Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I agree. The Last of Us used stealth enough to pull you into the gravity of the situation... but this wasn't Splinter Cell or anything like that. I used stealth as little as possible and made the most of my upgraded coffee can grenades :)

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

For me this is clearly a two way race between The Last Of Us and GTA V. But I'll roll with The Last Of Us.

......but then again there was always Gone Home.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I guess I'd say The Last of Us (but I'm still waiting for SMB3DW). I loved Bioshock, but it was just more of the same, nothing really innovating and the story wasn't amazing.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

This was a great year. Period.

When Bioshock is fourth in my list, this is an amazing year.

My third place is Tomb Raider, I played in the PC, ultra settings, and the visuals were just amazing. I saw next gen early this year ;) . And of course they gameplay was the most fun since Uncharted 2.

My second place is The Last of Us, the best PS3 game this generation. There, I said it. It's probably in my top 5, any console, this generation too. Dumb AI and all, the story just got me. And the ending was just perfect.

And of course GTA V. When I finished TLOU I was sure that was going to be my GOTY. I already knew that GTA is GTA, you always do the same, but I still bought the game, just because it's GTA, not sure if that makes sense. And then I'm having the same fun as Tomb Raider, and then I'm amazed of the technical abilities of R*, I'm playing the PS3 version, and I'm sure they used the last bit of power of both consoles. I've played the game for 30 hours or so, and I think I'm only 10% done. And I still need to play more online.

I will need to think really hard to find my game of the generation. Hmmm.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

While I agree that it was a great year, as there were lots of fantastic titles, I didn't really feel there was a big stand out title for me.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Wasn't Uncharted 2 basically your game of the millenia? :lol:

So TR improved on the foundation which Uncharted set in motion this gen(er ripped off from TR). The traversal part of the game is unrivaled. The puzzles got back to basics(no worse than Uncharted's offerings), but where Lara really outshone Drake is in the weapon mechanics. Even 3 games in, Uncharted's gunplay is not all that great or even satisfying. Lara with a bow (or any of the weapons) was very satisfying. Giving Lara xp and leveling up weapons was a stroke of genius. It added something fresh to the genre. I wouldn't be surprised if Naughty Dog ripped off that idea for U4.

The only place it falls short is the secondary cast and they could all die for all I care. It's a game of survival. Me against the island and I'm going to get off the island with or without them.

Lastly, I don't recall TR being as QTE heavy as in previous versions. Honestly I only recall the opening sequence.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

:up: :up: :up:
These are all the reasons why I prefer Tomb Raider over all of the Uncharted games. Uncharted had good humor, and U2 was the best of the series without a doubt, but Tomb Raider did everything else better, in my opinion. Just comparing Uncharted 3 to Tomb Raider, the former was a complete bore (for me) and the latter was exhilarating.

As for GOTY, since I've only played Tomb Raider and GTA V on this particular list, I'd go with Tomb Raider. I won't buy a "re-release" or PS4/XO remake, but I'll absolutely buy a next-gen sequel.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Nope. It was my game of the year for 2009, but in hindsight, I'd probably switch that to Arkham Asylum. My game of the generation/millenia is Mario Galaxy/2.

I guess I'll buy that, and don't get me wrong, I loved the game, I just didn't think it brought anything new to the table. They hinted at a bit of Metroid though, and if they'd done more with that. :drool:

Lara's repeatedly spiked head begs to differ. :)

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

GTA V was insane fun and a technical marvel, but it didn't really break any new ground. Plus the radio stations sucked buttnuts.

That said, I haven't played any of the other games. The only other new game I bought this year was Arkham Origins, which is really just "more of the same".

So I got nothing. Nothing but time. Time, and halvah.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Tomb Raider took Uncharted and made the exploration and shooting fun, something sorely lacking in Uncharted and, imo, Last of Us (which had a cool setting, great acting, solid writing but was just dreadfully dull to play).

I actually enjoyed killing stuff in Tomb Raider, it felt like it was just getting in the way in Uncharted. And yeah, very little QTE after the cave escape (giggity).

Tomb Raider: Extremely fun gameplay, fun world to explore, technically impressive, closest we're ever getting to a good Lost game
Bioshock Infinite: Dated gameplay, interesting world and characters, but something of a chore to play - it hints at being a better game than it is.
Grand Theft Auto V: Good gameplay, big step up from GTA IV, entertaining world, humdrum plot, technically impressive
Super Mario 3D World: Haven't played it yet, I'm sure it's a good deal of fun though I won't lie, it looks a little generic to me.
The Last of Us: Great writing/directing, solid visuals, deadly dull gameplay in an otherwise interesting virtual world

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I voted for the one not out yet, just because I know that will end up being my pick. It's stupid, yes, but there is no way any of the others will end up being my favorite over Mario. I loved all of the others though.

I had no clue that Tomb Raider was that highly thought of. I started it, loved it, but moved on from it for some reason. Now I'm thinking of going back and finishing it up. I never thought I'd see the day where a Tomb Raider was so loved again.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Guacamelee gets my vote for this year.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I haven't played any of those but they all look really cool. Maybe next year when they hit a lower price point for me. In fact, I think I've only played one game released in 2013 and I just plain loved it:

Duck Tales: Remastered

The play control is just as I remember it, even when it's frustrating and unforgiving. I like the story layer added to it and it's a game I can play in front of my family with people actually being a little interested, let alone not annoyed.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I see the term "dated gameplay" thrown out a lot about Bioshock Infinite but I don't think I've seen a description of what that exactly means. Does somebody care to elucidate?

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

In that particular case it means "I didn't like Bioshock Infinite but can't really explain why so here's a phrase".

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

The shooting itself is unsatisfying, the level structure consists of standard "Clear the room and move on" with areas closing off (becoming confined) and no option of just sneaking through it, or getting any kind of major reward for going above and beyond. You don't receive an item for winning a battle to unlock anything, or really gives any purpose that you can now "move on" you just win and keep going. The bigger problem is combat simply isn't very engaging.

The shooting segments are also very much at odds with what's going on in the game/story.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Oh I wholeheartedly disagree with you there. Once the "reveal" happens and you find out what those people in Columbia are really like? They ALL need to die. Painfully. With whatever super powers the game gives me. Murdering every single one of those assholes was necessary.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I don't competely disagree with that, and the game has it's moments of inspiration like the beginning. But there were parts that just felt tacked on, the Lady Comstock section comes to mind.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

I didn't like the errand running portion of that section, but the actual battle? That was some creepy shit.

Bioshock Infinite's one major problem is that the setting/universe you're in has very little to do with the main story. But if you're going to tell a story, might as well do it somewhere super interesting.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

The actual battle put me to sleep a couple times before I finished it :lol: For me it was flat out tedious and boring.

The setting was fine, well suited to the story being told imo. The world itself needed to be more open though, something akin to Borderlands. As it was, it seemed way too fragmented and not at all cohesive.

It's a good game with a great game waiting to come out, it has limitations from game design (imo of course, I just really did not find the battles enjoyable, at all) and technology (the engine used was a little too dated.) Whereas Rapture felt like a cohesive whole using basically the same engine, that was because it was confined. Columbia seemed like a place that should be alive and breathing, and it felt like we got little glimpses here and there but never a full world.

Don't get me wrong, I like the game overall and thought the world was fantastic and the story engaging. I just didn't care for the gameplay, and it was hurt by its technical shortcomings.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Makes a note to rent Bioshock Infinite.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

The whole game is dated, not just the gameplay. Coming after Tomb Raider it was just painfully clear. You walk up to a set of doors and they magically part for Booker. Classic 90's shooter trope. Lara interacted with everything by comparison. You brush against a wall she puts her hand against it. She opens doors with...duh duh dunh... her hands. Why am I eating hot dogs out of trash cans when there is an apple cart? Because the apple cart is a texture map and not interactive. Walk into a library or store and all the books and boxes are just textures. It took me out of what was supposed to be a game designed to draw me in. It all felt like a facade instead of an immersive environment.

Then take the environments, the rail system was a decent concept, but they were limited to basically arenas. There's no real benefit to using them, you don't travel between areas with them, they're just there. There's nothing really satisfying or beneficial about getting a kill from a rail vs. using a tonic. Then take the setting, a floating city. Cool, except 90% of the game takes place inside buildings so it's no different than any other shooter. At least with Rapture you were reminded at every turn you were under water. Rapture was a character. Columbia was just a setting.

Then you have the Vigors and weapons. The vigors were mostly warmed over rehashes of stuff we'd seen in Bioshock 1 & 2 (yes kinda makes sense given the nature of the story) but that doesn't make it any less stale. Same for the weapons.

There is a good game in there somewhere, but it falls short of great and doesn't belong in the GOTY conversation, IMO. As someone who holds Bioshock as their favorite game of the generation, maybe I just had higher expectations.

:rolleyes: I've been fairly vocal about it since it came out and the Bioshock Infinite thread is alive and well.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Not enough nominated games to take this list seriously. One game hasn't been released yet. Fail.

Seriously though, I haven't played any of the titles. I know, I suck, but didn't find it worth buying a last gen console when I've invested so much in next gen. Had I not been a poor college student for most of this past generation (for the second time), I'd have given one of these games a shot. I'm waiting for last gen to be way cheaper, so I can enjoy all these great games.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

What's funny is that if you just read the comments it appears that Tomb Raider is far and away the top pick, but if you check the poll itself The Last of Us and <s>Bioshock: Infinite</s> GTA V are neck and neck for the top spot.

Re: Game of the Year - 2013
 

Jokes, son. You guys have got to stop taking me so seriously.