Top Games of 2012

2012 brought us gamers a hell of a year for gaming and I'm here to bring you the top games.  Per usual, I only bring you the games that I've had the chance to play so unfortunately Halo 4 and Hitman Absolution didn't make the cut.  Can't get to them all...sorry.

*Honorable mention

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Treyarch
11/13/12


Color me surprised to have listed a Call of Duty game in my top 10, but dammit there is no denying that this game is fun as hell.  And at the end of the day, isn’t that what games are all about?  I’ve always equated CoD to summer blockbusters, which are usually mindless explosions and paper thin plots, but who didn’t love The Avengers? CoD hasn’t been known for having an engrossing story, if anything the switching between characters each mission caused for a more disjointed story.  This time around I felt the story to be more streamlined and dare I say it, intriguing. Most action films/games are only as good as their villain and Raul Menendez may be one of the most diabolical villains to ever grace a game!  Most of you won’t even know who I’m talking about because you’re only interested in the multiplayer and fortunately Treyarch didn’t rest on its laurels.  Now given that I suck, it’s good to still be rewarded with customizable loadouts and perks even though I usually had a higher death ratio than anyone.  Zombies also return with the same frantic pace and at times it felt like the game was mirroring the Left 4 Dead series.




#10

NBA 2K13
Visual Concepts
10/2/12


Now being that I’m an avid sports gamer (sports nut in general) I wanted to leave this off the list, but it’s my list and I can do whatever I want.  Plus, how can you deny a game that trumped it predecessor in every way possible.  Sound familiar?  It should if you read my Top 10 for 2011.  You’ll see and hear Jay-Z’s footsteps all over this game as he is touted as being Executive Producer, with the biggest effect being one of the best soundtracks ever.  You may have also heard that Jay-Z helped bring the entire Dream Team together for the first time since ’92.  The biggest gameplay change for 2K13 would be the Shot Stick being retrofitted with Iso-moves.  This was a big change but fortunately with a press of the LT, you were able to go from a killer crossover to a pull up jumper incredibly smoothly.  As I wrote earlier, with the help of a frantic fan base the original Dream Team was included so we could shut LeBron and Kobe up and have the 2012 team vs the 1992 team.  MyPlayer was also blown out into the new MyCareer mode which allowed for greater interaction.  Feel like your PG is ball hoggin?  You can go to the GM and air out your grievances and demand he be traded or else.  Sports nut or not this game is stupidly good and had to make the list.





#9

The Witcher 2:Assassin of Kings
CD Projekt RED
April 17, 2012


The Witcher 2 was originally released in 2011 on PC, but didn’t get its port release until 2012 on consoles.  As a fan of RPG’s I couldn’t have been more excited for its release.  Fortunately, the wait was well worth it.  Geralt of Rivia is a compelling character and like all great RPG’s choice, character development, and storyline keep you coming back.  Not to spoil anything, but early in the game you’re tasked with making a decision that will affect the rest of the game and story.  This isn’t a choice of being good vs. evil, but more so of a moral choice from the gamer.  Now obviously story alone won’t get you into the Top 10, so fortunately Witcher 2 also employs fun and varied combat.  Being that Geralt is a witcher (think Wolverine’s feral rage, Dr. Stange’s mysticism, and Blade’s swordsmanship) you’re given a bevy of tools to dispatch your foes.  Whether you’re lopping off heads with your swords, setting foes ablaze with magical powers, or using cunning to set traps before battle Witcher 2 plays with simplicity and a gorgeous flare.  Oh and by the way, Geralt is a bit of a pimp and lays waste to many a women as well.






#8

Assassin’s Creed III
Ubisoft Montreal
10/30/12


Assassin’s Creed: Revalations not only made it in the Top 10 last year, but clocked in at #4 for 2011.  Although AC3, isn’t ranking high this year it’s at no way a knock on this game.  In AC3, we get to see the completion of our Animus visiting protagonist Desmond Miles all the while introducing new assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton aka Connor.  Connor is a half English, half Mohawk assassin whose sole purpose is to protect his people and land from the Templar’s.  Oh did I mention that this game takes place during the American Revolution?  As far as gameplay this game plays very similar to the past entries; however Connor is more adept at using multiple weapons in conjunction with his hidden blade leading to a much more brutal assassin.  Throw in the awesome naval battles and you’re in for a truly epic adventure.





#7

Sleeping Dogs
United Front Games/SquareEnix London Studios
8/14/12


It took me awhile to get my hands on this game, but once I did I couldn’t put it down!  The world in Sleeping Dogs always felt alive, from the small markets to Downtown Hong Kong (which few open world games can capture) and the game world was surprisingly large.  It did take a while to get used to driving on the left side of the road, but Square Enix was able to provide a very intuitive driving scheme (and fortunately very forgiving police A.I.).  Wei Shen is a very compelling character and thanks to some impressive voice work (and thankfully subtitles for the Cantonese/English hybrid dialog) each character hits their mark.  Saving the best for last, the combat is fast and furious with the majority of my time spent in hand to hand combat.  Here is where the game shines, borrowing from Batman, the combat is smooth, simplistic, and very brutal with Wei able to break many a thugs bones and use environmental attacks to his advantage.  This “reboot” of the True Crime series spent a lot of time in developmental hell, but fortunately it got to see the light of day so don’t miss out on one of the better games of 2012



#6



Max Payne 3
Rockstar Studios
5/15/12


Max Payne has always had the John McClane trait of “wrong place, wrong time” going for him and even when he's in the tropical and very dangerous Sao Paulo. Max continues to find trouble where ever he’s at.  Max Payne has been on the shelves for many years and Rockstar Studios (Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto, and L.A. Noire) has taken the reigns and right out of the box you can see their expertise shine.  Max is the originator of Bullet Time (think John Woo film sans the doves) and to spice it up Rockstar has included a kill cam that shows all the gory details such as noses getting blowing off, eyeballs being shot through, and repeated groin shots.  Rockstar once again excels at treating the user on an epic story (one usually predicated on redemption) but unlike most of their usual adventures, Max Payne is a more linear experience.  This doesn’t damper the experience at all; in fact it allows their story telling ability to shine.  Max Payne was critically underplayed in 2012, so if you’re one who missed this game don’t waste any more time and pick this up NOW!





#5

Borderlands 2
Gearbox Software
9/18/12


If you played Borderlands then you know what you’re in for with Borderlands 2 and if not then in a word: GUNS.  Borderlands 2 may not have the most elegant plot or brimming with character development, but that is NOT what this game is pinning to be.  In their simplest form, games are meant for entertainment and entertain it does.  Borderlands 2 is filled with almost a billion different guns, yes I said a billion!  Outsiders believe Borderlands 2 is just a shooter, but in all actuality it’s a RPG as well.  I sold my brother on this game in less than five minutes of playing co-op and being that its four player co-op gives you the chance to get your friends in on the gunplay.  This game is incredibly fun and at the end of the day, that is all that matters.






#4

Dishonored
Arkane Studios
10/9/12


It’s not often that a new product can be released during the middle of a console’s life and make waves, but that’s exactly what Dishonored did.  I’ve ranted and raved about games that put control in the player’s hand and Dishonored may become the epitome of player control.  Like Deus Ex and Crysis before it, you’re given an objective but the completion of said task is completely up to you.  If you feel like laying waste to all of your enemies then you’re able to build your Corvo Attano (the protagonist) to be an unstoppable juggernaut; however if you want to stick to the shadows you’re more than able to do so.  I was pleasantly surprised when I was given the option to either kill the boss or not, unlike Deus Ex last year all the bosses were killed.  The tension of sneaking into a mansion to assassinate a dignitary is already intense, but to top that off with dragging said baddie off to the torture chamber for added espionage is incredibly satisfying. If you’re a fan of BioShock, Deus Ex, or Crysis then you’d be in sore shape if you don’t add this game to your collection soon.





#3

Far Cry 3
Ubisoft Montreal
12/4/12


So Far Cry has been kicking ass with reviewers everywhere…even getting praise and comparison to my 2011 GOY Skyrim!  Talk about huge shoes to fill!  I can say that the praise is warranted without a doubt and from the outset of the game the tension picks up and never relents.  The beauty of the game is brought to life by the stunning opening cinematic that literally brings you hurtling into the perilous predicament surrounding our hero, Jason Brody.  The world of Rook Island is huge and is filled with wildlife that is useful to your progression but can also be extremely dangerous.  Like AC3, hunting can be very beneficial through the crafting system to expand your toolset; however in FC3, hunting is much more dangerous.  Two of my most memorable non-story moments from the game came from hunting (sort of).  The first came when I was trying to capture a supply depot and I was sneaking up a freaking tiger pounced on me and tried to maul me!  So I abandoned my sneak attack and ran like hell to the depot while the tiger gave chase and let my enemies just kill each other while I picked off the leftovers.  The second came right after I secured a radio tower (think Assassin’s Creed’s version of eagle towers) I pulled out my camera to survey the land before zip lining down.  So this time I got to see another tiger preparing to pounce, this time on an unsuspecting buffalo.  Far Cry 3 is full of intrigue, tension, and WTF moments and you’d be pissed if you didn’t get your hands on this game.





#2

The Walking Dead: The Game
Telltale Game
5 part series from April to November


When discussing this game it’s hard to gush and rant on for hours.  TWD isn’t your run of the mill zombie game (nor is this AMC show of the same name) it is about survival.  Telltale designed this game in a five part episodic format that can be easily described as a “Choose Your Own Adventure,” in which the actions you make transfer and mold the story.  What makes this game so fantastic is the heart wrenching story it delivers from beginning to end.  As the game starts you get to see and hear the outbreak as it beings and more importantly you begin your relationship with Clemintine.  Clem isn’t a love interest or a direct relative of Lee, but the bond that is created throughout their adventure is mesmerizing.  Next to Mass Effect 3, I don’t recall caring for other character’s as much as I did while playing.  When I first heard about TWD, I was a little nervous because I was so invested in the TV show, but once I found out this was tied to the comic I was all in.  TWD has been on cloud nine for some time winning award after award and without a doubt this game deserves all of its praise.  Even if you’re not into the show (or comic) as a gamer this is a must have!





#1 GAME OF THE YEAR

Mass Effect 3
BioWare
March 6, 2012


Since Mass Effect’s arrival in 2007, I’ve been effectively hooked!  Each iteration topped the previous, but ME3 far surpasses the other versions in every way.  The first two games both felt like RPG’s with shooter elements, but ME3 was finally able to meld the two together for a near perfect experience.  As many of you know ME3 had its share of issues, from Day-1 DLC to ending the trilogy properly (at least in the fans eyes); but you would be daft to let any of those issues deter you from this game.  If you haven’t noticed, I effin love this game (and series) as I’ve written about it so often! Before ME3 even came out I knew it was going to get my Game of the Year and at no point was I disappointed in my experiences.  Just like any trilogy, my worst nightmare was seeing the end of these characters’ story.  What makes this game so special is the way BioWare has been able to include all of the character choices seamlessly into the next game.  Within this game, there were a number of times when the story was able to fully engulf me to the point where I lost myself in the game.  This feat is aided by awesome voicework and an amazing cast to round out the experience.  So if you haven’t played ME3 or any of the ME games, don’t fret BioWare has released the trilogy in a bundle for only $59.99.  Don’t miss out on one of the best games/series of our generation!

We made it through the Apocalypse! REJOICE

According to the Mayans, the world was supposed to end on December 21st. In preparation of the apocalypse, I studied all of the end of the world scenarios just to be prepared for any and everything. Here are some of my findings.

So my first finding is that if it's an alien attack, then we need to think outside of the box because conventional weaponry probably wouldn't work.  Oh and I'm sure we'll need one hell of an inspirational speech right before the final battle to get us all hyped up.

Ok, so aliens aren't a threat this time around.  Fantastic, now we're dealing with the undead as zombies are running amuck across the globe.  I think we all know by now that destroying the brain is the key to stopping the zombies, but how long can you last alone?

And if worse comes to worse, here's to hoping there is a cure for zombie-ism...because you know love makes us all human

The most realistic study would be preparing for war.  Now as I've learned all you need is a few elite friends in the Armed Services to train you and you're now ready to take down whatever threat we might face.

Now if you don't feel the need to join a crack team, you could always do it alone...Hot Shot.

Now of course, I'm writing this on the 22nd, so obviously the Mayans were wrong but it won't be long before someone else claims to know when the end of the world is coming.  So hopefully, one of these examples will help you prepare!

Sequels that far surpass the original!

Now I’m not against sequels at all when they’re used as vehicles to propel a property and when past issues are fixed. So here are some best sequels (of this generation) that have either matched or exceeded its original.  Included in this list are only games in which I've played the original title.  So no, I didn't forget to add Portal 2!  But be sure to chime in on the comments section.

Assassin’s Creed 2

I did not like Assassin’s Creed!  There I said it…I thought the original was incredibly slow paced and the mission structure was a redundant mess.  I couldn’t even force myself to complete the game, I actually YouTubed the ending (and yes YouTube is a verb).  So going into AC2, I was a little cautious but that was thrown out the window pretty quickly with the introduction of Ezio Auditore da Firenze.  Ezio was a far more relateable character than Altair and there was some real variety in the mission structure made this a far superior game than the original.  Luckily, the story was engrossing enough in the original to keep me interested in this franchise or I may have missed out big time.  And by the looks of things AC3 will raise the bar again for this franchise.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Splinter Cell was never really a game I looked forward to playing; however, once I got a chance to see Conviction in action I was sold on the legitimacy of Sam Fisher and the new direction the game was taking.  From the outset, you could see that Sam was not in a good mood and his new set of moves showcased his deadly temperament   Ubisoft made sure to keep some of the stealth pieces intact and rewarding players with Mark and Execute points that would allow Sam to "mark" enemies (or destructive objects) and "execute" them with precise efficiency.  With Splinter Cell: Blacklist set for April 1st, 2013 release date, I'm extremely excited to play out the adventures of Sam Fisher.



Mass Effect 3

ME3, as you already know is one of my favorite games of all of all time, but greatness can't be denied.  The Mass Effect trilogy features a fully customizable Commander Sheppard in which your actions and decisions from the previous games carry over to the next.  So not only do you get to see all of your actions fully realized through an epic sage, you get to see the upgrades of the newest game.  ME3 finally masters the perfect balance between shooter and RPG.  If you haven't given Mass Effect a shot, don't miss out on one of the best game series of our generation.

Gears of War 3

Gears of War has been a figurehead for Xbox 360 (along with Halo) since it's inception and after getting your first kill with your chainsaw infused rifle (better known as a Lancer) you'll know why. The battles within the Gears universe is intense and visceral, but the story was always lacking in the previous entries.  Not the case in GoW3, I don't want to get spoiler-y but there is a moment that may have you a little shocked.  Split screen and online co-op ups the ante as teamwork is integral to survival.  Throw in the always creative online multiplayer and you've a must play game.

Batman: Arkham City

Batman is hands down one of the coolest characters to grace any form of media and fortunately Rocksteady put together on hell of sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum. Arkham Asylum was a fantastic game and is a must play, but surprisingly Arkham City is leaps and bounds better.  Like most sandbox games you can expect side missions, however in Batman the "side" missions actually feel like their apart of the main story.  With a story that could rival any Batman comic and one could even argue that Christopher Nolan could just coop the story and make a fourth movie, you can see why this sequel is vastly greater than it's predecessor.


Agree/disagree?  Think I missed out on any awesome sequels/threequels, sound off in the comments section.

Spike Video Game Awards Recap

 

 

 

In case you missed out on last night's VGA's, I'm here to give the rundown on the big winners and the even bigger world premieres.  To start off Samuel L. Jackson was back to host and easily the best part was seeing Sam inserted into this year's most popular games. Seeing Sir Sam (isn't it about time we knight him as the coolest muthaf**ka alive) in Dishonored going all Pulp Fiction on the butler was the highlight of my night.

 

 

 

 

So here the big winners from the VGA's from December 7th with occasional commentary:

 

 •Game of the Year: The Walking Dead

          Very surprised The Walking Dead won considering the nominees, but I think it's incredibly awesome that a DLC was able to secure a victory over giants such as Mass Effect 3, Assassin's Creed 3, and Dishonrored.

 •Studio of the Year: Telltale Games

 •Best Xbox 360 Game: Halo 4

 •Best PS3 Game: Journey

 •Best Wii/Wii U Game: New Super Mario Bros. U

 •Best PC Game: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

 •Best Shooter: Borderlands 2

          Another surprise for Borderlands 2 to come out on top when you consider Halo 4 and CoD: Black Ops 2 were probably considered the favorites.

 •Best Action/Adventure: Dishonored

          With one of the deepest set of nominees, Sleeping Dogs, Assassin's Creed 3, and Darksiders 2, it's great to see a new lP getting the nod to show that not all great games are sequels (at least not yet).

 •Best RPG: Mass Effect 3

          DUH!

 •Best Multiplayer: Borderlands 2

 •Best Individual Sports Game: SSX

 •Best Team Sports Game: NBA 2K13

 •Best Driving Game: Need for Speed Most Wanted

 •Best Song in a Game: "Cities" by Beck, from Sound Shapes

 •Best Original Score: Journey

 •Best Graphics: Halo 4

 •Best Independent Game: Journey

 •Best Fighting Game: Persona 4 Arena

 •Best Handheld/Mobile Game: Sound Shapes

 •Best Performance by a Human Male: Dameon Clarke in Borderlands 2 as "Handsome Jack"

 •Best Performance by a Human Female: Melissa Hutchison in The Walking Dead as"Clementine"

 •Best Adapted Game: The Walking Dead

 •Best DLC: The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Dawnguard

 •Best Downloadable Game: The Walking Dead

 •Best Social Game: You Don't Know Jack

 •Game of the Decade: Half-Life 2

 •Character of the Year: Claptrap from Borderlands 2

           Not often do I find myself rooting for a bad guy, but I was rooting for Raul Menendez (from CoD: Black Ops 2) to pull this one out.  Claptrap is a great choice as well! Whether playing Borderlands 1 or 2 you're for a great time with frequent LOL moments.

 •Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto 5

 

The VGA's also gave us a bevy of world premiers:

 

Tomb Raider

 

 

South Park: The Stick of Truth

 

 

BioShock Infinite

 

 

Gears of War: Judgement

 

 

Dark Souls II

 

 

The Last of Us (performance from VGA's)

 

 

Phantom Pain (Metal Gear 5?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

Maybe Gamers Aren't All Nuts!

I know I’ve gone in on the gaming community for their bitching and moaning, but it looks like maybe I need to eat a little crow.  The two most recent situations of civil unrest came from Mass Effect 3 (which I’ve already covered) and from NBA 2K13.  If you hadn’t heard 2K is including the Dream Team in this year’s game but at the time with one noticeable omission, Scottie Pippen.  And for you uniformed, Pip was one of the most versatile defenders ever and one of the original Top 50 NBA players. 

Once this was announced 2K and Pip were bombarded with backlash over the decision.  With the ME3 end game unrest I thought it was a bit overblown, but BioWare listened to their devoted (and somewhat deranged) fans and released an “extended cut” June 26^th to expand upon the events that unfolded throughout ME3.  Like Bioware, 2K listened to their fans (as did Pip) and they were able to come to an agreement and get their Wonder Twins on and bring us “form of Dream Team!”  So thanks social media for allowing gamers to have a voice, now whether you listen to it or not is up to you.

Invictus

Invictus by William Earnest Henley

Invictus holds a special place in my heart and in the hearts of all my fellow brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fratenity, Inc.  So imagine my surprise when Ashley Williams bust out with a little Invictus.  Chalk up another reason why I love Mass Effect!

Greed Corner

“For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays is a classic and has been used in popular culture from TV shows to movies, but as of recently it should be the theme song for the video game industry.  Now I know, all I’ve talked about is how much I love video games and that much hasn’t changed (and never will), but I will ALWAYS be transparent with my thoughts. 

So Mass Effect 3 just came out on March 6, 2012, and so far it’s been an amazing experience, but upon picking up the game I was asked if I wanted to buy the new DLC, “From Ashes” for $10.  The guy at Gamestop broke down everything that would come with the DLC (new Prothean character w/ mission, alternate attires, and Particle rifle) and knowing that once my wife reads this she will kill me, I bought it without a second thought. 



Worth $10 extra???

Now that I’ve played through this mission and used Javic on numerous missions, I came to two conclusions; Javic is effin awesome and how in the blue bloody hell can BioWare justify charging an additional $10 for something that should be on the disc from the start.  This isn’t like Zaiid or Kasumi from Mass Effect 2, Javic (albeit a new character) being of the Prothean race has been featured heavily throughout the entire series, so why wouldn’t BioWare just add this amazingly crafted story into the main disc, I’ll tell you why “For the Love of Money!”  Yes, ME3 is a very complete game without the addition of Javic, but that’s only if you didn’t know any better.  After playing through the game, I can not imagine the game being complete without the addition of the Prothean.  I’m sure that can be construed into a compliment, but it’s as far removed from being complimentary as possible.  I’m not completely against the Day 1 DLC when it’s done properly (or as a pre-order bonus); but “From Ashes,” amazing experience aside, was BioWare forcing gamers to pay $70 bucks for the proper ME3 experience.



JUDO CHOP!



Are you crying?

*This article may contain minor spoilers such as credits roll at the end.

“Are you crying? There’s no crying in baseball…” is one of my favorite movie quotes ever because it can be used in almost every situation. And I can’t think of a better situation right now than the one BioWare is currently facing; there has been a huge uproar about the ending(s) to Mass Effect 3.  And when I say huge uproar I do mean a Reaper sized heaping of bitching and moaning, demanding a “brighter” ending.  Check out Bioware’s official siteor the fan created pages created on Facebook.  Now I’m all for voicing ones opinion, as it is our Constitutional Right, but I think this is a ridiculous!  I wasn’t enamored with the ending myself, but demanding the developers to redo the ending is, well…that isht cray! 

That's my ending!

This ain’t Burger King and you can’t have it your way.  Would I have liked to have the ending more fleshed out showing how my decisions through the 3 games have shaped the galaxy? Well of course!  But that doesn’t mean I’ll cry about it not going my way.  But I guess my rant is moot anyway because BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka just announced that they would be “revisiting” the ending in the near future.  I really respect the path that BioWare is taking appeasing its fans this way, but I just hope this doesn’t set an unfortunate precedent.

All I know is WE BET NOT have to pay for this new/alternate ending because that’s when the isht will hit the fan!