Board 8 > zfs's Top 10 Games of the Year List -- 2011 Edition.

(+) Yeah! (+)

2011 might have been the best year in gaming ever. I can say with certainty, at least, that it's the best year within the past ten. There have been many top tier caliber games released over the past twelve months, from the huge, big budget to downloadable indie game. There was hype surrounding 2011 coming in, and I think it delivered on most of it. Sure, we had some delays, but it's hard to complain with what we got.

My list is probably a bit different from the norm. I don't think I necessarily have obscure tastes, but a few of the games on here would never be in the discussion at most places. I have a nice mixture of everything -- Western, Japanese, AAA, downloadable. I didn't get a chance to play some big games (Skyward Sword, Skyrim), but I played most of the notable releases. I'm not going to include any "compilations," with the sole exception of Peace Walker HD, since I didn't get a chance to play that on the PSP and it was meant to be played with a controller, anyway! So no BG&EHD, no ICO, no MGS3 -- nothing along those lines.

let's do this.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

Is 1 your new favourite game ever

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XIII_rocks, the cream of XIII fanboyism.
The guru champ isn't such a SuperNiceDog, he made me change my sig!

yo

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Black Turtle did a pretty good job.

nothing as good as civilization iv came out this year, i'm afraid.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

No, that will never get old.

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XIII_rocks, the cream of XIII fanboyism.
The guru champ isn't such a SuperNiceDog, he made me change my sig!

And yet the one that sold the most, people will despise despite never playing.

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Oh SuperNiceDog's doing it again dude.
SuperNiceDog, you ain't no pimp dude

sweet

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omg did u red text from last night dats so me LMAO : )
im not a slut i jus liek 2 haev fun LOL : )

inferior games incoming

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FF fans don't hang around the internet on a monday morning they are out doing shopping or asleep hungover from parties. They got lives. -The_Djoker

where's skyward sword

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the big question is whether your #1 game will still be your #1 game when you finally get to it on the list

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"So cold. I am always by your side."
"There ain't no gettin' off of this SuperNiceDog we on!"

Honorable Mentions

Dynasty Warriors 7 (360/PS3) -- There was a point this year when this was my Game of the Year. I didn't expect to find ten games that I liked more than this, but I did! For my money, this is 'best in the series' tier. That likely doesn't mean much for most, since people don't tend to associate "Dynasty Warriors" with quality, but it's a legitimately fun beat-'em-up. The new Story Mode is the highlight -- it's more fleshed out and interesting, the narrative is more in line with the novel its based on, and the characters are more memorable and lively. Conquest Mode is nice, too, but all I can think about when I hear "Conquest Mode" is grinding. I spent so much time in that mode, completed every hexagon, and still managed not to get every trophy (missing two!). After you've done everything in DW7, there's no real reason to go back to it, but it was all I played for about two months.

From Dust (XBLA/PSN) -- This was another game I thought would be a shoe in for the top 10, but it just missed the cut. I haven't played many "god games," but this one was a good time. Freezing oceans, building walls of earth to stop tidal waves, protecting my villagers as they braved the elements in an attempt set up camp in strangely dangerous areas -- it was fun to mess around with. I thought From Dust would have been more "open," in the sense of allowing you the freedom do handle things how you want and mess around with the world on your own terms, but it's more like a puzzle game where you have just a few ways to solve one big puzzle. That was a shame.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (XBLA) -- ITSP is a game I had some reservations about. tran tried selling me on the game for months, but it never looked all that good to me. I tried the demo last week, loved it, and bought it right after. The only reason it isn't on the list proper is because I haven't put enough time into it yet. I thought about delaying the list just for this game, but then I'll want to play Zelda, and then next thing you know it's a GOTY list in February. Of all the "Metroid inspired" downloadable games I've seen in the past few years, none of them have lived up to the name as much as ITSP. It totally captures the atmosphere and the gameplay of Metroid -- it isn't just a map, it's everything about the way you move and search. tran tells me this changes later on, but as it is, this would be a top 10 game if put more than a couple of hours into it!

PixelJunk Sidescroller (PSN) -- This is the first PixelJunk game I've played. It's somewhat similar to the Shooter series, from what I understand, but instead of being a shooter / puzzle hybrid, it's a straight up 2D shooter. The nice thing about Sidescroller, since I'm not HARDCORE enough for the bullet hell ones people play, is that it's made for modern times. Running into walls won't hurt you, and there are usually 3-4 checkpoints littered throughout a level, so if you die you don't have to start the whole level over again. You can restart from a checkpoint on a Game Over, too, but you lose your weapon upgrades. To some, this might seem 'weak,' but it made the experience more enjoyable. Just a fun game to play, without having to put in much time to get good at. Also, soundtrack is nice.

my skillz -

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

From: ZFS | Posted: 1/3/2012 1:16:56 AM | #011
Honorable Mentions

Dynasty Warriors 7 (360/PS3)

I was hoping to see this on the list somewhere, but I guess this spot will do.

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I do because I can.....and because I'm bored.

As much as I liked DW7, this year was way too good for it to make my top 10 list as well. It's sad, because it really is the best entry in the series, and I'm a huge DW fan.

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Xbox GT/PSN name: TatteredUniform
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I havent played a DW game since 4, it's looking like 7 will have to be my return to the series.

From Dust was really boring and annoying from what I played, NOT MY THING.

ITSP is pretty cool, though honestly I expected more. The art and atmosphere is amazing though.

not a fan of pixeljunk games personally.

not a terrible start!!!

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omg did u red text from last night dats so me LMAO : )
im not a slut i jus liek 2 haev fun LOL : )

LeonhartFour posted...
the big question is whether your #1 game will still be your #1 game when you finally get to it on the list



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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

Yeah, DW7 is good. Even if you weren't a big fan of the others, I think DW7 is enough of a step up from the rest of the series that it's worth looking into. I think Kleenex from 4->7, too, so that should be a big jump for you.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

I went from 4->7 myself, so it seemed like a massive improvement to me.

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I do because I can.....and because I'm bored.

whelp, there's the list!

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add the c and back away
iphonesience

I agree, half the fun is how well and perfect your character controls.

Also, I wouldn't call the game unoriginal at all. Yeah, it borrows elements from other games, but it puts those elements into genres where that stuff hasn't been seen, and it works so well. Also, give them credit for constantly making creative uses for the polarity stuff.

You didn't talk about the bosses enough imo, they are so good!

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omg did u red text from last night dats so me LMAO : )
im not a slut i jus liek 2 haev fun LOL : )

10) Outland (XBLA/PSN)
Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: April 27, 2011


Outland's main gameplay gimmick -- switching between red and blue -- is ripped straight from Ikaruga, and its enormous bosses are very Shadow of the Colossus inspired, but where it lacks in 'originality,' it makes up for in polish and solid mechanics. Outland feels good to play; the way the main character handles is perfect. There's a proper amount of weight to him that makes it so he isn't 'heavy' but at the same time not 'floaty.' My biggest complaint with modern 2D games where jumping is a major part of traversal are the physics. NSMB DS is a perfect example of what not to do, same with LittleBigPlanet, so it was good to see that special attention was given to how your character controls in Outland. It just feels right.

The level design also deserves some mention. Despite the fact that there are only about five levels total, there is a huge sense of progression after completing each one. It's done in such a way that you don't even realize it until you actually go back to replay one of them later, either near the end or after you've beaten the game. I would hesitate to call any of stages particularly hard, but what might have been a little challenging in the beginning is a piece of cake by the end. And it's not because you got some crazy powerup along the way that lets you cruise through enemies; it's the way the game has taught you specific skills and put specific challenges in front of you along the way, increasing how much is demanded of you as you progress. It all culminates in the final level where you have to use everything you've learned, all together at the same time, through the one of the best stages I've played in a long time. This isn't something new and shocking in the world of games, but the way Outland goes about getting you there is unlike most. It's just smart how they accomplish it.

I would recommend Outland to anyone looking for a good XBLA / PSN game to play. It's only $10 (I think), and it has such a broad appeal that I don't think you should avoid trying it unless you just hate 2D games. Some people try to play up the Metroid parts of the game -- and I can understand someone being hesitant on hearing it's similar to Metroid, even if I love the series -- but it's really nothing like it. The game is a linear, 2D action game through and through. You never need to revisit a previous level or area unless you want to get all the collectibles for achievements/trophies.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

I know people like the bosses, but I didn't think they were all that. Like, they were well designed, and outside of the Priestess none of them were bad, but they're secondary to everything else. I did forget to mention how amazing Outland looks, though. Numbers and I played some co-op a few weeks ago, and seeing that again on my HDTV was a "whoa" moment. So good.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

Outland was a little too difficult for me to really enjoy. It's neat and I can see why people like it, but it's not for me.

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FF fans don't hang around the internet on a monday morning they are out doing shopping or asleep hungover from parties. They got lives. -The_Djoker

From: The Mana Sword | #022
Outland was a little too difficult for me to really enjoy. It's neat and I can see why people like it, but it's not for me.

This exactly. I knew I was in trouble when I was starting to have trouble before I even got one of the achievements for it. There's just a bit too much going on for me to handle. I can tell it's a great game, but I just can't handle it. =\

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Xbox GT/PSN name: TatteredUniform
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what the hell, u guys sux at video games, and you play more than a lot of people!

no wonder no one else on this board likes ms splosion man, you all SUCK

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omg did u red text from last night dats so me LMAO : )
im not a slut i jus liek 2 haev fun LOL : )

it's perfect for me because I love all the elements it's made up of. it may not be a Metroidvania but it does control like one. keeping track of bullets comes natural after Ikaruga. Outland challenges you with its design but it's never on the level of a truly cruel platformer. it's no Mega Man 9 or Super Meat Boy, anyway.

graphics are still the worst part of Outland

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add the c and back away
iphonesience

I like the graphics! It's a cool look, the backgrounds are gorgeous. soundtrack is awesome too.

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omg did u red text from last night dats so me LMAO : )
im not a slut i jus liek 2 haev fun LOL : )

tagging this

feel like i could predix this list pretty well but i'm looking forward to reading the write-ups!

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You saved science, SuperNiceDog!
Call me numbers.

been meaning to try Outland

problem is there are fly's where my wallet used to be

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Oh SuperNiceDog's doing it again dude.
SuperNiceDog, you ain't no pimp dude

I think Outland looks really nice!

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FF fans don't hang around the internet on a monday morning they are out doing shopping or asleep hungover from parties. They got lives. -The_Djoker

It's especially weird, knowing that I've completely finished Super Meat Boy. Outland is just harder to me for some reason.

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Xbox GT/PSN name: TatteredUniform - SSBB FC: 1891-0831-5747 (TEETS)
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it looks fine, but when it turns into bullet hell and zooms way out, it's really a struggle to see what is actually happening.

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add the c and back away
iphonesience

Outland is a more natural difficulty. Meat Boy is just persistence.

I like to think that being good at Outland makes you feel more empowered than Meat Boy. that feels more like putting in the reps than actually becoming good at the game.

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add the c and back away
iphonesience

Yeah, I agree. Outland's difficulty is right where it needs to be. It starts out easy, but ramps up at a nice curve over time. I didn't have any trouble with it, especially compared to a game like Meat Boy.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

9) Shogun 2: Total War (PC)
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA
Release Date: March 15, 2011


Shogun 2 was probably the biggest game announcement for me at E3 in 2010. It came out of nowhere, and I had zero expectation that we would ever get another Total War that put its focus back on Japan. The first Shogun came out on the PC more than a decade ago, and they shifted to Europe for the rest of the series. It lost me somewhere along the way, after Rome and before Empires, but bringing it back to Japan (I have a special affinity for Japanese history) was enough to get me interested. Shogun 2 also simplified the series back down to its core elements, which some people will say makes it worse, but is one of the things I still love about the original versus the other games.

Most people on the board probably don't know much about Shogun 2, or probably the Total War series in general, but it's a mix of turn-based strategy and real-time strategy. It's almost like there are two different games within one. Diplomacy, economy, infrastructure, unit building, research and war planning all take place on the turn-based side of things, on a big map of Japan, while the actual battles themselves are done in real-time (or they can be simulated and skipped, which is sometimes what I do, just because I'm into turn-based part more than I am the fighting part). While Shogun 2 is a historical game, how your games turn out is entirely up to you, so while there are specific historical battles (ones that actually occurred) you can play, the real meat of the game is choosing one of the nine major clans and reuniting Japan.

It's one of those games that you can get lost in for hours without even realizing it, not much differently from Civilization. Completing an entire game isn't even something I necessarily plan on doing every time -- one, because Shogun 2 can be brutal; two, because half the fun is starting fresh. Taking over new territory, building up infrastructure, creating alliances, manipulating wars between clans, having an untouchable economy -- there is something greatly satisfying about that in Shogun 2. When you're on point, it's pretty much the best. When you're not, it kinda sucks and you can get stomped like nothing, but hey!

If there's any problem with the game, it's how demanding it is. My computer isn't the best in the world, but it isn't crappy either, and I still have to put everything on low settings to get it to run decently. I love the fact that the map can look this good -- -- but man, mine absolutely does not. Here's what I see -- http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/578918346676363476/1BDEA361846D74F53E7F7C8D25C66BEEB6D1D6EE/

PC games.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

Time for some quad core

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FF fans don't hang around the internet on a monday morning they are out doing shopping or asleep hungover from parties. They got lives. -The_Djoker

damn you quad core

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

People thought Outland was difficult?!

l

o

l

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booted up shogun 2 the other day. it runs fine on my laptop on medium, but the loading is terrible. at least the screens are beautiful!


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ICON:
I'm pretty serious about chocobos.

That they are!

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

I liked Rome a lot and have been meaning to pick up Shogun 2, just between the system requirements and the price it hasn't been at the top of my list

probably should've bought it instead of UMvC3

needs more guns.

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Vote for this guy in every contest, our Guru champion: SuperNiceDog

I assume ZFS's problem with the jumping physics in NSMB and LBP is that the characters are too floaty?

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Currently Playing - StarCraft: Brood War

It was on sale on Amazon and Steam for less than $8 a couple of days ago! The game plus all the DLC was a grand total of $13.56. Missed out!

And yeah, NSMB DS and LBP are way too floaty for my tastes. NSMB Wii seems to be a bit better, but it's still lacking the precise control a good platformer needs.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

8) El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (360/PS3)
Developer: Ignition Tokyo
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Release: August 16, 2011


El Shaddai is undoubtedly one of the most unique games of the year, and as a consequence one of the most ignored. Everything about the game oozes Japan, from the combat system to the character designs to the level art, and that was more than enough to doom it in the West. It doesn't help that the game didn't have much marketing behind it, but this was the studio's first, and presumably last, game. There were some veteran designers behind it -- the main director having worked on DMC and Okami prior -- but it was still a first from a no-name studio. It's a shame people missed out, because El Shaddai is an experience.

El Shaddai has a deceptively deep combat system, which is something I picked up on early and one of the things I like most about it. The control scheme is one of the simplest for any action game I've played: you have an attack button, a block button, a jump button, and a dodge button (which is dependent on which of the game's three weapons you have equipped). That's literally the entire control scheme for the game. You would think that would lead to mashy combat, but that's hardly the case. It's similar to Devil May Cry's timed attacks -- different attacks come out based when you press the attack button, how long you hold it or how much wait you put in between attacks. So you can get different combo strings, each with different damage based on your timing. You can't treat it like God of War, and that's a good thing in my mind. For some people, they might prefer you could button mash, but this is a Japanese action game.

Treating El Shaddai purely like an action game is wrong, though. That was my expectation heading in, but only about 1/3 of the actual game is combat. The other two-thirds are platforming, either in 2D or 3D. That may seem strange, but that's how it's split up -- 1/3 combat, 1/3 2D platforming, 1/3 3D platforming. Sometimes you're running through levels that shift shape and style for minutes doing nothing but jumping across platforms. I know some people have criticized it for too much style without substance, but as weird as it might be to say, the style is the substance. It's part of the reason you're playing the game to begin with, just to see what the game is going to transform into next. It's not to say that there's no input on the player end, because you're constantly doing something and the game does get fairly challenging, but everything else is unlike anything I've seen in a game.

El Shaddai is just downright weird. That's how I can best describe it. It's weird, but that's what it makes it so good. Oh, also, the story and setting are basd on the Book of Enoch from the Bible, and the main character you play as is, yep, Enoch. You're also aided by Lucifel, various archangels, and at one point...does anyone remember the FFVII motorcycle minigame? You do that. Why? Who knows.





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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

God damnit. Don't tell me El Shaddai is good. I'm not even done playing the mainstream games released this year yet.

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Black Turtle did a pretty good job.

good news is it's cheap these days! also, it's pretty short - only about 5-7 hours long.

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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."

tag

Been wanting to try out El Shaddai.

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you just can't live in that negative way...make way for the positive day

Was not impressed at all by the demo for El Shaddai

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"Anybody interested in grabbing a couple of burgers and hittin' the cemetery?" -Royal
"Oh sure, walk to the sun"- Guybrush

Wait, people found Outland too hard? What the

But then again, I guess not everyone has enough skill to top the leaderboards like me and tranny

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ONLY FIVE CAN LADDER.
Sushi, kamikaze, fujiyama, nippon-ichi...

taggity

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It's iubaris, not Lubaris.