Top 5 Games of 2012

[Sexy Beast]

I haven't made a list of something in a while, so why not the best games of 2012.

So before we begin with the list, here are some games I played that won't be making it on the list.

Mass Effect 3: The ending really soured me on this game. I mean I played though Mass Effect 1 and 2 three times just to have three different character to play through Mass Effect 3 to get the full experience and I'm hit with that ending...yeah...no.

Max Payne 3: Its fun but repetitive. I expected more from Rockstar.

Assassin's Creed 3: This might be the least fun I ever had with a game. Everything, except for the naval combat is drained to joy and fun. Oh and the games plot is just awful and has an ending that makes Mass Effect 3's look brilliant in comparison

Halo 4: Its better than Halo Reach, but that doesn't exactly make it excellent. Sure the relationship between the Master Chief and Cortana is actually touching, but this plot itself is completely mediocre. Also the game plays like Halo...which means next the nothing in the way of changing up the formula.'

Dishonored: Nothing against this game, I did enjoy it...but its just not a great as I had hoped.

Diabo 3: Oh man, I forgot Diablo 3. Yeah that game gets real dull real fast.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#5: Spec Ops: The Line

Developer: Yager Development
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: June 26, 2012
System Played on: PC

What you'll experience the most: The feeling of regret and self loathing.

Why you should play it: Spec Ops: The Line is an Anti-War Game Game. Essentially its there to scold all of us for playing the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield...and this game does a pretty good job at making you feel like a pretty horrible person for playing those games. Also it makes you feel like a pretty horrible person for playing the game itself. Honestly a game has never made me feel the way I felt while playing Spec ops: The Line.

Little wonder why the writer of the game says one of the possible endings of Spec Ops: The Line is that the player just puts down the controller and never continues the game. Sure the gameplay is mediocre, though there are some who say that Yager did that to make the killing of American solders feel as mundane and mechanical as possible. You know, making the killings stripped of meaning and sacrifice. Its a short game and the multiplayer was tacked on by 2K Games just to increase the sales value. I payed $10 for the game on some online sale and I felt the game was worth it at that price. If you see it on sale, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#4: XCOM: Enemy Uknown

Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: October 9, 2012
System Played on: PC

What you'll experience the most: How the [blank] did that [blank] shot miss? It was seventy [blank] percent chance of hitting! Wait? Why are you panicking? No don't shoot him, he on your [blank] team. Why XCOM...WHY!?!?!?!?

Why you should play it: Its XCOM. No seriously this is a brilliant reimagining/remake of the original...right down to its punishing difficulty. Its turn based strategy at its best and is shockingly good at building up your ego and then completely destroying you in a humiliating fashion. If you have yet to experience XCOM...then you need to pick up this game.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#3: Hotline Miami

Developer: Dennaton Games
Designer: Jonatan S?derstr?m
Release Date: 23 October 2012
System Played on: PC

What you'll experience the most: Pressing "R" to reload the level.

Why you should play it: In Hotline Miami dying is not a penalty, its a learning experience. So when you die 50 times just to complete one floor, you pretty much know that floor like that back of your your hand. You'll know the layout of that floor and the paths of all the guards. You will know it, because you need to know it. Your mute hitman can die in one hit and the game moves at 100x faster than most other games out there. So death comes quickly for those who try to run and gun. Its a game that works on some many levels, from strange and almost indecipherable plot to the absolutely amazing soundtrack. As I write this that game is one sale and will only set you back $5, which is a bargain for this game.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#2: Far Cry 3

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Designer: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 30, 2012
System Played on: PC

What you'll experience the most: Wondering whether that is a Tapir making that sound or a bear.

Why you should play it: I honestly did not care about Far Cry 3 up until that Vaas trailer was released last year. Since then I've been waiting patiently for this game and I got to say, this was well worth the wait. Far Cry 3 is probably the best open world game out there, mostly because Rook Island is such a fun place to explore. From the peaks of mountains to exploring underground chasms, Rook Island constantly provides something to explore or attack. I am actually surprised that this came out of the same studio that did Assassin's Creed 3, since Far Cry 3 seems like far richer experience than AC3.

Sure the plot isn't the best out there, but the characters that you encounter are very memorable and entertaining. I have had a lot of fun with this game and its definitely worth picking up.

 

[Sexy Beast]

#1: Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Developer: Treyawesome
Designer: awesomevision
Release Date: November 12, 2012
System Played on: XBOX 360

What you'll experience the most: The feeling of constant awe at how epic and awesome this game is.

Why you should play it: You have no reason not to play it. Just give activision your money already. I mean why wouldn't you BLOPS2 is the bestest product out there. They did so much to improve the single player like branching story lines and something or another all to add to replay value...because you know you want to replay it over and over and over and over again until the next Call of Duty game comes out. Oh and then there is the mulitplayer, hasn't changed...but who cares, why fix perfection? Don't like Call of Duty, doesn't matter. As a gamer you are contractually obligated to cough up $60 to Activision once a year. That is why BLOPS2 is the best...actually...wait. I didn't play Black Ops 2. Man its easy to get the Call of Duty games confused they're all so sameish. Anyway I can think of a better game of #1...

 

[xosniper]

#1: Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Developer: Treyawesome
Designer: awesomevision
Release Date: November 12, 2012
System Played on: XBOX 360

What you'll experience the most: The feeling of constant awe at how epic and awesome this game is.

Why you should play it: You have no reason not to play it. Just give activision your money already. I mean why wouldn't you BLOPS2 is the bestest product out there. They did so much to improve the single player like branching story lines and something or another all to add to replay value...because you know you want to replay it over and over and over and over again until the next Call of Duty game comes out. Oh and then there is the mulitplayer, hasn't changed...but who cares, why fix perfection? Don't like Call of Duty, doesn't matter. As a gamer you are contractually obligated to cough up $60 to Activision once a year. That is why BLOPS2 is the best...actually...wait. I didn't play Black Ops 2. Man its easy to get the Call of Duty games confused they're all so sameish. Anyway I can think of a better game of #1...

#fanboy

 

[Sexy Beast]

Real #1: Journey

Developer: Thatgamecompany
Designer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: March 13, 2012
System Played on: PlayStation 3

What you'll experience the most: A constant sense of Awe. Seriously.

Why you should play it: Journey is a complete and perfect experience. Its hard to describe it any other way. The pacing is perfect, the subtle way the game tells you to go is perfect, the multiplayer component is brilliant, the graphics are absolutely stunning and the game has just the right running time. Seriously, if you have a PS3...buy this game. If you don't befriend someone who has one and play it at their place. This is simply something that you need to experience and its without a doubt the best game of 2012.

 

[Serran]

X-com for me was something different. Fun enough plot and battles. But after unlocking everything, fighting enough battles to get all the materials necessary for research and production, I kind of felt drained. I think I fought about 57 battles. There are like four or five kinds of battles and they get repetitive. I got to say that it is fun to mind control aliens in the late game. After beating it once, I was too worn out to play it again, probably ever.

 

[Sexy Beast]

X-com for me was something different. Fun enough plot and battles. But after unlocking everything, fighting enough battles to get all the materials necessary for research and production, I kind of felt drained. I think I fought about 57 battles. There are like four or five kinds of battles and they get repetitive. I got to say that it is fun to mind control aliens in the late game. After beating it once, I was too worn out to play it again, probably ever.

XCOM is one of those games you dust off every year or two play through it and ignore it until you get that itch again. Its a short term obsession, but one that is easy to get sucked into for two or three weeks.

 

[fps]

spoilerssssss

 

[Sexy Beast]

spoilerssssss

I'm pretty sure I didn't spoil anything...

 

[LuxSmash]

Black Ops 2... seriusly? i know it's a good game but Far Cry 3 deserves the first place

 

[Sexy Beast]

Black Ops 2... seriusly? i know it's a good game but Far Cry 3 deserves the first place

Further proof that no one reads what I post.

 

[Public Masticator]

Nice list. Missing The Walking Dead though. Loved that game and definitely game of the year for me, should take a look if you haven't played it.

 

[jhnsn]

#1: Call of Duty: Black Ops II
I didn't play Black Ops 2. Man its easy to get the Call of Duty games confused they're all so sameish. Anyway I can think of a better game of #1...

I had just discredited your entire list in my mind when I got to this scentence, then thankfully my faith in humanity was somewhat restored

 

[Spitfire'd]

I was waiting all morning for you to finish this thread before I posted and interrupted. I had to go to work and never got to see your "real #1" until just now.

Yeah, the only "big company" game that I really enjoyed at all this year was Borderlands 2. Even then it wouldn't be game of the year because it's just a true sequel, more of what made the first one great in spades. Almost to an overwhelming extent.

Let me tell you what really impressed me this year. Indie Games. This year and last year and have been amazing for Indie games.

My favorite this year was FTL: Faster than Light. Amazing game for what they did, and all the kickstarter success behind it is a real feel good story.

After that for me comes Legend of Grimrock. The old school hardcore nut in me loves this game and it hasn't gotten the play time or recognition it deserves. Phenomenal game bottom line.

If I had a third I would say Torchlight II, after the disappointment of D3 I found that this was the game I had wanted all along from that genre. Also haven't played it as much as it deserves.

That's my two cents and top 3 picks.

It has been both a great and horrible year for games. Amidst all the failures and high hopes/expectations that are just simply not being met by bigger companies indie games continue to flourish and provide outstanding experiences. This will continue at least another year and the best part is it is the gamers that profit for it.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Nice list. Missing The Walking Dead though. Loved that game and definitely game of the year for me, should take a look if you haven't played it.

I can't do zombies anymore. I've been on record as saying that the whole Zombie subgenre has been done to death and needs to go away for a decade or two. Unfortunatly it hasn't died yet...I'm just avoiding it until everyone loses interest.

I was waiting all morning for you to finish this thread before I posted and interrupted. I had to go to work and never got to see your "real #1" until just now.

Yeah, the only "big company" game that I really enjoyed at all this year was Borderlands 2. Even then it wouldn't be game of the year because it's just a true sequel, more of what made the first one great in spades. Almost to an overwhelming extent.

Let me tell you what really impressed me this year. Indie Games. This year and last year and have been amazing for Indie games.

My favorite this year was FTL: Faster than Light. Amazing game for what they did, and all the kickstarter success behind it is a real feel good story.

After that for me comes Legend of Grimrock. The old school hardcore nut in me loves this game and it hasn't gotten the play time or recognition it deserves. Phenomenal game bottom line.

If I had a third I would say Torchlight II, after the disappointment of D3 I found that this was the game I had wanted all along from that genre. Also haven't played it as much as it deserves.

That's my two cents and top 3 picks.

It has been both a great and horrible year for games. Amidst all the failures and high hopes/expectations that are just simply not being met by bigger companies indie games continue to flourish and provide outstanding experiences. This will continue at least another year and the best part is it is the gamers that profit for it.

I agree through I didn't play any of the games you mentioned...mostly for the reasons mentioned in this thread. The AAA game scene this year was pretty mediocre...with the exception of what I listed.

 

[Spitfire'd]

I did want to mention that for the most part I agree with what you said about AC III. I can't bring myself to touch the single player, except for the naval missions which I love. If Sid Meier's Pirates got redone again, it needs to play like that.

One thing I did like this year for AC III as a step in the right direction though was the Wolfpack multiplayer mode. MP in the AC series made and ruined the game for me. I haven't cared for single player since they came out with it. Wanted is always a blast to play and the idea is so unique that it has easily been my favorite (and most rage inducing) MP experience in the last 3 years.

The Wolfpack MP mode added a great co-op option, and even if it wasn't the co-op I wanted when I first heard there would be a form of co-op, it is still a great game mode and I have enjoyed it immensely. Even just playing it solo. Can't get enough of it. It's the one thing in the game (besides the naval missions) that deserves some recognition. It doesn't redeem the entire game by any means. I wanted to be excited about SP and everything they did for it but it just didn't happen.

Yes, I bumped this thread to mention that.

tl;dr I liked Wolfpack in AC III. That's about it.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Wow, kind of forgot all about this thread. You know just like how I forgot all about AC III.