Top 5 Game Mechanics of 2014

Hey all. Now that 2014 is closed and we're taking part in our reflections of the year, instead of thinking about games that blew me away I thought about what made these games awesome. I didn't get to play all the great games of last year like Shovel Knight and Bayonetta, but I know everything about these games outside of the story. How they feel, the motion and mechanics that go into the gameplay. That's what this list is all about, showcasing what we think are the best gameplay elements of the past year.

HM: The Loot System in Destiny

This is going to be a very controversial pick... but that's why it's only an honorable mention. Destiny's loot system is mainly a random number generator, with varying degrees of loot also based upon certain performances as well. This works well and horribly all at the same time, which is why it's shy of this list. It tries to gift compensation for low performance players and ends up giving them loot too good for their shame, whilst high performance finishers get loot of a high caliber but not a caliber even close to the losing players. Here's where Destiny's loot system could use a swift kick in the bungalows. 

Also the fact that only the highest caliber gear will get you the max level you need and they only differ between classes, so most maxed out characters run around looking the same. Where this excels is in the weapons themselves, two weapons of the same name will have the same damage output but totally different perks. This makes hoarding weapons all the more fun to find one that can outshine your current favorite.

HM: New 2 Player Modes and Amiibo in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the first in the series to not feature an adventure type exploration mode since Melee, the second iteration. The 3DS version featured a stagnant adventure arena called Smash Run, which was replaced with the board game like Smash Tour for the Wii U version. To make up for this, they've now made most of the game modes that were originally 1 Player Modes available for 2 Players now. This includes Classic Mode, All-Star mode where you fight all the other characters in the game and Stadium events like Home Run Contests and the Multi-Man Melees. There's also a 2 Player Event mode separate from the regular Events list, meaning you'll have to grab a friend to play throughout this series of events.

We've already talked too much about my obsession with amiibo figurines enough... I do like their inclusion into Smash Bros, even if it was tacked on in the final stages of development. I don't think the amiibo would be as popular as they are if they did not launch alongside this version of Super Smash Bros. They still would be popular nonetheless with collectors and their surprising low stock to create hype, but I really think their Smash Bros. feature is the driving force that initially got amiibos of the shelves and into the fray.

5. The Humor in South Park: The Stick of Truth

A very interesting gameplay mechanic because it doesn't affect how you actually play the game... The humor in The Stick of Truth is directly related to the TV show, probably because the show creators (Trey Park and Matt Stone) wrote most, if not all, of the game's dialogue and script. It feels like your watching a season of South Park.

The atmosphere this game creates with its humor is unreal. Stick of Truth was criticized for it's somewhat easily difficulty, but it's definitely the world it is set in that makes all the difference.

4. Rebuilding Norende in Bravely Default

This is probably the most satisfying and well placed meta game of 2014. Bravely Default is fantastic step back towards what made JRPGs great and this meta game of rebuilding the village of Norende is genius. In the intro of the game, we see tragedy settle in as the four crystals of the land are swallowed by darkness. This results in eruptions, earthquakes and the rotting of the sea. The most vital aspect is what spirals protagonist Tiz on this journey. A massive sinkhole swallows up his quaint hometown of Norende, along with every villager and Tiz's younger brother Til. While out on his new journey, Tiz decides he also has to rebuild his home as its sole survivor.


With people you Streetpass and Spotpass with, they'll help you rebuild the village. You give them a task to do: whether it be building/renovating a shop to opening up a new area for expansion. The tasks are a set time and the more villagers to apply to it, the faster it'll complete. This also works while your 3DS sleeps, which mines mainly does. This does mean that you'll complete the village way before you finish the game (if you're like me). But it also means that you'll get amazing gear and access to great items if you put the effort into it.

3. Anti-Gravity in Mario Kart 8

For such a simple addition into Mario Kart, the Anti-Grav feature in Mario Kart 8 has turned the game around. Unlike the underwater and gliding features introduced in MK 7, this one changes the entire complexity when in anti-gravity mode.

First off, the mode shines so brilliantly that you'll never notice it. In its early stages shown at E3 2013, the anti-gravity feature was slightly disorienting and was meet with mixed opinions. The final version had the camera track the racers normally at all times. This made the anti-grav feature fluid, as you'll play through most tracks without truly realizing where you've switched modes. This changes the mechanics significantly though. Usually you want to avoid other racers at all times, especially the lightweight characters since they can be jostled by mostly everyone else. In Anti-Gravity, obstacles and other racers give you a speed boost when you bump into them. This immediately makes you switch up your racing mentality to take advantage of the situation. You'll want to hit all other racers to string together all the boosts you can muster up. It's so subtle, but changes up a race completely. It's real good like...

2. Dex Nav in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon: Alpha Sapphire

The Dex Nav has to be one of the best additions to any Pokémon game I've seen in a while. This was a huge innovation, especially since its inclusion was in a remake of one of the older generations. The Dex Nav is a feature in your Poké Nav Plus that allows you to track certain monsters in the wild. Every so often, an indicator will pop up to tell you a visible Pokémon has appeared instead of a random encounter. You'll have to slowly approach the Pokémon to engage it in a wild Pokémon battle.

The great thing about Dex Nav is that you'll get to see what Pokémon you are going to encounter before you fight it. The Dex Nav will level up the more you encounter that Pokémon species too. As the Dex Nav level of a Pokémon increases, you'll see more of its stats, abilities and moves when the Dex Nav locates one. This allows you to fight Pokémon that are at a much higher level than others in the same area sometimes too. This also greatly increases the chance of finding Pokémon with a certain Ability and will allow you to catch ones with Hidden Abilities in the wild. This is essential to collectors and competitive battlers. The Dex Nav's greatest asset is the chance to find Pokémon in the wild that have Egg Moves on them, moves these Pokémon could usually only learn through breeding with other Pokémon to create an egg. This is a revolutionary update to the Pokémon catching mechanic and it's sad that it might just be a one-off mechanic for Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire.

1. The Nemesis System in Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

This is the definition of next-gen to me. If you showed me the Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System on a seventh generation console, I doubt it'd be the powerhouse it is now. True, this game was ported to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but it was built from the ground up for next generation.

The Nemesis System is a family tree of all your worst enemies in Shadow of Mordor. It showcases the Orc hierarchy in Sauron's Black Army. Every single enemy within this system is different from the rest, meaning no two players will ever have the same play through. Heck, even one player will have a different experience every time they play this game. It IS the gift that keeps on giving. Every character will act in a different way based on the attributes they generate with, their experiences and how you've interacted with them in past. Some characters might kill you and be promoted or escape mid-fight too. With Talion's new Wraith powers, he can also bend Orcs to his will. You can have a lower level minion kill his master to ascend the ranks or even spread the word of Talion to manipulate massive amounts of enemies too. There's so much to do in so little a time.