Opinion Fest 2009: RPG of the Year

Well, it's taken a lot longer than I thought, but we are finally down to the last and most prestigious award: the best RPG of 2009.

If you have been following the previous awards, you have no doubt noticed that RPGs contain a lot of different elements. Story, gameplay, music, graphics, etc. While I like to recognize games that do any of these well – and preferably with some vision – the best RPG ultimately combines all of these elements into what I like to think of as the “complete package” in order to create an experience that is both fun and memorable. The best RPGs usually have a soul or a purpose to their existence beyond making money.

The following are what I felt did the best at delivering the best RPG in 2009.

Honorable Mention: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story – Alphadream, Nintendo – Nintendo DS

Though perhaps too casual for many hardened RPG fanatics, Mario & Luigi 3 managed to combine not only gorgeous 2D visuals with brilliantly fun gameplay, but was able to remind me what I love about Mario games in general: a charming world with a simple yet fun game premise.

Honorable Mention: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Capybara, Ubisoft – Nintendo DS

As with Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlock before it, Clash of Heroes proves that an RPG built on top of a single puzzle game can be not only fun to play, but down right captivating. Though its reliance on its puzzle system to do absolutely everything prevents it from cracking the top three, its testament to well-planned innovative design makes it hard not to recommend.

3rd: Star Ocean: The Last Hope – tri-Ace, Square Enix – Xbox 360



Though not quite as fresh as fan-favourite Star Ocean 2, The Last Hope manages to simultaneously tip its hat to the series' long-time fans while telling a brand new story. SO4 ends up being more story-heavy than any of its predecessors, but does so with an interesting plot that takes several interesting turns and provides plenty of food for thought. Though I feel that the Star Ocean series still has a lot of potential to explore, it is a decent last dance.

2nd: Dragon Age: Origins – BioWare, EA – PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3



Dragon Age has been in development for a long time (it was first announced at E3 2004). What exactly went on during those roughly 6 or more years is anyone's guess, but the sheer volume of story and history present in the stand alone game itself is evidence that BioWare has been incredibly dilligent in the creation of its latest epic.

Dragon Age: Origins follows the last of the Kingdom of Ferelden's Grey Wardens – an ancient organization created to destroy the Darkspawn – as they rush to build an army against the coming Blight. Its seemingly clichéd approach to Western RPG storytelling belies its deep and thoroughly captivating tale which not only allows for the player's choice of advancement, but also changes according to it.

Those who like their RPGs traditional and of the high fantasy variety would do themselves a disservice by passing this one up.

1st: Magna Carta II – Softmax, Namco Bandai – Xbox 360



Like Dragon Age, Magna Carta II has been in development for a long time. Announced for the 360 before it even launched, the title has been on the operating table for longer than most would care to think about. However, all the time appears to have been worth it, as Magna Carta II offers what I feel is the most complete RPG of 2009.

The beginning of the tale is a familiar one. A young man named Juto has been living a peaceful, if dull life, on a small island village, despite a severe case of amnesia. When a relic of an ancient war is discovered on the island, the resulting clash of warring forces steals from him his loved ones and his home.

Despite its worn-out opening, Magna Carta II develops into a tale that is involving as it is sincere. The story and characters are remarkably human for their subject matter, and adding in a deceptively deep battle system and high production values, the game is a true ghestalt – far more than the sum of its parts. Magna Carta II was easily the most fun I got out of an RPG in 2009, and is highly recommended to anyone with a love for the genre.



Well, that's it. Though 2009's RPGs were much more sparse than 2008, it had a few good titles that arguably stood out more this year due to less competition. Now a few weeks into 2010, the new decade looks bright with quality RPGs already upon us.

Again, sorry it took so long to get these all up. We will be back to regular updates on Monday.

Best wishes to everyone in the new year, and thanks for reading Sword Machine!