Monday 31 December 2012

Game of the Year 2012 - Borderlands 2

I introduce to you, 2012's game of the year.


It’s been a long list of very impressive titles but we’ve finally made it to the number 1 spot. This game beat every one else to the punch as the most enjoyable, the most content-rich and one of the most visually stunning games of 2012. The game I’m talking about is none other than Borderlands 2.

This cast of characters is AWESOME.
Fun is simply not a word we use to describe games anymore. If you look at how people discuss games you’ll see people pointing to graphics, narrative, story, controls and while all these things do need to culminate to form a game, if I were to tell you that a title is simply a whole load of fun, it would be hard not give it a go and find out if you agree with me or not.

Building upon the fantastic predecessor, Borderlands 2 continues on as an action first-person shooter role-play game (breathes in). Crossing genres was always part of Borderland’s appeal, especially when it’s done this well. Players travel in groups looking for loot and taking down groups of enemies while constantly leveling up, upgrading weapons, unlocking new skills and progressing as a unit.

Beautiful visuals intertwine with a wonderful story.
Borderlands 2 is obviously at its best when played with human companions. Getting a group together and exploring Pandora leads to an extraordinary amount of content to cover. Pandora has now been expanded and is full of side quests, treasures, secrets as well as the campaign story. When games expand so significantly there’s always the danger of the title losing life and character. This couldn’t be any further from the truth here in Borderlands 2 as Pandora bustles with life like never before. In fact some of the most enjoyable and humorous moments of Borderlands 2 comes in the form of amazing AI characters you meet along the way.

The most enjoyable co-op game of 2012 by a mile.
There’s always been something especially rewarding about collecting and upgrading. That constant click and reward psychology behind leveling up makes it very difficult to put down the controller and stop playing Borderlands 2. With an almost unlimited amount of weapons just begging to be found across the very different classes available, you’ll be spending a whole load of time trying to find the very best gear to make sure you’re the baddest Vault Hunter this side of Pandora.

Borderlands 2 is easily the most rewarding video game experience of 2012. Very few games will have you so invested in not just the game, but the friends you are playing with. Borderlands 2 demands your attention and you will be organizing times when all of your buddies can get online at once so you can continue on with your quest on Pandora. Borderlands 2 brings together hilarious narrative, well-structured and finely paced gameplay all onto a world full of life and character. This is the game to play this holiday period and it is the game of 2012, why? On top of the aforementioned, it’s just so much fun.

Enjoy the best game of 2012.

Sunday 30 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #02 - Max Payne 3

Max is a one of the most celebrated modern characters in the industry.


So close now! What game just fell narrowly short of being crowned the best game of 2012? Well that title belongs to none other than Rockstar’s Max Payne 3.

When I heard Max Payne was being remade my ears perked up and I was ready to listen – I was intrigued, I wanted to know what was going to happen to one of my most beloved childhood franchises. Upon learning that Rockstar took development under their wing I immediately felt a sigh of relief and I did nothing more than wait for what was undoubtedly going to be a special game in 2012.

Battling his demons and kicking ass, all in a days work.
So what made Max Payne 3 so special that it sits higher than so many games on this list? Let’s begin by looking at the story and narrative, something that traditionally Rockstar are renown for. When someone asks me “what was the best video game story of 2012?” my immediate response is Max Payne 3. Rockstar did the most incredible job bringing a thought provoking and intriguing story to life as Max Payne battled his demons and overcame the hardships of his past life. You’re literally put into the shoes of Max, seeing what he sees and listening to what he thinks about the people around him and the society they live in. His prehistoric look on modern society is amusing and simultaneously sad as you feel like an aging dinosaur is no longer welcome in this modern world.

Fortunately things go from bad to well, downright terrible for Max and the chaos is where unfortunately he finds himself most at home. When the action begins and the boozing stops, Max goes on a hunt for revenge that slowly re-awakens the demons Max was trying so desperately to hide. This unraveling story is a joy to behold and even more fun to experience first-hand. Rockstar wanted this to be a new chapter in Max Payne’s life and the first hour or so almost have you believing that despite the alcoholism, Max is living in the present with his new job far away from New York City, however when trouble comes knocking, Max simply can’t stay away.

Is there anything more fun than Bullet Time?
In typical Rockstar fashion, this phenomenal storyline is intertwined with fantastic third-person shooting action that sees Max acquire a host of cool weapons and blast his way through hordes of enemies. Bullet Time makes a triumphant return giving Max an edge on the battlefield where he constantly finds himself outmanned and outgunned. Some fantastic set-piece scenarios are spread across an engaging and challenging campaign mode that will certainly provide hours of entertainment and fun.

I think ultimately it’s just a testament to how good Rockstar are as a development team. Their games are of the highest quality and it wouldn’t have taken a rocket scientist to at least guess Max Payne 3 was going to be at minimum, a very good game. What we didn’t see coming was an almost perfect combination of story-telling and gameplay that merged together to form 2012’s most engaging narrative, one that was almost impossible to stop playing through. Let Max Payne 3 reel you in because you’ll be in for an absolute treat. Max Payne 3 is deservedly the second best game of 2012. 

Nostalgia overload.

Saturday 29 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #03 - Zombi U

Traditional horror arrives on a brilliant new console.

We’ve made it to final 3 but what games have come this far? A long list of games could have potentially found their way onto this list but my reasoning and logic really emphasized the importance of new, innovative and cooperative games, which provided fun and long-lasting appeal for the gamer. A video game is a fantastic medium for creating fascinating ways to engage people and the top 3 titles do just that and more.

The third best game of 2012 goes to the Wii U exclusive Zombi U. Initially receiving poor domestic reviews this survival-horror game exploded onto the continental scene with massive scores from credited European journalists – and so the infection began.

I purchased a Wii U on launch, the Zombi U limited edition pack to be precise and have not looked back since (expect looking over my shoulder for any zombies while I rummage through my backpack.) In all seriousness, Zombi U is a fantastic step forward for gaming while simultaneously paying tribute to the classic survival-horror franchise that has seemed destined to die this generation.

One bite and you're a goner -- join the zombie party.
Zombi U plays a lot like a mix between Condemned: Criminal Origins and Left 4 Dead. Set in the heart of London (which is an absolute treat for us UK gamers), you are expected to survive the apocalypse and find safety throughout London’s infected streets, sewers and buildings. Players carry a rucksack with their inventory items including weapons, supplies and tools – all of which play an important role in survival. The problem is that you feel very vulnerable in this game, with one bite being enough to kill you.

Fortunately every time you die you respawn as another survivor with the immediate mission of going to find your previous rucksack with all your goodies. Of course getting there without any of your supplies is scary and often dangerous, once again invoking those traditional survival horror roots we all love and fear.

Zombi U does a wonderful job giving players enough freedom to explore London while at the same time keeping them on track using an anonymous character known as the Prepper to point you in the right direction. With the constant threat of zombies lurking around every corner, this is a tense and dramatic affair, something that no game has offered effectively this year.

A tense and terrifying affair.
Let’s not forget also that this is a Wii U exclusive and that beautiful Wii U GamePad is used in an engaging and interesting manner. Players bring up their inventory screen on the pad, as well as their map and motion detector. Scoped weapons use the bottom screen to help players zoom in for that clean head shot while a scanning system is also available allowing players to explore their surroundings and flag points of interest. The constant need to simultaneously pay attention to both screens makes Zombi U a nerve-racking affair as you simply don’t know when when you have a safe moment for respite.

Zombi U is the perfect adult-orientated Wii U exclusive title that every single Wii U owner must purchase and every single fan of survival horror must experience. This nostalgic trip intertwined with modern gaming elements combines to make another golden title from Ubisoft and deservedly sits as number 3 on my list of 2012’s best games. Nintendo stated that the Wii U will provide new gaming experiences and Zombi U does just that and it’s this reasoning why Ubisoft’s title finds it’s place here.

What an awesome ad campaign.

Thursday 27 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #04 - The Walking Dead

The nightmare from a different perspective.


As we move ever closer to the number 1 spot I can’t help but awe in admiration regarding the high quality of the titles on this list so far. Many have argued that this year has been very weak for the gaming industry but I believe that considering we’re so close to a new generation of gaming, it’s an absolute testament that developers are still producing games of such a high standard for current generation machines.

Following Journey number 4 is another downloadable title, The Walking Dead: Video Game. This point-and-click adventure deserves a mass amount of praise for the astonishing content it has provided for such a low price and the incredibly high quality delivery through the classic point-and-click medium.

It's just as bloody and brutal as the comics and TV series.
The Walking Dead is spread across 5 episodes and soon to be available on a compilation disc. Set during the same chronological period as the zombie apocalypse in the comics, this story centers around Lee Everett as he tries to survive this modern nightmare and help those he encounters throughout his journey. Fans of the TV show and comics alike will absolutely adore this wonderful take on the series, with some characters overlapping in-game and some environments reminiscent from the show too.

Every decision tugs at your heart-strings.
You will begin noticing a theme in the games I have chosen – The Walking Dead once again just like Journey, emphasizes story and character development over gameplay. Players will naturally find themselves bonding with groups of survivors and characters they meet and then in the most unfair of circumstances Telltale Games puts players in heart-breaking scenarios where they are forced to make deep and meaningful decisions that play upon their emotions. This type of gameplay makes for a refreshing change to mindless shooting and killing and as a result, deeply invests you as a gamer.

The Walking Dead uses your decisions and changes the gaming experience based upon how you play out the story. This leaves plenty of gameplay interpretation and replay value for those of you wanting to find out what various different ways the game can pan out.

Harsh emotional tone with brilliant narrative and dialogue makes The Walking Dead: Video Game one of the most unique and mesmerizing games of 2012. Very few games can compare and it’s wonderful to see the point-and-click genre making a come back. I keep emphasizing that we are constantly being bombarded by generic video game titles that are mind numbing at best so when a game of this kind of quality and diversity comes around, it’s difficult not to pay attention and see what the fuss is all about. The Walking Dead is a brilliant game and deserves the number 4 spot on my list. 

The nightmare will continue on...

Wednesday 26 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #05 - Journey

A unique experience in the video game industry.


The illustrious top 5 titles of 2012 – how exciting! This year has seen some very impressive technical achievements flourish in the video game industry, but the next 5 games shone above the rest and are each in their own way, innovators moving this mode of entertainment to new heights previously unexplored in gaming.

Look how beautiful this is, I mean just, wow.
The PlayStation Network exclusive Journey starts our top 5 countdown, providing a unique, emotional and thought provoking experience unlike any other this year. Journey tells the silent tale of a mysterious traveler as they try and reach a beautiful mountaintop in the distance. Providing little in terms of gameplay or story, Journey was intended by the developers Thatgamecompany to “evoke in the player a sense of smallness and wonder, and to forge an emotional connection between them and the anonymous players they meet along the way.”

Indeed those of you who have not played Journey may be asking, “what kind of game is it?”, and truth be told, that’s a very difficult question to answer. If you broke it down Journey is a puzzle exploration game but it’s impossible not to experience the deeper levels of this mesmerizing title as you meet other players along your journey and explore some of the most beautiful environments the industry has ever seen.

A mysterious and majestic lead character.
Coupled with stunning visuals Journey’s story is told through the medium of music. A beautiful ballad follows your character as you move deeper and deeper into the heart of the desert while communication between yourself and players is limited to serene singing. Somehow without any form of direct communication, players establish partnerships and help each other complete objectives without once ever doing anymore than whistling a tune or performing a jig – a truly magical feeling that you must experience.

Some have complained that Journey has a severe lack of gameplay and should be defined as an artistic venture as opposed to a video game. While this is to an extent a reasonable comment to make for those expecting more interaction, it would also be fair to retort by stating that Thatgamecompany never intended to create that type of game and what they were trying to achieve had to be performed through this artistic medium. Whatever side of the fence you choose to sit on, it’s absolutely undeniable that Journey is visually stunning, blissful on the ears and a joy to experience. This is unlike anything you’ve played this year and as a result, thoroughly deserves praise as one of 2012’s absolute finest title. 

Explore a wonderful world with a silent friend -- a vivid and surreal experience.

GOTY 2012 #06 - Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 concludes the series in fantastic fashion.


We’ve almost reached the half-way mark in this year’s list of the very best games, but what title narrowly missed the top 5? The critically acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy concluded in March and certainly provided plenty of action and at times, discontent amongst fans.

Whatever you thought about Mass Effect 3, it was undeniably one of the best role-play games of not only this year, but of this generation of gaming. Critics showered Bioware’s futuristic adventure stating that it possessed one of the most impressive stories in the history of the medium and coupled with extensive gameplay and customization features; it was truly a force to be reckoned with.

Now that's a serious invasion.
Unfortunately Mass Effect 3 lacked accessibility and failed to stand up as its own game. Indeed players were expected to at minimum have played Mass Effect 2 and this was further pushed as an incentive by allowing players to download and incorporate their save from the previous game to Mass Effect 3. For fans of the series this was an absolute delight, all the moral decisions that they made from the previous games were re-created in Mass Effect 3, making the world believable and visibly changing place completely dictated by your actions. Those who wanted to give Mass Effect 3 a go and didn’t fancy spending around 100 hours catching up with the previous games were left confused by Mass Effect’s complicated world, story and ideals while at the same time having little emotional investment in the main character because at this point, he / she was nothing more than a blank canvas.

A wonderful assortment of races comprise Mass Effect's world.
Normally you would assume that a game ending in the number 3 would be tailored for fans of the series and the aforementioned were truly treated to a spectacle. With the galaxy on the verge of war, it was up to Shepherd to establish effective military strength (EMS) by completing missions and allying with other races and planets to fend off the Reapers. The story was emotional, dramatic and full of interesting twists, of which you have control over.

Then comes Mass Effect’s fantastic gameplay mechanics, which emphasized third-person shooting and cover based shooting for modernized gaming. Despite leaning towards a conventional style of play, the different classes, weapon customization and power-ups gave players the opportunity to create a varied and unique character and partnering them with a group of engaging and powerful comrades. There weren’t as many allies in the third instalment as the others, but this was designed to further your emotional connection with the group, creating once again, some very difficult decisions throughout your time with Mass Effect 3.

I personally don’t see how the third instalment in the Mass Effect series could have simultaneously appeased it’s fan base and became an entry-level title, so for me, this wasn’t a justified criticism. People who bought Mass Effect 3 knew exactly what they were getting themselves into, a completely engrossing world full of life and character. It’s the series’ remarkable progression from an average role-play game, to a great role-play game and now a pinnacle benchmark for the genre that is so incredibly impressive. Mass Effect 3 was a technical masterpiece and it’s games like these that the video game industry should be known for. 

Say what you will, the variety of endings made for thrilling playthroughs of an already exciting game.

Tuesday 25 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #07 - Far Cry 3

A dark and twisted fantasy, Far Cry 3 is an absolute joy.
 
Welcome back to our countdown of 2012’s finest video games! Number 7 was developed by arguably the most successful and popular developer of 2012, Ubisoft. Whatever they seem to release turns out to be absolute gold, it’s truly impressive. The same wonderful praise applies to Far Cry 3, which is an immersive, twisted and dark first-person shooter that takes you places you would never want to go.

Shots now, stabbed later -- great party guys.

Far Cry 3 tells a very mature and gruesome story about a group of friends who accidentally find themselves on a pirate infested island when sky diving on holiday. A fun trip quickly goes sour and it’s your role to rescue your friends and eliminate those who have harmed the ones you care for. But how does a normal person who’s never been involved in any type of dangerous situation suddenly go about murdering a group of pirates and more importantly, how does one drive himself to do something so inconceivable to his fellow man?

What is so brilliant and simultaneously twisted about Far Cry 3’s story is the emphasis on the protagonist’s transformation from a regular guy to a killer. Real concentration is placed upon his emotional stability and it’s clear as you progress through Far Cry 3, Jason goes from a boy scared of survival, to a man who will do anything to complete his goal. When we debate about whether children can play games that are rated higher than their age, this is a prime example of a title that requires emotional maturity to be able to step into the shoes of a regular man and go through a transformation that feels, scarily believable.

Far Cry 3 introduces one of this year's most demented new characters.

Of course this terrifying story is intertwined in very special and enthralling gameplay. It takes a lot for a shooter to stand out in a modern market flooded with shooting games, but Far Cry 3 delivers a stunning environment that really helps expand your gaming experience. Ubisoft created an open world for players to explore and exploit when taking down forts of enemies. You have the option of deciding how you want to plan your movements and attacks, giving this shooter a real sand box feel. A host of cleverly devised role-play elements like experience points, skill trees and a crafting system make Jason’s physical progression as well as his emotional progression, apparent.


Ultimately Far Cry 3 stands out because of a terrific combination of story telling, gameplay and progression. It’s a higher-level first person shooter, one that provides more than simple run and gun gameplay. As a result it’s difficult not to be invested in Jason’s plight to save his friends, kill his enemies and get off that wretched island. Far Cry 3 is a wonderful game and rightfully deserves its number 7 spot on our list. If you’re looking for a shooter this holiday period, look no further than Far Cry 3.

The industry needs most games like this and more characters like Vaas.

Monday 24 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #08 - Dishonored

What a bad ass, I mean look at this guy seriously.


Hello and welcome back as I continue with another title to grace my list of 2012’s best games! Number 8 is actually a title from a video game developer that I don’t, like … gasp! That’s right I said it, I don’t like Bethesda, I don’t like the Elder Scrolls series and I certainly did not like Skyrim! This made me the perfect candidate to play Dishonored (I promised myself not to be bias) because I didn’t have rose-tinted ‘I love Skyrim’ goggles on during my play-through.

Surprisingly however, Dishonored was a magnificent title that took just about everything I didn’t like about Bethesda’s pervious outings, removed them and added just about everything I love about role-play games and as a result, comes in hot at number 8!

The environments and artistic direction are absolutely stunning.
So what made Dishonored so special? You could point to the absolutely stunning visual concept intertwining Victorian England with an industrial Steampunk style. Or perhaps the incredible voice acting and narrative that filled out this intriguing tale? It could also have been the entertaining and diverse combat system, or the multiple ways to tackle the game forcing different endings. Finally, it could just have been the plain and simple fact that Dishonored is a brand new IP and during a year full of games ending in the numbers 2 and 3, it’s always a breath of fresh air to see something new emerge in the video game industry.

Out of the aforementioned it was perhaps most surprising to see how developed Dishonored’s combat mechanics were, especially considering games like Skyrim had absolutely none whatsoever (I’m just gonna keep mashing right trigger in front of this fire-breathing DRAGON and when my health gets low I’ll pause MID-COMBAT and drink a potion, cool. Takes notes from Demon’s and Dark Souls Bethesda please. Still not bias!). The entire of Dishonored could be played with a Metal Gear-esque non-lethal approach, knocking out enemies and opting for one of the more rewarding endings available. Or there was of course the brutal variant, but whichever you choose the supplementing supernatural powers are what really stood out in Dishonored.

I still don't know what these things are but damn they're scary.
Resembling Bioshock’s plasmids, you had the ability to summon swarms of rats, use the elements or even perform bodily possession to force guards into battle with one-another. There were so many awesome ways to mix and match how you wanted to progress through Dishonored and this gave Bethesda’s title a significant amount of replay value, which was needed considering it was quite small in comparison to other offerings like Elder Scrolls. But this wasn’t a bad thing at all; in fact slimming down the game makes for a much better and more concentrated experience.

Dishonored was simply a great example of what happens when all the core elements of a video game align successfully. Even if one piece of the puzzle is wrong it can potentially ruin the whole experience but Dishonored provided excellent gameplay intertwined in a thoroughly enjoyable and diverse world. Congratulations Bethesda, this time you get a massive thumbs up from me.

I want to see more games like this Bethesda.

Saturday 22 December 2012

GOTY 2012 #09 - Hitman: Absolution

 
Agent 47 returns in splendid fashion.

Hello and welcome back as I continue the countdown towards the best game of 2012! With Resident Evil 6 opening our list the standards are already pretty high. In at number 9 to pip Capcom’s action horror adventure is the ever-popular Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution.

Absolution is literally one of the last high profile titles to have been released in 2012 and what a monster of a game it turned out to be. Packing an impressive storyline, narrative and gameplay mechanics, this welcome divergence from the generic first-person shooter made gamers leap for joy as they were forced to strategize every move, learn their environments and come up with a variety of unique and sometimes horrific ways to assassinate their targets.

Disguises play a massive role to keep Agent 47 hidden.
The truly impressive thing about Hitman: Absolution was how the developers IO Interactive really stayed true to the original Hitman formula, just adding enough new content and additional gameplay elements to modernize what was already a really impressive set of foundations for a video game. The introduction of Instinct Mode gave Agent 47 heightened senses to learn about his surroundings, while Point Shooting gave our assassin precise accuracy should the need arise for open conflict. IO Interactive also made sure Agent 47 interacted with the environments much more naturally, now being able to use cover and weave his way around surroundings.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Hitman: Absolution was the awesome Contracts mode. This allowed players to participate in custom missions created by other gamers. Players focused on achieving the fastest times and the highest scores just like in the campaign, but these user-created scenarios were a whole load of fun to participate in and create too.

Sexy nun trailer that pissed everyone off -- awesome.
It was also nice to see a development company not shy away from a steep difficulty curve. On the easier settings Hitman: Absolution was fairly simple, guards had poor reaction times and there were way less of them. Ramp the difficulty level up however and you’re in for a serious battle. Hitman: Absolution was no walk over in the slightest when it came to its hardest difficulty settings and this had the potential to test even the most hardcore of gamers.

Hitman: Absolution was the perfect sequel to Hitman: Blood Money and it provided the perfect balance between familiar and new content for fans of the series and newcomers looking to dip their toe in for the first time. Hitman: Absolution was an experience unlike any other this year, providing challenging, interesting and thought-provoking gameplay that shouldn’t be missed by anyone who calls themselves a gamer. Well done IO Interactive, you’ve placed number 9 in our list of the best games of 2012!

The future is bright for Hitman after such a wonderful return.

GOTY 2012 #10 - Resident Evil 6


Capcom captivate some and disappoint others with Resident Evil 6.

Hello and welcome as I once again count down the video game industry’s best achievements this year. Spread across the next 10 days I will be revealing what I consider to be 2012’s finest, culminating in my Game of the Year 2012. I would of course LOVE to hear all your thoughts about the following choices and do debate, argue and ramble on our social network feeds to let me know whether you agree or disagree.

2 leading characters return alongside a new protagonist.
In at number 10 I have chosen Resident Evil 6, a title that received very mixed reviews globally. I personally felt that the negative reception was totally unjust and obviously some reviewers just woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.

Resident Evil 6 evolved Capcom’s iconic series further down the line of Action Adventure Horror – which seemed to be most people’s biggest problem. Once you make your peace with the fact Resident Evil 6 is not a Survival Horror title, you find an action-packed adventure spread across 4 fantastic campaigns.

Resident Evil 6 refined the gameplay formula too, making this a much more fast-paced shooter, with plenty of run-and-gun moments and larger than life set-piece battles. Each campaign provided a strong sense of varied gameplay and it was clear that there was no weak link between them.

This, isn't survival horror?!
Saying all of this, I have to acknowledge that Resident Evil 6 did have some consistency and pacing issues. It wasn’t the most balanced game with ammo constantly being on the low side, enemies proving to be very cheap on harder difficulty levels and some disconnection between certain areas of the game. This perhaps can be blamed on the large development team behind the title but it’s no real excuse, especially considering how important the story is to Resident Evil 6.

Nevertheless, the offline split-screen cooperative mode as well as online functionality allowed gamers to experience this thrilling ride with a buddy, or go through it solo with an AI partner. If that’s not enough the infamous Mercenaries mode made a triumphant return as you attempted to climb up the leaderboard and achieve ultimate Resident Evil greatness.

While having some issues Resident Evil 6 still stood out as one of 2012’s finest, leaving me with a satisfying grin on my face after every single campaign. With plenty of replay value alongside the relatively large initial story, this is an absolute must have for action adventure and horror hybrid lovers. Zombies may be on the down but Leon and Chris’s battle against Umbrella is really just beginning. 

An iconic scene for the video game industry.