Favorite Games of 2016
List is unfinished, and in no particular order yet:
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This is no doubt my favorite game of 2016, and I believe it to be my favorite game of all time. There are endless things I could say about this game, I have written a couple incomplete and messy essays on this game that I may link here. But to keep it short:
The Witness is an amazing game that is designed to keep you searching for patterns. It trains you to see what is going on in order to understand the conditions you must meet to proceed. What is amazing about this game is that other than the controls, all the rules are taught to you diegetically. Meaning that you naturally learn by doing and observing (one could say... "Witnessing") what works in this puzzle and what doesn't. The only on-screen prompts/tutorials are the few buttons this game uses. Also take into consideration how the puzzles are structured. You wake up on an island and are met with countless panels to solve. Your only reason to solve these puzzles is your sense of exploration and desire for an understanding of what this island is and why it exists. Add that to the inherent beauty of the island itself and you have a game that is compelling upon first sight.
Those who are seeking a deep and meaningful story will be disappointed, but shouldn't expect that from this game. The Witness is not a narrative-driven game, it's an idea-driven game. This game is philosophical, it gets you thinking deeply about life and video games. So those who want a meditative experience and want to test their diligence should check this game out. It may sound ridiculous but I believe this game is perfection. I have never been more enthralled by a game that asks so much of my problem-solving skills. And I have never thought about a game so much for so long. It took over 50 hours to finish this game over a course of 8 months. My Father and I played Myst when I was a few years old, so it was only appropriate that we play this game together. Through this game, we shared the greatest gaming experience we've ever had. He loved it, possibly more than I did. Occasionally we would come across an incredibly challenging panel and spend hours solving just that one, but still, we had an amazing experience. The time spent with my Dad and The Witness have become a cherished memory that I will never forget.
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I have put 80 hours into this shooter, that's a pretty tame amount for this game. I know people with hundreds already. That only stands to show that this game is an excellent team-based shooter with an insane amount of value. The variety in the characters and their playstyles will keep you invested. And the surprisingly steady flow of new content and events keep me coming back. This game feels great and is absolutely beautiful to look at. The loveable cast is a huge part of this game and already beloved by the gaming community. I can't think of a single character that is generally disliked for reasons other than playstyle. So what we have here is an incredibly diverse and lovable roster that is steadily growing.
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I was not interested in this game until it came out. But, I should have known better. Wolfenstein: The New Order was the best shooter in years and my favorite game of 2014. I suppose I was just doubtful that Bethesda (as the publisher) could have two amazing shooters like this. W:TNO and DooM are outstanding shooters that both reinvent their respective identities to fit video games of today, and yet remain recognizable. DooM's Glory Kill system, matched with high-speed gameplay, make this game. Glory Kills always felt satisfying and necessary to the experience. The level design and look are varied and interesting. The story is nothing special, but no one plays DooM for the story anyways. Doom Guy (aka 'THE DOOMSLAYER') is represented as he should be: he's angry, he doesn't care about Samuel Hayden's goals, he just wants to kill demons. The variety of weapons and upgrades add to the great game-feel. Also, the shotgun feels like a shotgun should. Play this game and pray for the follow up that will no doubt be subtitled: "Episode 2".
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