5. Smash Bros’ Impossible DLC
Let me take you back to a time in history to 2001, when Smash Bros. Melee was first released. One of the biggest points of conversation would be who we wish would one day show up as a playable fighter in this game. Imagine if Sonic, Pac-Man, and Mega Man were in this game with the rest of the Nintendo roster. It’s impossible, of course; but, we can dream. Jump forward to the release of Smash Bros on the Wii U and 3DS; not only are those characters now a part of the roster, Sakurai though that wasn’t enough. We still don’t know exactly how, but he managed to get Ryu from Street Fighter, Bayonetta, and yes, even Cloud Strife is now in Smash Bros. These came in the form of DLC, shocking the hell out of gamers with each new addition.
– Paul Cesar
4. The Konami/Kojima Dilemma
In 2015, the video game world experienced one of the largest falling outs in the history of gaming. It began with the popular release of the mysterious P.T., a promotional teaser demo that announced the upcoming Silent Hills, and the removal of Kojima Productions on the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid V. Fans began to ponder and panic, but with little to no information spilling from either Kojima or Konami, all were left without answers. Kojima was even barred from attending the Game Awards in Los Angeles by Konami lawyers. Around the same time as Kojima’s departure, Konami was linked to many reports as allegedly ceasing production of AAA games (Konami has since denied those allegations). Many in the east were left wondering just what could have happened to such a giant in the industry. Shortly after his departure from Konami this month, Kojima opened his own studio and announced a new partnership for a console exclusive game with Sony. While this conundrum has been an emotional rollercoaster for the fans of Kojima and Konami, the end result leaves a memorable joy within our hearts.
– Evan Schwab
3. A Video Game Achievement: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Fans of breathtaking openworlds, RPGs, actionadventure games, deep, mature narratives and, of course, Witcher fans rejoiced at the release of the third installment of Geralt’s journey. Witcher developer CD Projekt Red delivered an absolute video game masterpiece with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The world, its lore and characters of The Witcher 3 are incredibly realized; even simple quests tend to unfold to reveal deeper narratives of betrayal, personal gain or hidden agendas. The game’s combat is smoother than its predecessors have ever been and exploring the massive world on horseback and boat is a journey in itself. The praise for The Witcher does not end there as its further accomplishments lie beyond just being a great game. CD Projekt Red consistently updated The Witcher 3 alongside giving its players 16 free pieces of DLC after the release. The first paid expansion, Hearts of Stone, actually feels like an expansion, providing a new and brilliant narrative and ten hours of gameplay. In an industry where developers often attempt to extort its playerbase through any means, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt delivers a full experience that .
– Rafael Serrato
2. The Death of Iwata
While 2015 brought plenty of great games, this year also witnessed a devastating loss: Satoru Iwata, one of the gaming industries’ biggest icons, passed away in July. The death of Nintendo’s fourth president brought a quiet halt and great sadness to gamers everywhere as his influence and legacy in video games stretched an unforgettable course. Even from his early days working at HAL Laboratory, Iwata helped create stellar and genredefining titles such as Earthbound and the Kirby games. His journey would only propel forward as he joined Nintendo and soon became the company president and CEO. Despite the challenges of the industry, he courageously spearheaded Nintendo’s projects, bringing the original DS and and Wii console to the forefront of the video game market. And as president, Iwata sought to bring not only innovation to Nintendo, but heart as well. Iwata was Nintendo’s president for 13 years, but his legacy will not be forgotten anytime soon.
– Rafael Serrato