By Jeremy Hannaford, Joel Smart (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: January 16, 2013
10. Papo and Yo (PSN)
Games don’t traditionally deal with really heavy topics like family dysfunction and alcoholism, but Minority’s Papo and Yo dares to go there. While the game failed to capture a wide audience, its release signaled a step forward for the medium; it deals with the real-life struggles of lead designer Vander Caballero. Players take the role of Quico, a young Brazilian boy escaping his abusive father – who becomes, quite literally, a dangerous monster at points in the game. It’s an adventure-platformer rife with metaphor, and while certain puzzles err on the side of plain, others are incredibly imaginative. It’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed. – J.S.
9. The Unfinished Swan (PSN)
Giant Sparrow’s artistic debut was the surreal, storybook adventure that video games have been waiting for; Monroe enters a living painting as he attempts to follow the golden footsteps of the unfinished swan. It begins with an entirely white canvas and allows the player to paint the world they’re about to inhabit. In the next three chapters players work with water and light, adding to the variety of the game. The game isn’t difficult and it presents a positive message about egotism—the kingdom was once ruled by a selfish king—making this a great game to introduce to younger audiences as well. Not bad for a creative arthouse indie game available for 15 bucks. – J.S.
8. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, PS3, 360)
Truly one of the underrated games of the year, XCOM: Enemy Unknown was a fantastic turn-based strategy game. Firaxis Games made a balanced, polished and technically great game that gave an intense battle experience as well as a smart strategic micro-managing system. The fear of losing experienced soldiers weighs in on the decisions the player makes on the battlefield. It’s the kind of strategy that is usually missing from a game about war. The game was extremely challenging, especially on harder difficulty settings, but it was addicting as hell! – J.H.
7. Super Hexagon (PC, Mac, iOS)
Story can be overrated. In Super Hexagon, players control a small triangle that must escape an ever-closing, twisting set of polygons. It’s dizzyingly addictive, and playable in bite-size portions – perfect for the bus ride home or the wait between classes. It won’t capture the same audience as Angry Birds, but this mobile game is perfect for honing both your coordination and your sanity. It’s an extremely simple game, but within its simplicity is its genius. If you only spend one dollar on video games this year, this should be the one. It’s designed by game auteur Terry Cavanagh, known for the brilliant VVVVVV. As a bonus, the music is by Chipzel. – J.S.
6. Dear Esther (PC, Mac)
Despite raising questions about whether it even counts as a “game,” thechineseroom’s Dear Esther is one of the most moving interactive experiences of the year. Trapped alone on an island, missing a woman he had loved, the player explores the gorgeous and evocative landscape as the narrator recites the letters he wrote to her. The letters paint a story about a fatal crash that had happened, though a slightly different story is told in different play-throughs of the game. One of the best segments features an impressive underground cave that is a joy to explore. Dear Esther is a short, but incredibly immersive adventure. – J.S.
5. Mass Effect 3 (PC, PS3, 360, Wii U)
The game that was five years in the making, Mass Effect 3 was the explosive end to Bioware’s sci-fi trilogy. Bringing together all the decisions players made in the previous two games, Commander Shepard brought the final fight against the Reapers in the fight for humanity’s survival. Although the ending was lacking and unsatisfying for some, the events throughout the game were amazing and very well written. Mass Effect 3 sports the best gameplay thus far with fully decked out cover system, intense gun battles and an addicting multiplayer system that no one saw coming. – J.H.
4. Hotline Miami (PC)
A top-down 2D noir action game inspired in part by the 2011 film Drive and in part by ‘80s culture, Hotline Miami has developed into a cult hit, created by Jonatan Soderstrom and Dennis Wedin. The game is extremely violent and increasingly surreal as the game progresses. It has retro graphics and an iconic (and at times disconcerting) soundtrack that perfectly compliments the tone of the game. The game has a number of weapons, but slinking around unnoticed is another reasonable tactic. It’s a typical game, with straight forward levels and boss battles, but the storytelling is fresh and unique. It’s often fast and bloody, and with a game like this, that’s exactly what you want. – J.S.
3. Far Cry 3 (PC, PS3, 360)
What would you do if you wound up trapped and alone on a tropical island after a fun party-vacation—complete with jet-skiing and sky-diving—went horribly, horribly awry? With his friends kidnapped by pirates, protagonist Jason Brody must rescue them and escape the island. It’s a first-person-shooter meets RPG meets open-world sandbox game; it’s a mix that really works. The game also works with an emotionally-deep theme – when an everyday person is thrust into the role of a gunman struggling to survive, it can’t ever really end well for them. If you’ve not played the first two games in the series, don’t let that hold you back from giving this one a shot. – J.S.
2. The Walking Dead (PC, Mac, PS3, 360, iOS)
Tell Tale Game’s take on The Walking Dead universe gave us one of the most intriguing and emotionally straining stories in gaming history. Alongside simple but entertaining click and choose gameplay, The Walking Dead gave us a story in which every decision truly effected the outcome. But it was the choices that affected Clementine, the girl you spend the whole game protecting, that truly shapes your experience. Despite some minor glitches, The Walking Dead was an unforgettable experience. The game broke new ground, being released episodically (like the TV show), but a boxed-set version wasn’t far behind. – J.H.
1. Journey (PSN)
Flow and Flower, the previous titles created by Jenova Chen and thatgamecompany, were ambitious, awe-inspiring and award-winning ventures in their own rights. Journey took things to the next level. Here is game as art, as poetry. It is a highly-polished experience that combines moments of exploration, dedication, desperation and pure elation. Perhaps the most innovative component of the game is its unique take on multiplayer gaming – a second player may be anonymously thrown into the game, with a simple chirp-noise the only way to communicate. They can be ignored, or they can work together to solve puzzles, find secrets and, just, to be together. It’s an experience that even non-gamers should seek out and try – it’s that good. – J.S.
