GOTY Staff Picks 2011: Nick Edition

It’s been a good year to be a gamer. A year that will be remembered for its newcomers as much as its onslaught of AAA titles. Narrowing down a list of five of the best games of the year has been uncharacteristically difficult this year. However, when push comes to shove, these are the titles I feel are worthy of GOTY status.

5. Dead Space 2

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. That’s what I imagine Visceral had in mind when they were working on their brilliant sequel, Dead Space 2. The game really doesn’t deviate much from the formula and mechanics of the original Dead Space. You’re Isaac Clark, you kill necromorphs with your trusty Plasma Cutter, and you generally try to survive the whole disturbing ordeal. However, this year’s sequel adds even more details to an already rich narrative and feels much more complete than the original. In 2011, Dead Space 2 held it down for the survival horror genre. More importantly, it has raised the bar higher for where other survival horror games should strive to achieve.

4. Gears of War 3

Just as with Dead Space 2, Gears of War 3 could be misinterpreted as just a more pleasant looking iteration in the Gears saga. However, when Gears 3 launched this September, it was apparent this was not just Gears 2 with a new coat of paint. The game has over a nine-hour story campaign, four-player co-op, two addicting wave-based co-operative modes, and a full-fledged competitive mode with multiple game types and bonus content. In terms of bang for you buck, Gears 3 goes above and beyond the $60 you probably paid for it. Did I mention it’s also absolutely beautiful? Beyond getting your money’s worth, the story is well executed, paced appropriately, and holds quite a few surprises. Gears 3 certainly did not disappoint, and in my opinion may be the richest Gears experience yet. And that’s exactly why it made the list.

3. L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire definitely deserves to be in the running for Game of the Year. In the months leading up to its release, I was concerned that Noire would end up being GTA 1947. After picking it up and giving the game some time, I walked away thoroughly impressed with how balanced the game was among interrogation, clue finding, and the occasional shoot out. Graphically, the game is gorgeous, which makes the interrogation process and exploring the streets of LA an absolute joy. L.A. Noire’s main story is gripping, the characters are memorable, and its overall presentation makes it one of the best games of 2011.

2. Batman: Arkham City

By tweaking their original formula in Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady truly created the closest thing to a perfect Batman game we’ve every played. Beyond the absolutely breathtaking attention to environmental detail in Arkham City, the game’s narrative is excellent. Rocksteady manages to work in every Batman villain and their mother into the main story, which all culminates into an eerie and suspenseful conclusion. Arkham City is a beautifully morose game that consistently pays tribute to one of the greatest icons in comic book history.

1. Skyrim

Skyrim – I know, I know, Skyrim is a no brainer when it comes to a GOTY nomination. However, as I was a bit late in joining the Skyrim bandwagon, I was hesitant about adding it to my own list of GOTY contenders. After having some time to sit down and explore the game, though, it’s becoming painfully apparent to me why this game deserves the accolades it’s received thus far. The deep role-playing experience Skyrim presents so well goes unmatched this year. In addition to the gameplay, Skyrim is absolutely gorgeous. Environments are detailed and almost ask you to explore them for a couple hundred hours. With its insane replayability, rich and addictive gameplay, Skyrim is a masterpiece and worthy of the Game of the Year title.