How old is Sonic the Hedgehog?

Happy 2025 everyone!

First of all, I'd like to say thank you all so much with sticking with us for this last year. It means so much to all of us here at Netto's Game Room, and we hope to see you all again throughout 2025! We have a lot planned for this coming year, but before then we have one last piece of business to take care of for 2024. Our choices for Game of the Year 2024!

Jonsku's Game of the Year

The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, really well designed game with both puzzles, action and mini open world + you get to play as a SUMMONER!!!! (Please come back in future Nintendo games).

GlacialLeaf's Game of the Year

Sonic X Shadow Generations. Putting aside the clearly moronic name, and me constantly about to call it ‘Shadow X Sonic Generations,’ I honestly thought it’s simply going to be a re-release of Sonic Generations, with a level or two of Shadow tacked on that will last maybe two hours. Something like what we got in Episode Shadow for Sonic Forces.

What we got instead was Sonic Generations, one of my favorite games of all time, with the addition of a full eight-hour campaign of Shadow, filled with tons of collectibles, challenges, incredible stages, and honestly a touching story revolving around Shadow. And a really bad take on Rouge’s voice.

I honestly cannot be any happier for this game. I just couldn’t put it down as soon as I started playing it, and honestly the best Sonic game since… Sonic Generations, honestly. (In my opinion, at least. But what do I know? I still think it’s better than Mania)

Ben's Game of the Year

Looking back at 2024, this year has actually been pretty amazing. I’ve had so many great opportunities, and had the chance to play many outstanding games! So many in fact, that choosing my personal Game of the Year has been extremely difficult. However, one thing that has made 2024 so unique is the fact that this really has been the year for remakes and remasters, and because of that I felt it wouldn’t be completely fair to choose these games as my number one. But that doesn’t change the fact that these games deserve to be recognized, and I didn’t want to simply pass over them!

Persona 3 Reload

One of the earlier games I bought this year was none other than Persona 3 Reload. I LOVE Persona 3, and Reload is a game that I had been hoping for for years. A remake of Persona 3 using the newer engine and 3D models, with refinements to the gameplay, and some added style as well! Did I like everything changed? No, but overall it is still the Persona 3 that I was already a fan of. It is a really great game, and it makes me happy to see more fans getting the chance to jump into it for the first time.

Another Code Recollection

This is something that completely surprised me, and something I never expected to get to see! Another Code Recollection is not only a collection of both Another Code titles (known as Trace Memory in the US), but it is a full remake of both titles bundled together! As a huge fan of this series, which includes Hotel Dusk and Last Window, I was overjoyed to see it return after all of these years! And not only that, but finally being able to play the sequel? That too was a dream come true.

While Last Window also only released in the EU, it was a DS game and the DS wasn’t region locked. Another Code on the other hand? It was a Wii game, and the Wii did have such restrictions. I had to settle for watching a playthrough online back in the day, but now I was able to play it for myself. Again… Dream. Come. True!

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door

Continuing Nintendo’s trend of surprising re-releases; Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door returned as well! Not only is this game one of my all time favorite GCN games, but it is also one of my favorite RPGs in general! The game’s setting and tone is completely different from other Mario games, and the story and characters are simply fun. Being able to re-experience this game again in a remastered form was amazing. I would’ve chosen this game as my GOTY back when it first launched, but such a title wasn’t even a thought for me back in the day.

Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance

I already went into Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance in great detail with my review earlier this year, as well as my other articles (such as the one detailing the difference between the different storylines), but it really was one of my favorites I played this year. Despite playing the original Switch version back when it first launched, SMTVV still really hooked me. I loved all the gameplay improvements and additions, and the new story elements had me intrigued.

I might get hate for saying this, but it clicked more for me than Metaphor, and was a game I was playing non-stop for weeks. Each time I finished it? I simply started another playthrough and tried something different! Sure, it still has issues, but it comes close to being for sure my GOTY this year… Except, it isn’t fully a new game, and many reasons I love it are the same as they were with the initial release. So I really can’t call this a GOTY for 2024, when it isn’t fully a 2024 title. Still very much worth mentioning.

The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Remastered

This is one I am currently still working on playing through, but I felt I had to bring it up here. Soul Reaver is a game I never got to own as a kid, and it isn’t a game I would’ve ever expected my parents to buy for me. I did however, have the demo of the game, and me and my cousins would sit there playing it all the time! Of course back then I didn’t realize how special the game really was, but as I got older and learned more about it, I was surprised to see just how unique of an experience it had to offer. So when I was sent a review copy for the remastered collection, I was excited to dive in and finally experience it for myself, and I can say now that it has been quite the experience! I’ve been trying to play the series as I would’ve in the 90s, without any online help, and that has taken up quite a bit of my time. I won’t say more at the moment (as my review will be coming out within the next month), but I can say that this game does deserve the title of GOTY. The fact that Soul Reaver 1 came out in the 90s? Completely blows my mind.

Romancing SaGa 2

Speaking of the 90s… Romancing SaGa2 is outstanding! This game originally came out on the SNES, and the new remake is the exact same game for the modern era. It takes what the original 2D game did, rebuilds the world to scale in 3D, adds in voice acting, and some other quality of life improvements. Outside of that though? It is exactly the same game, and that is impressive.

This is a JRPG where your characters level up skills and abilities based upon what they do in battle, the story branches down MANY different paths completely based upon your actions, and the plot spans multiple generations. Not only that, but if a character dies, they die! You get to replace them with someone similar, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are gone… And that too can lead you down different paths depending on who died, and if they are your “main character.”

This game’s systems are extremely complex, with a lot of factors that go into the split story paths and generation skips, and I’m enjoying every second of it! It might be my favorite JRPG I’ve played this year (sorry SMTVV), but there’s no changing the fact that this is a game from 1993. Even without the 3D graphics and voice acting, the original is still just as amazing… Because, again, this remake is still the original! Just with a new coat of paint. And this isn’t the only Square Enix title to receive similar treatment; just in a different way!

Dragon Quest III

I LOVE the whole HD-2D style, and would love to see more retro games (or retro styled games) adapt these types of visuals. Star Ocean 2’s Remake last year used a similar look, and I still feel like it was one of the best looking games! It just looked so nice, and now we have Dragon Quest III as a true HD-2D release! Of course Dragon Quest III already had a very good reputation (especially in Japan), so this new version just made the game even better. Not only did it look great, but they added voice acting, the ability to customize your party member’s looks, and other quality of life improvements! Square Enix took an already great game (which has had multiple versions and remakes already), and made it even better. This one originally came out in 1988, and the game is still just as fun in today’s world.

Tsukihime and Fate/stay night

I know I described Another Code as a dream come true, but it wasn’t the only one this year! After many, MANY, years… It finally happened. Not only did we get the Tsukihime remake in the US, but we received the original follow up visual novel as well! The influential Fate/stay night. And that is crazy! After countless years of receiving spin off games like the Fate/Extra series, and the mobile game Fate/Grand Order, as well as anime adaptations (including the original Fate/stay night anime, Fate/Zero, Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works, Heavens Feel, and MANY others), we finally have the two games that started it all.

Tsukihime is a full remake with changes to the story, while stay night is a remaster of the “all age” version of the game. Still, it is insane to think that both of these titles are fully playable in English now, and I couldn’t talk about this year’s amazing games without them! A lot of people have seen stories that were inspired by Tsukihime and Fate without even realizing it, but now they can see the start of it all for themselves.

GOTY Runner Up: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Now, this is where things are a bit different. This next title is what I’m going to consider my “runner-up” for GOTY 2024. I debated between this title and one other, but ultimately the second game is what won for me. That being said… Final Fantasy VII Rebirth could possibly be one of my new favorite Final Fantasy titles, and I believe everyone should play it! Even if you are not a fan of the series, this is a game that could easily become one of your new favorites.

However, playing it isn’t that simple.

Rebirth is a direct continuation of Remake, and as such it really isn’t a game you can just jump into and get the full experience. Not only that, but there is a PlayStation 5 exclusive DLC episode that ties into it also, as well as a novel which provides extra context and is referenced in Rebirth. Of course these two things are a bit more on the optional side, but you’ll get more out of the game if you’ve seen it all. It is also technically a follow up to the original Final Fantasy VII series, and knowing details about the original stories provides more to it as well. It is a lot to fully enjoy this game to the fullest… But really all you actually “need” to play is Remake. Once you do that you can dive on into Rebirth, and you will discover an amazing adventure from start to finish.

Not only does the game recreate a large chunk of FF7’s world to scale, but the world is packed full of activities to partake in, side quests to tackle, and monsters and bosses to fight! Not to mention the multiple characters you can play as, which changes things up in the gameplay department. There are even full “stages” you get to progress through that make use of the character's unique abilities. These sections are action packed, and have some really cool story moments to go along with them. And then you have the mini games.

Rebirth is packed full of mini games, and challenges to go along with each one. The classics like Chocobo Racing return, but the new mini games like the card game are extremely well designed, and can occupy countless hours of your time. While not all of them will resonate with everyone, most players will surely find a handful of favorites, and they make the game even more enjoyable.

Or not?

Even if you do not care about the mini games whatsoever, Rebirth is still packed full of content, and the story is so much fun! Again, easily one of the best Final Fantasy experiences out there. While the game uses Final Fantasy VII as a base, it is a game of its own, and not necessarily a remake or remaster like the previous games I’ve mentioned. Heck even now as I type this I’m questioning if I should change it to my GOTY choice, but I’m going to hold steady with this one. My number one choice for 2024.

Game of the Year 2024: Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth

Okay, this one is going to be very hard to put into words, but to put it as simply as possible… Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is a game that makes me smile. No matter what is happening on screen,or how horribly I fail at something within the game, I still find myself smiling and wanting to keep on going! I’m not sure if it is the main character Ichiban Kasuga’s influence (as he always looks at the brighter side of life), or if it is just the way the game is designed… But Infinite Wealth is a game that makes me happy, and I love playing it! It is summer vacation in video game form, and I never want it to end.

The thing is, I actually haven’t fully finished Infinite Wealth, yet I still see it as my favorite game of the year. You see, this game isn’t simply the next entry within the Like a Dragon series (formally known as Yakuza in the West), but it is a title that has basically been 20 years in the making. Everything that came before has led up to this moment, and those who have experienced it from the beginning will have a completely different outlook when it comes to this game. It brings Kazama Kiryu back in the leading role alongside Ichiban, while also not overshadowing everything Ichiban had just gone through in the previous title. Right from the beginning I found myself feeling overjoyed when I got to step back into Ichiban’s shoes and see what he and his friends have been up to since we last saw them, and things got even crazier when his story brought him to Hawaii.

Being in America brought something new and fresh to the series, with Kiryu himself being a constant reminder of the past and why I originally loved this series. It is this mix of new and old that blends together perfectly, creating something that someone like myself can’t help but love. When I step into the vocational school and see the reaction from Ichiban when he fails a test I’m instantly taken back to the previous game, but when I call friends into battle using Pound Mates, I find a new list of characters and new mechanics assigned to the summon system. This makes it fundamentally different from before, and keeps it from feeling stale. It is new and exciting like it was when the system first got introduced, and having Gary Buster Holmes girlfriend be the new lead is pretty crazy as well! (Gary Buster Holmes is a recurring character throughout the series.) It is still fan service, but without being the same.

Along with this fan service, the little things really stand out here also. The game gives you a music app to play your favorite songs, and that includes a wide variety of iconic Like a Dragon songs, as well as tracks from other SEGA and ATLUS titles. If you want to walk through the streets while Persona 4 music plays in the background, you can do it! If you want to blast Majima Construction from Yakuza Kiwami 2, you can do that as well! Or what about the iconic I’ve been a Fool song that even non Like a Dragon fans seem to know about? Yep, you’ve got that as an option too! The world itself is also filled with a lot of little details and throwbacks, and it all adds to the overall experience.

Heck, sometimes just walking through Hawaii taking in the sights is just as fun as actually playing the game, and it is something I’ve honestly spent a lot of time doing… But the gameplay itself is great too.

Putting aside the story, which is one of the major reasons to even play a Like a Dragon game, the core gameplay features a really fun classic turn based battle system, with a crazy and over the top class system. The game mixes real time elements and character positioning along with selecting your attacks, and you can build some truly unique parties by mixing up the characters and classes. There is a lot of fun to be had with just the battles here, and the surprising part is how it is only one “small” part of the overall package. Sure, it’s technically the “main” aspect of the game (as you will be constantly fighting enemies and bosses), but in a game that contains multiple games within it… It really isn’t as big of a part as you might think.

What is insane about Infinite Wealth is the sheer amount of things there are to do. You step onto a bus and expect to simply go for a ride? Well, you’ve just stepped into Like a Dragon’s version of Pokémon Snap! Now you might think that it stops there, but in reality the game features an entire Pokémon system, with over 300 to capture, across two regions, multiple trainers to take on, and leagues to challenge! It is a fully developed monster capturing game mixed in with the main game, complete with its own turn based battle system. The game didn’t need to go this hard with what seemed to be such a simple mini game, but it is amazing that it did! Players could spend hundreds of hours on this part alone, and completely ignore the rest of the game if they wanted to. And it isn’t the only one like this.

Not only does Infinite Wealth contain a Pokémon parody, but it also jumps into the world of Animal Crossing!

The Animal Crossing part of Infinite Wealth has Ichiban managing and building an island, with pretty much everything you might expect from a life simulator. Bug catching, fishing, gathering resources, learning DIY projects, crafting tools, crafting furniture, decorating the island with said furniture, upgrading your house, adding things to your house, and so on… It is ALL here! You can even recruit characters from the main game to live on the island, as well as characters that serve as a blast from the past. There are also mascot characters to take the place of “animals” and an island rating system that is right out of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Once again, players can easily spend hundreds of hours just playing this mode, and it is very easy to get addicted to it. Of course, it still doesn't stop here.

Like with the games before, Infinite Wealth includes classic mini games like karaoke (with a pretty decent list of songs to play), and even full SEGA Arcade games. It even has SpikeOut which is a 3D arcade beat 'em up that can be seen as a follow up to Streets of Rage and the predecessor to the Like a Dragon series in general. Virtua Fighter 3tb is also here for classic 3D fighting action, or you can unwind with SEGA Bass Fishing if you are looking for something different. These are the full games, and are all fun in their own right.

Overall, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is just a great game, and is a game I will personally keep coming back to for years. Even when it gets “replaced” by future games, it will always have enough unique content of its own to bring me back for more. This can also be said about previous entries in the series, with their own stories also serving as another great reason to go back to them. (Plus they have their own mini games and extra content as well!) Infinite Wealth is no different, it is just the biggest of them all, with the most fan service, and a fun atmosphere that makes me want to come back to it. Again, I simply love this game, and that is why it is my choice for GOTY 2024.