🏆 🎮 Games Freezer - Games Of the Year - Part II - "Britt" 🎮 #GOTY21 #GOTY2021 #GameOfTheYear2021

Britt’s Games (and other things) of The Year

Much love to all the GF readers and my colleagues, all of whom have been awesome, as always.

The biggest hug, however, goes to Rich, the evil puppeteer that keeps all of our strings from getting tangled, as he laughs maniacally down at the twisted landscape that he has created in his own icy image.

I’m taking a slightly different approach to my games of the year this time around, throwing in a few mentions for things that aren’t strictly ‘games’ as such, but nonetheless were highlights of 2021 for me.

Whilst the list is in no particular order, it’s fair to say that if it were ‘best to worst – at the top would still be:

Tux and Fanny

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/09/tux-and-fanny-nintendo-switch-review.html

Available on PC and Switch, Ghost Time Games have created a title that completely won me over through great design, charm and a uniquely surreal sense of humour that somehow feels fun for all the family. The fact that this game hasn’t sold tens of thousands of copies is a blot on human history from which we as a race will never recover – but for those that do dive into this wonderful mixed-genre adventure, the only outcome can and will be joy, and the realisation that you have played one of the most original and well-crafted games of the last forty years. We are lucky to be able to get our hands on the creations of artists such as those behind Ghost Time Games, and I am burning to see what gold they come up with next. Tux and Fanny should be part of the national curriculum. Buy it – and then watch the movie.

Last Ninja 2 Vinyl Soundtrack

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/12/last-ninja-2-reformation-vinyl-review-i.html

This was a total surprise to me, Matt Gray very kindly sent a copy over to GF HQ and it didn’t leave my turntable for weeks. Even now, typing about it – I could happily slam my laptop shut, lean back in my chair, and let those layers of melodies wash over me once more. The updating of the score to a fuller, more robust production style was a touch of genius as it allows the full scope of the tracks to reveal themselves, whilst also keeping the original character of the songs intact. I’ve covered a lot of really great albums this year – but Last Ninja 2 captured my imagination in a way that I hadn’t expected, and every time I drop the needle on it, I have to karate chop my trousers off first.

There are very few copies of this left on the site, so if this tickles your fancy (and it should) act FAST. https://6581records.com/products/reformation-last-ninja-2-double-picture-disc-vinyl-downloads-matt-gray

Creaks Game / Artbook / Vinyl

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/06/creaks-review-xbox-series-x-910.html

When I first reviewed Amanita Design’s Creaks, I was really drawn to the presentations – both audio and visual – and how it was tied to wonderfully balanced and yet simplistic gameplay mechanics. Then I watched a YouTube documentary of Hidden Orchestra (Joe Acheson, the man behind the music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67S-rAyku3U), which captured how the music was created, then I fell in love with the vinyl release (https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/08/creaks-soundtrack-on-vinyl-vinyl-vgm.html)and THEN – I covered the artbook, which dived oh-so deeply into those visuals that I loved so much(https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/12/art-of-creaks-book-review-amanitadesign.html).

The culmination of all these things is an absolute celebration of a game that took almost a decade to fully realise. The symbiotic relationship between the art, music and gameplay is so well-captured in the accompanying vinyl release and artbook that they just felt like a perfect trinity – it also helps that I’ve spoken to at least four members of Amanita Design over the last year both professionally and in casual chats on social media and they are all wonderfully humble and gracious people – and that just make me love their creations even more. Although I haven’t covered it yet when Happy Game was released to much applause it made my day, as Amanita Designs definitely deserve all the attention and awards that head their way.

Demons of Asteborg / Intrepid Izzy

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/09/demons-of-asteborg-sega-mega-drive.html

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/07/intrepid-izzy-dreamcast-review-910-im.html

I wanted to have a small section of my GOTY that focused on classic consoles. Demons of Asteborg was a game that I followed for months during development and was lucky enough to get a press copy for review. As the Mega Drive is my favourite system in terms of the 16-bit era, I’m very familiar with the limitations and strengths of it. Playing Demons of Asteborg however, blew the doors of possibility wide open. It’s such a fluid and smooth experience with punchy design and mechanics that, if released back in 1995 would very easily have rounded off a lot of publications’ GOTY – in 2021? It’s still a GOTY for us here at GF! An absolute MUST if you are a fan of the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis.

Senile Team’s Intrepid Izzy was sent to me by the publisher for the game, Wave Studios – a company that have since  literally travelled the entire UK spreading the word of the Dreamcast’s newest 2D platforming gem. And what a gem it is, there’s a sense of vibrancy, fun and challenge that really pulls you into the world Senile Team have created. If you own a Dreamcast, there’s no reason you shouldn’t also own a copy of Intrepid Izzy,  In our archives you’ll find an interview with Senile Team and we also have an upcoming interview with Wave Studios, people who I have kept in contact with over the months – and it’s been nothing but an absolute pleasure to see the joy that Intrepid Izzy has introduced to the lives of gamers.

Pecaminosa Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdYT847Vkw

The Amiga-esque Pecaminosa was released a few months ago on the Switch and, whilst I adored the mood and first half of the game (I felt like the back half lost its way, somewhat in terms of gameplay focus) - it was the music that stuck in my mind. A few weeks after the release, I caught wind of a live performance of the smooth jazz soundtrack and picked up a bottle of ‘Mack Daniels’ to mark the occasion. What followed was a solid hour of shining gold. I still watch the concert at least once a month and I never tire of it. I’d like to see a Pecaminosa 2…but I’d really love to see the soundtrack released on vinyl.

Mechwarrior 5

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/07/mechwarrior-5-mercenaries-xbox-series-x.html

A bit of an odd one this, as I believe I originally scored Mechwarrior 5 a respectable 7.5/10. 

Whilst I enjoyed my initial time with the game, it felt somewhat repetitive and the planets were lifeless, so I marked it accordingly and moved on to the next game for review.

…except, I didn’t, did I?

I kept on coming back to Mechwarrior 5 for about two months, smashing into a few missions a day, souping up my mechs and making my way across the star system.

Whilst it may not be a game that will stand the tests of time, it’s certainly a game that has had a measurable impact on my gaming of 2021, a solid and wonderfully heavy and clunky entry on this list. Mech combat has never been so satisfying.

Bitmap Books JRPG

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/10/bitmap-books-guide-to-japanese-role.html

Again, I’ve covered a fair amount of books this year – but Bitmap Books’ A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games really stood out as a definitive and engaging text on the subject matter at hand. I found myself casually leafing through it and finding out titbits of info from games I didn’t even know had existed, all though the medium of tightly written and edited text. A beautifully presented tome, this book is an educational and entertaining artefact that yearns to grace your shelves – I assure you, it’ll never get dusty - because you’ll always be cracking it open, absorbing more JRPG gold into your turn-based brain.

Mundaun

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/search/label/Mundaun

Mundaun really snuck up on me. The quiet stillness and striking visual style kept me on edge and sucked me into my favourite horror experience of the year. A slow-burning and yet rich tale that cleverly introduces various, unobtrusive mechanics and sticks to its guns until the end, Mundaun made a memorable and lasting impact on my 2021. I’m very intrigued as to what Hidden Fields will come up with next.

Anodyne 2

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/03/anodyne-2-return-to-dust-review-xbox.html

What a game Anodyne 2 is! The lo-fi visuals; cohesive, dreamlike narrative and beautiful soundtrack all combine to create a game that really immerses you in its world. Much like Mundaun, this felt very much like a creation of passion from a small group of individuals where nothing is compromised as you make your way through the tale. I couldn’t get enough of this one and played through in a couple of gaming sessions. I’ve seen a few comments from people bemoaning the lack of games with PS1 era graphics…look no further than Anodyne 2, Analgesic Productions 4eva.

Aground

https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/02/aground-review-revisited-xbox-series-x.html

I’ve already written two full articles on Aground – so I’ll just say, it’s the first GF game to get our maximum score of 10/10.

I recommend that you play it.

It’s good, it is.