Opinion: Games of 2011 Awards
2011 was a fantastic year for gaming. Packing loads of sequels and prequels of blockbuster franchises such as Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield and The Elder Scrolls. However, 2011 presented us with solid newcomers, like Rage and LA Noire. Whichever way you look at it, it was one great year. Here I’m going to break down which games stood out from the pack in my opinion.
Best Action/Adventure Game:
The games of 2011 were filled with both action and adventure… But which one ruled over them all?
The Contenders:
- Batman Arkham City
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations
- inFAMOUS 2
The Winner: Batman Arkham City
Batman Arkham Asylum was a smashing success back in 2009, and Arkham City managed to build upon and improve an already brilliant formula. The gritty graphics, wide open areas, mission structure, exceptional combat and talented voice acting all contribute to making one hell of a game.
Best First Person Shooter:
One of the most common ways of viewing a game these days in down the barrel of a gun, but which first person shooter reigned supreme in 2011?
The Contenders:
- Crysis 2
- Battlefield 3
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
The Winner: Crysis 2
This was a really tough call. Crysis 2 only just hardly scratches past Battlefield 3 in this competitive genre, but it ultimately comes down to the singleplayer campaigns between the two. The mind blowing graphics and smooth gameplay helped put this game ahead of the competition of first person shooters of 2011.
Best Role Playing Game:
Great RPGs were in abundance in 2011, a return for Deus Ex and another Elder Scrolls title were just two of the highlights. However, now that the year has come to a close, which one was best?
The Contenders:
- The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim
- Dues Ex Human Revolution
- Dark Souls
The Winner: The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim
Skyrim destroyed the competition in 2011 hands down. Its tale so intriguing, its world so vast that it was one of the must play games of last year. Skyrim brought improved combat and beautiful dragons to the table, but most importantly you really felt like the almighty dragonborn while fending of dragons.
Best Graphics:
As developers strive to create the best looking game, the gamers are met with a steady stream of picture perfect games. With so many great lookers in 2011, which one looked best?
The Contenders:
- Uncharted 3
- Battlefield 3
- Crysis 2
The Winner: Battlefield 3
All three contenders in this category were stunning, but the sheer level of detail in the textures and the experience of going from one brilliant set piece to the next, Battlefield 3 took the award home.
Best Multiplayer:
The industry is defiantly seeing a push towards the online and social space. With so many great multiplayer titles in 2011 which one is the winner?
The Contenders:
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
- Battlefield 3
- Uncharted 3
The Winner: Battlefield 3
This is one the most fiercely contested awards of all time, but Battlefield 3 manages to bring battle on a massive as well as stun gamers with exceptional graphics and destruction. The inclusion of jets and other vehicles brought the online space Battlefield 3 to life.
Best New IP:
With the flood of sequels and prequels of 2011, there were a few shining new experiences. So which newcomer was best?
The Contenders:
- LA Noire
- RAGE
- Bulletstorm
The Winner: RAGE
ID software has proven in the past that they are capable of delivering an excellent first person shooter experience, and RAGE once again shows this. The developer’s idea of mixing racing elements with the shooting core of the game may seem like a strange idea at first but ID managed to make it work here, a game that should not be missed.
Best Singleplayer Campaign:
Sometimes it’s just great to dive into a singleplayer or story driven experience. Last year was heavily populated with exclusively singleplayer games. With so many great titles to choose from, which one will take the award?
The Contenders:
- Batman Arkham City
- The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim
- Uncharted 3
The Winner: Batman Arkham City
Batman’s utility belt brought loads of unique gameplay elements to the great singleplayer adventure. Not to mention a playable Catwomen, amazing boss battles and a whole bunch of interesting villains to take down. Not only was the core narrative great, but also the side missions and collectables that populated the map.
Best Trailer:
Let us not forget the grandest form of video game advertising, with many of us glued to our screens waiting for another heart pounding trailer of our favourite games. Which trailer was best and most spectacular in 2011?
The Contenders:
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations E3 2011 Trailer
- The Last of Us Debut Trailer
- BatmanArkhamCity Hugo Strange Reveal Trailer
The Winner: Assassin’s Creed Revelations E3 2011 Trailer
Very few trailers are quite as memorable as Revelations E3 trailer, this heart stopping cinematic manages to win hands down without even a single sound effect or line of dialogue, a magnificent masterpiece of a trailer.
GAME OF THE YEAR 2011:
As I’ve said before, 2011 was a great and memorable year for gaming. It was so packed with amazing titles that many people were forced to spend their money wisely, and because of the great quantity, many people missed out on the quality due to lack of cash. However, now that the year is behind us, which game shone brightest of them all? Which game will take home the award?
The Contenders:
- The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim
- Batman Arkham City
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations
- Uncharted 3
- Crysis 2
- Battlefield 3
- Dead Space 2
AND THE WINNER IS…
BATMAN ARKHAM CITY
Batman returns with a rich narrative and immersive experience. The hundreds of Riddler trophies and quality side missions kept me coming back to this exceptional game. The voice acting is terrific, the characters are compelling and the combat is fantastic. Almost everything about Batman Arkham City is brilliantly crafted and put together, this game is not to be missed, and as such any respectable gamer should have it in his or her collection.
Written by Jesse Kuhn
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