Reload Replay's Best Games of 2011

 

I have to say I wasn't all that impressed by 2011 overall. There are always gems but if I had to make a full top 10 list I would really be conflicted as to what even deserves to be brought up as "best of the year."

Although my top two picks could be some of my favorite games of all time, I cannot wait for 2012. From games to movies to TV it is going to be a crazy year.

#5. Shadows of the Damned

I'll be the first to admit that Shadows of the Damned isn't the perfect game. But if you told me at the beginning of the year that a bizarre Japanese shooter would be on my top 5 list I'd have you locked in an institution. Much to my surprise Shadows of the Damned was one of the funniest games I've played all year and did so inside an alternative but competent shooter.

#4 L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire is essentially an adventure game wrapped in Rockstar clothing. Story usually takes a back seat in most games but in L.A. Noire it's the reason to play the game. It doesn't all go off without a hitch but it did become one of the most unique and memorable experiences in gaming this year.

The facial animation technology behind this game easily makes it a landmark title for story based games in the same way Grand Theft Auto III was a landmark for open world titles. Whether you think L.A. Noire grasped it or not it was reaching for for something new and unique. In a year of too many 'threequels' this is a great pallet cleanser.

#3 Bastion

It is probably the first time a downloadable game was mentioned for my game of the year. Bastion is a vibrant, colorful and enchanting journey. Oh and that soundtrack, one of the best scores of any game or even movie for this year. 

#2 Skyrim

The game that I easily spent the most time in comes in as my number 2. The harsh tundras and snowy mountains created a much edgier fantasy setting than past Elder Scrolls games. You really can't describe what sort of experience you'll have in Skyrim, as everyone will experience it differently. For me, it was a broad fantasy epic, full of personal stories and deep characters. Even after 200 hours of play I was still surprised by random occurrences in the world and brand new story experiences popping up. And that's something not many games can say.

#1 Portal 2

Portal 2 is about as close to perfection as any game can get. It delivers on every point it sets out to make. Inventive and emergent puzzle design, fantastic voice acting and soundtrack and an unparalleled story experience that is told while you are actually playing the game! Not through some cutscene. All those factors coming together so elegantly makes Portal 2 my game of the year.

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The previous Batman and Uncharted games were high on my list two years ago but Batman: Arkham City and Uncharted 3 failed to make a big impression on me. Halo: Anniversary was really fun for me the 200th time around but even still I didn't think it was all that fair to place it on this list. Dead Space 2 was a solid sequel but was a bit too much more of the same to propel it higher on the list.

I've played more than a few hours of Saints Row: The Third and I'm not really getting why this game was hyped so much. The world is uninspiring and basic mechanics don't work so great. The humor goes from crazy genius to just vulgar and unfunny, and I'm a guy who enjoys a good dick joke. I will keep playing but this one didn't stack up well to the rest of my list.