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If you told me at the beginning of the year that this game would sit proudly at the top of my list... I'd have laughed at you. Saints Row: The Third defies expectations and delivers what is easily the most fun I've had in a videogame for a long, long time.
I never really liked Oblivion. It was filled with mundane quests, boring conversations and gameplay which left A LOT to be desired. Which is why I came into Skyrim with a small amount of apprehension. Skyrim takes everything that Bethesda has been building over the past 10 years and perfects almost every single part of it. Filled with great characters, an extremely engaging world and gameplay that finally feels good (which is a first for Bethesda) and we are left with almost the perfect package. Congratulations Bethesda, you've actually done it this time round!
The original Portal took all of us by surprise when it graced our disk trays and hard drives back in 2007. The fine folks at Valve heard our cries when we called out for "MORE" with this years successor, Portal 2. Portal 2 takes everything that made it's predecessor great, and amplify's it to a whole new level. Adding new types of puzzles, new crazy objects and liquids to mess around with, and most importantly fantastic characters and storytelling. Portal 2 is incredibly funny, with it's top of the class writing, and brilliant performances from GLaDOS and Wheatley. And man, THAT ENDING! Oh, and let's not forget the co-op! I had a blast playing through this extra mode with a mate, and by Christ, I needed him. Some of those puzzles became CRAZY hard. Thank you Valve for making this near perfect gaming experience.
I was pretty late to the Bastion party. It wasn't until the early days of 2012 that I finally sat down and played the game that everyone had been raving about since its original Summer of Arcade release. Bastion defied my expectations and gave me one of the most spectacular and memorable experiences of the year. The art style was beautiful, the music was downright unbelievable and the running commentary on your every move was one of the most interesting and rewarding concepts conceived in a videogame for a long time. Bastion joins the ranks of the XBLA Elite, and does so with such finesse.
Arkham Asylum was one of the biggest surprises in recent videogame history. Which is why the announcement of a sequal so soon after its release left a lot of us sighing with our head in hands. Arkham City however, did not fail to impress. It may not have surpassed or even equalled the standard set by its predecessor, but man was it fun. The open world portion actually worked, and Batman felt better than ever. Heck, it's friggin' Batman, dude.
Human Revolution had a LOT to live up to. Not only because of the pedestal that the original sits upon, but also because of the cold, damp well that it's predecessor lies in. Deus Ex is a name that many people hold close to their heart, and with good reason. Human Revolution may not have set the world alight, but it definitely succeeded in one aspect - not disappointing. The boss battles aside, the gameplay was solid and the music was almost perfect. Also, regarding the endings - it's funny how a game that has you punching prostitutes and throwing vending machines turned out to be one of the most philosophical video games ever made.
