Welcome to Nerd Bacon’s 5th Anniversary Special! It’s 2018, and you know what that means– Nerd Bacon is in full celebration of its 5-year anniversary! Nerd Bacon: Independent and non-profit video game coverage lasting for 5 years? This is cause for a celebration! In honor of our most beloved home’s birthday, some of our members got together to share their favorite games released during Nerd Bacon‘s lifespan–a 5-year retrospective, if you will. In chronological order, these are Nerd Bacon‘s favorite games from the past 5 years.
Hearthstone
Platform: Mobile
Release Date: March 11th, 2014
Written by Kikopaff
A deck of pirates and brotherhood. An army of raging murlocs. Battlecries and deathrattles. Endless concedes and countless victories. Hearthstone has been a memorable journey, being the first game I’ve ever played and spent a bucket load of money that I’m sure my wallet regrets, but my heart soars for its satisfaction. Ever since I joined during the Knights of the Frozen Throne expansion, Hearthstone has offered me unique deck-building experiences, fun and colourful designs, and unique solo adventures. It drives me to reach endless goals; whether I’m climbing the ranked ladder as high as I can for a season or learning a certain deck to its core, Hearthstone always meets me where I am.
Whether after a long day of work or sitting in between long waiting times at the doctor’s office, Hearthstone greets me, “You look dead tired! Come in, relax!” and I just can’t resist. More importantly, Hearthstone has given me a wonderful new world to share with many players across the world and has introduced me to countless sub-communities and genuine friends.
Click here for the full review of Hearthstone!
Alien: Isolation
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: October 7th, 2014
Written by InfiniteKnife
As a huge horror game fan, I can’t think of a game that impressed me more during that time than Alien: Isolation. I am a fan of the Alien films and this game did an amazing job of recreating the same kinds of environments and ambiance. The developers could have easily fallen into the common trend of FPS games where it’s guns-a-blazin’ from the start, but instead really emphasized that if you try to stand up to the Xenomorph, you’re pretty much boned.
I remember more than a few instances where I would be trying to tip toe my way around, only to have him find me and either start an intense chase or just add to my relatively high death count. There were plenty of nods to the original films, but the two that stood out to me were the motion scanner that helps you see whether the alien is nearby, and the audio files that were actually voiced by the original cast of Alien. I really enjoyed playing through this game and subsequently reviewed it. I’d be very excited to see another installment some day.
Life is Strange
Platform: PC
Release Date: January 30th – Ocober 20th, 2015
Written by Sarus Vakarian
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I have to say that my favorite game that has been released within the past five years is Life is Strange. Everything from the atmosphere and the characters to the music–it’s just so immersive and gripping. When I started the first episode, I immediately became enamored with the premise: Max Caulfield, an 18-year-old photography student, experiences a surreal vision of a massive tornado headed toward her town of Arcadia Bay. Soon after, in an attempt to save a mystery girl from the wrath of an angry bully with a gun, she discovers that she has a new and raw power: the ability to rewind time.
My fascination with this game is the writers’ processes in creating archetype characters and building and building upon them so that no one truly is who they are on the outside. The supernatural aspect fits the story well because the realism of the environment is done well. Life is Strange has garnered more and more fans over the past few years, and when playing this story-rich adventure game, it’s easy to see why; it’s engaging and bittersweet. It’s charming as well, with some of its cheesy dialogue from the teenage characters, but it’s a part of the whole experience. I’m so glad I had the experience of playing this story.
Click here for the full review of Life is Strange Episodes 1 – 3!
Click here for the full review of Life is Strange Episode 4!
Click here for the full review of Life is Strange Episode 5!
The Witness
Platform: PS4
Release Date: January 26th, 2016
Written by Nips
Admittedly, I was hyped for The Witness well before its release. Having previously designed the runaway indie hit Braid, creator Jon Blow was a personality that, for a time, seemed like a bit of a video game rock star (though not as cool as Metal Gear Solid’s Hideo Kojima), subject to praise and abject ridicule in equal amounts. Lo and behold, instead of gracing us right away with a fresh title, he waited a full 7 years before releasing his next game, leaving fans and detractors alike in suspense, wondering whether his next game would flourish or crash and burn.
And what we got was The Witness, a first-person indie puzzle game. Yeah, you heard me right. To this day, The Witness remains a contentious subject among internet debaters, but I absolutely loved it! Stuck on an abandoned island, the player must explore and solve little panels scattered throughout in order to uncover the island’s mysteries, and, more importantly, learn a few things about themselves along the way. What initially struck me about The Witness was its restraint. First and foremost, this game showcases a lack of dreaded tutorials and hand-holding prompts if you get stuck–hell, the basic game even lacks any sort of language at all–and it was simply refreshing. Through its minimalist style, The Witness has achieved for me–and many others–a meditative experience that is not afraid to let the player get frustrated and even give up.
But, if you persevere, you may find something hidden in these seemingly simple panels, as I did. Along the way, I noticed what I imagined as an invisible hand guiding me, wordlessly nudging me further to be a better thinker through an expert use of scaffolding from puzzle to puzzle. The Witness is really good at making you feel smart, because the game is not teaching you how to play it; you are teaching yourself how to play the game. Because of the self-taught nature of The Witness’s gameplay, there are countless “aha!” moments where you finally figure out the solution or implication of a puzzle, and in this way the gameplay features a lot of surprising twists and turns, much like how other games may include a plot twist in their cut scenes. And these moments would not be as powerful if it weren’t for this game’s expert puzzle design, resulting in the feeling that these panels are somehow in conversation with each other–and with the player. The Witness is one of the few games where I truly wish that I could erase my own memory, just so I could experience it again with fresh eyes. Because of this, it is my favorite game from the past five years.
Nips’ Runner-Up: Hitman
Click here for the full review of The Witness!
Overwatch
Platform: PC
Release Date: May 24th, 2016
Written by Jepheroth
Blizzard once again defines a genre and creates an experience players can enjoy time and time again. It’s easy in this era of gaming to push out a first-person shooter, add multiplayer, and let the players run wild. Overwatch goes that extra mile, creating characters that resonate with so many people, crafting gorgeous landscapes, and constantly tweaking the experience to make it even more enjoyable.
Yes, Overwatch is more than JUST a first-person shooter. It does offer enough depth for those who want it, but is accessible enough to bring any player in and give them a chance to experience something this unique. Often imitated, never duplicated, Overwatch is the best game of the Nerd Bacon Generation.
NES Classic Edition
Release Date (NA): November 11th, 2016
Written by ZB
The Nintendo Entertainment System was my first console and has remained my favorite ever since. I own three of them and more than 120 games. So when I learned that Nintendo was going to try their hand at a plug-n-play, they definitely had my attention.
Nintendo knows how to put together a nice presentation, and boy did they get it right with this one! The nostalgia in this product is off the charts! With a small box designed to look like one of the original control deck sets, buying it for display purposes alone is worth it. Then I learned of the 30-game lineup, and I knew Nintendo had a winner.
Not just first-party titles (though they really could have gotten away with that); Nintendo generously delved into the rights for several third-party classics, including Ghosts ‘N’ Goblins, Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and even Mega Man 2! This system is packed with hits, and it will definitely give you plenty of bang for your buck! At a price point of $60 (for those of you who did not get ripped off by filthy, despicable scalpers), you’re getting premium titles for $2 a pop!
After busting this thing open, you’ll find that it’s incredibly easy to set up, complete with a classic nostalgia trip poster celebrating “Playing With Power since 1985!” You hook it up with an HDMI cable to give you those ultra-crisp graphics–satisfying the upscaling fanatics–while two other modes are included to alter the picture quality to your satisfaction, including simulated CRT fuzz for the authentic experience (the only experience, in this humble reviewer’s opinion).
What I love about this is it’s a neat, conveniently packaged, self-contained system that has everything you need. Sure, I love having actual cartridges, but if I’m traveling somewhere and wanna bring a selection of NES games to play, this is perfect! Even if I’m going to a friend’s house, bringing the bulky system with a bunch of cartridges and all the hookups is a hassle. So this is a great collectible that acts as a convenient travel game set. I’ve gotta hand it to Nintendo; aside from the botched first release limited run fiasco, they started a good trend with this nifty plug-n-play, and it has a welcome spot in my collection!
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Platform: PS4
Release Date (NA): February 28th, 2017
Written by Rhutsczar
Man, this was a surprisingly hard choice to make. I would have to say the game that I have played the most in the last five years (that was actually released in that same period) would have to be Horizon: Zero Dawn. While the title entranced me when the first preview dropped, many months had passed after the official release by the time I was able to snag myself a copy. I was immediately thrown into a world that I would definitely love. I will admit, I have spent too many hours in Horizon’s world, even going so far as to re-download twice so far since my 100% completion.
As a writer, an interesting story is always important to me. When I dive headfirst into a new narrative-driven title, I plead and hope that the ride will be worth it. Horizon definitely didn’t disappoint, as I was given a narrative with battling scientific and moral ideologies, but also wasn’t bogged down by these aforementioned philosophical ideals. It wasn’t preachy and there hasn’t been a single moment in my four playthroughs that I wanted to skip the main story. I will be honest, I did have a tendency to skip the cutscenes on my final two runs through.
To defend myself a tad, the cutscenes do add almost 30+ hours to your current run. The core reason I keep coming back to Horizon is that this is the only game I feel I actually have a chance to speed run and rank well. So far after four runs (I earned my 100% after the 2nd) I am just about an hour out of ranking in the top five for ultra hard difficulty in New Game Plus. Taking a 60+ hour game and slaying it within 12 hours? I’d say that is impressive.
Rhuts’ Runner-Ups: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: March 3rd, 2017
Written by theWatchman
It’s almost an impossible task to single out one game, from the nearly endless multitude of amazing titles we have been blessed with throughout the last five years, as a game deserving of the title “favorite” or “best.” The fact of the matter is that we have seen an explosion in terms of the quality of titles released throughout the past five years, and we as fans of this industry–of this art form, are truly the beneficiaries of the incredibly hard work being done to advance this medium by teams around the world. But we aren’t here to hand out proverbial participation medals. No. We’re here to talk about the best of the best, and for me, the game that I think stands out as the marquee title from the past five years is 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Ever since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time graced the Nintendo 64 twenty years ago, the Zelda series has overtaken Nintendo’s own mascot, Mario, as the flagship series for the company. While each Zelda game released since then exhibited an increasingly high level of detail and quality, years of following in Ocarina’s foot steps, as well as the reliance on too many gimmicky gameplay elements, had led to the series becoming a bit stale. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed that. Nintendo took a brave risk in stripping away the series formula of the past two decades and reintroduced us to the roots of the series–exploring and surviving in a fantastical world.
Gone were all of the gimmicky musical instruments, wind-manipulating wands, terrible motion control schemes, and all of the rest of the accumulated baggage from the last two decades–not to mention the hand-holding sidekicks that did little more than annoy the player during their journeys. In their place was a refreshing simplicity not seen since players first journeyed to the land of Hyrule on the NES. Players were given enough information to strike out on their own, but more importantly, they were given enough trust that they would be able to figure things out on their own. It was a reignition of a wonderful sense of discovery that had been sorely missing from the series for quite some time.
This recommitment to letting the player figure things out on their own was heightened thanks to the beautifully-realized rendition of Hyrule that Nintendo created. There was always a wonderful sense of excitement and adventure that took hold of me while traveling through Breath of the Wild–a spirit that I hadn’t felt since experiencing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES during my childhood. As with any game, Breath of the Wild is far from perfect. There are plenty of issues that can be improved upon in subsequent releases. But for me, those issues are trivial, nitpicky items that never detract from the overall experience. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild recaptures the essence of what made the series great while evoking a sense of wonder that I haven’t felt in quite some time. It’s everything a video game should be.
Click here to read the full review on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild!
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date (NA): April 20th, 2017
Written by Doc Croc
For the last five years, the gaming industry has been smack-dab in the eighth generation of gaming, with the Nintendo Switch pushing the generational divide with its release only last year. While most gamers may be thinking about the new, I’ve still been catching up with the old. With a backlog that still reaches back to the fifth generation, it’s fair to say I haven’t been keeping up with the releases too well…with the exception of the Nintendo 3DS. I’ve played a lot of handheld games in the last five years; I’m sure anyone who’s followed my reviews here has caught that. So, in trying to call a favorite from the last five years, all I had to do was check my Nintendo 3DS play log. And from many greats, one champion has prevailed…and that is…Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia!
Released very quietly last year, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a remake of the 1992 Famicom title, Fire Emblem Gaiden. It’s not much of a surprise that this title in particular stood out to me; Nintendo has a pretty good track record when it comes to remaking old classics, many of which have wound up on the Nintendo 3DS. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which I absolutely loved with its inclusion of gyroscopic targeting, is a good example. I even loved others like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which I thought were very flawed, but still enjoyed some of the mechanics they introduced. But, Fire Emblem Echoes was a different kind of remake to me; it was a breath of fresh air (and I don’t mean those god-awful desert levels).
Fire Emblem Echoes was a shake-up from the former 3DS Fire Emblem titles: Awakening, Birthright, and Conquest. While it built off of the mechanics that the former three games had established, it also harkened back to classic Fire Emblem titles in the right places as well. The story and characters were so fleshed out, the music was beautiful, the art direction was perfect, and the world was interesting. It was everything that felt missing from the previous titles. And sure, it wasn’t perfect; reusing some of the rather plain old maps may have not been the greatest call, but I felt like the mechanics were tuned enough so that there was always a challenge. In the end, I never felt bored of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, and that’s why it’s my favorite title of the last five years.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: April 28th, 2017
Written by Nerdberry
2014’s Mario Kart 8 was a moderately successful game that never quite reached its potential due in no small part to the failure of the system for which it was attached, the Wii U. The 8th installment of Nintendo’s flagship racer definitely moved units, so I’m not discrediting what it achieved. But there’s no denying that it underwhelmed in sales compared to just about all of its predecessors. Nintendo looked to right all of their Wii U wrongs with the Switch, which has proven a massive critical and financial success.
Less than two months after the console launch, Switch owners were treated to an exciting Mario Kart 8 update…The Deluxe! With graphics set to rival the best Switch titles, new tracks, new characters, and new updates in gameplay, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe immediately became the definitive edition.
Now, is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the best game in the last 5 years? Definitely not. But what Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers is unrivaled racing excitement that the whole family can join in on. Fun for kids and equally fun for adults, very few multiplayer games offer such age crossover appeal. Not to mention I’ve had my ass handed to me by kids 20 years my junior. On that day, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was NOT fun…But I digress.
So let’s ask that question again: Is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the best game in the last 5 years? Still no. But it might be the most fun game of the last 5 years that is appealing to all ages. Aside from being one of the best selling games of 2017 (across ALL video game platforms, mind you), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe should be remembered for bringing the Mario Kart franchise back to life and reminding us all that when it comes to kart racing, all other racers are STILL eating Mario’s dust.
Read the full review on Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) right here!
And that does it for Nerd Bacon‘s 5th Anniversary Special. That was quite a list, giving us a nice retrospective of how far gaming has come over just the past 5 years. What do you think of our games? And what were your favorite games from the past 5 years?
