2012 has been one hell of a year for gaming. With the beginning of a new generation of consoles just around the corner, game developers and publishers have been trying their absolute hardest to get as many triple-A titles out on store shelves as they can. In doing so, they’ve made the last year of the current generation of consoles unforgettable. We also saw the release of the PSVita and the Wii U, and the continuing rise of iOS and Android games. So, in honor of a fantastic year of gaming, I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite titles of 2012.
Transformers Fall of Cybertron
For those of you who know me, seeing this game shouldn’t be a surprise. But I didn’t put Fall of Cybertron on this list because I am a die-hard fan of Transformers; it’s on this list because it is a fantastic video game. High Moon studios improved almost everything that was wrong with War for Cybertron and included more. The story was epic, the gameplay was tight and polished, and the multiplayer is on par with gaming juggernauts like Call of Duty and Halo. For Transformers fans, it was a dream come true. For gamers, it was a stellar action game. For more info on Fall of Cybertron, check out my review.
Fez
With all of the M-rated games out there, it’s hard to come across fun and innocent titles that don’t have a Nintendo logo slapped onto it. Enter Fez, a game that doesn’t have blood, guns, or violence; all you have to do is save the world one cube at a time. Fez combines classic 8-bit graphics with a unique platforming style of gameplay. You play in a two-dimensional setting but you have the ability to literally shift the world around 360 degrees, turning a simple journey into a masterfully created puzzle. Fez proves that games can be fun without killing bad guys, and it deserves to be on every gamer’s radar.
Pokemon Conquest
With all of the blues and reds and silvers, it’s nice to a see a Pokemon game that doesn’t have a color. Pokemon Conquest was one of those titles that had everybody’s heads turning. Combine a turn-based RPG with a strategy game that takes place in feudal Japan? What moron came up with that idea? Well as it turns out that moron was pretty smart, because Pokemon Conquest is one the best games for the DS. Pokemon Conquest’s greatest achievement is transitioning crucial elements of Pokemon games (like catching, and training, and evolving) to a strategic style of gameplay that all ages can enjoy. The youngster will enjoy seeing their favorite Pokemon out on the battlefield while the older players will relish the high level of strategy that can be incorporated into each fight. The only major downside to Conquest is that it wasn’t made for the 3DS, which made many Pokemon fans question whether or not we will see a true 3D Pokemon game. If you want to know more about Pokemon Conquest, check out my review.
Bad Piggies
Few games have pushed my creativity as much as Bad Piggies has. In their first debut game, the green pigs of the Angry Birds franchise are stranded on an empty island, and it’s up to the player to save them by creating various contraptions and vehicles. This is a spin-off done right. Rather than stick to the classic Angry Birds formula, Rovio has crafted a completely different game that truly pushes the player’s imagination. It’s also Rovio’s first game that hardcore gamers can really dive into. It’s one thing to pass each level, but it’s another to achieve 100% completion. There hasn’t been any word on sequels, but let’s hope that this isn’t the last we see of Bad Piggies.
Halo 4
I’m not going to waste any time here: Halo 4 is amazing. 343 Industries adopted a beloved franchise and made it even better than it once was. The story is stronger than the previous installments, the multiplayer is fast and addicting, and best of all, it feels like classic Halo. Halo 4 is, without a doubt, the best shooter of the year and possibly the best game of the year.
Honorable Mentions:
- Assassin’s Creed 3
- Borderlands 2
- Skylanders Giants
- Kid Icarus Uprising
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Angry Birds Space
Gamenomics & Comicology 