Zero Punctuation: Top 5 of 2012

[JoaoJatoba]

A two-dimensional 'game' with pictures of anime constituting for visuals and no voice-acting managed to successfully have multiple storylines. OK. This doesn't mean it's a good idea for other games. Or more accurately, visual novels with a lot of character interaction and not a lot of plot.

This doesn't mean it's a good idea for other games. But it also doesn't mean that is not a good idea for other games... Why not start on a small scale?

But most people won't try to get every little bit of content out of a game, which was a main aspect of my point. If you're a publisher, you're paying far more money for lower quality content that most people won't even see.

Most people won't, but with more than one story inside a game, you appeal to a broader audience, as long those stories are well developed, and I believe this is possible, even with a bigger budget game. If you are a publisher, that would sound profitable.

My point was never that I can't handle branching stories, or in an ideal world I wouldn't like one. My point is that I know better than to expect it because it's unrealistic, and you should too. You're either going to get a Commander Shepard which stumbles on your vision but ultimately misses the point, or you're going to get a Silent Hill 2 with the 'In Water' ending.

If people only expected the realistic scenarios for anything, great deeds would not be accomplished, 'cause people would be too settle for to try something new... Don't use a poor example of a game that did not made it to settle for what "can be done". That's my point of view, at least.

 

[GenGenners]

What is up with all the hate for playstation all stars I am loving the game it is great it also plays similar to smash bros but is definitely its own beast.

It came across, to me anyway, as more of a hate for what the game represents - Sony desperately trying to copy Nintendo... again. Cause it worked out so well when they threw their hat in to the motion control basket... 5 years after everyone stopped caring about motion controls.

Personally, I would have gotten the game for my Vita if they weren't giving me a big middle finger by putting Eurotrash Dante in it - A character from a game that isn't even out yet and is widely hated by anyone that actually gives a shit about the series - and making Kat from Gravity Rush - The only good original IP on their new handheld - DLC.

Free DLC, if it makes you change your mind at all

Yeah, people seem to forget that Gravity Rush came out AFTER All-Stars was likely already in an early beta state. How could they have predicted it would be a success and worthy of inclusion before it was even released

 

[xdiesp]

The second line is the important part. The game isn't about point A to point B, its what happens between point A and point B. The interactions between the characters, how they see you, and how you see your own character are what the game is about.

Without interactivity, you might as well be watching a cutscene. Surely you are not deluding yourself of being playing a game if all you do is watch...

 

[PunkRex]

Anyone else have abit of lag with this vid?

Anyways, did Yahtzee reveiw Steel Battlion or was it so disfunctional he couldn't say more then what he said here?

 

[mjc0961]

Does ANYONE (aside from Sony fanboys) want to play Sony Smash Bros? Nintendo's version isn't that good to begin with and Sony's knockoff version with a far less interesting character roster is certainly not bound to be better.

Anyway, glad I already have Spec Ops The Line (thank you Steam sales!). Just have to set aside time to play it.

In general? Or was there a specific list you were thinking of?
Cuz The Escapist already did theirs and it was bloody Mass Effect...

What? Really? They actually crowned Mass Effect 3 game of the year? It wasn't just an editing error and the list was supposed to be called most disappointing games of 2012? What the fuck? I guess the list must have been made by the same geniuses who think it's a good idea to make everyone prove they aren't a spambot daily, because after 3 years of membership I might just decide to randomly become a spambot.

If the Walking Dead or Journey isn't game of the year i'll be pissed.

Journey can't be game of the year because it isn't a game. I've watched blu-ray movies that had more interactivity involved with getting through the fucking menus, previews, and copyright warnings than Journey. Maybe Journey is a good "experience", but it's not a game so stop calling it one please and thank you.

 

[Frostbite3789]

If the Walking Dead or Journey isn't game of the year i'll be pissed.

In general? Or was there a specific list you were thinking of?
Cuz The Escapist already did theirs and it was bloody Mass Effect...

Of course it was.. you saw how much advertising ME3 had here and how fervently most of The Escapist contributors were to defend EA and condemn the consumer outcry.

Advertising made the community vote it as their game of the year?

Hello Captain Vocal Minority! How're you today?

 

[bossfight1]

For me, my top 5 is...
5. Journey for amazing music and an atmosphere that brings emotions out of NOWHERE.
4. XCOM: Enemy Unknown for awesome squad-based gameplay, great interface for the controller and making you go "NNNNOOOOOOOO" when one of your super soldiers dies.
3. World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria for introducing an amazing new continent, fun new raids and downright epic music.
2. Borderlands 2 for not only improving the crap UI and somewhat underwhelming story from the first game, but also vastly improving the variety of missions.
1. The Walking Dead for its epic writing, difficult decisions and making a child character that would NOT be a ball and chain. Goodbye, Sweet Pea, I'll miss you.

 

[mjc0961]

I know that, but why can't we have both? There space for both kind of decisions: decisions that changes the path we take, and decisions about other characters that develop relations.

For example, early in the first episode you can choose to stay in one location or to leave. Whatever the choice we end up in the same place... Why cant we have different outcomes for a decision that is purely about "where to go now"?

No, you can't choose to stay in one location or to leave. That isn't what happens. What does happen is that you get to voice your opinion on if you think you should stay or leave. It's not the game's fault you've incorrectly assumed that what Lee says goes in every situation. You are one person in a group offering an opinion, not the dictator of the group who decides what everyone else must do without any regard to what they want to do or not do.

Also if you're talking about the choice to stay or go someplace else that I'm thinking of, the place you left got overrun by zombies. What the fuck did you think was going to happen, a magical anti-zombie barrier would surround the place because YOU said you wanted to stay there? Or did you maybe think you could just live there peacefully with the zombies who had just moved in?

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

I'm not surprised to see Spec Ops: The Line topping his list. Well... maybe a little. I kind of thought Far Cry 3 was going to get it, but Spec Ops is the same kind of story, but more focused. Spec Ops was probably one of the most engaging (storywise) shooters I played this year and more people should definitely play it.

I haven't even TRIED Amy, but when there is absolutely not a single good thing said about it on the websites that I trust, you know the game has to be bad, and since it's a DLC, it's not like I can even rent it. The Walking Dead was a gamble for me, so I'm glad they made the first episode free for a little while - excellent game.

 

[VinLAURiA]

Huh. Surprising, I expected your list to piss me off for some reason but I actually agreed with most of it. To satisfy the curiosity of absolutely no one, here's my top five:

1. Kid Icarus: Uprising
2. PlanetSide 2
3. Spec Ops: The Line
4. New Super Mario Bros 2
5. Rhythm Heaven Fever

Or, if you wanna disqualify RHF for technically being a game from last year in Japan, put Quantum Conundrum at #5 instead. There were a lot more games this year I was looking forward to, but I didn't play a lot of 'em so my 5 was the stuff I did play (hence I had to wrack my brain for the stuff lower than #3.) Still, even if I did play everything else I don't think anything could dethrone my top two.

 

[Baldry]

FINALLY. Some list agrees spec ops is the game of the year, I can die happy.

 

[Erttheking]

Journey can't be game of the year because it isn't a game. I've watched blu-ray movies that had more interactivity involved with getting through the fucking menus, previews, and copyright warnings than Journey. Maybe Journey is a good "experience", but it's not a game so stop calling it one please and thank you.

"Facepalm" Do you control a character on the screen with a controler? Yes you do. Ergo, it's a video game.

 

[VinLAURiA]

Game or not, don't use the word "ergo." You sound like a tool.

 

[Smokescreen]

Game or not, don't use the word "ergo." You sound like a tool.

Yes! Stop that 'use of language' thing! You might sound like a witch and be burned!

 

[anti movie bob]

im suprised he's defended ssbb. doesnt he hate that? At least in Playstation all stars yahtzee could live out his dream of beating up nathan drake with kratos

 

[TheIronRuler]

Yahtzee agrees with me, he loves Spec Ops the line too! Huzzah!

Awww no Honourable Mention for DayZ? to my knowledge thats the only mod you've ever wanted to review. it's ashame it went to hacked crap after it got popular, but hopefully the Standalone with fix that aspect

.
It's a mod, not a game. Maybe when the full game comes out he'll review it and if it blows his mind it can go on the 2013 list.

 

[Sylveria]

What is up with all the hate for playstation all stars I am loving the game it is great it also plays similar to smash bros but is definitely its own beast.

It came across, to me anyway, as more of a hate for what the game represents - Sony desperately trying to copy Nintendo... again. Cause it worked out so well when they threw their hat in to the motion control basket... 5 years after everyone stopped caring about motion controls.

Personally, I would have gotten the game for my Vita if they weren't giving me a big middle finger by putting Eurotrash Dante in it - A character from a game that isn't even out yet and is widely hated by anyone that actually gives a shit about the series - and making Kat from Gravity Rush - The only good original IP on their new handheld - DLC.

Free DLC, if it makes you change your mind at all

Doesn't totally sway me, but it helps.

 

[charliesbass]

Wait a second Yahtzee, did you remember Rayman Origins? You seemed to love that game, more so than you seemed to love Dishonored or The Walking Dead.

 

[JoaoJatoba]

I know that, but why can't we have both? There space for both kind of decisions: decisions that changes the path we take, and decisions about other characters that develop relations.

For example, early in the first episode you can choose to stay in one location or to leave. Whatever the choice we end up in the same place... Why cant we have different outcomes for a decision that is purely about "where to go now"?

No, you can't choose to stay in one location or to leave. That isn't what happens. What does happen is that you get to voice your opinion on if you think you should stay or leave. It's not the game's fault you've incorrectly assumed that what Lee says goes in every situation. You are one person in a group offering an opinion, not the dictator of the group who decides what everyone else must do without any regard to what they want to do or not do.

Also if you're talking about the choice to stay or go someplace else that I'm thinking of, the place you left got overrun by zombies. What the fuck did you think was going to happen, a magical anti-zombie barrier would surround the place because YOU said you wanted to stay there? Or did you maybe think you could just live there peacefully with the zombies who had just moved in?

Spoilers about Episode 1 of TWD below.

Spoiler

I'm talking about leaving Clementine's house early (and find Shawn) or leaving when it gets dark, and end up in the same farm. Same outcome for different 'choices'.

 

[major_chaos]

So boring, linear, repetitive shooter makes the worst list while boring, linear, repetitive shooter with pretentious moral high-grounding "you are bad and should feel bad" narrative is GOTY? I guess it says something about hos sick of MMS people are that a game that exists purely to say your shit for liking them makes multiple GOTY lists.

For me personally its hard to pick one so my top 5 in no particular order:
Mass Effect 3: the ending went from awful to tolerable with the EC, and everyting outside of the last ten minutes was great

Diablo 3: I just realized no one is going to like me by the time I'm done with this list, but I really did love the new skill system and contrary to what some people have said I never needed to use the AH.

The Secret World: I don't remember if this launched in 2012 but I know that's when it dropped the sub fee and when I started playing because of that I felt two things I have never experienced from an MMO before: I cared about the narrative, and I was having fun.

Borderlands 2: everything I loved about the original with significantly less frustration and more humor.

Farcry 3: About my only major gripe is that I could stand to have more weapon variety.
Honorable mentions:
Xcom
Guildwars 2
Black Ops 2
Natural Selection 2 (this one is really fun, you should check it out)
Orcs Must Die! 2

most disappointing:
(Note this is a list that comes from games that I played, I manged to avoid most of the year's genuinely awful games so these are more personal disappointments)

Torchlight 2: Just about fell asleep by the second act, being Diablo 1.5 just makes me want to go play the real Diablo 2

Halo 4: I don't really hate this one but it simply wasn't as fun as 3 or reach.

Sniper Elite V2: Showed so much potential and then wasted it with horrible level design and inconsistent AI.

Dishonored: I really wanted to love this game, but I just couldn't. being active penalized for killing people took the edge off my excitement and then many other small things conspired to put this one on my "buy when it is 75% off" list