Best game of 2011

[Binnatics]

I joined OWG somewhere in februari this year, and to me it has been a great year. Especially because of all the nice discussions here at OWG about the games I play and much more ;)
Last weekend I was looking back at this (almost past) year and realised that we've had quite some nice releases to deal with. Wouldn't it be nice to rate all these releases with an OWG favourite of 2011?

Let's all make a top 3 of the best releases this year had (stil has) to offer and let's find out what our 2011 favourite is!

If I had to make a top 3 at this moment it would look like this:


1.   Portal 2
2.   Bulletstorm
3.   Dirt 3


Portal 2 is a definite nr. One. That game was so surprisingly revolutionary, well balanced and funny, there's no discussion needed. There were actually no bad sides to this game. :-X

On second is Bulletstorm. For a shooter, it was amazing. The single player mode was extremely well worked out. Graphics, storyline and gameplay were amazing. The way of gaining XP by performing original kills, "Kill with Skill" was making the game a big success to me. ^-^
The online co-op mode was great too, but something was missing there. Well, you can easily blame the rest of the online gamers for the fact that no one was cooperating, but I think a game should be designed in a way that this happens naturally. Take Portal 2 for example.  8)

On the third place ends Dirt 3. A great racing game. All who know the McCrae rally series know these are good quality racing games. This new release was no exception. Great graphics, great races. Great online play. It was all a bit a Dirt 2.1 to be honest, but the new feature; GYMKHANA, made it complete. Breakdancing with cars should be a good synonymous. The way the DEV's have created the tracks, the tricks and the handling of the available cars was super.  ;)

My list isn't finished yet: There's one more great title to come for me; Batman: Arkham City. This release might kick one of the other games off the top 3, who knows.

I'm looking forward to your top 3's!!!!

[Fiach]

Skyrim
The Witcher 2 Assassin of Kings
Two Worlds 2

Skyrim, its huge, yet its not empty, over every hill, around every bend there is something to do, you will meet someone, find a dungeon or just witness something the devs placed there that more than likely you may never see, but they still put in that detail. I was in a castle (Mistwatch) looking for a missing woman, I was up on the battlements and looked out across the game world and lo and behold, in the distance was a dragon, flying around a castles turrets, it was a great distance away, but I know I can walk there and kill that dragon.

The Witcher 2 Assassin of Kings, another step forward in the life of Geralt, the eponymus Witcher, he's a good guy, but also an antihero, and the balance is very well maintained, the intricate quests that will have different outcomes, depending on choices and ripple effects that you will not be aware of until much further into the game.

Two Worlds 2, just a bloody good story, this time the brother and sister have been captured and drained of their blood, one day the brother is rescued and he exits the dungeon into a steaming political mess, which he has to navigate through, to rescue his sister. More focused than Skyrim, but no less deep, with better combat.

Most disappointing games.

Rage, it was shite.
LA Noire, it was pointless.
Brink, I suck.

[PZ]

Wow, what diverse games we play.  I can't even remember which games were released this year, except for two, and I appreciate those.

   
• Uncharted3 - although linear, I really liked the visuals and non-stop action
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations - I have not yet completed the game, but I find it as interesting as ACB, but not as much as I liked AC2.

I've dabbled in a few others, but have not found any that captured my attention for that long.  In fact, I still cannot top FC2 and JC2, old games yet ones that I return to time and again.

[spaceboy]

tops for me:

1. Skyrim  - Awesome, openworld, what Fiach said
2. inFamous 2 - Fun openworld, lots of great navigation and destruction powers
3. Portal 2 - unique, innovative, hilarious
4. Uncharted 3 - wonderful action and story
5. Arkham City - great navigation and fighting, open world goodness

Any open world game fan must really try Skyrim.  It's not my typical genre, but it shines as a masterpiece and is so much fun, very immersive

[Art Blade]

1 - TDU2 particularly with the Casino DLC
2 - BulletStorm
3 - Brink