Let’s have a look back at this blog’s archive for the year, and my gaming life in general. Join me after the jump if you like.

I acquired new hardware left and right, with a PS4, a Vita, a DSiXL, and a SNES mini entering my household. You’d think this diversification would result in less platform specification, but you’d be wrong. My PS3 and 3DS in particular got quite the workout it seems, especially with them being avenues to past generations of PS2/X and DSiWare titles respectively.

Speaking of past generations, I tested out some custom aftermarket software (ooh hacking ooh) by installing fraudulently signed emulators on my PSP. It was a fun novelty and may see some play later, but after so much Picross already in the year I tried to go hard with Picross 2 for GB and burned out, setting aside the PSP entirely for a time. More successful was my hacking of the SNES mini; the host of multiplayer titles I installed got a fair bit of play during our trip to Japan. Speaking of, I had a great time there and you can read a bit about it here.

As I did last year, I low-key continued some of my ongoing hobbies by translating several comics (Dengeki Pikachu, Game Boy Pocket from German, and a Dutch Christmas mini-comic) and doing some pixel art projects when I felt like it, including a substantial series on the Dragon Ball franchise.

It seems more of my energy went into my streaming though. I had tons of fun over the course of the year, playing new retro games every week, and having up to two or three viewers is more regular now, heh. I’ve played mascot racers, platformers, fighting games, the whole Bubsy and Mr. Nutz series, and some Ecco-likes leading up to a monumental showcase of dolphin-related games that is perhaps my proudest moment of the year.

Yes, in fact I think I’ll remember 2017 as the year I discovered Ecco the Dolphin. I’ve become a huge fan and sought out other games similar to it, which led to some interesting discoveries although nothing quite like the magic of those Mega Drive gems. This also feeds indirectly into other developments for me such as a growing appreciation for Sega.

It also relates to my founding a retro games club I call the “Game Link Club”. A small group of friends and I take turns picking, playing, and discussing a new old game each month. This has been a lot of fun and led to even more discoveries thanks to the nature of its external input, such as getting me on board with Monster World and Spyro. When it was my turn I of course suggested the original Ecco!

But anyway, time for the annual awards show, which for 2017 will be called… the Scatties.

Best Multiplayer Experience: Although I played a few Lego games with the wife (including an ongoing and unreviewed drawn-out experience with Dimensions), the Scattie will go to Stardew Valley. Although she was the primary player (and there aren’t any actual co-op features in the game yet) I greatly enjoyed chilling out with her while she played, helping her by fishing or fighting, trading off chores, or just looking up stuff. Honourable Mention to my minigolf misadventures with my little brother as we played some truly awful bargain basement Wii shovelware, before settling on Infinite Minigolf (and ultimately deciding that it was actually a bit of a disappointment).

Best New Discovery: I already mentioned it, playing the Ecco the Dolphin games was eye-opening. They’re just special and got deep under my skin, leading me to lots of other games in turn such as Flipper & Lopaka.

Best Stream: Simply in terms of views, my most popular stream from this year was for some reason my playthrough of Lupin the Third: Pandora no Isan. But this award is my pick… and I mentioned the dolphin stream already so I’ll hand this Scattie over to my other most-prepared-for stream, the Bubsy Fangames Showcase. This was a right laugh and a half. A lot of weird stuff; look forward to part 2!

Best Music: That’s right, a category I created just to recognise Hideki Naganuma, this Scattie goes to Sonic Rush! After Jet Set Radio I needed this, and it actually even got me interested in Sonic! Runner-up is Rhythm Heaven Megamix.

Best Non-Horrible Licensed Game: I always play loads of licensed games so this needs to be here. And it might actually be Star Wars Lethal Alliance for PSP, but only by default since nothing was really excellent. All the Force Unleashed spinoffs were fine, the Lego games were fine, Avatar for PSP was fine, DBZ Tenkaichi 3 was fine. Actually scratch that, Dragon Ball Fusions was the most Non-Horrible of the lot, in fact it was fun.

Best New Instalment in an IP that’s Been Around For a While But This New One Is Different Enough to Get You Excited Apparently, or Maybe It’s Just New: So many contenders in this category this year, but I didn’t actually play many of them. I don’t like playing favourites, so let’s call it a three-way tie between Yooka-Laylee (underrated), Metroid: Samus Returns (decent), and Zelda: Breath of the Wild (overrated but still good, even though it has various compromises in certain areas that I didn’t care for).

Honourable Mentions: Some other games I enjoyed this year that I haven’t mentioned yet. Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed. Tokyo Jungle. Dark Souls. Rayman Revolution. Pokemon Moon. Picross 3D Round 2. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. Metroid Prime Federation Force. 3D Space Tank.