So lately (as in the past two years) I've gotten terrible at finishing games. So what better way to motivate myself than to create a list of games I finished in the year 2013. These games don't particularly need to have been released in 2013, but have been completed this year.
List in no particular order!
Showing 1-10 of 13 items
Bioshock Infinite will find itself at the talking point of many GOTY discussions towards the end of 2013 and for good reason. Ken Levine and the fine folks at Irrational Games developed a memorable experience that excites, thrills and makes to reconsider how story telling in video games is done. This is a must play, even if you don't care for shooters.
Having loved Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, I was intrigued by just how DMC: Devil May Cry would turn out. Despite all the DMC fans getting their pants in a twist because it wasn't the same old DMC game we've seen time and time again, DMC: Devil May Cry turned out to a fun and approachable beat-em-up with a great sense of style and place. One just hopes Capcom gives Ninja Theory the chance to make a sequel.
Of all the games I've played this year, Gearbox Software's Borderlands 2 as kept me coming back time and time again. A fantastic loot driven shooter, Borderlands 2 improves on almost all areas of it's predecessor. Fun, frantic and a welcomed challenge now and again, Borderlands 2 is easy to recommend.
I've had a strange experience with the Mass Effect franchise, having adored the original game with it's in-depth lore and wonderful surroundings and than Mass Effect 2, which upon my first playthrough I found dull and forgettable. However I decided to give the series a second chance and played through both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 this year. All in all I'm satisfied with how things ended, even if things ended on a strange note. Mass Effect 3 is a flawed experience, one that frustrated me now and than, yet still excited me and at the end of the day I was glad to have a played the trilogy. For all it's troubles, I'd still recommended the series.
Halo 4's a strange one. Part of me questions the need of another trilogy featuring the Master Chief and theirs another part of me that still gets a kick out of shooting the covenant in the face. Yes Halo 4 was a solid shooter that handled perfectly fine and played well, for the most part. But even after completing the campaign and playing a fair share of the multiplayer, it still feels somewhat pointless at a time when franchises are prepping for new hardware and it's so late in the cycle. Still, like Halo? You'll like Halo 4.
Remember Me divided me, there's some smart ideas behind this DONTNOD Entertainment developed game, but repetitive combat and some weak mechanics contribute to making Remember Me a lackluster overall offering. That said, there's still something here worth checking out if you can get over the poor combat and over reliance on linear traversal. My Review of Remember Me: http://www.giantbomb.com/remember-me/3030-36172/user-reviews/2200-25956
The Last of Us is a splendid new IP from the talented folks at Naughty Dog, the men and women behind the Uncharted franchise. The Last of Us is a uniquely different experience, one that is tense, emotional and simply brilliant throughout. One of the best games of 2013 easily. My review of The Last of Us: http://www.giantbomb.com/the-last-of-us/3030-36989/user-reviews/2200-26005
Deadpool is your typical hack and slash beat-em-up, one which humor will either win you over or make you hate every moment of it. Deadpool is okay at the very best, but maybe that's okay. Review: http://www.giantbomb.com/deadpool/3030-39010/user-reviews/2200-26039
Saints Row: The Third is the definition of stupid fun. It's a reminder of why you loved the likes of Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA: San Andreas. It's a game that never takes itself seriously, resulting in a well developed and most importantly, fun open world action game like no other. Whilst far from perfect, the best thing that can be said for Saints Row: The Third is that it's pure, stupid fun. Saints Row: The Third Review here: http://www.giantbomb.com/saints-row-the-third/3030-25725/user-reviews/2200-26170
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a fun solid shooter based around the gameplay mechanics of Far Cry 3, though with a cosmetic style of it's very own. Whilst far from original or packed with content, there's certainly something to be said for what Ubisoft have created here. My review can be found here: http://www.giantbomb.com/far-cry-3-blood-dragon/3030-42241/user-reviews/2200-26214