Now that I've had some time to play Mass Effect 3 I think it's time for me to reveal my thoughts on the game. So far the story is excellent as to be expected from a BioWare game. The game focuses a lot on tough decisions and sacrifice. There hasn't been one mission with the exception of the beginning that hasn't felt impactful. You get the feeling of doing something important since you are the only hope for the galaxy. The past two games' decisions are beginning to come to light as they make constant references to past events. Provided they didn't die in Mass Effect 2, you see lots of friendly faces in Mass Effect 3 though it is a shame that they limited how many crew members you have this time.

The gameplay feels better than ever before. It plays better than the other two games combined. It's clear they focused more on the third person shooter parts of the game. Quests are easier to do as well though it is confusing sometimes where you're supposed to go. Multiplayer is surprisingly good and it's integrated into the single-player campaign which gets you playing both at the same time.

So far the game is amazing and everything I have come to expect from the series. This is one of my favourite series of this console generation. Unfortuantely thereare reports from all over saying how bad Mass Effect 3 is. I haven't experienced any problems so far but if fans' opinions can turn so quickly, it's not a good sign.

Mario Kart 7 tourney is almost done and I'm holding on to a fragile lead. I hope I can hold on for the remainder. Just 3 days left...

For the first time in the series we're going to see a number in the title. So instead of making one enhanced remake they are going to make two enhanced versions. I was really hoping for something original with this much teased announcement. Maybe another entry in the Pokemon Stadium series or another game involving Shadow Pokemon. Another thing is these games will be on DS not 3DS which baffles me.

The next Pokemon game better be more original because I'm very disappointed with this announcement. It wouldn't be so bad if it was a remake of Ruby/Sapphire or even one enhanced remake with a different title. Clearly the Pokemon series is running out of ideas if they need to number a sequel. I'm still a huge fan but there needs to be something new to keep me interested.

Working for EB Games has its perks. Getting discounts off of games is always great plus I get to talk about the hobby I love: gaming. So when I walk into work today, there is a notice on the board about a Mario Kart 7 tournament. Winner gets 5 3DS games, a trophy, and internal company recognition. Naturally, I'm signed up for it. A community is set up for the tournament. The person with the most points come March 13 is the winner. Tournament is for EB Games employees only.Wish me luck as I disappear for the next little while to compete!

I also just finished my Final Fantasy XIII-2 review and it is up now.

I've been looking forward to this day for a while. No, not because it was Valentine's Day. Like most sterotypical gamers, this day was spent alone.The Mass Effect 3 demo came out! Never have I been more excited for a demo in my life. First off, a major disappointment. The multiplayer for Mass Effect 3 isunavailable unless you activated the online pass for Battlefield 3. That is very disappointing for me since I was really looking forward to playing the multiplayer.That huge disappointment aside, I went into the single-player demo. I was greeted with open customization of my character. Backstory, class, and decisions were available to pick out. I went with my own character just to see how things would play out.

Mass Effect 3, like its predecessors, felt different almost right away. You have a lot more mobility in this game than the other two combined. It's a little bit loose; years of playing Gears of War have accustomed me to the speed of Gears characters. Shooting feels a lot more like a third-person shooter, complete with the omnipresent hit marker popularized in CoD 4. It's clear they worked on the shooting a lot. But that also affects the story. In the whole demo, there were only about 5 dialogue wheels. I'm not sure if they put more focus on action for the demo instead of story but I hope there's more dialogue choices in the full game. It's what makes Mass Effect, Mass Effect. They showed off some returning characters from previous games, if they're still alive that is. Kaidan or Ashley returns as well as Legion, Wrex, Garrus, Mordinand Liara. It's great to see some old faces mixed in there since I've already vested so much time into these characters.

My analysis is incomplete without multiplayer but I'll update once it is released to the rest of us. In short, the demo is great and brings some improvements to the series.

Also have another thing to post. I just finished Final Fantasy XIII-2 and I'm going to write a review for it while it's still in people's minds. I have quite a bit I would like to say about the game. Too bad it's a review; I have way more to say about the ending.

The PlayStation Vita is launching at an interesting time. The 3DS has found its footing and cell phone/smart phone "games" (if you even call them games; I call them apps) are flooding the market at cheap prices. Nintendo has adedicated fanbase especially when it comes to handhelds since they've dominated the market since the early 90's. Sony's PSP flopped due to poor controls and lack of great AAA games. The PSP Go was an absolute joke of a system that cost Sony a lot of money.Now with the Vita's launch just over a week away I'm curious to see how well it will perform here in the West. With true console graphics, dual analog sticks, and a good launch library the Vita is poised to do well. But will it? The $249.99 tag is monstrous; and that's just for the Wi-Fi model. The 3G will cost you an extra$50. And they don't come with memory cards! You have to buy it yourself! I know EB Games is releasing a game with the Vita but you'll probably want another one. In total you're looking at at least $330 + tax for a handheld system. That's a lot of money to be throwing at a new handheld.

Personally, I won't be getting one. Too pricey and I already have a 3DS which is good enough for me. Unless there's a game in the future that I really want (like Monster Hunter) I'll pass until there's a price drop. Besides, Wii U will be coming out this holiday and I want to save up for one. I don't know when I'll find the time to play since I'll be in university but I'll make it work somehow.

So what are your thoughts on the Vita? Will it do well? Getting one? Let me know.

Having played through the first couple of chapters of FF XIII-2, I can safely say this is one of the better JRPGs I've played. The combat is great if a bit on the easy side since it's all automatic, strategy is involved in some fights, ability to tame monsters is a great reward system, and the graphics... geez, at the beginning I had to rub my eyes and tell myself I was playing a game.

It's not without problems though: story can get confusing if you're not paying attention, voice acting and writing is cheesy as ever, and random difficulty spikes can catch you way off-guard. Even with these problems, I am having a blast with the game and if this current trend continues it can expect at least a 8.5 from me.

I finally finished my review. The review is on Starfox 64 3D and it's up now. I'll be working down from there when hopefully I stop gaming and actually get to those reviews :P I also have a new countdown with regards to my favourite video game series.

Pokemon... it's a series I've loved since I began playing video games which was 13 years ago. I got excited over every release of a new Pokemon game thinking it's going to be the best game ever. I guess it was when Pokemon started spinning off in different directions is when Pokemon lost some of its fire for me. It still burns bright for me though and this is why I decided to make this top 5 Best and Worst Pokemon games. Having played almost every single Pokemon game (all main games, most spin-offs) I feel like I'm perfectly justified making a list like this. So... let's get started!

Worst:

5. Pokemon Battle Revolution

I rated this game high before but in retrospect, it doesn't have the substance needed for a full retail purchase. It's great that I'm able to use my Pokemon Diamond/Pearl to battle on the big screen and it's actual animations driving the Pokemon but I could also do that with every other console Pokemon game that came out before and those games had way more substance to them. No mini-games, no Gym Leader Castle, no story... it pales in comparison to past entries on the consoles. I still play it to this day but I play simply to watch my Diamond/Pearl Pokemon beat up on each other on the big screen.

4. Pokemon Rumble and Pokemon Rumble Blast

I'll be posting a review for Pokemon Rumble Blast later so if you read this list you'll get a heads-up. The games were enjoyable for a few days before it got plain monotonous. Go to area, beat up Pokemon, collect figures, beat up bosses, then enter Battle Royale. It never deviates from that order. I got sick of it and haven't touched the games since.

3. Pokemon Ranger

I'll admit: they had a decent story with this one. My main problem was the gameplay or more specifically the bosses. The bosses were just a regular pain in the butt. Just like Pokemon Rumble, the gameplay just didn't sit with me. I'm used to keeping Pokemon, not letting them go. What I will never forget is the end of the game. OMFG, STAND STILL ENTEI!!! I had to restart that last level at least 20 times before I finished it. Too much aggravation just to get Manaphy after the story ended. This game completely turned me off the Pokemon Ranger series.

2. Pokemon Dash

Wow... I don't think I've ever gotten so bored of a Pokemon game so quickly. It's a racing game with you playing as Pikachu. Fun stuff. Rubbing my stylus up and up and up put a nice scratch on the screen after a while. I didn't even bother playing it after the first day. I can see where they were going with this but this was just terrible.

1.Hey You, Pikachu

This has to be the worst Pokemon game. Not only does talking to Pikachu make you sound like a total idiot, the game almost never knew what you were saying. Pikachu never listened to you. Having to repeat yourself at least 5 times is never a good thing. Hell, I don't even remember what the objective of the game was because I never got anywhere. Thankfully I just rented this game otherwise it would be in pieces. Hate this piece of crap.

Now to end on a friendlier note, let's get started on the 5 best Pokemon games. What may surprise some of you is that not every single main Pokemon game is going to make it on this list. "What is this blasphemy?" some may say. But I have had different experiences playing through the series and some didn't make the cut. Now that I think about it, I'd like to make this a top 10 list since there are so many great experiences I had... That's what honourable mentions are for! I'll place 10-6 at the bottom in case any are interested but for official purposes this must remain a top 5 list. So the top 5 are:

5. Pokemon Puzzle League

This is the very first game I completed 100%. Beating this game on Super Hard is no small feat but I did it when I was 7. I devoted hours into this game and it's the first game which I beat my dad at. My dad is also a big gamer and beating him at something excited me. It wasn't because he let me win either. I got so good at the game that none of my friends wanted to play me in it because I would beat them so bad. I still play it today but I've lost some of my former speed. Pokemon Puzzle Challenge on the Game Boy Colour is just as good.

4. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

The fourth generation of Pokemon was amazing and I loved every minute playing the games. I cheated though which may have muted the experience a little but it manifests as a full Pokedex and watching all 493 Pokemon battle it out in Pokemon Battle Revolution. I remember speed-running to get through the game with some of the other kids in my school. I came in second but only because I got stuck trying to figure out which Gym to go to next. Nevertheless, I had a ton of fun and this generation forever cemented my choice to go with the Fire types. Chimchar is still the best choice for me out of the three in those games simply because when they are all fully evolved, Infernape has an advantage over the other two. This generation of starters was also the fairest when they all fully evolved. This generation was a return to form after Ruby/Sapphire, bringing back everything introduced in Gold/Silver.

3. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky

Not only was this a huge leap forward from Red/Blue Rescue Team, these games were amazing overall. I honestly don't understand why people hate on these games so much. Sure the graphics and battle system aren't the best but it makes up for it with some great storytelling. I always liked the idea of playing as a Pokemon and this game allowed me to do that. This game boasted the best storytelling of any Pokemon game to date with epic battles and heartfelt moments. I can't help but tear up at certain points in the story and that final battle... the music is so fitting. Epic yet solemn... If you want to listen to it and GS lets me post it, it's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObSrVI1mHmw&feature=related

Even after you beat the game, there's a lot to do. It adds hours of gameplay time to an already extensive game. I love every minute I play this.

2. Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

To be quite honest with you, I can leave Ruby/Sapphire off this list and just put Emerald up here. I've poured over 500 hours into Emerald and most of it is spent at the Battle Frontier or raising Pokemon to compete in the Battle Frontier. I haven't touched any other games' Battle Towers or Frontiers that much except for this one. It's the best designed Battle Frontier to date and it sucked me in more than any other Pokemon game. I took the time to beat every Frontier Brain and I feel like I've accomplished a great feat. Of course the main quest is great too and being able to get Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza in one game is a great service.

1. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal (HeartGold/SoulSilver)

No other Pokemon game comes close to this one. These are untouchable games and by far my favourite in the series. Why? The 251 Pokemon are loveable, huge number of activities based on the time and day, Pokemon appearances differing by time of day, Kurt's Pokeballs, cross-region travel allowing for 16 badges which leads to double the playtime, and the most epic battle in Pokemon history against Red. The remakes HeartGold/SoulSilver only added to the increased playtime with the Pokeathlon which I fell in love with (maybe the patriotic Canadian 2010 Olympic fever was still coursing through me) and a revamped Battle Tower. Silver is also the first game I beat by myself. I still remember the moment I did. I almost completed the Pokedex in Silver with 249 out of 251. The only Pokemon I'm missing are Mew and Celebi. These games are the best in the series and my favourite Pokemon games of all time.

I know I'm going to get it for not including the original Red/Blue but I'm sorry, the experiences with those games do not resonate as strongly as the above 5 do. As for the worst... I'm trying to forget them. Pokemon still has a bright future ahead of it. With the 3DS, there are a number of possibilities open to Game Freak. A 3D Pokemon game like Pokemon Colosseum and XD? Enhanced graphics? For now we are going back one more time to the DS with the upcoming Pokemon + Nobunaga's Ambition. Thank you for reading! Until next time: keep gaming!

As I mentioned I will now place 10-6 here. I will give a couple of reasons why it's on the list but I'll keep it short.

10. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team

This was a fun change of pace at the time.

9. Pokemon Colosseum

Something different in the Pokemon series. Lack of wild Pokemon was disappointing but Shadow Pokemon added in a new element to the game.

8. Pokemon Stadium

What Pokemon fan doesn't love this game?

7. Pokemon Black/White

New designs don't resonate with me. Triple and Rotation battles however are very fun and add a lot of strategy to the game.

6. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (FireRed/LeafGreen)

I suppose I will have to explain this. I think it's because I played so young, I had no idea where to go or what to do. I lost all of my money and with no way to rebottle other Trainers I had to rely on Meowth's Pay Day just to get me money. Sure I can get through the game no problem now but back then I get frustrated. Still I cannot deny that I began my journey as a Pokemon Master with this game; taking the time to memorize types and learn their strengths and weaknesses. This is what started the phenomenon and I thank these games for doing that but it was truly Gold/Silver that turned me into a Pokemon fan forever. I beat both FireRed and LeafGreen since I have learned from the past. Back to the originals though... out of the three, Yellow is my favourite and the one that makes the most sense to me. It follows the anime and I loved the anime at the time. Yellow is the better of the three because of its better graphics and having Pikachu follow you around. Not to mention being able to get all three starters.

So there you have it... the original series is at 6.

I know I've been saying I'll be doing more reviews for a good half year now but I never expected school to be this busy. Also factor in that I'm still spending my free time playing all that last year had to offer which is a substantial amount. Fortunately I will have free time next week to write some reviews and I should release at least 3 before January 31 which begins the year in 2012 with 3 games: SoulCalibur V, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and NeverDead. I will be playing FF XIII-2 when it arrives so these next two weeks should give me some time to write.

2011 is going to be a hard act to follow. Never before has so many great games been released within such a short span of time. 2012 looks to be another great year though with Japanese games leading the charge early on this year. Wii U will also be released later this year and I'm looking forward to E3 to see what Nintendo has in store for us at launch and later. I hope for Nintendo's sake, the Wii U launch is a success. It hopes to bring back the hardcore gamer as well as the casual gamers. That is one hell of a goal for Nintendo who lost its true hardcore fans with the Wii. A new Zelda and Super Smash Bros. certainly has me intrigued but something big will have to come out at launch for me to get it. But I'm getting off-topic here. I'm going to list my top 10 most anticipated games for 2012. A hard choice to make right now since there is no knowing what games may come out this year like The Last Guardian, The Last of Us and Pokemon X Nobunaga's Ambition. I'll name those slated for release this year and hope that it is true. These are the games that I am looking forward to the most this year. Here we go:

10. Final Fantasy XIII-2

I'm heading into this game with no context whatsoever. I didn't play XIII and likely never will but I'm willing to give this game a shot. The series has stalled of late but I'm willing to take the dive now. Not to mention... Serah is pretty cute... Of course that's not the main reason for getting the game. FF XIII's gameplay was well received and the same style returns. Hey, I play games for great gameplay. I could care less for voice acting and graphics. It doesn't even have to have much character development. Give me a game that plays well and I'm good.

9. Borderlands 2

The original Borderlands had a quiet launch but me and my co-workers at EB Games predicted it would be the sleeper hit of the year. And it was. With its unique concept art look and mix of FPS and RPG, this was a no-brainer for me. I was excited when I heard they were making a sequel and this time the game will have more of a story and more character development. Not to mention being more badass than the last game. Time for me to go treasure hunting again!

8. Monster Hunter 4

This would be higher on my list but I don't even know if it's coming out this year. I've always been a fan of the first Monster Hunter but I wasn't willing to buy a PSP just for Monster Hunter. With MH Tri on Wii, I remembered why I loved the first game. Killing giant monsters with friends or strangers and reaping the rewards to make yourself better; it's great. Tears are actually coming to my eyes as I remember some of my great experiences playing MH Tri. I hope it comes out this year; I cannot wait for this game! Only because of its ambiguous release date does it land this low on my list... or is it?

7. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

As soon as I saw the first gameplay videos of Metal Gear Solid: Rising, I knew this was going to be an action game. My suspicions were confirmed at the Spike Video Game Awards when Hideo Kojima announced they had handed the game to PlatinumGames, the creators of great action games like MadWorld, Bayonetta and Vanquish. PlatinumGames reputation for creating great action games has me enthralled and I will make regular checkups to see how the game is coming along. The ability to cut through anything with your sword... ooh it's going to be some great fun.

6. The Last Guardian

This was once at the top of my list but I'm getting very worried the game may not come out at all. Director Fumito Ueda's departure from Sony as well as the executive producer has me thinking about the game's future. Although they said they would finish the game, too many other stories come to mind from those who have stated it before. I remain hopeful but I always anticipate the worst. If it does come out though, it will be one of the most emotional adventures this year as all Team Ico games are. I loved both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus so this game still manages to stay on my list of most anticipated games.

5. Xenoblade Chronicles

What? Only midway through the list? While I am excited to play what will most likely be the last great game on Wii, my anticipation of the game isn't as high as others probably are. I'm sure the game will still be amazing though, I keep hearing how it is THE definitive JRPG of this generation. I love a good JRPG. I love all RPG games; it is my favourite genre. For now though, this game sits in the middle of list. There are other games I am more excited for. I'm sure some may call me out on this but this is my list and my feelings ok?! jk :P

4. Kid Icarus: Uprising

I know Nintendo loves to resurrect old franchises but they really dug deep for Kid Icarus. I hear the NES game is quite difficult but it was also very good. The gameplay of Kid Icarus: Uprising represents a departure from standard Nintendo titles. A third-person shooter/action game, it shows off the new ideas Nintendo has for their characters. I want to see how multiplayer will be integrated into this but the core gameplay looks to be fast-paced and solid. That is a kind of game I'm looking for.

3. Lollipop Chainsaw

It's a Suda51 game. 'Nuff said. His games are very underappreciated. Games like No More Heroes and Shadows of the Damned were completely skipped over. But not by me. His games remain consistently funny and distinctly Japanese. That means a lot of over-the-top action, dialogue, sexual content and violence. And I love it! Not enough North American gamers appreciate what he brings to the table. Thankfully, he has me.

2. Dragon's Dogma

This is the other reason why Monster Hunter 4 is lower on my list. Another Capcom game, this has elements of Monster Hunter in it but also elements from Shadow of the Colossus which in my opinion is one of the best games ever made. Leading a team of 4 into battle against all kinds of creatures, using combat or magic, climb onto the beasts to get to a weak spot and doing all of this while upgrading your character? Sign me up! One gameplay trailer is all I needed to see to make me a believer.

1. Mass Effect 3

I know some are going to be tired from seeing these game plastered all over most anticipated of 2012 lists from multiple gaming sites but it truly deserves it. The one thing BioWare does right consistently is telling a really good story. Playing Mass Effect is kind of like watching a movie. Its interactive cutscenes really draw you into the game and make you feel like a powerful overlord controlling the lives of others. Besides the story, it's third-person shooter elements still work really well and you can still play this game even if you don't care about what happens. This series is the total package: epic, engaging single-player story, great gameplay, all spread out over hours of gaming greatness. Mass Effect 3 will also introduce co-op adding to the already substantial amount of play time. Here's a little rundown for you:

Mass Effect 1: 8 playthroughs: 100+ hours

Mass Effect 2: 5 playthroughs: 150+ hours

My hopes are very high for Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 2 was such a huge improvement over Mass Effect 1 that I stopped playing ME1 since ME2 was so good. Mass Effect 3 is my most anticipated game of 2012 (as well as a lot of people's) and with that. My list is done.

Here are some Honourable Mentions that didn't quite make the cut:

The Darkness II

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Asura's Wrath

Syndicate

Tales of Graces f

Twisted Metal

BioShock Infinite

Starhawk

Here are some other games that have me interested but not enough to make me consider buying it or even pre-ordering it:

NeverDead

Tales of the Abyss 3DS

Mario Party 9

Gotham City Imposters

Paper Mario 3DS

Prey 2

I know not who will look upon this blog for my feelings but I will now give my choices for Game of the Year. It's not an easy decision especially since I have difficulty remembering what came out earlier this year since the last 3 months were such a blur as great game after great game was released. Using Wikipedia as my guide (all hail the mighty Wikipedia!) I have assembled my picks for GOTY for each genre and platform. Of course I have to have actually played these games for them to count so I am leaving PSP off my list (what game came out this year for PSP that was good?) as well as sports games and PC games. A few great games like Uncharted 3, AC: Revelations, and Little BigPlanet 2 are off the list since I haven't played them. I played a lot of games this year and I still am working my way through most of them but I've played enough to form an opinion. I honestly hope someone will read this... lol. Here I go:

Best Action Adventure Game:

Batman: Arkham City

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Okamiden

Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I loved every single one of these games but Skyward Sword is the best for me simply because of the interaction you have with the game through motion controls and when you make a mistake you feel like it's your own fault and not the game's fault. The world is also huge and while it's not nearly as big as the other games' worlds it's still a beautiful looking world that is always pleasing to the eye. The journey that you go through as you explore the world is truly great and well-deserving if its praise.

Best Fighting Game:

Marvel vs Capcom 3 (Ultimate)

Mortal Kombat

Winner: Marvel vs Capcom 3 (Ultimate)

I'm probably one of the few people who enjoyed MvC3 more than MK this year. While MK is a huge improvement over its predecessors and MvC3 took steps backward from MvC2, I still prefer the crazy, fast-paced action of MvC3. It is most definitely not balanced which leads to some serious beatings online but I remain steadfast in my dedication to the game even if none of my peers agree.

Best Platformer:

Super Mario 3D Land

Rayman Origins

Sonic Generations

Winner: Super Mario 3D Land

Sonic is fast and Rayman is wacky but none can beat the grandfather of platformers, Mario. Easily the best 3DS game (spoilers!) it uses the 3D and integrates it into its design. The 3D helps the game instead of just enhancing the experience. I'm starting to think that Nintendo doesn't tell anyone how to use its hardware since the only good 3DS games released this year came from the big N.

Best Puzzle Game: Portal 2

Being the only puzzle game I played this year, it wins by default. But that doesn't mean that should it have had competition it would have won as easily. This is easily the best puzzle game I've played in my life and one of the funniest games this year as well.

Best RPG:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Dark Souls

Pokemon Black/White

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Winner: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Any of my GameSpot friends surprised that it's not Pokemon? I have been a fan of the series since I was 5 and that trend still continues but to be completely honest, Black/White kind of fell flat for me. I guess going from the greatness that is Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver to Black/White is too much to expect. Gold/Silver are still two of my favourite games in the series. Dark Souls was great but it was far too difficult to continue playing for the sake of my sanity. Skyrim is the perfect blend of difficulty, story, and RPG elements that make for a great game. Skyrim's open world is the perfect setting for a RPG and what a world it is! Varied environments, random encounters, multiple quests and objectives are the core of Skyrim and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Best Shooter:

Bulletstorm

Killzone 3

Shadows of the Damned

Starfox 64 3D

Gears of War 3

Winner: Gears of War 3

I've loved the Gears of War series from the moment I first played it with my friend. I've gone from n00b to a guy who will own you if you met me online. There's no other game that gives me such feelings of satisfaction of killing people like Gears of War.

Best Xbox 360 Game: Gears of War 3

I pick Xbox exclusive games and since I don't dive into the world of Xbox Live Arcade or Indie games because of my Xbox's memory size, and I don't play driving games, this one by default goes to Gears of War 3. Not like there was much competition here anyway.

Best PS3 Game:

Killzone 3

Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Winner: Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection

As you can tell, I'm not big on Sony exclusives. I'm not that big on Sony in general; I find they're derivative and boring. The only reason I own a PS3 is because my family wanted a Blu-Ray player and having a Blu-Ray player and a console seemed right after our Xbox 360 died. And the only reason I buy games for the PS3 is because I have a 4GB Xbox. That won't hold jack. I wasn't that excited for this year until I heard that they were making an Ico and Shadow of the Colossus remake and that The Last Guardian was being made. I was ready to go out and buy it the moment I heard it! Having missed out on Ico and Shadow of the Colossus on the PS2 (ironically enough I have both of them now on PS2) I was afraid I had missed the chance to play these modern classics. These 3 games are what makes me proud to own a PS3. Shadow of the Colossus however is the clear standout here. It is epic, EPIC! I've never been so into a game before in my life! The atmosphere, the music, it all draws you in and creates tension that is unlike any other game. I'm so glad I had the chance to play these games.

Best Wii Game:

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I love Kirby but Skyward Sword finally showed me what Nintendo has been trying to do for the past 5 years. Controls are fantastic; using the sword has never felt better. Guarding enemies adds a new layer of challenge to the game that is welcome. No more random button mashing until they go down. You have to patiently wait for an opening and then exploit it in order to defeat your enemies. Some of the puzzles were a little too much for my untrained brain to handle but that's ok. I eventually figured it all out. Maybe if Xenoblade Chronicles actually made it to North America in time there would be another nominee but alas, it shall have to wait until next year.

Best DS Game:

Pokemon Black/White

Okamiden

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Winner: Pokemon Black/White

Come on, was it going to be something else? I will admit, this entry does have me a little angry, the Pokemon this year weren't nearly as exciting, random encounters were way too frequent, and the Pokemon Contest was...what? A beauty contest with no interactivity? Boring. Thankfully this was offset by great gym puzzles, a great attempt at story, and animated sprites (even if the pixilation reminded me of Red/Blue). A good entry in the series but it does pale in comparison to last year's HeartGold/SoulSilver. Any Pokemon game that followed in the footsteps of those two games has a pretty big task ahead. Gold/Silver; HeartGold/SoulSilver are still my favourite in the series (yes even more than Red/Blue/Yellow!). I look forward to the next Pokemon game on 3DS!

Best 3DS Game:

Super Mario 3D Land

Mario Kart 7

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Starfox 64 3D

Winner: Super Mario 3D Land

I've never truly been much of a Mario fan. Platformers were somewhat unknown territory for me until recently. I played the original sure and a bit of Super Mario 64 but that's really it. I never played Super Mario World, Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy 1 or 2. But the 3DS library is limited so I figured why not? Boy do I regret saying that. The game is incredible and it shows why the 3DS is a necessary purchase. No other 3DS game that I've played uses the 3D in its design. With overhead levels showing depth of field, it's hard to imagine playing some of the game's stages with 3D off. They integrated it into the level design and so far, it's the only game I play with 3D on. For that reason and of course being an exceptionally superb game, this is easily my choice for best 3DS game this year.

Best Multiplatform Game:

Batman: Arkham City

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Portal 2

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

Rayman Origins

Shadows of the Damned

Winner: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A tough choice given all the great games to come out this year but Skyrim truly is something special. I usually don't care much for open world games but this made me think otherwise. A huge world filled with quests, monsters, dungeons, towns and cities, this is a RPG nerd's best dream! Sure Batman's combat is satisfying, and the humour of Shadows of the Damned and Portal 2 cannot be matched but Skyrim easily takes this category. Game of the Year? We'll see.

Most Anticipated Game of 2012:

Mass Effect 3

The Last Guardian

Xenoblade Chronicles

The Last of Us

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Borderlands 2

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Anarchy Reigns

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Winner: The Last Guardian

While I don't think it will be the best game of 2012 it is the one I would like to see finally completed. Fumito Ueda claims he will finish The Last Guardian even though he has left Sony but that still doesn't make me feel any better. I want to see the boy and griffin finally in my PS3 and showing me why this game is truly deserving to be the successor to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

A couple of small awards listed here. I'll provide a couple of sentences but to make this shorter I will just list the game.

Best Graphics (Technical): Battlefield 3

Best Graphics (Artistic): The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Most Disappointing Game: Duke Nukem Forever

I don't even have to play the game to know how disappointing this is. All we heard leading up its release this year is that this game is badass. Well great advertising *sarcasm* but it couldn't prevent this game from sucking hard. If there is another Duke Nukem game, he either has to evolve, or die out.

Most Overlooked Game: Shadows of the Damned

Best Music: Shadows of the Damned

Funniest Game: Portal 2

GAME OF THE YEAR:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Batman: Arkham City

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Super Mario 3D Land

Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Gears of War 3

Winner: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

I loved every single one of these games and I feel I had great representation from every console here. Skyrim takes it for me because of its world that teems with everything you can possibly ask for in a RPG. Open-ended, filled with quests, huge environment, gear, multiple playthroughs and skills. These are what you need to make a great RPG. Melee combat is somewhat lacking though the finishing kill animations are cool, and the bugs and glitches are a mixed blessing being either funny or aggravating, this is one game that should be experienced. Videos do nothing but show you the world you will be immersing yourself in so the only way to know how great this game is to actually play it. I was somewhat sceptical of the game leading up to launch but I am glad I got to play this greatness. This is my pick for Game of the Year and it is truly deserving.

Well that was a mouthful. Feels good to get it out though. I am considering a career in journalism now since I like writing these stories and giving my opinion. Even if no one reads it, I enjoyed writing this. Here's to hoping gaming in 2012 will be just as good!