Best Video Games of 2012
Written by Michael Siebenaler | | news@toledofreepress.comBest Video Games of 2012 feature by Michael Siebenaler and Sagar Sharma – Toledo Free Press
Michael
2012 focused mainly on the games in the video game industry with Sony’s handheld PlayStation Vita releasing in the spring and Nintendo’s new high-definition Wii U console debuting on November 18. Sagar and I have all the modern consoles (including above) and enjoyed several great games this year.
According to my gameplay stats most of my own favorites were on the PlayStation 3 – Dishonored, Unfinished Swan, Journey, Mass Effect 3, Sleeping Dogs, Hitman Absolution, Borderlands 2, Madden 13, and Need For Speed Most Wanted (also on PlayStation Vita) – along with New Super Mario Bros. 2 on Nintendo 3DS.
Music (Rocksmith Guitar and Bass, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Rock Band Blitz) and racing (Mario Kart 7, DiRT Showdown) games continued to be big personal passions while puzzle pursuits permeate my pleasure perimeter with Portal 2, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Scribblenauts Unlimited, and Lumines Electronic Symphony.
The extensive retro game collection Midway Arcade Origins impresses while intense action was always available in Assassin’s Creed Liberation, Assassin’s Creed III, Far Cry 3, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, and Asura’s Wrath.
It’s easy to enjoy endless hours on Star Fox 3D, Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance, Paper Mario Sticker Star, New Super Mario Bros. U, Rayman Origins, and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.
Every fashion fan should have Style Savvy Trendsetters while sports mainstays include the snowboarding epic SSX, NCAA Football 13, and FIFA Soccer 13, which combined with FIFA Street to awake my inner soccer player plus I got a professional personal trainer in my home with adidas micoach on the PlayStation 3 with Nike Training available for Xbox 360 users.
Sagar
2012 will be viewed as a transition year of sorts as most gamers were well aware of the rumors that the successor for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 arriving this fall. We did not see the usual number of blockbuster titles due in part to the industry prepping for the next generation of consoles and a number of major titles being delayed for spring of this year. However, 2012 did see a number of gems being released including smaller titles stealing the thunder from major releases.
The 2012 game of the year for me was Sony’s Gravity Rush and the best way to describe it is that of a breath of fresh air in an industry full of copycats. Its exciting highflying gameplay and unique art style helped solidify the PlayStation Vita as a portable gaming force.
1. Gravity Rush (Vita)
2. Mass Effect 3 (360/PS3/WiiU/PC)
3. Journey (PS3)
4. Dishonored (360/PS3/PC)
5. Halo 4 (360)
6. Dust: An Elysian Tail (360)
7. Rayman Run (iOS)
8. Need For Speed: Most Wanted (360/PS3/Vita)
9. Assassin’s Creed 3 (360/PS3/PC)
10. Sleeping Dogs (360/PS3/PC)
Incredible selections of downloadable titles were offered including the beautifully hand drawn Xbox Live Arcade offering Dust: An Elysian Tail, which offered the depth one would expect from a full retail game. Journey, which was created from a small indie developer, received tremendous critical acclaim for its distinctive co-op gameplay and stunning musical score and backdrops. Rayman Run, for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), was able to perfectly capture the addictive quick-fix gameplay necessary to stay atop the charts on Apple’s App Store.
Tags: Star, Toledo Free Press, Video games
