thepotatoman: Best of 2010
Honorable Mentions:
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Civilization V
The Polynomial
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game
Sam and Max Season 3 The Devils Toy Box
Red Dead Redemption (ending was amazing but the rest of the game not so much)
Games that might have made my list if I actually found the time and money to play them:
Ys Seven
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Halo: Reach
Sin & Punishment 2: Star Successor
Heavy Rain
Bayonetta
Yakuza 3
It really was so great it interfered with my life. I get the feeling I'm going to at the very least be watching it for a long time to come. Its really as simple as that.
Granted it might be a little bit because I literally just beat the first episode, but damn its really the best experience this year. With amazing plot, script, setting, acting, this game has it all. It really makes me think a fiction is still more interesting in an interactive setting even if little to no gameplay is available at all.
If it wasn't for Starcraft taking over my life this would easily be the game I spent the most time with this year. It may not be as good as the other battlefields, but its still battlefield and the bump up in technology is always appreciated.
Everyone has heard the complaints, but that doesn't mean you should overlook all the fantastic things this game did to bring some truly unique and up to date gameplay decisions into the JRPG genre. It was really great the way they front loaded some of the more big picture strategy into the paradigm system, made you plan even farther ahead with the item level up and the role level up systems, and made split seconds all the more important thanks to the quick filling ATB bars all. Add the decision to not punish you for game overs to allow for a little experimentation and creativity I felt I had ventured further away from the “hit x to win and grind if you can't” gameplay then I ever had before in that genre. Also the graphics were really beautiful and the story started out interesting.
This is a game all developers should at least look at when thinking about controls for 2D platformers. Its amazing how well I could control the little red guy past the insane challenges they put you through. Every one of my many deaths really felt like my fault. The existence of the indie crossover characters really kept me driven and solidified it as a spot on my list.
The world created for this game fits so amazingly well with the gameplay surrounding it. The post apocalyptic setting set it so far out of the realm of what is normal that it was impossible to directly set current day morals into it. This made every choice you make require more thought then in any other and allowed for a little more freedom to step outside good an evil. The fabulous voice acting really helped too, in a game where talking is so important. It also helps that this was my first Fallout game.
Valkyria Chronicles 1 already had a great setting and some great gameplay and Valkyria Chronicles 2 does an amazing job converting it into a portable experience. The super segmented character specific stories works amazing with portables where its important to always be less then 5 minutes away from a stopping point, and the short and sweet mission types with the leveling system kept me entertained for a long time.
There's just something great about playing a game with a bright color scheme and kickass video game styled music. And when you get your fill of that there is still a ton of good gameplay mechanics they stuffed in there that keep you interested.
This game really had some of the best moments you can find in 2010. Its to bad the plot and gameplay glue that should hold the game together was so lacking or it would be higher on my list.
This game has charming written all over it and most of it is a credit to the characters. A solid JRPG wrapped in a really well done wrapping of story, setting, and item management.
