2013 has been a pretty damn good year for gamers. A variety of games, whether they are sequels or brand new games as a product of new game developers that are getting recognition they deserve. Not to mention the release of the Next-Gen Consoles and their rivalry that entertained us for a significant amount of time. So now its time for us to get crackin’ and bring to you guys some of the worthy titles of this year. We’re gonna look some of the games released in the last 12 months that have blown our socks off. –The top video games of 2013
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Batman: Arkham Origins
This game created a lot of commotion around the time of its release. Many would say that it didn’t live up to its hype but we’ve gotta say that this game didn’t fall short of the standards set by it predecessors.
For the first time in the Arkham series, we saw a change of developers as Warner Bros. Montreal took charge of the final installment of the game. You’d notice gameplay wise, the game remains quite similar to the other two in the series, nevertheless a more than solid entry to the franchise.
Origins takes us back to the early stages in Batman’s life, discovering enemies like the Joker, Deadshot, Black Mask, etc. We also get a glimpse of Batman’s fierce approach to every obstacle that befalls him. Another very important aspect is the change in the voice over artists. Kevin Conroy leaving the project allowed Roger Craig Smith to show his skill and definitely brings it to the table. But without a doubt, Troy Baker’s performance as Joker was what really stole the show.
Also to be kept in mind is the large gaming environment that this game allows gamers wander around in. A free roaming city, filled with challenges from some of Batman’s worst enemies and many other side quests, allow a gamer immerse in the overall experience of the caped crusader with added brutality. And they still have more on the way with this announcement they made last week
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Many would say they’re tired of having to play a game that is a part of a huge franchise because of the re-enactment of the same gameplay over and over again. That’s where Black Flag proves you wrong. It actually provides us with a rather likeable protagonist through Edward Kenway, a man totally engulfed in his greed that ends up getting him into a whole lot of trouble.
Kenway, unlike the other characters that we’ve previously encountered in the series, isn’t a disciple of the Creed. It’s a very straightforward game, either you’ll like what the game has to offer, or you’ll simply roam around. In case you’re in opinion of the latter, you can’t help but notice that the expansive Caribbean landscape, along with the numerous number of ships that can be captured and used for upgrades. And not to mention mysterious connection with the hacker-centric Watch Dogs. All this just adds to the overall excitement that this game has to offer.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Here’s another game that is another installment of a sizable franchise. This game comes more as a reboot to the series, and with Blacklist, we also saw the departure of voice actor Michael Ironside, being replaced by Eric Johnson. But it is worth noting that Johnson does a pretty good job fitting into the shoes of Sam Fisher. The melding of Conviction’s third person shooter elements and more traditional Splinter Cell gameplay are more than the sum of their parts here. No doubt about it, this is the definitive Splinter Cell experience. I’d even go as far as to say it’s the best stealth game of this console generation.
Blacklist is made with great care and full of content, whether online or not, for countless hours of fun. A package that’s truly commendable, although slightly reduced by not very exciting AI, a factor that prevents the Ubisoft production from becoming a classic. Blacklist has it all. Perfect controls, highlights from all the previous games, a perfect focus on multiplayer fun without sacrificing the enjoyment of the single-player and a great presentation to finish it all off. It has it all, unless you’re looking for innovation. You won’t find that in this best of compilation that manages to feel like a new product.
Saints Row IV
Many gamers are of the opinion that the GTA series or even Just Cause are games in which one can roam around a rather large and rich gaming environment and do some really bizarre things. But let us stop you right there, Saints Row IV is the game that should earn that title. Literally from the first moment you’re pulling off the Stone Cold Stunner on an alien-guard, in a rather desperate attempt to run away to inflating cops with your weird Star Wars look alike gun. Saints Row IV is escapism personified.
Any gamer who is lucky enough to get a chance to play this game is pulled straight into an insane wold of Saints Row 4, with it’s in-jokes, pop-culture references and absurdly over-the-top scenarios. In order to attain the title of the most wacky game ever made, the game will get you a wide array of pretty hilarious situations like– your gang member is suddenly the President of America and has to defend the earth from an alien invasion. And to add to all this, there are a whole bunch of celebrity making cameo appearances lightening up the mood with the most iconic scenes and stereotypical one-liners we all love.
And to show you that they’re really nuts, check out this special edition of Saints Row 4 Deep Silver had to offer.
Bioshock: Infinite
Despite the face that this game is in a league of its own with its brilliant graphics, voice-acting, sound design and just an overall construction of a make believe world, Bioshock did have some gameplay choices that detracted from the fluidity of game which couldn’t quite land it in the number one spot, but nevertheless managed to get it into the top 3, which is quite a huge deal.
This game puts you into the shoes of Booker DeWitt, who is burdened with the task of retrieving a princess from a tower in the form of Elizabeth. The true heart of the game lies in the journey of exploring Bioshock’s floating city of Columbia. The game is set in an alternative verison of history where slightly more advanced American city gains the power of flight and positions itself among the clouds. By letting ideals of early America run wild it certainly has a lot for cinematic enthusiasts.
Grand Theft Auto 5
When we say ‘best games of 2013’, it’s not a surprise that GTA V is on that list. Just the fact that this world is insanely huge and a lot of work has gone in to make this as realistic and life-like as possible. All this attention to detail and richness of this game is something that needs to be commended for. GTA V has really set the standard pretty damn high when it comes to innovation. You have your three intersecting characters, who will allow you to improve your vehicular control, gunplay and traversal mechanics that make any combat an utter delight to play.
The primary accomplishment in Grand Theft Auto V isn’t gameplay. It’s character. Grand Theft Auto V believes so strongly in its characters that everything else — even gameplay — is secondary. GTA V is funny, genuinely laugh out loud funny – and not in a ’shoving a ten-inch purple dildo up your arse’ funny – the humour is told through situation, through incredibly clever writing and wonderful sense of place. Really, that says everything you need to know about GTA V. Rockstar has spent five years, and an insane amount of money, building a game that is not only bold enough to step away from expectation, but brave enough to revel in its combined history as well.
The Last of Us
This game is one of the finest works of gaming art, period.
On the outside ‘The Last of Us’ comes across as a zombie-survival game, which tells the tale of a father Joel robbed of his family, is somehow forced to take care of a small but brave girl Ellie. A girl who knows nothing of what has become of the world. This games feeds heavily into values like loyalty and friendship. Joel portrays a truly magnificent character throughout the game and is a part of the game ending which has come to be known as one of the greatest endings of any entertainment medium.
A masterpiece, that breaks the self imposed barriers of gaming narrative and ensnares the player with intelligent gameplay and brilliant A.I. Anyone wanting to tackle the same themes will have to be compared to Naughty Dog’s work in the future, and it won’t be pretty.
We hope you enjoyed our compilation, you can share your opinion in the comments below
