The key to our awards is not the release date but when we played the game in question.
The team's top 5 games of 2013; Matt
After a week of inner turmoil I finally completed one of the most difficult tasks this year; compiling my Top Five Games for 2013. Almost all my gaming has been on my Playstation 3, and the titles are generally AAA titles by big names with big budgets. A quick look through my PSN trophy list reminded me of the games I had picked up, bringing back memories and making me think hard about my choices.
Here we go.
Here we go.
Number 5; Grand Theft Auto 5 - Rockstar Games
While GTA V will be on the top of many lists this year, I don’t see it as a Game of the Year contender. It’s an amazing achievement to get a game to look this good on such old hardware; with the gigantic world and living environments. Unfortunately I never felt truly impressed by the story or characters. I’ve played through the entirety of the story and have completed most of the side missions, but when your favourite part of the game is the way the vehicles handle, it’s nothing but a Fabergé egg. Beautiful on the outside, hollow on the inside. But hey, those eggs are worth millions of dollars and are pretty cool.
Number 4Tomb Raider - Crystal Dynamics
I picked up Tomb Raider for Christmas 2012, but with work and normal Christmas stuff didn’t get a chance to get into the game until the start of January. Tomb Raider is a good combination of awesome scenery and great set pieces. Every little section of the game was unique and had its own nooks and crannies, leaving the player to decide how to stab the next religious fanatic through the eye with a pickaxe. The new Lara Croft is also really well designed and voiced after the character refresh. Bring on the next one (hopefully).
Number 3; XCOM - Enemy Unknown - Firaxis Games
After last years GOTY awards spoke so highly of XCOM - Enemy Unknown, I was dying to pick it up, but with all the big titles released in the early part of the year I had put it on the back-burner (along with Dishonored). When I purchased my Playstation 4 at the midnight launch, I also picked up my first subscription to Playstation Plus. This meant that I could use the subscription on my PS3 and download XCOM as part of the instant game collection. I’ve played it for about four hours and I’m already hooked. This game is incredible. I was afraid that all the micromanaging and gameplay elements would be overwhelming, but found the tutorial system and handholding lasts for just long enough for you to grasp the idea. Though I’ve just touched the surface, I’m aching to get back in.
Number 2; Far Cry 3 - Ubisoft Montreal
After searching to find a copy of Far Cry 3 at the normal retail stores (PSN wanted £60!), I finally tracked a copy down in ASDA. I had played the second one when it was fairly new on PS3 and hated it. After reading other reviews and hearing praise for the third game I was willing to give Far Cry 3 a chance.
Parts of this game are amazing: the gunplay, AI and the environment as well as the crafting, tattoo elements and the “bad guys”. Some parts of the game are average: the lack of a decent second island, the vehicle handling, the civilian NPC’s as well as a craft system that becomes obsolete quickly. But as a whole the game is beautiful and had me thrown into some of the best gunfighting of the year.
I really enjoyed Far Cry 3’s first island and hope that they can expand the story and world on the next title without changing the gameplay mechanics. Where else can I set fire to a drug crop to the tunes of Skrillex AND stab someone in the neck with a Bowie knife?
Parts of this game are amazing: the gunplay, AI and the environment as well as the crafting, tattoo elements and the “bad guys”. Some parts of the game are average: the lack of a decent second island, the vehicle handling, the civilian NPC’s as well as a craft system that becomes obsolete quickly. But as a whole the game is beautiful and had me thrown into some of the best gunfighting of the year.
I really enjoyed Far Cry 3’s first island and hope that they can expand the story and world on the next title without changing the gameplay mechanics. Where else can I set fire to a drug crop to the tunes of Skrillex AND stab someone in the neck with a Bowie knife?
Number 1; The Last of Us - Naughty Dog
I have a friend who played my copy of The Last of Us and couldn’t get into it. She got so far into the first few hours and gave up at the first sign of a clicker. I feel that The Last of Us starts off on the wrong foot, but makes every right step after.
I won’t spoil the story, but Naughty Dog have once again managed to add the perfect amount of detail to their action game to make it stand out at almost every point. Wether it’s a hand on a wall as you pass, or an off the cuff comment during an interaction.
The game isn’t perfect. Sections are infuriating and at times I felt cheated by the game and the level design, but when things were going well The Last of Us shines. The relationship between Joel and Ellie feels like the game itself. It starts off unsure and uncomfortable, but by the end you are in love.
I won’t spoil the story, but Naughty Dog have once again managed to add the perfect amount of detail to their action game to make it stand out at almost every point. Wether it’s a hand on a wall as you pass, or an off the cuff comment during an interaction.
The game isn’t perfect. Sections are infuriating and at times I felt cheated by the game and the level design, but when things were going well The Last of Us shines. The relationship between Joel and Ellie feels like the game itself. It starts off unsure and uncomfortable, but by the end you are in love.
Noteworthy Mentions: Bioshock Infinite - Irrational Games
I didn’t choose Bioshock Infinite because I wasn’t that blown away. It looks amazing, but feels clunky. If they were trying to make the gameplay feel vintage to match the aesthetic of the game, they certainly succeeded, but in an age of fast, smooth, responsive video games, it often feels like it’s stuck in the mud.
Forgiving an ending that doesn’t give a good enough reason (parallel everythings) and a companion that works like Navi (HEY! Listen!), it’s still a great game. Just not that great.
Forgiving an ending that doesn’t give a good enough reason (parallel everythings) and a companion that works like Navi (HEY! Listen!), it’s still a great game. Just not that great.
No next gen. games?
Maybe you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned any next gen. titles on my Top 5, head here to find out why.
