BEST OF 2012
Granted I only play games on my mac, 360, and maybe whatever mobile device I have laying around, I found these 10 games I played in 2012 to be my favorites.
This list is purely subjective.
List items
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I have wanted to play a Pandarian in Warcraft since April 1st, 2002. For the longest time I thought it would never happen, then in 2011 Blizzard announced that the Pandarian would become the forst multi-faction playable race. While I was happy I was also skeptical that they would present them in a way that made them more of a joke. As if tackling the biggest challenge they have ever faced, Blizzard not only delivered them in such a fashion that they were deeply integrated into the world but also put out the greatest expansion pack that they have ever given players. Add to the fact that the structure of the patch set up is still delivering that experience and you've got a game that is still in its infancy. This game could very well still be in my top 10 next year if things continue to move as they have.
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Spec Ops: The Line is something of an anomaly here. On the one hand it was a mediocre shooter with dated mechanics, on the other it was one of the most disturbing and affecting media experiences I have had this year, or any year. Spec Ops: The Line managed to stick with me in a way that most previous movies or books have not. Without getting into spoiler specifics I can say that every war based shooter to come after it has been tainted. It was a game that made me feel things that no other game ever has. It may have been the standout media experience of the year. If this has intrigued you, go out and get the game.
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I've put several hours into Fez and I feel that I have only scratched the surface of this game. On the surface it's a fun platformer with innovative mechanics for problem solving. But beyond that, the game is speaking to the player in a language that is hidden, and that is meant both figuratively and literally. The game requires some out of the box thinking while also managing to just be a fun platformer. It could have delved into either one of those traits too deeply, but it walks a line between the two in an expert fashion.
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The beauty of Far Cry 3 is that it yields constant exciting experiences that will be different to almost everyone who plays the game. Anyone who has played this game has had that one thing unique to their experience that they are dying to talk to other about. This is one that I can see myself playing well into 2013.
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Borderlands 2 managed to give us so much more of what made the first game so great cranked up to 11 and I loved it for it.
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When it worked, Diablo III was one of the games I had the most fun playing with others in 2012. When it was working.
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To pass off Call of Duty: Black Ops II as another "broish" military shooter is to be dismissive about it. Treyarch stepped up to the challenge of delivering something other than the standard COD fare and should be recognized for it.
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I don't know if this is really a game, but it is a helluva something.
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Slender is a bit overrated as a game, but for a free virtual haunted house its a pretty fun time.
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Kinect Party was a pretty great party game to have during the holidays. Not sure when I will boot it up again, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted.
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