The Top Games of 2011: Story, Sound, and Art

Best music, best story? You find those here. These are the parts of the game that can really make a game aesthetically awesome. And that's the best kind of awesome. 

Best Story: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Again, I feel like this is something a real diehard Zelda fan could get at better than I could, so once again Bryan will be picking up the slack here. 

Legend of Zelda has always been known for great storylines. For the most part the three main characters of this series have been Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganondorf. Surprisingly The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword’s main villain is not Ganondorf but the Demon King who fought with the goddess long ago. This wasn't the only change-up Nintendo made, also changing the relationship between Link and Zelda. Zelda is not a princess in Skyward Sword, merely a childhood friend of Link's. The games storyline has a few suprises as well. With its surprising plot twists and links to the past games it also finds a way to bring together a major chunk of the past 25 years of Zelda gaming history, and it puts this storyline is a league of its own. Skyward Sword goes far and beyond what most games do storywise, and after playing this game to the end your left with a feeling that the series is just complete.

Image Source: Destructoid

Best Original Soundtrack: Bastion

I debated this category for a long time, but in the end I decided I could not, in good consciousnesses, give this to any other game. Bastion's soundtrack is just head and shoulders above everything else. Even Skyrim. Every song just sets the tone of the game, and the style of the music is unique. I would never mistake any song from Bastion's soundtrack for another games. It helps to build the world of Bastion, I'd even argue it's the major part of what makes Bastion's style so appealing. Darren Korb, the composer, really outdid himself with this one. Even if you haven't played the game, you need to listen to the ending song. It might be the best song of the year period, game or otherwise. 

Song: Setting Sail, Coming Home - by Darren Korb from Bastion.

Best Graphics: LA Noire

LA Noire was the first game we have ever played where the characters moved like an actual human being. The motion scan technology used to create the character animations makes facial expressions incredibly life like. 40's LA is recreated wonderfully, which helps pull you into the game world even further. Again though, the real star is the character animations. Now an actor's performances can be really taken straight into the game, and that opens up whole new avenues of character art direction and motion capture decisions. While the game itself didn't quite live up to the hype, the motion scan technology changed things up a bit for future games.

Image Source: Gamingunion.net

Best Art Direction: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Larger picture to show off the beautiful art style. Your Welcome. 

Skyward Sword sports one of the most impressive visual styles I have ever seen in a game. The Zelda series has never been afraid to try different artistic styles to use in their games (just look at Windwaker). Skyward Sword takes it to a whole other level though. The watercolor style makes the game just look amazing and refreshingly different. Many games are striving for more realistic graphics and styles, but Skyward Sword has gone the opposite way almost, the game looks like a painting, but it just fits the game so well. It really makes a case that we can still make games that can be visually impressive without having them look like realistic. The character designs are also very impressive and wonderfully created. This is the kind of art direction I wish we could see more often. Then again, that might diminish how different it is from everything else.

Image Source: Wiiugo.com 

Best Voice Acting In a Game: Dragon Age II

A lot of games upped the bar this year in a number of departments. Dragon Age II severely underwhelmed (even I have talked about my love/hate relationship with the game) but the one place that did not disappoint was the voice acting. Varric is a fan favourite character, as beloved as Garrus and Minsc. However, Isabella, Merrill, Anders, and many minor characters have performances that are just as good. The background chatter your companions have really shows how each of them feels or interacts with the others, and their conversations can sometimes be even better than the ones you have with them. Each and every one of them is different too, and their emotions can be felt in when the situation calls for it. A lot of games could learn something from the voiceovers that Dragon Age II has. 

Image Source: Powet.TV

Best Male Voice Actor: Mark Hamil

Mark Hamil is one of the better voice actors out there, and there is one role for which he has become famous: The Joker. In Arkham City, he really outdoes himself. The performance he gives is nothing short of incredible, and his take on the Joker always feels believable and more in line with how a lot of people actually see him acting. It may have been the last time Hamil takes up the role of Batman's arch nemesis but he put on a performance that draws from his years of playing the role. I will miss that laugh...

Image Source: images.wikia.com

Best Female Voice Actor: Ellen McLain

Should this be a shock to anyone? Ellen McLain has created one of the most recognizable voices in gaming history. She reprises her role as GlaDOS in Portal 2, and she's just as good, if not better, than the original. It has more to do with the story than anything but GlaDOS has much more going on in this game and McLain gives an excellent performance at every turn, even if the lines aren't quite as memorable. All in all, it's the kind of performance that I hoped she'd give, given the scope of the second game, and she did not disappoint. 

Image Source: Half-Life Wikia

Best Genre Specific Games

Best Console Specific Games

Top Game of 2011

Marshmallow Fluff! Presents: The Top Games of 2011

The Top Games of 2011: The Best Genre Specific Games

This year was a banner year for games but RPG's had it especially well seeing the release of several premier titles that have been both critically and publicly acclaimed. Several big shooter franchises also released new games, and have raked in the dough. There were was also some cake and some big, tough, manly men getting emotional. So what were the best games of each genre? 

Best Shooter: Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is the kind of shooter I wish I had growing up. The campaign solidly wraps up the Gears trilogy, along with plenty of emotional moments and chainsawing fun. The multiplayer is solid and has plenty of modes and features to keep you playing. Horde mode is back and better than ever, and coupled with the new Beast mode there is more than enough to keep you playing for hours upon hours. The gameplay is just as good as it's always been in the Gears series, and the visuals are stunning. Apart from a few bugs here and there this is the kind of shooter you can find yourself playing for a long time. 

Image Source: G4TV

Best Action Game: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

I felt that I should let a real big Zelda fan cover this one, so my good friend Bryan will be covering this one. Take it away!

Legend of Zelda, is one of the most respected game franchises around. Many of the games titles are beloved classics. So when I say that Skyward Sword is the greatest Legend of Zelda game ever, you know it is one incredible experience. The storyline is intense and refreshingly different, giving players a new take on the relationships between key characters. The really impressive part of the story though, is how it links the past games together and how it sets some of the really interesting parts of the franchise up. The gameplay is extremely solid as well, utilizing the Wii’s motion controls in a way that hasn't really been seen before and provides a whole new spin on the combat. The games graphics are also gorgeous and different, using a watercolor style that sets Skyward Sword apart from most other games in the graphics department. All of the new ideas and features that Nintendo created for Skyward Sword were implemented with incredible execution, and the end result is perhaps the greatest Legend of Zelda experience ever.

Image Source: Digital Trends

Best Puzzle Game: Portal 2

Portal 2 is a prime example of a sequel that rises above the original. Every last part of this game improves one the already incredible foundation that Portal built. The voice acting is absolutely incredible and the visuals are awesome. The levels are much more impressive this time around. Part of that has to do with the game no longer being set only in a sterile lab environment now that plant life has invaded the Enrichment Center. But it's the puzzles that, once again. really make this game a lot of fun. The new elements are added in wonderfully, and don't feel forced and the scale of some of the levels is just insane. The co-op mode is brilliant as well, and really utilizes having an extra person around for puzzle solving. If you liked the first one at all, there is no reason to avoid Portal 2.

Image Source: Squidoo.com

Best RPG: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls Series has always been about huge, detailed worlds, where you can do pretty much whatever you want. With the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim though, Bethesda may have created one of the finest open world RPG's ever. From the second you step foot out of the games tutorial section the land of Skyrim is your playground. If you want to go do the main story, go so it. If you want to join the Mages College, you can make your way the frozen town of Winterhold, or maybe the Dark Brotherhood is more your speed. And if none of that really appeals to you, you could just go roam the wilderness, looting every last tomb, cave, and residence you find.You can essentially play the game how you want too, with no real restrictions on styles of combat. You want to go into a battle wearing heavy armor but blasting spells left and right, you can. Want to dual wield an axe and a sword? You can do that too. The game is downright gorgeous as well, and the soundtrack always sets the mood just right when trekking through the mountains. And of course...you know....dragons. Really, apart from a somewhat disappointing main quest line, the only big flaw Skyrim has is being a bit too big. 

Image Source: Videogamer.com

Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat returned this year, and it's just as ridiculously fun and bloody as always. The game is largely the dame it has always been but tweaks the combat mechanics and controls and you have a pretty solid fighting game. Add in all of the unlockable features, costumes, fatalities and you have a game that you can get sucked into for quite a bit of time. The number of modes is fairly impressive as well including the Challenge mode, a tower of 300 objective oriented levels, as well as the classic tournament mode. Online play is fun too, including with it a new King of the Hill mode where groups of players wait turns to take on each other, while those not fighting take in the show. The story mode is a bit cheesy and unimpressive, and the sounds aren't particularly impressive but every single fighter has different movesets and fatalities. This is the best version of Mortal Kombat so far, and is defiantly the best fighter of this year. 

Image Source: Mortal Kombat Wiki

Best Sports Game: FIFA 12

FIFA 12 doesn't do anything particularly new and interesting, but it further refines the gameplay, modes, and presentation. The real big change in this years version is the new tactical defense system. No longer is it just a button press or two for you to essentially shut down defense. Now you have to actually time your tackles and sometimes the decision to simply hold back an opposing player is a smarter decision. The animations are also much smoother and more realistic now, making the game not just play realistically, but look the part as well. The online modes are compelling and football fans will love the way that matches are arranged when playing on versus one matches. You now pick your team before you start matchmaking, the servers then take into account your team, division, your personal ranking, did not finish percentage, and location which makes matches much, much fairer and fun. Ultimate Team is now included right out of the box, instead of being offered up as DLC which is really nice as well. All in all, this is the kind of football game you can not miss if you enjoy the sport. There is plenty to do, both online and off, and the presentation is slick and intuitive, even if the game doesn't take many chances. 

Image Source: Soccergaming.com

Best Racing Game: Forza 4

If you like cars, racing, or racing cars, Forza 4 has everything you can ask for. Over 450 cars, including everything from a Suzuki SX4 to a 1993 Mclaren F1. And with 25 tracks, many with multiple stages and layouts, there are plenty of different places to enjoy your vehicles on. There's a bevy of tuning and customizing options for every car, meaning that gearheads who link fine tuning every aspect of their ride can get lost for hours. Then you've also got the paint shop Then there's the online racing that now allows 16 players to race at once, not to mention Rival mode where you and your friends can try to outdo each other on various challenges and trials. There are also Car Clubs, where you and some friends can put cars that become available for everyone in the club to drive. The visuals are very impressive, especially the landscapes, and the sounds (except the music) are exceptional. The only real problem with Forza 4 is it offers virtually no tutorials or guides, so beginners can become somewhat overwhelmed, but there are enough driving aids that novice racers can get comfortable before too long. The Kinect features aren't really worth the trouble, headtracking was a particularly large let down, but it never takes anything away from the experience to be found here. 

Image Source: Gamereactor.eu

The Best Console Specific Games
The Best Game of 2011
The Best Sound and Art
Marshmallow Fluff! Presents: The Top Games of 2011