Has there ever been anything like it? There have arguably been more huge
titles released in the last 12 months than during any other window in
history, and it's made for a corking - not to mention expensive - year
for gamers.
We've seen remakes and sequels smash our expectations into the
stratosphere, while new IP has appeared out of nowhere to steal our
hearts.
New instalments of pretty much every major series going nearly wore
our thumbs down to the bone, and yet there was STILL time to announce
more great games and some new consoles too.
So before we turn our eyes onto 2012's upcoming embarrassment of
riches (Mass Effect 3, BioShock Infinite, Halo 4 and many more!)
it's time to celebrate a truly unforgettable chapter of gaming.
We've put together a list of 20 games release in 2011 that should not
be missed. If you find there are any games on this list you haven't
played, we recommend firing up your nearest internet browser or heading
to your local retailer and picking these up. They're unmissable.
Okamiden - Nintendo DS
The long-awaited Okami sequel takes the DS to new interactive highs as
the stylus becomes the Celestial Brush. Criminally overlooked, we
reckon.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Fortune - PS3
More of the same for Nathan's third excursion - but given that
Uncharted 2 was sublime, this is exactly what we wanted. Uncharted's
cinematics have always been a cut above, and Drake's return brings with
it some of the finest acting we've ever seen in digital form
L.A. Noire
The moody LA detective-'em-up drags the point-'n'-click into this
generation by its lapels, roughs it up a little and dumps it in a
staggeringly accurate sandbox. Truth, doubt, or lie? Truth all the way!
Rockstar's amazing MotionScan technology set a whole new standard for facial modelling.
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 kicked off the year with a heart-pounding, underwear
ruining jaunt through an alien-infested city so unsettling it really
made us get scared of our own shadows. The most terrifying beginning of
2011 sees Isaac - helplessly trapped in a straitjacket - sprinting
through a Necromorph- riddled hospital with salivating mutants hot on
his tail. Aaaargh!
Little Big Planet 2
How do you top a game where you build your own levels? By creating one
where you can build your own games! LBP 2 offers game modding for the
masses, supported by one of the most vibrant and creative console
communities ever.
Total War: Shogun 2 - PC
The ultimate in strategy game refinement, Shogun 2 takes everything
that's great about the Total War franchise and improves it... and
improves it... and improves it... and, well, you get the picture!
Bulletstorm
Epic's epically epic blaster proves that there's still plenty of room
in the first person shooter genre for innovation. It isn't just about
getting kills: it's all about getting stylish, disgusting kills. And
swearing loads while you do.
Xenoblade Chronicles - Nintendo Wii
Wii games are coming thin and slow now, but clearly Nintendo have been
saving the best 'til last. Xenoblade Chronicles bowled us over when its
surprise localisation gave the lovely, sprawling Japanese role-playing
game to the West.
Battlefield 3
The single-player mode divides opinion, but its multiplayer option -
particularly on PC- is a masterclass in how to make the complete online
game.
War has certainly never looked as good as it does in Battlefield 3.
We're not sure if even real life has the visual fidelity to match it...
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Controversial content can't stop Modern Warfare 3 from being the go-to
shooter of the year. Despite all of Infinity Ward's internal
reshuffling, there's barely a blemish to be found.
Dirt 3
Dirt never lacked for edge-of-the-seat racing, but the tricksy Gymkhana
mode and top-notch weather effects ramp up the series' thrills and
brake fluid spills a few notches further.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings - PC
CD Project's saucy RPG sequel is still in production for the Xbox 360
for a 2012 release, but wowed the PC crowd earlier this year. Our one
grumble? It's tough - but that issue's now been patched!
Mario Kart 7 - Nintendo 3DS
One of the most iconic party series in history blazes its way onto the
3DS, and the tuned-up racing means this entry drives away with a cup and
leaves the rest choking on its exhaust fumes.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Not only did Human Revolution manage to do the seemingly impossible and
live up to the Deus Ex name, it also succeeded in delivering diverse
options so robust that the individual shooting, stealthing and hacking
paths could easily have carried the entire game on their own.
Forza Motorsport 4 - Xbox 360
Petrolheads everywhere wept oily tears of joy when they discovered how
vast, how varied and how stupendously polished Forza 4 really was. Gran
what?
FIFA 12
"Football perfection," we said, and all the world agreed! It's the most
beautiful game ever based on the beautiful game: dribbling around last
year's instalment with ease.
Portal 2
Your Golden Joystick GOTY-winner took a quirky three-hour game and made a sizeable masterpiece. Also,
it does something few other games manage: it's tremendously funny,
and sustains its humour throughout. Still Alive was always going to take
some beating, but Jonathan Coulton's end ditty Want You Gone comes
mighty close to doing it.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Nintendo Wii
Ninty rounded off 25 years of Zelda brilliance with a chapter that
simply changed everything. The series has never felt as fresh or as
surprising as it does in Skyward Sword.
Batman: Arkham City
Move over GoldenEye, there's a new licensed king in town. Rocksteady's
vision for Batman is as well crafted as Nolan's or Morrison's, and a new
yardstick for every tie-in to be measured up against. The ending has to
go down as one of the bravest, most shocking conclusions ever. Who
would have thought DC would allow Rocksteady to change the landscape of
their world so dramatically?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
A world with endless possibilities; a story with uncountable
permutations; a game unlike any other. Our undisputed GOTY does things
no current generation game should ever be able to do, and does them
superbly. There are hundreds of hours of content to root out and enjoy,
and almost every major interaction with an in-game character comes
pre-loaded with a range of moral choices to pick from. And even when you
think you've finished it you really haven't - the radiant quest system
will create an endless string of thieving and
assassination and exploration quests to wring every last drop out of
the land. Did we mention it's simply gorgeous, too? RPGs suddenly have
an awful lot to live up to in a post-Skyrim world.
Honorable Mentions
Mobile
Anomaly Warzone Earth
Jetpack Joyride
NOVA 2
Starfront Collision
Dead Space
Download
From Dust
MotoHeroz
Outland
Bastion
Rochard
DLC
Call of Duty Black Ops: Escalation Map Pack
Fallout New Vegas: Old World Blues
Portal 2: Peer Review
Dead Space 2: Severed
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
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