parts of the world to take care of "disturbances." Very fun and creative. Game Freak needs to make more non-Pokemon games like this one.

Final Fantasy IX (PS1)

When I started this game, I didn't intend on finishing it. It's a 4-disc game! But right away the characters grew on me; the cast is sooooo lovable! The story was also intriguing. Then I finished the first disc. Already? And the second one! Then I realized, I have to beat this game! I want to beat it! So I stuck it out, and I'm glad I did. FF9 is a love letter to the oldschool FF games, like FF4 and 6. Everything comes together to deliver a fantastic game that is balanced and enjoyable. The final boss was really tough, though. I must have fought him atleast 10 times befoer I beat him, but the ending was worth it. Like FF6, this game is satisfying when you finish it. Beating a 4-disc game is certainly an accomplishment.

October

Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS)

I was really anticipating this game, and it did not disappoint. I've never played a Layton game, but I love the Phoenix Wright games. In this crossover game, they combine Layton's puzzles with Wright's courtroom drama. They did a good job combining them, playing puzzles in one chapter and courtroom stuff in another chapter. The characters are great, but what shines the most is the story. The story is very different and mysterious, and the ending is shocking and awesome! Really enjoyed this one.

Super Smash Bros. (3DS)

Playing Smash Bros. on a handheld is awesome! It's the perfect game for pick-up-and-play sessions. The 3DS buttons work very well here, and the characters and stages are great. Playing online was fun and intense. I consider a game like this "beaten" when I've unlocked all the characters and stages. But after that, there's still a lot to do. As great as this game was, though, it was vastly overshadowed by its Wii U sibling.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Wii VC)

This was my favorite of the original Sonic games. Level design was great, music was fantastic, and you could even save your game! Knuckles makes his debut in S3 and is a pretty cool guy. Classic gaming right here, which certainly makes me smile.

Sonic Colors (Wii)

I'm glad I was able to play this one. 3D Sonic games are really mixed, but Sonic Colors may be the best 3D Sonic game in the last ten years. The camera will seamlessly change from 3D to 2D perspective, and the gameplay is fast and fun. It's not a hard game, nor is it a long one, but it sure is a fun ride.

November

Shovel Knight (3DS eShop)

This is an amazing indie game which perfectly captures the essence of pure NES gaming. When I started it, I was enthralled, and couldn't put it down. The world map, the levels, the power-ups, the bosses, the music! It's all so great! Shovel Knight got the Indie Game of the Year award at the Video Game Awards, and it rightly deserved it.

December

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)

Several years ago I started this game, but never finished it. So I thought I'd try it again. This time I stuck it out, and MP3 is a fantastic FPS sci-fi adventure. They really integrated the Wii controls well, having you turn the remote to pull out stuff or type in codes. But the controls are best because they're perfect for a FPS! The different visors and power-ups were awesome; seriously, I think Samus gets the coolest power-ups of any game character. Really enjoyed exploring this world and finishing off Dark Samus.

Magical Drop 3 (Wii VC)

Got this game for Retro Game of the Week, not sure if it would be any good, then fell in love with it. This strange puzzle game is addicting, challenging, and fun, which are good qualities for any puzzle game. The characters were cute, but the gameplay really shines. The final battle was tough, but I couldn't stop playing! I was totally addicted, and that addiction finally won for me in the end. Fun one.

Super Smash Bros. (Wii U)

I bought a Wii U in late November just so I could play this game. SSB for Wii U is probably the best Smash Bros. yet (better than Melee), with tons of content and awesome new modes. I love everything about this game! 8-player smash alone is a great addition, but I also like Smash Tour and the new way which Classic Mode works. Playing online is really fun and the HD graphics are also incredible. This is the reason to buy a Wii U!