- Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – GAME OF THE YEAR!
Our game of the year might be a bit of a shocker to critics and gamers, but it really isn’t at That Nerd Show. We’re talking about Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. It may not be a perfect game they may feel more like a Tomb Raider game with a lightsaber, but it’s not like we don’t like Tomb Raider games around here. And for all the complaints that we’ve had with EA not producing a good Star Wars game over the last few years yes, congratulations, you finally did it. Now the Battlefront 2 campaign was fine, especially how it tied into the new trilogy, Jedi Fallen Order far exceeded our expectations with a brand new original storyline that’s not about Luke Skywalker’s journey to be a Jedi Knight, this game offered us something that we have been longing for with Star Wars games, fantastic original content and while we will probably never get anything as good as the Knights of the Old Republic, this is certainly a good start. The graphics were very stylish and made it feel like you were watching a great Star Wars movie, plus the story is very much in the vein of the hero’s path for a Jedi, but this isn’t just any Jedi, it’s a young padawan who survived Order 66 and has been living in hiding. The game felt like a Star Wars movie that fans deserve.
It’s almost as if Dave Filoni, the Jedi Master of Star Wars stories it was writing this game. And the combat is just fantastic, not only do you get to wield a lightsaber, but get to use all of your new Force Powers, which you gain throughout your journey. Using the force to bring your enemy towards you so you can stab them with a lightsaber… AWESOME! I’ll even go as far as to say that the story and Fallen Jedi Order was probably better than the Rise of Skywalker movie. It’s one of the best Star Wars games ever made and if you are Star Wars fan it’s a must play. Even if you’re not, but you like good adventure games, then it’s still worth buying. But how is a game not going to be good when you have lightsabers, the force, inquisitors trying to kill you, and then Darth Vader. It was easily the highest rated game among the staff at That Nerd Show and if we had to give it an honest grade, would be 9.5… almost perfect, mostly because you will eventually get to have a double bladed lightsaber, which is what every Jedi has wanted the last 20 years since we saw episode 1. This is the first time that we have raided a Star Wars video game of the year. Maybe this is the game that we should have gotten in 2015 with Battlefront, but we have it now and that’s all that matters, especially when we get her up for our second playthrough the game.
- Borderlands 3 – SHOOTER OF THE YEAR!
Gearbox just seems to keep knocking out of the park when it comes to the Borderlands Games. Although not quite as good as Borderlands 2, the third game in the series offered the same fantastic gameplay and stylish graphics that we have come to love in Borderlands plus a snarky dialogue that always keeps you laughing. It’s true that they had some change over with voices, especially with the robot, but that didn’t distract too much from how fun this game is. Borderlands 3 is easily our shooter of the year and was definitely a contender for Game of the year. It was pretty easy to fall in love with the Borderlands gameplay again, especially with some of the new vehicles to roam the desolate land and. and don’t get us started about how fun it was to jump off-planet. This game ran neck-and-neck with The Outer Worlds for game of the year, but original content always wins out. However, when it comes to big huge open dystopian shooters, it doesn’t get much better than a Borderlands game. And it was one of the great games of the year to jump online with friends. Well, sadly nothing can quite match how wonderful Borderlands 2 is, Borderlands 3 does come close.
- The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds was this year’s big surprise. Created by Obsidian Entertainment and the creators of fallout New Vegas, and not only had a the perfect fallout feel for fans, but also a great balance for gamers who like RPGs and dystopian storylines. the style was gorgeous and the gameplay was fun. It felt like you were playing a fallout version of the cult TV show Firefly. Despite some of the bugs that affected the ending, which was cleared up with the latest patch, The Outer Worlds had the best narrative story line of the year as you hop from planet to planet with companions, You get to face off against rogue factions but space monsters that could easily kill you. And for fans who were actually missing a good game like Mass effect or were seriously disappointed with Fallout 76, Obsidian delivered with The Outer Worlds. And it was a real coup to have this immediately available on Xbox Game Pass. It was easily one of our favorite games of the year and one of the top contenders for Game of the Year. Sky’s the limit with obsidian entertainment and we can’t wait to see what they do with a sequel or even the DLC.
- Mortal Kombat 11 – FIGHTING GAME OF THE YEAR
There should always be a big event when a new Mortal Kombat game comes out because not only does it introduce the same old familiar characters that we’ve had for over 30 years, but it also introduces new and exciting characters with fantastic moves. It’s a no-brainer that Mortal Kombat 11 is our fighting game of the year. Built for the 4K age and gaming and had a blend of just enough familiarity with a new story and all around balanced fighting. This game wasn’t too hard to get excited about. And the fatality moves are better than ever.
- Resident Evil 2
While the term remake is not a popular one with That Nerd Show, remaking a classic game like Resident Evil 2 at least had us curious and then we played it. If you thought the original was fantastic on the PlayStation 2 then this version, it’s 10 times better and still scary as hell. It was fun to dive back into that world again and play a new storyline, one where you have two different options with characters. It’s easily one of our top 10 games of the year.
- MediEvil
Another surprise game that made it into our top 10 list this year was the remake of the classic PlayStation game MediEvil. They could have easily just beefed up the graphics for the PlayStation 4, but now they remade the game with a new story and it’s just as fun as the. There’s not much to the game as You are the dead spirit of a former Knight hacking and slashing your way through the land. It looks great and it’s just plain fun. You don’t have to think about it too much and it certainly has a feel for an old school arcade game, plus it looks really good on the new consoles. We didn’t think we’d have so much fun with this game, but it was certainly worth the money and even if you just completed in a few hours oh, much like classic games such as the original Mario Brothers, you’ll want to go and play it again. So the remake of another classic game ends up into our top 10 list proven yet again that a re-imagined classic game and be some of the best gaming out.
- Control
Control was another surprise of 2019. Developed by Remedy Entertainment, the same company that did Quantum Break a few years ago. It’s a very distinctive sci-fi adventure with horror elements as your main protagonist is fighting paranormal objects the corrupt reality. The brains of the games that you’re almost playing as if you’re in some kind of dark, demented parallel universe or augmented reality and everything from the shadows and walls are coming out trying to kill you. Definitely a Sci-Fi game, but has that slow intense or like quality to you that just makes the game scary enough to keep your heart beat up while you’re playing. I feel like if Phillip K. Dick where to write a video game this would be at. But the gameplay is brilliant and even though I send you into a mine spiraling frenzy adventure oh, you’ll love every minute of it. reality is definitely corrupted in this game, but the gameplay is superior balanced with the right amount of intensity to give you an edge-of-your-seat experience within this video game. Absolutely deserves to be in our top 10 games of the year.
- Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry is the fourth sequel in the Devil May Cry series. This series is always been a great hack and slash horror game and to have fantastic graphics built for the 4K age in gaming made this game one of the funnest games to play in 2019. It’s not too difficult to understand what Devil May Cry really is, just a good old-fashioned horror hack and slash game, with the introduction of a new character in V who possesses two spirit animals to help defeat the demons or evil spirits in the game, the other fantastic heart of Devil May Cry 5 is getting to play Dante again. Sequels always start going downhill the more you make, but this game is just as fun as a Diablo game or anxiously waiting for the new one to be released, Devil May Cry 5 is a good alternative to keep you from being bored.
- Pokemon: Sword & Shield
Pokemon: Sword & Shield was the exciting Pokemon game that Nintendo Switch fans have been waiting for. A great game with fantastic graphics, the game centered on players trying to throw the latest Pokemon champion within a tournament and other various gym Leaders taking part in it. It also introduced 81 new Pokemons along 13 regional variants. For gamers that are fans of the Pokemon games and we’re waiting anxiously for a good one to come along with the Nintendo switch, this was definitely it. And better than the Pokemon Go app!
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the third game in the Luigi Mansion series and made specifically for the Nintendo Switch. Brilliantly executed and stylish, this game offered everything that Nintendo fans would want in the Luigi Series. Just like Nintendo had done with Super Mario Odyssey, the graphics were greatly improved for the Nintendo Switch and this game just looked damn near perfect on 4K TVs. Gameplay was fun with a mixture of new moves and familiar ones for Nintendo fans dating all the way back do the Super Nintendo and N64.
ANTHEM – MULTIPLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anthem may not be one of the most critically acclaimed games of 2019. Critics may have lauded it, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be on multiplayer game of the year. In fact, this game is made great when you can play with friends. Sure the map needs to be more than it is, but being on the fly around like your iron Man and go on raids and exploration with your buddies without only killing aliens but monsters. That’s all we really need and multiplayer. Plus, this game has the added advantage of being something completely original apparent you got another call of duty game that feels way too familiar, definitely not exciting or new which is what we really look for as gamers. Anthem maybe just an average game, but it deserves plenty of accolades for it being a fun multiplayer game. We certainly enjoy it at that nerd show.
MADDEN 20 – SPORTS GAME OF THE YEAR
Let’s be honest, there is not much difference in Madden 20 and Madden 19. But man 20 wins are sports game of the year because we finally got NCAA football bag even if it was just a small part of Madden 20. No, you don’t get to play every college team. Just a small selection of teams and you don’t get to play NCAA season, but playing the college playoffs with one of 10 college teams and a quarterback that you’re going to take to the NFL and a new story mode. It’s good enough and it makes Madden 20 the sports game of the year. And it’s not like mad doesn’t keep getting better every year after finally switching over to the frostbite engine. Madden 20 still one of the best sports game out there and will take just a few college teams over having nothing at all. It’s pretty great being able to play in the college national championship and then go to the draft.
***HONORABLE MENTIONS***
- Kingdom Hearts 3
- Anthem
- Death Stranding
- Days Gone
STAFF PICKS
Marcus Blake
- The Outer Worlds – 10 pts.
- Jedi Fallen Order – 9 pts.
- Borderlands 3 – 8 pts.
- Control – 7 pts.
- Days Gone – 6 pts.
- Devil May Cry 5 – 5 pts.
- Anthem – 4 pts.
- Mortal Kombat 11 – 3 pts.
- Madden 20 – 2 pts.
- MediEvil-1 pt.
Aclairic Ambrosio
- Death Stranding – 10 pts.
- MediEvil – 9 pts.
- Untitled Goose Game – 8 pts.
- Luigi’s Mansion – 7 pts.
- Man of Medan – 6 pts.
- Outer Worlds – 5 pts.
- Pokemon Sword/Shield – 4 pts.
- Super Mario Maker 2 – 3 pts.
- Borderlands 3 – 2 pts.
- Kingdom Hearts 3 – 1 pt.
Alex Moore
1) Resident Evil 2 – 10 pts.
2) Metro Exodus – 9 pts.
3) Devil May Cry 5 – 8 pts.
4) Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order- 7 pts.
5) Borderlands 3 – 6 pts.
6) Mortal Kombat 11 – 5 pts.
7) Days Gone – 4 pts.
8) Madden NFL 20 – 3 pts.
9) Shenmue 3 -2 pts.
0) Anthem – 1 pt.
Chad Womack
1.Mortal Kombat 11 -10 pts.
2.The Outer Worlds – 9 pts.
3.Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 8 pts.
4.Resident Evil 2 – 7 pts.
5.Super Mario Maker 2 -6 pts.
6.Star Wars : Jedi – Fallen Order – 5 pts.
7.Legend of Zelda : Link’s Awakening – 4 pts.
8.Borderlands 3 – 3 pts.
9.Kingdom Hearts III – 2 pts.
10.Call of Duty : Modern Warfare – 1pt.
K. Scott Cooper
- MediEvil -10 pts.
- My Friend Pedro – 9 pts.
- Borderlands 3 – 8 pts.
- Anthem – 7 pts.
- Remnant From the Ashes – 6 pts.
- Far Cry New Dawn – 5 pts.
- Devil May Cry 5 – 4pts.
- Jedi Fallen Order – 3pts.
- The Outer Worlds – 2 pts.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – 1 pts.
Alex Thomas
- Jedi: Fallen Order -10pts.
- The Touryst -9 pts.
- Pokémon Sword/Shield -8 pts.
- Fire Emblem 3 Houses -7 pts.
- Resident Evil 2 -6 pts.
- Control -5 pts.
- Katana Zero – 4 pts.
- Apex Legends -3 pts..
- Grindstone – 2 pts.
- What the Golf – 1 pt.
Brendan Smith
10 Fire Emblem: Three Houses – 1Pt
9 Borderlands 3 – 2Pt
8 Sekiro: Die Twice – 3pt
7 Pokemon Sword & Shield – 4Pt
6 Outer Wilds – 5Pt
5 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – 6Pt
4 Control -7Pt
3 Kingdom Hearts 3 -8Pt
2 Mortal Kombat 11 – 9pt
1 The Outer Worlds – 10Pt
