By Joel Smart (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: January 25, 2012
1. Portal 2 (360, PC, PS3) [95]
2. Batman: Arkham City (360, PC, PS3) [94]
3. LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) [91]
4. L.A. Noire (360, PC, PS3) [87]
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (360, PC, PS3) [94]
6. Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception (PS3) [92]
7. Minecraft (PC) [94]
8. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii) [93]
9. The Binding of Isaac (PC) [83]
10. PixelJunk Shooter 2 (PS3) [82]
11. Bastion (360, PC) [87]
12. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PC, PS3, Wii) [82]
13. Infamous 2 (PS3) [83]
14. Gears of War 3 (360) [91]
15. Assassins Creed: Revelations (360, PC, PS3) [81]
Although this list of 15 games is absolutely worth looking through, it should not be taken as a statement of fact. Did I finish playing 15 games this year? No. However, after keeping a close eye on the industry, and doing my best to try out a variety of different games on different platforms, I’ve concocted this list in an effort to best represent my understanding of the year’s best. I’ve added Metacritic’s scores of these games to give some representation of how the larger gaming community judged these games as well.
As much as I pin my reputation on this list, I also feel the need to make it known that I did not include any mobile games or flash games in the list, despite the incredible number of quality games in those categories that came out this year. A previous column I wrote included a nod to Pippen Barr’s free flash game Safety Instructions, a humourous typing challenge that leads you through the various stages of a plane crash. I would argue that such a game belongs in a list of the top games of the year, yet it’s difficult to say how it compares to much larger games with bigger budgets and price tags.
It was a tough choice deciding the order, but I eventually settled on Portal 2 as the top game of the year – a popular choice among critics designing “Best of” lists this year. Despite being a sequel (like many of my choices) the game is fiercely original, with some of the most mind-bending and amusing puzzles. The characters are witty and likeable, right down to the robotic sentry turrets.
It’s incredible how great every title in the top five really is. Batman had great puzzles, and great combat. The voice work was stellar and there was tons of extra tidbits – perfect for anyone with an interest in Batman. LittleBigPlanet 2 took my top three spot due to its instant playability, which makes it perfect for any age group – and all skill levels. The community this game has cultivated is constantly growing and sharing new levels with each other. There are millions of them (literally), all easily searchable and rated (in the game and online). Now with PlayStation Move support, the game is a pinnacle of not only platform gaming but of gaming in general – it has transcended genre. L.A. Noire is one of the most original titles of the year, providing some of the best animation and gameplay – the closest thing to actual detective work I’ve seen in a game. Skyrim rounds out my top five, a title that may have appeared earlier in my list if I’d had more of a chance to play it. It has to be one of the most enormous games I’ve witnessed, with so many opportunities to specialize your player as you explore the world they’ve created. Here is a game you can get lost in.
Whether this list does an adequate job of representing the best 2011 had to offer or not, and I’m not convinced it does, one this is clear: this has been a magnificent year for gaming. Games have been expanding more and more into the mobile market, allowing all sorts of new people to give them a try. It was the year when Nintendo released a 3D-compatible handheld gaming device… and I don’t mean the Virtual Boy! The 3DS was released with a poor launch lineup, but the device has shown great promise. It’s also been a year that has seen a step away from “exclusive” gaming. That’s a good thing. The more people that get a chance to play a game the better. It’s also seen further development of XBLA and PSN. There have been more quality, cheap, accessible games than ever before. Similarly, but even more positive is the increased popularity of Steam, an ideal online venue for PC gaming. This year the program saw over five million users logged in at the same time. Steam also connected with the PlayStation 3 this year with the release of Steamworks – allowing cross-platform play between the PS3 and PC for Portal 2.
2012 promises to be an equally game-friendly year. The PlayStation Vita is set to release on February 22, bringing a whole new level of mobile gaming to the world, with twin analog control sticks, a touch screen and a touch pad on the back, and a rear-facing and forward-facing camera as just part of the new developments. But if the $250-300 price tag is too much, look no further than your phone; mobile gaming looks to progress even further this year. For the home market, the Wii U is set to come out later in the year. One of the main new draws of the device is a tablet-like controller with a large touchscreen in the centre. It’s also quite possible that we’ll see the announcement of at least one next-generation console this year, likely Microsoft. It’s an exciting time to be a gamer, with new and better technology surfacing all the time. By this time next year, there’s no saying what games we’ll be most excited about, but I, for one, can’t wait. To the future!
