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Mattalorian

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  • I would argue that Mass Effect 2 is BioWare's most impressive title to date. The original Mass Effect boasted a fantastic original science fiction universe, some of the most believable and rich characters in the industry, and a overarching story that beautifully explored both the universe and characters. Unfortunately, a lackluster combat system, interface issues, and some core RPG flaws put a blemish on what was otherwise a flawless title. Mass Effect 2's first trick is replacing all its predecessor's gameplay issues with a variety of streamlined, smart mechanics that make the game nothing short of a joy to play. The second trick is that it doesn't compromise the story or characters on the way. It introduces another breathtakingly lifelike cast of characters, ranging from irresistibly lovable to gut-wrenchingly despicable. The result is remarkably close to flawless - a story and cast of characters you'll find yourself increasingly invested in, and a gameplay system that makes you constantly excited about playing the next mission. As far as I'm concerned, that's the very definition of a perfect game.

  • I've never been big on the Grand Theft Auto series, primarily due to the street-crime theme. But I've always felt like I was missing out on the critically acclaimed open-world gameplay and rich storytelling that you've come to expect from Rockstar, so it's easy to imagine why I've grown fond of Red Dead Redemption. The combat is immensely entertaining, the story is punctuated with lifelike characters, and the open world makes Rockstar's beautifully realised Western setting come to life. But where Red Dead Redemption really stands out is the way everything comes together. There's no real weak links in Red Dead Redemption, and you get the feeling that you're playing the exact experience the developers intended. The result is an experience that can accurately be described as "crafted" - a truly remarkable title that absolutely must be played by everyone, and not just fans of Rockstar's previous work.

  • At this point, it's almost a cliche to say so, but StarCraft 2 isn't just a video game. It's a sport. Playing StarCraft is literally a profession in some countries, and even here in North America it's treated with a reverence that's typically reserved for sports. Upon announcing StarCraft 2, it was instantly clear that every small change would be a hugely significant factor in the personal and professional lives of countless fans and players. It's comparable to releasing Baseball 2, or Football 2. For many of us, it's just a really terrific, macro-based strategy game that boasts an indisputably terrific singleplayer campaign accompanied by a deeply technical and competitive multiplayer mode. But for some, it's not only one of the most significant games of the year, but it's also one of the most significant releases of their professional lives. I think that alone makes it worth a mention.

  • As someone who played a truly criminal amount of Battlefield 2, it's probably a no-brainer that its spiritual sequel quickly became one of my most played games of 2010. The singleplayer mode was striking and intense (but only occasionally funny, sadly), but as someone who fell in love with the endlessly hilarious singleplayer in the previous Bad Company, it fell short of expectations. But where Bad Company 2 really shines is the striking, competitive, and constantly engaging multiplayer combat. It takes a more slow-paced, tactical approach to the progression-based first person action popularized by titles like Modern Warfare 2. It manages to be just as engaging as its peers, and in many ways, triumphantly surpasses them.

  • Brace yourself for some melodrama here: no other game in 2010 had the same emotional impact on me as Digital: A Love Story. From the very first screen where it asks for both your screenname and real name, it's immediately apparent that its trying to tell a personal story. For the most part, I downloaded the game out of curiosity, but I ended up playing through the entire 3-4 hour game in a single sitting. What I discovered was an almost eerily personal and emotional tale. You step into the role of a young computer user/hacker in an alternate 1988 internet, and quickly find yourself in a rich story that mostly consists of falling in love and dialing into BBSs. I became increasingly engaged in the story, and grew personally attached to the rich story and characters. I've never shed a tear over a video game before, but I came close in Digital: A Love Story.

  • In the world of video gaming, creativity and change typically receives a universal thumbs-up, and a lack of invention and originality is frowned upon. Darksiders has a total disregard for originality, and has become one of the most famous examples of success based entirely on execution instead of creativity. It can be described as The Legend of Zelda meets Portal meets Devil May Cry meets God of War. Let's be honest now - both you and I have dreamed of such a title for ages, and Darksiders brings that fantasy to life. It takes the best themes out of all the aforementioned games, and shrouds it in a dark-fantasy aesthetic. Tell me that doesn't sound appealing.

  • Amnesia is the scariest game I've ever played. It clings to the Lovecraftian philosophy of "what you can't see is more terrifying than what you can", and the result is a game that will not only haunt your nightmares, but will redefine your definition of fear.

  • Blizzard has learned a lot since the release of World of Warcraft back in 2004, but for the most part, the game didn't mature with Blizzard's design philosophies. With Cataclysm, they've found a brilliant way to correct their previous mistakes by effectively rebuilding the game from the ground up. It's a smart and respectable decision, and the result gives Azeroth a much needed refresh. Stop the presses, game industry: Blizzard scores again.

  • Undoubtedly the dark horse winner of 2010, Recettear is the last game you would expect to end up being almost universally praised. The spin on traditional JRPG gameplay is nothing short of brilliant, and the chibi-Japanese aesthetic is justified by legitimately well-written dialog, and an oftentimes hilarious story.

  • Call of Pripyat is kind of broken. In most cases, that would be an unforgivable crime that would invalidate any game, regardless of the surrounding mechanics. But Call of Pripyat stands out as a sole exception to this rule. If you're familiar with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, you'll know what to expect: one of the most lifelike, engaging, haunting, and original universes known to gaming, paired with kind-of-bad shooting mechanics, and a gorgeous open-world format that begs you to explore every nook and cranny. Call of Pripyat does all these things, while stripping away a good portion of the frustrating gameplay in favor of some vastly improved, streamlined mechanics. Yes, the game is still kind of broken. But the fact that I was willing to forgive all of the blemishes thanks to a few exceptional elements is probably the greatest praise I can give a game.
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