With the year wrapping up, Steve and I decided to write about the games we‘ve played this year that really won us over. In other words, the two of us have decided to choose our personal Games of the Year. This year started off slow, but the amount of highly rated games that came out after July is nothing short of astonishing. We at the Shamoozal have not been able to play them all (obviously), so these lists are based solely on what we have played.With that noted, continue on to find out what stole a spot in our hearts in the year Oh Seven.

Find out what took top honors after the jump….

Steve’s Take on 2007

5. Shadowrun (XB360)

I had a lot of fun with this game. It’s ashame it was more or less the whipping boy for most game sites because the bad press and high price tag ensured it never had a chance. Yes, a true Shadowrun RPG sequel would have been the most awesomest thing ever (maybe?), but this Counter-Strike meets RPG interpretation of the franchise had a lot more to offer than anyone gave it credit for. Too bad the disbanding of Fasa Studio means we will never know what could have been if this game was given proper support and expansions. Oh well…

4. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)

I had to give the PS3 a little love and Uncharted makes it an easy task. This is without a doubt the game every PS3 owner should own/rent/borrow… whatever just play it! I don’t know what the future holds for the Uncharted franchise, but based on this outing I’d be more than happy to join up with Drake, Elena and the whole crew for another adventure.

3. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)

Though it’s technically an expansion pack, WoW:TBC has more than enough content to stand on it’s own. The quests and areas in TBC are designed better and take you back to the heart of what made WoW fun in the first place. Plus, TBC did what I thought impossible, it got me to resubscribe and level a new character from 1-60, just to see the new areas.

2. Portal (PC)

A puzzle game in FPS’s clothing if ever there was one. Easily one of the most fun games I’ve played… ever! Plenty of smart humor, challenging puzzles and a ton of replay value for your buck. For me Portal outshines everything else in the Orange Box bundle. Plus, you have to play through it for the end credits song… it’s rapidly becoming the new internets meme.

1. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

What can be said for URMRGAY that hasn’t already been said? This was the first game that I was able to sit down and play from beginning to end with my daughter. The 2nd player “star catcher” feature was such a simple device, but it added so much enjoyment to the game for me on a personal level. Watching a 3-year old’s face light up with the feeling of achievement was priceless to me. Thanks Nintendo.

Biggest Disappointment of 2007:

Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix (Wii)

The HP Franchise had a banner year in 2007. The 5th movie was arguably one of the best in the series, and the final book ended the series with critical acclaim. So, a Wii version of a Harry Potter game should have been a no-brainer right? I mean, the Wii-mote is like a wand… so how about some multiplayer “Wii play together” good times at Hogwarts!?Nope, we get a steaming pile of EA shovelware. “Hey, lets take the PS3/Xbox 360 version… slap some craptastic waggle on it and knock the resolution down till it looks like a Sega Saturn game.” Nice work, EA… you guys totally blew it on this one.

This was the perfect chance to make a unique Harry Potter game that let people duel against each other (like Wii boxing with wands) or any number of cool mini-games. My biggest regret about this game is that I actually bought it brand new, I got caught up in the Potter-mania and took a chance. Lesson learned EA.

Phil’s Take on 2007

Before I begin, I want to take a moment to point out that I haven’t played many of this years highest rated titles. I don’t own a 360, so that automatically takes those games out of the running for me. Remember, this list is created based on what I played this year. Considering we’re not part of the gaming press, it’s not possible for us to play everything. Regardless, I have a feeling that even if I did play everything imaginable there would be nothing that could top my number one. Unlike Steve, I narrowed my list down to a Top 3 instead of a Top 5. We’re different like that.

3. Odin Sphere (PS2)

Odin Sphere is kind of like my personal dream game come true, and that dreams is a kick ass SNES title on steroids. Beyond Sphere’s strikingly beautiful graphics, and animation, this game offers some surprisingly deep gameplay. It is a fast paced action RPG that has players fighting like a mad man while managing magic, mixing potions, and farming all at the same time. It can get over whelming, but the first few battles do a fine job of holding your hand. Once you get by the learning curve, the better than average narrative kicks in making you want to find out what happens next. Games like this don’t come around often enough.

Oh yeah, and Hitoshi Sakimoto’s soundtrack is awesome as always.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)

I can’t help but feel bad for the Metroid franchise. The truth is, the Metroid series never found the audience that it rightfully deserves. It is true that the original Metroid Prime was the biggest hit the series has seen, but I’m going to attribute it’s success to timing, and timing alone.Metroid Prime 2 didn’t do the numbers it should have despite critical praise. Looking at what it was up against, like GTA3 and Halo 2, not to mention a waning interest in the Gamecube as a whole, there is no wonder that the game was looked over by the general public.

It is unfortunate that Prime 3 has found itself in a similar position as Prime 2 before it. Regardless of the fact that the Wii had a rough year long line up, the game came out between other first person hits like Bioshock and Halo 3. When you look at all the triple A titles that came out after Prime 3, this game is obviously not going to get a second look as far as game of the year is concerned in most publications.

For me personally though, Prime 3 is hands down my second favorite game of the year. The excellent control alone has made me a believer of FPS games with the Wii’s IR pointer. In fact, since playing Prime I’m finding it much harder to go back to dual analog sticks for this type of game. The level design, coupled with Metroid’s amazing artwork, make one of the most unique game worlds ever created. Seriously, some kind of genius was hired to think of the way all of these corridors work and interconnect, and the thought that went into the alien architecture is damn brilliant.

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

This one shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who read my review of Galaxy. There are few games that are as charming and downright fun as a traditional Mario platformer, and even fewer games that I personally finish and then start over again.People seem to forget that Mario games are made for everyone. I have seen it get knocked here and there for being too easy, but I have been watching several people play through the game and I can tell you that the difficulty and learning curve is perfect. The fact that this game reaches all ages and both genders is an accomplishment on its own. When I look at the package as a whole, the length, insane level design, smart co-op play, tight controls, brilliant music, and great graphics, it’s nothing short of amazing. This is a must play, and justifies the purchase of a Wii console.

Biggest Disappointment of 2007:

The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass (DS)

It isn’t that Phantom Hourglass isn’t a really good game, it’s just that it isn’t the game it should have been. As far as control goes, the stylus works surprisingly well. The problem though, is that it seems Nintendo spent most of the time getting the control to work, and not as much time designing the game that holds it together. Hourglass easily has one of the weakest over worlds of any Zelda to date, and the dungeons are uninspiring and lack the artistic design that we’ve seen in Twilight Princess and Wind Waker before it. It’s a strictly by the numbers Zelda experience, and anyone who has been keeping up with the series will know exactly what to expect. The game also has some of the most boring and monotonous music of any Zelda adventure to date. It’s a solid game, and one of the best DS offerings all year around, but it’s obvious this was done by Nintendo’s B-Team.That wraps up our Shamoozal Games of the Year feature. Do you guys agree with our choices?