Well we had the overall community Game Of The Year [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121260-The-Escapists-Game-of-the-Year-2012]. And we've had the some of the staff's Top 5 of 2012 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/content/FiveFavorites/2012].
So why don't we mash these two together in a car crash sort of way, and have The Escapist Community Top 5 Games Of 2012!
Basically all it is, is you pick your top 5, preferably saying why, but ultimately I can't force you to.
So let's begin with my top 5. I'll include a link to a piece of music from the game. Just because. Be warned the video will autoplay once you click on the spoiler. The explanation for each choice will be below the spoiler, just in case you don't want the music.
Say all you want about that ending...In fact, don't, it has been 'discussed' to put it politely, from here to high heaven. But besides it, Mass Effect 3 was an excellent game, with almost every choice you made in the previous games having some sort of impact, big or small. It also had some of the most emotional scenes I'd ever seen in a game, the soundtrack was just exquisite, and the story and experience of Mass Effect 3 was 98% stellar. However, that last two percent is what means it isn't higher up on the list.
Now here's the moment where anyone American or Japanese is going "Hold on a minute! This came out in 2011!" Well not in Europe/UK, it didn't so I'm including it. While unfortunately it couldn't be a full HD collection, it still contains two of the best games of the PS2 generation in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. These games were both fantastic when they came out all those years ago, but the added buffing of HD just makes them all the better. And then there was the completely unexpected gem of a game that was Peace Walker as well. For all the time I put into MGS 2 and 3, I think I must have put double that into Peace Walker.
Goddamnit, why did this have to be so short! The main complaint I have the game is that I was having far too much fun with this game, and then BOOM! it's over. I'm sure Arkane could have had it in them to create at least a couple more assassination targets or something! It's not like Dunwall (an excellent world by the way, well to play in) doesn't have it's fair share of deviants and miscreants to hunt down. Blink (see what I did there?) and you'll miss it!
And now I'm sort of going to break the rules of the top 5m and skip 2 entirely and go for a joint first place. So here they are.
and
There's been a fair amount of discussion about whether or not video games are art the past couple of years, and I've, for the most part, just went "Meh" about the whole discussion. "It would be a nice thing for it to be called an art I suppose, but I won't cry over it if it's not". However, both The Walking Dead and Spec Ops: The Line have showed me that yes, games can be, and most certainly are art. A lot of games I've played though, went "Woo that was awesome" and then have forgotten the experience in a couple of days, give or take the length of the game. Spec Ops: The Line was certainly different. Never mind forgetting it, I don't think I even touched a game for a day or so afterwards, and I still haven't forgotten it. And despite only playing through The Walking Dead yesterday, I'm pretty sure it's going to be the exact same. I tried to separate these two, but besides little nitpicks for each game, it wasn't happening. And for what they are, they don't deserve to be separated by nitpicks. In my opinion, everyone should experience these games.
Anyway, what is everybody else's Top 5?
So why don't we mash these two together in a car crash sort of way, and have The Escapist Community Top 5 Games Of 2012!
Basically all it is, is you pick your top 5, preferably saying why, but ultimately I can't force you to.
So let's begin with my top 5. I'll include a link to a piece of music from the game. Just because. Be warned the video will autoplay once you click on the spoiler. The explanation for each choice will be below the spoiler, just in case you don't want the music.
Say all you want about that ending...In fact, don't, it has been 'discussed' to put it politely, from here to high heaven. But besides it, Mass Effect 3 was an excellent game, with almost every choice you made in the previous games having some sort of impact, big or small. It also had some of the most emotional scenes I'd ever seen in a game, the soundtrack was just exquisite, and the story and experience of Mass Effect 3 was 98% stellar. However, that last two percent is what means it isn't higher up on the list.
Now here's the moment where anyone American or Japanese is going "Hold on a minute! This came out in 2011!" Well not in Europe/UK, it didn't so I'm including it. While unfortunately it couldn't be a full HD collection, it still contains two of the best games of the PS2 generation in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. These games were both fantastic when they came out all those years ago, but the added buffing of HD just makes them all the better. And then there was the completely unexpected gem of a game that was Peace Walker as well. For all the time I put into MGS 2 and 3, I think I must have put double that into Peace Walker.
Goddamnit, why did this have to be so short! The main complaint I have the game is that I was having far too much fun with this game, and then BOOM! it's over. I'm sure Arkane could have had it in them to create at least a couple more assassination targets or something! It's not like Dunwall (an excellent world by the way, well to play in) doesn't have it's fair share of deviants and miscreants to hunt down. Blink (see what I did there?) and you'll miss it!
And now I'm sort of going to break the rules of the top 5m and skip 2 entirely and go for a joint first place. So here they are.
and
There's been a fair amount of discussion about whether or not video games are art the past couple of years, and I've, for the most part, just went "Meh" about the whole discussion. "It would be a nice thing for it to be called an art I suppose, but I won't cry over it if it's not". However, both The Walking Dead and Spec Ops: The Line have showed me that yes, games can be, and most certainly are art. A lot of games I've played though, went "Woo that was awesome" and then have forgotten the experience in a couple of days, give or take the length of the game. Spec Ops: The Line was certainly different. Never mind forgetting it, I don't think I even touched a game for a day or so afterwards, and I still haven't forgotten it. And despite only playing through The Walking Dead yesterday, I'm pretty sure it's going to be the exact same. I tried to separate these two, but besides little nitpicks for each game, it wasn't happening. And for what they are, they don't deserve to be separated by nitpicks. In my opinion, everyone should experience these games.
Anyway, what is everybody else's Top 5?