As everyone else feels a compulsorily need to spew things about how certain games are better than others in a sense of scoring and ranking that are so convoluted they don't give a true sense of the fun that resides in them, especially when looking at the last years games in review. I have hence decided to do the same, only mines all based on level of fun and not music, voice acting, or lack there of, and graphics. These are games that I just enjoyed and I could really care less about what was wrong because they were just fun to play. So a heads up not all of these games came out last year, these are just my favorite ones that I picked up and played last year, all of which however I've never played before last year.
5) Warhammer 40k: Space Marine
If you don't know anything about W40K the biggest thing to take away from it is this: Space Marines are badass. Seriously whats not to love about an army of dudes who are about 3 feet taller than normal humans wearing cars for body armor and cutting their enemies down with swords that more resemble a chainsaw than anything else. And because Space Marine let you focus on playing as one of these titans of war it was sooooo worth playing through. I'd even dare to say that it lets you feel more badass than when you curbstomp a locust playing Gears of War. This with the combination of some seriously fun, yet difficult, online play makes for one really great game.
On top of that all there is a multitude of deadly weapons in you arsenal that it makes it difficult to choose what guns to go into combat with. The single player story holds true to any setting in the 40K universe and the games feel is exact for setting the right mood. All in all if this is one you were on the edge about whether or not to buy let this be your inspiration to get it, its well worth it.
4) Vanquish
For those of you who don't know the next generation of solider doesn't reside in some fancy training routine, bio-injections, or even some gun that can do it all. It resides in a set of "Smart Armor" that not only lets is occupant access Terabytes of information on the battlefield but also allows them to survive in a multitude of environments. And that, my friends, is exactly what Vanquish is shooting for. For those of you who don't know Vanquish is about a new weapons platform that gets its first real test of a combat situation when Earth gets threatened by some douche with a robot army, and since you're in the weapons platform, you gotta stop him. Pretty cool huh? Or it would be if it wasn't like many other Sci-Fi titles in the world today.
What really sets Vanquish apart is the game mechanics and how they all revolve around the central idea of the armor you're wearing. For example you can slide to maneuver quickly, all of you're guns are one gun that can rearrange itself due to carbon-nano polymers, and it can even inject you with concentrated adrenaline to slow down time. This plus the awesome futuristic setting, of a probably future, makes the game rather believable. The game has a ton of replay value if for no other reason than because how many games are this fast paced as a Third Person Shooter. All in all this game is fantastic and comes highly recommended. Oh and did I mention its made by the same team who made Phantasy Star?
3) Dragon Age 2
The one reason I love and hate BioWare is that because their games are just too fantastic, for the most part (SW:TOR was a little disappointing to me), and Dragon Age 2 was no exception. Though I did buy the game a little later than others did I thoroughly enjoyed every last minute of it. The game shares the same name and setting as DA:Origins, but the similarities stop there. Combat is completely different, the story structure has changed entirely from one giant overarching story to one overarching story with about three sub-stories built into it. Hawkes decisions and actions completely change depending on what your gender and class combination's are and the game play is exciting all the way through.
The thing I would have to say that works best about it is the lack of freedom to travel outside the city, for the most part. It's kind of a peculiar thing to say but it works, it really helps the story focus on Kirkwall and Kirkwall alone. With the combination of some truly awesome endings depending on how you go about a couple of the major story intersections Dragon Age 2 is the perfect game for anyone who likes fantasy RPG's.
2) Skyrim
Bethesdas newest installment into The Elder Scrolls series hardly needs any introduction, base description, or even a recommendation to buy it. If you're a fan of The Elder Scrolls you've already gotten it, if you think you might like it you've already played it and have probably bought it if you have the means to play it. Its no wonder that it would end up here, or even as to why its here, its a great game. Rarely does a game come about that honestly offer almost 400 hours of gameplay and deliver, but Skyrim did, and it did a damn good job at it too.
The side quests are fun and entertaining, some of the errands are cool, despite being as cookie cutter as you can possibly be, and the Dragon Fights are top notch. The unique and rare items are wondrously designed, character balancing is superb, and most importantly the game is done right. Its a good day when a true single player game can hold up in an online multiplayer world, and not only stand its ground, but surpass its competition, when its competition are all multiplayer focused games. Major props to Bethesda and major props to Skyrim.
1) RIFT
RIFT, the top game I played last year and the only MMO that I have ever thought was capable of standing a chance at beating WOW at its own game. RIFT offers something truly unique that most other MMO's can't come close to matching, and that is quite simple: randomized server-wide, non-sponsored events. Thats right, RIFT has a unique system that at any point in time an invasion can randomly occur in any zone and the players are the ones that must stop it by closing Rifts and defeating the boss. The players also gain a currency for closing them and can use it to upgrade their items.
The best part about RIFT though is the class system. With only four classes to choose from and 10 specializations each character has a versatility that is almost unseen in any other game on the market today. All classes can tank and almost all classes can heal making RIFT a truly unique MMO that stand about the rest. If you haven't played RIFT yet, or are even wondering about it give it a shot, its only $20 and comes with a free month trial, this game is highly recommended.
So that is my top 5 games I've played of 2011, if you are looking for a time killer of any kind check em out, you'll get your moneys worth. Hrm I wonder if next week I should divulge the top 5 things in entertainment I'm looking forward to this year? Nah that would just be too stereotypical. Well this week was fun, till next time guys.
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