As July rolls in, it marks the mid-point of the year and there have been a plethora of games worthy of recognition to look back on. It is arguable that we have already seen some front-runners for Game of the Year, though the majority of the year’s heavy hitters are set to release post-summer. Either way, let us stop and take a look at how 2011 has held up so far category by category, culminating in the best overall game of the year so far. Of course this is an unofficial list purely for fun, and while many of the reasons I provide will be mostly objective it’s also an excuse to express my personal opinions on titles I believe are leading the charge for 2011 to be a hell of a year for gaming.
Best First-Person Shooter: Killzone 3
Platform: Playstation 3
A rare occasion it is when I award a Sony exclusive with the top shooter. A good 90% of my online endeavors take place on Xbox Live, particularly my shooters. Black Ops currently still reigns supreme on the list of games I play when I have the free time to do so, however one game that dropped earlier this year has succeeded in drawing my attention away from Treyarch’s not-so-secret weapon to industry dominance for a significant amount of time; I speak of Guerrilla Games’ Killzone 3. KZ3 may have seemed like it condensed the story aspect of their campaign a bit, but it delivers on the intensity of non-stop action. Vehicles and various weapons of destruction galore await players on the roller coaster ride of a campaign; successfully mixing it up to keep things interesting the entire way through. Shooting mechanics are well-oiled and enjoyable so long as you don’t mind emptying out a clip to take an enemy down every now and then. This is not your modern military shooter, the sci-fi themes flaunt themselves well from the guns to the setting and it’s quite a trip to be on. The multiplayer for KZ3 is solid and does a great job of emphasizing objective based combat as opposed to the popular deathmatch style playlist. Kill/Death ratios are not on the forefront of this experience, which helps the true fun emerge from the once forgotten search and destroy and king of the hill style games. With Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 still to come later in the year, it seems all but certain that Killzone 3 will fade into obscurity. For now however, it receives my pick for best first-person shooter of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Crysis 2 – Multiplayer doesn’t do much to stand out, but single player campaign is a change of pace and offers a lot of stealth gameplay as opposed to the typical FPS experience.
Best ActionGame: inFamous 2
Platform: Playstation 3
Another Playstation 3 exclusive makes the list; inFamous 2 is in every way superior to its predecessor. Story telling is as beautiful as ever with the comic style artwork and believable dialogue during cut scenes. Of course, nobody plays a game like InFamous 2 and puts the action gameplay and super powers in the background. It is more fun than ever to run around freely and either wreak havoc with Cole’s myriad of powers (now consisting of fire or ice in addition to lightning), or playing the lawful hero. The freedom of choice and play style is another one of the game’s strongest aspects and always ensures a variety of paths to take. New Marais is a beautifully designed city and there just seems like there is much more to do and more interesting areas to explore in comparison to Cole’s first time out. With hours upon hours of play time, the replayability and longevity of Sucker Punch’s latest hit is well worthy owning. Not to mention inFamous 2 offered one of the best collector’s editions we’ve seen in a while at a fantastic value. My Cole statuette is proudly displayed and I actually use the messenger bag on a regular basis when I go out. Both of those items alone easily justifies the extra money. Cole should be looking over his shoulder however with titles like Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception and Batman: Arkham City approaching.
Honorable Mention: Dead Space 2 – A fantastic sequel and just as creepy. A well-rounded game with virtually no flaws or drawbacks, only losing out to InFamous 2 because of its weaker replay value and linear limitations.
Best Platformer: Portal 2
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Probably the most obvious choice out of the ones on the list, but Portal 2 is arguably one of the current frontrunners for game of the year. Gameplay is flawless and the visuals are one of the best HD experiences on either console to date. The voice acting is simply phenomenal and the dialogue and phrases are witty and memorable. The intricate and detailed puzzle solving appeals to Portal fans and newcomers alike; a vast range of difficulties is offered from simple to pretty damn challenging. Valve’s labyrinth adventure succeeds wildly on two particular fronts; exceptional co-op play which requires a dedicated amount of coordination and a diverse style of gameplay unlike anything else on the market. This is truly a game that offers a lot while utilizing a seemingly small amount of resources. One can’t help but feel an exhilarating sense of achievement the further progress is made, and all without the inclusion of intense fire fights, gratuitous fan service, and constant bloodshed. In a way Portal 2 is like a comedian who is hilarious without ever having to use profanity. Of all the games released this year, nothing bends the mind quite like Portal 2.
Best Role-Playing Game: Dragon Age II
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
The Dragon Age IP is amongst the most detailed story-driven RPGs out right now and DAII offered an extremely vast amount of back story and dossier style information about many areas of the lore, including the blight, the darkspawn, and backstories of the characters. The combat might have lost some of its tactical value in favor of a more fast-paced action style of melee and spell casting, but it is rather beneficial for taking on hordes of enemies and making quick decisions on the spot when the going gets tough. Navigating the skill trees guarantees everyone will have a different character even if they have chosen the same class; there are many branches of spells to explore to compliment a variety of play styles. The story was still solid, albeit on a less grandiose scale as Dragon Age: Origins. There is no reason to not enjoy the story of Hawke’s rise from refugee to Champion of Kirkwall just because he or she kills significantly less darkspawn in comparison to the Hero of Ferelden. There is hours of story-centric gameplay here and mildly high replay value, mostly to try out the many styles and utilize each companion to the fullest.
Honorable Mention: Dungeon Siege III – The story is nothing to write home about, but it is a visually attractive game with a well put together combat engine. Worthy playing through at least once.
Best Fighting Game: Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Platform: Xbox 360 & Playstation 3
Fighting games have seen a steady decline in popularity over the years with only a handful of titles remaining prominent in this day and age. Very rarely is a new IP debuted in this genre, and for good reason as it is very hard to break through the mold and offer a different and competitive experience. The most successful titles of today are in fact installments of existing franchises. Fortunately for gamers, fighter legacies is what Capcom still does best. Street Fighter has its loyal fan base, but Marvel vs. Capcom easily revolutionized 2D fighters. After a very long decade of waiting from the previous versus title, MvsC3 hit shelves and hit them with ruthless aggression. Combat is fast-paced, flashy, and over the top, all of which is the bread and butter of the franchise. The engine is smooth and glitch-free, and the cast of characters is colorful and diverse; there is a handful of combatants that fit every gamer’s play style. From the graphics to the enhanced tactical options, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a full blown improvement on top of its predecessor.
Best Current Choice for GOTY: L.A. Noire
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
I was skeptical at first I will admit, as I have always regarded Rockstar games as widely overrated. This doesn’t mean they are bad games, just that they received more praise than deserved. L.A Noire takes the familiar open world Rockstar style and puts one hell of a twist on it. Probably the most interesting feature of the game is how it differs from Red Dead Redemption and any Grand Theft Auto by allowing gamers to actually play on the side of the law. Gamers get to experience how far the “good guy” can stretch their limits, and how poor or how commendable an officer Cole Phelps can be portrayed as in accordance to choices made throughout investigations or free play. The investigations and interrogations are especially interesting as a device not typically seen in games, especially with how much detail that is offered. L.A Noire offers multiple ways of solving a crime depending on the amount of clues found and also allows for the story to continue on despite screwing up an interview or two. The shooting mechanics are in no way dissimilar to Red Dead Redemption's, they are mirror images of one another from the single dot crosshair to the auto aim from cover system. It isn’t terribly exciting but it supplements the overall gameplay well, which is appropriate considering Rockstar doesn’t typically produce shooters. The soundtrack is suitable and the voice acting is staggeringly good. The facial expression capture technology offers a realistic view of the characters never before seen in any other games. L.A Noire has a lot going for it and is arguably the best game out of the studio yet. Of course, Mr. Phelps and company will have a lot of stiff competition once the holiday season starts up.
Honorable Mention: Portal 2 – As aforementioned, Portal 2 is definitely in the running due to its mold breaking style.
Post contributed by Matt J. Randisi. Questions for the author? Send an email to Mjrandisi@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SaveUsMatt.