There was an overwhelming feeling compiling this list of "well, something's got to go on it", which to me says this was a highly disappointing year for games. Yes, those present were good, more than good in fact, but no release this year ever made me think "well, fuck me sideways". I'll admit that LA Noire remains untouched while the year's other major releases, namely Shogun 2, Crysis 2 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution likewise merely sit on my Steam library, uninstalled. Although the latter two partly because I feel uncomfortable playing them when I haven't finished their predecessors. And while I've had fun playing Dead Island, I'm not far enough in to say whether it warrants a place on my list. So, almost with a hesitance then, here are my 'favourite' games from 2011...
1. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3)
This wins almost by default. With the delay of Mass Effect 3 and my disappointment with Batman: Arkham City, Naughty Dog didn't really face much in the way of competition. Now don't get me wrong, Uncharted 3 is a phenomenal game in its own right and vastly improves upon its progenitors in many ways, but this is also the one I least enjoyed playing in the series. Once again the story is grand, the graphics impossibly good and the set-pieces second to none. This was all very well, but I couldn't help but feel this was a more contrived experience than the previous two. Uncharted 3 was by far the most streamlined experience in the series with more set pieces and movie-esque shenanigans than ever before. The problem with this however was that it saw a divergence away from the more challenging puzzles and epic wall-scaling of Nathan Drake's earlier outings. I felt less like I was playing a game and more like I was interacting with a story and while I enjoyed being a part of an unravelling plot, I also missed, y'know, playing a video game. Still, it could have been worse. It could have been Metal Gear Solid 4.
I don't think there are any more superlatives one can attribute to the Battlefield series. Once again the boys at DICE have outdone themselves with one stunning game which also happens to be hella fun too. Like last year's Bad Company 2 they've also added a nice little single player campaign in what used to be an anomaly for the series. While admittedly the story is incredibly dated by today's standard and almost as ludicrously bombastic and batshit-crazy as that of the Modern Warfare series, it is nonetheless an appreciated and highly polished effort. However it is also incredibly frustrating and it would be perfectly understandable should one choose to disregard in favour of fragging some noobs online instead. Chances are this is what you came for anyway and by now you should know what to expect from Battlefield's multiplayer. That is to say, some of the most goddamn fun you can have online! Gear up soldier!
This is the smallest, most concise Assassin's Creed yet, taking place exclusively in Constantinople and delivering to fans the conclusion of Altair and Ezio's respective stories. I've put Revelations on this list more out of a fanboy loyalty than anything else, the Assassin's Creed world having captivated me since the first instalment back in 2007. I love how it pulled all the real-world conspiracy theories together into a 'coherent' narrative and have consequently eagerly anticipated each sequel for the next plot twist. As for the actual gameplay itself nothing revolutionary has been added here. You will get a hook which allows you to catch onto things but not much else. Saying that, there are two additions which can only be described as 'iffy' at best, feeling much like unnatural bolt-ons. First, a tower-defence minigame which has absolutely abysmal mechanics, second a first-person animus platform puzzle thingy which ostensibly gives us a deeper insight into Desmond but ultimately controls like a dog. Fortunately neither is essential to the game as Revelations mercifully allows you to ignore them should you choose. Other than that nothing revolutionary here, just nice to see the final -cough- revelation.
There was one game this year upon which I pinned all my hopes and hype after ME3's postponement. Indeed, the Bat was back. With Batman Arkham Asylum being one of my, if not most favourite game in the past few years, then you could imagine my glee at the prospect of a sequel which promised to be bigger and better. Giving more freedom than the infamous lunatic asylum, Arkham City was certainly larger than the Dark Knight's first outing, so much so in fact that it was almost overwhelming. But it was here where the problem lay. There was something to be said about Arkham Asylum's confined setting, an environment which allowed you to get more intimate with the big bad bat. And while Arkham City is in many ways an improvement, particularly with the additions to its fighting system and bat gadgets, I felt strangely less connected to the caped crusader than I was in Arkham Asylum. This was perhaps in part due to the decision to include every bad guy Bats has ever faced which, in my opinion, diluted the story no end. And while Arkham Asylum had a more focused narrative and largely linear progression, it was nonetheless enjoyable and logical. Arkham City conversely piled on the content, and while gave me more freedom to play like Batman, it scarcely ever felt like I was Batman. In a sense then I was a little disappointed with the final outcome of what I'd been plugging as 'game of the year' beforehand.
Last year I made a promise to myself. After winning the Champions League with Everton I vowed never again to play this horrific game. Guess what? I broke that promise. I'm now Norwich and on the cusp of achieving similar feats of greatness. I don't even know what the allure is any more. It's the same game as before, the same look, the same feel, the same mechanics, but every year Football Manager just feels... different. Maybe it's the updated squad lists, or the different tones you can use in your team talks. Perhaps it's even the new transfer and contract features available to you. Whatever it is, I've once again been sucked into this black hole, spending by far the most time on this than any other game this year - by several orders of magnitude. There's something bewitching about her, like a really toxic, co-dependent relationship you know isn't good for you, but you stick with on account of a series of complex emotions built up over the years. I hate what she does to me, but I still love her. So, SO much!
1. Pop Culture - Madeon
2. A Real Hero - College feat. Electric Youth
3. Nightcall - Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx
4. Loca People (What The Fuck?) - Sak Noel
5. Wovon Sollen Wir Träumen - Frida Gold
6. Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
7. Midnight City - M83
8. Take You To Rio - Ester Dean
9. After The Moment - Craft Spells
10. Why Even Try - Theophilus London feat. Sara Quin
Perhaps the biggest curiosity is German artist Frida Gold, although then again maybe not considering that ever since an ex-girlfriend I've kept my beady little eye on the German charts. Indeed, there would have been another entry on the list, Culcha Candela's Berlin City Girl, had I not only found out about it this year. But yeah, you can safely assume that I have a bit of a guilty pleasure when it comes to Deutsches pop-music. Another track which defined 2011 for me, likewise released in 2010, was the unofficial 'theme song' of my 'lads on tour' Cyprus holiday. Ralvero's In My Bedroom boasts ridiculous lyrics while also happening to be ridiculously catchy. Anywho, there you have it, my 'favourite songs', or near enough, released in 2011.
Raspberry: Bridesmaids - By far the most overhyped, overrated film of the year. This 'Hangover for girls' did more to reinforce that sexist stereotype of 'women aren't funny' than anything I've seen before. Utter shite. Read the review.
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And there you have it folks! My review of 2011. Until next year...
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