There's some games I think could have been on this list had I finished them, such as Skyward Sword. But it doesn't make sense to put a game that you haven't seen all or most of on a top ten list, so they'll have to stay off. At any rate, here are my top ten games of 2011, because why not.
I wasn't a fan of Oblivion. It didn't draw me in like it did so many people that played it, I just couldn't get into it and become interested or invested in any faucet of the game. But then Skyrim came along, and my stance on the Elder Scrolls took a sharp 180. Playing Skyrim is a sheer thrill, and though there are still some kinks to work out, Bethesda has come closer than they ever have to perfecting their open world "do whatever you want" RPG formula. Skyrim is on a scale beyond that of Oblivion. So many different ways to customize and play your character, accompanied by hours upon hours of content aside from the main quest make Skyrim a game not to be missed. My game of the year for 2011.
Saints Row: The Third lets you do just about anything, and is not ashamed to come out and say "Hey, I'm a video game, and I don't give a fuck." Do you want go on a killing spree with a dildo bat while playing as a toilet? Go for it. You want to whip out a chainsaw in the middle of a wrestling match? Done. Call in Burt Reynolds for back up? Sure. This game is filled to the brim with straight up crazy shit. At best, this is a good, playable open world game. But everything surrounding that is what makes this game such a thrill and worth playing.
You might not believe this, but Nintendo made yet another outstanding Mario platformer. Mario 3D Land is, without question, the best original game to come out for the 3DS, and is extremely entertaining and such a fantastically well made Mario game. The 3d effect is used very effectively and adds depth to the levels, and the game offers hours of content even when you've finished the game the first time. Kudos to Nintendo for continuing to make Mario games fresh and so much fun to play.
I had high expectations for this game, and let down I was not. Batman: Arkham City, the follow up to the fantastic 2009 release Batman: Arkham Asylum, had a lot to live up to, and it did a fine job of standing tall next to its predecessor. What could be better then all the best parts of Arkham Asylum, plus being able to glide around Gotham City? Topped with a fantastic story, excellent writing, and the same free flow combat system that was introduced in the previous game, and you have another great Batman game from Rocksteady.
Uncharted 3 had a lot to live up to after the success of Uncharted 2. How could you top a game that set the bar so high? Well, it didn't top it, but it's still a superb entry in the chronicles of Nathan Drake. Just like Uncharted 2, it looks amazing, the set pieces are fantastic, and the game play is still solid and satisfying. Naughty Dog has a reputation for putting out great games, and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is the latest addition to their increasingly impressive resume.
I didn't understand all the hype surrounding this game leading up to it's release, but my doubts were put to rest once I played. This is an endearing, charming, and incredible looking action RPG from SuperGiant games. The combat is well done, and the variety in weapons and potions on top of fantastic narration and an original engaging story make this worth the price of admission. Best downloadable game of the year.
L.A. Noire was the most interesting game I played this year. What drew me to this game was the amount of effort the developer put into making the characters come to life through realistic facial animation and lip movement. It was done extremely well, and was vital to making the gameplay what it was. Although I found the interrogation portions of the game a bit inconsistent, for lack of a better word, I still enjoyed the pacing and the different elements of the game play. A very well done detective game by Team Bondi
I had a lot of fun playing Bulletstorm. Tasteless humor aside, this game is an absolute blast to play, thanks in large part to the skill shots mechanic. There's not much more satisfying then pulling a dude towards you, kicking him away from you, and then shooting him in the balls as he flies backwards. Pulling ceiling tiles down on unsuspecting enemies and kicking dudes into spikes also won me over. This game is just a lot of fun to play, and it looks good too.
Yeah I put this on here instead of Infamous 2. I had a tough time deciding which one would be on this list, but being a vampire was pretty fucking cool. Just flying around was satisfying, and biting dudes...yeah, I liked this game. Great entry in the Infamous series.
Stacking is charming, straight up. Stacking into bigger dolls and then using their abilities to solve puzzles or just straight up mess around put a big grin on my face that stayed put until the very end. Double Fine came up with an original concept and put it to very good use here, and it's worth checking out.
