Well kids, it’s mid way through December, which means you’re soon going to be seeing a lot of the following three things in particular:
1.) Father Christmas, and/or adults pretending to be Father Christmas
2.) Drunk relatives
3.) Game Of The Year lists
So what is 2010’s Game of the Year? More to the point, who cares? I’m calling this one right now; Fighters Uncaged has got this years award in the bag. What’s more important is this years Fail of the Year, the question inspired by NeoGAF and which I’m putting to you, our lovely Tap readers, writers and commenters today.
Let’s get to it; what sucked the most ass this year for you? Did the whole West/Zampella/Activision/Infinity Ward farce grind your gears? Perhaps the spectacular collapse of APB was the most damaging to the industry at large, or did a specific high profile release – Final Fantasy (either of them), Gran Turismo 5 or Heavy Rain, for example – leave a sour taste? How about Kinect and Move, or the total failure of NBA Elite to even release and find itself cancelled at such a late stage? Shall we give Bobby Kotick a life time achievement award for consistent and spectacular failure? Yes, lets.
Over to you.
Email the author of this post at matc@tap-repeatedly.com
Hey, who sneaked into my office last night and took that picture?
Umm.. We call him Santa Claus here.
; )
What sucked most this year for me?
Elemental: War of Magic, hands down. I could care less about the squabbles between Infinity Ward and Activision. APB barely registered on my radar because I am far too cute to play MMO’s (I have been told that, as has Steerpike, *fistbump*). Neither the Kinect or Move inspire me, because I have no interest in such things. I never really liked NBA video games, so the lack of NBA Elite doesn’t bother me.
Elemental War of Magic was one of the games I had most been looking forward to for years. I even ordered the special edition, so that I would get a better manual. (This is not the case. You get a completely useless book with the special edition game that gives you no insight, whatsoever, on how to play the game). This game was awful. Beyond awful. Unplayable. I have heard that they have been patching things and what not, but I don’t think I will ever go back. The initial expereince ruined me on this game. For a moment or two I almost felt like what Dobry must feel like all the time. All most. So much anger and annoyance. I recently had to “Nuke and Pave” my laptop. I didn’t even bother re-installing Impulse or even considered the game something I should attempt to save.
Hopefully, Dead State will be better next year.
Civ 5. Worry of the year is 3D gimmickrap taking over.
I’ve not been disappointed all year with any of the games I’ve played. Which is just how I like it.
What I saw of Gothic 4 looked just terrible. I turned and ran and never came back.
F1: 2010. A nice graphics presentation that failed in so many basic ways. Why bother putting in setup options if you can’t examine anything remotely related to performance (even replays) after the fact? A patch finally materialized to fix some of the major problems, but the impression I get from the devs is: screw it, F1: 2011 is only five months away.
GTR-Evolution (among others) have true fidelity in force feedback and sound quality that make you feel like a racer and make you want to play CRV-Undercarriage Exposed at home. F1’s dumbed down models do not. Run, don’t walk, from the burning wreckage here.
By “cute” Ajax means “handsomesexy,” not, like, puppy. But it’s true. I was present when we were declared too cute to play MMOs *fistbump*.
Hmm, of the year.
Fallout: New Vegas.
STALKER: Call of Pripyat.
Mass Effect 2.
Civ V.
Metro 2033.
I did enjoy FFXIII, but not as a “of the year” type of game.
Worst?
Far Cry 2. I know that was a few years ago but it’s still the worst.
GTA IV (see above).
I’m actually probably off on several of these games’ release years, but I just got back from Texas, which harms the brain.
I cant stop laughing at that picture Mat 🙂
Considering I only tend to play MMOs…none really- I expected disappointment.
Primarily I’d probably say Metro 2033. The game annoys me so much I could merrily set it on fire.
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage was atrocious. Not that I expected it to rule the universe but I was known to enjoy occassional Samurai Warriors game and this one followed the anime closely PLUS it looked so much like GodHand in videos…
But, alas, it was horrible. Unresponsive, extremely limited in scope, with a boring set of moves and totally ludicrous physics. I like brainless brawlers as much as the next guy but when you catch yourself thinking “man, how much longer do I have to play this?” that’s usually a good place to stop. Luckilly, noone was paying me to play it so I stopped.
If I had to say “Game Of The Year” as opposed to “Failure”, I’d probably go with “Mass Effect 2.” I had a blast playing that game. A lot of fun. I had a “Golden Age” of gaming for a few months back between, say, last November – March or so, I played “Fallout 3”, “Dragon Age”, “Mass Effect, and “Mass Effect 2” back-to-back-to-back-to-back.
Nothing too disappointing this year; I suppose I should mention that it’s unfortunate some folks are serious about this Move and Kinatal business. And 3D. Let’s hope that never pans out. As for disappointing games, what I played of Starcraft 2 was something beyond embarrassing; and Bioshock 2, while not bad, felt very uninspired.
I played a lot of good stuff in 2010… a lot of that included free independent games or older stuff not actually from this year. If I were to force myself to choose a game of the year, made THIS year, it’s Limbo. Runner up either Fallout: New Vegas or Heavy Rain. Honorable mention: Mass Effect 2, because it tries so hard to be so damn epic.
Gah, I spoke too soon. I know this isn’t a 2010 game but it’s the strongest contender for my FOTY.
Over the weekend I decided to trade in several games that were sat gathering dust for Street Fighter IV and Brutal Legend. I’ve not got round to playing the latter but Saturday evening my girlfriend fancied a few bouts on SFIV.
Oh dear. I mean, it looks nice enough but what the fuck is going on with the music and the voice overs? Even Marvel Vs Capcom 2 didn’t sound this bad. And why does it feel like a lesser game than Alpha 3 (the last Street Fighter I played)?
When I picked it up I thought ‘I think I’m bored with beat ’em ups but I’ve heard this is the shiz. Perhaps it will rekindle the love I once had for this now stagnant genre.’
It’s not the shiz, it’s the same old Street Fighter that Capcom have been pedaling for the last bazillion years, only better looking and dumber. In fact, I loaded Alpha 3 up afterwards and really enjoyed it.