Enslaved
One thing I’ve hoped to see a change in the current design of games are the locations. Games like the Uncharted series show that you can have gorgeous, lush environments in modern games and not just shades of brown, gray and red. If nothing else the post-post-apocalypse of Enslaved is where I would want to set a game that I made. The ability to platform through it effortlessly is just icing on the cake. And I could go on and on about the acting, cut scene integration and everything else about Enslaved.
BlazBlue Continuum Shift
I’m honestly not a huge fighting game guy, though I’ve gotten into it a lot thanks to friends to play with, but damn this is hands down my favorite. Gorgeous to look at and easy to pick up and play, but I’ve been playing this series since it started, and I’m still learning new things about how to play and what the characters I play can do. Now that’s depth. Tack on probably the smoothest online gameplay I’ve ever seen and its a winner.
Super Meat Boy
If the platformer wasn’t back by now, its been grabbed, throttled, meatilated and respawned to take it all again. This is hardcore platforming at its finest by keeping it fun, addicting and brain-splodingly hard at times but still making you come back for more. What else could you want? A level editor? Got it.
Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar has really done something amazing with this game. I can’t remember the last time I really wanted to play a western, but the story is so engrossing and the gameplay so inviting its hard not to lose track of time just riding around… or mindlessly shooting things in the face. You know, to each their own. The acting, directing and story in general is some of the best I’ve seen all year at the very least.
Bayonetta
What’s more fun than mowing down hoards of enemies and looking awesome while doing it? Doing it with pistols! … Attached to your FEET! I loved Devil May Cry 3 and Bayonetta’s crazy combat is even more awesome to watch. Sure there’s a little bit of super stripping in it, but when some giant demon comes out of a portal and devours our enemy in the most bad ass way possible who’s gonna argue?
Honorable Mentions:
Epic Mickey
I’m a big Spector fan and love platformers so this is right up my alley. The only downside? No Wii. Still thinking about grabbing a Collector’s Edition if there are some laying about. I must have this game.
Limbo
I’ve played some and love it, but alas no 360. Still, the 10 or 20 minutes I’ve played of it had me captivated and I loved the puzzles.
Costume Quest
Who can argue with a Double Fine production? I mean, I loved Brutal Legend. Yeah, take that. I’m not sure if I’m an RPG fan or not, but I think I am. CQ takes some awesome spins on the standard RPG tropes. Its such a lovable game I can’t wait to see what else the team at DF puts up for download.
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes
My roommate got this one and we had a ball with it. I’m not a big Samurai Warriors gameplay fan but there was just something to Basara’s style that just grabbed me. The cool characters, neat coop, and replay value took up many hours on the coach. We hit 100 hours of playing in less than a week; then we realized we had a problem. My favorite to play was Kanbei Kuroda, what’s more fun than taken out waves of enemies with a wrecking ball you’re shackled to? Did I mention it was $40 too?
Mega Man 10
I’m a huge Mega Man fanboy. Mega Man X was my first game and the Legends series is on of my favorite series of all time; making Inafune-san on of my idols. That said, I was never really introduced to the normal Mega Man line so this throw back was a real treat and hard as hell I might add! The video game club brought out the SNES and I got to throw the old MMX cartridge in and playing MM10 beautifully mirrors playing the classics. How I played these games when I was little I have no idea. If this is the route that Capcom decides to take the Mega man franchise in the future, I look forward to it, or at least until after Legends 3 and MM Universe come out. What do you say to Mega Man X HD Remix?
Minecraft
Last but not least, the game that was a hit over night and a probably it’s own religion after a week. I keep putting off getting this gem cause of cash running a little dry. I’ll pick it up soon; I can’t wait to get building -er- crafting?
This is no where near an in depth list, there’s a ton of games that I haven’t even looked at this year and its been a busy one with some great games. I’ll try and keep a closer eye on releases in the new year. Happy 2011!
A Geek's Tour 