Our individual Game of the year articles allow our lovely writing team to share their personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today it’s reviewer Brett Posner-Ferdman’s turn.
In a year filled with so many incredible games, it’s easy for some great releases to fly under the radar. To many, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk seems to have done just that. As a modern love letter to Jet Set Radio, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk does everything I could ask for and more. The gameplay and cheat system are perfect, and the whole thing explodes with a sense of style I haven’t seen since Jet Set Radio Future. Not only is it incredibly fun and addictive, but it also gets major bonus points for having one of the best soundtracks of any game released in 2023.
When it was announced that Arzest, one of Balan Wonderworld’s developers, was working on a Sonic Mania sequel, all sorts of red flags went up for me. But as a Sonic fan, I knew I was going to get it anyway, and I’m happy to report how much I enjoyed my time with Sonic Superstars. The physics feel great, the emerald powers are really fun, and Trip is a welcome addition to Sonic’s ever-growing roster of characters. Although controversial to many, I have enjoyed many of the Superstar soundtracks. My only complaints come from the game’s boss fights, but otherwise, I loved my time with Sonic Superstars and I’m looking forward to what’s next.
In many ways, Street Fighter 6 felt like that to me. While I’ve been following the character closely and playing through the beta version of the game, part of me was still skeptical of the new direction the series was going. All my fears were put to rest when I finally got my hands on the game in June. The game is fast, fun, and strategic, and it’s been my favorite multiplayer game this year with friends and family (including those who don’t play traditional fighting games). While the post-launch support has been a slow trickle of content, the core gameplay is so strong that I don’t mind too much. Here’s hoping 2024 continues to be kind to Street Fighter 6.
Another game that really surprised me, Marvel’s Spider Man 2, didn’t excite me as much as it did for most people. While I loved the original Spider-Man, Miles Morales felt much the same to me. So while I knew Spider-Man 2 would be a well-made and enjoyable time, I was worried that it wouldn’t be “new” enough to hook me like the original. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. The stakes are higher, the combat is more refined, and thanks to the addition of web wings, swinging around New York is better than ever. Honestly, there’s very little to complain about here, Insomniac Games has created a truly incredible sequel to one of the best games of all time.
When I looked at every game released this year, there was no doubt in my mind what would be number one on this list. The original Resident Evil 4 is not only one of my favorite games, but one of the most influential games of all time. For this reason, I think many were worried about the prospect of a remake. How to blend in perfection? Well, Capcom has struck twice because the remake of Resident Evil 4 is nothing short of incredible from start to finish. All the best points from the original are here and considered, but reimagined and modernized to fit perfectly with the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3. That’s to say nothing of how Capcom made Parting Ways the best piece of DLC released this year. Resident Evil 4 Remake was nothing short of fun to play, and it’s a perfect reminder of why Resident Evil 4 is considered one of the best of all time.
What do you think about Brett’s personal game of the year pick? Agree wholeheartedly or abuse mercilessly in the comments section below.