Welcome to day 2 of the Best Of 2012 Awards. Yesterday we covered the Platform awards, which focused solely on exclusive titles but today we focus on the all important genre awards. Everything from action and adventure, to shooters, to sports games and then some. Find out which titles managed to take home the prize in their respective genre.
BEST ACTION GAME
Blending elements of stealth, action, and roleplaying into a first person game is no easy feat, but the talented folks over at Arkane Studios have managed to do just that with Dishonored. Dishonored plays a lot like a game called Deus Ex and that’s no surprise considering the man largely responsible for the acclaim Deus Ex, Harvey Smith, is the lead designer for Dishonored. A simply story of revenge leads the player through the stunning city of Dunwall, which is currently plagued by rates, disease, death and plenty of corruption. Plenty of nooks and crannies are strewn throughout, allowing one to go through the world quickly and quietly or you may simply blast through the front door and use your impressive arsenal to leave a trail of blood in your wake. It’s a game that puts freedom of choice above all else and it succeeds because of it.
Developer: Arkane Studios | Publisher: Bethesda
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST ADVENTURE GAME
Few games if any have managed to do what The Walking Dead: The Game series has managed to do and that is to evoke an emotional response from its audience. Characters who have depth, a gripping narrative and some truly memorably moments help to making The Walking Dead not just the best adventure game of the year, but one of the greatest games of the year, period. Nowhere in gaming will you find a more authentic zombie experience, if simply because The Walking Dead: The Game series manages to focus on what really matters during an end of the world scenario; focus on the people.
Developer: TellTale Games | Publisher: TellTale Games
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER
Halo 4 is one of the best games of the year and quite possibly the best game on Xbox 360. Period. Of course, many Halo fans didn’t think this was going to be the case, and you can’t blame them for thinking that. Afterall, Bungie, creator of the Halo franchise was no longer at the helm and in their place was newly founded 343 Industries. Consisting of industry veterans, including some Bungie alums 343 Industries had the enormous task of creating not just another Halo game, but creating a new future for the series. The original Halo trilogy has ended and in its place a brand new one emerges, with deeper, richer story-telling, unbelievable visual prowess, and the series tried and true challenging combat help to make Halo 4 standout as the best first person shooter of the year.
Developer: 343 Industries | Publisher: Microsoft Studios
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER
“What Rockstar Games has accomplished with Max Payne 3 is nothing short of amazing. Whether it’s the dark, mature story, the simple yet intensely satisfying combat, the outstanding presentation or even the inclusion of a strong worthwhile multiplayer mode, there is simply no denying the brilliance that is Max Payne 3. Now here’s hoping that Max Payne has a couple more outings left in him, because for a man with nothing to live for, he sure as hell manages to fight for a lot.” – Oren Giladi, Editor-in-Chief
Check out our review.
Developer: Rockstar Vancouver | Publisher: Rockstar Games
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST MULTIPLAYER GAME
Developer: 343 Industries | Publisher: Microsoft Studios
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME
“I took such a long time to discuss the end of the game because Mass Effect 3 is about the end of an era. It starts with the end of Shepherd’s story, then zooms out to the end of the first real, genuine friendships many have had with digital characters, then to the end of a console generation (I doubt we’ll see another Mass Effect title for a few years at least), and finally to the end of this portion of our respective lives. I first began playing the Mass Effect series when I was in high school. Over three games, so much has changed in my life, and in the same way so much has changed in the Mass Effect universe. This is a series that grew with its audience. It’s a beautiful, emotionally charged goodbye, and it’s one that you need to experience. It’s probably the most entertaining game that I’ve played in the last year, and in many ways is the best game in the series. It’s the end of an era for BioWare, Commander Shepard and us gamers and I’m glad to have been a part of it.” – Reis Mahnic, Contributing Editor
Check out our review.
Developer: BioWare | Publisher: Electronic Arts
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST HORROR GAME
Yes, zombies are everywhere and they’ve even managed to get their grubby, decomposing hands on the brand-new Wii U, but in doing so, they show that there is still some truly unique and interesting ways for them to lumber around. ZombiU might not necessarily be the first thing you think of when you hear the words “Wii U”, but it definitely should be; even if you’re fed up of zombies already. ZombiU is hands down one of the best survival horror games released in years. ZombiU combines zombies, rogue-likes and the Wii U’s gamepad into something that will truly have you on the edge of your feet. No longer are you a badass with plenty of weapons, instead you are a sole survivor who WILL die. Zombies in ZombiU are enemies that you will learn to fear and attempt to avoid as much as possible. Now if this is how the zombie apocalypse will be, then count me out, but for a game I’m ready to go.
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier | Publisher: Ubisoft
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST PLATFORMER
Nintendo has done it once again. They have managed to create yet another fantastic platformer starring Mario, everyone’s favorite Italian plumber. Superb level design, fast frenetic gameplay and stunning HD visuals help this latest edition of the “New Super Mario Bros.” standout as the best. It also helps that the game is one of the standout titles for Nintendo’s Wii U. It also manages to utilize the systems’ gamepad in some interesting ways that make playing multiplayer even more fun and hectic. Mario has finally arrived to the HD era, now here’s hoping we get a true successor to Mario Galaxy the next go around.
Developer: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST FIGHTING GAME
If at the beginning of this year you would have told me that a fighting game consisting of characters from one of the greatest JRPGs of all time would win fighting game of the year, I probably would have told you that you lost your mind. Of course, here we are giving fighting game of the year to just that sort of game. Persona 4 Arena not only manages to utilizes the fantastic characters from the game proper, but also manages to make a compelling, challenging and gorgeous fighting game that will reward fans of the series and fighting games in general. Add to that great multiplayer and an interesting single player story and you have yourself a genuinely great start to what will hopefully be a new series.
Developer: Atlus | Publisher: Atlus
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST SPORTS GAME
Sports games have been making some pretty big moves over the past couple of years, especially the NBA 2K, NHL and Fifa Soccer franchises, but only one can claim the award. That award once again goes to EA Sports’ FIFA Soccer title. FIFA Soccer 2012 represents its respective sport the best out of all the potential nominees. Continuing down the road of iteration and improvement, EA Canada has managed to once again best itself and continue the FIFA Soccer franchise on an upward curve to perfection.
Developer: EA Canada | Publisher: Electronic Arts
THE RUNNERS-UP:
BEST RACING GAME
When you hear the word Forza you automatically think hardcore driving simulation, but that is far from the case with Forza Horizon; Microsoft’s latest Forza title that takes the acclaimed franchise onto the open road.
Developer: Playground Games | Publisher: Microsoft Studios
THE RUNNERS-UP:
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