Now that the year’s now almost through, how are everybody’s favorites lists rounding out? Granted, I’ve personally yet to play every single game that has come out, but I have played a decent number of them and have enjoyed what I've played so far for the most part. Here are my picks for the top games, in order from most to least favorite.
The Elite 4:
1) Uncharted 4 – Drake’s final adventure isn’t going to be topped any time soon this year, in my eyes. Just an absolutely masterful game from start to finish, in both the narrative and the gameplay department, with some of the best animations, visuals, and set-pieces yet to be seen on the PS4. Very few games have even come close to the level of quality of Uncharted 4, and Naughty Dog proves once again why they’re some of the best of the best in the world of gaming.
2) Dark Souls III – while I haven’t beaten the game as of yet (it’s pretty damn tough), it’s a reminder that From Software still knows what they’re doing when it comes to game design. The combat is masterclass with well needed improvements, the environments are amazing to both navigate and admire, the lore remains both deep and fun to try and solve, and that familiar challenge is still as daunting and exhilarating as ever. While Bloodborne remains my personal favorite title of the bunch, Dark Souls III is a fantastic conclusion to the series that started it all.
3) DOOM – Rip ‘n tear, rip ‘n tear, rip ‘n tear! Seriously though, DOOM is 2016’s biggest surprise. An old-school style shooter with a few modern tweaks? I don't know about...Holy crap, it actually works?! Yes, DOOM is an incredible and visceral rush from start to finish, with its fantastic shooting, meaningful level design, incredible demon designs, and a surprisingly thought out narrative that you can either follow or ignore without feeling like you’re missing out on something.
4) Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - hell, mechanically, this game beats Human Revolution by a wide margin. Everything just feels so good whether you're sneaking or gunning everybody down. The visual storytelling has been improved a lot as well, as well as the incredible side missions, though the main story is average at best (then again, Human Revolution had the same problem). Level design is masterful as always, and the new augmentations are so much fun to use. In all, a worthy sequel to one of my all-time favorite games.
Other game mentions:
1) No Man’s Sky – “A mile wide and an inch deep” has been used to describe this game. While that’s pretty accurate, since the gameplay is shallow overall and there isn’t a lot to actually “do” in the most obvious of terms, I still can’t bring myself to stop playing this game, if only for the sheer meditative quality of zipping through space and discovering worlds alien to our own just for the chance to say you got to do it. I don’t know, it’s just a calm game.
2) Overwatch – While I only played small portions of the game through my friends, it’s a fun shooter overall. Great mechanics, impressive roster, awesome visuals, and that adrenaline rush during matches can't be beat. The only things that bring it down for me are the lack of a true narrative mode (which is a shame against the characters and their lore) and the questionable microtransaction design of their loot systems. If I played more multiplayer shooters, maybe I’d like it more, but as it stands, it’s a great game you most likely won’t see me playing.
3) Abzu – played this at my cousin’s house, and wow, was it a breathtaking adventure. It’s a game with great underwater controls (already a plus), a mesmerizing art style and world design, and, much like Journey, has an exhilarating sensation coupled with some powerful emotional moments. Definitely going to get this game myself soon.
Games I didn’t care for:
Just 1) Tom Clancy’s The Division – okay, so I didn’t like The Division at all. Aside from the competent third-person shooter mechanics, nothing about this game felt right to me. The setting barely showed the stakes of what you’re fighting for against this so-called dollar flu (you never see the symptoms), the normal enemies are bullet sponges that make vanilla Destiny bosses seem like broken glass, and the overall leveling systems feel arbitrary and don’t matter much. Not to mention the game is about as balanced as the Mafia’s bank account. Also, the Dark Zone, which was supposed to be the one place where The Division could shine brightest, is the place where the majority of problems seem to lay. Sorry, but The Division was a massive disappointment overall, and apparently Ubisoft has barely been able to fix things with their updates, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be trying it again any time soon.
So that's my personal list. How's everyone else's coming along?
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