Dust: An Elysian Tale. Standout criticism...combat is balls out mad. Later in game, many combos are only a couple of button presses away from launching you and your new found friends into stratospheric adventure. New game plus appears to add some game changing difficulty, but i have difficulties replaying single player campaigns, no matter how great.
The Last Of Us. Great, yes. Though feelings only got powerful enough by 3/4 of the way through the game. And the shitty final level sydrome is a small letdown. Perhaps there was an artistic reason, perhaps not. Either way, the final areas felt bland and uninteresting.
Splinter cell: Blacklist. A perfection of all the games before it. Much more freedom, challenge, story, ways to play, meta-game challenges and multiplayer, they took every criticism of previous titles and went to work on every single one of them. Certain opinions are bound to disagree, but i am prepared for such insubstantial disagreement. Criticism for this title is...slightly disappointing boss battle. But this is a very common problem in most great games, i can see how they did try to make it interesting and stealth focused, but it still felt anti-climatic. I wish there was a boss-battle formula that great games could draw upon. Also, no Ironside...but somehow it didn't matter as much after a level or two of exceeded expectations. The replacement wasn't bad, just not as distinctive like Ironside.
The walking dead. Telltales are good at characters and story, not so good with engine updates and gameplay. Still up there with the best.
Spec ops: The line. Had the sweet spot gamer state of mind to get all the feels from that game. Still been meaning to go back to it to pick up on the small touches it contained. Gameplay is nothing innovative, but polished enough to feel satisfying.
Bioshock Infinite. See above, i love the little details in games, subtles touches that are never necessary, but add so much to the experience.
Xcom-Enemy within. No...what are you doing? Don't do that yet...just. Build. Satellites. Satellites for all!!!
Super mario galaxy 1 and 2...Zeldas...all the zeldas. Metroid prime series. Donkey kong 64, Original Perfect Dark, Jet force gemini, banjo kazooie series. *Sigh* Where did all those good ideas go, Nintendo? Don't answer that, it's too late to reclaim what is lost to the winds of time.
Tales from the borderlands. Should've put this with the telltale part, but eh. The balance between humour and heart wrenching emotion with defying of expectations and normal game story tropes are something to behold. It appears as faultless as telltale can get currently.
Rayman Legends. So good. Just. so. damn. good. Sensual candy from all directions.
Transistor and Bastion. There are criticisms, as always, but sum of parts, ladelada. Comabat for transistor is a bit confusing at the best of times.
Ghost recon: Future soldier. I dont know about this one. I guess the whole modern military thing is quite overdone by now and there are only so many terrorists in destabilised countries you can destabilise further until it all feels by the numbers, but this title did surpass many expectations. Criticisms are that the team speaking characters are as typical as they come.
Okami.
Resident Evil 4.
State of Decay. Technically a bit unstable, but as far as zombie survival, community building games with rogue-like elements go, this is one of the best (that i have played so far).
Portal and Half life 1 & 2. Probably don't need to explain myself here.
The Witcher 3. Games this large and deep are often bundled with various criticisms, but ProjektRed have shown great respect and care for their work and their customers. The evolutions between each title are something every game developer would do well to take note of.
Outlast and SOMA. Have yet to play the Amnesia titles, but these are essential horror experiences so far.
Honourable quickies...Bloodborne (souls criticisms apply). Shadow Warrior (insert criticisms here). The New Order. Galak-z-. Deux Ex Human Revolution. Red dead resurgencisms revengings. Far Cry 3/Blood dragon/4/primal.
Max Payne 3. I just want more, is that too much to ask?
GTAV. *nervous cough* Wrong site to be bringing up this game. I have my reasons. The online can bugger off, it means well, but it can still hastily bugger off. Erm, well, ok, i'll just be on my merry way now then...
