Game of The Year 2010

     Yes, Game of the Year posts are usually done before the end of the year, or even around a week into the new year.  I am well aware that I am just a bit behind on time, but give me a break.  I just feel the need to do this.

     So, 2010 had some pretty memorable games.  Red Dead Redemption, Bayonetta, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, Heavy Rain, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Mass Effect 2.  These have to be my top picks for the year, but not in that order.  I have finished all of the game mentioned except for one, but I have put enough time in to it to feel comfortable in placing in the running.  I'm not going to go in to detail about all of the games listed above, because I don't have the patience to lay it all out for everyone.  If you want the details, got to 1up or Gamespot, I'm just here to give my opinion.

     Now, this was quite a difficult decision for me, seeing how I found every last title I mentioned to be fantastic!  And Starcraft II holds a special place in my heart because I loved the first one so much, the 12 year wait was well worth it.  But this is not my choice.  So we will just get down to it.

     My pick for the 2010 Game of the Year is the game I have yet to complete, Mass Effect 2.  Now before any naysayers start their "How can you pick that when you haven't finished it?!" bullshit, stop now.  I have put 24 hours in to it already and it has already blown every other game in the running away, completely!  Bioware is second to none in the gaming industry when it comes to depth and story, and they have proven it once again with Mass Effect 2.

     If you played the first Mass Effect, the first thing you notice is the change in the combat system.  The combat system in ME was pretty rough.  It's what killed the game for me.  But ME2 made the change.  Bioware went above and beyond in refining the combat system.  The cover system works beautifully.  Combine that with the tactics system from ME and it makes for a flawless 3rd person shooter experience.  Then add in the RPG element and it golden.  The story picks up just after the end of ME and throws you in to an adrenaline rush inducing sequence.  Don't worry, I don't do spoilers.

     Graphically, it performs quite well.  I normally don't like to talk about graphics because that's the last thing on my list of what makes a great game great.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, I will played a text based game over a graphically superior game if the game play is better.  When you think about it, what makes a game is game play.  If the game play blows, no amount of high-end, eye-popping graphics are going to save the game.  All you have at that point is a beautiful piece of shit.  So, yeah, it's pretty, but the game play is better. Here is just a taste, I give you the opening sequence.

     Well, that is my pick.  If you haven't played it, do. Hopefully my weak review of an AMAZING is enough to get you off your ass and playing.  If you have played it, then you know what I'm talking about.