As it gets closer to the end of the year, we all start getting bombarded with GOTY and other yearly game awards from all sides. Well this year, I have decided to embrace that sentiment and talk about some of my top games of the year!
This was originally going to be my own game awards list, but as I have been sitting here at work reflecting on the games that I have played, I realized that a large portion of the games I've played in the last 12 months weren't released in 2011. GameFly has helped a lot with the expensive aspect of being a gamer, but I still haven't had time to just blast through everything for the sake of playing each and every amazing game that came out this year. As you may know, I don't like to just blast through a game. Teams of people spend countless hours crafting these experiences, the least I can do is enjoy them thoroughly. Plus, with my career aspirations being what they are, I have starting looking more deeply into games than I used to, trying to identify what design aspects work, what could be improved, what specifically I enjoy and don't enjoy, etc.
I do have some categories, but this isn't going to be nearly as structured as something like the VGAs. Most games that I played were on Xbox 360, so having a Best 360 game category would be ridiculous, and a Best Wii game category would be empty! As the title of this blog post states, this is more of a reflection on some of the great games that I did play that came out this year. Hope you enjoy it!
First, some stats! The Xbox rewards program has introduced a stat tracking system that, among other (mostly pointless) statistics, shows how many hours I have logged on my top 5 games of the last 6 months. Since it only goes back 6 months, something like Portal 2 is not on there. Also, some of the hour counts are skewed by things like falling asleep on the couch while a game was still running or leaving it paused while running to the store. Oh well. Here it is:
#5: Red Dead Redemption - 16 hours
#4: Bayonetta - 17 hours
#3: GTAIV - 24 hours
#2: Fallout: New Vegas - 39 hours
#1: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - 44 hours
So, this list pretty much proved that I have not played enough of the games that came out during 2011! Let's start exploring some of the 2011 games that I actually did play, starting with some of my favorite Downloadable games! This is one area in gaming that was completely saturated with amazing games, and luckily I had lots of "space dollars" (to quote @GarnettLee) to play a good amount of them. Even though it wasn't easy, I will list these in order too.
#5: Stacking
#4: Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
#3: Sonic CD
#2: Bastion
#1: Trenched (you may know it as Iron Brigade, but it will always be Trenched to me!)
I know there are more DL games that I have played, and probably some that deserve to be on the list, but these are the ones that stand out most in my mind from 2011.
Next up: notable games that I don't feel like ranking in the top overall list!
Mortal Kombat
Child of Eden
Starfox 64 3D
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Now, before we get into my top games of 2011, I thought it would be fun to mention the games that came out this year that I haven't played yet, but am looking forward too. These are games that would probably be discussed in this blog, either as notable or top of the year, but I haven't had a chance to play yet.
Bulletstorm
Rage
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Assassins Creed: Revelations
Rayman Origins
Dark Souls
Super Mario 3D Land
And probably lots more... Lol. If you don't already, follow me on Twitter and you will be sure to hear about these and other games as I play them.
And now, here are my top 4 picks for favorite game from 2011!! Ranking these was very difficult, but it seems like the thing to do. Quick note about how I decided on these. In my mind, Neal Bauer (@doubleplusgames) had the best criteria for GOTY from the ++goodgames podcast, so I stole it. These are the games that I will look back on as the defining games for 2011 for me.
#4 - Sonic Generations
#3 - Portal 2
#2 - Shadows of the Damned
#1 - El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
So there you have it! I have already talked a bit about El Shaddai, so go back and read my last post for more info about why I enjoyed it so much.
Here at the end, I would like to throw out some recognition and thanks to several people. First off, to my wife Uriah for playing video games with me and for putting up with me. Big thanks to Sean for his amazing contributions to my collection of games and always chatting about what we are currently playing. Huge thanks to the podcasts that help me stay up on gaming news and keeping me sane while working: ++goodgames, Weekend Confimed, The Indoor Kids, PixelJunk Radio, KOXM, Legacy Music Hour, and PopCast (from PopCap games). I also want to thank my Twitter followers, and everyone who is reading this blog! Thanks you so much!!!
