About Judy

As WP's managing editor, I edit review and preview articles, attempt to keep up with the frantic pace of Rainier's news posts, and keep our reviewers on deadline, which is akin to herding cats. When I have a moment to myself and don't have my nose in a book, I like to play action/RPG, adventure and platforming games.

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'WorthPlaying's Top Games of 2007' - Countdown, 20-11

by Judy on Jan. 1, 2008 @ 1:31 a.m. PST

So far, we've revealed the honorable mentions, top handheld titles, and top console/PC offerings. Today we're starting the countdown of the top 20 titles – tune in tomorrow to see what WP considers to be the best game of 2007. Read more for the results!

20. World in Conflict (PC)

While World in Conflict makes massive and sweeping changes to the tried-and-true formula of RTS titles, it does so in such a way that makes other genre offerings pale in comparison. Other titles have their own strengths in realism, renown or longevity, but World in Conflict's biggest strength is that it's a fresh take on a genre that has long been stagnant, and it gets top marks in nearly every category. If absolutely nothing else, World in Conflict is a gripping title set in an alternate reality that could have been, coupled with gameplay quality that makes the title a serious contender for the best real-time strategy game of the year.

19. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)

Zack and Wiki sets a high standard for other developers to follow. It's clever, stylish, challenging and fun. It is an example of the kind of game that the Wii should have, and one that Wii owners owe it to themselves to try. It retails at the budget price of $40, which is simply icing on the cake. Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure is one of the best games out for the Wii, and any gamers who own Nintendo's new system owe it to themselves to at least give this title a try, if not a buy.

18. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

From the moment you power on your PSP to the moment you turn it off, Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles does a remarkable job of pulling you into the Castlevania universe and immersing you in the difficult, but ultimately rewarding gameplay. With startlingly luxuriant audio and visual elements, unlockables that will keep the player working on the title long after he's sent Count Dracula back to sleep for another hundred years, and the addition of two original games (including one of the best Castlevania titles of all time), there is no reason for any PSP owner to resist adding this title to his or her collection.

17. TIE — Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations (NDS) and Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition (Wii)

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations is an excellent end to the series, doing a splendid job of tying up a multitude of loose ends in the overall plotline that has been continuing over the course of all three titles. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, the subsequent series that will be released in February 2008, has some fairly large and intriguing shoes to fill.

This is, by and far, the definitive version of Resident Evil 4. Even if one end up disliking the new Wii controls, this is the whole package. With the top-notch graphics seen on the GameCube version, the tweaks and extras from the PlayStation 2 iteration, and the wide variety of control offered by the Wii, Resident Evil 4 has never been better. Both as a port and as a game, Resident Evil 4 Wii succeeds in almost every way, and the only disappointment is that Resident Evil 5 is still so far off.

16. Burnout Dominator (PSP/PS2)

Burnout Dominator captures enough of the familiar formula to ensure a quality experience, especially if you're a fan of the arcade racing genre. The controls are tight and responsive, the visuals are outstanding, and the single-player campaign will keep you occupied for a good while.

15. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (NDS)

The story is engaging, teasing interesting connections between the Ivalice of Final Fantaxy XII and the Ivalice of Final Fantasy Tactics. The characters are extremely likeable and entertaining, and playing around with forging weapons for them (from gathered materials) and using their abilities in challenging battles is incredibly fun. This is well worth a DS owner's time and is easily one of the best things Square Enix has published for the NDS system.

14. Rogue Galaxy (PS2)

Rogue Galaxy is easily one of the best RPGs available for the PlayStation 2, and certainly deserving of "classic" status from any console. This one's a keeper, folks — a game that ranks right up there with games such as Chrono Trigger, Phantasy Star IV, and many of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest titles. It has its flaws, but many of the flaws — particularly the stilted AI and the predictable plot — are more like pitfalls of the Japanese RPG genre than problems inherent in the game itself. If you're an RPG fan, or if you loved Dark Cloud 2, don't pass up Rogue Galaxy. It may not be the perfect game, but it's easily one of the best Japanese-made RPGs you can find.

13. Crysis (PC)

Crysis is my most anticipated game of the year; few titles captured my attention pre-release the way Crysis had. The game mostly lives up to expectations, and the graphics are every bit as beautiful and I had hoped they would be. The gameplay is not as polished as that of some other marquee titles, but anyone with hardware robust enough to run Crysis should get the game without further delay.

12. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is worth its price in a pleasurable, exciting game experience, one that harks back to classics yet does impress with current generation production values. In fact, it's easily one of the best single-player games on PlayStation 3, or any platform, this year, and is therefore highly recommended for anyone who will but momentarily consider playing a game absent of any multiplayer features.

11. Mass Effect (X360)

Mass Effect really doesn't have anything more to prove. It's one of the best hybrid RPGs I've played, as well as a serious game of the year candidate. It's the video game equivalent of "Battlestar Galactica" or "Babylon 5": a space epic that reaches for the stars and manages to hit most of them.

 

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