2011's hidden gaming gems

[xvbones]

The Witcher 2 was completely overshadowed by Skyrim. But it deserves just as much praise.

Nonlinear storyline, amazing graphics, a difficulty comparable to Dark Souls, one of the most intriguing plots ever, deep characters? It's everything that Dragon Age 2 should've been.

This. Even before it got the patch that almost completely fixed the horrifyingly frustrating combat, Witcher 2 was a brilliant, brilliant game. Post-patch, it's basically perfect.

I'd suggest playing the first one, just so you get all of the references and know who all these people are, as W2 basically assumes you have familiarity with all of this.

Luckily, you can get the enhanced W1 on steam for like nothing and it's still a great fucking game, regardless of ZP's take on it.


Oh, and Bastion.

Every game should be fully narrated by Bastion's narrator.

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition is on GOG for $10, DRM free, and a ton of bonuses.
Witcher 2: Digital Deluxe Edition is $40 off GOG, DRM free, with bonuses including manual, papercraft, calender, artbook, and guide.


The Witcher 2 was an amazing RPG. It really deserves more love than it gets. The entire Witcher series is underrated.

It was brilliant. There were moments that were plotted in such a manner as to apparently be trolling my lifetime of playing these kinds of games, there were quests in which the plot twist was that one guy was telling the truth when he claimed not to be a vicious murderer and rapist.

What is best, what is best about the Witcher series, beyond the excellent gameplay, characters, dialogue, voiceover and degree of choice - (in the Witcher part 2, one particular choice in chapter 2 branches so severely that your entire chapter 3 will be wholly and completely different, from location to story to quests, depending on which choice you make) better than all of that is CD Projeckt RED STUDIO, the company that produces it.

Witcher 1 was a great game that was plagued with bugs, bad implementation, horrendous load times, some bad translation, the fans cried out so CD Projeckt released a patch so fucking massive it was practically a brand new version of the game in which every single problem was fixed, PLUS it added in extra camera modes and new content, for free.

"The Enhanced Edition" is the game plus that patch.

The Witcher 2, when it first launched, was plagued with problems in its combat gameplay, blocking was inexact, hit detection was often spotty, responsiveness as a whole was just lousy and all this heaped on top seriously difficult enemies and pretty much zero 'trivial' encounters.

The fans cried out and yet again, CD Projekt released another massive patch that fixed everything plus also added in some free DLC and a lovely note sealed with a kiss.

Granted it sucks that their games are launched with such horrible issues (which apparently stem from problems in translation), but their track record in fixing this shit is, thus far, spotless.

I love CD Projekt and I fucking love this series.

Seriously hoping for and looking forward to a third.

I shall combine the DNA of Morgan Freeman, David Attenborogh and Bastion's Narrator to create the world's most interesting voice ever heard.

Add H Jon Benjamin. Because I would like to hear him narrate things.

 

[MercurySteam]

Dawn of War II: Retribution. It allowed you to play with different heroes with different gear, armies and storylines, unlike DoWII and Chaos Rising where you had the same boring characters and tedious missions. Retribution is the most refined DoWII experience yet and I hope DoWIII follows in suit.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

The Binding of Isaac is the only hidden gem of this year that I've really played. I did get a couple others though like Bastion and Solatorobo that I hope prove to be gems.

 

[EHKOS]

I really liked Sola to Robo. Then again I love Atlus' steampunk worlds.

 

[thom_cat_]

Nitronic Rush.
Free.
Helluvalottafun.

 

[LittleBlondeGoth]

Renegade Ops on PSN / XBLA. It's like the bastard love child of Command & Conquer and Cannon Fodder. With extra explosions.

 

[gigastar]

The games i would call hidden gems for this year include;
Shadows of the Damned
Okamiden
Orcs Must Die
2011 version of Dwarf Fortress (0.31.25)
Rayman Origins

Im excluding X3: Albion Prelude because if youve played Terran Conflict then Albion is not much different. Though it does fix up alot of issues Terran Conflict ended up being stuck with (notably with missile frigates and bombers), and the story element is all set up for Rebirth next year.

Did Okamiden do well? That was a good game.

Consider that Okamiden (bewilderingly) came out under the same set of cirsumstances as Okami. That is the platform it was being released for being about halfway through its death cycle, leading to no one buying it despite the outstanding reviews.

Looks like its going to be a cult game like Okami is, maybe itll get rereleased too then get a MvC crossover some years down the line.

 

[ianeddy44]

Mine's easily Terraria. There's absolutely no challenge for me.. Nothing rivals the insane amount of fun and replayability that game can dish out. For all of the $60 releases and fancy-schmancy graphics released this year.. Only Terraria holds my heart for 2011.

And yes, that means I prefer it to BF3, Skyrim, DX:HR, etc.

 

[The Pinray]

The Binding of Isaac. Excellent game. Look it up, you won't regret it. Only like five bucks on Steam.

Also Rayman Origins was wonderful and gorgeous.

 

[Korten12]

I got bulletstorm recently, and that is a lot of fun.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

The Binding of Isaac, anyone?

 

[Shidira]

Catherine.

=)

Not enough people played it.

Catherine was awesome! I know a lot of people who passed it up because it "looks like that anime crap". Seriously. I'd also like to add Dungeon Defenders in there. Simple game, but I've put so many hours into it ;_;

 

[omega 616]

On topic: E.Y.E divine cybermancy

Wait you can read that game!?

-SPAZ (Space Pirates And Zombies)-
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
The humor is pretty tongue-in-cheek, and the combat is simple but surprisingly fun.

It's sort of like a 2D X3: Terran Conflict, but lighter and with a personality....and a point.

-Orcs Must Die-

Good sense of humor, rockin soundtrack, great gameplay. Placing traps is easier than I thought it would be, and the player doesn't just get to sit there tending to his towers the whole game, unlike a traditional Tower Defense title.

Dungeon Defenders (similar in a sense that it's also "Hero+Tower Defense") has multiplayer, but Orcs Must Die just does everything else better, and it doesn't force the player to grind. Ever.

If only they could make an Orcs Must Die 2 (somehow) with co-op multiplayer...

No offence but for fucks sake man! A double ninja!

Spaz is a good game, I keep getting my ass handed to me but that's 'cos I am racing to get to the next section which is the other side of the biggest universe ... I am in a vicious cycle of mine rez, buy crew then bribe officials.

Orcs must die is good but it's a shame they are going to sting you with the DLC for it. I also think it's a little dodgy you can only pick one weaver per map and it costs cash to get a power from it.

I personally just picked the one that gives you extra gold for killing with a trap or guardian, then if I end up with a silly amount of cash near the end I max out the weaver and spam archers everywhere!

Edit: I would argue that if like 10 people say one game it's not really a hidden gem, there haven't been that many posts so far and a good number include rayman for example.

 

[Mp3orso]

Magicka
One of my favorite games of the year yet i never hear anyone talk about it

 

[V TheSystem V]

Ms Splosion Man was really good. Didn't play much of it at all though (was stupidly difficult) but it was the great Twisted Pixel's product, meaning it was hilarious and also fun.

One that I'm not entirely sure is a hidden gem but people tend to forget about - Dead Space 2. It came out at the start of the year (so you are forgiven if you forgot about it) but it was AWESOME. Isaac Clarke became a sympathetic character, and the ending -

Spoiler

When Isaac just sits by the destroyed Marker alone, exhausted and awaiting death...until Ellie has other plans and rescues him. Cue an ending that parallels Dead Space 1 minus the Nicole-morph)

Sure, the third act was just run and gun shooter, but the first two acts were bombastic, and truly, truly epic. Falling through space debris towards the Sprawl looked and felt amazing.

 

[malmodir]

Might & Magic Heroes VI.
Seriously...
Nobody talks about it.
How's that possible ? What's the reason ?

Well it's a Ubisoft game for the PC. Personally I wanted to get it a lot but I didn't because I fully expected horrible DRM. If I may ask how is it by the way? Is it intrusive at all?

It is good. The first HoMM that's worthy to be played since the third.

I have to second this one and of course Bastion and SPAZ.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Rock of Ages is probably the funniest game that I've ever played, and I'm not even that big of a history buff although in total it was also a bit sub-par for ACE Team.

I've been meaning to buy that. Looks like you get to play a Terry Gilliam cartoon if he made a cartoon about Katamari. I don't see how that couldn't be entertaining.

I don't know how hidden it was but Child of Eden was a hell of a lot of fun and not too hyped up.

 

[VoidWanderer]

The Witcher 2 was completely overshadowed by Skyrim. But it deserves just as much praise.

Nonlinear storyline, amazing graphics, a difficulty comparable to Dark Souls, one of the most intriguing plots ever, deep characters? It's everything that Dragon Age 2 should've been.

Not quite sure how Skyrim 'overshadowed' The Witcher 2. I'm pretty sure there was at least two months difference in terms of release dates.

I played The Witcher 2 for a while, and I couldn't be bothered to play past the starting bits, because the game assumes you finished the first one. I suffered what Yahtzee did for the first Witcher, and I took the time to read the manuscript/manual and I still couldn't be remember why I was in the second town to begin with.

 

[VoidWanderer]

Oh, and Bastion.

Every game should be fully narrated by Bastion's narrator.

Every game.

I shall combine the DNA of Morgan Freeman, David Attenborogh and Bastion's Narrator to create the world's most interesting voice ever heard.

You forgot Stephen Fry!!!!

 

[teebeeohh]

frozen synapse
but it is a gem in a colour only a very narrow group of people will like

edit: really people? i know my definition of hidden gem may not apply to everyone but witcher 2 and infamous 2?
infamous was one of the best-selling ps3 games this year and the witcher came up every time people were talking about easing people into games.