As another year has come to an end, it is time to look back at some of the highlights that made 2013 so grand. In this overview, we will go over our top picks for video games, comic books, and anime! Here are just some of the highlights that made 2013 such a great year:
Top Video Games
Choosing the top video games for this year was definitely a challenge. However, these were some of my personal favorites. First, we will highlight our favorite game of the year, The Last of Us. In a post-apocalypic world, Joel and Ellie fight their way through hoards of zombies, by any means necessary, in order to ensure their survival. This game brought us beautiful graphics, addicting gameplay, and suspense. Best of all, The Last of Us delivered a wonderful story that provided an incomparable gaming experience.
The Last of Us
In the floating city of Columbia, Booker DeWitt must locate and escort a girl named Elizabeth. Little does he know, but Elizabeth can open up rifts to another world, which might help explain why she is locked away in a tower in a world rampant with religious belief. Bioshock Infinite is, by in large, one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played. Offering an exciting first-person shooter gameplay, paired with the positively delightful setting of Columbia, The third installment to the Bioshock series surely did not disappoint.
Bioshock Infinte
Game Freak continues to deliver some of the most consistently good games on the market. This held epsecially true with Pokémon X and Y, which delivered some of the most innovative changes to the long-running series that we have seen in a long time. With new 3-Dimensional graphics, Pokémon X and Y truly pushed the limits to show gamers what the 3DS can handle. Pairing the gameplay with mega evolutions, all-new Pokémon, sky battling, and new features, such as Pokémon Bank, makes this game a must-have for handheld gamers.
Pokémon X and Y
Finally, Studio Ghibli (makers of movies such as Totoro, Spirited Away, and many more) helped deliver the astounding Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. The protagonist, Oliver, goes on a long quest in hopes of a reunion with his mother and provided us with a wonderful game as a result. This beautiful Japanese role-playing game should be on the shelf of every PS3 owner. With crisp, cartoon-style graphics and comedic dialogue, Ni No Kuni is the perfect medium of both charm and challenge.
Ni No Kuni
Top Comic Book Series
Since so many comic series are in different stages, we decided to break this into multiple categories. First, the award for best comic book series goes to the critically acclaimed series, Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Saga dominated the 2013 Eisner Awards, seems to be the mentioned on every ‘recommendations’ forum, and is on every reader’s pull list. Saga really came into full-force in 2013 and we look forward to seeing where 2014 brings Alana, Marko, Hazel, and Izabel against the forces of The Will, Prince Robot IV, and anyone else who tries to get in their way.
Image’s Saga #1
This recognition goes to the top covers of 2013. First, we have a series of decade All-New X-Men #18 covers by Julian Totino Tedesco. Second, we have a cover by Ross Campbell for TMNT #29. The artwork in both of these covers is truly astounding.
All-New X-Men #18
TMNT #29
Best Comic Book Event
Marvel’s Infinity Event took the cake for our Best Event category. This 6-part series, created by Hickman, Cheung, Morales, and Ponsor, follows the story after Age of Ultron. Thanos begins to attack planet Earth while the Avengers are in space settling a conflict against a race called the Builders.
Marvel’s Infinity
Best Webcomic
In 2013, there is a special webcomic artist that deserves recognition for being our favorite weekly webcomic series. Yale Stewart’s JL8 has been nothing short of fantastic. The weekly comic strip can be viewed, in order, here and you only have to read a few strips to see the charm that Yale Stewart has been able to achieve. Having a comic about 8 year-old Justice League characters is not only creative, but provides a different type of comic that is not focused on superpowers. Fans of JL8 have probably already seen, but Yale Stewart was asked to help draw a strip at the end of Marvel NOW!’s Nova #10, so a big congratulations to Yale and JL8 for making it to the big leagues.
Yale Stewart’s JL8
Best New Anime
If you have not taken a look at Attack on Titan (also known as Shingeki no Kyojin), then you definitely need to check it out. When the remainder of humanity is hiding behind a 3-walled city due to mysterious titan attacks, it is up to Eren, Mikasa and their fellow friends in the Survey Corps to try to find a way to stop them. This anime has incredible production value and will keep you on the edge of your seat, guaranteed:
Biggest Announcement
Without a doubt, the biggest announcement of 2013 was the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 3. It has been 10 long years since the second installment of the series, but fans will anxiously be awaiting this release:
Gamenomics & Comicology 