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

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

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Kid Icarus: Uprising

2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — Best Wii Exclusive

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 Wii U 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

The Last Story

Mario Party 9

2012 Game of the Year Awards — Console Awards — Best PC Exclusive

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

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Diablo III

Torchlight II

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

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

Dyad

Twisted Metal

Tales of Graces f

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

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

Forza Horizon

Fez

Dance Central 3

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.

Runner-Ups

Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai

Civilization V: Gods Kings

Endless Space

FTL: Faster Than Light

What makes a great fighter are memorable characters, but most importantly is a solid fight system. Something that isn’t complicated, but hardcore players can memorize the combos. Great graphics usually help, but there must be fun multiplayer and a lot of different modes to keep you coming back. This year had some okay fighters, but none of them were outstanding.

Skullgirls

Skullgirls wins because it is new and has a great roster as well as a fun fighting system. The game also has a great tutorial that helps and teaches you properly unlike most fighting games. The online play is super fun, and the is helps that the characters you fight with have great personalities and are memorable. Fun new fighters are very rare, so that is mainly why this one wins.

Runner-Ups

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Persona 4: Arena

Street Fighter X Tekken

Dead or Alive 5

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

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/11/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, 3ds, awards, crashmo, dokuro, game of the year, lumines, miracle mask, Nintendo, professor layton, ps3, puzzle, puzzler, scribblenauts, scribblenauts unlimited, Sony. Leave a comment

A great puzzle game must be innovative in some shape or form and the puzzles must be able to be solved logically. Sometimes a good story is thrown in, but puzzles aren’t known for those. There weren’t many great puzzle games this year, and most of them are indie. These were the best this year.

Dokuro

Dokuro is a very underrated game. Most puzzle games this year were sequels and felt pretty much the same. Dokuro has a wonderful art style and has some great mechanics that usually aren’t explored in puzzle games. Using chalk for a game mechanic is a lot of fun and should be explored more. What makes it the best this year is the charm and emotions put behind the game. This field usually isn’t explored in puzzle games either.

Runner-Ups

Lumines: Electronic Symphony

Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask

Scribblenauts Unlimited

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

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/10/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, black ops 2, black ops ii, borderlands 2, call of duty, far cry 3, game of the year, halo 4, max payne 3, Microsoft, pc, playstation, ps3, Sony, steam, Xbox 360. Leave a comment

Shooters are typically overrated and never really change much from game to game. The best shooter usually has top of the line graphics, and tries to add something new to the genre, or is just really good.

Far Cry 3

Far Cry 3 game really close with Halo 4, but won overall due to the huge open world and top-notch DirectX 11 graphics on PC. It also just feels good to shoot people in this game. The guns feel good, the story is highly entertaining, and the game is just a lot of fun. If you pick one shooter to buy this holiday pick this!

Runner-Ups

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Max Payne 3

Borderlands 2

Halo 4

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

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 12/10/2012

Posted in: 2012, Game of the Year Awards. Tagged: 2012, awards, diablo 3, diablo iii, game of the year, golden, mass effect, mass effect 3, Nintendo, pc, persona 4, rpg, steam, torchlight 2, torchlight ii, xenoblade chronicles. Leave a comment

Best RPG can be either full of action, slashing, or a JRPG. What defines the best RPG is a game with an excellent story, memorable characters, and a very fun combat system, or an element that revolutionizes the genre.

Xenoblade Chronicles

Xenoblade is so great because it finally breaks the typical JRPG formula that everyone has been tired of for the past 10 years. With an awesome story, memorable characters, and an extremely fun combat system what is there that you can’t like? Mass Effect 3 was a close second, but it feels a lot like the last game, and Xenoblade actually breaks a seemingly never-ending curse on JRPGs. The biggest achievement is hundreds of side quests that don’t grate, and there’s no level grinding!