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Best of 2010

by devwil

DevWil: Best of 2010 
 
I haven't finished all of these games; I had a busy 2010 that didn't include a lot of new releases.  Also, I have Bayonetta waiting to be played, but I won't get to it before 2011.  I'm playing Red Dead Redemption, but I've yet to be sold on anything but its aesthetic and setting.  It just feels too GTA-y to me.

Showing 1-10 of 10 items

Mass Effect 2

1. Mass Effect 2

Easy pick. Only disappointing parts of it were how the achievements negatively influenced my ability to really role-play and the movement away from the first game's RPG mechanics. Note to RPG developers: don't let your metagame influence players' experiences like Mass Effect's.

Chime

2. Chime

$5, engaging, beautiful, and most of the profits go to charity.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game

3. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game

Maybe if I'd ever played River City Ransom I wouldn't like this game quite as much. However, this game is much truer to the comics (which I adore) than the film (which I found offensively bad). The soundtrack is awesome, the gameplay is tight, and the graphics are delightful.

NHL 11

4. NHL 11

Probably the game I played the most this year. Can't not include it. A really impressive entry in an impressive franchise that represents my favorite sport.

Game Dev Story

5. Game Dev Story

Funny, fun, and a really good timewaster for iOS.

Limbo

6. Limbo

Very unique and amazing if only for its minimalistic style, both in its aesthetic and its narrative (which I'm still not sure how to interpret).

Infinite Space

7. Infinite Space

I didn't finish it, but it's got some really interesting mechanics and the story seemed good. However, there's a ton of grinding to do, which is a big part of why it remains unfinished. Also, I doubt I'll ever go back to it because of its lack of a quest log or anything of that sort.

Skate 3

8. Skate 3

See review here: http://www.giantbomb.com/skate-3/61-28135/user-reviews/?review_id=14665

The Polynomial: Space of the Music

9. The Polynomial: Space of the Music

Beautiful.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

10. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

Deserves a mention for its aesthetic, but the game's second half is really a bummer. It goes from being a unique, gritty, intense crime story to being a pretty typical and anticlimactic shooter. Once you are in the helicopter, you might as well stop playing if not for achievements. The game takes such a downturn at that exact moment to the point that it feels like a much different, much more ordinary game.