Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2012/#comments Joystiq is revealing its 10 favorite games of 2012 throughout the week. Keep reading for more top selections and every writer's personal, impassioned picks in Best of the Rest roundups.

Best of the Rest Sinan's picks of 2012
Dragon's Dogma
There are so many things wrong with Dragon's Dogma, as noted in Joystiq's scathing review. For starters, its unwillingness to offer guidance makes the Souls games look helpful, its dialogue repetition is nothing short of maddening - yes I freaking know wolves hunt in packs - and no game has ever made fast travel more of a chore. But when it's good, oh how good it is. Combining in harmony with my troupe of automated pawns to take down giant foes in simplistic yet epic, challenging combat is just too delectable to exclude Dragon's Dogma from mention, flaws or no.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asura's Wrath
Asura's Wrath is one of the strangest, grandest, most wonderful games I have ever played. It's not the sort of game you'll play for months on end. In fact, you might only ever play it once. The point, however, is that you should play it. The amount of pure, unbridled insanity on display is worth the price of admission alone, with more improbable and impossible things happening than I could catalog here: death duels on the moon, enemies the size of planets, enemies larger than planets, you name it.

It's also responsible for the single best bit of critical hyperbole I've ever come up with, and I stand by it. As I said in my review, "Asura's Wrath is a glittering, golden starchild of incredulity, and I love it."

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2012

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best-of-2012best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2012Game-of-the-Year-2012GOTY-2012iosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxTue, 01 Jan 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/#comments Everybody loves Rayman Rayman Origins
If you asked what my favorite game of the 2011 was, I would tell you it was Dark Souls, which made the number eight slot in our prestigious top ten. If, however, you asked me which game instilled me with the most pure, unbridled joy, I would say it was Rayman Origins without a moment's hesitation.

Providing both a fresh experience and an invigorating jolt of nostalgia for the days when platformers were king, Rayman Origins is a must-play.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2011dead-space-2dungeon-defenderskinectmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rayman-originsrise-of-nightmaresthe-gunstringerxboxWed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Ben's picks for 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-for-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-for-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-for-2011/#comments Battlefield 3
The time I've spent with Battlefield 3 this year is only bested by the many, many hours I've spent stalking dragons in Skyrim. The hours with BF3, however, were distinctly more dense, while I shouted at teammates to provide cover fire, slowly inching towards a heavily-guarded objective, or lead the charge on an enemy base from the driver's seat of a large, mobile, metal death box.

It's a crime that Battlefield 3 isn't on our top 10 list, because it's by far the best multiplayer shooter experience available, and it's certainly this year's best (in yet another year with several genre entries, including an Infinity Ward-developed CoD title). The main campaign isn't very good, sure, and the co-op is even less impressive, but the "Battlefield Moments[TM]" you'll experience in multiplayer more than make up for the package's shortcomings. Worried you've been waiting too long and won't be able to compete? BF3 mitigates that with support classes, allowing players of all types to participate. Squad up on Team [JOY]!

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Ben's picks for 2011

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Ben's picks for 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2011dicedseaea-diceelectronic-artsforza-motorsport-4iosipadiphonejetpack-joyridekinectlittlebigplanet-2microsoftmobilenintendopcplaystationps3wiixboxyou-dont-know-jackTue, 03 Jan 2012 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/#comments
Dead Space 2
I am a passionate man. When Dead Space 2 was overlooked by several of my fellow editors, preventing it from attaining a rightful place in our top ten, I briefly contemplated a multi-city tour. The plan was simple: ring their doorbell, smack them across the face, cross their name off a list and move on to the next deserving victim. My main reason Dead Space 2 deserved a spot in our top ten:

At times, I forgot to breathe.

Dead Space 2 was a game of tension and release. I found myself gasping for air after several scenes, so focused on whatever new necromorph horror was trying to splay me that the part of my brain regulating natural respiration was overridden by the section screaming, "SHOOT IT! SHOOT IT WITH SO MUCH QUICKNESS AND RUN!"

For the sake of levity, if I had it my way, there would have been several moments where protagonist Isaac Clarke pulled out Handi-Snacks, lifted his visor and pouted about whatever danger he'd face beyond the next airlock.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2011dead-space-2driver-san-franciscodungeon-defendersmicrosoftmight-and-magic-clash-of-heroespcplaystationps3space-marinewarhammer-40k-space-marinexboxyou-dont-know-jackMon, 02 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2010/#comments Dance Central
This is how the dancing genre should be done. Harmonix brought it on and stepped it up with Dance Central, a full-body follow-the-choreography game that showed off Microsoft's Kinect tech and ended up being the device's killer app at launch. Authoritative, yet fun, Dance Central felt like the first step in a franchise that could potentially have an amazing future.

Dance Central 2 is a given and I can't wait to see what it delivers. Harmonix has shown us with Rock Band that it can rapidly build upon a core foundation. Chained dance routines? Online dance battles? Customizable routines? It's probably all on the table... and I would dance on that table using a stripper pole for all of it. But, my gawd, I would give anything for the option to remove or exchange freestyle sections for more moves.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Halo Wars
Say what you will about the game's simplicity, or the brevity of the single-player campaign, but Ensemble Studios absolutely nailed console real-time strategy with Halo Wars. The controls work beautifully, allowing for the kind of granular management required in RTS games, and yet they remain simple enough for almost anyone to get the hang of the game. Add great online multiplayer and it's one tasty proposition.

Frankly, I was so addicted to the Skirmish mode when reviewing the game that it ate into my work hours. Remembering that makes it harder to face the fact that Ensemble was shuttered once work on the game was complete. I can only hope that Robot is given the chance to further the series, or at least work the controls into an entirely new game.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Richard's Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"BUT THAT GAME WAS 2008!!11one!1!" Well, yes, in the strictest sense. Sega's strategy role-playing game, an epic tale chronicling the hardships and victories of Gallian militia Squad 7, was sent out to die by the publisher when it released in November 2008. However, word-of-mouth, critical praise and some discounted pricing helped the saga find a place in many people's lives (and hearts) by mid-2009.

One of the most endearing mechanics implemented in the game was giving all the playable members of Squad 7 bonuses (or flaws) based on their neuroses, relationships and desires. Also, every character had a different personality that shined during their turn through little quips and order recognition comments. It gave the entire cast more depth of character, even as the player only saw a handful of the troops during cutscenes. Despite the requisite Japanese RPG flair and melodrama, there was a simple beauty and charm in the storytelling, while the gameplay introduced a great basis for iteration. Valkyria Chronicles is a series that, with love and attention, could become so much more. I look forward to returning to Gallia and hope future installments recognize that the delightful characters are as important to the series as the strategic gameplay.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Alexander's Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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 Red Faction: Guerrilla
Arriving approximately seven months late to the party, I didn't play RFG until earlier this month when I desperately cobbled together 2009's game releases for a massive pre-GOTY playstravaganza. That marathon came to a long pause while I smashed through the many structures of Mars with my trusty sledgehammer, constantly hearing "Space A$&%*#&" playing along the way in my mind. Sure, RFG was a bit rough around the edges, but what it lacked in mechanical prowess was more than made up for by the sheer amount of childlike joy I experienced while demolishing everything in my path.

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JoystiqBest of the Rest: Ben's Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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