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Capcom's Stephanie Palermo Shares Her Top Games Of 2015
On the lead up to Game Informer's Game of the Year awards of 2015, we've invited a number of the video game industry's influential figures to share their favorite games of the year.
Stephanie Palermo has been working the last seven years to establish herself in the games industry. A big fan of role-playing and horror games, Palermo started out pursuing her passion for video games by co-founding the website Spawn Kill, where she also served as editor-in-chief. From there, she decided to pursue a role working in public relations at TriplePoint before finding her way to Capcom as a PR manager where she represents franchises like Resident Evil and Ace Attorney.
Here are Palermo's favorite games of 2015:
1. Monster
Hunter 4 Ultimate (3DS)
After I experienced my first "A-HA!" moment with this Monster Hunter, it
was all downhill from there. It was hands down one of the most rewarding
game experiences I've ever had. No time wasted grinding on throwaway monsters -
every hunt is a big one where you need to learn the monsters' habits to succeed
and where you're rewarded for literally breaking off parts of the monsters like
their tail, face or tusks, and other weak points you discover. The online
community is also truly one of the most positive out there, with people always
willing to help you get revenge on that Savage Deviljho or help you work
towards crafting your next weapon or armor set.
2. Until
Dawn (PS4)
Until Dawn told an excellent horror story that kept me guessing for hours.
Being able to control all of the characters in the story also gave me an added
sense of responsibility and ownership over their decisions, paths and, in some
cases, their untimely fates. Don't. Shoot. The squirrel.
3. The
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC (Vita)
I can't stress enough that if you enjoy RPGs, especially JRPGs, this game
and its predecessor should not be overlooked. This is one of the richest, most
alive worlds you'll visit, where each villager in every town knows you by name,
follows your latest conquests, and has an evolving life of their own. Trails SC
is full of interesting characters that will matter to you and manages to make a
turn-based battle system feel really exciting, with lots of added layers of
depth waiting for those who seek it out.
4. Yoshi's
Woolly World (Wii U)
A lovingly knit game that felt like a true successor to 1995's Yoshi's
Island. Yoshi's Woolly World is a rewarding platformer that has so many
fun-to-unravel secrets sewn into its well-designed levels. I enjoyed this one
with every fiber of my being, and I hope you wool, too. Uh oh, I think I'm in
trouble. I definitely didn't add this game to the list to craftily weave in
sewing puns...
5. Goosebumps:
The Game (PS4)
Don't write this off as just another move tie-in! Goosebumps: The Game is a
love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games developed by the
talented folks at WayForward. I enjoyed solving the game's puzzles and facing many
of the evils from books responsible for making "Little Me" into the horror fan I
am today, like Monster Blood and Night of the Living Dummy. I played through it
in a few hours, so it's a great pick up if you find it on sale. Added bonus:
the music has a fun "Scooby Doo" vibe, too.
6.Star
Wars Battlefront (PS4)
This was by far one of the most beautiful game worlds I've been able to set
foot in with friends. Droid Run ended up being a frequent go-to mode for me.
Droid Run is Domination with a twist as you need to hold all three capture
points (Droids) for a period, which called for a lot of strategic pairing and
coordination with other players to win. Favorite "hero" to play as: Emperor
"Palpy" Palpatine, the MVP of any Empire squad.
7. Shutshimi
(PS4)
You play a seriously swole goldfish in this side-scrolling shoot-'em-up.
The twist is that stages last a goldfish's long-term memory, but for you
they're only 10 seconds long. Power-ups have descriptions longer than you can
read in the mere seconds you have to select them - some rewarding, some
disastrous. Shutshimi was an addictive game that I went back to time and time
again this year for quick bursts of schmup time. This game is the dictionary
definition of bananapants.
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