Game of the Year Awards 2012
Perhaps 2012 could be remembered as a year of change.
The gaming industry has endured much in the past 12 months, and that’s not even counting all the games that were released. Drama began when fans were upset with the ending of Mass Effect 3 (a fact our review agrees with), prompting many weeks of debate and a small free DLC to add extra cinematics to the RPG. It was a huge year for Kickstarter, now becoming the leading platform for any and all aspiring game developers to present their craft and hope for public’s approval and funding. This trend could mean big changes in the future when it comes to games publishing. Valve wasn’t far behind, introducing their Greenlight service that allows users to vote for games they want on Steam.
While rumours about next generation of consoles from Sony and Microsoft swirl, the future already began for some. Start of the year saw the launch of PlayStation Vita, arguably the most powerful handheld gaming platform out there, and yet the consumer response was lukewarm at best. Similarly, the next generation home console from Nintendo, the Wii U, launched with a subdued atmosphere and sales compared to its phenomenally popular predecessor. Time will tell if these new consoles will live on or fade away as new consoles enter the market.
The future of free to play gaming also took a big step forward. While the business model proved increasingly popular for some titles, publishers were still hesitant – with the launch of Star Wars The Old Republic and The Secret World both carrying paid subscription models. But fans have spoken, and neither game was able to make it through the year without offering a free to play alternative. On the other hand, Guild Wars 2 launched without a subscription fee and proved to be wildly successful, at least at the outset. The shut down of City of Heroes, however, proved that even going free to play doesn’t guarantee success.
Similarly, the market awaits the developments of cloud gaming platforms. This year we saw OnLive suddenly declare bankruptcy and be bought by an investment company, while Sony purchased competitive firm Gaikai, with many expecting it to be a crucial part of Sony’s digital offerings on future platforms. A few game studios got in too deep, with 38 Studios being closed and assets auctioned off, and THQ struggling to stay afloat and in declaring bankruptcy as well.
Or perhaps, 2012 is but a stepping stone to something greater. With a heavy games line up in early 2013, some would argue that next generation is just around the corner – and who knows, by this time next year we could be looking at an Xbox 720 or PlayStation 4.
But until then, let’s reflect on the year that was. Turn the page, as we recognize the best of the best in our Game of the Year Awards for 2012.
“One of the most fascinating aspects of the story is the relationship between the two main characters as it evolves through each episode; we see Lee start to genuinely care for Clementine, protecting her and eventually turning into a sort of father figure for the little girl. The story progresses as Lee and Clementine meet other survivors, some friendly and others not so much. Much like the series and the comics, the game’s story is less about the undead and the threat they pose, and more about the people and how each of them reacts to the situation.” – Annie H
Mass Effect 3, Spec Ops: The Line, Sleeping Dogs, Max Payne 3
“Your retinas are consistently pleasured by the minimalistic and cleanly cell shaded landscapes of Journey. Its sand dunes glitter and flow in the wind with the texture of a viscous liquid and caverns of large upright cloth structures gently sway as underwater seaweed would. At once awe inspiringly grand and ethereal, yet invitingly simplistic and warm.” – Matthew Sawrey
Dear Esther, Darksiders 2, Fez, Dishonored
“This open world game has lush vegetation and great lighting effects – along with immersive day/night and weather cycles. The title has no loading screens, yet a vast world to explore that looks great from the highest peaks to the lowest river beds. It is one of the better looking games of 2012 thanks to the impressive tech powering the engine and its distant views.” – Alex V
Hitman Absolution, Halo 4, Dishonored, Assassin’s Creed 3
“Elegant and understated, Journey is never anything short of a mesmerizing audio-visual presence. Throughout, Journey is a visual majesty to behold, and when combined with an orchestral soundtrack that aches with elegiac sadness and elates buoyant joy with perfect timing, Journey conveys the kind of ambiance you would expect from a spiritual experience.” – Matthew Sawrey
Hotline Miami, Dear Esther, Darksiders 2, Forza Horizon
“The characters that we meet are everyday people who respond realistically to the ‘apocalypse’ that they are facing. They are human, therefore flawed; they get frustrated, they freak out, they get angry at each other, and they are often overwhelmed by the circumstances surrounding them. Moreover, we will meet characters that have resorted to all kinds of extremes in order to survive, having actually become way more dangerous than the walkers.” – Annie H
Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, Far Cry 3, Max Payne 3
“You’ll meet a variety of strange individuals during the story as you rescue your friends. Vaas is a particular highlight, stealing the spotlight every time he’s on screen which is never long enough. He acts in crazy and menacing ways, pushing the game’s insanity theme. The inhabitants of the island are the real stars.” – Alex V
Lee – The Walking Dead, Clementine – The Walking Dead, Max Payne – Max Payne 3, Jack – Borderlands 2
“The environment sets a new standard for quality, and the writing in the game is some of the best in the industry. Interesting ideas, stunning visuals, and a clear dramatic progression as the player traverses the island keep you emotionally invested in the game. Traversing the island is mostly restricted to well-worn, intimate paths through the landscape, but as you walk along these paths the dips, turns, and hills seem deliberately crafted, sometimes revealing visual focal points suddenly, with the turn of a corner, or cresting the top of a hill, and sometimes letting you see your destination long before you can actually arrive at it. Progress through the island is mirrored by a progression in the weather, and in the conflict and revelations of the prose.” – Evan Witt
Hotline Miami, I Am Alive, Sleeping Dogs, Dishonored
“Dishonored attempts to follow the Deus Ex school of gameplay design by letting you choose how you want to play, and provides the tools for multiple play styles. Dishonored is largely successful in letting you play as you wish, a feat which has not been pulled off so successfully since last year’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It is possible to play through the game in a decent variety of different ways. Non-lethal avoidance, silent-but-deadly assassinations, or balls-to-the wall, swash-buckling sword fighting and pistol dueling are all entirely possible and equally effective ways of getting through the game. While the campaign is not terribly long at anywhere from 10-20 hours depending on your play style, the flexibility of the gameplay, intricate levels and upgradable powers means there is a lot of incentive to go back for multiple runs through the game.” – Tim Reid
Mass Effect 3, Far Cry 3, Max Payne 3, The Walking Dead: Season 1
“If you get a good game together with a few friends, multiplayer in Borderlands 2 is simply a ton of fun. You can revive fallen team-mates, certain class-mods will buff the entire team, and one class eventually gains the ability to heal teammates by shooting them. Co-op is definitely the way to go, especially if you get a team together of people you know and trust. Enemies increase in number and become much tougher, you get more experience points, and better loot becomes more common.” – Tim Reid
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Tribes: Ascend, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Guild Wars 2
“The central idea of visual cues relaying information to the player is Mark of the Ninja’s defining feature. Want to throw a dart and destroy a street lamp? The game pauses the action as you select your target and clearly displays a yellow ring around the lamp showing how far the sound of the lamp breaking will travel and which, if any, guards will notice it. Similarly, the vision cones of guards, the sound of your footsteps, the smelling range of guard dogs and more are all cleanly and effectively displayed onscreen at all times. Giving the player all of this information up front allows for you to not only execute awesome maneuvers befitting of an actual ninja but avoid so many of the frustrating trial-and-error situations that seem to plague most stealth games.” – Christian Sorrell
Dishonored, Far Cry 3, Sleeping Dogs, Xcom: Enemy Unknown
“Stealth games tend to be all about mechanics, and Mark of the Ninja is no different. While factors such as noise, visibility and the surrounding environment are all still prominent within the game, it is the unique way in which the player is informed of this surrounding and the effect of any actions he may take that set Mark of the Ninja apart from other games in the genre. The game’s most noticeable difference is that it’s 2D with a look much more similar to that of a traditional platformer than something like Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell. This literal lack of depth allows for the player to really take in every possible option, enemy and angle of attack all at once. While you may miss a guard around a corner or not be sure where exactly a certain vent leads to in many stealth games, all of this information is easily accessible to the player here simply by looking at the screen.” – Christian Sorrell
Journey, Dishonored, I Am Alive, Fez
“When it comes down to it, despite some weaknesses, fans of the first two games will probably get a lot out of Mass Effect 3. There is a good amount of content here and optimization is very good; the average play through of the campaign will take 20-30 hours, and the multiplayer adds a bit more bulk to the package. Despite an underwhelming ending, Mass Effect 3 is a strong final chapter in this remarkable science fiction trilogy.” – Tim Reid
Hotline Miami, The Walking Dead, Guild Wars 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
“Journey is, at its heart, every great videogame adventure ever created distilled to a pure and simplistic form. A world of intrigue and subtle suggestion rather than heavy handed scripting, and a story of ambiguity and personal interpretation as opposed to a well-defined narrative. It knows that wonderment is rarely found in the obvious and brash, but in the mysterious monuments of a past civilisation. Dig under its surface and you have an experience that says something rather profound about videogame adventures.” – Matthew Sawrey
Starhawk, PlayStation All-Stars, MLB 12: The Show, Assassin’s Creed 3
“Halo 4 is a new chapter in one of the most popular gaming franchises ever, and certainly one that has so far defined Microsoft’s Xbox console. Even with a new developer 343 Industries, Halo fans can rest easy – this is much of the same classic gameplay that you’ve come to expect. With the ever-expansive multiplayer mode in full force and some Spartan Ops included for cooperative action on the side, the game offers great value. Add to all this some stellar presentation, and you’ve got yourself one solid sequel. It’s not the second coming of Chief as some might have hoped for, but it’s Halo in all its former glory, a formula unshaken by the years and a development team change.” – Alex V
Trials Evolution, Minecraft, Forza Horizon, Dance Central 3
“Even after thirty years of Mario titles spanning every platform from arcade machines to the Nintendo 3DS and branching into half a dozen genres, it would be difficult to claim that the franchise is getting old. New Super Mario Bros U is constructed around a formula that may prove to be truly timeless, but it also exploits enough fresh ideas to feel like a new experience even to seasoned players. The game is a meticulously balanced blend of old concepts not seen in decades and new features that integrate the motion controls native to the Wii U, all rolled into a beautifully designed classic style.” – Eileen Murphy
“Not since Bioshock’s Rapture has there been such a compelling and detailed original setting for a video game. Dishonored doesn’t cram choice down your throat, but the decisions you make will have an impact later on in the game. Whether you like creeping in the shadows, running across the rooftops or decapitating guards, Dishonored is a game that demands your attention. It breathes life into the stealth genre while offering loads of gameplay alternatives in one of the best original video game settings in years.” – Tim Reid
Sleeping Dogs, The Walking Dead, Journey, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
“With tons to do, solid gameplay mechanics and only a few annoyances, Far Cry 3 brings the series back on top form. Overall, the game’s plot is well structured, and the story feels more personal and relatable than Far Cry 1’s monsters or Far Cry 2’s politics. After a mediocre second outing, Far Cry 3 returns with a vengeance. Offering great open world gameplay and no huge problems to deter from the experience, this is one trip to paradise you don’t want to miss.” – Alex V
Darksiders 2, Borderlands 2, Halo 4, Trials Evolution
“Naturally when a game based on the Walking Dead franchise was announced many kept their hopes low, especially since it was going to be an episodic point-and-click adventure. On the other hand, the studio responsible for the title’s development was Telltale Games, and if there is one thing that these guys have shown us is that they know how to create great games while fully respecting their source material. Fortunately, from the very first episode, the game proved more than worthy of Telltale’s reputation.” – Annie H
Sleeping Dogs, Mark of the Ninja, Forza Horizon, Tokyo Jungle
“The game, without being flawless, manages to appeal to people who do not usually play adventure games or are not fans of the franchise. The writing is excellent and the character reactions are convincing. Players will certainly second guess their own choices and eventually come to care about Lee and Clementine.” – Annie H
Journey, Mark of the Ninja, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Fez
“Gods & Kings includes 27 new units, 13 new buildings, nine new wonders, a few new eras, and nine new playable civilizations. A new religion mechanic featuring a faith resource allows players to found their own religion which they can grow into a world-spanning fully customized religion. Diplomacy has been reworked to include espionage, foreign embassies, and new types of city-states (religious and mercantile). City-states also feature a new quest system and strategic importance. Additionally, the combat system has been re-worked to include smarter AI, an expanded early modern era, and enhanced naval combat featuring Great Admiral and melee naval units.”
Leviathan – Mass Effect 3, Dawnguard – Skyrim, Fall of the Samurai – Shogun 2, Aftermath – Battlefield 3
“Syndicate draws inspiration from many shooters but struggles to define itself in such a saturated genre. The best part of Syndicate is the co-op, offering unique content that encourages team play. It may consume more hours than the single player portion depending on the shrinking online population. Syndicate doesn’t break the shooter mould but it provides a satisfactory experience that may charm a select few.” – Ben T
Botanicula, Natural Selection 2, Spec Ops: The Line, Binary Domain
“The main story arc finishes without the punch of its prequels. Major events happen within the game engine, producing less than desirable results. It also tends to have a flippant attitude in regards to major and returning characters. The carefully placed loose ends lack the intrigue they are usually accompanied with. When the last foe falls, the game asks if you want to quit to the menu and you are treated with an ordinary cinematic and the longest of all credits. Despite the healthy nostalgia during the later acts, it lacks the same demonic impact its predecessors generated.” – Ben T
Unfinished Swan, Assassin’s Creed 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, DiRT Showdown
“With Resident Evil 4 being an incredible high-point, it could be considered the series is on a downward spiral as it moves further away from its survival-horror roots, and into the third-person action genre – Resident Evil 6 is more action-heavy than ever. Fans of the series will probably be able to overlook many of the game’s faults, as long as they accept the heavy focus on adrenaline-fueled gameplay. Otherwise, there are many action games out there that are quite simply better than Resident Evil 6.” – Tom Cooper
Hitman Absolution, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, 007 Legends, NFS Most Wanted
“The first game saw you murdering your way through huge numbers of bandits and a few select monster types that had one obvious weakness. The sequel greatly improves on this by introducing all kinds of different enemies that try and kill you in assorted ways. Good aim and lucky loot drops will reveal greater advantages than a well-balanced character build. So once again it is up to the gunplay and the guns to make Borderlands 2 worth playing. Like the original, these two elements are easily the game’s biggest strength. It won’t take long before you start finding some crazy weapons, and they only get bigger, better and more interesting as you progress through the game. Gearbox has taken the randomly-generated gun system to whole new levels here, adding a new elemental type and variables that make it all the more exciting when you see a weapon fly off the corpse of a hard-vanquished foe. The weapon manufacturers are also more distinct, with each company’s weapons having distinct advantages and disadvantages. Each manufacturer has distinct attributes for their weapons, and you will probably find a favourite during your travels.” – Tim Reid
Far Cry 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Max Payne 3, Starhawk
“When it comes to action, Sleeping Dogs is a unique beast. Wei will very infrequently wield a melee weapon – even less often, a gun. There are no stores that sell guns or ammo, so most of the shooting will be done during specific story missions where guns can be picked off from enemies. Even so, you will be unlikely to keep the weapon after their conclusion. Interestingly, this makes the guns feel extremely satisfying to use and they feel great during firefights. When aiming and vaulting over objects, the game automatically enters slow motion, letting you aim and take down multiple opponents in style. During the vehicle chases you get similarly great-looking takedowns, as cars roll and explode in slow motion after shooting out their tires. And finally, you’re able to “action-hijack” nearby vehicles if you drive beside them and hit a prompt at the right moment to land on the roof of the target vehicle and take it over. Things don’t get as obsessive as Stranglehold, but these time slowing mechanics add just enough personality to the flow of the action.” – Alex V
Dishonored, Far Cry 3, Darksiders 2, Assassin’s Creed 3
“Forza Horizon is what happens when you throw in a mix of Need for Speed, DiRT, and Test Drive Unlimited with some classic Forza. Accessible, fun, and engaging, Forza Horizon succeeds in all aspects. What first seemed like a risky spinoff or even just a cash-in, Forza Horizon has instead blossomed into an experience that shouldn’t be missed by racing fans this year.” – Alex V
NFS Most Wanted, Trials Evolution, F1 2012
“With XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Firaxis Games have shown once again that they are more than capable of reimagining classic strategy games for the current generation. Fans of the original game will be pleased with the modern game engine and visuals providing a nice backdrop to the hardcore turn based action, and a punishing difficulty that remains fully intact. It’s mostly XCOM as the fans of the original game remember it, so prepare for a tough challenge that may take much of your free time.” – Alex V
Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai, Civilization V: Gods & Kings
“Even though the Walking Dead is an adventure at its core, it plays more like an interactive movie in the style of Heavy Rain rather than a classic point-and-click. It becomes evident from the start that the game emphasizes on the story and characters rather than the puzzles. In fact, each puzzle that Lee comes across is easily solved by using a couple of items that he has previously collected. This is by no means a disadvantage, as difficult puzzles and a huge inventory would take away from the overall experience and eventually harm the game. Even if the choices the player makes do not heavily affect the big parts of the story, the game perfectly succeeds in giving you the illusion that everything that happens is a consequence of your own actions.” – Annie H
Journey, Deponia, Botanicula, I Am Alive
“After BioWare took Mass Effect 2 in a more shooter-heavy direction than its primarily role-playing focused predecessor, they have one again gone back to tinkering with the genre scales for the third and final iteration of the epic science fiction trilogy. While it plays much more like Mass Effect 2 than 1, BioWare has combined elements from the first two games, and have hit the sweet spot as far as gameplay and pacing is concerned. Better weapon, level and enemy variety make for more interesting combat, and interactive conversations are as compelling as ever.” – Tim Reid
Guild Wars 2, Torchlight 2, Risen 2: Dark Waters, Darksiders 2
“Following in the newly resurrected footsteps of other arcade-style, over-the-top sports games like NBA Jam and NFL Blitz, SSX is one of the most successful franchise resurrections over the past several years. The core mechanics and central atmosphere that made SSX the standard upon which all other snowboarding games were and are judged are all here and for the most part, have been improved or built upon to create new and interesting experiences. While some may miss the lack of simultaneous, local multiplayer, the game’s largest addition RiderNet keeps the activities and incentives coming well past the game’s usual lifespan. Global events, a wealth of gear to collect, and constant competition makes this an SSX that feels simultaneously new and old. For the most part, that is a great thing.” – Christian Sorrell
FIFA 13, Football Manager 2013, MLB 12: The Show, FIFA Street
“FEZ is a game about shifting paradigms, specifically, that of the perceived relationship between 2 and 3 dimensional space. But even more so FEZ is a love letter to the history of videogames themselves, looking back with a nostalgic eye for the unfettered simplicity and joyful discovery of those pre-3D designs, and nurturing them into that 3rd dimension more naturally than the 90’s ever did. Describing FEZ’s spatial reasoning can easily sound obtuse, like an overly complex Paper Mario or Crush. But what could have quickly expanded into a mind boggling conundrum of control is introduced gradually with such elegant coherence that it soon becomes as much an acceptable part of videogame logic as hopping between platforms.” – Matthew Sawrey
Mark of the Ninja, New Super Mario Bros U, Trials Evolution, Darksiders 2
“The quirks of each dimension are demonstrated very well, teaching you basic tricks and then progressing to combinations. One early move is to make a heavy object light, using the fluffy dimension, and throw it before switching dimensions. It crashes through glass or lands on a pressure switch so you can progress to the next area. Slowing time allows you to jump onto a fast moving object and surf your way to the next area. You can then combine these skills: throwing a heavy object, slowing time, and then jumping on the very object you just threw. The steady progress is great and there are no unfair solutions.” – Ben T
Botanicula, Closure, Crashmo
“High speed and hyper violence are on the agenda for most of the game. Despite the basic pixelated graphics, this is one of the most gory games you will play this year. The AI is dumb and predictable, so you can use this to your advantage. You will die a lot when playing through Hotline Miami, but it is never frustrating, as the levels are short, and you instantly respawn. Replay value comes from attempting to get high scores on each level. Hotline Miami is crazily gory, fast paced, and amazing fun.” – Matt Porter
Mark of the Ninja, Dance Central 3, Sine Mora, Trials Evolution
There is no doubt that when it comes to movie, TV show or comic book video game adaptations there have been more misses than hits, so naturally when a game based on the Walking Dead franchise was announced many kept their hopes low, especially since it was going to be an episodic point-and-click adventure. On the other hand, the studio responsible for the title’s development was Telltale Games, and if there is one thing that these guys have shown us is that they know how to create great games while fully respecting their source material. Fortunately, from the very first episode, the game proved more than worthy of Telltale’s reputation.
It is not easy to explain what makes the Walking Dead game so good without spoiling some parts of the story. It is enough to say that the title, without using breathtaking graphics or a complex gameplay system, succeeds in offering an unforgettable gaming experience. The game might not feature the fast paced battles and gunplay of similarly themed titles, but it has heart, something that we haven’t seen for a while. The term ‘zombie’ might not even exist in R. Kirkman’s universe, but the Walking Dead may as well be the best zombie game to have come out in quite some time. With top-notch storytelling, realistic and believable characters and great voice acting, the Walking Dead game offers an amazing experience that everyone should try – and that’s why it is New Game Network’s Game of the Year 2012.
Dishonored, Journey, Mass Effect 3, Far Cry 3, Mark of the Ninja
Thanks for joining us for these Best of 2012 awards, and we hope to see you next year! Do you agree/disagree with the winners? Let us know in the comments below!