It is probably not presumptuous to predict that 2007, like 1998, will go down in gaming history as a watershed year for the medium. It saw some of the best, freshest, and most ambitious titles to be released in recent memory, with great games spanning all genres and platforms. It would be difficult to love games and not have had some great experiences in 2007; by the same token, it is difficult to pick winners in such a competitive year.

But pick them we must, for that is apparently the way of game journalism, and we begun the daunting process of doing so in the final months of the year. Some decisions were easier than we expected, some considerably more difficult, but we are satisfied with our final picks. You may not be, and we expect to hear about it in the comments. Stay tuned for the Shackers' Choice Awards--until then, sit back and read the Shack staff's own Game of the Year Awards 2007.
-By Chris Remo, Nick Breckon, Chris Faylor, Carlos Bergfeld, Steve Gibson, and Maarten Goldstein.

Table of Contents:
- Game of the Year (below)
- Achievement Awards (page 2)
- Platform Awards (page 4)
- Genre Awards (page 6)

GAME OF THE YEAR

Winner: Portal
Valve Software (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Going into award deliberations after one of the most amazing years of gaming in recent memory, we all assumed this category would be hotly contested. As it turned out, nearly everyone on staff selected Valve's astonishing Portal before discussion began, and Game of the Year turned out to be one of the most easily-decided categories.

When we got into some good old devil's advocacy, it became an even clearer choice. Though just about every game nominated here could have in many years been given the top honor with confidence, Portal stands above the rest for its sheer freshness, inventiveness, and uncommonly consistent quality.

Its competitors--all excellent--are largely refinements of existing formulae, either sequels or spiritual successors to past groundbreaking games. Portal, though it exists in the Half-Life universe, is something entirely new to gamers. Building off the proof-of-concept Narbacular Drop--a student project created by Digipen graduates, several of whom now work at Valve full time--Portal gets it all right.

Its physics-driven gameplay completely bridges the rarely-crossed gap between full 3D action gaming and puzzle gaming; its masterfully-told narrative simultaneously conveys the game mechanics and paints an increasingly sinister picture of the game's confining environment, courtesy of the ever-present artificial intelligence GLaDOS; its pacing brilliantly segues from on-the-fly training to frantic "real world" application. Of course, it is all topped off with one of the most memorable and satisfying conclusions in gaming.

Some are likely to angrily contest the choice of Portal on the grounds that its main campaign lasts only a few hours; on the contrary, its brevity only enhances its quality. Never overstaying its welcome, like so many otherwise great games do, Portal is a tightly-packed experience that may very well be the shining examplar of a new format: the video game short story. We did not take Game of the Year to mean "most value for money" or "best package" or "most epic experience;" it recognizes quality, ambition, achievement, and the pure joy of gaming. In a year packed with many incredible games, Portal stood out to us as our 2007 Game of the Year. -C.R.
(Review)

Runner-up: Super Mario Galaxy
Nintendo EAD Tokyo (Wii)

Like our Game of the Year winner, Nintendo EAD Tokyo's Super Mario Galaxy toys with physics and gravity as a core part of its gameplay experience; that may be a coincidence, but what is not coincidental is that both games are also unrelentingly novel experiences, constantly throwing the player into situations that are new not only in the context of each game, but in the context of gaming.

Often considered the true successor to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy feels like a single-handed rejuvenation of the sadly dormant 3D platformer genre. Even most games that have called themselves 3D platformers in recent years have been closer to third-person action games than true platformers.

Despite the sky-high expectations Galaxy had in the years and months approaching its release, it blew them all out of the water, with bizarre yet somehow intuitive gravity-centric mechanics and dozens of stages, each one seemingly more clever than the last.

Accompanied by a rousing orchestral score, a beautiful and unifying cosmic visual theme, excellent control with understated but effective pointer elements, and an open progression structure, Super Mario Galaxy is a must-play, not just for Wii owners but for all gamers. -C.R.
(Review)

Nominee: BioShock
Irrational Games (2K Boston/2K Australia) (PC, Xbox 360)

A bleak yet vibrant, intense yet thoughtful underwater epic, BioShock by 2K Boston/2K Australia (nee Irrational Games) manages to effectively blend genuinely provocative themes with big-budget action gaming. It is a goal to which many games aspire, but sadly few reach. Art deco architecture, the Objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand, and a cautionary tale of unchecked human hubris are but a few of the themes explored in BioShock, largely courtesy of creative director Ken Levine.

The crumbling failed utopia of Rapture is gorgeously realized, populated with some of the most memorable antagonists the shooter genre has seen and distinguishing itself from more typical gaming settings. Players looking to delve deep into Rapture's rise and fall could find countless clues, via audio logs, graffiti, and exclamations from its ruined inhabitants. Meanwhile, engaging action gameplay making use of firearms and genetic powers helped make BioShock both a critical and commercial success. -C.R.
(Review, Interview, Spoiler Interview)

Nominee: Rock Band
Harmonix Music Systems (PS3, Xbox 360, PS3)

Harmonix's practice of consistent evolution in the rhythm genre has finally culminated in a glorious $150+ package, and the company deserves high praise for the resultant experience. As a distribution platform, it's a weekly surprise. As a game, it's the most fun you can have with plastic instruments.

The drums alone justify the price tag, emulating a real musical instrument better than any other peripheral to date. The microphone provides for a constant hilarity, while also serving as the perfect gateway for newcomers. Better still, it works as both a social event and a solo challenge. The lack of a full multiplayer mode holds it back from fulfilling its known potential, but to Harmonix's credit, the feature rarely goes missed--unlike the forthcoming full albums. Where are they, anyway? -N.B.

Nominee: Halo 3
Bungie Studios (Xbox 360)

Players aren't likely to be overly surprised by Halo 3's single-player campaign, which for the most part delivers several more hours of Bungie's dynamic "30 seconds of fun"--it's as good here as it's ever been, which is to say fans will have a blast while detractors probably won't be converted.

What is much more surprising is Bungie's neverending drive to push online functionality as far as possible, both in depth and accessibility. There's four-player online co-op without forgetting split-screen; the expansion of the online lobby system to hook into every part of the game; a ridiculously streamlined and integrated replay, screenshot, and clip-making feature; editors allowing custom gametype creation that goes beyond any seen on a console; and website integration that offers a mind-boggling amount of detail. It's the game Xbox Live was born to host. -C.R.
(Campaign Review, Multiplayer Review, Interview)

Nominee: Crysis
Crytek (PC)

A beautiful, demanding, large-scale, superpower-tinged shooter epic, Crysis is the latest from young but extremely capable developer Crytek, a followup to the studio's 2004 debut effort Far Cry. Checkpoint-driven goals combined with absolutely massive environments (at least until the more linear third act) allow for plenty of free-form exploration and routing without being unmanageable. The game features the ability to boost personal attributes and extensively modify weapons, allowing even further gameplay specialization.

The game's visual grandeur cannot be overlooked (unless your machine isn't up to the game's punishing requirements), taking technical achievement into the less tangible arena of artistic achievement. Crysis is extremely ambitious and, when it is at its best, it delivers. -C.R.
(Review, Interview)

Continue reading for the achievement awards and platform awards.