Earlier this month we published a list of the best games of 2019 according to GameMAG.ru, and today we are posting a separate article in which our authors and editors working on reviews and special materials tell us what they remembered over the past twelve months from games, films, series and animes.
Azzy (Azamat Tegati)
Author, editor and owner of the banhammer.
Main platforms: PS4 PRO, Nintendo Switch, macOS
There were a lot of good games this year, and I even put 10 out of 10 for the first time. Resident evil 2like about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Death stranding, much has already been said in our top editorial staff. Therefore, here I want to note the games around which there was not much excitement, but they managed to really please. Age of Wonders: Planetfall – cool 4X strategy in a fantastic setting with turn-based battles like in Xcom. It is impossible to play it a little bit – by launching for a couple of moves, you will unclip only after a few hours.
Other non-obvious projects worth noting are River city girls and Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark – both made with a soul and a love of retro. And this year, I finally returned to the game from childhood and defeated the last boss without cheats! it Doom ii. It was great!
Movies in 2019 are completely in order. Being a big fan of stunt movies and well-posed action movies, I was looking forward to continuing “John Wick” The third part was so pleased that I went to the cinema several times and will definitely be watching the movie at home. The main feeling that I experienced after each battle scene was “this is the best action and it is unlikely to be steeper already,” but after a few minutes a new battle begins, which delights even more than the previous one. Stahelski and the team made the plot more folk and video game style, which envelops this harsh massacre in a witty farce.
The second movie that pleased me was “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”From Quentina Tarantino. A magnificent cast of the era, with its cartoon characters, whom the author loves so much. It may seem that most of the film the plot does not move anywhere, but the main characters performed by Pitt and DiCaprio are so charismatic that they make them empathize and hold attention to the very end. It is also worth noting that Tarantino nobly criticized the critics and carefully used many stamps that they do not like so much. Here there is an off-screen voice, flashbacks, long protracted scenes and much more, for which other filmmakers were destroyed on their “glossy” pages by certified “film esthetes”.
Well, the third movie that got into my conditional top 3, – “Irishman” Martina Scorsese. I do not like prolonged films, so I sat down to watch it with caution and a readiness to rewind boring fragments. However, the movie is so fascinating that for three and a half hours I was practically not distracted from the screen. Everything is perfect in this picture: directing, editing, acting, script and even a bit weird makeup with special effects of rejuvenation. Martin Scorsese is a great master of his craft. And he once again demonstrated it.
In 2019, I almost did not start watching new TV shows and for the most part I just watched the series that ended this year, like “Silicon Valley”,“Players“And treacherously rotten final season”Game of Thrones” However, I couldn’t pass by “The witcher” on the Netflix and “Boys”(The boys) from Amazon. The latter is based on comics. Garth Ennis and turned out in a good trashy deconstruction of the superhero genre. In it, characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman belong to a large corporation that uses them for their needs. I recommend to everyone who is tired of sugary movie comics Marvel and DC.
As for The Witcher, you can read more about my opinion in the review on the site.
ACE (Mikhail Shaginyan)
Editor in Chief, I suffer for you.
Main platforms: PS4 PRO, Nintendo Switch, PC
While the western game industry continues to sink in expensive and meaningless crafts, like Anthem, Ubisoft ignores his real masterpieces of the past, and Bethesda instead of saving the science fiction genre, stubbornly mocks the corpse Fallout 76, the Japanese once again proved their superiority by releasing one hit after another.
I want to highlight the top five: incredibly addictive Death stranding and Fire Emblem: Three Houses with cool stories and charismatic characters – these projects can be played for 10 hours a day without stopping, if only the schedule allowed; very atmospheric Resident evil 2 and Astral chain; as well as hardcore Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – the first game in many years that really reminded of the times Ninja Gaiden II.
Of course, it cannot be said that the West could not offer anything interesting. What are they only worth Disco elysium, Sayonara wild hearts, Katana zero and My friend pedro. However, in my top 10 at the end of 2019, there was only one such game – an unexpected and very touching story of two children in the world of medieval France – A plague tale: innocence.
- Death stranding
- Resident evil 2
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Astral chain
- Monster Hunter World – Iceborne
- A plague tale: innocence
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
- Devil May Cry V
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
I really liked the movie “Frozen 2”- for chic songs and an emotional story. Especially luxurious was the denouement for the composition “Where are you”Performed by Russian Elsa – Anna Buturlina, because of which I went to the show twice.
And of course, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”- for the atmosphere and cool characters. The scene with a flamethrower in the pool is 20 out of 10. I would never have thought that I would experience such emotions at such a moment – it was very funny. Tarantino is a genius.
Musically unbelievably impressed with the single “Kisses”From SukekiyoI listened for several months on repeat. But basically, I got a real buzz from projects that I never knew before, like a French-Finnish rock band The do (album “Shake Shook Shaken”- chic), Danish-Norwegian group Euzen – progressive electronic rock with elements of pop music with clear Scandinavian influences (album “Metamorph”) And the Swedish heavy metal band Ghost (album “Prequelle”).
The main disappointment was the last album. Madonnas – “Madame x”, Which turned out to be so bad that it was hardly enough for one listening. The icon of pop music has forgotten how to create hits and issued a rare shit.
XTR (Alexander Loginov)
Main platforms: PS4 PRO, PC
2019 was a busy and incredible year, with disappointments and unexpected pleasant surprises. I went through 120 games – 30 more than last year. He wrote a huge amount of materials and watched no less than a number of films, series and animes. And even mastered about 20 books.
Of the animated films, I remember most of all Spider-Man Into the Spider Versewhich I looked only at the beginning of the year. Great story and styling.
From the movies, my absolute favorites are Alita battle angel and “John Wick 3” And it’s still not clear why the Korean comedy that I liked “Miss and Mrs. Cop”
Of the domestic, the best was probably “Balkan Frontier” Very high quality picture. Among the anime favorites have become Carole and tuesday, Sarazanmai and Dororo.
Returning to the games, it should be noted A plague tale: innocence, Katana zero, My friend pedro and of course, Death stranding.
Of the unexpected new products from which I did not expect anything, it is worth mentioning Song of horror and Jenny LeClue – Detectivu.
Well, in VR, he turned out to be the king Blood and truth is one of the few recent projects that VR can sell.
In the series, the best were: Undone, Evil, The mandalorian, Emergence and Stumptown. “The witcher”From Netflix turned out to be good, but with its flaws. Well, it’s clear that among the heroes of 2023, the Kid Yoda is out of competition. Next year is the period of the release of new consoles, which means that a new level of immersion awaits us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, friends!
ASarafanov (Alexey Sarafanov)
Author and editor, filming Kojima for you, a VR / AR enthusiast
Main platforms: PS4, Xbox One X, PC, Nintendo Switch
2019 has become a very busy year in the field of media entertainment. He was pleased with the great density of good games that came out literally every month, until the last days of December. Personally, for me, several absolute favorites were determined. Death stranding – The long-awaited game of a recognized genius, who pleased with subtle emotional flirting with the player, addictive gameplay with a sea of new mechanics and a thoughtful interesting world.
Really enjoyed the return Obsidian in the classical representation – The outer worldswhich I went with great pleasure and would recommend to everyone because of the variability and attention to small details. It seems that every polygon in it is made with love. I hope for a great continuation.
I also want to note Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – for the epic beauties of medieval Japan and hardcore. Artists Fromsoftware as always proved to be the best. Of course, I remembered the feeling of incredible joy when, after the 50th attempt, you kill the next very difficult boss – you are overcoming yourself and feel the power of a real shinobi.
From other events of the year – pleased release Valve index and games Boneworks. The helmet moves technology forward and sets new quality standards in the industry, thanks to it we already have fully traceable hands and fingers and a substantially prettier picture. Boneworks was just an example of the implementation of all the basic mechanics in games. Even Valve drew attention to this, noting that she wants to Half-Life: Alyx to achieve the same physics and degree of elaboration of the interactive environment.
The VR industry does not stand still and it’s cool!
Of the TV shows, “Mandaloretz“In which the very atmosphere is realized”Star wars” This is the “last hope” of the franchise, given the full drain of the last trilogy. I also advise “Boys” I look forward to the weekend to watch “The witcher”
This year I began to watch a lot more films, got acquainted with the entire filmography of Balabanov, watched several festival films and classics from Tarkovsky, Kubrick, Von Trier and Scorsese.
The main films of 2019 are, of course, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”,“Irishman”And“Parasites”
Tarantino gives vivid emotions about the Golden Age of Hollywood. His painting was created to preserve these sensations in the form of a bright dream or a sweet dream.
“Parasites” from Pong Zhun Ho – A kaleidoscope from genres with reflections on social topics that looks at one go and certainly will not leave you indifferent.
In turn, the Scorsese film became a monumental serious and insanely stylish picture, putting an end to the entire genre of cinema about the mafia.
I want to thank all our readers for staying with us on Gamemag.ru, having rallied into one of the warmest and most durable Runet community! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
OkaRin (Ilya Zakharov)
Author, Japanese visionary, stronghold of all JRPG.
Main platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS
It’s amazing how rich 2019 was! The Japanese finally took root as masters of rich story games. Everyone could choose a project to taste. The main thing for me was the work Capcom, Resident evil 2 remake, which showed how it is necessary to revive the classics in a new light, putting their whole soul into the revival of the PS1 hit. A host of details and painstaking handling of the source turned the game into a true feast, where you enjoy every minute, and the replay value is so high that you don’t even notice how you go to the second scenario.
Against this background, the AAA segment of the western game dev has seriously lost ground. Almost everywhere, sheer disappointments, dull services and pumping money out with microtransactions. Let’s hope that on the new generation of BioWare, Bethesda and other companies that upset us in 2019 will take their heads.
However, this does not negate the fact that indie developers and mid-budget games have firmly taken their place and are blown away for everyone. I especially want to note Bloodstained, Ion fury, Katana zero, Amid evil, Blasphemous, Wargroove, Children of morta and A plague tale: innocence.
My top 5:
- Resident evil 2
- Kingdom Hearts 3
- Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Devil May Cry 5
The game backlog committed the highest measures of violence against me, so I carefully selected things to view. For all its flaws, “The witcher”From Netflix It turned out to be fascinating. I was very pleased that all the episodes came out right away, since I hate languishing ongoings.
“Mandaloretz“Became the best project in the universe”Star wars”For many years.
If “Irishman“Primarily struck by the iron endurance and integrity of the hero Roberta De Niro, thenJoker”- all-consuming madness Joaquin Phoenix. The script, thought out to the smallest detail, holding on to the end of the intrigue, as well as the masterful play of the actors – both films are based on similar foundations, can please with unique approaches and equally high-quality – for that we love.
I’ll be brief on the anime – just look wonderful Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The work catches up with elaborate battle scenes using edged weapons and demonic abilities. The best fights that I have seen in 10 years for sure. Cruelty, epic, cool abilities of characters and not so simple at first glance demons are taken for the living. Of course, without a good fucking colorful characters and a kind of humor between a serious story, the matter was not done, and the animators worthily transferred the source, for which they are thankful.
Undoubtedly, the best Asian TV series of 2019 is Anata no ban desu or “Your move” At first glance, it was filmed plainly and seems like a typical passing detective story, but then the banal mosaic begins to take shape in a fascinating picture. Based on the classics Alfred Hitchcock “Strangers on the train”In terms of the concept of“ exchange of murders, ”the series skillfully hides the true intentions of the villains. The cherry on the cake is the fact that despite the fairly high dynamics of the development of events, it is really difficult to understand exactly who pulls the strings. At the same time, the trick is that there are many characters, some of them are connected directly, and someone indirectly. But at the same time, everyone is united by the game. In addition to a cool narrative and interesting raft twists, I would like to note the frightening atmosphere of an apartment building, where the lion’s share of events takes place. This is exactly the moment when your house is not a fortress, but a house of cards.
Shibito (Alexander Kopanev)
Author, living legend, Bibito.
Main platforms: PS4 PRO, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS
2019 was a landmark year for the Japanese game dev. Company Capcom somehow miraculously rehabilitated in front of the carnivorous fans of the series Resident evilwho until recently were ready to roll developers into the asphalt. But after numerous unsuccessful attempts to develop the franchise in new directions, the studio issued an almost perfect remake Resident evil 2while retaining the original atmosphere of the original, but at the same time significantly updating the technical and gameplay components. For me exactly RE2R is the best game of 2019.
The already recognized brontosaurs of game building from Fromsoftware with its Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Fathers of the series Dark souls once again managed to set fire to chairs under an unprepared casual audience just adding to the familiar mechanics Dark souls new system of parry blows. Those who could not master the timings, including infantile journalists, squeaked on the entire Internet and even demanded to add an easy difficulty level to the game or shamefully passed with cheats. I think this is a victory.
And, of course, the coronation was an important event of the year Hideo Kojima and the assignment of the title of Genius in MoscowIgroMire“. In general, this year Hideo became a real ambassador of the gaming industry all over the world, for which he receives our likes. As for his new project, Death stranding it turned out just the way it should be – this is a purely Kodzimov game, where the absurdity, grotesque and delirium of a madman do not interfere with enjoying the acting Mads Mikkelsen and other movie stars, as well as wonder at the unusual details of the gameplay.
In turn Nintendo systematically released hit after hit, among which I want to highlight a new part of the tactical JRPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses, a fantastic action movie Astral chain from Platinum games and, of course, the adventures of the unlucky Luigi at a haunted hotel in Luigi’s Mansion 3.
Outside Japan, Estonian developers released an amazing isometric RPG Disco elysium.
This year was extremely important for the cinema. The Avengers saga has finally ended, and Disney has completed the abuse of “Star wars” The main movie for me was “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”Where Quentin Tarantino returned to the past of a dream factory, creating a new fairy tale for a modern audience.
The best series of the year, of course, was “Chernobyl” Despite some artistic fiction, he clearly conveys the atmosphere of the disaster at the nuclear power plant and pays tribute to the people who participated in the aftermath of the accident.
We are looking forward to the onset of a new decade, the flight of Elon Mask to Mars, or at least a few decent games and films that we can talk about on the best site in all RuNet. Happy New Year!
Vadimeys (Vadim Vasiliev)
Author, editor and tired grumbler
Main platforms: PS4 PRO, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
This year turned out to be pretty dumb for me in terms of games, which is connected with the lack of free time. As a result, quite a few projects passed by. I walked a little The outer worlds, although I liked what I saw, but the icon of the same Disco elysium Now it’s an eyesore on the desktop of the computer, but has not even started yet. Therefore, the top turned out to be a bit messy:
- Remnant: From the Ashes
- Total War: Three Kingdoms
- Call of duty mobile
- Age of Wonders: Planetfall
- What Remains of Edith Finch
While everyone praises Sekiro, I personally stuck in the budget project from the studio Gunfire gameswhich had previously developed Darksiders 3. Remnant: From the Ashes can not be called an outstanding game, but this is a very addictive cooperative adventure interspersed with souls-like elements, but the emphasis is not on close combat, but on the use of a wide arsenal of firearms.
Total War: Three Kingdoms became the most vivid memory of the current year.
The stylish and expensive strategy, which is based on the history of China, came out very on time and gave new impetus to the Total War franchise.
Concerning Call of Duty Mobile, this game went much better than the expensive restart of Modern Warfare. No crazy plot – only multiplayer, which cut the crazy dynamics to more sane values. The absurdity is only what I played on the PC – through the Android from Tencent emulator.
The year 2019 was marked by the Star Wars franchise, which turned into a kind of zombie. On the one hand, a real present for fans came out – the series “Mandaloretz”. On the other – a crazy mess on aids from J.J. Abrams, which for some reason dare to call the final episode of the Skywalker saga. Somewhere in the middle is the game Jedi: Fallen Orden, which the Respawn studio obviously did not manage to bring to mind, but it manages to leave a completely acceptable aftertaste after passing through.
What ultimately to do with it is decidedly incomprehensible. Studio Lucasfilm is entering an era of change, and we hope that these changes will benefit.
As for the main movie of the year, there are no options at all – this is “Joker”. The tape, which was directly physically difficult to watch at the cinema, and the creators deliberately took such a step, so that the viewer could feel Arthur Fleck’s mental anguish performed by Joaquin Phoenix.
Pleasant changes can also be noted: the audience began to reject the SJW-rotten stuff with disgusting scenarios, which Hollywood is trying to stuff it with. Let’s hope that the trend turns out to be stable.
Among the series this year stood out a few. I already mentioned the Mandalorian, but you can’t miss the Chernobyl, which also became the main horror of the year – the history of the Chernobyl accident is so terribly shown.
But the main thing for me was another HBO project – Keepers. This is such a bad show that it is great. Each series can be pulled into memes about SJW agitation: from a giant blue dildo to a human lubricant. At the same time, mockery of the cult work of Alan Moore goes to some hitherto unattainable level.
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All with the upcoming holidays, friends!
Material prepared by: ACE, XTR, Azzy, ASarafanov, Vadimeys, Shibito, OkaRinediting: Skyerist
Read also: Best Games of 2019 – top editors of GameMAG.ru.
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