WRUP: 'Game of the Year' talk time

by Alexander Sliwinski on Nov 25th 2011 8:15PM

The time is upon us to start talking about Joystiq's favorite games of the year. Last year was so easy, with Mass Effect 2's chorus of acclaim. This year, however, the choice doesn't feel so clear. There were some great experiences early in 2011 with Dead Space 2 and Portal 2, but the end of the year brought us Skyrim and... boy, there's been a lot. What have been your top five of the year?

What's everyone playing?

[WilleeCole via Shutterstock]

Alexander Sliwinski (@XanderSliwinski): Repeat of last week: Skyrim. And Assassin's Creed: Revelations if I can pull myself away from Skyrim.
Arthur Gies (@Aegies): Since Arkham City is finally out for PC, I might jump into that, but I hope to play some MW3 multi and more Saints Row as I take a vacation from Skyrim. Also, I need to play with my Inkling!
Ben Gilbert (@BigBossBgilbert): I've given over my life to Skyrim, so ... uh ... there's that. I'll probably play some Battlefield 3 multiplayer as well, but, ya know, way more Skyrim.
Christopher Grant (@ChrisGrant): I think it's all Skyrim with breaks for MW3 ... and turkey.
David Hinkle (@DaveHinkle): I'm looking to get my blade soaked in something other than turkey and gravy this weekend with Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
Griffin McElroy (@griffinmcelroy): [...]
JC Fletcher (@jcfletcher): I'm out of town this weekend, but I'm taking Mario Kart 7 with me. My family's going to think I'm furious with them, and I might prefer that to explaining to them that the problem is actually that jerk Yoshi.
Jess Conditt (@JessConditt): [...]
Jordan Mallory (@Jordan_Mallory): Metal Gear Solid HD Collection just showed up so I'll be spending most of my non-family/food time with Snake and crew. I hear it's amazing when the famous purple stuffed worm in flap-jaw space with the tuning fork does a raw blink on Hari Kiri Rock. I need scissors! 61!
Justin McElroy (@JustinMcElroy): Guys, Saint's Row: The Third is just so much fun. So. Much. Fun.
Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK): Sorry, Skyrim, but this weekend I'm juggling the delirious combination of Skyward Sword, Saints Row 3 and Halo Anniversary.
Mike Schramm (@MikeSchramm): I am still playing Modern Warfare 3 and Skyrim. I may not ever need any other games again, at this rate.
Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM): If I get some alone time, Skyrim or Gears 3. If I get family time, Pictionary on uDraw. If I get AWESOME family time, Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops.
Steven Wong: I'll probably get in some more Skyrim or Batman: Arkham City before getting together with the family. After eating, we'll try to decide what multiplayer game we want to get going.

Tags: what-are-you-playing, WRUP

Reader Comments (131)

There is Skyrim, then there's everything else.

@AkumaFTW

There is Skyrim, and there is nothing else.

@liquidsoap89

There is Skyrim and there is cheese that melts.

I got nothing guys.

@AkumaFTW Well this weekend there's The Old Republic, but after monday, sure, nothing but Skyrim.

@AkumaFTW

There is Skyrim and there are leather belts?

Skyrim is awesome, but so was Dark Souls. As much as I'm enjoying another 200-hour engagement in Tamriel, Dark Souls was refreshingly innovative and had better fighting mechanics. It's too bad it's not more popular, it deserves at least to be in the same class on technical merits alone.

@AkumaFTW What more needs to be said?

Skyrim met all of my expectations.
Arkham City exceeded every expectation I had of it. My vote goes to Rocksteady and The Dark Knight.

My Top 5.
Saints Row the Third
Dark Souls
MW3
Portal 2
And assassins creed.
Sorry gonna wait for Skyrim GOTY

@880Cloud088

Seriously Assassins creed.
First one showed alot of promise and was unique.

The second was a refinement.
The third, familiarity set in and they started to take the wrong direction
The fourth, well is it assassins creed.

They havnt improved the core gameplay instead they've just added alot of extra crap like managing stores and then the tower defence games.

They really need to focus on the core gameplay. Its no longer an adventure game but a sandbox and some will like it others wont.

I mean, was there a need for bombs or several swords which all play the same way. I still only use my concealed blade since the first game one.

You can literally just walk past the people, theres no need to kill.

They need to drop-back to basics, focus on stealth and build the tension a bit more.

Im not saying its a bad game, just not the game it should have been.

@McPo

Honestly, the bomb mechanic is probably the most innovative thing they've done with the game since 2.

However, I agree with you on the core game play. The mechanics have not been changed or refined in the last 3 installments (outside of the hidden "hook" that you get in revelations). I really wish they would refine those mechanics...they do leave much to be desired.

F**K you mean last year was "so easy"...have you already forgotten Red Dead?

@spookcuz

My exact thoughts when I read that line.

@spookcuz

Fairly ludicrous last year. Alan Wake, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Limbo.

I'd say ME 2 probably rised to the top for me too, but there is NO disregarding those other cherished gifts to the gaming community.

@Shadowbender Last year, Alan Wake rised to the top for me. It was sooo much better than everything I'd seen about it before. Honestly, one of my favorite games of this gen!

@spookcuz

Yeah this forever, Red Dead was easily my favorite game of last year.

As for this year....

1. Skyward Sword
2. Final Fantasy Type-0
3. Skyrim
4. inFamous 2/Festival of Blood
5. I still have to play Uncharted 3, Arkham City and Saints Row: The Third before I reach a final verdict, but from the leftovers that I have played, I'd say either Portal 2, The Witcher 2 or Gears 3.

@spookcuz Yeah, Red Dead was my GOTY last year. That said, I didn't play Mass Effect 2 either...

@Shadowbender

When i look at that list i think last year was much better than this year. This year has pretty much just been refined sequels.

@Shadowbender

Ahem, rose* to the top - rised isn't a word.

Deus ex and dark souls

@Wizardsofwaverly

You sir, are a man of taste and intelligence

Modern Warfare 3, Assassin's Creed Revelations, and Arkham City. I tried BF3 and Skyworm. Boring!!!!!

@fupayme
Wat??

@fupayme Can't tell if troll, or disgrace to the gaming community.

@fupayme Did you pick up cabbages? That's where it clicked for me.

That photo is so appropriate. XD

Time has been short this year, so console gaming has largely fallen off the map for me. I've been messing around in Dissidia Duodecim mostly - with Cut the Rope eating the rest of it.

Skyrim's going to take Game of the Year just because nobody's going to get to the other games in time.

So far Skyward Sword has completely blown me way and is easily GotY. It's so awesome to have all my doubts going in be so thoroughly smashed to pieces.

@Nmaster64

This in so many ways. I was absolutely floored by Skyward Sword, and can't help but wonder how I was ever worried that it wouldn't live up to standard.

@Nmaster64 same. by far submitting a rather long review to gamefaq later this week..once I finish the game (my wii stopped reading discs near the end t_t) and edit out some typos

@Nmaster64
I now feel like I can safely say that I didn't enjoy Twilight Princess without any kind of retribution because Skyward Sword is phenomenal. I expected something marginally phoned-in and got the best Zelda in years (since OoT IMO).

@Nmaster64

You guys are making me excited for Skyward Sword! I haven't picked it up yet (it'll probably be a Christmas present), but I'm definitely looking forward to it.

@Nmaster64

I've exams this week, but after that I'm gaming a lot.

Plan to play Super Mario 3D Land now, then get Skyward Sword at Christmas. All these raving comments make me think I made a good choice in having it be by Christmas game of choice.

I'll play it for an hour or 2, get dinner, play again, watch Dr Who, then finish the day off with more Zelda, and maybe by that stage I'll have reached the first dungeon (if rumours of it taking ages to get there are true). In reality, it'll probably be - get bird, fly around for 6 hours just enjoying flying.

Right now: Revision.

@Nmaster64

God dammit. Hearing all this really makes me want Skyward Sword. Eh, who needs food anyways? I'm getting it.

I'm playing Skyrim and Ocarina of Time 3D this weekend. Got one of them snazzy Zelda 3DS bundles during the Black Friday... erm, festivities.

As for my top 5:

Skyrim
Skyrim
Skyrim
Skyrim
Arkham City

@Heffer Wolfe
I would just like to point out that in your 5th entry you spelled Skyrim wrong

Same answer as last weekend: Skyrim and a little Halo: Anniversary

It's probably just me, but I'm enjoying Skyward Sword more than Skyrim at the moment. the anticipation of SS, and the fact that it easily stands up to all the other Zelda games, makes it the winner for me.

@Yuglyoshi I'm having just as much fun with Skyward Sword as I am with Skyrim, but unfortunately with my family all around this weekend it'll be all Skyrim when I get a chance for games. The downside of the motion controls means that I have to have space and the large television rather than my travel monitor, alas! Otherwise, Skyward Sword is the first game I have played in which I have actually felt the motion controls really added something to the experience.

Portal 2
Skyrim
Skyward Sword.

Asking me to choose between those is some Sophie's Choice caliber shit.

Sorry, I absolutely loved the first Portal, but I don't think Portal 2 was GoTY material. Too many other great games. Skyrim is GoTY without question.

Skyrim, easy.

There is no other choice.

Portal 2
Skyrim
Uncharted 3
Batman: Arkham City
Deus Ex: Human Revolution

in no particular order. I expect to see these dominating the various GotY articles. And I'll be happy.

I bought Psychonauts and AAAaaaAAaaAA on the Steam sale. Love aaa. Psychonauts is a real pain with keyboard controls though.

Playing through Skyrim.

When it actually works and doesn't freeze up on me in the middle of a quest. Or bug out a quest that makes me unable to complete it without having to reload my save : |

My top 5 so far*:

Killzone 3
Resistance 3
Section 8: Prejudice
Dead Space 2
Kirby's Return To Dreamland

*there are still plenty of high profile games I haven't played this year that could enter the top 5 once I finally find the time to play them.

Anyhow this weekend I am playing Legendary and Soldner X.

@APCMice

Seeing the first 4 games then seeing Kirby made me LOL. All good games, just Kirby is so completely different from the other ones.

@jph89

I love my gritty shooters, but Kirby is just TOO adorable to resist.

Oblivion & Skyrim. Elder Scrolls forever!

I´m torn between Skyrim, Deus Ex And Portal 2. They´re al sooooo good.

Top 5
Uncharted 3
Killzone 3
Little Big Planet 2
Assassins Creed Revelations
Infamous 2

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WRUP: 'Game of the Year' talk time

Reader Comments (131)

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:17PM AkumaFTW said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:50PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 9:47PM Brian333 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 10:13PM Assmar said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 11:22PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 1:05AM jsx92 said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 10:55AM TaengtheHero said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:22PM britboyj27 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:23PM 880Cloud088 said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 9:27AM McPo said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 2:48PM Jon Jon said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:25PM spookcuz said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 9:10PM tylerh1701 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 9:11PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 11:47PM trickybuz93 said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 4:23AM AdmiralEscobar said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 5:49AM Hank Hill said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 9:52AM Darki Dreamside said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 3:30PM jtsuth said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:25PM Wizardsofwaverly said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 12:24AM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:26PM fupayme said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 10:07PM bloodlinejake said

Posted: Nov 29th 2011 12:40PM jungleberry said

Posted: Dec 1st 2011 7:20AM CamelCamelCamel said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:26PM Kagiroi said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:29PM Nmaster64 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:31PM Doublethink said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:42PM Kougeru said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:42PM RickGhastly said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 7:37AM Ospov said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 8:02AM mrmobius said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 4:00PM TraceurRyuk Part III said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:30PM Heffer Wolfe said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 9:38PM MEMgrizzlies7 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:34PM 343 Guilty Fart said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:35PM Yuglyoshi said

Posted: Nov 26th 2011 7:40AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:36PM RickGhastly said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:37PM trinica said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:38PM houstons85 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:39PM sweenish said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:40PM MLS said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:41PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:43PM APCMice said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:56PM jph89 said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 9:14PM APCMice said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:48PM Prince David said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 25th 2011 8:51PM rambo8 said

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