Our method of selection varies and is largely dependent on how much parmesan encrusted veal and Alaskan king crab legs we've consumed during the day. After all, we here at IGN are fancy people. Usually, and we're not exactly sure how this keeps happening, our selection process comes down to having the top two titles in contention fight to the death in arena-style gladiatorial combat. Sometimes, though, if we've eaten enough fancy food, we all sit down and discuss which game deserves the top spot while sipping steaming china cups of Earl Grey Cr¿me tea.
Since most game reviews are written by a single person, this feature gives you, the reader, a chance to see which games hold up under different angles of criticisms. This way, we can rule out games that maybe got a high rating from one person because they happened to be a big fan of the subject material, or perhaps got a low rating for the exact same reason. Eligible games include any that were reviewed over the past month.
Some of our basic guidelines for Game of the Month (GOTM) selection include the score, obviously, but also several other factors. A game might get a good score, but what about if a title is an original or a sequel, whether it's unique or just an improvement on an existing formula, whether it looks pretty but plays like crap? These are all issues that must be run through to make the final decision. All in all, we're trying to combine myriad factors to determine which game is the most fun. If you're looking for the definitive word on which title to buy for this month, this is where to look.
Now that you understand which games are eligible, how they're selected, and how amazingly fancy we are, we'll move on to this month's selection.
The pickings are getting slim on the trusty black box. November, the month where consoles are usually flooded with games, saw only a handful of releases on Xbox. The biggest and best of which was without a doubt Call of Duty 3. There were a few other games worth playing, such as Thrillville, College Hoops 2K7, and Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2, but none of them could take a serious run at Call of Duty 3 for Game of the Month.
Why We Picked It: Treyarch, the cats responsible for Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, have followed up its success with another solid Xbox title in Call of Duty 3. Instead of focusing solely on the next-gen version and leaving Xbox out to dry, Treyarch successfully brought the feel of Xbox 360's Call of Duty 2 to the less powerful hardware. No, it doesn't look as good and it's not in hi-definition. For an Xbox game, we're not complaining. Not one bit. This go around focuses on the Normandy Breakout and allows you to take the role of the American, British, Canadian, and Polish armed forces. That's right Canucks, your moment for glory as arrived. Call of Duty 3 continues to build on its predecessors by improving the online play as well as adding action events, melee combat, and the ability to toss back grenades. Take that Nazi's, we're now more versatile than ever! |
Readers' Game of the Month: Call of Duty 3
Developed by Treyarch
Published by Activision
Reader Review Quote: "When they say this game is built with a new engine, they weren't kidding! The game feels very much like COD2,and even looks a lot like it, which on 360 is pretty good, but when on xbox (original) is very impressive. If you haven't tried the 360 version (like me) you'll be blown away by this. It's almost, minus some low texturing, looks next gen. (read the full review)
-- submitted by raddhazard
Runner-Up
Thrillville
Developed by Frontier Developments
Published by LucasArts
Why We Picked It: Frontier Developments took its knowledge from making games like Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 and shaped it into a more streamlined and console friendly experience. Amusement park management is the name of the game, but that only describes the overarching idea. Filled with tools for designing your own rides and games as well as a slew of mini-games that can be played with up to four people, there is a heck of a lot to see and do here. Thrillville might be a bit too easy and simple for hardcore gamers, but it works well with the child friendly atmosphere it has created.
Other Games worth noting in October: