(OLD) Nicks...uh Picks for 2011!
Because its the cool thing to do, here is a list of my 10 favorite games of 2011. There will be one odd choice and maybe a tie or two. But guess what?
So not to make any game feel less or sad I will not “number them”, just seems... gouache. So here it is with my little commentary as to why I liked them!
To have Portal 2 on my list seems a little given. If you know me I could be somewhat of a Valve fan boy. But when they pump out games like Portal 2. Its kind of hard NOT to be. The first game should've just been a fun little demo, or a prototype. Yet they injected more humor, character and story then most “AAA” blockbusters. Plus Portal 1 gave us a great character in GladOS, now in its sequel they give us Wheatly and Cave Johnson. Both brilliant pieces of writing and character work. Add on top perfectly paced puzzles that are nether too easy or hard, a full fledged Co-Op campaign and tons of little things to explore that flesh out the world. Yeah, its easy to put here.
Being a Spiritual successor to one of my favorite games (Rez) could easily put it here. But the simple to grasp game play, amazing art, wonderful music and a game that could actually put men to tears. Theres real emotion in this game and the controller (or lack, using Kinect) takes away the boundaries of interactive art. This is an “art” game that's fun to play.
Yeah yeah, I know its a “casual” game. But you know what else it is? A fine fine addition to the PopCap library of great games. Despite me hating/not being good at the poker mode. Theres more then enough content, I just wish for more. The lighting mode, Butterfly and my favorite; Diamond Mine. That doesnt even mention the changes to the core gameplay. Making it faster, smoother and more action packed. The different ways they tweaked the match-3 is smart and very fun.
Controlled chaos is the best way I could describe this pick. The inventive skill shot system, good graphics and fantastic feeling and sounding guns are just cherries on top. Over the top characters, great pacing, unique environments and more just make Bulletstorm one of the best and FRESH first person shooters out there. I want more!
Thankfully this isn't a grand theft auto remake/rip off. LA Noire does new and fresh things. Its a multimillion dollar adventure game, if you every wanted to play Dragnet and find clues in a wonderfully made world. This game is a gem, flawed in some parts. But the setting, attention to detail and face animation is second to none.
Hand it to Sucker-Punch for improving every aspect of their open-world superhero game. Everything from graphics, gameplay, morality system, story and controls are changed... and for the better. Its rough to go back to play the first one, this is the real deal. More powers, interesting characters and places to explore. Plus they added a way for players to make their own missions. I cannot wait for inFamous 3!
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Naughty Dog has almost perfected pulp adventures from the 30s. Their hybrid of fun platforming, shooting and puzzle solving, along with some of the best “acting” seen in video games these days. You love the heroes and hate the bad guys, every part meshes to get into on solid form. I doubt you'll get better in game banter then in this game. Its hard to put into text, but even the way the characters interact AS you're playing is fun and unique – and most importantly natural. Doesn't stray into the odd 'un canny valley' that a lot of human based games do. Over the top set pieces and fantastic writing. What more do you want in a series?
Chantelise: A Tale of Two Sisters
This even being on the list is a miracle. Being an old niche independent Japanese game that only came out in Japan. But why is it here? Because a group of translators released it in America on the Steam PC download platform. The great translation by 'Carpe Fulgur LLC' and gameplay by the japanese compnay of 'EasyGameStation'. Its a simple hack and slash RPG in the tone of the Ys series, great Sega Saturn style clunky 3D and sprites makes the humor and whimsy even more so. Dont expect a 400 hour epic save the world, you play as two sisters, one a human and one that has been turned into a Fairy. Anymore would spoil the fun in interacting with the NPC's and showing that, along with the Paper Mario series, we need more great and heartfelt translations!
Serious Sam:Double D/Random Encounter
I kind of think of these as one IDEA split into two. Serious Sam 3 came out this year and instead of stupid preorder only BS Croteam hired two different independent game developers and told them to make new takes on the SS mythos. Really becoming this generations Duke Nukem. Double D is more Contra and shooting based with a great “water color”paint look to it. With stupid (in a good way) enemies, jokes and dozen of secrets. Its a dual-stick shooter/exploration game, but you can stack guns on top of eachother. No need for switching weaponry! You can shoot up to 6 weapons at once, any combination you want. Insanity is the word for it.
Random Encounter is a play on words of the previous SS games, but they took the craziness of a fast paced shooter and made it... a sprite based 2d-turn based RPG. Yes you heard me correctly. Having more in common with Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest then a FPS. Its a brillant concept and is loaded with enemies (you'll be fighting 1,000's+ of them) and a tweaked active time base battle system that feels like a console RPG mixed with a FPS. You'll level up, get party members, items and explore different areas. I want to see more of these ideas into longer games. Love it!
Yeah, to take a page from another writer and the Jewish faith, I leave a spot for the Elijah of gaming. A spot for the games that I didn't give enough time. There's simply too many games and too little time. Skyrim, Arkham City, Saints Row the Third and so on. But two gets a super duper special mention: Duke Nukem Forever for coming out and being “MEH”, I didn't hate it or love it. But I want to see more from the series. Just dont take 12 years to get it out of the door. And last but not least, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Blizzard LITTERALLY cracked their world apart and made a psudo-WoW 2.0. With changes to classes, skills, talents and even starting areas. They took well known places and permanently changed it. Actual change in a MMO, its rare and they did it on a grand scale.