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It was an exceptional year for the players. Sales are up, which helps the industry, and the quality of games released offers something for everyone in every genre. As it turns out, this makes the job of choosing the best all the more difficult. We threw ourselves into choosing our best games of the year in several categories, which ultimately led to our Game of the Year. It turned out to be a much more difficult task than initially expected.
For a gamer, it sounds like a fun task: list the best games of the year, then pick your favorite. Continue to avoid any injuries while patting yourself hard on the back, then move on. Unfortunately for us (and maybe fortunately for you), it gets a little more objective than that. We looked at each match through a specific set of criteria. Many of these games are best sellers, but sales were never a consideration. Innovation is important, technical reliability as well as sophistication factors also play a role in how accessible it is, and presentation is key.
But apart from everything, it comes down to what was the most fun. Which games caused the best reaction and stayed with us the longest? What games would we recommend to people? What games will we return to when we have time? It may not be the most scientific way, but it’s still better than BCS.
With that in mind, we weighed and measured each game in the categories and then picked our winners.
Also be sure to check out our picks for the best gadgets of 2011 and the best games for Christmas.
The best action/adventure game
The best competitive multiplayer game
 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
While this year’s iteration of the Call of Duty franchise hasn’t won over the haters, it’s still the best online game of the year. Lack of innovation is definitely a problem, but the community knows what it wants. Like an annual sports release, CoD does whatever it takes to keep its massive fan base happy. MW3 it does just that, and six months from now it will still have the liveliest community online.
Read our full Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 3 review.
Other nominees: battlefield 3, Gears of War 3
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The best Co-op game
 Portal 2
It’s one thing to have a robust campaign that other people can join, and adding a few specific modes that people can team up in is great, but how many other games have had a fully original co-op game mode on top of the single-player campaign? Of the few other games that made it, how many were just as good as the solo experience, maybe even better?
Read our full Portal 2 review.
Other nominees: Saints Row: The Third, Gears of War 3
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The best driving game
 Forza Motorsport 4
There have been some amazing racing games this year, but one is the clear winner in this category. Forza 4 is the best racing simulator ever made, which made the difficult choice a little easier. What with it being amazing and all. “Best Driving Game” will be a tough title for the franchise, but for now, Forza rules.
Read our full Forza Motorsport 4 review.
Other nominees: DiRT 3, Driver: San Francisco
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The best first-person shooter
 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
In what will no doubt be one of our more controversial picks, there’s a reason the Call of Duty formula is still being used: it’s still the best deal. The campaign nicely concludes the story that started with Call of Duty 4The Spec Ops missions offer a solid co-op experience, and the multiplayer is a fine-tuned offering that fans will easily continue to play for years to come.
Read our full Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 review.
Other nominees: battlefield 3, Crysis 2
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Best graphics
 battlefield 3
On PC, there is no comparison to the new Frostbite 2.0 engine. One day, real life will seem boring, and engines like Frostbite 2.0 will be the reason. God help us all when Frostbite 5.0 comes out. It will cripple reality. The engine is simply amazing, and the better the system, the more your jaw will drop. On console, as you’d expect, it takes a bit of a beating, but it still looks better than any other game this year.
Read our full Battlefield 3 review.
Other nominees: Crysis 2, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
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Best remake/re-release
 Ico/Shadow of the Colossus
When people discuss video games as art, there are generally two games that are on most gamers’ lists: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. The only problem with these games is that hardly anyone actually plays them. Then when word got out about them, there were few copies to be found, as most kept their copies or dumped them on eBay for ridiculous amounts. Now the games have a chance to shine again, as both are available in one package with great new graphics and a reduced price.
Read our full Ico/Shadow of the Colossus review.
Other nominees: God of War: Origins Collection, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition
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The best role-playing game
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It used to be hard to pick the best RPG of the year, until we hit the arrow in the knee. The source of numerous internet memes, with more options than most people will ever experience in their lifetime, Skyrim is a game that people will play for years and years. And years.
Read our full Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim review.
Other nominees: Dark souls, witch doctor 2
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The best sports game
 NBA 2K12
The NBA 2K franchise has quickly climbed the mountain and crowned itself as the most prominent sports franchise in the world. But what’s really amazing is that you don’t have to love sports to enjoy them. 2K Sports took a sport that was incredibly difficult to realistically adapt as a video game, and not only made it fun and accessible, but made it look easy. Even people who don’t like basketball should try this game.
Read our full NBA 2K12 review.
Other nominees: FIFA 12, MLB 11: The Play
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The best survival horror game
 dead space 2
The combination of the genres of science fiction and survival horror gave Visceral Games the opportunity to create scenarios that are completely original. Sure, walking down a dark corridor until something jumps out at you and tries to eat you isn’t revolutionary, but hovering outside a space station perched on the remains of one of Saturn’s moons, trying to repair machines before you run out of air while dodging attacks from enemies you can’t hear is very cool.
Read our full Dead Space 2 review.
Other nominees: Dead Island, FEAR 3
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The best writing
 Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Of all the games that came out this year, few will have such a lasting impact in terms of story AC:R did. Ezio Auditore is one of the best video game characters of the last few years. Part of the reason for this is that we’ve seen him grow and change and been with him as he learns and matures. Now we are forced to say goodbye to the man as he faces his age, the life he chose to live and the sacrifices he made. Located in the background of the Ottoman Empire, which was coming to power, AC:R is a narrative story based on reality and engraved with historical details. And special praise to Ubisoft for having the courage to end the story of an extremely successful character.
Read our full Assassin’s Creed Revelations review.
Other nominees: Portal 2, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
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The best handheld game
 Super Mario 3D Land
While the 3DS still suffers from a lack of decent software, there are a few exceptions. Super Mario 3D Land takes full advantage of the system, including 3D, and creates a Mario experience that should appeal to fans young and old.
Read our full Super Mario 3D Land review.
Other nominees: Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection,The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
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The best PC game
 battlefield 3
While MW3 is the online king of consoles, battlefield 3 dominates the computer. It’s a different experience thanks to the 64 player limit, plus the enhanced PC graphics make it an outstanding game. PC gaming has become a much smaller part of the gaming industry compared to consoles, but that’s not something PC gamers should fear — it’s something console gamers should regret.
Read our full Battlefield 3 review.
Other nominees: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
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The best PS3 exclusive
 Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
There have been some great PS3 exclusives this year, but none quite as impressive as Uncharted 3. After the success of Uncharted 2: Among Thievesmany critics wondered if developer Naughty Dog had found an amazing formula or just caught lightning in a bottle. Uncharted 3 proves that Naughty Dog knows what it’s doing.
Read our full Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception review.
Other nominees: InFamous 2, Resistance 3
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The ultimate Xbox 360 exclusive
 Forza Motorsport 4
Whether you’re a driver looking to customize your way to victory or just someone who enjoys the odd race, Forza 4 must possess. With more than 500 cars, numerous races and constantly changing content thanks to online features, Forza 4 it’s not just the best driving game, it transcends genre and is one of the best games of the year.
Read our full Forza Motorsport 4 review.
Other nominees: Gears of War 3, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition
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The best Wii exclusive
 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Wii is in its twilight years, and soon the Wii U will steal the limelight. Sword to Heaven has proven that the system is not quite ready for it yet, while the Wii is running like a marathon runner who is close to the finish line, but has hit the “wall”, and is trying for that elusive 100 million consoles sold.
Read our full Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword review.
Other nominees: Kirby’s Return to Dreamland, Rayman: Origins
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Game of the year
 Portal 2
When people search for a game recommendation, there is always a star on that recommendation. It may be a good game, but too violent for the squeamish. It may be an amazing experience, but only if you have a lot of time and patience to invest in it. Portal 2 is simply a game that does everything right. From the dialogue to the voice acting to the clever puzzles, the game has almost no flaws.
The biggest mistake most people (including us) have against Portal 2 it was that once you solved the puzzles in the single player campaign and then the co-op campaign, there wasn’t much left to do. Valve knew this would be a problem, so they released a decent sized expansion pack. Free. He then further sweetened the pot and promised a level editor, also free.
Add in two of the funniest protagonists/antagonists in GLaDOS and Wheatley, not to mention Cave Johnson’s incredibly funny life lessons, and you have a winner. Portal 2 it’s simply a joy to play and that’s why it’s our game of the year. Someone should make a cake.
Read our full Portal 2 review.
Other nominees: Batman: Arkham City, Dark Souls, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Forza Motorsport 4, Gears of War 3, LA Noire, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings
What do you think of our picks for the best games of 2011? Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn
