The Standout Games of 2011

Happy New Year everyone! Looking back at 2011, it's safe to say that gamers everywhere have been spoilt with a large range of top quality titles. From the indie developers to the major industry players, we have seen games bestowed to the masses that have ranged from the thought-provoking to frenetic. It has been something to truly savour. I might even go as far as declaring that never has a gamer had it so good before. So, let's take a look back at the past year at what games have stood out for the right reasons. Whether they be the Triple-A titles we were all expecting or the surprise hits that caught us off guard, 2011 was filled with so many top quality titles that it just proved too difficult, at least for me, to narrow down a just a list of ten. So, here is my list of twenty great games of the year*.

*In no particular order because I'm a giant Cop-Out!

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Say what you like about MW3. The sales figures tell you that it was the fastest-selling game to date (I'd use 'fastest selling game ever', but you just know that the next CoD game is going to break that record anyway) made a lot of fans happy and Activision $1billion in just 16 days. This was all the more impressive given that there was some serious & direct competition to this instalment of the CoD franchise. MW3's climatic campaign and challenginh Spec Ops, combined with it's exciting multiplayer made for a game justified the sales figures. However, some might argue that MW3 was inferior to other FPS's on the market or that the game was more of iteration rather than innovation, but when you already hold the record for the fastest selling game, why would Activision or Infinity Ward make any drastic changes to the formula. As the old saying goes: "If it ain't broke, why fix it?".


Battlefield 3

EA's challenge to Activision's dominance in the FPS market did not disappoint. It was always going to be a hotly anticipated battle between these two heavyweights, but even though it sold fewer copies than MW3, I would rate it as having some of the best visuals of any game currently available. And not only is do the graphics look top-notch, but the deep & varied multiplayer, the array of land vehicles and aircraft to choose from and the fact that teamwork is rewarded, BF3 really makes you feel like you are fighting a war rather than just another round or match. Admittedly, it's single player campaign was somewhat disappointing with it feeling somewhat tacked on as side thought, but let's be honest; BF3 was designed with multiplayer in mind, and boy, does it deliver.


The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Nintendo's Wii has the feel of a dead man walking. Having failed to stem the decrease in sales with further price cuts, this year's E3 announcement of the Wii U looks to be the final nail in the Wii's coffin. If it proves to be so, it is pleasing to see that a game as outstanding as Skyward Sword still grabs the attention it deserves, despite being a Wii exclusive. To be honest, it's a shame that a game that has implemented motion control so well has only emerged this recently. As well as it's excellent controls, Skyward Sword is all that you expect of a Zelda game; a plot that captures the imagination, good dungeon design and great boss fights. Some circles are hailing it as the best game since the Ocarina of Time, but the fact that it's another Zelda game might be it's only criticism. However whilst it might have used the same predictable formula that it has followed in the past, there are still a lot of fans that have stuck by the franchise for the last 25 years, which would suggest that like Modern Warfare 3, it's a winning formula!


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

"I used to be an..." You know what? I'm going to stop there. That meme has been done to death. Then again, how many games on this list can you say have spawned an internet meme? I guess that's my point. Skyrim is that game everyone has been talking about since it's launch in November, even when it's been about immersion-disrupting bugs, the unplayable PS3 saved games or the patches that break as much as they fix. However, some people see some of the less disrupting glitches as a fun quirk of the game. I mean who doesn't find it funny to see what happens when two giants are attacking you simultaneously? And yet, we haven't even covered what makes this game great. The beautiful & atmospheric world opens you up to an immense variety of tasks to keep you busy. Even if you get tired of those, there is still always the compelling, self-contained side quests that accompany an epic main story. And you get to slay dragons. Sometimes that's the only reason you need!


Portal 2

When the first Portal came out in 2007 as part of The Orange Box, Portal certainly was a surprise package at the time and as a result of that, it was always going to be a difficult to make a sequel to surpassed it. But yet, Valve did. As hard as it was, Portal 2 was better in every way. It still had you scratching your head and still provided a great sense of achievement when you finally found the solution to these fantastically clever puzzles. New to Portal 2, was the two player co-op mode made for some perplexing & intriguing situations at times, regardless if you played with somebody online or in the same room. In the single player campaign, you once again found yourself dealing with the passive aggressive GLaDOS (portrayed by the returning Ellen McLain); one of the greatest computer game villains ever in my opinion. But now, the voice acting had been taken to whole new level with the insanely clever writing expertly & comically delivered by Stephen Merchant and J.K. Simmons as the immensely entertaining Wheatley and Cave Johnson, respectively. On my last count, there was just one cut-scene in the entire campaign (and even then, it was still in the normal gameplay's first-person view), which should demonstrate that Portal 2, for me, had the best scripting of any game in 2011.


Batman: Arkham City

Like Portal 2, Batman: Arkham City had a lot to live up to. Barely two years since the release of Rocksteady Studios' first game, the award-winning Arkham Asylum, the sequel took everything from first game that reviewers and gamers had raved about and refined them. Then they placed all of it in the larger detailed open world of an entire city that allowed for exciting grappling and gliding, adding a sense of freedom that was lacking from being guided down the corridors of the asylum. The visceral combat is now smoother and slicker with attack combos easier to chain, but still just as hard-hitting and gratuitously satisfying. The overall graphics are simply stunning and the voice acting from the returning Kevin Conway (as Batman) and Mark Hamill (as the Joker) again bring a high level of class that even some of the great games don't have. There has also been the opportunity to expand on the the number of characters from Batman-lore where as you are able play as other characters, such as Catwoman, Nightwing & Robin, through a series of challenge maps, take on other villains in main story side-quests and encounter reference after reference of other Gotham-related personalities. All in all, Arkham City is an outstanding game that improved on it's highly successful predecessor in such a short space of time. Out of all the sequels released in 2011, it just pips Portal 2 to being the best sequel of the year.


Assassin's Creed: Revelations

As the last game in the Ezio Auditore de Firenze trilogy, as well as being a line drawn under Altair's story, there was always bound to be a little bit of disappointment. I guess what we hadn't prepared ourselves for was to be disappointed by the added 'Den Defence' feature. Having a mini-game as linear as that in a franchise that has free-running at its very core felt quite out of place, even if it might have been there to reflect the decrease of Ezio's pace and increase in seniority in his old age. The hook blade on the other hand (no pun intended) added a new string to Ezio's proverbial bow; aiding in combat and adding new movement options which kept the platforming fresh. Features of those that came before Revelations (pun intended this time) also got a tune up. The Brotherhood recruitment mini-game has now been fleshed out to give it more meaning & context. At the end of the day though, Revelations is an Assassin's Creed game which didn't quite get it right with some of it's new features. But regardless of that flaw, you still have an Assassin's Creed game that builds on the previous titles, guaranteeing a glorious environmental backdrop and evocative music that immerses you in the final chapters of an exhilarating story of another life in another time.


Halo Combat Evolved: Anniversary

How do you make a legendary game even better than it was originally? After 6 games in 10 years, the Halo franchise comes full circle back to where it all started. Some might argue it's Microsoft cashing in on the last of Bungie's work before Halo IP becomes the full and sole responsibility of 343 Industries. Perhaps. But unlike other HD releases of past titles where the same dated look only adjusted for a larger resolution of screen (I'm calling you out PS3!), this is truly a remake. The fact that you can switch between the original Bungie graphics to the new HD look on the fly at the touch of a button is not only impressive, it is what all HD re-releases should do. With a beautiful & highly detailed remastered look and an iconic soundtrack, an already exciting campaign is more tantalising to play than the original. In addition, the legendary multiplayer, which outdated Xbox Live by a number of years, has been upgraded to use the superior Reach engine whilst revisiting some of the classic maps from the first three Halo games. If all HD remakes were like Anniversary, then perhaps the lack of new interesting IP and increasing amount of sequels wouldn't be such an issue.


L.A. Noire

When Rockstar published this game, it was certainly a different approach if you consider their history of criminal/outlaw/troublemaker protagonists. However, unlike all other games where you play a cop, this is much more than about shooting everything that moves. Don't get me wrong, there are same great shoot-outs and action sequences to be had in L.A. Noire, but as a detective you are expected to solve the crime and bring the perpetrator to justice. Each case that lands on your desk is a compelling self-contained vignette linked all together by a central overarching crime noire plot. As you traverse the city, you are greeted by an authentic and simply outstanding depiction of 1940's Los Angeles style; a world where the small details and the big picture are equally depicted. And once the clues have been examined and the suspects have been taken in for questioning, the interrogation & questioning begin; the mechanics of which demonstrate the use of 'MotionScan' technology showing the most realistic and accurate facial capturing of actors I've ever seen. I understand a lot of people found this game disappointing because of the Rockstar name attached to it as publisher. But you should ignore that and the whole Team Bondi mess. When you simply look at the game for what is it, it's a great game which should get the recognition it deserves. For me, this beats The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for technical innovation and that should say enough.


Gears Of War 3

With Gears Of War 3, we find ourselves in very similar situation as Assassin's Creed: Revelations. The last in a trilogy cataloguing Delta Squad exploits against the Locust and Lambent draws to a close where the conclusion of Marcus Fenix & Co. does not disappoint. Despite ridiculous proportioned steriod-fuelled lumps of macho bravado that are COG's, the campaign provides an experience that is as emotional and satisfying as it is frenetic and thrilling; all the while set in even more detailed and rich apocalyptic locations. From the franchise that created & coined 'Horde Mode', now also comes Beast Mode, where essentially is the inverse of Horde Mode, as you play as Locust taking on waves of increasing strong human survivors. It's an interesting take on the classic game type, and some people like to play out being the bad guy. Regardless if it's Horde or Beast mode, the co-op experience is still second-to-none.


Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Set in the Blade Runner-esque universe, comes Deus Ex: Human Revolution; not only a prequel to the beloved Deus Ex, but a FPS/espionage/RPG game in which I've not experienced the degree of freedom to which I can accomplish my mission objectives. This is a rare gem indeed, as most games are often design levels to accomplished in a limited number of ways. But in Human Revolution, you are able to stealthily make your way unnoticed, charge in with guns ablaze or take any lethal/non-lethal approach that falls in between the two extremes. This is obviously very useful as you are able to adapt when on the occasions, your initial plan deteriorates rapidly. Additionally, when talking to NPC's you have the choice to show empathy or confront them over their responses. And it's like this throughout the long and engrossing storyline. Just don't let the average voice acting and poor facial animations put you off. You can really immerse yourself in the world. What strikes me as strange is that despite all of the high praise the game gets, is that the price of Human Revolution has dropped dramatically since it's release in August. It was already less than £20 before the run-up to Christmas had began. Was it a strategy to compete with the influx of Triple-A titles released in the late October to early November period? All that I know it's a great game, now on the cheap and that you should be playing it without hesitation.


Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 4 is, without a doubt, the best game in the racing genre this year. Though it doesn't delve into the world of single seater or off-road racing that you might find in F1 2011 or Dirt 3, it does have extensive range of both common and exotic road cars to choose from; all of which are presented to near perfection. If you able to take your eyes off the road, the tracks themselves are also stunning to look; even if there are only five new tracks. When behind the wheel, the driving experience is kind enough not to marginalise those who might struggle to stay on the tarmac as it caters for all manner of driver skill. There's even an immediate feedback system that hands out pointers on how a player can improve their driving technique. This provides some rare arm-around-the-shoulder encouragement, when other games would simple flip you off with a 'Game Over' screen. Fans of Top Gear will be excited by the inclusion of the show's test track in game and Jeremy Clarkson's narration in the Autovista mode, showcasing a variety of drivable and non-drivable cars; including a sneak peek at Halo 4's '54 AMG Transport Dynamics M12 Warthog FAV'. When the best game in the genre can demonstrate that it too can fun as well by including such additional content, you have to tip your hat to it's developer.


Star Wars: The Old Republic

When a game is touted as 'the most expensive game ever created', there are some exceedingly high expectations to meet. But when that game also bears the 'Star Wars' name, meaning millions of fans will be picking it apart down to a microscopic level, expectations go above and beyond what even I can imagine. The one name you want to hear is handling this monumental task is BioWare, and fortuitously that is the case. The Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer, who have a rich and successful history with MMO's, RPG's and in making Star Wars games, has not only produced an MMORPG that satisfies those in the core demographic, but also has captured the imagination and attention of gamers who not normally be interested in Star Wars or this genre of game. The main reason for this is BioWare's signature storytelling written with branching content in mind, which works with the games mechanics in such a way that you are able to play as if it were a single player campaign, without the need to find and group up with 3 other players for raids and difficult dungeons. The universe which the MMO is set does the rest to suck you in. If Activision Blizzard think that SWTOR will not affect their subscriber numbers, then they should ignore them at their own peril.


Bastion

Whoever doubted that a downloadable game could hold it's ground against retail titles needs a giant helping of humble pie as Bastion proves that for a small price you can have a tonne of fun. Play this delightful deep action RPG and you presented with an exquisitely charming art style, an ever-unfolding story and a gruff, yet eloquent, Morgan Freeman-esque narrator who provides an artful commentary. Some of the scenes you experience are nothing short of hauntingly beautiful. Delving deeper into this game, there is a large amount of customisation to be found in the main character himself as well as an entire arsenal of weapons you gradually build & master. Tying all of these things together is a fantastically trippy and moving string section-fuelled collection of songs which really captures the tone of the adventure & exploration of a broken post-cataclysmic world and move you when it needs to. The resultant product demonstrates that very rare quality that is lacking from many games on this list; heart. For me, Bastion not only rises above a plethora of great downloadable titles as the best indie game of the year, but also possesses one of the best soundtrack as well.


Burnout Crash!

I can hear you know shouting at me: "Why have I included this downloadable title, but not, say, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet or From Dust?". Well, it's simple really. Whilst there have been many top quality DLG's this year, there is one main difference between Burnout Crash! and other great titles; nostalgia. I've had a lot great times playing Burnout titles with friends and it was mainly due to the Crash mode in these previous titles. The new top down view in takes some getting use to, but it still retains all the satisfaction of causing fiery & explosive mayhem of not only vehicles, but of also the building and objects in the surrounding environment. Another noticeable change is the different direction in artistic styling; pseudo-realistic graphics have been replaced by a cartoony style, giving the game a Micro Machines-esque appearance. The music and sound effects really help create a fun and cheerful vibe to what is actually large scale wanton chaos and destruction. I'll admit though, that the game wasn't perfect. The announcer is a little annoying and that the David Hasselhoff in chicken suit ad campaign was embarrassingly irritating. However, neither of these flaws can detract from the fact that this is an enjoyably fun game to play either solo or with your friends.


Minecraft

It's Minecraft. Need I say more?... Oh I actually do? Well, let's put it into perspective then shall we. How many new IP games have had their release announced at their own convention? One, and that one game would be Minecraft at MineCon in November 2011. Granted, the game has been available in alpha and beta release forms for over 2 years, but in that time the game was still being developed, tested and improved. It's a real measure of how Minecraft have captured the imagination of millions of creative & curious gamers alike through the freedom of the crafting and adventuring it offers. The game's choice in aesthetics are also cleverly chosen. It's very nature compliments the blocky, retro look & feel, which might be considered as unimpressive if the game was about anything else, and alludes to visual similarities to the world's most popular toy, Lego. And even though there are no tutorials or recipes guides, a steep learning curve is price worth paying to for a game which is one of the most conceptually impressive indie games around and it's achievements will no doubt be remembered for a long time to come.


Saints Row: The Third

As a third-person open-world sandbox, it's inevitable that Saints Row: The Third will draw comparison with the genre's biggest names. So how does a game live in the shadow of titles of such as Grand Theft Auto IV? Simple. You differentiate yourself. In this case, Saints Row: The Third has chosen to present itself as raunchy, silly and over-the-top as it possibly can get away with; forging it's own identity in doing so, rather than copy the success of others and in turn gaining an 'inferior GTA clone' moniker. The beauty the game is that it clearly does not take itself too seriously and clearly wants to cater for a level of absurdity a title like GTA IV doesn't. It does this with it's wide assortment of vehicles and weapons - some of which are just insanely crazy - that can only lead to explosive & chaotic fun when either free roaming or taking on the outrageous story missions. Also on offer is a huge degree of player customisation that doesn't just stop at clothes and outfits, but also allows for changes physique, gender and voice; which can be altered at any point in the game. How many games allow you to create a main character than has blue skin, wears nothing but a backpack and speaks throughout the entire game as a zombie? Simply put, it is this unique brand of ridiculousness, coupled with a constant offering of cool rewards, which ensures that there is never a dull moment in the town of Steelport.


Mario Kart 7

To my knowledge, I don't think there has ever been a bad Mario Kart game and as expected the latest game in the franchise continues that fine tradition. A tried and tested formula of excellent track design - with both new tracks and old returning favourites - and exciting competitive action against AI or human opponents already make for a fast and frantic racing action. However, with items having been rebalanced, there is now a renewed emphasis on driving skill to ensure the best driver stays first once they get into that position. That's not to say that items have been neglected. New items such as the tanooki tail allow the player to bat away objects - including other drivers - that come too close. Other new features include pre-race Kart customisation as well as hang gliders give Mario Kart 7 a new dimension not just attributed to the 3DS's functionality.


Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

When first seeing the Uncharted 3 'Drake on a Plane' trailer seamlessly transitioned from a fist fight to Drake hanging on for dear life to cargo netting 30,000ft in the air, you knew that this was going to be great game given the pedigree of the Uncharted series. After all, Uncharted to the Playstation is what Halo is to the Xbox and Uncharted 3 is simply the best tribute to cinema that the game industry can currently produce. There is no game out there that can match it's dazzling visuals. But an Uncharted game has never been just about it's good looks. Underpinning the polish, is a well-paced, epic adventure set across expertly designed levels - that encourages experimentation - with a number of tactical options in combat as well. And all against a backdrop of beautifully detailed environments. In the desert environment alone, I could happily spend a few hours messing about with the sand dynamics if you gave Drake a tea tray or dune buggy. Nolan North, as well as the returning cast, yet again produce stellar voice acting performances that help to deliver an exciting story that matches the cinematics. Uncharted 3 is undoubtedly the PS3's game of the year. If more PS3 titles were anywhere near in quality as any of the Uncharted games, the foretold 'Year of the PS3' would be a reality.


Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy

As further unadulterated fan service to Dissidia: Final Fantasy, it might a little hard to justify this title being on the list. However, it is widely considered to be one of the best PSP titles out there, and so rightly earns it's place. What it does well is suck the player in. Dissidia 012 does this with a battle system that hasn't drastically changed since the first game, but is constantly rewarding currency, equipment, costumes, new music, new moves and even new gameplay modes after practically every fight. The changes to the fighting, like calling a support character or EX mode to slow down time, are nice additions and don't over complicate things. New heroes to the character roster: Lightning (FFXIII), Vaan (FFXII), Yuna (FFX), Tifa (FFVII), Laguna (FFVIII), and Kain (FFIV); all bring something new to the experience and each feel uniquely different from one another. A new overworld in, which you can explore, doesn't add much to the shallow story, but it just one demonstration of the games gorgeous graphics and soundtrack. There are also plenty of new modes introduced. Creation mode, for example, allows you to design your own quests. Another is Labyrinth where after choosing your equipment, opponents, and support characters from a deck of cards, the object is to fight battle after battle to see just how far you can get into the maze. Ultimately, this is a big game that offers new content as much as it recycles old. But once it has lured you in with it's fun combat, it's hard for you to escape.


Next time, we look at the top 10 games we can look forward to in 2012.