GameSided Game of the Year 2014 | Daniel’s Picks
1 – Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Look at the above image. What you see is the early legendary figureheads of gaming, in Mario, Rockman, Pac-Man and Sonic. For them all to feature so prominently in one game, alongside a massive cast of dozens of other combatants, speaks to the remarkable nature of Super Smash Bros for Wii U.
Without a doubt, there is no other game released in 2014 (or in the past several years, for that matter) that has nearly the same amount of high quality content as Smash Bros on the Wii U. With Mewtwo on the way, 50 playable character slots is an amazing testament to the mind of Masahiro Sakurai. Online multiplayer, whether it be solo matches or in groups, is amazing for fun and for record-keeping glory. The sheer amount of new gameplay modes for offline (8-Player Smash, Smash Tour and Special Orders) speaks to the ability to keep things fresh and interesting in a series going through its fourth iteration.
Most importantly, with the Gamecube adaptor and controllers at the ready, it means ease of access to casual players who either dropped the series a decade ago or who are more familiar with the controlling mechanics of Super Smash Bros. Melee. Even though some will deride its quality due to its defensive style versus the much faster Melee, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the perfect game on a console most dedicated to sharing fun experiences with others. Playing Smash with friends and family has never been better.
And it’s why I consider it tops for my Game of the Year 2014 list!