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Whipple's reject awards for 2011
by Andrew Whipple III
1.2.12

The year came and went, just as it always does, and for those of us in the gaming press, that means the requisite 'best of' lists must make their appearance.

Trust me, it's for everyone's own good.

However, with a myriad of games lying about that I still haven't played to their fullest, I'm not one for rolling out a conventional list of the best games in each genre. That's something you can find on literally any webpage and I'll leave it to you and Google to solve those differences. Instead, I've put together groups of games that surprised me in various ways, both good and bad. So if you're coming here to see Skyrim at the top of the list, or perhaps to justify your purchase of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, you'll be disappointed.


Most controversial


2011 wasn't without controversial titles. We're not talking games that showed too much skin, or brought to light the subject of sex and marriage, such as Catherine. We're talking about games that had their own communities up in arms due to the very nature of how the game was created. You either liked it or you didn't.


Dragon Age II



The sequel to one of the great RPGs of this generation, Dragon Age II had quite a lot going for it. Unfortunately, instead of expanding upon the universe Origins set in motion, BioWare opted to confine the game into one large area and streamline the combat system—effectively 'consolising' the game. Some enjoyed the simplified combat, eliminating the need to pause the game multiple times during more-elaborate combat scenarios. However, Dragon Age is the spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate, practically making elaborate combat a necessity to maintain that relevance.

Regardless of where you stand, Dragon Age II was as divisive as it could've been. Whether it was the simplified combat, samey environments or uninteresting characters, everyone disliked something about the changes. Maybe BioWare was rushed to complete the title, maybe not, but many still hold Origins as the superior game today.

Dead Island



Techland's Diablo/Left 4 Dead/Borderlands approach to a zombie game was as ambitious as it was a technical mess. There's a lot to like about Dead Island on paper: loot, hordes of zombies to kill, levelling, cooperative play, etc. However, the game was, and still is, plagued by an equally horrifying number of bugs and game-stopping glitches. The PC version was actually released with a previous, unfinished version of the game, rather than final game code. Imagine picking the game up to realise you're actually playing a game that can't be finished because it's 'not quite done yet.'

Dead Island has made several fixes to itself, but that's no excuse. Releasing a game people want to like but can hardly play is a criminal offense to gaming as a whole. At least when it's working it's pretty damn good.

Most disappointing


You don't want this to happen to your favourite franchise, but alas, sometimes there's no avoiding it. These are the games of 2011 that failed to deliver a genuinely excellent experience, despite the hype surrounding them. It hurts even more when their predecessors set them up for success, and they still tank.


Brink



What a letdown. Brink was a showcase title on the bleeding edge of technology that everyone wanted to play. Not only did it implement a great-looking parkour system and tremendous aesthetic design, but the team combat and objectives looked satisfyingly unique as well. Touting a campaign that others could join with or against you at any time, Splash Damage looked like they were on their way to crafting a grade-A shooter we'd all still be playing come the new year. How wrong we were.

We covered Brink, twice actually, and its anemic campaign was a focal point for our anger. As it turns out, there was no story in Brink whatsoever, and the multiplayer was little more than a bare-bones version of better games, like Team Fortress 2. The game can be found in bargain bins everywhere, so if that doesn't tell you anything, help yourself.

Red Faction: Armageddon



Considering my love for Red Faction: Guerrilla, I absolutely couldn't wait for Armageddon to release. Showcasing new technology, weapons and a gritty environment to play with destructive tools, Armageddon appeared to have what was needed to succeed. Little did we all know that the genius of Guerrilla wouldn't come close to being matched in this mediocre follow-up.

Alright, Armageddon isn't THAT bad, but when you're in the shadow of such a free-spirited and plain-fun game like Guerrilla, you're expected to do something similarly great. The Magnet Gun was the single most amazing thing to come from it, but even that was overshadowed by the confining underground environments of Mars. That, coupled with the repetitive enemies and ridiculous story, made Armageddon a tough game to accept. Also, there's a unicorn that shoots rainbows out of its ass. We're done here.

F.E.A.R. 3 (I'm sorry, it's actually F.3.A.R.)



My channeled hate for games that throw a number in as an acronym will never cease, but in this case there's a lot more to hate about F.E.A.R. 3. The gameplay is completely different than previous installments of the franchise. How so? Let's try ditching conventional methods of combat we've been used to and instead implement trite Call of Duty features like regenerating health. Sound great? I didn't think so.

F.E.A.R. was always about atmosphere, a decent story and its pretty excellent AI. All of that has vaporized in the sequel and... oh yeah, Monolith didn't even make this. Moving on.

Rage



Id Software is a pioneer in PC gaming, but Rage is something they should be quite ashamed of. While the PS3 and Xbox 360 version ran alright, the PC version (you know, the stuff they're know for) was released in a very broken state. After several weeks id managed to get the game working again for the majority of users, but by then it had been beaten with the console stick. What do I mean? The PC was stuck with the low-res textures of the console versions and according to John Carmack (id Software), they had no intention of releasing a texture pack to clear up the mess. Awesome.


Look closer. That's some pretty amazing stuff, right there.

Being one of the PC owners of Rage, I orchestrated my own set of violence as I wasted several hours attempting to get the game to run in a functional way. Eventually, I received a patch that allowed me to play the game, but the rest of my experience wasn't without further issues. Simply put, the game was not optimized for the PC (which is heresy for id). You couldn't even change any of your internal settings like a normal PC game until the patch hit, and even after the choices were barren. Compound that with Nintendo 64 textures, pop-in loading, one of the most surprisingly uninteresting worlds in recent memory, and you'll get a generic shooter called Rage.

Was it because Bethesda published the game and forced id to go with the console over PC version? There's no way to know for sure, but the truth is within the product, and I advise you to steer far, far away from it.

Duke Nukem Forever



There was no way this game was going to live up to the expectations set for it and everyone knew it. So we'll just leave this one here as-is. Enjoy.

Most disappointing studio




Just because you release one of the best games of the year (Skyrim, for those keeping score at home) doesn't mean you get a free pass to publish a plethora of awful titles. Brink? Rage? Hunted: The Demon's Forge? Yeah, they were all trash, and no, it doesn't matter that you didn't develop them. As a publisher, you are still putting your name behind the material and are thus just as responsible for the outcome. One excellent game does not give you a free pass, my friends.


Best comeback

Dynasty Warriors 7




The Dynasty Warriors series doesn't have the best reputation among gamers, but I'm still a guilty follower of the franchise, despite the fact I haven't been fully pleased since, perhaps, Dynasty Warriors 5. When I first heard this game was coming out I dismissed it entirely, but as the release date crept up I found myself eying the features more and more. Brand new story mode that follows the actual characters of the kingdom? Interchangeable weapons? An RPG-esque upgrade system? A brand new conquest mode? Online co-operative play for the first time? I was sold.


I hated the redesign of the characters in Dynasty Warriors 6, and only a few titles in the series had a sense of weight behind each strike of a weapon. DW7 shocked me by offering an excellent feel to the combat while keeping it addictive with upgrades and new weapons. In my review, the new take on the story mode was the star of the show and my feelings still haven't changed. All in all, Koei has done a masterful job at reincarnating a stagnant franchise and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

Gears of War 3



As some may probably know, Gears of War 2 underwhelmed me wholly. The standard campaign was riddled with contrived writing and uninteresting moments. Boss fights were practically meaningless, and the introduction to new enemies and story elements didn't impress me. Considering the embarrassing multiplayer, Gears 2 was seemingly a catalyst for the series' demise. Hopeful as I was, I just didn't see Gears 3 bringing the franchise back on track. Thankfully I was wrong.

While it does have its problems, Gears 3 is definitely the best game in the series. The four-player drop-in cooperative play is an excellent addition to the gameplay, and the fully-fleshed out character development really helped make some of the protagonists feel more real than they ever have. Epic also took the time to hone the multiplayer experience, giving us dedicated servers as well as the new Beast Mode, Horde 2.0 and a working, fun, competitive multiplayer experience. Hats go off to Epic for keeping their promises.

Mortal Kombat



Wait, wait, wait. Mortal Kombat is relevant again? You better believe it!

Most underrated


Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine




Relic always brings out the best in development when it comes to the 40k universe. Space Marine was their very first attempt at creating a third-person action 40k game and they certainly didn't disappoint. Riddled with alarming detail, every single second you're playing this game you'll marvel at the attention Relic has paid to the system. The particle effects, combat noises, voice acting, everything sounds and looks superb. It also helps that it's pretty damn fun to play as well.

I reviewed Space Marine earlier in the year and gave the game a rather generous score. Not only does it provide a satisfying campaign, but it also throws in some decent multiplayer that will keep you busy for hours. It doesn't have the longest campaign, though, and if you know nothing about Warhammer 40k, you could be put off by the game appearing to be ostensibly similar to everything else out there (which it isn't). Space Marine isn't the greatest game, but it's definitely something worth playing.

Resurgence of excellence


Resident Evil 4 HD, Metal Gear Solid HD, Shadow of the Colossus/ICO HD




While Resident Evil 4 is the only downloadable title of the bunch, the rest are also available at a wonderfully-low retail price. If you haven't had the chance to play these classic titles you owe it to yourself to pick them up. Now.

Most unfortunate name


Ceaseless Discharge (Dark Souls)




Doesn't the name say it all?

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- Andrew Whipple III
What the next Red Faction needs to accomplish
by Andrew Whipple III
26.4.11

Destruction is a beautiful thing. Whether it be by rocket, crazed mech, or old-fashioned sledgehammer, there's nothing Red Faction is afraid to present in pieces. In just about a month, Volition is taking us back to Mars to begin the demolition anew with Red Faction: Armageddon. Though the last Red Faction title, Guerrilla, was a fantastic return to form for the dormant series, there are a few key matters that Armageddon needs to focus on in order to surpass its predecessor.

Many dicey things went down last time we controlled Mr. Alex Mason. now that he's long gone, things have become far worse. With life support running out and the surface of Mars once again uninhabitable, the cavernous depths of the Red Planet are the only sanctuary left for humankind. Of course, it won't be easy; with fanatic humans and all sorts of angry beasts present they'll need both new equipment and augmented features to emerge victorious from such a debacle. Let's delve deep, and take a look into...

The Underground



According to THQ, around 80% of Armageddon will take place in the bowels of Mars. That's a pretty long time to spend in a single area, and it might become a little boring to look at. This brings us to goal numero uno - make the environments varied, not at all like those found in Guerrilla.

With a setting as alien as Mars is, there's an infinite number of ways to craft meticulously detailed environments for gamers to fawn over and explore. We've got to be able to stay interested as look for things to blow up. Guerrilla had some interesting locales, but the game was in large part completely brown from top to bottom. Volition, here's your chance to give us some shiny, crystalline caverns that just weren't possible in Guerrilla. We're tired of brown.

High Profile Targets


One of the best things about running about in Guerrilla was finding all the EDF's important buildings and structures, and leveling them. We aren't sure who the real threat is going to be in the new game, but I'll be damned if they don't have any important buildings down there. Allow us the freedom to move about and tackle these puppies once again and you'll gain some points with the crowd that really matters - the people reading this article.

GeoMod destructibility



Guerrilla was criticised by fans for the fact that its environment could not be altered. To me this is a minor feature that, while not essential, would be nice to have. What's more important is how the structures we attack come apart; we need more consistency. I can't tell you how many times a giant structure, after its architectural integrity was compromised beyond repair, would be standing up on a single beam of steel. It would eventually fall over, but this happened far too often to be considered acceptable. Make it more reliable Volition - this Red Faction needs it!

Missions


Remember those race-type missions in Guerrilla that would have you cross a large area? Remember how many times you got right to the end to have the timer run out on you? These missions need to vanish into the dark recesses of Mars, never to be seen again. Tie something more interesting, like high profile buildings and targets, into the mission structure. Rail-shooter sections in Guerrilla were tons of fun, and Demolition Master and Heavy Metal missions practically made the game. I am expecting some new ones, but damn you, Volition... damn you to hell if you rid the world of these excellent pieces of digital crack.

Co-op




Initially I thought for sure that Armageddon would incorporate some type of story driven cooperative play. I was wrong. Infestation mode is just like Halo's Firefight, or Gears of War's Horde mode, but it needs to be different. I'm not against components like Infestation, it's just that a lot of the time waves of monsters become repetitive, and therefore becomes a mode no one cares about. This is especially true now that Armageddon will be missing the multiplayer component Guerrilla had. No, it wasn't the best multiplayer by any means, but it was silly fun. With that said, Infestation has some rather large pressure behind it now. If it fails, the replayability of this Armageddon will tank significantly.

Red Faction is a great series, and if its latest incarnation resembles anything like Guerrilla, it will be a ton of fun to play. With some small tweaks and minor changes, Red Faction: Armageddon could very well become the definitive game in the franchise. We only have to wait another month to find out.

What changes would you like to see to the game? Let us know in the comments section below!

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- Andrew Whipple III
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