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29.1.11
Gaming. It is a past-time which is not only time-consuming, but can also be ridiculously frustrating, hugely expensive, addictive and full of gory shooty bloodiness. With such high price tags and demands on our time, it's a wonder that we even play games, let alone write about them.
Thing is, games are more than merely short-term entertainment. They, like any other form of media, tell stories, create worlds and allow us to experience danger and action safe in the comfort of our squashy living room chairs. And, as such, we'll always manage to find that extra fifty pounds in order to pre-order that latest announced title, before playing it in a freezing cold house because you could no longer afford to keep it heated.
Without further ado, the following list gives some insight into my favourite games of the last year, that I'd be prepared to sleep rough, go without food or wrestle a mole rat for. Read, and jouirez-vous.
5: Just Cause 2
You can call me old-fashioned, but there's something about grapple hooks that just never gets tiring. Add in a mahoosive game world - which takes three weeks and a Ray Mears-esque survival instinct to cross - some guns, free-roaming gameplay and a cheesily over-acted storyline, and you have Just Cause 2: a sandbox shooter with just enough 'liberate-poverty-stricken-country-from-unjust-corrupted-government' storyline to give at least some context to the mindless violence.
It is, in some ways, like a Carry On: a complete shambles, but one which just keeps you coming back, addicted like you're on some sort of audio-visual ketamine. It's cheesy, yes - incredibly so - but what it does, it does very well.
Just Cause 2's shooting feels solid (even though enemies seem to be able to take bullets to the chest as if they're sponges made from feathers and fairy-dust), abilities such as the grappling and skydiving are nice and the sandbox design gives a real sense of scale that far surpasses anything else I've really played: you really feel like a single person, stuck on a massive archipelago of foreign islands against a country's entire military.
It might not be awe-inspiring, and it certainly isn't revolutionary, but it's a blast nonetheless.
4: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
The meaning of the 'Lego' brandname - 'play well' - has never been more applicable to a game than when it comes to LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the plastic-brick version of the murderous baby who ruthlessly slayed the poor, innocent, saintly Lord Voldemort, before arrogantly swanning about, scar atop head like some grotesque power symbol, repeatedly attacking members of the friendly hobbyist group known as the 'Death Eaters' for some sick sense of fun, and generally being an arrogrant little...
As I said in my review of the game, Traveller's Tales have done a commendable job of porting the Harry Potter brand - a famously tricky one to get right in videogames - into a game that is not only fun to play, but is fantastically comic, charming and family-friendly.
Yes, it has some problems, but they're few and very far between. It plays excellently, as do all the other LEGO-brand games, with some truly wonderful little details and additions; the humour is clean, clever and genuinely laugh-out-loud; the Potter canon is excellently implemented and the LEGO aesthetic gives everything that happy-go-lucky, innocent glow that you saw the world through when you were little.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is my 'Games of 2010' recommendation for fans of the boy wizard, fans of small, Danish plastic bricks or fans of games.
3: Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit
Generally, I wouldn't count myself a fan of racing games. First of all, they bore me out of my head; and secondly, there's something about the thought of having my various limbs ripped off me in an 142mph crash of crumpling metal, plastic and glass that doesn't appeal to me all that much.
There have only been two games which overcame the aforementioned issues preventing my enjoyment of racers. The first, needless to say, would be Burnout Paradise, the sandbox racer that conspired in every way to endlessly punish you with metally, crashy death for the slightest mistake. Criterion did everything right with Paradise, and created one of the only racing games that I have consistently returned to since purchasing it.
And then Criterion took all that knowledge, and one-upped Paradise, thus creating the second racing game I enjoyed: Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.
The classic 'cops vs robbers' chase situations are done perfectly, and the game has such a realistic sense of speed and danger that excitement is outweighed only by the adrenaline pumping around your veins. The Autolog system is fantastically developed and works really well, looking at online gaming from a whole new angle. It's a polished package that left a lasting impression with me, and is certainly one of the best handling, best-looking racers of the last year.
2: Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
I could talk about - and have talked about - the Assassin's Creed series until I am blue in the face. When the third game in the series, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, graced our screens, I was ready to cry from the rooftops about it, like the Renaissance heralds you'll find scattered around the game's locales.
I didn't, of course - mainly because getting onto my roof is such a damn hassle - but instead decided to get down to reviewing the game. And I certainly found alot to say on it, with a gargantuan review which came close to doing accurate justice to what is, undoubtedly, a truly excellent game.
Whether I could ever do proper justice to a game like Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, though, is beyond my ability to predict. As usual, the combat is to the utmost level of quality, the parkour aspects are as good as it ever was, and the additions to the series - particularly the multiplayer, but just as much the little things - make it a stellar title and one which nicely opens up the door for further series expansion.
1: Fallout: New Vegas
Where the genius lies in the Obsidian-developed Fallout titles is difficult to pinpoint. Personally, I consider Fallout - and, narrowing that down, Fallout: New Vegas - to be the perfect storm: a combination of devastating elements which, when they come together, create something electrifying, exhilirating. Fallout: New Vegas is a force to be reckoned with.
I think that part of what makes New Vegas so inexhaustively excellent is that, at its core, it is the most subjective game I've ever played.
Allow me to explain. Every person I know who has played either New Vegas or its little, less-refined brother, Fallout 3, cite a different reason for why they fell in love with the series. Some say that the combat is what attracts them so much. Others cite the post-apocalyptic, dystopian society in which the game is set as the key factor in what sets Fallout apart. Either way, it's a game that seems to impact people differently, and it allows people with very different play styles to access the game and still enjoy it.
For me, the thing that I always find enthralling is the depth and deft weaving of Fallout's storyline and canon, combined with the unique moral choices which shape the course of the storyline differently for each person. Different choices in different situations can have drastically varying consequences, which creates some unique emotional and moral dilemmas which just aren't available in any other title. The storyline is generously smattered with sly hints to earlier Fallout titles, as well as the general canon of the game (which, if you didn't know, is huge: see The Vault, the Fallout wiki to see just how much the series packs in).
The game also has a good level of replayability, due to the diverse multitude of locations, characters and loot to find on your stumblings through the wastes of the Vegas area. Starting a new game from the beginning and, instead of following your original path from your first playthrough (usually to the first objective), can lead to a very different experience of the game, with the discovery of new places, people and quests. Fallout: New Vegas is jam-packed full of variety and the unique choices through the game serve excellently to ensure that every gamer has a very different experience of the same game, whilst still delivering the goods.
New Vegas isn't without its problems, but they're the same ones that plagued Fallout 3, and no-one seemed to care then. The game will often stutter, there are issues with 'popping' due to the short draw distance for detail objects, game crashes aren't unheard of, and companions can often be a hindrance rather than a help. However, when playing New Vegas, the bugs are often outweighed by the mere awe-factor that at least I felt during play.
Still, what is the opinion of an unknown, lowly, independent games journo like me worth? Well, perhaps these quotes from well-known critics will be able to quell your fears about the game, and show you just why Fallout: New Vegas deserves my top-spot in my 'Games of 2010'.
"The fact that the many issues with glitches and bugs weren’t ironed out of this release would be unforgivable if the core game wasn’t so tirelessly compulsive and complex. [...] If you don’t mind working around them then this could be a game of the year contender."
- Peter Chapman, TheSixthAxis.com
"Fallout New Vegas is a fantastic game that in its vast, interesting, flavour-filled world has something for everyone. I could say that I’ve not loved the last thirty hours, and don’t expect to spend another thirty more, but ‘It’s a sin, to tell, a lie’."
- Reece Warrender, Console Monster
"While New Vegas is unmistakably built upon the fundamental gameplay and structure laid out in Fallout 3, it’s a formula that any student of that game will be happy to see repeated, and Obsidian’s numerous embellishments result in what is, in many respects, a deeper and more compelling experience."
- gamesTM
"Fallout: New Vegas is the game that many wanted Fallout 3 to be. It's harder, more ruthless, better written and more morally ambiguous. It's a game we’ve been wanting to play for more than a decade, a real modern re-imagining of the Fallout series, complete with that deliciously black humour. [...] If Obsidian were to make another Fallout game, we certainly wouldn't say no."
- Keza MacDonald, IGN UK
"Fallout: New Vegas is an expansive and complicated RPG that encourages you to see and do as much as you can. This is an explorer's game, always lavishing new and interesting quests on you and giving you a lot of flexibility in how you approach many of them. It builds upon Fallout 3's mechanics in interesting and esoteric ways, making it a comfortable evolution to one of 2008's best games. [...] Fallout: New Vegas is periodically awesome and consistently compelling.
- Kevin VanOrd, GameSpot
Fallout: New Vegas is a game which, despite the common bugs, never fails to impress. For the ridiculously cheap amount you can get it for now, its an investment that will tide over twenty or more hours of gaming time with its incredibly deep storyline and variety.
Cheapest Fallout: New Vegas prices:
£13.99, Amazon.co.uk
£26.99, Play.com (UK)
£16.99, Play.com (UK)
Labels: 2011, Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II, Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas, Games of 2010, Just Cause 2, Lego Harry Potter, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Linford Butler, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit
- Linford Butler
Yes, yes, it's been a while. But better late then never; that Fallout: New Vegas Community Interview we did all the way back in May has been through hell, but finally arrived at our virtual doorstep brimming with exclusive information and only slightly burnt around the edges. A big thanks goes to the men and women at Bethesda and Obsidian, and without further ado, we present our community-driven Fallout: New Vegas interview, courtesy of Gamer's Guide to Life.com.
Have there been any graphical updates to the game engine? Did you always plan to use the Fallout 3 engine?
Fallout 3's engine was the natural choice for us, given the timeline we we had and what we wanted to accomplish with the game. While we haven't made direct changes to the engine to support enhanced graphics, we worked on the texture resolutions and made performance tweaks.Did you enjoy Fallout 3? Are you trying to improve upon it, or just make your own game of the Fallout universe?
I think pretty much everyone on the team enjoyed Fallout 3! I think the latter questions aren't independent of each other - we wanted to both make our own game in the Fallout universe, and improve upon what Fallout 3 did. I think we succeeded on both accounts.Can you modify and look down the sights of every single firearm? Are there any new types of weapon - we've seen flame, plasma and ray guns in Fallout 3, but will you add any new ones?
Yes, every firearm has 'true' ironsights (this is actually a mode that can be disabled, for players that prefer the 3rd-person shoulder cam). And as far as I can recall, every firearm has at least a couple of mods. Overall, we’ve got about double the guns that were in Fallout 3. Players will also be able to use different ammo types with weapons.Are gambling activities like Poker or Blackjack just mini-games, or will they sometimes play important roles in missions or game progress? Will lockpicking return?
I think enough of us complained about 'mandatory' mini-games that we shied away from the idea of forcing the player to play them. There's more to be won at the tables than just caps, though! Lock picking will definitely return in Fallout: New Vegas.Will there be any sort of multiplayer/online component? If not, why not?
There is no multiplayer or online component to Fallout: New Vegas. While there's a lot of potential there, that wasn't what we wanted for our game; it's definitely tailored to be a solo experience (though of course you'll have NPC companions). To have multiplayer or online components, I think it's important to decide what aspects you'll have and how to implement them very early on, and we decided against this.In Fallout 3, the most populated place was the slightly barren Rivet City, with only a small handful of NPCs. Will there be much larger settlements in New Vegas, with many more interactive NPCs?
Since the Strip (and a lot of the surrounding region) didn't get hit by nukes, you'll find more intact settlements, and more people overall. In fact, the first town you wake up in (Goodsprings) has a decent number of folk, and you'll find more populated areas as you explore the wasteland. Overall, we've got a ton of NPCs.Will there be any major differences between platforms? Are you planning to include exclusive DLC, and will the G.E.C.K. return for PC?
There shouldn't be any major differences, no. While we're tinkering with things here and there, we're trying to keep the differences minimal (they're done solely for performance reasons). There will be DLC but we can't talk about specifics yet, but PC modders should look forward to an updated GECK release.
Will there be new stealth systems?
No, but Sneak (like most skills) can be temporarily boosted by skill magazines, a new item that gives you a small temporary bump (as opposed to Books, which give you a permanent bonus).How long will Fallout: New Vegas be? Can you continue playing after the main storyline?
It's hard to give an estimate because of how many different ways you can play the game, but rest assured that there's plenty of content for the Fallout addict! You won't be able to play after you've finished the main storyline, but you'll be given clear warning before you pass that point, so you can go back and mop up any threads you left open.How many perks from Fallout 3 will reappear, and how many of your own are you adding? Could you possibly spill any examples?
The majority of Fallout 3's perks are back (some are modified, some were removed), and we've added quite a few of our own. We should have more information on that soon.Is there a new side-quest system, or ambient events like Red Dead Redemption, or are set quests only given to set people?
There isn't a new 'system,' but there are a number of side quests. There are also ambient events that you'll see occurring in the world around you, triggered by various things you've done. We're committed to making quests feel unique and "make sense" in the world, so we always associate quests with specific NPCs.Are there any sly hints at past Fallout games?
Maybe a few. ;)Will there be a weather cycle?
No. We did, however, completely redo the sky and times of day, so look forward to some scenic sunsets!Will it be possible to max out all skills in one playthrough? Will there be many different endings (not just variations on a few opposite ones as in Fallout 3)?
If it's possible to max out all your skills in one go, no one's done it yet! There is more variation to our endings, as they depend on your reputation with various factions, actions you've taken, and companions you've recruited.Will Dogmeat return, and will companions have more character, with detailed pasts, etc?
Dogmeat isn't around for this adventure, but the companions each have their own personalities, back story, and some of them have their own motives and quests they'll want you to give them a hand with.To round off, a few quick-fire ones from the community:
Can you play as a ghoul?Nope, you can't play as a ghoul. Sorry!
Will there be vehicles present?
You'll see different wrecked cars, but no vehicles you can ride or drive.
Are there destructible environments?
No destructible environments, but some stuff still blows up when you shoot at it.
Is there a Level Cap?
Yes, the level cap is 30.
Will the Metro play as important a role as Fallout 3 (ie. Will you constantly have to go down there to reach new places?)
We don't have the Metro. There's something similar, but you don't have to explore it at all if you don't want to.
We hope you enjoyed the interview, and you can pick up New Vegas on the 19th October 2010. Stay tuned (via Twitter) to Gamer's Guide to Life.com for more Communinty Interviews on upcoming AAA titles.
Labels: Bethesda, Chris Hawke, Community Interview, Exclusive, Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas, Interview, Obsidian
- Chris Hawke
UPDATE: That's it, folks! We've had almost 300 questions, and we've sent off as many as we could to the Fallout: New Vegas team. Thank you all so much for your questions, and stay tuned to GGTL for the full interview soon!
There seems to be a sort a nuclear mist surrounding Fallout: New Vegas. Not much is known about the upcoming Obsidian/Bethesda title, a spin-off from the popular - no, sorry, award winning - Fallout series. Gamer's Guide to Life wanted to know more.
'Course, we're not ones to leave you behind! We've secured an exclusive interview with the Fallout: New Vegas team, and since we forgot to send you a birthday present last year (sorry, it totally slipped our minds), we'll make it up to you by letting you ask your questions of the New Vegas boys and girls.
All you have to do is add a question you'd like answered about upcoming RPG/FPS hybrid Fallout: New Vegas is one of the following:
Pop it in the comments section.
Possibly the easiest way to ask your question from this page is via the comments system. You can login using your Disqus, Twitter, OpenID or Yahoo account, or can comment without an account too. It's quick and almost offensively simple. Just make sure to leave a name with any comment so we can credit you!
You could be all a-Twitter.
Have a Twitter account? Tweet us over your question. All you need to do is send us a message via @ggtl. Please use the GGTL hashtag - #ggtl - so your tweet shows up on the side of GGTL and you get five minutes of fame.
Old fashioned? Shoot us an electronic mail.
If you're not a fan of comments systems or social networking, then I'd advise you - other than telling you to join 2010 for crying out loud - to send an email over with your question to chrishawke@gamersguidetolife.com and we'll do our best to include it.
Ask questions that are as in-depth as you want, on any area of the game, development, or future of the series, and with any luck we'll squeeze as many as physically possible in the interviewee's inbox. It couldn't be easier!
So, get to it. We'll hopefully have the answers sometime before E3 this year. Speaking of which - check out GGTL's extensive E3 2010 coverage.
Chris
Labels: Bethesda, Chris Hawke, Exclusive, Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas, Interview, Obsidian
- Chris Hawke
Update: After that trailer the other day, I was ready to get back into my vault (bedroom), and wait months for any more Fallout: New Vegas news. But I was awoken to find loads more info. Catch up on this story
I'm a rather large Fallout 3 fan, so you'll forgive me for being a little excited about Bethesda Softworks' upcoming to the ever-popular Fallout 3 - Fallout: New Vegas. To my joy a trailer was released yesterday and, after analysing it, I'm here to bring you a decoded look at the sneek peek given in the video.The trailer starts to the song 'Blue Moon', and is a lot like the debut trailer for Fallout 3. The camera begins to pull back and reveals a screen with a (rather creepy) cowboy's face on.
And now, what I believe to be the Pièce de résistance in my video decoding.
And one last point: the rather frightening-looking guy in the final few frames of the trailer has 'A7' printed on his back, and the number '7' on his helmet. What's that all about, I wonder? Why not let me know your ideas, thoughts and conspiracies in the comments section? We'll find out more in due time. I can't wait!
Update:
Those naughty games magazines have broken their embargos, and a tonne of information on New Vegas has flooded in. Now, I'll warn you: this info could spoil the game slightly, so be warned.
- It's a first-person view game, using the same engine as Fallout 3A plethora of further info can be read on this thread. It contains a few plot spoilers though.
- A new "Hardcore mode" will be available which provides gamers with an even more desparate land. For example, Stimpacks will heal you over time
- The story focuses on a conflict between three main clans - The New California Republic, New Vegas and the men and women of old Vegas.(Told ya! I was right!)
- A reputation system measuring faction friendliness allows you to juggles friends and hostiles. This is turning out to be like Merceneries!
- Notable locations include the huge Hoover Dam, which is providing energy for the inhabitants of Vegas.
- Multiple types of Super Mutants.
Jacques
Labels: Fallout: New Vegas, Jacques Hulme, News, Trailer, Video
- Anonymous
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