 |
| The good |
Part two (the bad)
As the year comes to a close, I thought I'd have a good think about what impressed me over the course of 2015. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to play every game or watch every TV show this year, so undoubtedly this list will be void of some movies and games (Like Metal Gear Solid V), that I'm sure would have made the cut had I got my mitts on them.
Nevertheless, I can only share my opinion on what I've experienced first hand, and with that said, let's begin...
GAMES
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |
The tale of Geralt of Rivia searching for his protege Ciri across a beautifully designed fantasyland utterly captivated me. What was more impressive, though, wasn't just how personal Geralt's story became, but also the array of available side quests and how they all managed to intertwine within the Witcher's universe. Every choice you make in The Witcher 3 feels essential, with nothing in the game giving the impression that it's included to just add longevity. I genuinely cared about every action or choice I made as I encountered numerous characters littered throughout each continent. Whether it was resolving heartbreak, finding lost loved ones or ridding towns of otherworldly creatures, the Witcher 3 was compelling and artistically masterful. For these reasons, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is my game of the year. My review is here.
Fallout 4
 |
| "War never changes." |
Whether facing hostile super mutants or travelling to the farthest reaches of the apocalyptic wasteland where giant rad scorpions and beastly Deathclaws want to tear you limb from limb, the commonwealth sure is a cruel mistress. Though Fallout 4 is punishing, it is superb at enticing you to explore every inch of its chaotic surroundings. Discovering a new area or noticing a building you haven't searched through, makes you wonder what treasures or stories you might be missing out on if you don't take a detour. Everything has a story, and because of this, I feel compelled to learn what that story may be. For me, Fallout 4 is the ultimate open-world experience and had it not been for the magnificence of The Witcher 3, then it would have been my game of the year.
Honourable mentions: Trials Fusion, and Rocket League.
MOVIES
The Martian
 |
| Matt Damon needs rescuing again. |
In my opinion, this is the best sci-fi film since Edge of Tomorrow (along with Ex-Machina). Most importantly, it was a triumphant return to form from director Ridley Scott after the distinctly average Prometheus and awful Exodus: Gods and Kings. Matt Damon produces a sterling performance as astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead after a catastrophic storm on the red planet. Watching Damon utilise his survival skills while awaiting rescue grips you throughout the saga, and pleasantly, the film manages to include a bit of humour in spite of the desperate situation Watney finds himself in. Just a side note, if you enjoyed The Martian, I suggest checking out the film Moon starring Sam Rockwell.
Ex-Machina
 |
| "What will happen if I fail your test?" |
Alex Garland makes his directorial debut with Ex-Machina, which tells the tale of an eccentric billionaire (Oscar Issac), who asks one of his employees (Domhnall Gleeson) to run a test on an advanced android that holds unsurpassed artificial intelligence (Alica Vikander). In a sense, this movie is a modern-day Frankenstein, with its strengths being a deep thought-provoking script, sleek visuals, and excellent cinematography. Overall, Ex-Machina is a stylish intellectual thriller that is definitely worth checking out.
Honourable mentions: Kingsmen: The Secret Service, What we do in the Shadows, '71, and Spy.
TV
Daredevil
 |
| "You can do anything if you're not afraid." |
Daredevil really surprised me. It could well be that because of the Ben Affleck abomination of a movie that my expectations for it were so low (who am I kidding, of course, that's the reason). Anyway, when I finally got to sit down and watch it, I was completely hooked from start to finish. Aside from the excellent fight choreography, what stood out to me was the two main leads. Both Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock / Daredevil) and especially Vincent D'Onofrio (Wilson Fisk / Kingpin) were superbly portrayed. Of course, there were a few flaws (I didn't like the Foggy character at all), but overall Daredevil is easily the most impressive show I watched through 2015.
Peep Show
 |
| "That crack is really more-ish." |
Ok, I might be cheating a bit here. Peep Show has run since 2003, but the last season was aired in 2015 (season 9). I hadn't really watched it properly until a month or so ago, but when I did, I fell in love with it straight away. I think it's pretty odd that somebody with my sense of humour let this one slip under my radar for 12 years, but at least, I was able to binge watch it instead of having to wait for each season to air. The show revolves around two flatmates Mark (David Mitchell) and Jez (Robert Webb) as they journey from their mid-twenties to full-blown adulthood. The series is shot in a first-person perspective which adds a unique element to the makeup of the sitcom. However, it's not the comedy duo of Mitchell and Webb that steal the show, as their drug-fueled friend Super Hans (Matt King) is now one of my favourite ever television characters.
Honourable mentions: Fargo Season 2.
Ok, that about sums it up. As I mentioned previously, I haven't had the chance to play every game, or watch every show / film, so, I'm not going to include anything that I cannot form an opinion on. I'm heading out to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the next couple of days (promised I would wait for someone who wants to go), so it's possible that may make the list if it turns out as good as everyone keeps telling me.
Next up will be my thoughts on some of the bad aspects of 2015, including, The Order 1886, Terminator Genisys, Game of Thrones: Season 5 (wait, what!?), and Mad Max: Fury Road (huh).
Stay tuned for part two!