Not a whole lot of games from this year were played (as per usual),
as I spent a good part of it chipping away at the ol’ backlog and
roaming Skyrim. (What can I say – game’s good.) The stuff I played was
nothing short of fantastic, however, which made compiling this list
quite the challenge.
10. Dustforce
PC-based platformers are generally… middling. When played on a keyboard,
they are exercises in frustration that make even the easiest
platformers daunting and tedious as hell. Psychonauts and Super Meat Boy
play surprisingly well, of course – played through the entirety of the
former without a controller and have almost finished the latter doing
the same.
Dustforce, however, is different. Though a controller is definitely a
boon, the game generally plays better with a keyboard because of the
precision demanded of you. Guiding your motley crew of acrobatic
janitors through forests, cities, and laboratories requires the utmost
care. It’s a difficult task to earn those coveted S-ranks, but it a run
comes together flawlessly, it is nothing short of sublime.
9. Persona 4 Arena
Persona 4 Arena has the distinction of perfectly walking the fine line
between accessibility and depth in fighting games. As someone who hasn’t
touched a traditional fighting game since SoulCalibur 3 in 2005,
Persona 4 Arena’s simple mechanics and systems were a godsend.
All too often it feels next to impossible to really learn the systems
and execute those all-powerful supers. Arena avoids that by including
an actually useful tutorial and by keeping the commands for unleashing
heavier, stronger attacks simple. It’s the sort of game where a newcomer
could easily hold their own against a seasoned pro. A true rarity for
fighting games. Plus, it’s got a pretty good story, even if the visual
novel delivery was less than ideal.
8. Rhythm Heaven Fever
I wasn’t able to play much of the original Rhythm Heaven due to the
inaccuracy of the DS. Certain games felt impossible because they
required a level of precision I just wasn’t capable of performing
through the touch screen.
Rhythm Heaven Fever for the Wii fixed that. By avoiding any measure
of motion control, relegating all actions to the A and B buttons, Fever
became an infinitely better, much more enjoyable game. Its charming art
styles, lovably ridiculous premises (the boxer interview minigame –
shown above – is a prime example), and infectious tunes make it a
fantastic follow-up. Really hoping Nintendo continues to iterate on this
series. They’ve got something special here.
7. Legend of Grimrock
Never have been the biggest fan of dungeon crawlers, stuff like
Torchlight a good example why. (Repetition, namely. Clicking about
everywhere gets boring quickly when you’re crazy powerful.) Legend of
Grimrock has managed to keep my interest because of two things: 1,
puzzles that are genuinely challenging; and 2, fun, nerve-wracking
combat.
The claustrophobic halls of the complex and foes who can slay you
almost instantly create a constant sense of dread and fear. Can’t count
the number of times I’ve turned only to be face-to-face with a skeleton
soldier or spider, nearly jumping out of my chair in response. Any
dungeon crawler that can cause me to tense up as soon as I load the game
up is doing something right.
6. Splice
Cipher Prime is quickly becoming one of my favorite developers. Their
expert use of minimalism and continuously intriguing premises for puzzle
games are second to none. Plus, they compose some fantastic music to
accompany their works, which is always a bonus.
Splice takes a while to flourish. Your first time through is but a
simple one, solving strands as they arrive in the least direct ways
possible. Strong, sound design presents itself throughout, but past its
unusual premise, there’s nothing especially noteworthy. Its once you
discover the “angelic” solutions – in which you solve a strand without
using all your available moves – that its cleverness reveals itself. The
standard solutions are creative enough already; these only further
emphasize the strong puzzle design demonstrated throughout.
5. Okami HD
Okami HD is as pure a remaster you could ask for: the graphics are
improved immensely, the gameplay kept entirely intact, former technical
issues resolved. The idea behind these was to get games back onto the
market in their original form while ensuring they aren’t marred by age,
visually. A task that Okami fulfills flawlessly.
I’m still disappointed that they removed the song that played over
the original credits sequence (what can I say – I’m a purist), but the
incredible amount of work put into this makes up for that small
omission. Many kudos to Hexa Drive for the fantastic work on this.
4. The Walking Dead
I get depressed just thinking about this game.
The Walking Dead is a tough game to play. Not because it’s
challenging in the usual game sense, but because you’re asked to make
some hard calls and perform some gruesome tasks. Quick-time events and
conversation trees makeup the majority of the game’s interactivity,
both of which the game nails flawlessly. Even though you watch The
Walking Dead more than you do play it, it still manages to enthrall far
better than any other game from any year can. The characters, the drama,
the suspense, the tragedies – all of it culminates in the best, most
emotionally devastating finale imaginable.
In one fell swoop, Telltale Games has perfected the episodic formula
as well as how one involves player choice. Truly remarkable.
3. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
I said it before and I’ll say it again: XCOM is the hardest game to come
out this year. It’s the most intense turn-based strategy game in years,
where you’re scrutinizing every single action you’re performing.
Whether it be moving your troops about the field or deciding what to
research, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is constantly forcing you to make very
hard, very calculated choices. The micromanagement meta-game is as
enthralling as the combat, each providing its own sort of entertainment
through the never-ending strain placed on you.
2. Dark Souls
Putting this here because the game came out on PC this year. Far as
I’m concerned, that makes it eligible. Also: It’s Dark Souls. How could I
not add it?
Dark Souls is the most intense, frightening game I’ve played yet. I’m
still working through it – just finished Anor Londo, as of this writing
– but I’ve played enough to know this is a
marvelous game.
The entire design is carefully and deliberately crafted, so expertly
paced. Wonderfully elaborate level design and key enemy placement
ensures each step is rife with tension. The fear of not knowing what
lies ahead, of surprise ambushes from ghostly foes, of whether or not
you can trust certain non-player characters – it’s brilliant. The story
and lore are incredibly deep as well, constantly rewarding you for
seeking out its many secrets.
1. Journey
Music is an oft-ignored element of games. Usually it serves more as
background noise than something that’s really truly a profound, crucial
component. Hotline Miami was a fantastic example for its wonderfully
psychedelic soundtrack that, in perfect concert with the visuals,
depicted the dark, twisted, and downright
gruesome narrative the game wove. Journey does the same.
Austin Wintory’s enchanting score did what so few other games can by
matching every single track to the scene to elicit the exact emotions
the game attempted to draw. From the triumphant tune that plays as you
slide down a massive hill of sand to the melancholic theme that echoes
the profound sense of dread and futility as you begin to succumb to the
harsh climate of the mountaintop – Journey manages to manipulate the
emotions through music alone.
But it’s more than just the music: it’s the fantastical splendor of
the desolate desert, the brilliant use of cooperative play, the beauty
of its minimalist gameplay. It is a game distilled to its barest, purest
form, where exploration is paramount above all else. Sure it may be
linear, but that doesn’t make its gorgeous world any less fun to
traverse.
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