- They have to be original games and not ports, so the Jak and Daxter Collection on the PS Vita and Ratchet: Deadlocked HD for the PS3 do not qualify (they're inferior ports anyway).
- This is all my opinion, so don't complain if some of the games you've played are not on the list or not any higher. Instead, feel free to name some of your favorite games from this year.
10. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3/X360)
To be honest, it didn't take me long to put a game at the bottom of this list. That's not to say I dislike Metal Gear Rising; I just think it's okay at best.
The story has Raiden up against a PMC group called the Desperado, who want to preserve conflict because they were better off like that.
It's pretty interesting to see what has been going on after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Raiden has come a long way from being the most hated character in Metal Gear Solid 2 to a well-developed anti-hero in this installment. Plus, the game has a great sense of humor to counter its dark tone ("You need to take a DOOMP").
It's pretty interesting to see what has been going on after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Raiden has come a long way from being the most hated character in Metal Gear Solid 2 to a well-developed anti-hero in this installment. Plus, the game has a great sense of humor to counter its dark tone ("You need to take a DOOMP").
The game serves as a departure from series (it's a spin-off, after all), as it has more of a focus on action than stealth, though there are some stealth sections. Raiden is equipped with a high-frequency blade, used for cutting up enemies, even in pieces. This is done with Blade Mode, in which time slows down, giving Raiden a chance to chop enemies or objects into pieces. There is also a process called zandatsu, in which you can take an enemy's spine during Blade Mode when done correctly.
So, how I come put this game low on the list? Well, the game has its share of problems, such as an uncooperative camera and some of the enemies really turned me off, especially the final boss, who almost made me rage quit. On the other hand, I loved some of the boss fights and the music is awesome, matching the fast-paced, over-the-top, and exciting gameplay.
I haven't played the DLC side stories yet, but it does give me a chance to go back to this game. But other than that, I can't find myself going back to this game a lot, and that's why this game is at number 10 on this list. It's fun, but nothing spectacular.
9. Bentley's Hackpack (PS3/Vita)
If you guys didn't know, Sanzaru Games also released a standalone downloadable game to promote Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. As the title suggests, it is based on the hacking mini-games from the former title. There are three types of hacking minigames:- System Cracker, like the hacking mini-games from previous installments, you go from a bird's-eye view, shooting different targets, while getting from point A to point B. You can also switch to different codes to open firewalls.
- Alter Ego, where you play as a digital, buff Bentley wearing a red bandanna in a side-scrolling view, shooting at different targets and fighting a mini-boss at the end.
- System Cracker, where you move an electric ball by tilting the SIXAXIS controller or the Vita's gyroscope. Easily my least-favorite hacking mini-game due to the gimmicky motion controls.
Throughout the game, you earn tokens from completing challenges and your primary goal is to get the last prize which requires all the tokens in order to unlock a secret room.
My one downside with the game is that despite being a Cross-Buy title, you can't transfer your save file into your Vita in case you want to take it on the go. As well as that, the Vita version suffers from slowdowns during certain sections of the game. Nevertheless, it's a nice downloadable title, and if you liked the hacking mini-games from the latest Sly Cooper game, get it.
8. Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
I loved Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy in the U.S.) and Heavy Rain, so I was excited for this game and I rarely watched any gameplay footage because I wanted to be surprised. After playing it, I think this is the weakest interactive film that Quantic Dream has made. The game got mixed reviews during its release; some were positive and others were negative. I'm more in the middle and I'll explain why.
The story focuses on a young woman named Jodie Holmes, played by Ellen Page, who has a connection with an entity named Aiden. Two scientists named Nathan Dawkins and Cole Freeman, both played by Willem Dafoe and Kadeem Hardison, respectively, take her under their wing to research the Infraworld, to which she and Aiden might have a connection with.
The story takes a different direction from its predecessors, as it goes for a non-linear narrative, like Pulp Fiction, Memento, and Cloud Atlas, switching from Jodie as a child, teenager, and young adult back and forth. As the game goes to a different chapter, you start to piece together which chapters came after or before another in Jodie's timeline. The reason for this is because in the beginning, Jodie narrates about her mind being in shambles and is struggling to remember what has happened before.
Like its predecessors, Beyond: Two Souls is an interactive drama, where you take control of Jodie during different parts of her life, interacting with various parts of each chapter. During the game, you can also switch as Aiden, who can move objects, choke enemies, and even possess them. I liked the concept, but playing as Aiden is kind of limited, since there are parts where you can't go too far and some of the choices are flat out given to you.
The quick-time events have to do with time slowing down during some action sequences and pushing the right stick to a certain direction. They can be a little problematic because sometimes it's hard to read a person's body to move into a certain direction without screwing up. And when it comes to interactivity, I felt that some of the choices you make in the game lack impact. Heavy Rain gave the player a good sense of consequence, because when one of the player characters die, they stay dead and the story continues. Here, you can complete the game without doing anything during the quick-time events and not even die, though it IS a nonlinear storyline, so I guess it's forgiveable.
As for the positives, I love the soundtrack by Lorne Balfe, with "The Infraworld" being my favorite track. Also, my favorite chapter is probably when Jodie meets a group of homeless people, probably because you really connect with them. Also, the game looks incredible, especially because of how much detail was put into the environments and the character models, since they all look very realistic.
So, yeah, this game is a mixed bag for me and it had a lot to live up to. The story is quite interesting, as well as the acting, but the game overall just felt really limited and it could have been done better. Although, these are my first impressions, and I might look deeper into the game when I get the chance.
7. Contrast (PC/PS3/PS4/X360)
I played this game over at a friend's house on his PS4 and this game surprised the heck out of me due to how amazing this game was. The game is set in a noir-type of setting where all but our two main characters, Dawn and Didi, are invisible and only appear as shadows against walls, but still interact like they were real. It sounds strange, but it's a unique idea. If you ask me, it kind of reminds of Peter Pan a little, because his shadow can move at its own free will; there's even a Peter Pan reference thrown in one part of the game.
Contrast is a puzzle-platformer game where you take control of Dawn, Didi's imaginary friend, who has the ability to jump into shadows to reach areas you can't reach as her 3D self, going into a 2D perspective. The puzzles are all based on moving different light sources so Dawn can access areas.
Not only is the gameplay really original, at least to my knowledge, but I also love the art direction, having a film-noir type of atmosphere where it is dark, as well as a surreal feeling because the setting kind of reminds me of Gravity Rush due to it looking like it is set in the sky. My one downside to this game is that I've encountered some glitches while playing. It's nothing that broke the game, but I feel that it needs some patching. If you've never heard of this game, download it. Never mind the mixed reviews it got; it's well worth the money.
6. Tearaway (PS Vita)
As more promising Vita titles are on their way, one standout title that interested me was Tearaway, developed by Media Molecule, the same developers of LittleBigPlanet.Tearaway is a 3D Platformer, where you control a messenger named Iota (male) or Atoi (female) who has to deliver a message to a being called a You (the player). As you progress, you fight through the main enemies of the game called Scraps. Iota (or Atoi) can be aided by the You by using the Vita's many features like the gyroscope for tilting, the touch screen to clear or move obstacles and the rear touch pad to make the messenger bounce or other functions.
In this game, the setting is a world made entirely out of paper, with everything being a papercraft, similar to how the LittleBigPlanet series look like they were made out of arts and crafts items. All I can say is that the game looks positively gorgeous and each world looks vibrant and colorful, matching the lighthearted tone of the game. Although I find it amusingly awkward having my own face appear throughout the game.
If you're looking for more Vita titles, Tearaway is a good place to start.
5. The Last of Us (PS3)
I wasn't part of the hype, but I eventually got to try the game out over the summer and it was a rewarding experience that I will never forget, and this is from the same developers that made high-quality games like Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and Uncharted. As usual, it doesn't disappoint.
The game has a post-apocalyptic setting where humanity has deteriorated because two decades earlier, there was a pandemic where humans were getting infected by Cordyceps fungi, turning them into zombie-like creatures. The ones who haven't been infected have either fended for themselves or lived in quarantine zones. Basically, all hope for humanity is lost.
That is, until a man named Joel is given an assignment to escort a 14-year-old girl named Ellie across the United States to a friendly group called the Fireflies, who believe she might provide a cure for mankind. The story reminds me of the film, Children of Men, which has a similar concept, but the story is so well-crafted and full of great characters, the similarities just go away, though the story has its share of predictable moments. There are also times in which the game actually drives me in suspense during the stealth sections and the Clickers are by far the most frightening enemies. When you play it, you will know why.
Joel has been through a lot that he finds it hard to stay attached to anyone, though throughout the journey, he starts to look at Ellie like she was his own daughter. Ellie is a one-of-a-kind character, at least in my eyes. She grew up after the pandemic, never having a real childhood, not having experienced stuff that we had when we were kids. Despite that, she is a really likeable character and you start to warm up to her. Their interactions with each other are some of the best I've seen in a video game.
For a story-driven game, you might be skeptical about the gameplay. Well, the gameplay is just as good. It's a third-person game, with elements of shooting, stealth, and survival horror. You have a limited amount of supplies at your disposal, giving you the choice to sneak past enemies and killing them silently or take them straight on in combat. It also features real-time crafting, with the tools you have to craft items like shivs and Molotov cocktails.
I never played the multiplayer because I wasn't interested, but the single-player alone made me adore this game. You're probably wondering why it isn't higher on the list. Well, with everything I just said, this a game that I imagine myself going back to once every extended period of time. I will say, however, that this is Naughty Dog's best game on the PS3 and worthy of all the praise it got. If you haven't played it, you have to experience this beautiful game.
4. Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PS3)
After having two smaller, experimental titles, Insomniac Games decided to make the last Ratchet & Clank game on the PS3 play like a traditional Ratchet & Clank game.
The game's story serves as an epilogue to the Future trilogy on the PS3, as various aspects from previous games are brought back into play. It also features the first female primary antagonist in the series, Vendra Prog, who is very sinister in nature and has a decent backstory. Some of the other characters like Talwyn, Cronk, Zephyr, and Qwark are brought back, with not having much to do, but I am thrilled to see them anyways. Also, the game is hilarious as usual. Who laughed really hard on the line deliveries from Mr. Zurkon's son? ("Little Zurkon does not need bolts. He is given an allowance; an allowance of carnage.")
The game is a 3D platformer with elements of shooting and role-playing. As Ratchet, you can buy weapons and upgrade them with experience points from fallen enemies. As Clank, his gameplay revolves in a 2D sidescroller where he has to lure a Nether from another dimension in order to clear obstacles. There is also a lot of replayability with the gladiator battles, gold bolts, Skill Points, and Challenge Mode.
Into the Nexus may be short, but I don't care. It was well worth the $30 and a great swan song for the series on the PS3. If there is a Ratchet & Clank game on PS4, I'm buying that console just for that game.
3. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3/Vita)
It has been eight years since the last Sly Cooper game and it was well worth the wait. Instead of Sucker Punch working on the game, Sanzaru Games inherited the Cooper family legacy.Continuing after the ending of Sly 3, the Cooper Gang reunites as the pages of the Thievius Raccoonus, the Cooper family book, start to go blank. Sly, Bentley, and Murray travel in time to save the Cooper family and confront the mastermind behind it all. It's not the most well-written story in the series, but it did not make me lose interest, since there was a lot of character development and tons of comedic moments.
Sanzaru Games really took their time to make sure it's as playable and familiar as the previous installments. Sly, Bentley, and Murray are all playable characters, along with Carmelia and Sly's ancestors, each having their own unique abilities. The open world gameplay still exists, but I really wish they added more to it, but that's a minor complaint. The boss battles are all great, except the final boss, which was a pushover. There are also a ton of collectibles to increase the replay value.
Like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, this is a Cross-Buy game, where you buy the PS3 version and get the downloadable Vita version for free, which is a good deal. You can also transfer your save data on your Vita in case you want to take it on the go by using the cloud saving. But to be honest, the Vita version isn't as good as the PS3 version due to the lower frame rate.
I really commend Sanzaru Games for bringing back a very underrated franchise on the PS3 that they deserve to make the next installment since Sucker Punch is working on other projects like the upcoming Infamous: Second Son on the PS4. Keep up the great work.
2. Grand Theft Auto V (PS3/X360)
I remember playing Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City in my youth and had a lot of fond memories causing chaos and getting chased by the cops (I mean the games, not in real life). I recently played them (I haven't played San Andreas yet) and they're not as great as I remember them to be. Regardless, I was excited for the latest installment, and I was not disappointed. Where do I begin?
For starters, you not only play as one character, but three: Franklin Clinton, Michael DeSanta, and Trevor Phillips. Franklin is a gangbanger who works for a repossession agent; Michael is a retired bank robber living with a dysfunctional family; and Trevor (my favorite character) is Michael's former partner, who is a psychopath, and I think that's what makes him stand out amongst the three protagonists. The three eventually meet up and take part in various heists throughout the game.
The game takes place in Los Santos once again, taking place in our time. Like Red Dead Redemption and previous installments in the GTA series, there are a lot of activities and side quests to do when you're not doing any of the story missions. I could go on, but I'm pressed for time.
The newest addition are the heists. Remember in games like Vice City and Grand Theft Auto IV where there was that one bank robbing mission? Well, this time, you can choose which way to approach a heist, whether it would be quiet or loud, and choosing which crew members. The final result depends on how you planned it all out.
And before I praise the online, I gotta ask, why did Rockstar not include it when the game came out and we had to wait for a patch at the end of September? Angry Joe predicted it would be a disaster and it was. On the first patch, I had trouble gaining access online, but Rockstar fixed that with more patches. That's how low we've gotten, people. Mini-rant over, I am having a lot of fun playing the online with a friend of mine just roaming about and annoying other players if they annoy us. I haven't had that much fun online since Red Dead Redemption.
I am glad to have picked up this game. I spent hours and hours doing whatever the heck I want while also focusing on the story. The game reminded me on how much I love sandbox games and that it's my second-favorite genre behind platformers.
1. BioShock Infinite (PS3/X360/PC)
I wasn't part of the hype, but I pre-ordered the game anyways just to see what it's all about. I did play the first BioShock; I just wasn't too crazy about it like everybody else. I do appreciate it for standing out amongst many first-person shooters in this generation, with its imaginative worlds, strong narrative, and good gameplay reminiscent of System Shock 2. BioShock Infinite managed to do the same.
Taking place in the year 1912, you play as disgraced Pinkerton agent, Booker DeWitt, who has a chance to clear his debts by travelling to the floating city of Columbia and rescue a young woman named Elizabeth. After rescuing her, they run into a civil war that they have no choice but to take part in, while in the meantime, we learn about Booker's past and Elizabeth's ability to create dimensional tears. I would go further talking about the many themes it explores, but it would take too long and I would spoil the game for you.
The biggest highlight in the story is Elizabeth herself, who is not only one of my favorite sidekicks in gaming, but one of my favorite female characters in gaming. It's not because she's really pretty, but she is just downright loveable and she puts a smile on my face. Not only that, she is a really helpful companion, bringing supplies to Booker during combat. Not once does she feel like a burden to you since she can fend for herself.
The game offers the familiar gameplay we've seen in System Shock 2 and BioShock, those being the gunplay and the awesome powers. Although I have two downsides for each of those aspects. For the gunplay, you can only carry up to two weapons, whereas in BioShock, as well as the Burial at Sea DLC, you can carry more than two; as for the vigors, I don't find myself using most of them, unless you're in Hard mode or 1999 mode.
I would love to talk more about the game, and I will. Once Burial at Sea - Episode 2 is finally released (it should be the last downloadable content for the game), I might (or will) do a full-length review next year. BioShock Infinite is not only my favorite game of 2013, but it is now one of my favorite games of all time. Add that to my list of favorite games from each year of this decade:
Last year was rather mediocre in gaming with not too many games that have "wow factor", save for a few games. Thankfully this year was much better, now being up there with 2001, 2004, and 2005 as some of my favorite years in gaming. I hope you enjoyed this list. Feel free to comment on what your favorite games from this year are.
Stay tuned for my Top 7 Films of 2013, which should be up before New Year's Eve.
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