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TheSilentGod

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My Top Ten Games of 2011

I feel that 2011 and 2010 were the strongest years of the previous generation in termns of the quality of games being released. 2011 continued the trend of some incredible releases from both established series that I loved and new stuff that I was trying for the first time. It also coincided with me having a lot of free time in university so that may have something to do with how fondly I remember it. I continued to play a lot of 360 and PS3, with the PC beginning to make a significant comeback in my game time and the DS being replaced by the 3DS by years end, as well as an increasing amount of really good downloadable releases.

List items

  • This was a year of incredible games, but nothing could compete with the scale, immersion or sheer epic nature of Skyrim. The Elder Scrolls had been one of my favourite series since Morrowind, and Skyrim took the great steps made by Fallout 3 and integrated them into the world of Tamriel. From wandering snow capped mountains to open plains filled with mammoths and giants, to the foggy coast and the bustling Nord cities, Skyrim is a world filled with life. The amount of quests available, the sheer variety of things to do and the way the whole world is presented to the player all made this my favourite game of 2011.

  • Arkham City builds on the subtle and atmospheric debut of Asylum and increases the scale to a large swath of Gotham itself. The boss fights are greatly improved, the tone of the game remains serious and dark with many nods to the comic fans, and the combat had been refined to the point where it is probably the best example of the button counter style of games. It really makes you feel like Batman, and the way the story pans out is just beautifully done.

  • The original was a huge surprise, with a great story and style on top of its puzzles. Portal 2 take that structure and makes it a fully fleshed out game with a large scale story, devilish puzzles and everything else you would expect from a retail release. It also included a co-op campaign completely separate from the main game and one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had in multiplayer. Probably the most carefully designed game I have ever played.

  • I feared Dead Space 2 was going to abandon the horror elements of the first game, and while it sort of does, I need not have worried. This is one of the most carefully made and atmospheric games I have ever played. The setting is more "alive" this time, with actual inhabitants in the location being infested with Necromorphs. The combat is better, the visuals are stunning and overall it is one of the best games in the genre ever made!

  • Street Fighter IV lead the way and finally my beloved Mortal Kombat came back! With a return to 2D and finally giving the story of the series the attention it deserved, Mortal Kombat was the MK game I had always dreamed of playing. Its fluid combat, outstanding character selection and fantastic modes make it my personal favourite fighting game of all time, and easily one of the best games in 2011.

  • Total War was finally back! I had been profoundly disappointed by Empire and Napoleon, but Shogun 2 took the setting back to feudal Japan and made melee matter again. The music, presentation and campaign are all deeply rewarding and immersive, and the battles are jaw-dropping.

  • The colour palette, the ambient soundtrack, the aesthetic of merging tech-stylised environments into the familiar and the ways you build and progress your character all combined to make this one of the most entertaining and rewarding stealth RPG's I have ever played. Shame about those boss fights.

  • The finale of the trilogy did not give me all the answers I wanted, its story was not all that fulfilling and there were too many slow bits, but overall Gears of War 3 was an exceptional game. The campaign was a powerful send off for that world with the most refined combat mechanics in a Gears game, and the multiplayer had been fixed from 2 with a huge selection of modes, weapons and levels. I still prefer Gears of War 2, but this was a seriously heavy hitter.

  • The first time a downloadable only game made my top ten list, and what a one to make that breakthrough. Bastion tells a vague but beautiful story with some incredible music and all in a colourful and beautiful world. The combat is surprisingly fast and demands quick responses. It is just a captivating and beautiful game to play.

  • Simple charming and colourful platforming seemed to be a thing of the past, but Rayman Origins proved that it could still be done and to an incredibly fine standard. I loved Super Meat Boy, but Rayman created an equally outstanding 2D design with intensely precise controls and threw in coop. Amazing.
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