Zero Punctuation: Top 5 of 2012

[IronMit]

This makes up for escapist crowning Mass effect 3 as game of the year.

The only reason I am on this site is because of Yahtzee/ zero punctuation.

I will be playing spec ops the line and walking dead now.

I agree with Dishonored just about making it into the list. Lots of average games this year so a good game like dishonoured can edge it. Impressive for a new IP, a sequel can iron out a lot of the issues and balancing. Not sure what they are going to do with the story though

 

[inkheart_artist]

Am I the only one who's disappointed that Yahtzee's never gotten around to Journey? Whether he liked it or not, it is a pretty important entry to the games as art narrative and, as I've come to know him as someone who actually cares about that, it seems like a tremendous shame that he has nothing to say about it.

 

[GAunderrated]

I'm playing The Walking Dead, and don't get me wrong, the character developing and story are great, but I feel cheated: the game promises me that the game changes to fit my gameplay and that the my choices change the story, and both just don't happen.

My choice seems only to change the relations between the characters and the gameplay just don't seem to change at all.

What I expected was that my choices would change completely the story, but I'm bound to a linear path, at least on the big picture. Sure, the choices can change the characters relations, but it's not up to the promised features.

Bottom line: great game, unfulfilled promises.

I felt the same way until episode 4 or 5 when I see majority of my choices come to roost or made me ponder if I sacrificed one specific person would the other have been saved.

I'm still on the middle of episode 3, so let's see what the games presents me from now on.

Nevertheless, my point is, they said that the story and gameplay fits my choices, and I don't see that happening, i.e., whatever choices I make, I'll end up seeing the same major events of the story that you saw on episode 4 and 5. The difference is who is going to be alive and who will like me or not, I'm guessing...

But, with all that, The Walking Dead still a GREAT GAME! =)

Yes on that point you are correct you will see the same major events. But honestly I am glad they didn't do the whole cliche multiple ending crap because we would have a never ending debate about the "good" and "evil" ending and that would just undermine the whole narrative IMO.

I am replaying the entire story a second time and I want to see if my choices will have any real effect on one character I believe I killed by letting another live.

Also there is one major choice you make in chapter 2 that is completely hidden until you get to chapter 5 and THAT choice I am wondering how drastically it will change the game. I'm trying not to spoil it for you unless you do not care. Otherwise I can't really comment on it until I finish my second playthrough.

But yeah amazing game.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Solid lists overall. Though I'm still not totally sold on Spec Ops given that it's innovative storyline and approach is by most accounts housed in a shell of meh gameplay. Then again, that sort of seems to be the trend for some of the most lauded titles for this year in general.

If the Walking Dead or Journey isn't game of the year i'll be pissed.

In general? Or was there a specific list you were thinking of?
Cuz The Escapist already did theirs and it was bloody Mass Effect...

Of course it was.. you saw how much advertising ME3 had here and how fervently most of The Escapist contributors were to defend EA and condemn the consumer outcry.

Yeah! Except that niggling little detail where ME3 being GOTY was selected here by reader/user vote as opposed to staff vote.

 

[JoaoJatoba]

Also there is one major choice you make in chapter 2 that is completely hidden until you get to chapter 5 and THAT choice I am wondering how drastically it will change the game. I'm trying not to spoil it for you unless you do not care. Otherwise I can't really comment on it until I finish my second playthrough.

But yeah amazing game.

DON'T spoil it! I'm loving the game so far. =)

Yes on that point you are correct you will see the same major events. But honestly I am glad they didn't do the whole cliche multiple ending crap because we would have a never ending debate about the "good" and "evil" ending and that would just undermine the whole narrative IMO.

By multiple storylines I don't mean different endings to a sole storyline that branches out in the last chapter (like Silent Hill series), but actually completely different stories... I know it's a tough job, but I saw a great opportunity missed with TWD, that's all.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I had a feeling Number One would be Number One, and DAMN did it deserve it. PEOPLE, GO OUT AND BUY IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW!

 

[inkheart_artist]

Couple of sequels in there. Yeh, all right. Do you think your job would be both easier and more rewarding, oh, and more meaningful, if you just did not review sequels? No 2s or 3s or 4s, just original titles and to hell with the rest? Or would that leave you with too few games to review for an entire year?

I don't think you could adequately cover gaming without including sequels. It's not like movies where, most of the time, everything that has to be said is said in the first one. If you skip sequels, you miss Silent Hill 2, Street Fighter 2, Red Dead Redemption, Silent Hill 4, and System Shock 2 to name a few. You would be missing a very large piece of the picture if you skipped those. Sequalitis is miserable where it doesn't belong and a lot of games make sequels for the sake of milking a franchise but in this medium sequels can make for some truly great experiences.

 

[Remus]

Spunkgargleweewee makes me gassy too. I think it might be the gunoil aftertaste.

 

[The Youth Counselor]

I have 4/5 of Yahtzee's Top 5 on my Top 5.

My list:

My top 5:

1. Far Cry 3
2. The Walking Dead
3. Dishonored
4. X-Com: Enemy Unknown
5. Chivalry

I enjoyed Spec Ops: The Line very much, but I don't find it too replayable, and only played it after having the story spoiled. (That was the whole reason I played it.) I suppose it would have been more special if I tried it completely unaware of what was to come. It still makes my honorable mention list along with Black Mesa, Journey, The Unfinished Swan, Sleeping Dogs, Magicka, Little Inferno, Dear Esther, and The Darkness 2.

 

[JoaoJatoba]

A two-dimensional 'game' with pictures of anime constituting for visuals and no voice-acting managed to successfully have multiple storylines. OK. This doesn't mean it's a good idea for other games. Or more accurately, visual novels with a lot of character interaction and not a lot of plot.

This doesn't mean it's a good idea for other games. But it also doesn't mean that is not a good idea for other games... Why not start on a small scale?

But most people won't try to get every little bit of content out of a game, which was a main aspect of my point. If you're a publisher, you're paying far more money for lower quality content that most people won't even see.

Most people won't, but with more than one story inside a game, you appeal to a broader audience, as long those stories are well developed, and I believe this is possible, even with a bigger budget game. If you are a publisher, that would sound profitable.

My point was never that I can't handle branching stories, or in an ideal world I wouldn't like one. My point is that I know better than to expect it because it's unrealistic, and you should too. You're either going to get a Commander Shepard which stumbles on your vision but ultimately misses the point, or you're going to get a Silent Hill 2 with the 'In Water' ending.

If people only expected the realistic scenarios for anything, great deeds would not be accomplished, 'cause people would be too settle for to try something new... Don't use a poor example of a game that did not made it to settle for what "can be done". That's my point of view, at least.

 

[GenGenners]

What is up with all the hate for playstation all stars I am loving the game it is great it also plays similar to smash bros but is definitely its own beast.

It came across, to me anyway, as more of a hate for what the game represents - Sony desperately trying to copy Nintendo... again. Cause it worked out so well when they threw their hat in to the motion control basket... 5 years after everyone stopped caring about motion controls.

Personally, I would have gotten the game for my Vita if they weren't giving me a big middle finger by putting Eurotrash Dante in it - A character from a game that isn't even out yet and is widely hated by anyone that actually gives a shit about the series - and making Kat from Gravity Rush - The only good original IP on their new handheld - DLC.

Free DLC, if it makes you change your mind at all

Yeah, people seem to forget that Gravity Rush came out AFTER All-Stars was likely already in an early beta state. How could they have predicted it would be a success and worthy of inclusion before it was even released

 

[xdiesp]

The second line is the important part. The game isn't about point A to point B, its what happens between point A and point B. The interactions between the characters, how they see you, and how you see your own character are what the game is about.

Without interactivity, you might as well be watching a cutscene. Surely you are not deluding yourself of being playing a game if all you do is watch...

 

[PunkRex]

Anyone else have abit of lag with this vid?

Anyways, did Yahtzee reveiw Steel Battlion or was it so disfunctional he couldn't say more then what he said here?

 

[mjc0961]

Does ANYONE (aside from Sony fanboys) want to play Sony Smash Bros? Nintendo's version isn't that good to begin with and Sony's knockoff version with a far less interesting character roster is certainly not bound to be better.

Anyway, glad I already have Spec Ops The Line (thank you Steam sales!). Just have to set aside time to play it.

In general? Or was there a specific list you were thinking of?
Cuz The Escapist already did theirs and it was bloody Mass Effect...

What? Really? They actually crowned Mass Effect 3 game of the year? It wasn't just an editing error and the list was supposed to be called most disappointing games of 2012? What the fuck? I guess the list must have been made by the same geniuses who think it's a good idea to make everyone prove they aren't a spambot daily, because after 3 years of membership I might just decide to randomly become a spambot.

If the Walking Dead or Journey isn't game of the year i'll be pissed.

Journey can't be game of the year because it isn't a game. I've watched blu-ray movies that had more interactivity involved with getting through the fucking menus, previews, and copyright warnings than Journey. Maybe Journey is a good "experience", but it's not a game so stop calling it one please and thank you.

 

[Frostbite3789]

If the Walking Dead or Journey isn't game of the year i'll be pissed.

In general? Or was there a specific list you were thinking of?
Cuz The Escapist already did theirs and it was bloody Mass Effect...

Of course it was.. you saw how much advertising ME3 had here and how fervently most of The Escapist contributors were to defend EA and condemn the consumer outcry.

Advertising made the community vote it as their game of the year?

Hello Captain Vocal Minority! How're you today?

 

[bossfight1]

For me, my top 5 is...
5. Journey for amazing music and an atmosphere that brings emotions out of NOWHERE.
4. XCOM: Enemy Unknown for awesome squad-based gameplay, great interface for the controller and making you go "NNNNOOOOOOOO" when one of your super soldiers dies.
3. World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria for introducing an amazing new continent, fun new raids and downright epic music.
2. Borderlands 2 for not only improving the crap UI and somewhat underwhelming story from the first game, but also vastly improving the variety of missions.
1. The Walking Dead for its epic writing, difficult decisions and making a child character that would NOT be a ball and chain. Goodbye, Sweet Pea, I'll miss you.

 

[mjc0961]

I know that, but why can't we have both? There space for both kind of decisions: decisions that changes the path we take, and decisions about other characters that develop relations.

For example, early in the first episode you can choose to stay in one location or to leave. Whatever the choice we end up in the same place... Why cant we have different outcomes for a decision that is purely about "where to go now"?

No, you can't choose to stay in one location or to leave. That isn't what happens. What does happen is that you get to voice your opinion on if you think you should stay or leave. It's not the game's fault you've incorrectly assumed that what Lee says goes in every situation. You are one person in a group offering an opinion, not the dictator of the group who decides what everyone else must do without any regard to what they want to do or not do.

Also if you're talking about the choice to stay or go someplace else that I'm thinking of, the place you left got overrun by zombies. What the fuck did you think was going to happen, a magical anti-zombie barrier would surround the place because YOU said you wanted to stay there? Or did you maybe think you could just live there peacefully with the zombies who had just moved in?

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

I'm not surprised to see Spec Ops: The Line topping his list. Well... maybe a little. I kind of thought Far Cry 3 was going to get it, but Spec Ops is the same kind of story, but more focused. Spec Ops was probably one of the most engaging (storywise) shooters I played this year and more people should definitely play it.

I haven't even TRIED Amy, but when there is absolutely not a single good thing said about it on the websites that I trust, you know the game has to be bad, and since it's a DLC, it's not like I can even rent it. The Walking Dead was a gamble for me, so I'm glad they made the first episode free for a little while - excellent game.