Gamernode: Features - 2006: The Best (And Worst)

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Best Game You'll Never Admit You Loved:
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata is certainly an acquired taste, as its strategic elements and kiddy exterior are not for everyone. While many will turn away after simply glancing at the game's case, those who do spend any time with Viva are likely to get sucked into the Pokemon-esque "Gotta catch 'em all" nature of attracting and mating piñatas. For parents, it works as the perfect game to play in front of your kids with its bright, cheery graphics. But beyond that, the game is just downright fun--even if it isn't the type of game you'll go showing off to your friends.
HM: LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

Best New Franchise:
Gears of War
Gears was undoubtedly one of the greatest games of the year, but beyond that, Epic has established a solid base for, well, an epic franchise. With likable characters, rock-solid gameplay, and thought-provoking hints at a complex backstory, it's only a matter of time until we see sequels, novels, action figures, and more. And who could complain--with a game this good, Gears deserves all of the attention it has, and will, get.
HM: Resistance: Fall of Man

Biggest Surprise:
Viva Piñata
While few in the jaded gaming press expected much from Rare's latest outing--Senior Editor Chris Pereira aside--Viva Piñata turned out to be a bona fide sleeper hit outside its target demographic. In spite of the kiddy packaging and Rare's recent less-than-stellar outings, Viva Piñata is a surprisingly good game. The underlying strategy gameplay creates an addicting, deep game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
HM: Saints Row

Game Most Deserving of a Sequel:
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Short, simple gameplay marred the promising Dreamfall: The Longest Journey earlier this year. Many players (and staffers here at GamerNode) were enraged by the shortness of the game and the plot holes presented in the story. But there was undeniable possibility within Dreamfall, and a sequel from Funcom is not only warranted, but deserved.
HM: Wii Sports

Best Story of the Year:
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Like any great adventure tale, the story behind Dreamfall is complex and compelling. Its holes and inconsistencies are readily admitted by Dreamfall's designer, Ragnar Tørnquist , who promises resolution in the story's second half. Even on the surface, a story about two parallel worlds is heady, and rich additions throughout the game only contribute to the powerful and mysterious tale.
HM: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Most Innovative Game of the Year:
Wii Sports
Sports games have been around for many years, but the barrier they faced by prospective players lied in the controls. As intuitive as control schemes may have gotten, they simply can't replicate the simplicity and preciseness found in actually swinging a tennis racket or baseball bat. Wii Sports takes advantage of the system's unique controller, and allow for anyone to simply pick up a Wiimote and begin playing--whether they're a gamer, athlete, or neither. Its this twist of simplicity and pick-up-and-play action that makes Wii Sports so enjoyable, accessible, and innovative.
HM: Dead Rising

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