*This post is part opinion, part rant. These are my honest thoughts on 2014.
こんにちはみんなさん!
2014 has come and past. While I would love to say that another great year of gaming has gone by, I would be lying. 2014, to me, was a year of many disappointments in the gaming industry. I refer to it as the year of disappointments and delays. Many big games fell short of what they were promised to be. This, along with multiple game delays, slowed down the true start of next-gen. As a Nintendo fan, I’m pleased with how this year turned out. It all started with the release of Mario Kart 8 in May. Their success snowballed into a strong E3 showing, and that lead to hype over their future releases. Constant Super Smash Bros. news kept the hype up, and it kept Nintendo in the conversation in the gaming world. Even now, Nintendo is still in the conversation over amiibos, as the Nintendo faithful scramble to pick up these figures. Sony and Microsoft and their various ups and downs as well. Let me give a basic rundown of my thoughts of 2014:
- Most Hyped Up Games of 2014 Disappoint
After E3 2013, there were a couple of clear winners from the show. Titanfall, Watch Dogs, and Destiny were the juggernauts that emerged. Titanfall in particular had the distinction of winning the most E3 awards than any other game. Watch Dogs has been wowing people every since it’s reveal at E3 2012. Destiny was the result of Bungie’s longtime project that they’ve always wanted to make. All throughout 2013, you probably heard nothing but the hype for these games and deservingly so. These games were promised to bring in the next generation of consoles with a bang. All of these games were set to showcase what it meant for a game to be next-gen. However, when they released, they were met with lukewarm reception by the majority of the people who purchased them. Each one was written off as a disappointment for not living up to the hype that had been built around them. For the most part, these games seem to have faded from the minds of most gamers. However, I’m not saying that these games were bad. It’s hardly the fault of the developers if a game gets hyped up by the general population. I think it’s time for gaming media, as well as general gamers, to stop hyping up games so much without sufficient evidence to back up if it will be really good or not at release.
- Ubisoft (and other) Launch Issues
Ubisoft did not have a very good year in terms of keeping up their good name with gamers. Four Ubisoft games launched this year with issues right out of the gate (Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, The Crew). That is wholly unacceptable. I’ve always believed in the philosophy that good games take time to make. Delays to me are frustrating, but the delay should make the end product better. So when three of the four aforementioned games were delayed and still ended up being broken on day one, I just said to myself: “What is Ubisoft doing?” It’s not just Ubisoft though. Microsoft saw issues with Halo: Master Chief Collection having issues when the game first came out. EA ended up having server issues with Titanfall on day one. I just want to say this: If a game isn’t done, then don’t release it. Holiday launch window or not, gamers will be happy with a game working right away than having to wait over a month for a game to be fixed (looking at you AC Unity).
- One Does Not Simply Release a Highly Anticipated Game in 2014
2014 saw disappointments, and it also saw delays. Highly anticipated games that were supposed to launch in 2014 like Evolve, Battlefield: Hardline, Dying Light, Batman: Arkham Knight, The Order: 1886, and the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were delayed to 2015. All of these games were poised to show off their muscles in the holiday season, but one by one, they were all pushed back to various times in 2015. I realize I just mentioned that I would prefer it if games were pushed back if they’re not ready. I still stick to that statement. However, another tip from me to game developers would be to hold off on giving a game a release date at all if nothing’s ready. I know it’s a developer’s way of letting the general public know when a game is anticipated to be released and it prevents the team from slacking off too much. While I usually would not complain too much about a game being pushed back, it’s the pushback of a number of anticipated games that got me on this topic.
- You Get a Remake and You Get a Remake, Everyone Gets a Remake!
One of the trends that began at the turn of the decade was making HD remakes of games that came out in the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube era. These games, for the most part, were the same exact game released all those years ago just with HD visuals. I thought maybe we would see that trend end now that we’ve only gone from 720p HD to 1080p HD. I guess I was wrong on that count. Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, The Last of Us Remastered, and Grand Theft Auto V for PS4/Xbox One. There were a few games that even thought they were remakes, they changed some parts. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles was released with the previously unreleased Japanese PS2 version. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 made massive changes to the gameplay from the original game to reflect the more recent games. Even looking ahead to next year, the remakes don’t stop here. Final Fantasy X/X-2 is getting another HD remaster on PS4, Hyperdimension Re;Birth2 starts off the year later this month, Majora’s Mask 3D hits in Spring, and Saints Row IV is getting a re-release on next-gen consoles. I don’t think we’re ever going to stop seeing re-released games as long as people continue to buy them. While it is nice for nostalgia, sometimes it’s annoying to see companies rehashing the same game they released five years ago instead of making something new.
- The Ups and Downs of Sony
The Playstation 4 exploded out of the gate in November of 2013, and its forward momentum continued for the vast majority of this past year. Passing the Wii U within a month, the PS4 has shown no sign of stopping. Sales for the PS4 will likely only increase moving forward as more big hitters for the console release this year like The Order: 1886, Bloodborne, and Uncharted 4. I know I am now officially in the mood to buy a PS4 with the oncoming rush of games I’m interested in on the platform. I am heading to Japan in May, so my purchase of one will be delayed but I resolve to get one by the end of this year at the very least.
However, not everything has gone well for Sony. The Playstation Vita’s struggles continue and it is clear at this point that Western developers are no longer interested in the platform. Even Sony seems to have given up on the console, by only releasing one self-published title for the system this year (Freedom Wars). The Vita is currently being held up by third-party Japanese publishers who are doing their best to keep the console afloat in North America. The Vita did see some good releases this year in the aforementioned Freedom Wars, Danganronpa and its sequel, Tales of Hearts R, and my fanboy series Hyperdimension Neptunia, saw two games release on the platform this year. If you’re into Japanese games, there’s no question the Vita can soothe your craving. However, it is disappointing people who were looking to play their shooters or other such games on the go. Looking to next year, the JRPGs are continuing to flow. The first three games to grace the console this year are three RPGs: Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2, Criminal Girls, and Hyperdevotion Noire, a spin-off game in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series. Hyperdimension Neptunia Action Unleashed will also show up on the console in the spring, making it the fifth Hyperdimension Neptunia title to be released on the system in less than a year. The Playstation TV has also flopped completely, and I saw the device go on sale only a month after release. The PS TV went down to $60 on Boxing Day despite only being released two months earlier for $100.
- Xbox One Sale Issues
After E3 2013, the winner of the gamer’s hearts was obvious. It certainly wasn’t Microsoft. After a total public relations nightmare during the convention, Microsoft dropped its controversial policies on the Xbox One. However, the damage had already been done. PS4s continued to fly off the shelves while the Xbox One sat on shelves for months. Internationally, especially in Japan, the Xbox One had, and still is, having a miserable time as it only sold 23,000 units in the first week, being outsold by the 3DS by a few hundred units. Microsoft was forced to drop the Kinect from the Xbox One as a requirement (which dropped the price $100), an additional price drop of $50, and the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, in order to move units at a rapid pace. Only passing the Wii U in worldwide sales in November (which was the Xbox One’s only month surpassing the PS4 in units sold), the Xbox One has finally found its footing after a very rocky start. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has reaffirmed that Microsoft is still about video games and the amount of exclusive games still outnumbers the PS4 at this point. The Xbox One sees Quantum Break, Crackdown 3, as well as the juggernaut Halo 5: Guardians release in 2015, so forward momentum for the Xbox One should keep moving forward.
- Nintendo’s Return to the Spotlight
The Wii U was a sad sack of a console going into 2014. With the only games of real note that weren’t remakes being Pikmin 3 and Super Mario 3D World going into 2014 despite being out for a full year, it seemed the Wii U was already finished. However, in May, Nintendo saw their fortunes reversed. Mario Kart 8 led the charge for the Wii U’s start to the year. Selling over 1 million units in one weekend is a big feat for a console that had sold only 5 million units before Mario Kart 8 released. Mario Kart 8 sales are approaching the 3.5 million mark, which means it’s close to a 2:1 console to game ratio. A Wii U bundle containing Mario Kart 8 saw sales of the Wii U spike sharply in May. A very strong E3 performance followed in June which saw Nintendo drop bombshell after bombshell. A new IP (Splatoon), Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U, the return of Starfox, and the reveal of the first true Zelda game for the Wii U sent shockwaves throughout the gaming world. for the first time in years, all eyes were on Nintendo. Nintendo followed up their “press conference” with live gameplay for the vast majority of the games they revealed, as well as the first tournament for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo had the strongest E3 showing in years and gamers finally took notice of the company once again.
The last quarter of 2014 will probably see Nintendo return to profit, given the extremely strong sales of their holiday season games. Hyrule Warriors sold more than anticipated, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS sold over 1 million on the first weekend, Pokemon Omega Ruby/Pokemon Alpha Sapphire saw strong sales once again, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U cracked 500,000 the first weekend. This is not even accounting for the latest phenomenon to grip the Nintendo faithful: amiibos. Amiibos are figures that can be used to give various games more content. It’s basically DLC for multiple games in the form of a physical figure. I was initially skeptical of how well amiibos would do given how vague Nintendo was with explaining how they work. However, I no longer have any doubts. Nintendo has successfully caused Nintendo fans like me into a frenzy of buying every single one. Nintendo has limited the availability of some amiibos like Marth, Villager, Pit, etc. The rarity of some of these amiibos has now caused many of us to hit the panic button and scoop up every amiibo for fear of never being able to find it again. The pre-orders for Wave 3 amiibos, which launch in February, has reached a ridiculous number since Nintendo fans don’t know which ones will be limited or not. I have always maintained that Nintendo has the most loyal fanbase out of any company, and I believe this level of craziness over these figures of Nintendo characters we love has proved this point.
Sales for the 3DS remain at steady high numbers, and sales for the Wii U has drastically increased. Wii U sales are now sitting at over 7 million units sold. The Wii U has a very promising library this year with games like Splatoon, Yoshi’s Woolly World, Starfox, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and the next Zelda game all being set for release this year. As of right now all is quiet for the 3DS, but the release of the highly anticipated Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D is on the horizon, and Code Name S.T.E.A.M is going to test the waters as a new IP from Nintendo. The “New” Nintendo 3DS is very likely to launch in the West this year as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that console does. It’s performed well so far in Japan, but only time will tell if it will be as accepted here in the West.
- Mass Niche Japanese Game Localization Continues
I think 2013 and 2014 saw more Japanese games release than all of 2006-2012 combined. I’m not talking about big series names. I’m talking Japanese games that only those who do their hard gaming research know about. I picked up my Vita in late 2013, before the rush of Japanese Vita games really got started. I thought to myself: I’m going to need a Japanese account so I can download/buy all of the Japanese games that aren’t going to be localized here. Boy, was I wrong. Looking at the release of games like Conception II, Monster Monpiece, Akiba’s Trip, Senran Kagura, and Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, got me thinking about why I got a Japanese account in the first place. I didn’t need one; the publishers are releasing all these niche Japanese games en masse! The PS3 was also the recipient of these games as well. I never thought we would see games like Aquapazza, Fairy Fencer F, and Tales to Tiara II, release here. Looking at the games that are releasing next year like two more Hyperdimension Neptunia games on Vita, J-Stars, Criminal Girls, and Omega Quintet has me singing a happy tune as I see the Japanese game market continuing to expand after a long hiatus.
Well, that about wraps up everything that’s off the top of my head about the year. Look forward to my usual Game of the Year Awards and for the first time, my (Slice of Life) Anime of the Year Awards!
また後で!