So had a couple days left to throw one up, so why not. This comprises my opinion of some of the best titles of 2011. Note that I'm going based on the Japanese release calendar here, so I may have games on this list that aren't out in the US yet. Also some amazing titles (like Catherine) won't make it on because they were 2010 releases here. Some titles I really want to play (like Saints Row) I simply haven't been able to yet.
I have to preface this by saying I enjoyed FFXIII quite a bit, I had issues with it (largely in terms of pacing) but I thought it was a great entry to the series. This game takes that to the next level, obviously pinpointing the areas of XIII that were ill-received, while trying to maintain all the things that made XIII quite enjoyable. It succeeds brilliantly at this, marking maybe my favourite RPG since FF8.
The world is amazing, and it is truly the payoff for all the time in XIII spent on setting and establishing the background of the world. Linearity concerns are gone, with towns and plenty of options in your exploration (that got dangerously close to WRPG territory for my tastes) which, in a world so darned good looking, is a big plus. A lot of the things that made XIII so good remain however, with the amazing combat still being amazing and a cast of characters that will still seem familiar to veterans of the first game. With a crazy plot, great characters, amazing gameplay systems, and a fully realized world, this is simply a game that everyone should play even if you hated the first game.
Also moogles and playable Sera!
Another title that is unreleased in the west, this is the MMORPG to be looking forward to, with a gorgeous world, character models, and interesting gameplay system. It manages to approach a fantasy world and make it seem unique and fresh, quite an accomplishment in a post WoW-era. Adopting a gorgeous aesthetic that makes even recent MMOs look dated by comparison, the world of TERA is simply a joy to explore. Combine this with a relatively fresh combat system that removes itself from staring at hot bars for the entirety of combat, and you have the first real chance for innovation in the genre since well...WoW. Outside of FFXI and WoW, I've spent more time on TERA already than almost any other MMO to date, and that's a glowing endorsement for an MMO.
I don't know what else I really need to say besides 'It's Uncharted' but it's a great game and a great conclusion to the (console side) trilogy. Amazing set pieces, great action and shooting, solid multiplayer, witty writing, there's really not a whole lot NEW here because there was so little to improve from Uncharted 2. However, it just does the whole 'third person shooter' thing so much better than anybody else, that it has to be included on a list if you've played it.
Bastion was a game I was late to playing, cause I had to wait for a japanese steam release for it. IT was worth every second of waiting though, because this game was just breathtaking. Absolutely gorgeous artwork, an amazing soundtrack, and solid voice work put the production values through the roof for a small indy title. The gameplay was nothing too new for the ARPG genre, but solid and fluid enough that they never got in the way of the experience. My only real complaint with the game is that I finished it too darned fast.
It only just barely managed to come out within the 2011 timeframe, but it did. This has all your usual Disgaea SRPG qualities that make the series great, but expands on them with a couple unique systems. Combine that with new gorgeous graphics, and an iwashi loving vampire 'hero' and you have a hilarious and deep SRPG that can easily occupy you more than any other game this year. I've clocked over 100 hours and still going, with no end in sight.
When I got my Vita, this was the first game I had to run out and get (okay, I didn't have to go anywhere but the idea is the same). One of the best things I can say about this game is that it feels like an Uncharted title, and Bend Games did a GREAT job of simulating everything that makes the series great. Some of the touch-controls stuff seemed like absolute gimmicks to me, but thankfully these are entirely optional and I never once used them. It's a great showcase of how ridiculously powerful the Vita is, and feels almost like a full console entry into the Uncharted series.
Another game that barely made it on my list (coming out in December here) this is a great title I am glad I got to include. Much like Disgaea 4 or Uncharted not changing a whole lot from a solid formula, Assassin's Creed largely runs with what Brotherhood already established. Beautiful architecture, historical accuracy, solid gameplay, and compelling multiplayer all combine to make this a really solid package.
Oh Dark Souls, how I love to hate you. This punishing take on action RPGs is as fun as ever, with an immensely deep system that is largely obscured to you from the start, as the game expect you to crawl your way through EVERYTHING by the skin of your teeth, even figuring out basic game concepts. Once you do, this game continues the Demon's Souls experience of fun and addictive gameplay offset by ridiculous difficulty. Much like in Demon's Souls, it never feels unfairly difficult though, so this game will just make you hate yourself rather than the game.
As someone who generally hates overly difficult games, this was a surprising entry on my list. I think the way it managed to seem fairly difficult makes it all seem okay at the end.
While I am not the biggest FPS guy, and their were certainly a TON of them this year, Resistance 3 probably gets my nod towards the best one. Great environments, gorgeous lighting, and solid shooting mechanics kept the experience going from the start to the end. Not to mention this may be one of the very few FPS series where I am actually interested in the narrative at all, the Chimera and their alternative historical timeline hits all the right buttons for me, and keeps me going more to see the resolution of the story than to shoot dudes in the head.
I had mixed opinions about putting this on the list. On one hand, this may be the first WRPG I ever enjoyed to any extent, normally hating the genre. On the other, the actual story and characters in the game (what I come to RPGs for) suffered the usual weak quality of WRPGs, seeming to focus on quantity and breadth rather than quality and depth. Still, there were a few real gems, and the sheer amount of content was staggering even if it was often cliched.
Unfortunately, significant technical issues drove this to the bottom of my list and makes me considering even having it on. Bugs and graphical glitches I can understand, but to release a game absolutely broken on any platform in this day and age is simply unacceptable.
