Now that I have a much easier access to many of the latest & greatest titles out there, I'm still sad to say I haven't played the overwhelming number of games as I had originally planned. But surprisingly, I managed to play through more than enough games to create a top 10 list of my own. Who knew, right? So without further ado, I present to you the top 10 games that made a lasting impression on me this year.
Bayonetta is one of those titles that remind us a game doesn't need to take itself too seriously to make a lasting impression. It's all about having fun, and not being afraid to try something completely outrageous that somehow makes it, frankly, ten times better than the games it descends from. From beginning to end, Bayonetta takes you on a roller coaster ride chock-full of cinematic, Japanese over-the-top craziness, surprisingly enjoyable combat, memorable characters, extremely satisfying boss fights, and of course, hair. On top of some great homages to Sega arcade classics like Space Harrier and Outrun, it also has a beautiful visual design and a kickass soundtrack that is an absolute treat to listen to. To sum it all up, this game is purely insane, chaotic, and 100% awesome. Sure, I enjoyed the other nine titles that are on this list, but the experience I had playing Bayonetta is genuinely unmatched and truly one of a kind. These are the reasons why Bayonetta is, hands down, THE best game of 2010.
Let's face it; Western games haven't exactly made an impact in gaming history actually worth talking about (we can call it history, right?). Sure, there have been some pretty noteworthy titles like Call of Juarez and GUN, but I've always felt Western games needed some kind of revolution to put them further on the map. And boy, did they ever get it. Rockstar has made something special with Red Dead Redemption. They didn't just home in the look and feel of the Old West; they made old guns, Mexican standoffs, and horse-riding--well...cool. Top that with a heavy, brilliantly written story and one compelling and badass protagonist, this game had me thinking about the entire experience long after I put the controller down. Whether I'm gunning down fools in the face or messin' around with zombies, Red Dead Redemption is a game I'll appreciate for years to come.
I wasn't initially interested in the idea of expanding Assassin's Creed II's storyline for fear of turning that particular world into a contrived experience. But seeing everything in action erased all the lingering doubts I had for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The game's paranoia-inducing multiplayer especially exceeded my expectations; hunting down others were all incredibly satisfying and escaping the clutches of your would-be assassins were intense as they were exciting. Also, the additions of new kill moves and having the power to command your own Assassin army had me playing the game for hours on end. Ubisoft has really crafted a compelling world that gave me one of the most immersive gaming experiences I've had in years. While I am excited to dive in a new time period and relive another one of Desmond's face-and-neck-stabbing ancestors, I will truly miss the times I spent with Ezio, Mario, and the entirety of Renaissance Italy.
I love blood. I love brutality. And no other game this year showed near-unlimited slaughter and savagery more than God of War III. Kratos's imhumanity sure knows no bounds; from the head decapitating of Helios moment to the gut-wrenching blinding of Poseidon, everything Kratos did to the Gods of Olympus made me cringe and constantly exclaim, "OH MY GOD!" and I kept wondering why I couldn't stop playing it. Though it still plays like previous God of War titles (surprise, surprise), God of War III proves that mowing down hordes of enemies and brutally mutilating them to bits is still highly gratifying. It also features some of the biggest boss fights I've clashed with (second only to another game on this list), massive levels that are fun to explore, and is probably one of the most technically appealing games to date, especially on the Playstation 3. Santa Monica Studios has really put a considerable amount of work in the most fucked up version of Greek mythology, and it's a world I'd be glad to jump in again.
I'm not much of a big racing game fan, nor am I "good" or even "okay" at them. Sure, I spent my early gaming years playing bits of Midnight Club, Gran Turismo 3, and early Need for Speed titles, but I didn't quite understand the importance of braking/slowing down on sharp turns or even the art of drifting. Then EA decided to release Hot Pursuit, and--with the help from a couple of friends--I think I'm finally starting to get racing in general. This latest NFS title goes back to its origins and capitalizes on what made that particular series so special. And oh, man; those intense and electrifying cop car chases. Just racing through every track felt so satisfying, and never got old. NFS: Hot Pursuit is the best racing game of 2010, and it shows. And coming from someone who is not really into racing games, that's saying something.
Just Cause 2 takes a lot of the cheesiness, superficiality, and over-the-top elements from B-list action flicks; you can definitely tell it is when the game's got terrible voice acting and the large amount of stereotypes it contains. Yes it's stupid, but as far as I'm concerned, everything that's [entertainingly] bad about this game was intentional by its developers. And you know what? I'm totally okay with it. But it's not the extremely corny moments of the story that make Just Cause 2 fun, it's basically an amusing open-world action game in which to constantly blow shit up and defy the laws of physics. There's a bit of frustration to be had with tedious exploration and the way the game checkpoints in only specific areas, but the rest the game has to offer--from the fairly wide range of weapons (grappling hook!) and vehicles at your disposal--make Just Cause 2 a explosive, worthwhile experience.
Ryan and Alex (via Quick Look) pretty much summed it up for me; this game is so damn charming and overwhelmingly cute, I hate the fact that I love it. The game's unique knitted aesthetic is obviously its strongest point, but the way Kirby interacts with the world just makes me feel so giddy inside. Just the numerous happy dances, lovable squeals and transformations he does...and then you get to decorate Kirby's cute little yarn apartment, just--OH! I'd love to tell you more about this delightful game, but I think I'll just die of massive cute overload if I go any further. Go play it; it will definitely warm your heart like it did to mine.
When I was first putting this list together, I thought long and hard on why New Vegas even deserved to be here. This game probably has some of the most frustrating technical issues I've come across this year; freeze glitches and bugs everywhere, and I encountered two save-corrupting disasters that had my blood pressure up to its limit. The first one was my own save data, and the second time involved my best friend's. So you can just imagine the hair-pulling, screaming, and wrist-cutting antics that may or may not have happened during our time with the game. Despite these grievances, I was still enamored by the gameplay improvements from its predecessor and just the way they tell the story. Almost everything you do has a significant impact in the world at large, and it's very daunting to watch these events pan out in your favor or completely out of control (and for the weirdest reason possible, I just wonder why I am too damn scared to play Fallout 3). I don't mean to be clichéd about it, but New Vegas is a game that is more than the sum of its parts. If you just get past its major flaws, Fallout: New Vegas is still a great game that is worth your time.
It's easy for me to declare that Square Enix should've taken each copy of the game back and just start over from scratch. But when it came down to it, Final Fantasy XIII ultimately just became a game you either loved or hated, despite what it represented. I'll admit, this game and I got off to a rough start; characters were unlikable, story initially didn't make sense, and just slaving through endless bits of tutorial made me want to scrap Final Fantasy XIII from my mind altogether. But as I delved deeper and deeper into it, everything--from the eye-popping visuals to the exciting cinematic combat--finally started to sink in, and actually found myself enjoying and appreciating everything the game had to offer. While I think Final Fantasy XIII's most crucial elements could've been so much better, there's still enjoyment to be had here, however late that said enjoyment eventually comes around.
What Enslaved lacks in gameplay and crisp visuals, it makes up for in impressive storytelling. And it is with the game's well-developed characters--add in great voice acting and dialogue (spearheaded by one Andy Serkis)--that immediately suck you in, and really drive the narrative forward. It may not be the most highly regarded game by majority vote, but it's probably one of the most special story-driven adventures I won't forget anytime soon.
