<p>This year has been a huge year for sequels and more of the same, but sometimes there are developers out there that still have a creative bone in their body. Hopefully all these developers will see the light and understand that gamers want something new and never experienced before. At BagoGames we thought long and hard about what title surprised us and took us out of the common releases this year.</p>
<h2><em>Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE</em></h2>
<figure id="attachment_116448" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116448" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-116448" src="https://cdn.bagogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/03013420/tokyo_mirage_sessions_review_screen_2.0.jpg" alt="(Tokyo Mirage Sessions - Nintendo)" width="960" height="540" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-116448" class="wp-caption-text">(<em>Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE</em> &#8211; Nintendo)</figcaption></figure>
<p>I’ve been a big fan of the <em>Persona</em> series for a while, they’re those games I love to tinker with but never seem to beat. Recently I’ve just been introduced to the <em>Fire Emblem</em> series, so when I heard we were getting a merged game of the two series I was excited. I had enjoyed the previous Nintendo mashup of <em>Dynasty Warriors</em> and <em>Legend of Zelda</em> and couldn&#8217;t wait to give this a shot. I know more about <em>Persona</em> than <em>Fire Emblem</em> and it is nice to learn a bit about <em>Fire Emblem’</em>s characters and such. I enjoyed the throwbacks to <em>Persona</em>, I heard the menu option chime and was awash with nostalgia, so wonderful. The game also had a very stylist look and America Idol feel, I enjoyed how “out there” the game was and it quenched my thirst for all things <em>Persona </em>until<em> 5</em> comes out.</p>
<p>Runner Up: <em>The Division</em></p>
<p>-Jerry Dobracki</p>
<h2><em>Criminal Girls 2</em></h2>
<figure id="attachment_116491" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116491" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-116491" src="https://cdn.bagogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/03233217/Criminal20Girls20220-20Vita20-20102.jpg" alt="(Criminal Girls 2 - Nippon Ichi Software)" width="960" height="543" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-116491" class="wp-caption-text">(<em>Criminal Girls 2</em> &#8211; Nippon Ichi Software)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Perhaps unfair, but reviewers go in with expectations. Otherwise this category would not exist. So when I saw <em>Criminal Girls 2</em> creep on the horizon, I admit I expected to flay it apart with the verbal equivalent of a cat-o-nine tails. It really had the makings of a fan-service title with a layer of creepiness on top.</p>
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<p>What I didn&#8217;t expect was some of the most interesting writing this year in this package. This is as well as witnessing one of the best way I&#8217;ve seen to liven up the RPG grind in years. In the end, I gave it a glowing review. Sure there is the semi-creepy subject matter (they really do seem under-aged and in a S&;M environment), but beyond that lies some startlingly excellent ideas that left me gob-smacked.</p>
<p>-Kailan May</p>
<h2><em>Doom</em></h2>
<figure id="attachment_116493" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116493" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-116493" src="https://cdn.bagogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/03233805/2884079-cacodemons_1434321767.jpg" alt="(Doom - Bethesda Softworks)" width="960" height="585" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-116493" class="wp-caption-text">(<em>Doom</em> &#8211; Bethesda Softworks)</figcaption></figure>
<p><em>Doom</em> defied the odds, surprising most people when it was actually a ton of fun. Understanding that a no-nonsense approach was the best way to go, the game’s fast-paced, brutal action felt like playing a <em>Doom</em> game in 2016. Which is a hell of a feat. By far one of my favourite aspects was its use of verticality, mixed with glory kills that created a risk/reward situation in almost any combat scenario.<em> Doom</em> took no prisoners, and that mentality is what pushed it beyond just being another derivative shooter.</p>
<p>-Christopher Cross</p>
<h2><em>Tokyo Mirage Sessions # FE</em></h2>
<figure id="attachment_116496" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116496" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-116496" src="https://cdn.bagogames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/03234353/3084632-885x.jpg" alt="(Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE - Nintendo)" width="960" height="539" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-116496" class="wp-caption-text">(<em>Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE</em> &#8211; Nintendo)</figcaption></figure>
<p>When <em>FE/SMT</em> was first announced, little was known of what kind of game it would be. A crossover game that featured <em>Fire Emblem</em> and <em>Shin Megami Tensei</em>, it seemed so incredibly ludicrous that it was hard to believe that it was in development. Ludicrous is probably the best word to describe the team up, but in an enjoyably weird way. With a world more focused in the style of <em>Shin Megami Tensei</em>, especially with a quirky young cast of characters, but with a numerous nods to Fire Emblem and little appearances throughout, the game was quite an adventure to say the least. One of the highlights however was the great J-pop soundtrack, with some outstanding tracks featured throughout. The Wii U never really got the library that it deserved, but will go out with some solid picks, including this JRPG that hopefully gets another chance to shine on the Switch.</p>
<p>Runner Up: <em>Thumper</em></p>
<p>-Zac LaRocque-Walker</p>
<hr />
<p>Those are a few of the games that surprised us this year at BagoGames. What games surprised you this year? Feel free to let us know in the comments or by tweeting at us @BagoGames!</p>
</div>

Best Of 2016 – Biggest Surprise
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Nintendo
- Categories: Opinion
- Tags: DoomTokyo Mirage Sessions #FETop Stories
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