2011 - fin

Late last year I read an article that I stumbled upon called "58 Reasons Why Your Wallet Is Going to be Raped in 2011" Since then I have been checking off games on the list as they release and I play it, or as they get cancelled or delayed to 2012. And as I look back, this was one of the best years in gaming in years. We saw new installments in both the Elder Scrolls and Legend of Zelda saga, a revitalization of the Deus Ex series, and we even finally answered the life long question for some as to whether or not Duke Nukem Forever would come out. Statistically this year I bought more games than I have in years, and that says something because statistically I'm poorer than I was a few years ago. So picking my annual game of the year is proving to be a tough task this year. To preface this post lets see what games have received my extremely high distinction of getting the fabled Greasy Gringo (It's like the astronaut for MTV Movie awards, only crappier)

2010 - Fallout: New Vegas
2009 - Batman: Arkham Asylum
2008 - Fallout 3
2007 - BioShock
2006 - Kingdom Hearts II
2005 - Shadow of The Colossus
2004 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
2003 - Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
2002 - Kingdom Hearts
2001 - Final Fantasy X

Without a Fallout release this year I actually have to think about which game was the best combination of all things writing, music, fun and overall non-shittiness. So which games made the cut this year for me? Let's take a look.



The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection - Team ICO

Call this cheating but the improvements made for this collection did truly blow me away, I was just expecting an update to the graphics and a quick grab for money missed out on limited runs of ICO. But this was a truly amazing set, bringing new gamers into the realm of Team ICO's genius.

And now for the fabled Greasy Grino award for AmnaUmen's Game of the Year!



Deus Ex: Human Revolution

At the end of this game I felt the same feeling I felt when I finished Shadow of the Colossus for the first time, a sense of playing something different from the rest of the games of it's time. Human Revolution made me think hard about what my thoughts were on human augmentation, it made me think of the ethical and moral implications of making ourselves better through computer integration into our bodies. Also as stated earlier, each experience I have played and watched my friends play has been different from each others. Until I watched my roommate play through the game his first time I never knew that Wayne Haas will attempt to shoot you if you get him fired, or that the battle with Namir can be made extremely harder if you get the new chip that the game prompts you to get (which thankfully I skipped over completely by accident). With so many options and a absolutely engrossing world that sucks you in and almost depresses you, this game was an absolutely amazing experience to be had and will truly be one that I replay for years to come.

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LOOK WHO CAME:

Anthony Marzano