CAV of Gang Green

Most Surprisingly Good Game

Legend of the Guardians

This was something I didn't expect. I was blown away by how well the flight mechanics worked. And the combat wasn't bad either. The only true complaint I have is how short this game is (3 hours at most). If the game was longer, it would've been even better. This is the last game that Krome made before shutting down due to financial issues, and they went all out even dispite having lost a good amount of their employees. They reminded me that not all movie tie-ins are bad, provided they have time and they actually try.

 

2nd: Super Meat Boy

3rd: Vanquish

 

 

 

 

Most Disappointing Game

Aliens vs. Predator

This was a pretty lackluster game. You look at the game, the gameplay, and look at all the features and think that it's going to be a great multiplayer game. But once you play the game, it relies far too much on the multiplayer, which isn't all that bad, but did not live up to the hype it was getting. Granted you can find enjoyment in it, and it's good if you can get your hands on a $20 copy. But it was a huge letdown, especially with all the hype it was getting. But then again, the developers aren't completely at fault, seeing as how the media hyped the game and blasted it out of preportions.

 

2nd: Crackdown 2

3rd: Smackdown vs. Raw 2011

 

 

 

 

Least Improved Sequel

Smackdown vs. Raw 2011

The franchise hit a rough patch in the 2008 installment, but it has begun re-building. But the series seems to have hit a road block, as this installment does nearly nothing to improve. It's got a new physics system, which gives you new ways to inflict damage on others. That's fine and dandy, but it was never really the problem. They worked on this system, and turned a blind eye to the bugs and glitches with the games. Some of them have actually gotten worse. If you want a better SvR game, stick with SvR 2010.

 

2nd: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

3rd: Crackdown 2

 

 

 

 

Most Improved Sequel

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 (Wii)

Note that I'm talking about the Wii port of the game. While the Xbox and PS3 ports took 2 steps back with the game, the Wii moved forward, and it turns out very well in the end. The Wii port of the original Force Unleashed was decent at best, but it had several problems with gameplay, as it tried to use motion control and failed to use it properly. The sequel didn't try to use motion control, and instead used simple buttons, and had little waggle motions for force abilities. And it works! They realized their problem with the first game, and fixed it in the second. And the graphics have also improved. All around they improved the Wii port of the game, turning it from the worst version in terms of the first game, to the best in terms of the second.

 

2nd: Transformers: War for Cybertron

3rd: Madden NFL 11

 

 

 

 

Best Story

Mass Effect 2

This was a tough choice between Mass Effect 2 and the runner up, Heavy Rain. Both have compelling stories that keep you glued to your chair. But in the end, Mass Effect 2 had to win. Bioware really showed their stuff upon making the game, and the story is one of the best elements of the game. All of the choices you make in the game can result in several different outcomes, and you'll want to replay the game to see what would happen if you did something other than what you did in that one moment.

 

2nd: Heavy Rain

3rd: Alan Wake

 

 

 

 

Best Multiplayer

Call of Duty: Black Ops

This doesn't just own the title as the best multiplayer I played all year. It's also the best multiplayer game I've ever played period. It took everything that made Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer so great, and fixed any bugs that it had, therefore making it better. Add a nearly flawless multiplayer, and the addition to the critically acclaimed zombies from World At War, and you have the best multiplayer of the year.

 

2nd: Halo Reach

3rd: Goldeneye 007

 

 

 

 

Best Co-op Game

Army of Two: The 40th Day

The first Army of Two game was rather disappointing, but had a good idea regarding the co-op element that the importance of teamwork. The second time was the charm, as they nailed the co-op to make this a very enjoyable game that gets even better when you're playing with a friend. The game has you rely on teamwork to escape Shanghai. And if you're a gamer that has no friends (:P), no problem. You can team up with someone online and complete the missions likewise.

 

2nd: Kirby Epic Yarn

3rd: Call of Duty: Black Ops

 

 

 

 

Best Sports Game

Madden NFL 11

Madden is constantly getting better each year, so it's no surprise that this is the best installment of the series. They improved the creation center, giving you more options and details to choose from. They also included a new multiplayer mode, Online Team Play. And created a new play-calling system, entitled Gameflow, which suggests the best play for the situation. This makes the game exactly what the slogan is: Simplier, Quicker, Deeper. And Gameflow makes it easy for people that are new to football (like me) to pick up and play the game.

 

2nd: MLB 11: The Show

3rd: NHL 11

Honorable Mention: 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

 

 

 

 

Best XBLA/PSN/WiiWare Game

 

Pac Man Championship Edition DX

Oh boy. I was blown away by this game. It's Pac Man at his very best. With tons of new game modes, changable skins, and the crazy combos you can pull off with the sleeping ghosts that rack up points makes this one of the best games I've played all year. By not playing this game you are doing yourself and this game a great injustice. It's even better than the original Pac Man arcade game.

 

2nd: Super Meat Boy

3rd: Space Invaders: Infinity Gene

 

 

 

 

Handheld Game of the Year

WarioWare DIY

WarioWare doesn't change much from the original formula: a bunch of short minigames that you have to complete as soon as possible, and as many as possible. It's addicting and you'll want to keep playing to beat your own high score. To add to it all, we can now create our own games, our own music, and be able to share it with other people online.

 

2nd: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

3rd: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

 

 

 

 

Worst Game of the Year

Fighters Uncaged

Kinect is bad as it is, with it's unresponsiveness and failure to make an impact. But to go along with it, Ubisoft creates the worst game of the year, and a good contender for Worst Game of the Decade as well as Worst Fighting Game in History. The game is incredibly unresponsive, and you'll find yourself flailing your arms around just trying to land one punch. Rather than show off what Kinect CAN do, it shows off how lackluster the accessory is. And to top it all off, there's no multiplayer. I've never heard of a fighting game that has no multiplayer.

 

2nd: Prison Break

3rd: Deca Sports Freedom

 

 

 

 

Game of the Year

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the best game I've ever played without a doubt. It has achieved the impossible: Make Super Mario Galaxy, a nearly flawless game, even better. It fixed any problems that the first had, improved graphics, added more crazy galaxies, and even improved the co-op to an extent. And with over 200 stars to collect, you will be busy for quite a while. They added Yoshi into the game, and made it near perfect. And unlike New Super Mario Bros Wii, Yoshi is used to his full potential. New power-ups are great and are also used to full potential. It's the perfect game that secures the Wii's spot as the champions of the so called "console wars". And that's why it's my pick for Game of the Year

 

2nd. Mass Effect 2

3rd. Call of Duty Black Ops

4th. Kirby Epic Yarn

5th. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

6th. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

7th. Goldeneye 007

8th. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom

9th. Just Cause 2

10th. TIED: Donkey Kong Country Returns and Vanquish (it was hard to choose one)

 

Honorable mentions goes to:

Sonic Colors

Super Meat Boy

Transformers War for Cybertron