2012 |

2012 Game of the Year Awards Round-Up

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/21/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, 3ds, ac3, aliens, android, assassin's creed 3, assassin's creed iii, awards, dokuro, ds, enemy unknown, far cry 3, fps, game of the year, golden, guild wars 2, halo 4, hitman absolution, journey, Microsoft, mmo, most wanted, need for speed, Nintendo, operation raccoon city, organ trail, pc, persona 4, playstation, psp, resident evil, revelations, round up, skullgirls, Sony, sound shapes, steam, the walking dead, vaas, wii, wiiu, Xbox 360, xcom, xenoblade chronicles. Leave a comment

Don’t want to look through each reward category? Here’s a round-up of Binary Messiah’s 2011 Game of the Year Awards.

Assassin’s Creed III

Awarded

Game of the Year
Best Action Game
Best Multiplayer
Best Sound Design
Best Atmosphere

Nominated

Best New Character
Best Graphics, Technical
Best Voice Acting
Best Story

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The Walking Dead

Awarded

Best Downloadable Game
Best Story

Nominated

Best New Character
Best Graphics, Artistic
Best Sound Design
Best Voice Acting

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Far Cry 3

Awarded

Best Shooter
Best New Character
Best Graphics, Technical

Nominated

Best Voice Acting
Best Sound Design

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Journey

Awarded

Best Indie Game
Best PlayStation 3 Exclusive
Best Graphics, Artistic
Best Music

Nominated

Best Downloadable Game
Best New Character
Best Atmosphere

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Halo 4

Awarded

Best Xbox 360 Exclusive

Nominated

Best Music
Best Atmosphere
Best Sound Design
Best Story
Best Multiplayer
Best Shooter

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Xenoblade Chronicles

Awarded

Best Wii Exclusive
Best RPG

Nominated

Best Story

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Hitman: Absolution

Awarded

Best Voice Acting

Nominated

Best Action Game
Best Graphics, Technical

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Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Awarded

Most Disappointing Game

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Sound Shapes

Awarded

Best Platformer

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Dokuro

Awarded

Best Best Puzzler

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Skullgirls

Awarded

Best Fighter

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Guild Wars 2

Awarded

Best PC Exclusive

Nominated

Best Graphics, Artistic

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Persona 4: Golden

Awarded

Best PS Vita Exclusive

Nominated

Best RPG

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Achievement Awards — Game of the Year

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/20/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, assassin's creed 3, assassin's creed iii, awards, game of the year, pc, ps3, steam, Xbox 360. Leave a comment

Game of the Year determines the best game you can play all year. What makes the game of the year is a game that is either revolutionary or just really damn good. It is usually nearly flawless, with very minor issues that don’t really affect the overall game. These are usually AAA high budget titles, but just because one game is the best doesn’t mean the other nominees aren’t. They are nominated for a reason.

Assassin’s Creed III

AC3 is the best game this year because of the unusual setting, storytelling, graphics, and overall evolution of a beloved series. Assassin’s Creed is one of the few franchises that actually evolves with every major release The game has the best multiplayer you will get this year accompanied by superb gameplay with dozens of hours of fun. The ending may be a bit disappointing, but the overall story is just fantastic with excellent voice acting and memorable characters.

Runner-Ups

Far Cry 3

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Max Payne 3

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Hitman: Absolution

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Sleeping Dogs

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Hotline Miami

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Guild Wars 2

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Mass Effect 3

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Halo 4

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The Walking Dead

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Xenoblade Chronicles

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Journey

2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — Mobile

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/12/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, android, apple, awards, bad piggies, game of the year, granny smith, iOS, iphone, jungle run, organ trail, plague, rayman, zombie. Leave a comment

The mobile game market is getting very strong thanks to new and powerful technology. This is the epicenter of indie game developers, and there are some amazing phone games out there. The best one is usually very innovative but doesn’t necessarily have to use phone features well. These were some of the best this year. This was a tough choice.

Organ Trail

Organ Trail is a zombie remake of Oregon Trail from the early 90’s. What makes this game stand out so well is that it brings back those childhood memories look no other phone game this year. The game is intense, funny, fun, and just very well done. There were plenty of mobile games I enjoyed this year, but this one topped it all for me.

Runner-Ups

Granny Smith

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Rayman: Jungle Run

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Bad Piggies

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Plague Inc.

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — PlayStation Vita

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/12/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, 2048, abyss, awards, game of the year, golden, little big planet, littlebigplanet, lumines, persona 4, playstation, psvita, Sony, uncharted, vita, wipeout. Leave a comment

The Vita is one of two new consoles this year and it had a pretty solid start, but the games have been slow coming. There were a lot of Vita exclusives, but most were also on PS3. The Vita’s biggest issue is that most games were just okay. They were overhyped, or just completely disappointing.

Persona 4: Golden

Person 4 may be a port of the PS2 game, but it adds so much new stuff that it feels like a whole new game or Persona 4.5. Golden is the best RPG on the Vita and one of the best handheld RPGs period. There is so much to do here and the game is so engaging and entertaining that you will probably use your Vita more than you ever have after picking up this game. This is game is just solid.

Runner-Ups

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

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LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

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Lumines: Electronic Symphony

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WipeOut 2048

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — 3DS

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/12/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, 3d, 3ds, awards, final fantasy, game of the year, mario, miracle mask, new super mario bros 2, Nintendo, professor layton, resident evil, revelations, theatrhythm, zombie. Leave a comment

The 3DS had some awesome games this year so it was a tough choice. There were a surprising amount of solid third party games this year as well. The best 3DS game obviously has to use the new hardware well, but also be a solid game that doesn’t rely on gimmicks.

Resident Evil Revelations

Revelations is not just a solid RE game, but the graphics are stunning for the console. The story is interesting and the 3D effects are fantastic. This won over for me because of how great of an experience it is. This isn’t just an RE console port, but a whole new experience that just rocks solid.

Runner-Ups

Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

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New Super Mario Bros. 2

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Kid Icarus: Uprising

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — Wii

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/12/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, chronicles, game of the year, last story, mario, mario party, mario party 9, Nintendo, rhythm heaven fever, wii, xenoblade. Leave a comment

Wii had a very rough year with just a few console exclusives. With the WiiU out now, this may be the last year we see Wii with its own award category. The few games that were out for the Wii only were pretty strong, but I think the winner is obvious.

Xenoblade Chronicles

When a company breaks JRPG cliches and formulas you will get every RPG fan’s attention. Xenoblade has an awesome combat system, great characters, and story, plus it looks great. We need more JRPG developers following Xenoblade‘s footsteps. This is by far one of the best Wii games this year, and best on the console, period.

Runner-Ups

Rhythm Heaven Fever

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The Last Story

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Mario Party 9

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — PC

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/11/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, counter strike, diablo, diablo 3, diablo iii, game of the year, global offensive, guild wars, guild wars 2, hotline miami, pc, steam, torchlight, torchlight 2, torchlight ii. Leave a comment

The PC mainly had better ports of console games this year with DirectX 11 visual upgrades. There were some solid PC exclusives this year, probably the most next to the handhelds. The best PC game usually has amazing visuals or is just extremely unique and something you can only get on PC.

Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is just amazing. The game looks fantastic and the fact that you don’t have to pay a subscription is a huge seller. The combat system is enjoyable, and the loot, abilities, and combat are just superb. This is an MMO experience that shows years of dedication and time can perfect a series.

Runner-Ups

Hotline Miami

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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

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Diablo III

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Torchlight II

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — PlayStation 3

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/11/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, dyad, game of the year, journey, playstation, playstation 3, ps3, Sony, starhawk, tales of graces f, twisted metal. Leave a comment

The PS3 had even fewer exclusives this year and was nearly null and void of any big-budget titles aside from Twisted Metal and Starhawk. There were mainly indie games that were exclusive to the console. This was a sad year for the system.

Journey

Journey is a no brainer here. The emotional soundtrack, unique gameplay, and subtle yet touching story are all formulae for a masterpiece. The fact that an indie game can top out a AAA title is a huge success already.

Runner-Ups

Starhawk

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Dyad

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Twisted Metal

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Tales of Graces f

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — Xbox 360

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/11/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, dance central, dance central 3, fez, forza, forza horizon, game of the year, halo 4, kinect, Microsoft, trials, trials evolution, xbox, Xbox 360. Leave a comment

The Xbox 360 didn’t have that many console exclusives this year, but the few that made it out were solid. Most of them were indie games, but I have to say it was a tough decision this year.

Halo 4

Halo 4 is the obvious winner here. With a humongous budget, Halo 4 is the first game in the series developed outside Bungie, and for good measure. The soundtrack is beautiful, the campaign is thrilling, and the multiplayer is better than ever. This isn’t just the best 360 game this year, but one of the best games period.

Runner-Ups

Trials Evolution

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Forza Horizon

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Fez

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Dance Central 3

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2012 Game of the Year Awards — Genre Awards — Best Strategy Game

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/11/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, civilization v, endless space, enemy unknown, fall of the samurai, ftl, game of the year, gods and kings, shogun 2, strategy, xcom. 4 Comments

There weren’t many great strategy games this year! It was really hard just finding five of them that were worth Game of the Year for Strategy. I had to resort to nominating expansion packs! What makes a great strategy game is great tactics, that is the core component. A solid UI that isn’t confusing, great AI, and even great multiplayer. Graphics usually come last, as well as a story, but they help.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

This probably doesn’t surprise anyone, XCOM was really the only anticipated strategy game this year. The UI is very streamlined, nearly revolutionary, and the small squad allows for some intense tactics. The research you do is really helpful, but the game’s only fall back is that it is relentlessly difficult. The deep tactics and the comeback of a 10-year-old game win it over the others.