XCOM Enemy Unknown was my favorite game of 2012 right after Borderlands 2. This isn't a full sequel to Unknown, rather it is an expansion. But half the times it feels like an expansion, the other half a sequel. Whats new: Their is a new enemy faction of humans called the EXALT and they are stronger than the normal alien and a bit smarter, such as actually attempting to sneak up right behind you in the middle of a firefight. There is a new material called Meld that can change how you play the game. You can mod your squad into mechs or into having traits similar to the aliens. Even if you bought Unknown, you should definitely give this game a try.
This one of the best downloadable shooters out there, but it still has some major flaws. The game is very linear and very tedious, but it helps that a upgrade system is included to diminish that. The story is just out there.
Rayman Legends is a better game than origins. The levels are more varied, the music induces a smile whenever I hear it, and its just more fun. Just get the damn game already.
Before anything else is said, this must be stated: This is the weakest of the Arkham games so far. Despite that, it is still a very good game. Story wise it is pretty good. It involves Batman being forced into battle with 8 different assassins on Christmas Eve. The game constantly shows that Bruce believes he is the only person that has not been corrupted. Gameplay wise, its mostly more of the same, which is fine since the Arkham formula hasn't been beaten to death yet, like Call of Duty. The game does seem easier than the previous entries though. Now how it worsens. The side missions feel very hollow/filler like to Arkham City's. The world seems empty and a bit too large. The Riddles are gone, so the game feels like less a love letter to the Batman comics. How it improves: The boss fights in the series, with the exception of Mr. Freeze, are considered low points of the series. The Boss fights here are great. It involves more about reflexes using cheap and tedious moves. Arkham Origins isn't the best game in the series or of the year(Black Flag, Bioshock Infinite, GTA 5 or Tomb Raider are my contenders) but it is still worth playing.
The Wolf Among Us is based on one of the largest creator owned franchises in comics, Fables. The game, like some arcs in the comic, stars Bigby. He is the Big Bad Wolf, the wolf that ate Little Red Riding Hood, and he has destroyed entire armies, killing thousands in before the Homelands were taken over. Now he is the sheriff of Fabletown, shortly after dealing with a rather dispute, must investigate a murder. The Graphics of the game capture the comics typical art design, characters being instantly recognizable, but manages a gritty noir like coloring. Its is a truly distinctive look. The voice acting and the dialogue are improved upon from Telltales previous game, The Walking Dead. This is a game that should be played if you want a great story, an even lead character, or a different kind of game.
When someone or a group of people make their own masterpiece, its apparent what it is. This is Rockstar's masterpiece. The gameplay is the best I have played in my decade of gaming, the story, while not up to the soul crushing saga of Niko Belic, is pretty good. The graphics are spectacular, light bathing the streets, detailed animation, faces that look life like. The three main characters are great, but of the three its Trevor that stands out. He is disgusting, violent, perverted, sociopath. He is also the best character in the entire game and one of the best ever made. His first appearance in modern times setup the character well. He angers a character, breaks him, comforts him, than immediately stomps him to death. Do yourself a favor and get this game. It doesn't get much better than this.
State of Decay is one of the most ambitious games of 2013 and one of the most flawed. For every thing it does right it, its brought down by being poorly made. The stealth mechanics and home building are fantastic but the combat is poor and the amount of damage done seems random. The missions are entertaining but tedious. The world is large and filled with things to do, but their are glitches everywhere. Its worth playing, just don't have your expectations to high.
Saints row is a celebration of having fun in a video game. Logic has meant very little in series and less in this game. The game will seem tedious at some points but the variety in this game is impressive from side scrolling beat'em up, text based adventure, racing, etc. it also shows how full of crap most games are with their bull**** stories and lack of real tension.
Before I start, I'll say this: I don't hate Call of Duty Black Ops 2, its just way too similar to the previous entries in the series. Similar enough that it basically adds little to the franchise in terms of innovation.
I have been a fan of the Assassin's Creed series since 2008, and played all the console releases so far. This entry in the series shows why the series is so great sometimes, spectacular views, fun combat and nice diversions. But it is a highly flawed game: the main missions force players to do their tasks in a certain manner, combat is frustrating(have to hit a single enemy three times to a row to kill him, should you stop they heal) and the main lead is a rather dull character. But its still a game worth playing, just know its a frustrating and tedious.
I'll make this clear: I have only cried twice due to a story. The fantastic Y:The Last Man comic and The Walking Dead Video Game. This game came very close and it didn't have a single understandable line of dialogue. This is a game that tricks you with a lighthearted art design but gets significantly darker every chapter.
Once a year, there comes a DLC that is truly brilliant. This is the DLC for 2013. It has some of the best quests to come to Borderlands 2 including a quest where the Vault Hunter slaps a Joffery look alike.
