GOTY 2013
Probably finished?
List items
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Never count Nintendo out. In a year that where the downfall of the Wii U has been repeated ad nauseam Nintendo fights back with Super Mario 3D World. A sequel to the excellent 3D Land, 3D World improves the concept in every way imaginable. The sheer variety and genuine creativity in 3D World is what never ceases to amaze and is unparalleled in the industry. No level is like another and when you eventually reach the post game worlds I dare say that its at the top of what the red plumber EVER has been through. Another thing I have to mention is the entire soundtrack that is fully orchestrated and extraordinarily original. If you can think of an instrument, its probably utilized somewhere on this soundtrack. All in all Nintendo has again managed to surpass my wildest expectations and created a game that is fully worth buying their struggling console solely for.
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In many ways I find The Last of Us very unremarkable. It is another game with zombies, or zombie-like creatures. It is set in a post apocalyptic game where mankind, under the threat of extinction, is turning against each other and perform horrible things to one another. Which might only make the fact that The Last of Us ended up so high on this list even more impressive. Naughty Dog has, as far as I am concerned, mastered how to effectively balance the game aspect of video games together with the cinematic feel of movies. Yeah you will watch your share of cutscenes but you will also shoot, strangle and perform equally horrible things to adversaries for a long time. What really makes it all work is two important things, stellar technology and solid writing. Not only does it look great, but the facial animations that make the characters feel and look realistic is almost unmatched. That however would be pointless if what the characters were saying didn't feel equally as right. It does and The Last of Us is one of the better written games of 2013. It is incredibly emotional and not for the faint of heart but still manages to make you laugh and feel for the characters. How well realized they are cannot be understated and is a huge achievement by itself. All in all, the bleak story of The Last of Us is one that I won't soon forget.
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With the history of this game in consideration its almost a miracle that it turned out well, let alone that it is even out. Numerous delays and a complete change of developer and identity lead to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Though Konami did the smartest thing they could have done with the situation when they gave it to PlatinumGames. They are after all the best developers for high speed action games right now and this game is no different. Combat is deeply satisfying and immensely rewarding. Really mastering the parrying system and completely obliterating foes that previously did the same on you is a feeling unlike many other things this year. Which is why I replayed it several times and really unlocked everything the game had to offer. It also manages to be dumb in the way that Metal Gear only can which fits the games identity marvelously. All in all its one of the best games I played all year.
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If you play a game over a thousand hours, it has to be on your list. So here it is.
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I hesitate calling a game underrated but dammit if I won't here. The Wonderful 101 is Hideki Kamiya's first game since 2010's GOTY(indisputable) Bayonetta and despite those massive tracks to follow it doesn't disappoint. Anyone that has played a Kamiya directed game before, most of all Bayonetta, will recognize the unmistakable Kamiya brand that is deeply engraved into The Wonderful 101. In fact the structure of the game is almost identical to that of Bayonetta. The gameplay is still challenging and very deep that rewards really learning and mastering the systems. It rates every battle you partake in and ruthlessly tells you just how poorly you performed. Its filled to the brim with unlockables that ensure replaying the game is rewarded accordingly. It also has more style and character than most games this year which with all reasons above make it out to be one of the best games of the year. Shame so few people even gave it a chance.
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As far as surprises go they do not come much better than Papers, Please. The idea is so simple yet so brilliant. You sit in a border checkpoint controlling who enters and who is denied into the country. On its own it works great but it wouldn't get so far without the incredibly variety of events that all can impact the story. From conspiracies, to terrorists, to xenophobia its all very dark but extremely engaging and manages to create a story that ends up feeling extremely personal.
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A Link Between Worlds is not only the best Zelda game in a long time. It is also one that shows promise for the future of the series. Gone are the long and slow introductions of previous games, gone is the padding that made the games feel sluggish just to make the gametime longer. Instead ALBW throws you right into the thick of things and within just a few minutes are you inside a temple battling foes and uncovering secrets. It also has one of the best soundtracks of the year. It certainly has everything people have come to expect from the franchise and more which easily earns a spot on my list.
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The Zeno Clash series is weird. Though simply saying that is making it a huge disservice. The weirdness in these games go so deep and is on such a cohesive level that the game truly, despite perhaps being a trite way to describe a game, is something unlike anything else out there. What it does better than the first game is that it tells a better story, with its characters more developed. The trademark first person combat is also deeper and more fun. All in all its a more robust game than the first that delivers on the expectations that anyone who liked the first one should be satisfied with.
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What Brothers does best is that it tells a story that is completely tied to the gameplay. I am a strong believer that games always should lead with gameplay first, and while that isn't perhaps fully the case for Brothers the gameplay is still very important and a big part of the game. It doesn't disregard the game part to tell a story, in fact instead it removes all spoken words and still manages to tell the most emotionally resonant story this year with one of the most heartfelt endings I have ever experienced. That alone is a huge reason for it being one of my favorite games this year. The absolutely gorgeous environmental design you come across is a sweet bonus too.
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Altough A Machine for Pigs has created its fair share of controversy for stripping out features rather than simply adding upon what was previously there it is a game unlike many others. It is determined to tell a story, a story that is sure to mortify, disgust and bring general discomfort to the player. It does so with excellent writing that is absolutely captivating and if you allow it, will stick with you for a while.
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Sure, the flash version was released in 2009 and then the Xbox Live version in 2012. However it wasn't until this year that the remake was released on PC which is where I played it and why it has a given spot on my list. Easily one of the most playable and addictive roguelike-like that has taken more of my time this year than many others on this list. For that reason I refuse to leave it out and place it right outside my top 10.
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