EvilDeadRon’s Top 10 Games of 2011
Making a top 10 list this year has been pretty difficult, not because there weren’t enough good games to fill all the spots, but because there were too many good games to fit. I had to make some tough choices on which games were the 10 best, and then how to rank them. After weeks of soul searching and a late addition to the party, I give you my personal top 10 games list of 2011.
1.) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
There are times when you have an unreasonable amount of expectations for a game, only for it to fall short of the bar you set in your mind. Skyrim not only met my lofty expectations, but exceeded them by an order of magnitude. All of the tweaks, upgrades and enhancements that Bethesda made in this follow up to Oblivion, not only makes it the best Elder Scrolls game, but one of the best RPG’s of all time.
2.) Catherine
Catherine is a game that will stay with me for a long time. Atlus showed that you can tackle very mature subject matter and not make it cheesy or gratuitous. The story telling and puzzle game play combine to deliver something that is entirely Japanese, but delivers a tale that resonates with anyone who has ever been in a relationship. The voice acting is perfect, and this game treated me to possibly the best ending to a video game ever (If you played completely bad).
3.) Star Wars: The Old Republic
I have a very hard time getting into MMO’s, and only one (FFXI) has ever held my attention for more than a few days. Bioware has made a game, that feels like it was made for just me. I have not been able to stop playing since early access, and with 8 classes to fully explore, I expect to playing this game well into 2012.
4.) Dark Souls
From Software should be applauded for having the balls to make such a difficult game in a time where developers try to handhold their audience at every turn. The key here is that not only is the game hard, it is fair. If you die, it’s your fault, plain and simple. Frustration goes hand in hand with some of the most exhilarating moments you will experience in a video game. Sharing tales of your experiences with other Dark Souls players leads to finding out tricks and tips you may never have thought of as well as hidden secrets and treasures you may have missed. This throwback to older times in gaming earns it’s spot.
5.) Portal 2
Outstanding writing, pitch perfect voice acting, and ingenious puzzles make Portal 2 one of the best games this year. I was worried that Valve wouldn’t be able to pull of a full length follow up to the bite sized original Portal, they proved me wrong and I will never doubt them again. Great co-op and developer support after the fact only adds to the reasons why this is a must have title.
6.) Rayman Origins
Side scrolling platformers were something I really enjoyed as a kid, but grew out of as an adult. Michel Ancel’s masterpiece has brought me back in to the fold in a big way. Your senses may be assaulted by candy coated visuals and Insanely addictive music, but the star of the show is the precise controls and perfect level design. Rayman Origins is a joy to play no matter what age you are, and deserves to be in every gamers library.
7.) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
In a campaign that mimics a Hollywood blockbuster movie, the big surprise can be summed up in one word, closure. Your journey through World War 3 with returning characters Soap and Price comes full circle in a fitting end to a trilogy that I personally loved. Bittersweet and satisfying, if you played the first two, you must see how it all ends. A few new wrinkles are added to the addictive multiplayer in modes such as Kill Confirmed that makes it another stellar entry in FPS genre.
8.) Deus Ex: Human Revolution
I am a sucker for anything that nails the Blade Runner vibe, and Deus Ex nails it perfectly. That being said, the actual game is pretty damn good too. I really like having the choice to play a shooter/rpg hybrid in any way I see fit, and your free to play this any way you choose. Playing as a pure stealth character is fun and satisfying, and transforms Deus Ex into a puzzle game more than a shooter. I could have just summed up why I loved this game in one word, hacking.
9.) Saints Row: The Third
Lets be clear here, I hated the previous Saints Row games, and had no desire to play this game prior to it’s release. Friends convinced me I had to play this game and i am glad I did. Saints Row: The Third has maybe one of the best character creators around, and combined with some of the best voice work anywhere, gives you complete ownership of your guy or gal (in my case). This game is crazy in every way possible and surprisingly, it all works perfectly. i was sold during the car ride when the Sublime song started playing.
10.) Bulletstorm
The lead up to the release of Bulletstorm could not have been worse, everything Epic showed about this game made it look corny and shitty. Had it come out during a crowded release window, I wouldn’t have played it, but boy am I glad I did. It starts out slow, and grates on your nerves in the first few levels with cringe worthy dialogue and poor storytelling. Once it gets going though, all is forgotten and forgiven. The characters become very likable and the story has some great twists that by the end, I really wanted another Bulletstorm. Fortunately the ending sets that up perfectly. Truth be told, I liked this game better than any of the Gears of War titles, and that’s saying something.
As tough as it was to make this list, I have to give an honorable mention to 5 other games that came so very close to making my personal top 10. In no particular order, they are: Bastion, Iron Brigade, Dungeons of Dreadmore, Dead island, and Might and Magic Heroes VI.
I really look forward to what 2012 has in store, I just hope the Mayan thing is wrong and we get to actually play the new consoles that will be announced at E3 2012. Happy New Year everyone.
