The Games You Missed In 2006

It’s no real secret; “game of the year” lists are at least partially popularity contests. There are always several great titles that get passed up because nobody played them. Well, this list is our little celebration for the games that just didn’t get enough attention this past year, the games that just didn’t get invited to the GotY show.

Yggdra Union
System: Game Boy Advance

This year may have seen two new consoles, but it truly was the year of the handheld. Both the DS and GBA had a slew of incredible titles. Unfortunately, this little gem was doomed from the start. It was an Atlus release on a dying system. Yggdra Union plays like a combination of Fire Emblem and Baiten Kaitos, and the end result is a rare kind of gooey gaming goodness. Like Sting’s previous offering, Riviera, Yggdra Union has some impressive production values. The 2D art is gorgeous and the music is sublime. The voice acting isn’t even bad, considering that it’s on a handheld. If you like strategy titles and appreciate a bit of a challenge, go grab Yggdra Union before it disappears.

Sam & Max: Season 1
System: PC

People have claimed that the PC Adventure genre has been dead for years. I take a moment every day to thank the gods for not telling that to Telltale Games. The new episodic Sam & Max series is absolutely fantastic. This is the funniest series out there, no question about it. I spent a ridiculous amount of time clicking on every object just to see what the dynamic duo would say about it. If you appreciate good comedy and have fond memories of the golden age of “point and click” gaming, you owe it to yourself to subscribe for the whole season.

4cr Review – Sam & Max: Culture Shock
4cr Review – Sam & Max: Situation Comedy

Bookworm Adventures
System: PC

I imagine that most people will take one look at this title and scoff. A Scrabble RPG? What the hell? However, a few of us will take a look at this and think that it is the greatest thing ever. I’m in that second camp. Download the free demo and play though it. When you come back, I bet you’ll want the full copy. There isn’t a multiplayer mode, but this is still a great game to bust out when people are over. Seriously, what other game will let you kill a Hydra with the word “decapitate?”

Contact
System: Nintendo DS

This game gets my pick for best localization of the year. Atlus did a fantastic job with this quirky Action RPG from the designer of Killer 7. Contact is the beautiful love child of Earthbound and Star Tropics. As our lovely mute protagonist, Terry, you travel the world helping the enigmatic Professor gather power cells for his ship. While the gameplay is fairly standard ARPG fare, the writing really makes this a game worth owning. Check it out if you like fairly quirky games, especially the two “parent” titles.

Elite Beat Agents
System: Nintendo DS

Elite Beat Agents is in a bit of an interesting place here. If you are reading this article, you know exactly what this game is and why it is awesome. However, the mainstream has completely ignored this game. For those not in the know, Elite Beat Agents is the pseudosequel to the Japan-only rhythm game Ouendan. In each mission, you will help the helpless with the power of music. Think of it as Blues Brothers ““ the game. At first glance, the tracklist will make you groan, but each and every song works well with its associated mission. One word of advice ““ pick up some screen protectors. You will abuse that poor touchscreen.

4cr Review – Elite Beat Agents

Orbital
System: Game Boy Advance

All of the stylish Bit Generations titles are worth your time and cash, but Orbital is my personal favorite. The gameplay is sort of like Katamari Damacy in space. You gather up moons, stars, and planets while increasing the mass of your little celestial body, all while watching out for asteroids and other obstacles. The catch? You can only move using the force of gravity. You pull yourself towards and push yourself away from the gravity fields of other interstellar bodies. It is a bit more challenging than it sounds, but the game is a blast to play. The entire game is in English, so there’s no reason to avoid Orbital.

Impressions on Orbital

Mother 3
System: Game Boy Advance

The latest entry in the fan-favorite Mother series is the best yet. If you want a quirky, post-modern RPG, this is just the game for you. The battle system has even been freshened up with a new rhythm-based attack system. Unfortunately, it looks like this one isn’t making it to other territories. Unless you are fluent in Japanese, you aren’t going to get much out of Mother 3. A couple of fan-translation projects are underway, so our prayers for an English version may be answered soon.

Rhythm Tengoku
System: Game Boy Advance

Rhythm Tengoku is the newest hit from the Wario Ware team. Like the well-known “microgame” series, Tengoku is composed of short minigames. All of the games in this collection are based on rhythm, and they are all a blast. Why Nintendo isn’t bringing this one to America is completely beyond me. If you are a fan of Wario Ware or music games, go ahead and import this. The game is in Japanese, but it is fairly easy to figure everything out.

Impressions on Rhythm Tengoku

Which of these have you played? Will you try any of these titles out after reading this article? What games should have made the cut? Let us know in the comments below.