In lieu of a traditional GOTY list, I thought I'd make my own little list of games I really enjoyed in 2012. Other than one or two fighters and Rock of Ages, I didn't play anything that was released this year, so don't be surprised at their absence. It's been a very unusual year for me...
(Note: Grandia and Shadow Hearts were omitted due to me originally playing them a while ago. All the games in the list were experienced for the first time in 2012.)
I wasn't really expecting much of Wild Arms 3 beforehand, but it ended up being the biggest surprise for me in the entire year. The story went places you wouldn't expect a Western-based game to go. It also felt a lot like a bounty hunter anime to me (e.g. Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop). As it was an expected gem of a game, that's why it's ended up with the top spot. Yes, a game from 2003 is my favourite of 2012. Just goes to show that age means nothing.
Another game that ended up surprising me. I'm not a huge fan of repetitive brawlers, but Yakuza 4 handled it in such a way that it felt satisfying to me. It was also great walking around a fake Japanese city district with a very authentic feel. I really enjoyed the story, too. Plenty of likeable (and detestable) characters.
I really like what this game brought to the table. It's hopefully the beginning of taking games to the next level. The facial expressions were so convincing to me. While I had some trouble reading people now and again, it was definitely a game that made me think before I jumped into a decision. I'd love to see more games like it.
A late game to the party, but definitely deserves its place. It was a close run with FFV, as I really enjoyed the job system. Ultimately, I decided to go with FFIV. It may be a bit primitive gameplay-wise, but the story and character work made the difference for me. It's one of the regular favourites among FF fans. I can certainly see why.
This had to be on the list for me. One heck of a great story. Not much of a 'game' to speak of, but it was certainly a great experience. It resonated with me even more because of a certain aspect to the story. I can't really say much more about it. What I will say is that if you want an excellent piece of interactive fiction, go out and give it a go. It'll be 4 hours well spent.
