Post by Rinconrolla on Dec 29, 2011 10:56:12 GMT -5
It seems just last year we proclaimed “this was the best year for games in ages!”
365 days later, we’re inclined to say it again.
Though it started off a bit slow, 2011 ended as loudly as you could want. Critically-acclaimed sequels to nearly every major game franchise hit shelves, creating a glut of blockbusters and absolutely decimating the wallets of those crazy enough to try to play them all. From glorious indie downloads like Bastion to big, brash noisemakers like Modern Warfare 3, we were never at a loss for an exceptional game experience. In 2011, quantity met quality.
That’s great for gamers, but lousy for awards. Whittling down our top picks for 2011 was an immense challenge, but with the help of some tarot cards, a gallon of malt liquor, lawn darts and a couple of 20-sided dice, we muddled our way through to nail down the Yahoo! Games Best of 2011 Awards. No cheat codes needed
Best Action/Adventure Game
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY -- The Dark Knight rises above a very crowded action game field, but it certainly wasn’t easy. Any other year, top-notch titles like Deus Ex, Uncharted 3, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Saint’s Row The Third could just as easily have been winners. But Batman was the total package in 2011, blending open-world freedom with a great story and addictive gameplay. Never bet against the bat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Downloadable Game
BASTION -- The Kid wins in a landslide. From brand new developer Supergiant Games, action/role-playing hit Bastion took 2011 by storm. Featuring a fantastic soundtrack, beautiful art and the coolest narrator this side of Morgan Freeman, it was an indelible experience. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Stacking
Iron Brigade (formerly Trenched
Best Music Game
DANCE CENTRAL 2 -- While Rock Band and Guitar Hero took the year off, that just meant more space on the dance floor -- and no one covered that space like Dance Central 2. The follow-up to the best game for Kinect added two-player simultaneous play and loads of great new routines to the already potent mix. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Just Dance 3
Child of Eden
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
Best Platform Game
RAYMAN ORIGINS -- No arms, no legs, no problem. Rayman might not enjoy the name recognition of Mario, but this year, he enjoyed the better game. Rayman: Origins was THE sleeper hit of 2011, a flat-out gorgeous platform game bursting with creativity and overflowing with fun. Did you miss it? You should fix that. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Super Mario 3D Land
LittleBigPlanet 2
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
Best Platform Game
RAYMAN ORIGINS -- No arms, no legs, no problem. Rayman might not enjoy the name recognition of Mario, but this year, he enjoyed the better game. Rayman: Origins was THE sleeper hit of 2011, a flat-out gorgeous platform game bursting with creativity and overflowing with fun. Did you miss it? You should fix that. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Super Mario 3D Land
LittleBigPlanet 2
Best Role-Playing Game
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM --Sorry, other role-playing games: it wasn’t even close. Impossibly big, incredibly detailed and more addictive than chocolate-covered crack, Bethesda’s dragon-hunting epic was an instant role-playing classic -- not to mention the best gaming deal of the year. We’re up to 79 hours. How about you? (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Dark Souls
The Witcher 2
...
Best Handheld Game
SUPER MARIO 3D LAND --The loveable plumber took a while to finally arrive on the system, but when he did, he did it in a big way. At once an homage to classic Mario games and a leap forward for the rotund mascot, Super Mario 3D Land was exactly as much fun as we hoped it would be. Who else could steady the 3DS ship? (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Honorable mentions
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Kirby’s Mass Attack
Best Sports Game
NBA 2K12 --How do you top Michael Jordan? Grab about 15 of his closest Hall of Fame pals. That’s what 2K Sports did with this excellent follow-up to last year’s hit NBA 2K11, and it paid off big time. Countless refinements, the awesome Legends mode and genre-defining graphics led to an easy repeat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
NHL 12
Fight Night Champion
...
Best Sports Game
NBA 2K12 --How do you top Michael Jordan? Grab about 15 of his closest Hall of Fame pals. That’s what 2K Sports did with this excellent follow-up to last year’s hit NBA 2K11, and it paid off big time. Countless refinements, the awesome Legends mode and genre-defining graphics led to an easy repeat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
NHL 12
Fight Night Champion
Best Casual/Social Game
EMPIRES AND ALLIES -- Wish your Ville game had a little more combat? We sure did, and Zynga delivered in a big way. By marrying the addictive clickfest of CityVille with strategic, combat-oriented gameplay, Empires and Allies brilliantly bridged the gap between casual and core Facebook fare. The result was our favorite of 2011. (Search)
Honorable mentions:
Mystery Trackers 2: Raincliff
The Sims Social
...
Best Puzzle Game
PORTAL 2 -- To be perfectly honest, we weren’t totally sure where to put Portal 2. Action? Shooter? In the end, we decided it was a puzzle game, and then quickly decided it was the best puzzle game of 2011. Amazing voice work, a hilarious script, mind-bending puzzles, compelling multiplayer – even an insane robot couldn’t keep us from loving it. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Stacking
Professor Layton and The Last Specter
Best Overall Game of 2011
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY -- Holy Game of the Year, Batman! Despite stiff competition from the massive Skyrim and the brilliant Portal 2, Arkham City swooped down and snagged the trophy when none of us were looking. And we should have expected as much. A love letter to comic book fans, Arkham City expands on everything that made 2009’s Arkham Asylum such a treat. From its fantastic gameplay to its stellar delivery, this is more than just the best superhero game ever – it’s the best game of 2011.(Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Portal 2
Source of this story games.yahoo.com/photos/game-of-the-year-awards-2011-1324496261-slideshow/#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fgame-of-the-year-awards-2011-1324496261-slideshow%252Fgame-of-the-year-2011-photo-1324495758.html
365 days later, we’re inclined to say it again.
Though it started off a bit slow, 2011 ended as loudly as you could want. Critically-acclaimed sequels to nearly every major game franchise hit shelves, creating a glut of blockbusters and absolutely decimating the wallets of those crazy enough to try to play them all. From glorious indie downloads like Bastion to big, brash noisemakers like Modern Warfare 3, we were never at a loss for an exceptional game experience. In 2011, quantity met quality.
That’s great for gamers, but lousy for awards. Whittling down our top picks for 2011 was an immense challenge, but with the help of some tarot cards, a gallon of malt liquor, lawn darts and a couple of 20-sided dice, we muddled our way through to nail down the Yahoo! Games Best of 2011 Awards. No cheat codes needed
Best Action/Adventure Game
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY -- The Dark Knight rises above a very crowded action game field, but it certainly wasn’t easy. Any other year, top-notch titles like Deus Ex, Uncharted 3, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Saint’s Row The Third could just as easily have been winners. But Batman was the total package in 2011, blending open-world freedom with a great story and addictive gameplay. Never bet against the bat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Best Downloadable Game
BASTION -- The Kid wins in a landslide. From brand new developer Supergiant Games, action/role-playing hit Bastion took 2011 by storm. Featuring a fantastic soundtrack, beautiful art and the coolest narrator this side of Morgan Freeman, it was an indelible experience. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Stacking
Iron Brigade (formerly Trenched
Best Music Game
DANCE CENTRAL 2 -- While Rock Band and Guitar Hero took the year off, that just meant more space on the dance floor -- and no one covered that space like Dance Central 2. The follow-up to the best game for Kinect added two-player simultaneous play and loads of great new routines to the already potent mix. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Just Dance 3
Child of Eden
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
Best Platform Game
RAYMAN ORIGINS -- No arms, no legs, no problem. Rayman might not enjoy the name recognition of Mario, but this year, he enjoyed the better game. Rayman: Origins was THE sleeper hit of 2011, a flat-out gorgeous platform game bursting with creativity and overflowing with fun. Did you miss it? You should fix that. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Super Mario 3D Land
LittleBigPlanet 2
...
Best Shooter
GEARS OF WAR 3 -- While Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 duked it out for military supremacy, Epic’s third-person monster mash chainsawed our hearts. It brought the Gears trilogy to a satisfying end, then kept us up all night playing its terrific multiplayer. Dom, we didn’t know you had it in you. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
Best Racer
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO -- The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see. And play. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Forza Motorsport 4
Mario Kart 7
Best Phone/Tablet Game
SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD AND SWORCERY -- Artsy, interesting, and unique, this sublime action/adventure game was a breath of fresh air in the copycat world of the App Store. Don’t let the throwback visuals fool you – its old-school look is entirely by design, as are its clever puzzles and wonderful storytelling. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Jetpack Joyride
Infinity Blade II
Best Platform Game
RAYMAN ORIGINS -- No arms, no legs, no problem. Rayman might not enjoy the name recognition of Mario, but this year, he enjoyed the better game. Rayman: Origins was THE sleeper hit of 2011, a flat-out gorgeous platform game bursting with creativity and overflowing with fun. Did you miss it? You should fix that. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Super Mario 3D Land
LittleBigPlanet 2
Best Role-Playing Game
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM --Sorry, other role-playing games: it wasn’t even close. Impossibly big, incredibly detailed and more addictive than chocolate-covered crack, Bethesda’s dragon-hunting epic was an instant role-playing classic -- not to mention the best gaming deal of the year. We’re up to 79 hours. How about you? (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Dark Souls
The Witcher 2
...
Best Handheld Game
SUPER MARIO 3D LAND --The loveable plumber took a while to finally arrive on the system, but when he did, he did it in a big way. At once an homage to classic Mario games and a leap forward for the rotund mascot, Super Mario 3D Land was exactly as much fun as we hoped it would be. Who else could steady the 3DS ship? (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Honorable mentions
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Kirby’s Mass Attack
Best Sports Game
NBA 2K12 --How do you top Michael Jordan? Grab about 15 of his closest Hall of Fame pals. That’s what 2K Sports did with this excellent follow-up to last year’s hit NBA 2K11, and it paid off big time. Countless refinements, the awesome Legends mode and genre-defining graphics led to an easy repeat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
NHL 12
Fight Night Champion
...
Best Sports Game
NBA 2K12 --How do you top Michael Jordan? Grab about 15 of his closest Hall of Fame pals. That’s what 2K Sports did with this excellent follow-up to last year’s hit NBA 2K11, and it paid off big time. Countless refinements, the awesome Legends mode and genre-defining graphics led to an easy repeat. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
NHL 12
Fight Night Champion
Best Casual/Social Game
EMPIRES AND ALLIES -- Wish your Ville game had a little more combat? We sure did, and Zynga delivered in a big way. By marrying the addictive clickfest of CityVille with strategic, combat-oriented gameplay, Empires and Allies brilliantly bridged the gap between casual and core Facebook fare. The result was our favorite of 2011. (Search)
Honorable mentions:
Mystery Trackers 2: Raincliff
The Sims Social
...
Best Puzzle Game
PORTAL 2 -- To be perfectly honest, we weren’t totally sure where to put Portal 2. Action? Shooter? In the end, we decided it was a puzzle game, and then quickly decided it was the best puzzle game of 2011. Amazing voice work, a hilarious script, mind-bending puzzles, compelling multiplayer – even an insane robot couldn’t keep us from loving it. (Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
Stacking
Professor Layton and The Last Specter
Best Overall Game of 2011
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY -- Holy Game of the Year, Batman! Despite stiff competition from the massive Skyrim and the brilliant Portal 2, Arkham City swooped down and snagged the trophy when none of us were looking. And we should have expected as much. A love letter to comic book fans, Arkham City expands on everything that made 2009’s Arkham Asylum such a treat. From its fantastic gameplay to its stellar delivery, this is more than just the best superhero game ever – it’s the best game of 2011.(Buy | Search)
Honorable mentions:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Portal 2
Source of this story games.yahoo.com/photos/game-of-the-year-awards-2011-1324496261-slideshow/#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fgame-of-the-year-awards-2011-1324496261-slideshow%252Fgame-of-the-year-2011-photo-1324495758.html