Brackynews: Best of 2010
For the difficult task of choosing 10 games, I valued time spent playing and how regularly I came back to it. See also my Damn Close list of honourable mentions. Past #16 are my favourites in specific categories.
Disqualified games because I haven't played them in time to consider: AC: Brotherhood, Dead Rising 2, Enslaved, Epic Mickey, Kirby's Epic Yarn, No More Heroes 2, Singularity, Starcraft 2...
I don't believe I can add much to what has already been said about ME2. For me, I have played it every month of this year, and will be finishing the Shadow Broker DLC in the next few days, right after earning my Insanity Run S-Rank. That final boss STILL freaks me out! ;p Meanwhile, I kind of dread having to replay the initial levels of ME1 just to get the rest of those achievements.
The touches of genius in this re-revamp are just amazing. Levels designed for maximum ghost eating; scoreless time trials designed at odds to your hunger for ghosts; dark levels designed to test your familiarity with the maps... My current rank: ~7,400/~83,000 at ~75% completion.
I admit it proudly, I enjoyed the Blur beta so much that I bought it for the full $60 on release. Then 3 weeks later I was flabbergasted to see Bizzare/Activision offer a $20 off coupon. When has any game done that?!! Anyway, part of why I enjoy Blur as a complete package is how successful I was in online races, regularly placing in the top 3 for weeks after launch. After a few months away I've lost my edge,
I imported the UK version of Heavy Rain, because having the "paper box" special edition was a treat, and it makes for a nicer package than the boobs-front-and-center North American treatment. As a game, I think we can now define "David Cage syndrome" as strong starts and baffling disconnected finishes. Still, the variability and approaches that I can take through multiple playthroughs, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE ENDING, is the most immersive and disturbing experience I had all year.
Also my #1 choice for in-game soundtrack of the year... would be soulless without it.
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Also my #2 choice for in-game soundtrack of the year... would be unplayable without it.
The Alpha and Beta releases of Minecraft came out in 2010, this is documented fact. They are what the game is, and it won't be significantly different from Beta on its release. I call it a game, but really what I do is make my own game out of it. Tools and a Ruleset are all that should be required to make my own fun, and Minecraft offers a primitive experience that appeals to my inner child.
My review covers why I enjoy it, but it's also the one game that most involved me in its community.
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Also my #3 choice for in-game soundtrack of the year... wouldn't be a Final Fantasy without it.
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I have to give Super Meat Boy #1 for best downloadable/electronica. PPPPPP was so close, and I've got some crisp dollar bills for anyone that'll dance to Potential for Anything. But Meat Boy offers everything great about chiptunes, to an orchestral level of production, and it all works together.
I do in fact try a lot of App Store games, and after seeing many game developers I respect tweeting about GDS, I knew it was worth a tap. I love it, and have spent hours hunched into the screen, trying to develop one more sequel in time for the awards show. If you think of yourself as an armchair game developer, give this one a try and see if the decisions you have to make don't give you a new perspective on the industry.
