Thursday, December 31, 2020

2020 – The Highlights (Tetris_King)

Though we have been making these lists for the last 10 years, 2020 is a bit different as the closing of theaters by way of a global pandemic has resulted in us seeing far fewer new movies than in previous years and playing a lot more video games due in part to collective lockdown boredom. Nevertheless, we decided this would not stop us from presenting what we liked and disliked over the course of the year, though keep in mind that circumstances have resulted in something a bit lighter than usual.

Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to reviews where applicable.

Top Movies of 2020

Sonic the Hedgehog



Purely by circumstance, this was the last movie, and the only one from 2020, that I was able to watch in a theater before or since the entire world was devastated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as of this writing. My confidence going into this movie wasn’t high at first due to the infamous original design for Sonic, however this movie is a great example of how something as simple as a character redesign can do wonders for the finished product. While not exactly a masterclass of cinema, Sonic the Hedgehog is a big step in the right direction for video game movies as a whole and is a very enjoyable and funny movie in its own right.

Soul



Of the handful of animated movies I ended up seeing this year, Soul is easily the best. The story it tells is something I think most people can relate to on some level and the animation features some very interesting visual effects that I didn’t think possible in computer animation. Though so far it is only available on Disney+, I would highly recommend watching both it and its accompanying short Burrow if you are able.

Top Video Games of 2020

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated




Whereas the original release of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom proved to stand the test of time, the Rehydrated remake brings into the modern day with some much-needed quality of life changes. The game also reintroduces some content that was cut from the original release, however said content is relegated to a frankly lackluster multiplayer mode. Some additional shortcomings upon release, such as the inability to replay boss fights, have thankfully been ironed out through patches, making the game much easier to recommend for those who have not played the original version, unless you’re in it for ulterior speedrunning motives.

Ghost of Tsushima



Being familiar with Sucker Punch’s catalog to varying degrees, Ghost of Tsushima’s announcement was enough to catch my attention, as it was based on a major Japanese historical event. Not only does the final game capture ancient Japan beautifully on the visual front, it’s also highly respectful of the country’s history and culture. The gameplay itself is also great, with combat options that tie in well with the themes of the story as well as some relaxing side content that displays how the beauty of nature can be found even on a battlefield (plus you can pet foxes). I’d be curious to see what Sucker Punch does next, though as far as this IP goes, it seems like one that could easily be left alone after one installment.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2



After a five-year gap following the absolute disaster that is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, the Pro Skater series makes a huge comeback with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. This game takes everything that made the first two games good and improves on them across the board (pun not intended), along with an expanded track list that features all but three tracks from both games as well as some new songs never heard in a Pro Skater game before. The overall quality of the game shows that there was true passion behind these remasters that both old and new fans can appreciate, and I would hope a similar level of effort is put into whatever comes next for the franchise.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time



As someone who got into Crash Bandicoot via the N. Sane Trilogy, I had wondered what the next step for the franchise would be after Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, which turned out to be a brand new game in the series. Crash Bandicoot 4 lives up to the gameplay style of the original trilogy while introducing some new twists of its own. Granted, the game does go a bit overboard in terms of its collectibles, however the game is still a must-play for even casual Crash Bandicoot fans.

Top Disappointment of 2020

Scoob!



Scoob! is an example of what happens when you try to start your own Cinematic Universe and not only forget to make sure the first installment is good on its own, but also misunderstand the source material in the process. The typical mystery formula that Scooby-Doo fans have come to expect is discarded nearly wholesale in favor of an action movie crossover with Blue Falcon, Wacky Races and Captain Caveman of all things, featuring lightning-fast pacing and several missed opportunities to truly tap into the emotional core of the story. Throw in a wholly unnecessary, and somehow plot-critical, cameo from American Idol’s Simon Cowell of all people and you get possibly one of the biggest missteps for any Hannah-Barbera property in recent memory.

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