- Ax Fielder
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- Noble Member
I played a lot more games released in 2012 than I thought.
1.) Borderlands 2 - An improvement over the original in everything except the loot system. Stands head-and-shoulders above every other FPS that was released this year.
2.) Spec Ops: The Line - Possibly the best example of video games storytelling ever, hands down. The developers knew their limits and embraced them to create a work of art. Would be better than Borderlands 2 if the gameplay was legitimately fun.
3.) Gravity Rush - Hot damn, I did not expect such a fantastic title for the Vita so soon. The wacky controls and eccentric style suit this sandbox well, and it felt like I was playing through a manga. You can usually tell how fun a sandbox game will be by how fun it is to get from one place to another, and zipping around in Gravity Rush is an absolute blast.
4.) Persona 4 Golden - The remake to Persona 4. It wouldn't really count, but it was released this year... A solid Yerpig like its predecessor with the same mix of story, exploration, and intrigue that made Persona 3 so great.
5.) Dishonored - This was a surprisingly fun mix of Crackdown and Bioshock. The developers weren't lying when they mentioned just how many ways there were to slip through levels and accomplish objectives, and I was pleasantly surprised. However, its prohibitively short length and the fact that I just couldn't bring myself to care enough for a second playthrough means that this game doesn't approach GOTY status.
6.) XCOM: Enemy Unknown - I was very pleasantly surprised by XCOM, but I wasn't able to get into it. I want an opportunity to spend more time playing it to see if there's an initial hump of tedium to get over, but, until then, it's toward the bottom of this list.
7.) Prototype 2 - Prototype was a game I never expected a sequel to. While the gameplay was refined slightly, the completely unlikeable disappointment of a player character and complete derailment of Alex Mercer means that this game was still extremely disappointing.
8.) Space Magic - I've long since declared everything after Thessia to be non-canon, but Space Magic (along with the hilariously trimmed-down single player) put this game at the bottom of the list despite its amazing multiplayer (which has had equally amazing free support since release). The fact that James Vega exists also docks a few points. Why would you -blam!- the story up like this, Bioware? You had so much potential.
9.) Halo 4 - I won't mince words, I only put Halo 4 on this list because I didn't have enough games to fill it out. What the hell happened, 343? The campaign was lackluster, the ending was completely -blam!- ludicrous. The new Forerunner weapons are basically the human weapons with gimmicks and completely unnecessary; it seems like the only reason they exist is to fill out the sandbox after taking things out from 3 and Reach. Multiplayer, while still fun, just doesn't feel like Halo anymore. You have to be online and have Gold to play Spartan Ops? There are a laundry list of issues this game has, and the fact that it's from one of our most beloved franchises is what puts it at the bottom of the list despite the fact that it's still fun.
It was a toss-up between Space Magic and Halo 4 for biggest disappointment of the year, but I'd say this was a great year for gaming.