Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers to share their own personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2022. Today, it's the turn of retro reviewer Jamie O'Neill.
5. Sonic Frontiers
I was looking for a surprise comparable to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy from last year, so I considered Need for Speed Unbound in this search too, but Sonic Frontiers became my favourite gaming surprise of 2022. The Open Zone structure expanded pathways for verticality, while the game retained an element of traditional 3D Sonic in its Cyber Space stages. It reminded me of Shenmue III in 2019, by filling a gap, and allowing hope for life to be pumped into a classic SEGA franchise. While in the future Sonic Frontiers will most likely be considered a stepping-stone in the evolution of Sonic games, I was still pleased that Sonic Team found success by using creativity and innovation to vary the 3D Sonic formula.
4. Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle is a more niche selection of arcade games, but at £32.99 for 32 titles, it retained a similar sense of value to the classics-packed Capcom Arcade Stadium. These unique games recalled a more specialised sense of nostalgia, as Knights of the Round filled my fantasy brawling fix, Eco Fighters provided a vividly colourful shmup, and Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors reminded me of the mid-1990s students' union bar. There were a lot of amazing retro collections in 2022, but there's something about Capcom's pixel art and chiptunes that makes Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium the most fitting way to honour my Dad's weekend trips to seaside arcades like Ffrith Beach, New Brighton, and Southport throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
3. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
I knew I was going to appreciate the release of Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, just based upon how much I enjoyed Klonoa on PS1 and PS2 in the first place. Sometimes I feel that Klonoa can be dismissed as too cartoonish, but where many games use 2.5D visuals to dynamically rotate background graphics along a 2D gameplay plane — Cotton Fantasy is an example of this from 2022 — Klonoa's stages are built around how the 2.5D platforms wrap around paths to create entangled platforming routes. This was exemplified in the task to free all residents in Phantomile, because discovering the location of bubbles, and figuring how to pop them is cleverly knitted into the twisting stage design.
2. Elden Ring
Back in February, it was cool to discuss my progress in Elden Ring with my cousin and my friend, although at times it felt like I played Elden Ring all wrong, as their Soulsborne experience ensured they progressed in a more efficient manner. Early on I ignored the guidance of grace, so even before entering Stormveil Castle, I travelled from Limgrave around its imposing fortress to Liurnia. I also found a way to transport myself to Caelid, and I spent a large amount of time exploring these three areas, before I'd even confronted Godrick the Grafted. Then again, FromSoftware designed Elden Ring to be accessed this way, and I've enjoyed a similar approach of exploration over story progression for a while now in games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, too.
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
There was a moment while playing six players online — with the intention of completing Arcade Mode on the hardest Gnarly difficulty in a single two hour-ish sitting, as masses of sprites swamped the screen — when I realised I didn't just love Tribute Games' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, I adored it as my favourite game of 2022. The Trophy is called 'Like the Old Days!' and the experience perfectly captured memories of skateboarding around Southport arcades to be amazed upon first seeing the original TMNT coin-op in 1989. Following this, I'll also get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection as a cowa-bonus gift this Christmas.
What do you think of Jamie's personal Game of the Year picks? Feel free to agree wholeheartedly, or berate relentlessly in the comments section below.
Comments 28
I realise in a year of blockbuster PlayStation games like God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West that most of my 2022 picks are smaller, and had less impact, but they're a good reflection of my year.
I'm consistent with my retro choices – for example I had Capcom Arcade Stadium in my 2021 list too – plus I've been enjoying retro themed games like the cutesy shoot-'em-up, Cotton Fantasy, and super scaler-esque racer, Slipstream, this year as well.
In any case, I get a lot out of looking back at gaming in the past, and reminiscing about spending time with my family.
I also like playing games that make me feel chilled out – so this was another reason I chose Shenmue III in my 2019 list – and the music and atmosphere in Sonic Frontiers felt so relaxing at times, especially in the initial Open Zone of Kronos Island. Sonic Frontiers' Big the Cat fishing mini-game could've been straight out of something like Shenmue III, anyway.
Many thanks to Push Square, as always, for including me in its 2022 Game of the Year celebrations.
If anyone has any questions about my picks, please copy me in, and wishing a Merry Christmas to you all.
Klonoa has been massively overlooked in a lot of game of the year discussions as well
Below are eight notable retro collections, which were all released in 2022, to illustrate how this year was excellent for compilations of old games on PS4 and PS5:
There are heaps of cracking retro games in these eight collections. Good job 2022!
Another wonderful list. It’s awesome to see two reviewers show love to Sonic Frontiers for exactly the same reasons that I enjoy the game. It’s just such a fun, relaxing game to play in peaceful sections. I mean, it’s great to see Elden Ring again too, but we all have talked about Elden Ring so much that it’s hard to come up with new ways to praise it (although I totally played the game in the same way, playing it “wrong,” as many friends had said). Love that we’re getting lists that have smaller triumphs in first place too.
I had the same experience with Elden ring! Didn't fight the "proper" first boss until something like 40 hours in 😅
Sonic seems to be getting so much praise. I wrote it off completely but it appears I might have to give this one a go at some point!
Six player Shredders Revenge is indeed... Radical Dude!
My only issue with tmnt.... nobody online to play co op.... had that added a.i. teammates.... definitely my goty. My goty is tiny tina. And I will punch anyone who disagrees. Lol. Jk (about the punching)
@somnambulance and @Nf157 – Nice one to you both, I guess playing Elden Ring all wrong is the new way to play it right, then. What kind of Tarnished wanderer needs a guidance of grace anyway!
Also to Nf157, six player online Arcade Mode sessions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge were radical indeed, it was the best kind of chaotic fun earlier this year. The amount of sprites on screen were pure carnage, and having five other buddies to back you up makes the Gnarly difficulty setting much more approachable too.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shredders revenge is on my top 5 for best games of the year.word up son
I am thoroughly disappointed that none of the PushSquare staff have put the true game of the year into their lists - Stroke The Cat! 😜
@JamieO I thought for sure one of the Cottons would show up in your list! I really enjoy these end of year round ups because they point me towards games that I overlooked, but when I read your lists I just wind up nodding my head in agreement.
Happy to see that Pac Man Museum and Capcom Fighting Collection snuck into your expanded list, though I’m glad that I held off on the Wonder Boy collection. In any event, fine choices and a great year for retro gaming, especially for shoot em ups. Enjoy the holidays and if we’re lucky, 2023 will be just as kind to fans of classic games.
Shredder's Revenge is my Game of the Year, easily. Nice to see Sonic Frontiers on the list as well, definitely surprised me, I expected it to be pretty good, I didn't expect it'd be one my favorites of 2022 but it is.
Great list, can tell a lot of thought and love has gone into it.
Shredder's Revenge is definitely great. It was only beat by A Plague Tale Requiem for me.
@Amnesiac You're right, 2022 was definitely a fantastic year for retro gaming, and Cotton Fantasy deserves an honourable mention amongst my 2022 Game of the Year picks. I really enjoyed discussing with you back in May about how you could unlock bonus stages in Cotton Fantasy, which were themed around Success' previous shoot-'em-ups. I always appreciate chats like that about retro games.
As far as the paltry four games in June's Wonder Boy Collection are concerned — especially with the recent news that the superior Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection will release digitally on PS4 and PS5 from 26th January, 2023 with 21 versions of Wonder Boy games – I just hope that these staggered digital and physical releases of the same titles doesn't become a standard approach by retro gaming publishers.
People already feel messed around with Turrican Flashback having so few games compared to Strictly Limited Games' various Turrican anthologies, especially as those Anthology volumes were also released digitally later on.
It can't feel satisfying to a retro gamer who feels pressured into buying a more expensive and expansive physical collection, just because its superior physical release is so limited, and then six months later the larger compilation is available cheaper digitally, anyway.
On a brighter note, thank you lots for all of your input about retro gaming in the comments on Push Square, mate. Wishing all the best to you!
Great list man. I think we’re in the same age bracket and while I’m over in the states, I remember going to arcades on bikes and skateboards with my buddies and throwing every quarter we had at TMNT and X-Men weekly.
Shredders Revenge, beyond everything else it obviously does right, really does suck you back into those days seamlessly. That’s an achievement!!!
As another Jamie in this world, your top 2 match mine exactly. My love for TMNT eclipses all things, but Elden Ring comes in a close second. Have a great Xmas everyone!
@JamieO Elden Ring immediately reminded me more of Breath of the Wild than a Souls game, honestly. I was a longtime Souls game hater, but Elden Ring made me “gud,” so I reevaluated the entire genre thanks to the game. I’ll always remember a friend of mine looking at my character’s stats and pretty much saying, “How can you even play the game this way?” and then he asked if he could re-spec my character based on how I actually play and I was amazed with how much easier the game was afterward… until I hit the bosses at the end of Leyndell… But I beat them in time anyway! But learning the game and making mistakes throughout was actually special. I’ve played a lot of multiplayer titles, but Elden Ring was perhaps the most social a game has ever been for me and that’s not always counting in-game time. I’ve never had a game batter me so much that I kept hammering through. That feeling of finishing the game... I actually dropped the controller and applauded at the screen after the last boss. Lol. I can honestly say I’ve never done that.
@somnambulance It sounds like you have a good friend, who was able to give you tips about how to effectively respec your character, but in a way that really benefitted your progress. Good on him!
I agree that there's a lot of gratification to be found in learning from your mistakes in Elden Ring.
Your comment makes me think that our personal Game of the Year choices are not just about our favourite games from 2022, but it's the standout moments that makes these games so memorable.
This quote from your comment above epitomises that idea, I thought Elden Ring sounded really fulfilling when you described it as, "I actually dropped the controller and applauded at the screen after the last boss." Great stuff!
I suck at hard games and find them frustrating rather than rewarding - lose to a boss 10+ times before beating it? No thanks. However, these descriptions of Elden Ring are nudging me to maybe give it a go.
Love the list based on personal connections and memories, by the way.
@JamieO I agree with you. 2022 is such a great year for gaming because it’s a year of subjective gaming. There’s so many opinions on so many different titles. Just look at Sonic Frontiers, for instance. Some may give the game a 4/10 and others see it as a 9/10. There’s roughly a dozen titles like this. Even a safe bet type of title in Horizon Forbidden West has diverse opinions, and Sony’s safest of bets, GoW: Ragnarok, was pitted against Elden Ring. It’s incredible. I don’t know quite what it is, but for some reason there’s just so many specific and memorable moments in gaming this year, and a lot of them have been conversations beyond the games themselves.
Thank you for your comment about my comment. And I totally did drop my controller and it felt like I dropped something massive. I was sort of in shock I beat the game. I don’t know if I’ve ever applauded another video game, honestly, but I felt the game deserved it. When Miyazaki said he wanted Elden Ring to feel like overcoming hardship, I just, I felt that. FromSoft did something special with that one. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt better about completing a game!
I’m loving the lists, by the way. I’m really looking forward to every one of them and seeing how things coalesce.
@paulbuck1996 The other 4?
@playstation1995 The other 4? Wise.Up.Son
who is Jamie and how old is this guy? ;lol
@JamieO Ye the six player co op in turtles was brilliant. Loved the over powered feeling of it! It felt like we where bullying the footclan! Probably the most fun I've had with multiplayer this year
I haven't finished Sonic Frontiers yet but I have to agree the game was such a nice surprise. The boss fights are quite a spectacle and I'm looking forward to seeing what they have in store for the game in 2023.
Pretty cool list and it’s nice to see retro having some love. Although I don’t have the nostalgia factor with them (since I wasn’t even born when they came out xD), but I have been looking back to trying out all these little gems from the past. These collections (Reverie/TMNT/Capcom Arcade) make it super accesible.
@JamieO Thats the great thing about gaming everyone has a different kind of jewels and that so fun about games.
@Flaming_Kaiser Yes, I agree, it's great to hear different gamers share their thoughts about the variety of 2022 releases that have been gems to them.
Just two examples that I was recently reading about, which caught my attention from Push Square's recent Game of the Year coverage, were both Simon Fitzgerald's third pick of Tunic, and how OlliOlli World received the Gold Trophy in Push Square's Best PS5, PS4 Indie Game of 2022 list.
When I read about how other gamers are passionate about their personal favourites – whether it's an article by the team, or comments by the readers – it makes me want to make a note of fun sounding games to check them out later myself.
@JamieO But it's always extra fun hear something out of the box besides a COD that's even more fun. I have another problem not enough time and tons of fantastic games. To much games can be daunting because it's hard to choose what you want to put your time in. One big reason why I try to stop free2play timesinks.
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