10. Dirt 3 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) I loved the first Dirt game, but I never played the second one. Codemasters got a bit away from the Rally racing aspect with the second one, so I stayed away until this one came out. They really focus on the Rally racing, and I love doing those. The graphics engine is amazing here. Better than GT5 in my opinion, and the adding of snow to the weather just makes it all the more impressive. The length of the game, and the stellar online play will have you playing long hours.
9. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (3DS) Of all the launch titles with the 3DS, this one will stand the test of time. I knew nothing about this game until a few days before the system launched, and was left impressed. It's a strategy game in the likes of Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics, which is a bit odd for the Ghost Recon games. The 3D effect is well done, not too strong but not hard on the eyes for long play sessions. The graphics look good, and it controls well. If you like strategy games and own a 3DS, do not hesitate with this one.
8. Mortal Kombat (PS3, Xbox 360) I've been an MK fan my whole life and have been severely let down with the past couple of entries, but this game brings it back to it's roots. The game only has the the central characters of the series, and I think that was a smart move. The single player story (yes, it has one) is the best storyline i've ever played in a fighting game. The 2 on 1 and 3 on 1 fights are a bit cheap, but it's fine. The Fatalities in this game are some of the most gruesome in the series. The online has a bit of a lag issue, but no big deal. The krypt is back and has loads to unlock, a lot of stuff to do in this game. You do get to play as Kratos of God of War fame in the PS3 version, and he does fit in well.
7. Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) The first Portal took around 2 hours to finish, and I was skeptical about the second one being a full length game. I was wrong, and glad I was. The gameplay is basically the same, with the game opening up a bit in the middle. This game has the best writing I've seen in a game since Uncharted 2, awesome dialogue! The graphics are a bit better, but they are pretty much the same as the first. if you liked the first one, you'll love the second one. The co-op adds a bit to the replay. A must play if you like puzzle games, and even if you don't.
6. Killzone 3 (PS3) I love the Killzone games, and this is the best of the 3 in my opinion. The graphics are the crown of this series. As far as a FPS goes, it doesn't get much better than this game. They took away the heaviness of the weapons of the first 2, and it makes things a bit smoother. I actually enjoyed the story of the game, despite what the critics say about it. The single player is great, but the multiplayer is what will keep you playing the game long after you start. The game is the first game to support the PS Move sharpshooter, and I hear it works really well with it. I'll find out when Resistance 3 comes out and I get one. Must play for FPS fans.
5. Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy (PSP) One of the most interesting names to a game i've ever played. This is the prequal to Dissidia, also for the PSP. The game is a fighter/RPG with the all stars of the Final Fantasy universe. This game adds a few new characters such as: Lightning, and Tifa. The game is pretty much the same game as the other, just with a few new characters. The cool thing about it is that you unlock the entire original game once you beat the storyline of this one. I am a HUGE FF fan, so that is why this game is decently high on my list.
4. L.A. Noire (PS3, Xbox 360) I was looking forward to this game the moment I heard about it. GTA IV is one of my favorite games of all time, and I trust Rockstar with everything they touch. This game delivered! You play as a detective and you are solving murders in 1940's LA. Most of the time you are looking for clues and interviewing people, not too much shooting except for the side missions. This game has changed the way facial animation is going to be done in games. They are realistic, they don't look real, they actually are. I've never seen anything like it. The game is pretty liner, but it lasts around 20-30 hours. It does drag a bit at some points, but this game is definitely worth your time and money.
3. Pokemon Black/White (DS) Every time a new generation of Pokemon comes out fans come running, and I'm a fan. These games are the most interesting Pokemon games to come out in quite a while, not only for the actual monsters, but a decent story. The story of the games have never really mattered too much, Team Rocket is bad and you take them out, but this game mixes it up. Team Plasma wants to Liberate Pokemon saying that humans oppress them. You still fight gym leaders to get badges, but the 3 vs 3 battles are a nice change of pace. The graphics are good, not as good as I wanted them to be. If you love Pokemon you'll love these games, if you don't these won't change your mind. You can easily get around 50-80 hours out of this game.
2. Dragon Age 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) I was a big fan of the first Dragon Age and was really anticipating this game. I was not let down by this. Bioware really did what they did from the first Mass Effect to the second and really made this one more action oriented. The game takes place after the first and you play as Hawk. They took out the custom character and your character talks in this one, and I feel it was for the better. The graphics are much better than the first. The gameplay has a much faster pace than the first. All the things that make a Bioware game great are here such as: great characters, great voice acting, good use of dialogue trees, and an interesting story. The game is a great deal more liner than the first, but it fits the game with focus on action. It also is not point and click anymore, you have to hit A to swing a sword. The game just works to me, I enjoyed every minute of this game. You can get a good 30 hours out of it, and much more to do do everything.
1. Dead Space 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) The first Dead Space came out of nowhere to me, and was one of the best games I played that year, and the second one is even better. The Dead Space games are the new survival horror games since Resident Evil decided to be action games. Dead Space 2 is more action focused than the first, but it WILL make you jump. The lighting in the game is the best i've ever seen. Going down tight spaces and hearing screams and footsteps can creep you out. Everything that made the first game great is here, just bigger and better. EA decided to give Isaac a voice and that was very smart, and leads to a great storyline. You can beat the game in about 8-10 hours, but it is well worth it to replay several times. Blood+Violence+Scary+Action+Space leads to my favorite game of 2011 so far. Must play!
Worth a mention: DC Universe Online, Bulletstorm, Super Street Fighter 3D, Red Faction Armageddon, Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection, Duke Nukem Forever, Infamous 2, Crysis 2, Outland.
9. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (3DS) Of all the launch titles with the 3DS, this one will stand the test of time. I knew nothing about this game until a few days before the system launched, and was left impressed. It's a strategy game in the likes of Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics, which is a bit odd for the Ghost Recon games. The 3D effect is well done, not too strong but not hard on the eyes for long play sessions. The graphics look good, and it controls well. If you like strategy games and own a 3DS, do not hesitate with this one.
8. Mortal Kombat (PS3, Xbox 360) I've been an MK fan my whole life and have been severely let down with the past couple of entries, but this game brings it back to it's roots. The game only has the the central characters of the series, and I think that was a smart move. The single player story (yes, it has one) is the best storyline i've ever played in a fighting game. The 2 on 1 and 3 on 1 fights are a bit cheap, but it's fine. The Fatalities in this game are some of the most gruesome in the series. The online has a bit of a lag issue, but no big deal. The krypt is back and has loads to unlock, a lot of stuff to do in this game. You do get to play as Kratos of God of War fame in the PS3 version, and he does fit in well.
7. Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) The first Portal took around 2 hours to finish, and I was skeptical about the second one being a full length game. I was wrong, and glad I was. The gameplay is basically the same, with the game opening up a bit in the middle. This game has the best writing I've seen in a game since Uncharted 2, awesome dialogue! The graphics are a bit better, but they are pretty much the same as the first. if you liked the first one, you'll love the second one. The co-op adds a bit to the replay. A must play if you like puzzle games, and even if you don't.
6. Killzone 3 (PS3) I love the Killzone games, and this is the best of the 3 in my opinion. The graphics are the crown of this series. As far as a FPS goes, it doesn't get much better than this game. They took away the heaviness of the weapons of the first 2, and it makes things a bit smoother. I actually enjoyed the story of the game, despite what the critics say about it. The single player is great, but the multiplayer is what will keep you playing the game long after you start. The game is the first game to support the PS Move sharpshooter, and I hear it works really well with it. I'll find out when Resistance 3 comes out and I get one. Must play for FPS fans.
5. Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy (PSP) One of the most interesting names to a game i've ever played. This is the prequal to Dissidia, also for the PSP. The game is a fighter/RPG with the all stars of the Final Fantasy universe. This game adds a few new characters such as: Lightning, and Tifa. The game is pretty much the same game as the other, just with a few new characters. The cool thing about it is that you unlock the entire original game once you beat the storyline of this one. I am a HUGE FF fan, so that is why this game is decently high on my list.
4. L.A. Noire (PS3, Xbox 360) I was looking forward to this game the moment I heard about it. GTA IV is one of my favorite games of all time, and I trust Rockstar with everything they touch. This game delivered! You play as a detective and you are solving murders in 1940's LA. Most of the time you are looking for clues and interviewing people, not too much shooting except for the side missions. This game has changed the way facial animation is going to be done in games. They are realistic, they don't look real, they actually are. I've never seen anything like it. The game is pretty liner, but it lasts around 20-30 hours. It does drag a bit at some points, but this game is definitely worth your time and money.
3. Pokemon Black/White (DS) Every time a new generation of Pokemon comes out fans come running, and I'm a fan. These games are the most interesting Pokemon games to come out in quite a while, not only for the actual monsters, but a decent story. The story of the games have never really mattered too much, Team Rocket is bad and you take them out, but this game mixes it up. Team Plasma wants to Liberate Pokemon saying that humans oppress them. You still fight gym leaders to get badges, but the 3 vs 3 battles are a nice change of pace. The graphics are good, not as good as I wanted them to be. If you love Pokemon you'll love these games, if you don't these won't change your mind. You can easily get around 50-80 hours out of this game.
2. Dragon Age 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) I was a big fan of the first Dragon Age and was really anticipating this game. I was not let down by this. Bioware really did what they did from the first Mass Effect to the second and really made this one more action oriented. The game takes place after the first and you play as Hawk. They took out the custom character and your character talks in this one, and I feel it was for the better. The graphics are much better than the first. The gameplay has a much faster pace than the first. All the things that make a Bioware game great are here such as: great characters, great voice acting, good use of dialogue trees, and an interesting story. The game is a great deal more liner than the first, but it fits the game with focus on action. It also is not point and click anymore, you have to hit A to swing a sword. The game just works to me, I enjoyed every minute of this game. You can get a good 30 hours out of it, and much more to do do everything.
1. Dead Space 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) The first Dead Space came out of nowhere to me, and was one of the best games I played that year, and the second one is even better. The Dead Space games are the new survival horror games since Resident Evil decided to be action games. Dead Space 2 is more action focused than the first, but it WILL make you jump. The lighting in the game is the best i've ever seen. Going down tight spaces and hearing screams and footsteps can creep you out. Everything that made the first game great is here, just bigger and better. EA decided to give Isaac a voice and that was very smart, and leads to a great storyline. You can beat the game in about 8-10 hours, but it is well worth it to replay several times. Blood+Violence+Scary+Action+Space leads to my favorite game of 2011 so far. Must play!
Worth a mention: DC Universe Online, Bulletstorm, Super Street Fighter 3D, Red Faction Armageddon, Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection, Duke Nukem Forever, Infamous 2, Crysis 2, Outland.
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