Topic: OW Game Picks of the Year

[PyroMenace]

Well here's my top 10. My list is pretty boring, it's pretty much mostly made up of the big triple AAA titles of the year. But to be honest, that's almost all of the games I played through this year, the others just weren't noteworthy to be on there for me like Limbo (which I wasn't so impressed with), Shank (it was alright) and Singularity (good but nothing particularly special). I did also play AC2 and Batman but those are last year games and there are games I wish I could have got to like Mario Galaxy 2, Enslaved, and Alan Wake. But the list is what it is, I'm happy I remembered Alien Swarm because that one was just a fantastic multiplayer experience. I was also surprised to see that Darksiders came out this year, I thought that was a 2009 game, as well as DoW2 Chaos Rising, those just felt like they came out a long time ago.

Anyway, whats your picks? Doesn't have to be 10 games, you can just put up your one big one or your top three. Go!

[iPPi]

I fell out of the gaming loop this year since about July and I didn't get a chance to play several titles that I wanted to as well.

My top picks of the year would be:
Mass Effect 2
Starcraft 2
Heavy Rain
God of War 3

I wanted to get Super Mario Galaxy 2 but never did and as a result I did not play the Wii at all this year.

[scottws]

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops
2. Halo: Reach
3. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

These were the only 2010 games I played this year.

We have Super Mario Galaxy 2, but I pledged to finish the original first and just haven't.

[K-man]

I really didn't play a lot of games from 2010.  God of War III was definitely my most anticipated, and if I had to pick one I guess it would be that.

A more interesting list for me would be "Top 10 games you played in 2010"

[idolminds]

Totally drawing a blank on games 2010 games I played this year. Weird. So my list may get revised as I remember.

Minecraft
Hook Worlds
The Saboteur (Technically came out in Dec 09, but fuck it, I played it this year)

[Cobra951]

The few big games I played this year are all from '09.

Fallout 3
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Borderlands (still playing it)

I played Mass Effect this year too, and that's 3 years old.  My worthwhile 2010 games are from XBLA.

Lara Croft: GoL
DeathSpank 1 & 2

[MysterD]

My List is nowhere near complete...but here we go...
I'll get it going, somewhat...

MysterD - PC Gaming Awards 2010

PC Game of The Year = Mass Effect 2
Hybrid of the Year (Shooter/RPG) = Mass Effect 2
Developer Of The Year = BioWare

RPG Of The Year = Fallout: New Vegas
Best Bang For Your Buck = Fallout: New Vegas
Best Story = Mafia 2
Best Shooter = Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Best Action Game = TBD
Best Adventure Game = TBD

Best Platformer = TBD
Best Racing Game = TBD
Best Indie Game = TBD

Best Graphics, Technical = Metro 2033 [Demo proved instantly it's the new Crysis, basically]
Best Graphics, Artistic = TBD
Best Use Of Sound = TBD
Best Soundtrack, Original Score = TBD
Best Soundtrack, Licensed = Mafia 2
Best Voice-Acting = TBD

Best Expansion Pack = Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Best DLC = TBD

Most Improved Sequel = Assassin's Creed 2
Most Underrated Game = Alpha Protocol
Best Game Nobody Played = TBD

Most Disappointing Game = Splinter Cell: Conviction
Worst DRM = U-Play UbiSoft DRM [especially for Single-Player Games and/or SP Portions]
Craziest News Story of The Year = Infinity Ward, Activision and EA triangle
Best Game Deals in 2010 = Steam.

[Pugnate]

Mass Effect 2 was peerless.

[MysterD]

Mass Effect 2 was peerless.

IMHO, I don't think one game this year was even in that game's league or ballpark.

A lot of hybrid games, you really do lose at least a little of something when mixing the RPG and shooter elements together. Usually, the combat can get at the very least a little bit clunky - as ME1 proved and even Fallout 3 & New Vegas. The other thing is way too often, you spend WAY too much time in the over-sized Inventory on-the-fly and not in the actual game itself.

[K-man]

Someone explain how Mass Effect 2 was that good.  I mean I obviously played KOTOR, and this is supposedly a natural extension of that.  I mean I liked KOTOR, but I didn't think it was just utterly revolutionary or anything.  What makes Mass Effect 2 stand out?

The reason I ask is because the comments pretty much echo the same sentiments I had about Uncharted 2 last year.  And I definitely don't want to miss out on an experience like that.

[Pugnate]

You haven't played ME2? It isn't anything like KOTOR, or ME1. You can get it on console, and can play it without having played the first installment.

It isn't even an RPG. At least, not in the traditional mechanical sense. Your character has upgradable skills that affect combat a great deal, but there are no character points (strength, dexterity etc.), and it is all a quite linear affair.

For me, it is a third person shooter with more OMG THAT WAS SO FUCKING AWESOME, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED moments, than most games in recent memory combined. And that's just stuff involving you the gamer, doing the shooting. These great moments are scripted only enough to feel like grand orgasmic set pieces, yet give you enough control to let you feel like you are the one in charge. 

The MW games have some fantastic moments, but they feel heavily scripted. This isn't like that.

And I haven't even mentioned the story telling, and the production values. Both are a giant leap ahead of anything I've ever seen in a game. As a film buff, I can safely say that they are good enough to rival some fine science fiction movies. I doubt I could say that about many other games.

This is one of the few games which I can show to friends who are fans of cinema, and can have them appreciate the narrative at an artistic level.

In a more fair universe, ME2 would be outselling games like Halo and CoD easily. I don't mind Halo, but it is a pity that that universe is taken by non gamers to be the standard of science fiction in video games.

[angrykeebler]

Apples to Apples

[gpw11]

Someone explain how Mass Effect 2 was that good.  I mean I obviously played KOTOR, and this is supposedly a natural extension of that.  I mean I liked KOTOR, but I didn't think it was just utterly revolutionary or anything.  What makes Mass Effect 2 stand out?

The reason I ask is because the comments pretty much echo the same sentiments I had about Uncharted 2 last year.  And I definitely don't want to miss out on an experience like that.

Can't really compare ME2 to KotOR.  KotOR was a good RPG set in the Starwars universe, but beyond that it didn't really do much for me.  Mass Effect 2 is a very well executed RPG that plays a lot more like a third person shooter than anything else (for combat portions, at least).  The level of production values and polish are through the roof, and beyond that I'm going to have a really hard time explaining what's so appealing about it.

But I do agree;  I haven't played anything else this year that has come close.

[MysterD]

Mass Effect 2 is one of the few RPG games [okay, we can debate whether it's Shooter/RPG or RPG/Shooter another time] where you really want to assemble the entire team w/ every NPC the game has to offer; do all of their personal side-quests; actually care about the team; and then the incredible final mission comes about where every character's life will actually hang in the balance. You're actually pulling for your entire team to survive this crazy suicide mission.

I didn't even get into just like how the original game, there is no Codex in gaming like that of Mass Effect's. So, let's go there. What ME series does is have its Codex also all narrated and voice-acted - and it all explains many of the terms, events, and lore used and mentioned in the game - if the player is actually interested in any of it. I suggest the player does listen to all of this - as you'll get more out of the game from listening to it.

The voice-acting is outstanding. The fast-talking doctor is the funniest character in the game. Martin Sheen is outstanding in his role as The Illusive Man. I am working on a 2nd run-through - this time so I can hear Jennifer Hale voicing Female Shepard, which so far has been very good (as I'd expect from her).

[K-man]

So I could definitely play ME2 without even giving 1 the time of day and still come through with the same experience?

[Pugnate]

Well, the decisions you make in ME1 will affect certain things in ME2, but most of it is superficially done. I think you can play, but it would be better if you played ME1 first.

Can't you just gorilla through ME1? The sidequests are awful. Just stick to the main story and finish it up. It will take 10 hours and it isn't a bad game.

Also, it is interesting that you compare the sentiments some of us have for ME2 to what you felt for Uncharted 2.

I was thinking about it last night, and I realized that if Uncharted 2 is as good as ME2, then I am in for a treat.

Really, I envy you a little. ME2 is a fantastic game.

[scottws]

Yeah I just finished ME1 a few weeks ago and I thought it was great.  The visuals aren't far off ME2 at all.  Though it seems they changed a ton about the gameplay and interface between 1 and 2, based on the 2 hours I put into ME2 last night.

[Cools!]

I guess it'd be God of War 3 and StarCraft II, but only because that's basically all I picked up this year. I've yet to actually finish either one as I played more Uncharted 2 (and Uncharted 1), InFamous and Little Big Planet.