TNL's GotM: January 2007

[Andy]

Previous entries:
TNL's Games of the Month 2006

And thus starts a new year of months, and with it, a new year of games of the month. This first month has been a relatively light one, as the early months generally are, but there were still a handful of worthwhile titles to play, and of course, a behemoth expansion pack.

As usual, straight ports, retro compilations, and retro XBLA, Virtual Console, and PS Network titles are ineligible.

For my vote, I'm holding off until after playing Hotel Dusk, as I'm pretty confident it will wind up being my GotM.

[Nash]

Lost Planet. It's the only game on that list that I've played.

[Tain]

I really can't see it being anything but Hotel Dusk. I do want to play Lost Planet, though.

[Yoshi]

Hotel Dusk. Lost Planet lost my vote with its retarded Achievements.

[Shin Johnpv]

Hotel Dusk all the way

[haohmaru]

Hotel Dusk. Lost Planet lost my vote with its retarded Achievements.

Achievements have nothing to do with the game itself.

I still pick Heavy Weapon over LP - there's something to be said for a game that you can just pick up and play online or solo and have a blast doing so without reading a 45 page instruction manual.

[Port]

Hotel Dusk. I played a bit, but fiancee can't put it down. Wario Ware is good, but Hotel Dusk is better. WoW:BC should get my vote based on how much I'm playing it, but.. meh. Hotel Dusk is really well done.

[Yoshi]

Achievements have nothing to do with the game itself.

I disagree. If Microsoft deserves praise for the idea and making me play games differently, and I believe they do, then the developers that implement the idea poorly also deserve to be dinged for it. The only exception to this would be comparing a multiplatform release. Bad achievements on the 360 still beat none on the PS3.

[Cowdisease]

Crackdown demo IMO.

[haohmaru]

I think the two are mutually exclusive. Is the 1000 point plateau that much more difficult to reach (hour investment wise) than Oblivion or other titles that require similar time investments? Even if it's the nature of the achievement, I don't think it should be a factor in evaluating the game design and the playability of it. Great game + bad achievements still = great game.