Hey guys, I was bored so I did my own.
MY BEST GAMES OF 2011
Many people, magazines etc, are doing these. Here are mine, and the reasoning:
5) Project Zomboid
Why?
A game at number 5, that isn?t even finished? A good game entertains, challenges and gives you plenty of stories to tell others?it makes you actually care about the game and catches you within its setting as a form of escapism. This unfinished product did all that for me, in such a short time. Boarding off the house, aiding your sick partner (you start with a dependent, something more games could use as a feature), scavenging, fighting the dead, being killed or infected. Being surrounded from help in a shack and turning, these have all been moments I?ve experienced in just one day of solid gaming. With new features being added, being able to negotiate with survivors, team up, be killed by dangerous scavengers, this could end up being one of the best games of 2012 as well.
Mmmmm apocalypse soup.
4) Skyrim
Why?
An obvious one, well accredited and loved by many. One of the best merits of this game is its accessibility. You can play the type of game you want within the world, complete or ignore the main quest, level up and hone your abilities how you wish. I have four characters, each with a different focus, there is that much room to develop. The world is expansive, but I would have liked more work done on the cities and the inhabitants, it can become a little samey and small?not that Skyrim is cast as a really urban territory. The most fun is out in the wild, hunting, raiding, attacking the lairs of bandits and ?slitting throats? to quote Swearengen of Deadwood. The stories that are told by Skyrim fans may annoy non-players, but we players can all relate and then tell our own. This is a real mark of a good game. The biggest Skyrim fan I know goes to Miranda.
Sabre cat at low levels? Run!
3) Magicka
Why?
This game about wizards, monsters, humour and pop culture references has the best magic system I?ve ever seen in a game. Skyrim could learn a few things off Magicka. After months of play, there are still more strategies to develop, new combinations to learn and practice. It takes a while to master, but doesn?t have the learning curb of games 2 and 1. Your micro will determine how good a wizard you are. The world is more attuned to the Scandinavian/Viking mythos, rather than Tolkien, which means it inhabits a world similar to Skyrim (but weirder). The multiplayer is incredibly fun with some good wizard-friends to aid you. Poor wizards or saboteurs can cause problems. The challenges are where the most intense fun is to be found, spell-duels are also good (especially for improving reaction time) and the campaign is not dull either. Put on your robe and wizard hat.
When you accidentally explode your ally with a botched crossing of the elements, you will laugh.
2) Dark Souls
Why?
The world is not as large or open as Skyrim, but it is harder, more rewarding and with a beautiful grim style. For many levels and days, even the lowliest skeleton can kill the player if they are not careful. Groups can always pose a challenge, and be a counter to your current attack style. That is one of greatest merits of Dark Souls, that it requires investment and to learn how each weapon combination works, what it is best against, what is its timing and stamina cost to use. For a good time, give these weapon types a go: murakumo and rapier, rapier and buckler, halberd and cestus, zweihander while naked. The game is punishing, and it is best to not fight the world, to not assume you should be able to just button-mash and progress through the game. This ?entertainment? will require time, and is not for the fragile or easily angered player (unless you want to replace your controller often). Dark Souls can give a great sense of victory after so many defeats, and it really is a learning experience. The last point to mention is the soundtrack, I?d say superior it is superior to Skyrim. Here is a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzWFWCH_lTE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur0BnKnA9iQ&feature=related 1:30
Gangster no. 1)
Shogun 2
Why?
This game is huge, and it is actually a number of separate games within one. There is the campaign, which can be played single player or multiplayer, there are the land battles, which starts one on one but goes up to four against four (that is four armies a side. With thousands on the field). There is also the naval battles, which differ to land battles and have the feel more of shogi (Japanese chess) as the ships move to concentrate their power and out-manoeuvre. There is even wonderful art and the loading screens, complete with ancient quotes on strategy, conduct and the art of war. The multiplayer games can be extremely difficult against seasoned players, but the game has unit promotion and balancing mechanics to reward dedicated players. The new players have the benefit of being able to bring more men (or nuns and onna bushi) and units to the field than the veteran players. The Gempei war expansion is especially good for this game, taking the setting back to the 12th century. Shogun 2 stands a mighty game, and one that is hard to master. Strangely it is an earlier game in the series, Medieval 2 that actually has a better trait, retinue and characterisation system for the leaders than Shogun 2.
Whether you want to fight a sea battle with great castle ships or small vessels or land battles with ninja, monks, samurai, cannon, mangonels or hordes of ashigaru levies, this game is one that allows all that. There are so many different combinations, strategies and tactics to use.
Most rewarding game to play: dark souls
Hardest game: dark souls
Hardest multiplayer: shogun 2
Most fun multiplayer: magicka
Most fun single player: skyrim
Game with the most content: shogun 2 (truly, after many months, still trying new battle types, and going through the many sides and finding new situations in single player.
Games with dragons: skyrim, magicka, dark souls
Games with the walking dead: project zomboid, skyrim, magicka, dark souls, shogun 2 . Once, a young warrior aristocrat from my side, impaled himself on spears, died stone-cold on the ground, but was alive the next turn. His wrath was furious in the following battle.
Most arrows to the knee: shogun 2. Against defensive archer armies in multiplayer, the knees of your soldiers will ache.
Check these games out if you haven?t!
Trev,
