Alright, my first games for the year:
1.Alien Isolation - Xbox One
2.Super Mario Bros. 3 - NES*
3.Popful Mail - Sega CD
Alien IsolationThis is seriously incredible. The station is a joy to explore, and surviving the alien is a harrowing experience to say the least. The game did an excellent job of making sure I never felt safe. The alien is bloody relentless in its pursuit.
A little over halfway through the game you get a nice break from the alien in favor of an interesting side plot that ties into everything, but that doesn't mean you're safe.
The visuals are beautiful(others have said it, but I seriously love the retro futuristic look and technology) and the sound design is nothing short of outstanding. Do not play this game on mute, if you're normally inclined to do such things. You'll miss out on so much.
I think its probably the best game of 2014.
Super Mario Bros. 3*A replay obviously. I've probably beaten this game 300 times at this point in my life.
Anyway, a friend came over for some games and we settled on Mario 3. Had a blast, as always.
Popful Mail May very well be my new favorite Sega CD game. It can be a bit frustrating sometimes, not because its particularly difficult, but because with the exception of the final armor set, you typically die in about 3 hits. Which would be fine on its own, but there are times when you can get caught on an advancing boss or group of enemies, and because the knockback is ridiculously short, you might find yourself taking a chain of hits and going from full health to dead in a matter of a second.
That's my only gripe though. The game is otherwise fun as all hell. The characters are charming (with one irritating exception, who can still be amusing sometimes), the levels and music get better and better as you progress, the bosses are generally entertaining to fight, and there's a nice balance between the humor and an increasingly dangerous threat. Overall its just an awesome experience.