It's been a pretty disappointing year for me. Though some titles (or in a rare case: an expansion) have really surprised me!
Note: I'm really picky with my games. The ones I name are the only ones I bought this year. No COD, no Halo, etc. for me.
First, the games that could've been so much better:
- Aliens Versus Predator
- Bioshock 2
- Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
- Metro 2033
- Mafia II
- Naughty Bear
Some were actually pretty good, as in 'fun to play', but fell short in some areas (story, execution, level design, etc.). Others were downright shallow or broken and should've stayed at least another year in development or in development hell altogether.
But my biggest disappointment this year however must be 'Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days'. It's not that I don't like playing the game but the shallow story, short campaign and boring & generic second half of the game are unforgivable. I love these characters; they're so complex and interesting but what a waste!
On top of that Square Enix thought it would be a brilliant idea to lock on-disc weapons & masks and strip the already finished game of three multiplayer/arcade maps before it shipped so that they could be sold later as DLC & ULC. First make sure your product has enough bang for the buck and then you can worry about milking gamers' wallets.
"Like we didn't see that one coming..."
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And now, without further ado, this year's best titles:
- Alan Wake
- Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den (DLC)
- Deadly Premonition
- Limbo
Alan Wake has been in development for over 5 years. I've been following it closely ever since it was first announced. The heart and soul that went into developing this game is unbelievable... And what a game it is! A dark, atmospheric and lenghty single player experience that I won't soon forget.
Bioshock 2's main story was just plain rubbish. Too many inconsistencies etc. Minerva's Den, on the other hand... Now that was more like it! Its story is almost as good as the first game's but the plot twist (which I won't spoil), oh my, the plot twist AND the payoff are phenomenal!
Deadly Premonition is not for everybody. And, to be honest, I had my doubts about this title as well. But then I saw the first five episodes of Giant Bomb's Endurance Run... I don't think a game has ever made laught out loud before so it was a day 1 purchase for me when it launched in Europe. One of the strangest, most surprising horror/comedy games in recent memory!
LIMBO reminds me of the good ol' Oddworld (PS1) days. 2D platforming and puzzle-solving in a strange yet familiar world. A true work of art, if you ask me. Unfortunately, it's very short with almost no replay value and at 1200MSP, I'd say it's a bit overpriced.
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My Game of the Year, ladies and gentlemen is...
ALAN WAKE.
This thrilling single player adventure had me hooked from beginning to end. I got the Collector's Edition and with it comes one of the best in-game bonuses of all time; a developer's commentary. Much like with my favorite movies, I'm always interested and curious to see and hear the men and women behind the scenes and what exactly they had in mind with their project. If there's one thing I admire it's ambition; the fine team at Remedy Entertainment have plenty!
Thank you, Remedy Entertainment, for this truly exceptional game.
There :) Now, what about your GOTY? Share in the comments, if you wish!