Your (underrated) GotY 2012

[Baldry]

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

Is it really that good? I see people occasionally write posts about it being surprisingly good but I've never had the urge to try it beyond a small demo I tried where I wasn't really impressed. Can you perhaps (if it's no bother) try to sell it to me?

Well, I can't just try and sell it to you because that's against it's point, if I say anything about it it could ruin the effect of the game, which sounds awfully melodramatic but it's kinda like going to see the Sixth sense and knowing Bruce Willis is dead (If somehow you didn't know this then my god I am sorry.)

Anyway I reckon it's probably quite cheap nowadays so you should be able to pick it up for like £20 at the most.

...

Screw it, I'll trust you, just this once.

Once I find a cheap copy/have disposable income I'll get it and perhaps join you in thinking it's underrated. Or curse you forever.

Excellent. Don't worry I never recommend crap, except the good kind like Tokyo Gore police and Scary movie.

 

[VladG]

Spec Ops: The Line.

The game is unique and amazing, it should have blown MW of BF out of the water with sales. Sadly such games don't have a very bright future...

 

[VladG]

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

Is it really that good? I see people occasionally write posts about it being surprisingly good but I've never had the urge to try it beyond a small demo I tried where I wasn't really impressed. Can you perhaps (if it's no bother) try to sell it to me?

As for mine, Mass Effect 3. Hated by all because of 15 minutes at the end of a 30 hour game. Yes the ending was bad but it didn't stop me having an amazing time up until that point, hell I got teary on more than one occasion during my play through.

It's better. Unfortunately you pretty much have to play through it to truly get the whole experience. A demo, I feel, will completely misrepresent the game by making it look like just a cheap modern military shooter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjaBsuXWJJ8&list=UL here's a little something to get you interested without spoilers.

 

[Cabisco]

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

Is it really that good? I see people occasionally write posts about it being surprisingly good but I've never had the urge to try it beyond a small demo I tried where I wasn't really impressed. Can you perhaps (if it's no bother) try to sell it to me?

As for mine, Mass Effect 3. Hated by all because of 15 minutes at the end of a 30 hour game. Yes the ending was bad but it didn't stop me having an amazing time up until that point, hell I got teary on more than one occasion during my play through.

It's better. Unfortunately you pretty much have to play through it to truly get the whole experience. A demo, I feel, will completely misrepresent the game by making it look like just a cheap modern military shooter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjaBsuXWJJ8&list=UL here's a little something to get you interested without spoilers.

Thats a great little video (nice to see extra credits have a life after escapist) and has furthered my commitment to actually buy the game once I have money, like I said to Baldry I shall remember to thank you if it turns out as well

 

[acosn]

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

Is it really that good? I see people occasionally write posts about it being surprisingly good but I've never had the urge to try it beyond a small demo I tried where I wasn't really impressed. Can you perhaps (if it's no bother) try to sell it to me?

As for mine, Mass Effect 3. Hated by all because of 15 minutes at the end of a 30 hour game. Yes the ending was bad but it didn't stop me having an amazing time up until that point, hell I got teary on more than one occasion during my play through.

The entirety of ME3 is a demonstrably bad game. The god awful ending is just what gets the most attention because it's especially bad. Generally speaking when you can't get the ending right (typically you already have this mapped out very early in story development) you've fucked over the entire plot because that's what is supposed to pull everything together into a coherent theme. So by fucking up the ending they destroyed the entire point to the story, and in an RPG (term used losely) that tends to be a big deal.

As a whole 2012 was largely yawn inducing in terms of good titles. Spec ops was probably the best we got, and even that wasn't anything you've never seen before, just a parody (or deconstruction depending on how you look at it) of the modern FPS.

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP

I have to second the other poster and ask what's so great about this game.

I'm about 40-50% of the way through and I'm finding it boring, confusing, occasionally obnoxious (when it makes its "not another fetch quest, amirite?" kinds of comments), and--I don't want to say it, but it seems really pretentious, what with all the vinyl record imagery and pseudo-psychology and so on. And the Twitter integration just seems pointless; it annoys me every time I see it pop up.

I mean, I love me some artsy games. Journey is one of my favorite games ever, and I even enjoyed Dear Esther. Give me an interesting art style, some symbolism, and a relaxed pace, and I'll (usually) be happy. But I'm just not feeling it with this game yet.

So I really want to know, does it ever get better? Is there some kind of shocking twist, or sudden shift in tone or something? Or is it one of those things where if you don't like the first part, you won't like the rest of it?

To answer the OP, I'd have to say Botanicula. My other GotY nominees (Journey, The Walking Dead, and Guild Wars 2) are all pretty well-known. Even Botanicula isn't exactly unknown, but it's still been somewhat under the radar.

 

[Cabisco]

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

Is it really that good? I see people occasionally write posts about it being surprisingly good but I've never had the urge to try it beyond a small demo I tried where I wasn't really impressed. Can you perhaps (if it's no bother) try to sell it to me?

As for mine, Mass Effect 3. Hated by all because of 15 minutes at the end of a 30 hour game. Yes the ending was bad but it didn't stop me having an amazing time up until that point, hell I got teary on more than one occasion during my play through.

The entirety of ME3 is a demonstrably bad game. The god awful ending is just what gets the most attention because it's especially bad. Generally speaking when you can't get the ending right (typically you already have this mapped out very early in story development) you've fucked over the entire plot because that's what is supposed to pull everything together into a coherent theme. So by fucking up the ending they destroyed the entire point to the story, and in an RPG (term used losely) that tends to be a big deal.

I respectfully disagree though I realise it's just a case of our differing opinions, it's just in many cases when someone says Mass Effect 3 is terrible the only evidence they tend to bring up is the ending and the rest of the game is never mentioned. I feel far to many people forget about the fun they were having up until that point, it's a shame you found the whole game bad though :/ out of curiosity which of the titles was your favorite?

 

[Zetona]

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP

I have to second the other poster and ask what's so great about this game.

I'm about 40-50% of the way through and I'm finding it boring, confusing, occasionally obnoxious (when it makes its "not another fetch quest, amirite?" kinds of comments), and--I don't want to say it, but it seems really pretentious, what with all the vinyl record imagery and pseudo-psychology and so on. And the Twitter integration just seems pointless; it annoys me every time I see it pop up.

I mean, I love me some artsy games. Journey is one of my favorite games ever, and I even enjoyed Dear Esther. Give me an interesting art style, some symbolism, and a relaxed pace, and I'll (usually) be happy. But I'm just not feeling it with this game yet.

So I really want to know, does it ever get better? Is there some kind of shocking twist, or sudden shift in tone or something? Or is it one of those things where if you don't like the first part, you won't like the rest of it?

To answer the OP, I'd have to say Botanicula. My other GotY nominees (Journey, The Walking Dead, and Guild Wars 2) are all pretty well-known. Even Botanicula isn't exactly unknown, but it's still been somewhat under the radar.

my GotY so far is Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP.

What's the appeal of that game? Did I completely miss something as it's the only game this year I've had to just stop playing and never touch due to being unfathomably dull.

For me, what makes Superbrothers such a great game is the absolutely wonderful music. It's also a surprisingly evocative game?the "boss battles" are synced to music and while the result is really just glorified quick-time events, they're the best-implemented QTEs I've ever seen, and are even heart-pounding at points. The game as a whole is a wonderful example of linking gameplay and music; some of the bits where you free the sprites are glorious, and the midnight jam with Jim Guthrie never gets old. There are times when the game's quite emotional, and others where it's just wonderfully soothing.

However, if the music's not to your liking and the gameplay/writing/visuals don't make up for it (and it sounds like for the two of you, they don't), then I suspect you won't enjoy the game nearly as much as I do. (To EmperorSubcutaneous in particular, I can tell you that not much changes in the second half, though you could perhaps make a case that it gets a little less pretentious and a little more emotional.) I can't say you should play through the rest of the game when it's not the sort of game you enjoy, though I'd recommend at least giving the included soundtrack a listen or twelve and seeing if that rekindles your desire to play it.

On a side note, I was kind of disappointed by Journey I can't help but compare it to the amazing experience I had with Flower, and Journey's essentially just hitting the same notes again but less effectively (give me the chance and I'll elaborate on this at great length.)

 

[NZT48]

My choice is The Witcher 2, since it was released for Xbox this year.

 

[Dfskelleton]

Spec Ops: The Line is my ACTUAL Game of the Year, and I'm not sure if it counts as underrated. It's getting more attention than one would expect for such a game, which is definitely good. More people need to hear what it has to say.

So, as far as underrated games, I pick "Frog Fractions"
It's a free online flash game about... okay, you know what, just look it up and start playing. It will blow your mind.
No, really. Quit reading. Do it. Now.
Now.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Well, looking at rankings alone, I'd have to say Spec Ops: The Line. It was an absolutely magnificent game with a great story and well thought out pacing. The only possible problem with it was that the gameplay was a little bland, but everything else made up for that in so many ways. There were times when the game angered me over when I died (I had to play hardest difficulty first time around), but I would always want to keep playing just to see what happened next. It was one of those few games nowadays where the mutiplayer seems like some sort of extra tacked on item just to appease the publishers, and all the effort was spent on singleplayer. It was well thought out and downright amazing.

TL;DR, Spec Ops: The Line for one of the best games I've played in the last three or four years.

 

[TyrunnAlberyn]

I'm not the first to say this, but here's mine: Crusader Kings 2. It won't win any award, because it's a niche title, but it really is an excellent game. Not to mention it is just fun to bork up history completely, for example by conquering Rome as a byzantine doukas and putting an orthodox patriach on the papal throne.

 

[lacktheknack]

I didn't have the dough to play any new stuff other than FTL.

So FTL.

Unless re-releases count, because if they do, Time Fcuk wins hands down. It's the first game I've ever finished that made me sick and paranoid just thinking about it.

"I stuck my head into the box, but all I could see was a pile of corpses. I punched a few of them. Were you one of them?"

"Are you with someone? I think I just saw an old man in the room that you're in."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Don't worry, this is the first of many small deaths. The big one won't happen until I allow it."

"This is embarrassing, but I think I lost my hands. I'm just joshing you, my hands are fine. But seriously, if you see a pair of hands, tell them I love them."

"Once this message ends, we die. DON'T YOU DARE STOP WRITING THIS MESSAGE, STEVEN. I DON'T WANT TO DIE. DON'T STOP WRITING THIS MESSAGE. THERE'S SO MUCH I HAVEN'T DONE. KEEP WRITING. DON'T STOP WRITING THIS MES"

Great, now I'm paralyzed by existential horror. Seriously, get the Basement Collection and play Time Fcuk.

 

[lacktheknack]

So, as far as underrated games, I pick "Frog Fractions"
It's a free online flash game about... okay, you know what, just look it up and start playing. It will blow your mind.
No, really. Quit reading. Do it. Now.
Now.

OH YEAH.

I change my vote to this.

Seriously, do you have a spare hour? If so, play Frog Fractions. Play it to the finish, it's worth every second.

Just remember, the answer is "OH GOD I'M COVERED IN BUGS".

EDIT: Brain derped. I should sleep.

 

[schtingah]

I know it had its problems and not many people bought it, but the core idea and gameplay of The Secret World still makes it one of the most fun i've had in an MMO for ages.

And I also have to mention Mark of the Ninja as being awesome.

I was gonna say The Walking Dead but I feel that over time its has grown out of that area and into the spotlight. (reservedly so)

 

[spartandude]

My choice is The Witcher 2, since it was released for Xbox this year.

this. i remember that last year it wasnt even on the list of nominations for best RPG for some reason (that pissed me off)

but if Witcher 2 doesnt count then i say either Crusader Kings II or Chivalry

 

[dimensional]

Katawa Shoujo because its free and pretty damn good fair play to those involved in making it. Its not relly my kind of game but I actually enjoyed playing this game immensely so in the cost to fun ratio this game wins GOTY hands down.

Skullgirls is also good great animation and a solid fighter that has finally received the patch they have been trying to apply to it sadly I am not sure many people still play this game.

Asuras Wrath, I absolutely loved playing this its a total blast to play sure the gameplay isnt that good but I could say the same about Journey but both offer a fantastic experience. My only annoyance with this game is selling you the ending as DLC that is just low especially when the story is this good oh well I will just have to watch it on you tube.

Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story also dont get much attention probably because they are on the wii but they are the 2 best games released this year without a doubt imo or in Xenoblades one of the best games ever although it came out last year here so it technically dosent count.

 

[LtFerret]

Fall of Cybertron

Honestly the only problem I have is that the survival mode kind of got neutered

 

[ABLb0y]

Spec ops the...

I agree with nomzy on spec ops: the line, never played a game that broke the fourth wall so perfectly.

SPEC OPS: THE LINE. I will not rest till everyone has played this game.

Honourable mention to Dragons Dogma.

I guess it doesn't count because SOOOO many people are talking about it but I'm not sure that Spec Ops: The Line sold that well so I'm gonna chuck that one out.

Because it really is just that fucking awesome.

Oh. Ninja'd.

Right, I'm gonna go with Sleeping Dogs.
I can't believe people dismiss it as just a rip-off of GTA 4 when it's easily ten times as good. For one thing, the cars are actually drivable.

 

[Nonomori]

I can't understand why The Unfinished Swan was practically ignored in a year where "artistic", "meaningful" games are more relevant than ever. To be honest, Hotline Miami, Journey, Spec Ops: The Line and The Walking Dead doesn't seem underrated at all around here.

I had so much fun with Closure. Challenging level design, creative art style, amazing soundtrack, everything fits in this game. If you're a puzzle fan and have a PS3 or PC, go buy it, you won't regret it. I hope.