Video Game of the Year - 2011

Ok so going to post a couple of "... of the Year" posts - starting with Video Games. Arguably my biggest past time in 2011, there's been a lot of good games. I own a PS3 but have played some of the Xbox exclusives and read-up on the games I've not played. I'm not a game reviewer and don't have the money to go out and buy every console and game available. 

I'm going to narrow it down to 5 contenders:

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3)

As a Playstation man (and big action man) I'm a huge Uncharted fanboy, having loved all three games and excited for the series handheld debut coming to PSVita when it launches on these waters next Feb. Drake's Deception is a masterpiece, as was it's predecessor Among Thieves, but I found myself not getting into it as much as I wanted (probably because I'd been obsessed with another game - more on that later). 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

RPGs and fantasy games aren't really my thing, but Skyrim was impressive. Though, there's no way I (or surely any of the gaming professionals) can give that Game of the Year for all it's issues on PS3. If a game cannot run properly it shouldn't have been released unless the problem could have been fixed within a couple of weeks release (which it wasn't). The issue effects around 70% of users, which is completely unacceptable.

Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

Portal 2 was interesting. A bit different to most games, I enjoyed the puzzles and levels even though they did get a bit repetitive and could have done with a bit more story to it. It was a very smart game, filled with humour and a great ending. 

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Skyward Sword was probably the only game worth owning a Wii for this year. It was a pathetic year for the Wii, with Nintendo focusing on boosting the 3DS' sales and working toward the Wii U.

Batman: Arkham City (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

However, for me, it has to be Batman: Arkham City. It stopped me fully emercing myself into Uncharted 3 and other games like Assassin's Creed: Revelations. There were flaws, but it captured Batman perfectly as well as his enemies and the (restricted) world of Gotham City. I wasn't overly happy with the story and some of the enemies I was most looking forward to such as Two-Face, Penguin and Hugo Strange weren't as prominent as expected. But none the less, once I'd finished the story mode I then went on to the challenge mode. Still not content I've now gone on to the Robin and Nightwing DLC. And there's more DLC to come including Catwoman missions. The game has also got me in to comics - another new obsession. Individually it probably isn't a better game than Uncharted 3, but I just became so involved in it that I don't think I can give it to anything else. 

So there it is, Batman: Arkham City, my game of the year.

Some individual awards:

PS3 Game of the Year - Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Xbox 360 Game of the Year - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Wii Game of the Year - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

PC Game of the Year - Batman: Arkham City

Action Game of the Year - Batman: Arkham City

Role-playing Game of the Year - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Sports Game of the Year - FIFA 12

FPS Game of the Year - Bulletstorm

Multiplayer Game of the Year -Battlefield 3

Downloadable Game of the Year - Limbo