Best Xbox 360 Exclusive: Gears of War 3
I came, I saw, I completed the entire exciting campaign in one seven-hour sitting with three of my buddies. Do with that information what you will, but whether the campaign left you satisfied or felt a bit on the short side, the multiplayer offers no shortage of content and replayability. Even if you're not attempting what's been deemed the "Toughest Xbox 360 Achievement", Arcade, Horde, Beast, six Versus modes and a hefty pile of unlockables will keep players coming back for more. Seeing as Gears 3 has become my chief multiplayer game, and probably my most played Xbox Live game this Fall and Winter, it only made sense to award it the title of Best 360 Exclusive. That, and no other exclusives of note--in this blogger's humble opinion--came out for the 360 this year.
Best Wii Exclusive: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
There's so much to love about Link's latest adventure. The story transcends the "save Hyrule" trope and revolves around the close relationship between Link and Zelda. Where Zelda games are concerned, it's a personable tale rivaled only by Link's quest to save his little sister in Wind Waker. Skyward Sword's unique position on the official timeline makes for a very interesting setting, filled to the brim with formerly unseen critters and lore. Perhaps more importantly, the motion controls are beautifully executed, the items are inventive and fun, and the game does a fantastic job of merging familiar Zelda elements with new mechanics. The result is not only a fresh twist on a well loved series, but the closest thing to a bona fide RPG the franchise has ever seen. Fans of the action-adventure genre who complain that "all Zelda games are the same" must play Skyward Sword.
Best Multiplatform: Portal 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
For gamers, April 2011 was all about Valve's highly anticipated Portal 2. At last, fans of the brilliantly psychological quickie game Portal--once nothing more than an afterthought inclusion in The Orange Box--would see a full-length sequel. The game lived up to the hype surrounding it, so much so that the "SPAAAAAACE!" trope surpassed "the cake is a lie" in its obnoxious overuse, and the game itself received more honors and nominations than it probably deserved. Left and right, we saw the emergence of all kinds of Portal merchandise and fan films.
While I find the unrelenting fanfare a bit excessive, I can't entirely blame the fans either. Valve handled this sequel with great care, offering more of what we wanted--a meatier campaign, a fleshed-out story and narrative, increased gameplay variety, and more replay value in the form of an adorable co-op mode--while skipping the more peevish shenanigans of other 2011 games we could have done without, such as tacked-on competitive multiplayer, expensive DLC, or "online passes." I have my reasons for still preferring the original Portal, but there is no question in my mind that Portal 2 was almost perfect, bringing back the head-scratchingly rewarding puzzle gameplay I knew and love and proving an expert blend of old and new.
Best Handheld: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Nintendo DS)
[Runners-Up: Pokemon Black and White; Star Fox 64 3D]
Ghost Trick is a story-focused puzzle game where, as a ghost, the player possesses and manipulates objects and saves a cast of characters from certain death time and time again. The way the gameplay evolves toward the end--both in depth and difficulty--is magnificently satisfying. This gem oozes charm and appeal with its sharp animations and its silly, if not sometimes exceedingly corny one-liners. Ultimately, it embodies everything I love about handheld gaming and more specifically the DS as a platform--the ability to deliver experiences unlike anything you'll ever see on a home console--making it the obvious choice for Best Handheld Game.
[Runners-Up: Pushmo]
The gameplay is essentially the love child of Metroidvania-style games and Ikaruga's polarity mechanic; you hop, skip and jump your way through cavernous, 2D areas, slashing and outsmarting baddies, learning new techniques, and fighting some really damn cool bosses. The level design emerges beautifully, and the game becomes quite rewarding in its difficulty--especially toward the end (dat final boss...). Ultimately, Outland was both "short and sweet" and fulfilling, and managed to feel like something new despite clearly borrowing some ideas from well loved games.
Best Artwork: Outland
[Runners-Up: El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron; Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet; Alice: Madness Returns]
Best Soundtrack: Catherine (Xbox 360, PS3)
[Runner-Up: Shadows of the Damned]
This year, Catherine is simply unrivaled in the realm of video game music. This diverse soundtrack embodies the full range of the Catherine experience, and is a joy to listen to in-game and on one's own time. But don't take my word for it; have a listen to my picks below:
Best Story: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
[Runner-Up: Catherine]
Like a good book, Ghost Trick was difficult to put down, in no small part due to the gripping story and wacky cast of characters. The game follows Sissel, who wakes up one night with no memory or who he is or what happened to him. All he knows is that he's died, and that he only has until the next morning--a precious few hours away--to uncover the cause of his death, go back in time, and reverse it by using "ghost tricks." If he succeeds, his mentor tells him, he can return to the world of the living.
The storyline is intriguing, almost intimidating in its complexity, with its fair share of twists and turns and a mind-blowing conclusion. Who says handheld systems are only good for Pokemon and Tetris? Ghost Trick spun a tale more thrilling and engaging than this year's biggest-budget console games, and for that, it earns my personal award for 2011's Best Story.
[Runners-Up: Outland; Terraria]
Biggest Disappointment: Alice: Madness Returns (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
It turns out that Alice: Madness Returns, the psychotic sequel to American McGee's Alice, struggled to shoulder the weight of my high expectations. As a long time fan of Alice in Wonderland and anything related and of McGee's twisted vision, I even went online and bought Limited Edition artwork prints based on the game before its release date even hit. The game had a laundry list of tasks if it was going to blow me away. Unfortunately... it didn't. That's not to say I didn't like the game. The clever art direction of each realm was impressive, going the extra mile of incorporating memories of Alice's past, painting a picture of her character in a subtle, understated way. The cutscenes and dialogue were twisted and sufficiently disturbing, and the conclusion to her story was a gratifying one.
However, it was a far cry from the "Game of Year" contender I'd hoped it would be. Puzzles were recycled throughout, becoming only somewhat more varied and challenging at the end of the game. Combat didn't evolve all too much, and the result of these two flaws was a sadly dull and repetitive experience. There was a lack of any true boss fights until the very end, and that fight was too easy and too short. Overall, I'd argue Alice 2's story and presentation alone make it worth playing, but the rest of the game proved average at best. Oh well; can't win 'em all.
Game of the Year (2011): Catherine
[Runners-Up: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword; Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]
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| Cheers to you, Catherine! |
To me, there is one thing that tells me a game made a lasting impression on me: it kept me coming back for more, even after the credits rolled. I completed the game, from start to finish, not once or twice, but four, five, six times simply because I wanted to keep playing (and see all the endings). Considering my dauntingly huge backlog of games I want to play, that's no small feat. The story was engaging and memorable, intense and relatable, daringly treading where few other games have before with its themes of love, sex, growing up and what it means to be a man or a woman--and naturally, it wouldn't be a Persona Team game without that completely batshit, dark, supernatural twist thrown into the mix as well.
The "Tetris meets Silent Hill meets dating sim" gameplay is niche, yet novel; frantic, yet thoughtful. The "morality" mechanic which ran the risk of proving trite and shallow, as in so many other games, kept me ever curious on how the game would end for Vincent. Oh yeah, and Catherine is addictive as all hell despite its sometimes grueling difficulty. The night before a final exam, I didn't go to sleep until I conquered the Menhir Babel stage--around two in the morning. It may or not be clear for you at this point, but I loved everything about this game... did I mention the soundtrack is positively stellar? Oh, you heard something about that already? Okay. Just making sure. In 2011, nothing I played compared to watching Vincent's tale unfold in the Golden Theater, saving Rapunzel, and taking on those Babel stages that had me muttering "just one more try!", and that is why it takes the cake as my Game of the Year.
Better Late Than Never (2010): Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
[Runner-Up: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West]
"Better Late Than Never" is essentially "best game of last year that I just got around to playing this year." Given my severe procrastinating tendencies, you can expect many games to be eligible for this honor every year.
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda (2011)
"Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" is awarded to any games that came out this year that I simply did not find the time or motivation to play... but maybe next year! Also a potential nomination list for next year's Better Late Than Never.
- Bastion
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
- Radiant Historia
- To the Moon
[Runners-Up: SoulCalibur V; Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure]
If you've followed my blog over the past several months, you know I'm an active supporter of Operation Rainfall. JRPG-loving Wii owners finally got one of three desired answers when Nintendo of America announced that Xenoblade Chronicles--touted as the best JRPG of this generation and one of the most highly rated RPGs of all time--will indeed be coming to North America on April 2nd, 2012. And quite frankly, there is no reason RPG lovers shouldn't note this as a top priority in 2012.
Aside from the resounding praise described above, Xenoblade boasts a Monolith Software pedigree, an epic story, an interesting battle system, and a remarkably huge, open world to explore. Its brilliant soundtrack doesn't hurt, either. With this and (allow me to be optimistic for a moment) The Last Story on its way, 2012 will be a great year to be a Wii owner.
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