Introduction: The Best Games of 2011
Last year, gamers were blessed with a superb range of games from action to strategy on multiple platforms such as the PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, etc.Something I personally liked was the remarkable level of depth and entertainment most of the best games of 2011 displayed; a fact well represented in the earnings these games were able to generate.
The huge surge in computing power has allowed developers to create bigger, better and more powerful games with stunning visuals and complex game play. For the hardcore gamer, things are certainly looking good.
The following is list of the titles that really won our hearts and minds. At first glance, it seems that a lot of action and role-playing games have managed to capture the top spots and this is not entirely surprising owing to the quality and popularity of some of the big titles. However, a number of strategy, puzzle and racing related games also managed to score very well.
Owing to the vast difference between the games, I haven’t really ranked them in any particular order. However, please do feel free to vote and share your opinion.
The Best Fames of 2011: The Top 15
Batman: Arkham City
Batman Arkham City arguably tops the list of best games of 2011
but that is my personal opinion. As a sequel to Batman Arkham Asylum,
Rocksteady Studios, managed to meet and exceed the huge expectations of
gamers around the world. While featuring a nearly identical gameplay,
Arkham City introduced a number of tactical enhancements, gadgets, and
an awesome collection of Batman’s greatest villains. As a result, Arkham
city was not only more challenging than Arkham Asylum but the entire
game was wrapped in an intense plot that made every moment of it
absolutely thrilling. In addition, the depth of the characters and the
collection of sub-plots managed bring a completely new dimension to the
Batman Universe.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
This
sequel not only made it to the list of the best games of 2011 but also
managed to grab a spot in the record books as the biggest entertainment
launch of all time, after grossing $400 million in the US and UK alone
within the first 24 hours. The game picks up from where COD:MW2 left-off
and features combat in some of the world’s greatest cities including
New York, London and Paris. The game delivered stunning visuals, new
weapons and tactics, and access to a wide range of environments that
provided a stunning level of realism. Of course, the single player
campaign was relatively short but the cooperative and multiplayer modes
were extremely challenging and exciting.Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
This
was the final game featuring the Assassin Ezio Auditore. The gameplay
was essentially the same except for a few notable improvements regarding
combat. A new set of weapons especially the introduction of bombs made
the game far interesting. In addition, I personally felt the game was
more challenging than the previous one, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood.
However, while the game still had the power to awe, the plot was sadly
lacking and that is probably because it was dragged through for more
three games. Hopefully the next game will feature a little more
excitement in terms of the story line.Shogun II: Total War
Total
War has long been in a world of its own and with Shogun II, it not only
revisited its roots but also made some amazing improvements to the
gameplay. The combination of RTS and turn-based strategy makes this one
of the best strategy games available right now. Like earlier Total War
games such as Rome, Medieval and Napoleon, Shogun II was absolutely
impressive in terms of detail, gameplay and performance. However, unlike
the previous games, stronger attention was given to external elements
and the management of resources, which meant every decision you made
could come back to haunt you. In its own class, this was one of the best
games of the year.The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The
best games must include a powerful story, and Witcher 2 is a case in
point. Just when you thought you had enough fantasy RPG games around, CD
Projekt, the developer, managed to impress us all. The best thing about
the game is the wonderful story that is wrapped within some stunning
visuals and amazing gameplay. The combat system was also amazing, which
included a number of tactical elements and the usual brute force. Apart
from a few bugs, this was probably one of the most captivating games of
the year.The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
One
of the highest rated games of the year, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim raised
the bar for everyone else. Two things made this game as amazing as it
was; firstly, the freedom to do anything you want and secondly,
breathtaking graphics. The first deserves more praise; players were
given the choice to play as any character and progress in the game in
any way they chose. In addition, the wide range of weapons, spells and
unique character attributes gave the combat dimension extremely
thrilling. As for the graphics, the visuals and environments that can be
seen in the Skyrim universe did an excellent job of complimenting the
gameplay.
Portal
2 is perhaps the most unique game of 2011. The game combined action and
puzzle-solving elements, while also bringing together quite an
interesting plot and diverse characters. The game also managed to
improve on Portal 2 with more challenging test chambers and enhanced
gameplay mechanics. The plot revolves around the primary antagonist of
the previous game: the GLaDOS computer system, which is meaner than
ever. In addition, a new cooperative mode comes loaded with an entirely
unique plot, characters and test chambers, which forces players to think
and play together, or die trying.Gears of War 3
Few
games have managed to evoke the sort of emotion that comes along with
Gear of War. In the conclusion to the trilogy, gamers put themselves in
the boots of Marcus Fenix as Delta Squad sets out to save humanity once
more. Like the previous games, it was not just the combat or the
exciting plot that wants to keep you going but also the immense
emotional connection you inevitably develop with the main characters.
Unlike similar games, you see and feel the destruction all around you,
which can be pretty powerful when it all comes to an end. The new game
also came loaded with a four-player cooperative campaign, new
characters, and a host of new deadly enemies. The enemy AI also made
players earn every kill and that made the game all the better.Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
PlayStation
3 fans managed to get their hands on the exclusive Uncharted 3: Drake’s
Deception, which is one of coolest third-person action adventure games
of 2011. Unlike similar games, the character is “more human” (i.e. more
realistic) in terms of endurance and skill, which makes the game more
fun. Drake’s Deception brought together a number of excellent features: a
fantastic single-player campaign, stunning environments and most
importantly, an exciting plot. The exciting challenges and the amazing
plot twists, made Drake’s Deception addictive and fun. If the action
doesn’t do it then the eternal suspense will.Dead Space 2
Dead
Space 1, was hailed as fresh energetic new type of action game centered
horror and survival. The good news was that Dead Space 2 managed to
build on much of the original game play and the single-player campaign
was very solid. The intense up-close combat element made the game
extremely fun to play. In addition, the thrilling visuals and audio
effects gave the game a sense of heart-pounding suspense that commanded
the utmost attention. The only downside was that there was no “game
changing” gameplay enhancements and sometimes the plot seemed rather
repetitive.Dirt 3
The
reign of Need for Speed is over and thank goodness because usurper, the
DiRT series is simply brilliant. With an extremely realistic control
system, stunning environments and badass rally cars, this is probably
the best game 2011 in the racing genre. Different weather scenarios and a
variety of locations meant that each race was meant to be a new
challenge. Unlike most other racing games, jamming the accelerator and
travelling as fast as possible just isn’t an option. Amongst the
enhancements was the new Gymkhana mode and multiplayer options that took
competition to a whole new level.Mortal Kombat
No
one should be surprised that this made it to the list of the best games
of 2011. As someone who had lived through most of the Mortal Kombat
games the latest game is simultaneously a refreshing yet classical. The
new version included highly detailed (and brutal) combat moves and
fatalities, solid graphics, a new four-player tag-team kombat system and
a revamped storyline. Another thing I liked about this game was the
fact that a lot of time and attention went into the individual stories
of the characters. Oh and fans of God of War and Freddie Krueger were in
for a nice little surprise.Deus Ex: Human Revolution
This
was an action RPG game unlike any other. The amazing combination of
stealth, combat and freedom of choice meant that gamers could complete
missions in a variety of different ways. One of the finer details of the
game was the intricate plot, which was really captivating and further
enhanced by the appropriate atmospheric elements. However, one might be
inclined to think that the developer spent a little too much time on the
plot because the game did feature some technical problems and a
relatively weak AI system.Crysis 2
This
was probably the most hyped game of the year and given the solid
reputation of the previous games, the expectations were really high.
Fortunately, Crysis 2 managed to pull off a rather decent job. The level
of detail that went into the single player campaign, environment and
combat systems were stunning. As with previous games, the combat was
rapid and exciting requiring the smart use of the player’s Nanosuit
capabilities. However, the AI, while quite challenging could have done a
much better job.
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