Well guys, i've decided to take a different route with my game of the year blogs. Instead of having a runner up for ever category, i'm just going to run down a quick list of winners I chose for each category then give you all a full list of my 10 favorite games of the year for 2011. The "Top 10" games will be in order with #1 being my Game of the Year for 2011. I know its kind of a lazy approach, but I just don't have the time for doing it the way I planned to. :P So lets get started.
2011 Game of The Year Awards Winners:
Best Action Game: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Best FPS Game: Rage
Best Graphics (Technical): Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Best Graphics (Artistic): Rayman Origins
Best Downloadable Game: Bastion
Goriest Game: Dead Island
Best Game that Didn't Come Out This Year: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Most Surprisingly Good Game: Shadows of the Damned
Best Original IP: Dead Island
Best New Character: Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Best RPG: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Best Console Exclusive: Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception
Best Xbox 360 Game: Gears of War 3
Best PS3 Game: Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception
Best PC Game: Portal 2
Best Sound Design: Shadows of the Damned
Best Soundtrack: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Best Atmosphere: Shadows of the Damned
Most Improved Sequel: Killzone 3
Best Story: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Most Disappointing Game: Brink
Best HD Ramake: Halo Combat Evolved: Anniversary
Best Co-op Multiplayer: Gears of War 3
Best Competitive Multiplayer: Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception
Best Boss Fights: Shadows of the Damned
Most Overlooked Game: Shadows of the Damned
Best Weapons: Killzone 3
Best Ending: Batman: Arkham City
Most Overrated Game: Resistance 3
Best Trailer: Deus Ex: Human Revolution E3 2011 Trailer
Most Memorable Moment: Tie: The Plane Sequence (Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception) Cave Johnson's Lemon Rant (Portal 2)
Now for My Top 10 Games of 2011.
#10- Bastion (Xbox Live Arcade, Steam)
I've yet to finish it, but downloadable games don't get any better than Bastion. Its drop dead gorgeous and fun to play with awesome combat and a great upgrade system. Add in the nex game + option and you have an amazing game that will last you 15-20 hours and you'll love every minute of it.
#9- Portal 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
I was not a fan of Portal or its sequel until I played them this year and now Portal 2 is a game I will never forget. Its inventive, makes you think, and its also the funniest game i've ever played. Cave Johnson's rant about Lemons was absolutely genius to boot.
#8- Dead Space 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
I have to admit that I could never get through the first Dead Space cause it just scared me so much. However Dead Space 2, while scary, was an amazing trip. Moody, suspenfull, and action packed from beginning to end, Dead Space 2 was one of the true gems from early 2011 and its something any gamer should play.
#7- Rage (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Some saw Rage as just another ordinary first person shooter, but I saw it as a return to form for id Software. I've been a fan of their games since I first played Doom over 10 years ago and Rage brought back the nostalgia for me. The gruesome, brutal combat, combined with some interesting characters and a gorgeous post appocalyptic setting made the game come to life and its someting I won't soon forget.
#6- Dead Island (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
2 hours into Dead Island I wasn't impressed at all. 30 hours later I was hooked. It may not have a story, that's good or characters that you can even remotely care about, but this is a game where the world and combat are so brilliantly executed that, that's all it needs to be a great game. sure it has its fair share of issues, but it never once hindered my enjoyment.
#5- Shadows of the Damned (Xbox 360, PS3)
Now Shadows of the Damned is by far the most underrated game on my list. Its seems as though Suda did a good job of scaring people out of playing this game, but for those who did they will find an incredibly atmospheric and creepy journey through hell that ranks up there in my favorites of all time. The sound design is also incredible and really helps sell the world and the atmoshpere. This is a trip to hell I will gladly take.
#4- Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Confession time, I liked Arkham Asylum more than Arkham City. I also know that a lot of people on this site have given this game their Game of the Year, but I can't. I loved everything about Arkham City, from the story, to the combat, characters, and the incredible open world your thrown into. There is so much to do and see that its almost overwhelming at first, but soon you'll become completely addicted and engrossed in Arkham City grimy world. Only minor issues kept it from winning my Game of the Year this year, but its an incredible experience nonetheless.
#3- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Be prepared to lose countless hours of time as soon as you put Skrim into your disc drive. In the first week alone I put in 50 hours of time into Skyrim and now with my count reaching 70 hours I still haven't complete the main questline. Skyrim is an incredible game that takes everything about Oblivion and Fallout 3 and combines it to amazing effect, creating one of the biggest and most thrilling open world games of all time. For me it ranks right up there with Fallout 3 and it was the 4th. game ever to recieve a 10 out of 10 rating from me.
#2- Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution was one of my most anticipated games of 2011 and i'm pleased to say it more than lived up to any expectations I had for it. I loved every minute of my 25+ hour playthrough, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Its world is influenced by one of my favorite movies ever, Blade Runner, and it shows. Its world is incredible and draws you in and never lets you go. The combat is also incredible with tons of choices for upgrading your skills and weapons, offering limitless options for combat. The only downside to this game is that there isn't a new game + option, but the rest of the package is so incredible that it doesn't matter in the least.
My 2011 Game of the Year.
#1- Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception (PS3)
After having played Uncharted 3 for 15 hours I can honestly say its one of the best games i've ever played. I didn't score it a 10 out of 10, but that doesn't mean it isn't incredible. In fact Uncharted 3 is nothing short of incedible. The combat is vastly improved over the first 2 games, the story is fantastic, the set pieces are awe inspriring, and each chapter offers one amazing moment after the next. I haven't even mention the co-op and mutiplayer yet. I thought the multiplayer was tacked on in Uncharted 2, but in the third game its just purely awesome. In a year crowded with games like Gears of War 3, Battlefield 3, and Modern Warfare 3 Unchated 3 tops them all in the mutiplayer category with an amazing balance of guns and a fantastic mix of great maps and fluid platforming. On the co-op side of things you have a horde like siege mode, which is my personal favorite, and a story based co-op adventure that you and two friends can play together. these modes are fleshed out extremly well and make the game worth buying for them alone. Uncharted 3 succeeds on all fronts with amazing multiplayer, a fantastic co-op made, and a brilliantly paced and amazing story driven campaign. You owe it to yourself as a gamer to play this game, cause if you don't your missing out on the Must Play Game of 2011.
And that's all! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it all together. I'll be back for my favorite movies and music of 2011 next week, but for now my fingers are tired after 2 hours of typing. :P Have a great weekend guys and thanks for reading!
~Mike :)