2012 was a game that was filled with a lot of games. Whether it was PC or the DS or anything in between, I sure had my share of playing time with a wide variety of games. So with the end of the year, I bring you the top games that I played in 2012.
Which means the game didn't have to be released in 2012, just that I played it in 2012. Also, games that I completed. I started a lot more than I finished, and some were even promising (current endeavor being Fallout: NV).
Honorable Mention: Bastion
I don't like platformers. Usually. But there was something different about this game. Maybe because the combat was fluid. Maybe the storyline was gripping. Maybe it was the deep husky voice of the narrator as he speaks my every move. The game itself is kinda short; about 6 hours. But none of that mattered. Throw in a unique art style, this game deserves an honorable mention.
10. Rebuild 2
Starting off the top 10 is a flash game off of Kongregate. In this day and age, it seems most zombie games have been FPS point and click (or aim and shoot) then heads explode, but Rebuild 2 approaches the zombie genre from a different perspective.
Think of this as a Civilization game, but with zombies and definitely not as complex. You start in the middle of a zombie infested town with a couple of survivors, then ordering certain actions each day, you expand your boundaries, scavenge for food, rescue new survivors, or exterminate some zombies. With a turn-based system, one would think this game would be rather slow, but the reality of a zombie horde waiting at your doorstep to attack keeps you on your toes. There are also multiple endings achieved by different means, and you never know which is gonna be the most convenient way to win until you explore your boundaries. The music and sound along with the art create an environment and experience that most flash games find difficult to accomplish.
I played the first Rebuild, and I remember it being fun, but the second game grabbed my attention for multiple playthroughs. Shoot. I even played enough to get the 30 point badge on Kongregate. A solid choice to start off the top 10.
So let's get this started!
9. Space, Pirates, and Zombies (SPAZ)
Such an odd coupling of names, but this indie game gets the nod. I bought this game during a random sale for $2.00, not really expecting a whole lot. But I found myself immersed in space, trying to please different factions, farming off some asteroids, building new ships for my fleet, while trying to fend off some pirates and zombies. There was a lot of freedom in this game to pick and choose your allies and foes, which is always a plus in my book. Also the amount of customization in this game is amazing, with different ships, ship parts, weapons, and even specialists for your crew.
My only qualm about this game is the need to farm Rez (money) and the tediousness of the process. At first, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. But if you're in need of a huge amount (like, after a big fight), you'll spend an hour just flying around in a circle.
Regardless, this game is still being updated (fixes, new content), and I hope they implement new ideas to make this game even more fresh and fun.
8. Recettear
So you're an adolescent girl named Recette, who wakes up to find a fairy, telling you your dad is gone. And oh. He owes the bank a huge amount of money and you have to raise enough money to pay things back in a weekly manner. (geez).
At first glance, Recettear doesn't look like the other games I have on this list because it looks so.....cartoony. Straight out of an anime or something. And as in most anime games like this, there is a dungeon crawling aspect to it, where you fight slimes or bees or stuff like that then you get some loot to sell back in town.
Cept in this game, you have your own shop, where you can set your own prices and even haggle with buyers/suppliers to maximize your profits. On top of that there are market conditions, when certain things become fads or when there's an excess of other things.
The combat is a little clunky at times, but there are different mercenaries that you can hire to obtain better loot for you.
The survival mode is just crazy, as the installments of money you have to pay back get pretty ridiculous after a certain point. But it adds some good replayability to the game.
7. Sleeping Dogs
I'm a fan of open world/sandbox games. I
like being able to explore and not feeling confined to a strict
storyline. Sleeping Dogs was a great while it lasted. It helps that I
understand some Cantonese (although, I learned a lot of curse words
while playing this game), but Sleeping Dogs created an environment
suitable for an open world game. There are many collectibles, different
types of quests, different people to beat up, and unlike the GTA games,
there is a well-tuned, focused on melee hand-to-hand combat (guns can
sometimes make games boring).
The story is passable. It
did grip me for a bit, but it's nothing that will be awarded. Also note
that, while you are a cop, you aren't restricted from pulling crimes.
The
game just lacks the amount of content needed to make a name for itself
in the open world market. You can leisurely 100% the game in 30 hours.
Even in the DS version of GTA:Chinatown Wars, I found myself discovering
new things and unlocking new content even after the main storyline was
complete.
This game has a good base, but I finished the
game wanting more. With the current trend in video games nowadays, I
won't be surprised if they add more content DLCs just to keep banking.
6. Rune Factory 3
I wrote a post about this game already. And I also played this game a few years ago, so I wasn't sure if I should've added it to this list. But with the amount of time spent (even as a second playthrough) and the amount of fun I had, it definitely deserves a mention.
A Harvest Moon game where you can also kill stuff. I think that hits my favorite genres.
One thing that I realized later that made this game so playable was the lack of loading screens and fluid controls/gameplay. Everything is quick (they even have a home teleport spell) and easy to comprehend. Granted, you don't need to play the game at high speeds; you can fit everything you want to do during the day if you just play casually.
I tried to play the Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny on the Wii, but it lacked the depth and fluidity that the DS counterpart brought. Truly a gem of a game.
5. Portal 2
Yes I'm late. Very very late. But better late than never! I played the first game with no expectations and I loved it.
I started the second game and the results were the same. And while the puzzles and mechanics were getting stale by the end (find a white wall. Shoot white wall. Go through white wall), the genius in this game is in the writing, not the gimmick. Every line that was written was entertaining and added depth to the world inside Aperture. And while the game was relatively short, I think the length was perfect for the game. Better short and concise than long and draggy.
4. War of the Immortals
If you look at any MMORPG out there nowadays, this one doesn't even compare. Other games have better graphics, better stories (if there is one), better gameplay mechanics, etc. I've played a lot of MMOs in the last few years, and a lot of them got stale within the first 10 minutes of playing.
But for some reason, this was the one that captivated my attention. Maybe it was because it was so easy to level. There's a sense of progress when you gain that many levels that fast, and boy is it addicting. Throw in the encouragement of joining a guild (maybe I was just lucky I found one with cool people?) and different instances and events, I found myself getting two characters to level 100 while spending between 200 to 300 hours total on it (Steam only logged about 150, but I was off Steam for most of my gameplay).
If you want to get into the MMO environment, this isn't the best game you can play. But if you like leveling fast and fighting in groups (built in botting/auto-walking) this is the game for you.
3. Minecraft
I don't understand why this game exploded the way it did. It's such a simple concept that has now become a cash cow. I also don't understand how I managed to use up so much time playing this game.
Seriously.
I'll be chipping away at cobblestone, chopping down some trees, building a new house/town, and a whole day (in real life) has passed. And it doesn't feel like it.
I had this problem when I played Terraria last year as well, but in Minecraft, the addiction stemmed from playing with others. Being a builder, it was fun to build a home, log out, then log back in to find your friends built their home or things like that.
Also, the fact that you can just be downright silly while playing this game. One of my fondest gaming memories has to do with one of my friends stepping on a pressure plate connected to TNT, which exploded his own home.
And ah. The sense of "YESSS" when you find a diamond.
Honestly, if i found a group of people to play this with, I'd still be playing.
2. Borderlands 2
I was skeptical of pre-ordering this game. Especially after I paid full price for Diablo 3, only to dislike it so much that I left a negative review of it on Amazon.
But from the loading screen until the last minutes I played, I thoroughly enjoyed my Borderlands 2 experience. There was just so much content and it was just so much fun. I played most of the game co-op with 3 other people, so I'm sure that added to the fun factor. But there was just so much to explore. So many guns to find. So many easter eggs to stumble upon. (minecraft. Wha?)
And the writing. If the genius of Portal is in the writing, the genius of Borderlands 2 is the gameplay and the writing meshed together. They took risks with the storyline, threw a few curveballs, and with every mission, kept me wondering what was gonna happen next. Such good pacing, which has been rare in FPS shooters.
And no. Borderlands 2 does NOT need a COD-style multiplayer. Gosh no.
And the #1 spot goes tooo
1. Dungeon Defenders.
I didn't expect anything from this game at all. It was on sale for like.. a dollar, so I picked it up. Then I ended up spending the better part of my January/February playing this game.
Usually, tower defense games don't grip my attention. But being able to play co-op, able to hack and slash mobs, able to find better equipment and level up, Dungeon Defenders was never lacking in fun. There are just so many stages to try to master, different characters with different abilities/towers, and level cap that isn't a cakewalk to get, Dungeon Defenders offered a ton of depth for a game that was well executed and brought a new perspective to the tower defense world.
So there you have it. My top 10 for 2012. Let's see what 2013 may bring.
