2011 Year in Review: Video Games

2011 was a big year in gaming for me. It was both a return to the games of yesteryear and an exploration of newer titles that, in some ways, made up for the lackluster feelings I had towards many of 2010's releases. The titles I played in 2011 present a wide range of genres, and a few I consider to be quite groundbreaking - two of the titles I played this year earned perfect '10 out of 10' scores. Without further ado, the play-by-play of every video game I reviewed in 2011.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: The Fate of Two Worlds: Presented through an art style very much reminiscent of comic books, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pits characters new and old against one another. Each character is balanced to near-perfection, a welcome break from the unbalances found in some other fighting games. There are only a handful of stages presented, and while the single player arcade mode is pretty straightforward, most of the replay value comes in the form of training challenges (which is to say, the replay factor is somewhat limited). Still, it's a solid multiplayer experience, even if the online lobbies force players to stare at a semi-blank screen instead of a match in progress. My rating: 8

Beautiful Katamari: Not much has changed since the original Katamari Damacy, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The King of All Cosmos once again calls upon the Prince to roll up as much random junk as he can to replace planets and meteorites. This time, the world is much more open and expansive, preventing many of the collisions encountered in the first games. The soundtrack and art style are just as zany as ever, a perfect marriage to a game that has an intro scene which features dancing pandas and kaleidoscopic flowers. My rating: 8

Fallout 3: Arguably one of Bethesda's best games to date, Fallout 3 puts players in the shoes of the Lone Wanderer as he/she escapes from the confines of Vault 101. What lies beyond is a post-apocalyptic retro-future, where tunes from the forties and fifties carry across the rubble that was once Washington D.C. Combat is divided between real-time and the freeze-frame VATS, the latter of which allows players to take precise aim at specific body parts of an enemy to inflict greater damage. There are moments of inconsistency with regards to the game's difficulty factor, though a bevy of sidequests can help players level up and surpass these, so long as they're willing to put in the extra effort. The main story is well-developed, though rather short. That said, the simple act of exploring the Capital Wasteland can present plenty of adventure in and of itself. My rating: 8.5

DLC
- Operation Anchorage: 6.5

Devil May Cry 4: A hack-and-slash game with plenty of gothic imagery and religious undertones, Devil May Cry 4 destroys its competition by having one of the most involved combo chaining systems in the genre. Players can upgrade Nero and Dante's movesets as the game progresses, and revisit levels on higher difficulty settings. The boss fights place the most emphasis on strategy, and are often preceded by cutscenes that rival Hollywood action. The main game is a bit on the short side, but the finesse in sword and gun combat is unrivaled. My rating: 8.25

Portal 2: Chell returns to the Aperture facility, this time aided by robotic companion Wheatley, whose quirky nature rivals GLaDOS' dark humor. While the puzzle layouts in the original were mind-bending enough, Portal 2 adds new elements like Light Bridges, Aerial Faith Plates, and Speed and Propulsion Gels. The single player mode benefits from more narrative backing this time around, while cooperative play introduces some real head-scratchers. In the end, it's a brilliant mix of puzzles and platforming. My rating: 10

Sonic Rush: The story of two Robotniks from alternate dimensions is a sign of the inspiration drawn from new school Sonic games. The level design, on the other hand, is largely inspired by the original Genesis games. There are a few puzzles here and there that slow down an otherwise breakneck pace. Levels are unfortunately accompanied by what is possibly the most obnoxious soundtrack in the series. 3D boss fights are cleverly planned out, and serve as some of the game's highlights. It's not a perfect Sonic game, but it doesn't take itself too seriously either. My rating: 7.5

New Super Mario Bros. (DS): Sticking to the classic Mario formula from the NES and SNES, the DS version is quite nice to look at, with every enemy and environment rendered in 3D models. A nice variety of level design and lack of a story will certainly make this handheld Mario appealing to fans who want to revisit the plumber's roots. My rating: 9

Transformers: War for Cybertron: Unlike the movie-based games, War for Cybertron takes greater creative liberties, building its own origin story for the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. High Moon has done a great job with their new spin on the Transformers story, though they do slip in a number of references to Generation One. The multiplayer is a ton of fun to play, with character classes that are well-balanced. It's not a perfect, but still a great first entry that High Moon will no doubt improve upon with the sequel. My rating: 8.75

Resident Evil 5: A follow-up to the wildly acclaimed Resident Evil 4, RE5 puts players in control of Chris Redfield as he travels to the Kijuju region of Africa. He and his partner Sheva Alomar quickly discover the locals to be infected with Plagas, as well as longtime villain Wesker's plans for world domination. It's an intense experience from start to finish, trading out the classic horror for more action-packed segments. While the item management is less-than-stellar, the level design, lighting effects, and environmental ambience make the experience all the more engaging. The game serves as a fitting end to the main Resident Evil story arc that has been running for over a decade. My rating: 9

DLC
- Lost in Nightmares: 10

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask: Ocarina of Time is a tough act to follow, and while it might not be as wildly revolutionary as its predecessor, Majora's Mask brings plenty of new content to the Zelda series just the same. Easily the darkest story in the entire series, it's also one of the best told, as Link must stop Skull Kid from using the power of Majora's Mask to crash the moon into the land of Termina. The game puts more emphasis on pre-temple and post-temple tasks, while each of the four temples is brilliantly designed and presents a nice challenge just the same. Often overlooked when compared to other titles in the franchise, Majora's Mask is one of the most polished, most challenging, and most enjoyable games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. My rating: 10

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Part stealth game, part brawler, Arkham Asylum puts players in control of the Dark Knight as he attempts to return order to Arkham Asylum, after Joker has set all of the inmates loose. Aside from some very creative boss encounters with Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy, players can seek out Riddler Trophies to unlock character models, and beat up baddies to their heart's content in the extra challenges. It has a few flaws, but by and large Batman: Arkham Asylum is a prime example of how to approach licensed material the right way. My rating: 8.75

Sonic Adventure: Twelve years after its initial release, Sonic Adventure still holds up as a solid adventure platformer. The story is one of the best in the entire Sonic series, and while it may look somewhat primitive by today's standards, the 3D graphics were a standout element for the 1999 release. The voice acting is downright terrible, and any mission involving Big the Cat will ultimately lead to frustration. while much of the gameplay feels like a test bed for what would come in the sequel, Sonic Adventure is still a lot of fun to play. My rating 8.5

Halo 2: A game that not only made a giant impact on online gaming, Halo 2 also had a huge impact on the way the series would be shaped through future entries. While some might not have been so keen on playing as the Arbiter for some of the game's missions, it certainly helped add depth to the Covenant and UNSC forces alike. The gameplay was much smoother than in the original Halo, and the graphics are some of the best on the original Xbox. There are a few hitches here and there, particularly with 'bump-in' objects during cutscenes, but it's a great gaming experience nonetheless. My rating: 9.5

Halo 3: ODST: The black sheep of the Halo franchise, ODST is an unusual FPS game. Chapters of the larger story are presented from the various squad members as they try to regroup, while the streets of New Mombasa act as an explorable overworld hub. The Rookie is the main character, and in the style of Master Chief, is left a shell of a character for player to imagine as whomever they wish. The rest of the cast fleshes out nicely, given the six/seven hours it takes to complete the campaign. The soundtrack is gorgeous and the voice acting top-notch. My rating: 8.75

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition: Classic arcade fighting at its finest, Street Fighter III: Third Strike rounds out its roster with many new faces since Street Fighter II. All of the 2D character models are vibrantly colored and highly animated, while the levels and soundtrack make the game's atmosphere. Combos prove much easier to chain than in other games like Marvel vs. Capcom 3, though the element of strategy is not sacrificed in the process. Throw in online multiplayer and you have yourself one excellent recipe for a fighting game. My rating: 9.25

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: A Gamecube title ported over to the Wii, Twilight Princess takes on a darker tone than some other Zelda games. The story of the Twili presents a fresh and interesting spin on Link's story, though much of the game tries to identify too heavily with Ocarina of Time. The motion controls respond well enough, but there's nothing wildly revolutionary presented through the items or weapons. Most of the boss fights will prove quite simple for veterans of the series, but there's no denying that Twilight Princess is among the best adventure games on any console this generation. My rating: 9.0

Sonic Generations: Drawing some of the best levels from the Sonic series, Sonic Generations delivers to both old-school and new-school fans. Each level is tackled twice - one as side-scrolling retro Sonic, and again as third-person view new age Sonic. The boss fights are cleverly designed, while the challenges present players with plenty of replay material. A few level choices seem a tad uninspired, but if this is a sign of things to come, SEGA's mascot hedgehog might just be on the fast track to a great revival. My rating: 8.5

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: The greatest Zelda game in over a decade and the single best Wii title, Skyward Sword is one game not to be missed. It's super-precise controls respond like a dream, while the gameplay mechanics as a whole draw from the tried-and-true methods of previous entries, while adding some new-school flair to round out the package. The game is quite lengthy, offering up 35 to 40 hours depending on the number of sidequests players choose to tackle. The storytelling is phenomenal, providing a great precursor for the rest of the series. My rating: 10

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: With a vast world to explore and a variety of character classes to choose from, the Elder Scrolls IV has something to offer every RPG fan. The level up system is a bit awkward, and the Cyrodill seems a rather generic medieval realm. But for an early release on the current-gen systems, The Elder Scrolls IV looks and plays pretty solid, with sidequests going the extra mile to flesh out the experience. My rating: 8

DLC
- Shivering Isles: 9.25

Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver: DS remakes of the Gameboy Color releases, Heart Gold and Soul Silver retain their identities by placing emphasis on the Pokémon from generations I and II, while utilizing the generation IV engine (Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum). The result is a beautifully-rendered Johto region that is as colorful as it is teeming with quirky characters. The gym layouts have been updated to incorporate puzzle mechanics, and the soundtrack sounds fantastic to boot. Heart Gold and Soul Silver showcase the improvements to the user-friendliness in the Pokémon games, the primary reason that the DS versions are improvements over their Gameboy predecessors. My rating: 8.75

DLC review: Fallout 3 - Operation: Anchorage

Upon receiving a new radio signal, the Lone Wanderer journeys in search of the source, eventually discovering a group of the Brotherhood of Steel outcasts. It seems they have a virtual simulator that reenacts the battle of Anchorage, Alaska, where United States soldiers made their stand against invading communist Chinese forces. They are unable to properly interact with the device, however, and require the help of the Lone Wanderer and his/her Pip-Boy 3000.

When players first begin their trek through the snow-covered cliffs of Anchorage, they will not be given the freedom to use any of the weapons or items they’ve gathered from their exploration of the Capital Wasteland. Instead, they will be limited to whatever weapons they can find in Anchorage, or those that they receive from their allies. The environment can often mask an enemy’s location, so early on players must learn to be more perceptive and careful. With that in mind, new classes of enemies will be encountered periodically, so players will have to change up their tactics on a few occasions. Operation: Anchorage’s gameplay is more akin to the straightforward mechanics of an FPS than the RPG players have come to be so familiar with, and it takes time to get used to the changes.

While Operation: Anchorage is only meant to last players a couple of hours at most, it can take longer due to a lack of direction. Often the game will inform you of what the next mission objective is, but not give you much direction as to where it lies. As the Pip-Boy 3000 is of no use in Anchorage, players cannot access their map and are at the mercy of a trial-and error method of searching the area for their mission objective. This really only becomes a major nuisance during the second half of the mission, when things are less linear.

Ammo and health stations are glow a bright red, which, in the context of the mission taking place within a virtual reality simulator, makes perfect sense. In terms of gameplay, however, it feels like Bethesda is holding the player’s hand the entire way through. If they had only highlighted these in red upon the player first encountering these as a sort of tutorial to the differences between The Capital Wasteland and Anchorage, it would have made for a more intense battle experience.

There are a handful of characters players will meet during their time in Anchorage, but compared to the larger figures in the Capital Wasteland, most of the characters in Anchorage are forgettable. There is a bit of Fallout charm thrown in with their insistence that they are real people and not virtual images. Overall, Operation: Anchorage carries a much more serious tone than the main game of Fallout 3. While it is interesting to see first-hand the battle of Anchorage – something that is mentioned a number of times throughout the main story – the gameplay comes across as a bare-bones take on the formula of Fallout 3 and the story isn’t particularly engaging.

My rating: 6.5 (out of 10)*

*(rating applies solely to downloadable content, not its inclusion with the content on the original game disc or other downloadable content)

Xbox 360 review: Fallout 3

I'm not particularly familiar with the other entries into the Fallout series, but I am familiar with Bethesda's work on the Elder Scrolls series. In Elder Scrolls, players were allowed to choose their race and class, and then follow a series of quests relevant to the main story as well as a number of other optional side quests, and the basic formula is carried over to Fallout 3. The major differences, though, are the amount of freedoms in play style granted in Fallout 3, as well as the genuine development of the Lone Wanderer, the game's main character. For an American style RPG, Fallout 3 is surprisingly involved and the story quite engaging.

The Lone Wanderer (as he/she will later come to be known) is the character players assume control of, and begin the game by customizing their looks and attributes. While no two Lone Wanderers will look quite the same, their intended outcome in the story will carry only slight variation. Growing up in Vault 101, the Lone Wanderer is constantly told that life outside the vault is impossible. When the character's father escapes the Vault, the overseer's daughter suspects that her father may not have been entirely honest with Vault 101's inhabitants and aids the Lone Wanderer in his escape. What lies outside in the remains of Washington D.C. is a struggle for power, and players will encounter the many people caught up in it as they travel through makeshift towns and across the Capital Wasteland in search of their father for answers on why Vault 101 was isolated and - more importantly - why he left so suddenly. With all of that in mind, this is still an American style RPG, and the characters that players encounter will be more fleshed out and interesting than the Lone Wanderer, regardless of what path players choose to take from beginning to end.

Interacting with as many individuals as possible is the best way for players to open up new side quests. Some side quests will require players to interact with characters in a positive or negative tone, which can affect the Lone Wanderer's karma. Ultimately these side quests can earn players small rewards, such as new armor and weaponry, or more valuable rewards, such as the ability to enlist the aid of a partner in combat.

Players are given some freedom in how they wish to take to combat. The option of real-time traditional gun-wielding requires players to aim manually, but (assuming they can hit the broad side of a barn) will almost guarantee a direct hit on an enemy AI. VATS mode freezes the game temporarily and allows players to target specific body parts of enemies. While in this mode, players can see the chance they have of hitting said body part from their current range and the damage already dealt to the body part. This mode has a limited numbers of subsequent uses, and players must wait for it to recharge before using it on the next enemy. VATS mode also generally deals less damage to an enemy, unless a certain body part has reached critical state. This keeps players from becoming too reliant on the system, though when facing down hordes of mutated wildlife in the Capital Wasteland - many of which come charging at players full speed - the usage limit can be a minor annoyance.
Even if players choose not to utilize this system frequently for combat, it can still be a helpful tool for scoping out enemies before they spot you.

Combat is not the only way that players are able to earn experience points. Conversations with the Capital Wasteland's populous and completion of side quests can net players experience points, as can picking locks and hacking terminals. Upon leveling up, players are allowed to choose whichever skills and attributes they wish to improve, as well as a perk they can add to their repertoire. If a player started out with one primary character type in mind but decided later on that they wanted to change their character to better fit a different role, it's no problem. That said, as with any RPG, leveling up takes time and players cannot simply switch their character's strengths and weaknesses back and forth at a moment's notice.

There are some minor inconsistencies in the difficulty setting of Fallout 3. For the most part, the game seems a little too easy on the 'normal' setting, as missions are quite straightforward and players will find they have ample supplies. A few scenarios may require a trial-and-error process from players, but there are almost always loopholes to be found when facing down small groups of enemies. However, on a handful of occasions while travelling the Capital Wasteland from one mission point to the next, players will come across enemies that are either too strong or in too great of numbers to allow them to advance. Players can either temporarily dumb down the difficulty setting and deal with the issue immediately, or they can scour the Capital Wasteland in search of side quests in order to level up. This drastic shift in difficulty is only present a handful of times during the main game, but it stands out enough to cause a bit of an annoyance. In some instances, players will receive aid from the Brotherhood of Steel or partner characters in the Capital Wasteland. In these situations, players can more or less allow the AI to do most of the heavy combat if they so choose, though it will be at the cost of gaining fewer experience points.

Graphically, the game is quite impressive. As much of a decaying city as Washington D.C. has become, colorful advertisements reminiscent of the 1950s plastered over a drab post-apocalyptic world carry a great deal of aesthetic appeal. The attention to detail is impressive - any building that players can enter and explore does not look recycled from any earlier area, and subway tunnels are comprised of varying layouts. Even the rubble and random junk lying around Washington D.C. is varied from one location to the next. The soundtrack is a mixture of licensed and original pieces; the former complimenting the more colorful and amusing elements of the Fallout world, and the latter conveying the epic scale and dire circumstances of the situation at hand.

Despite an overall play style that seems to aim more for a shooter-based RPG experience, there is plenty of variety to be found in Fallout 3. While there are some minor inconsistencies in the main game, the side quests generally allows players more freedom and range from relatively simple to rather demanding, and the rewards tend to reflect this. While the main game's story is very well-executed, it ends all too quickly and Bethesda could have devoted some more time to this aspect. Still, there's rarely a dull moment throughout and RPG fans will find plenty of replay value in scouring every nook and cranny of the vast Capital Wasteland.

My rating: 8.5 (out of 10)