Finally, though the new year of 2012 has officially begun, we can now look back on the myriad noteworthy accomplishments of 2011's hefty catalogue of video games. Another superb year for gamers everywhere, 2011 saw the unveiling of both Sony's next-generation portable, the PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo's first contender in the all-new generation of consoles, the Wii U. Before that, Nintendo officially released the 3DS unto the world early in the year, bringing glasses-less 3D visuals to the mainstream public. This isn't even factoring in all of the brilliant new properties, stellar sequels and other such great releases that 2011 saw hit both retail and digital download services.
For the first part of the video game awards, we look back on the established conventions of gaming, and how they were pushed forward by ambitious video games of all kinds, across all platforms. Whether it's redefining the limits of multiplayer features, audio/visual prowess or even how to make effective use of a creative license, 2011 continued to raise the bar for what gaming can achieve as an interactive medium.
It was tough to narrow down a list of nominees for many of these categories, as there were many great offerings delivered in 2011. After choosing five nominees and a winner for each category though, I believe I've come up with my best possible picks for each of these awards! Starting with Part 1, here are the awards for the most esteemed features that 2011 brought to the gaming industry!
BRENTIVERSE 2011 VIDEO GAME AWARDS: Esteemed Features
1) The Bulky Beauty Award (Strongest Console Graphics)
- Crysis 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Rage (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PlayStation 3)
- Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- L.A. Noire (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: This was a very tough category, as there were plenty of visual stunners on consoles this year. Despite the jaw-dropping environments of Uncharted 3, the unprecedented facial animation technology in L.A. Noire, and the incredible post-apocalyptic environments of Rage however, you just can't argue with how much EA raised the visual bar with their Frostbite 2 engine in Battlefield 3. Crafting one of the most immersive warzones in recent memory, Battlefield 3 brought the scale and magnitude of its destructive battles both to consoles and the PC like never before, producing one of the most chilling and oddly enthralling depictions of modern warfare that the gaming industry has yet delivered.
- The Petite Princess Package (Strongest Portable Graphics)
- The 3rd Birthday (PlayStation Portable)
- Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
- Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
- Okamiden (DS)
WINNER: Okamiden (DS)
WHY: This was a very close call between Okamiden and Super Mario 3D Land, as both pushed their respective systems to amazing new heights of visual technology. In the end though, Okamiden edged out due to producing a stellar visual experience that almost perfectly replicates the original PS2 visuals, on a handheld that is supposed to be noticeably less powerful! Both the art style and incredible visual fidelity of the original Okami being produced on the DS is nothing short of stunning, and even though the DS has now been succeeded by the 3DS, Okamiden goes to show that even as last-gen technology now, the DS can still impress as a visual powerhouse!
- The Cyber-Heartthrob Award (Best Art Style)
- Outland (Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Store)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
- Alice: Madness Returns (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Rayman Origins (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
WINNER: Rayman Origins (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
WHY: This was another category that I REALLY cut my teeth on, because all of the nominees were very strong in the art department. Outland was a masterpiece of colour and shading, producing one of the most eye-catching digital download games of the entire year, while Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective pulled off one of the most memorable and creative DS art styles in the system's entire life cycle to date, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword perfectly blended the dark, realistic art of Twilight Princess with the chipper and cartoony palette of Wind Waker to produce one of the best works of visual art in the Wii's history. In the end though, as beautiful as all of these games are, it was Rayman Origins that most truly raised the bar for gaming as a visual art form. Bringing hand-drawn visuals back to gaming with a vengeance, Rayman Origins' super colourful and wacky graphics produced a game that was impossible to take your eyes off of. It was like a finger painting on crack, and it's one of the proudest accomplishments that Ubisoft's art team has ever put together. It certainly didn't hurt that it was a pretty damn amazing game on top of its wonderfully manic visuals too!
- The Fluffy Earphones Award (Best Music)
- Shadows of the Damned (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
- Pokemon Black/White Version (DS)
- Rayman Origins (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
WINNER: Pokemon Black/White Version (DS)
WHY: Yes, I know, people are REALLY going to disagree with me on this, but hear me out. I normally divide this award between an original soundtrack and a licensed soundtrack, but since licensed soundtracks were so few and unremarkable in 2011, and the music game genre has really taken a nose dive lately, I just decided to do a general music award, especially since I generally prefer catchy, memorable, original game music over everything else anyway. As wonderfully composed and memorable as Super Mario 3D Land's tunes were, and as hard rockin' fun as Shadows of the Damned was to listen to, Pokemon Black/White stood out most from the pack, and this is yet another game that somehow managed to wring more power out of what is now last-gen hardware thanks to the 3DS. Pokemon Black/White Version composed a huge soundtrack of beautiful environmental anthems and catchy battle themes, while also creating dual-layered tracks using nothing else but the DS's speakers, which changed dynamically as you took action in the game. Even on a console, this would be remarkable, but on a last-gen handheld, it's truly extraordinarily! Pair that with the music being as catchy and engaging as it was in this game, and you have a true highlight soundtrack for 2011's games!
- The Tap Shoes Award (Best Sound Effects)
- Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360)
- Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Dead Space 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
WINNER: Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: It's tough to really adequately break down what makes good sound effects, since they can range so wildly. Are the best effects realistic? Cartoony? Somewhere in between? Well, Battlefield 3 certainly produced some of the most realistically powerful war sound effects that you've heard in years, and nothing sucks you into the white-knuckle racing of Forza Motorsport 4 quite like its hyper-faithful capturing of a car's engine roars. When I think of sound effects I remember and look back on most fondly though, I think of Portal 2. Blending realistic and chilling environmental creaks with kooky and surreal bouncing, shifting and zipping sounds as you solve the game's puzzles both in the single-player and co-op, Portal 2 produced one of the most unique and oddly compelling sound schemes of the year. It's unique and weird, but somehow it just worked, and considering the mad vision of the Portal universe, that's no small feat!
- The Mighty Microphone Award (Best Voice Acting)
- L.A. Noire (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PlayStation 3)
- Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: Even when all four of the other nominees produced voice acting so convincing and believable that it helped to sell that you were somehow playing a Hollywood blockbuster, Portal 2 again edges out for its sheer wackiness. As enjoyable and clever as the puzzles are, they wouldn't have been nearly as fun without the nihilistic griping of GLaDOS or the idiotic ramblings of Wheatley. These were some of the only two characters that spoke regularly throughout the entire game, and yet they stole the show to the extent of crusing the competition. There's a reason why GLaDOS and Wheatley quotes are some of the most frequently referenced by gamers all over; Because they're just the most fun to listen to, and that wouldn't be the case without some of the best voice acting in all of 2011!
- The Dusty Tome Award (Best Story)
- Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Catherine (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
WHY: Alright, Portal 2 has had some fun, so let's honour another game, shall we? It's true that Portal 2 also delivered a zany story with a really surprising turnout, but in terms of sheer creativity, mystery and surprises, no story in all of gaming impressed this year quite like Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective! Even while Assassin's Creed: Revelations provided a gripping swan song to the series' most compelling protaganist yet, Catherine stole gamers' hearts with its chilling cautionary tale of infidelity, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution told a deep, multi-layered sci-fi yarn about the line of technology at the expense of humanity, Ghost Trick produced something quite unlike anyone had ever seen before, placing you in the role of a recently murdered detective trying to solve his own killing before dawn, by possessing objects to avert the deaths of others and gradually get one step closer to learning who killed him and why. Not only that, but the game consistently kept the player guessing with huge amounts of twists and turns, becoming more unexpected and more thrilling by the second. The conclusion of this twisty tale was also surprisingly emotional and guaranteed to surprise anyone that's fortunate enough to give this game a chance! Even as a January release in 2011, Ghost Trick was never truly surpassed for its raw originality and inspiration, and it's yet another underrated gem that shone on what is, again, supposed to be last-gen hardware now!
- The All Thumbs Award (Best Use of Control)
- Rocksmith (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
- The Gunstringer (Xbox 360)
- Kirby Mass Attack (DS)
- Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
WINNER: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
WHY: Yet another very tough category, as 2011 delivered lots of inventive new spins on play control. Rocksmith successfully turned a gaming console into a teaching tool for the guitar, The Gunstringer finally proved that Kinect can be equally enjoyed by hardcore gamers, and Kirby: Mass Attack produced an extremely clever hook of touch control that marks one of the most inventive uses of the DS's unique control scheme yet! These highly innovative games are just barely overshadowed by Nintendo's new Zelda offering on the Wii however, a game that changed the way gamers play one of the most enduring and beloved franchises in gaming history forever. Utilizing the Wii MotionPlus peripheral, Nintendo finally demonstrated how motion control can be superior to buttons and thumbsticks, giving the player perfect 1:1 control of Link's sword and items, tasking them with mastering various angles and techniques of slashing, thrusting and swinging to take down legions of dangerous, defensive foes. The Wii U may be around the corner now in 2012, but Skyward Sword finally showed both fans and naysayers across the world that Wii's vision changed the way we play video games, and there's just no going back to the old ways now. It's anyone's guess which direction the next Zelda titles on the 3DS and Wii U will take with their controls in the wake of Skyward Sword, but that's speculation for another time, as Nintendo's most ambitious Wii blockbuster yet finally broke the barrier of control immersion, fully placing Link's sword in our own hands, with no compromises.
- The Neon Lightbulb Award (Best Gameplay Mechanic)
- Object Possession (Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective)
- Toys that customize your arsenal (Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure)
- Driver possession (Driver: San Francisco)
- Kirby mobs (Kirby: Mass Attack)
- Physics-based gel (Portal 2)
WINNER: Kirby mobs (Kirby: Mass Attack)
WHY: Another supposedly 'last-gen' game takes home the gold, this time for introducing one of the most creative spins on a Kirby game in recent memory! Kirby: Mass Attack fully utilized the stylus to command an army of up to ten Kirbys, guiding, tapping, flinging and stretching them as you saw fit, utilizing both screens and surprisingly sharp physics to produce clever puzzles and highly enjoyable environments to explore and conquer with your Kirby squadron. Even with the 3DS having been on the market for months by September, Kirby: Mass Attack surprised gamers everywhere with how well it still found inventive ways to make use of the DS's unique hardware functionality, delivering what may be the best Kirby game of the four available on the system, while also making a unique and nearly unclassifiable game experience with its extremely creative level design and mob mechanic. If only all handheld games could have such a noteworthy hook behind them, one that so excellently feels perfectly tailored to their hardware even after it's been apparently succeeded!
- The Box of Chocolates Award (Most Innovative Game)
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
- Bastion (Steam, Xbox Live Arcade)
- L.A. Noire (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Child of Eden (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Catherine (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Catherine (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: This was a very close call between Ghost Trick and Catherine, since both of them turned puzzle gaming on its head in really neat ways in 2011. In the end though, Catherine's erotic thriller themes and relationship morality spectrum make it even more unique and compelling as an innovative, surprisingly mature game experience. This is the kind of game that you'd never imagine would ever see the light of day in North America, let alone Europe, since it feels like such a twisted, distinctly Japanese vision. We should be thankful that Atlus was kind enough to bring the game to Western territories though, because in terms of both its genre and highly unique gameplay mechanics, Catherine produced a compelling experience, the likes of which gamers couldn't previously fathom. Challenging the player to examine their own views on sexuality and commitment, while also putting their finest gaming sensibilities to the test with strict time limits and crafty puzzles where death was always one step behind you, Catherine oozed innovation and controversy from every pore. No other game pushed the envelope for the industry in 2011 quite like this one!
- The Social Teacup Award (Best Local Multiplayer)
- Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PC, DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (3DS)
- Pokemon Black/White Version (DS)
WINNER: Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
WHY: Nothing still beats a good, old-fashioned game of Mario Kart with your friends, especially when you only need one copy of the game for up to four players! Should everyone be bringing their copies along though, you can assemble a Grand Prix with up to seven other players, even creating custom communities and rule sets via the Mario Kart Channel, while continually challenging even total strangers with your Ghost Data that you pass by on your daily routine via StreetPass exchange. Mario Kart 7 immensely improved upon its DS predecessor's multiplayer functionality, and even though Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is an equally tantalizing multiplayer option for 3DS owners, Mario Kart 7 offered more local multiplayer incentive than any other game this year, and it didn't disappoint in the online department either for what it's worth!
- The Line Holder Award (Best Online Gameplay)
- Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PC, DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PlayStation 3)
- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: Even while Call of Duty will inevitably still dominate the online charts, the fact is, Battlefield 3 was noticeably more ambitious with its online play. Allowing many more online players across larger battlefields that finally incorporated vehicles and other such strategies that was finally, you know, fair and strategic for once, Battlefield 3 raised the bar for first-person shooters online in a way that Call of Duty, sadly, has fallen back on its laurels upon a bit. Noteworthy refinements were made by both the latest Gears of War and Uncharted sequels, and you could lose hours trying to dominate fanboys everywhere with your perfect team on Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but Battlefield 3 is the game that really takes online play to the next level, in a genre where you normally think you've seen it all, thanks to its sheer scope, depth and challenge. No online multiplayer suite proved to be tougher, nor more engaging, to master in 2011!
- The PB and Jelly Award (Best Co-Op)
- Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PC, DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
- Rayman Origins (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- Payday: The Heist (Steam, PlayStation Store)
WINNER: Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: Co-op is often a nice bonus that can help enhance a game as a supplementary offering. In the case of Portal 2 however, the quality of the co-op actually frequently surpassed that of the main single-player story! A complementary tale taking place from the perspective of two robots working under the direction of GLaDOS, Portal 2 forced two players to team up with pitch-perfect precision in solving puzzles that were even more fiendish and challenging than anything in the single-player gameplay! If you didn't feel like being a team player, you could also just as easily drop your buddy into pits or bounce him/her around the area with increasingly elaborate portal pranks as well. Whether you're just goofing around or striving for Portal perfection, Portal 2's co-op was extremely addictive and very well-designed, and it's one of the only co-op modes this year that necessitated true teamwork to finally reach the end. Pick your friends carefully, because you'll never finish the co-op if you team up with that asshole that loves to deactivate a light bridge from under your feet!
- The Bottomless Teapot Award (Best Aftermarket Support)
- Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
- Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360)
- InFamous 2 (PlayStation 3)
- Battlefield 3 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
WHY: The Gears trilogy may be wrapped up for the most part with Gears 3 concluding the proceedings of the war against the Locust Horde, but that hasn't stopped Epic Games from delivering more than some half-assed map packs to keep Xbox gamers coming back to the fight. Going the extra mile, the developers have produced community incentives, and more importantly, they've delivered entire new campaigns from the perspectives of alternate characters that continue to add insight and lore to the Gears universe. Even though General RAAM kicked the bucket in the first game, Gears 3 finally allows you to see just how he came into conflict with Delta Squad, if you're willing to shell out for the great DLC. DLC expansions are one thing that developers often love to phone in, but Gears 3 proves that just because the war is over, doesn't mean that there's nothing else for players to experience!
- The Second Helping Award (Best Sequel)
- Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- The King of Fighters XIII (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Portal 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: Again, this is a very close call for this award. It was stiff competition between Batman: Arkham City and Portal 2, since both so brilliantly expanded on their original concepts to produce a much larger, deeper game experience. When all is said and done though, you have to admit that as fun and entertaining as Portal 2 is, it's still a noticeably smaller game than the MASSIVE Batman: Arkham City! Taking the game beyond Arkham Island and into a huge, open-world city environment, Batman: Arkham City elevated the experience to amazing new heights, giving you even more freedom and influence as the Dark Knight himself. You could listen in on radio frequencies for side missions, glide around beating up criminals at your leisure, and explore entire sections of Gotham City for hidden goodies as you try to get to the bottom of Dr. Hugo Strange's agenda, and how it seems to incorporate almost all of Batman's better known rogues gallery of villains. Portal 2 is short and sweet, but Batman: Arkham City will keep players hooked for hours and hours and hours before they'll ever come close to seeing a 100% completion rating, and that's not even factoring in the Challenge Mode and DLC! When even a revolutionary, thoroughly excellent game like Batman: Arkham Asylum feels so miniscule and shrunken-down compared to its sequel, you know that the developers really nailed the follow-up!
- The New Kid on the Block Award (Best New IP)
- Homefront (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Dead Island (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Rage (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Rocksmith (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Minecraft (Steam)
WINNER: Minecraft (Steam)
WHY: 2011 was mainly a year for franchise follow-ups in both video games and movies, but one phenomenon has really grabbed the world's attention now that it's reached its completed state; Minecraft. Dropping players into a retro chic world where they may build their own landscape and share their own challenges with the world, Minecraft made great strides when it came to keeping PC gaming relevant in an increasingly console-centric industry, hooking millions of players for countless amounts of time as they designed their perfect environments and took on the creations of so many other players. It was a lengthy, painstaking experience to realize your perfect vision in Minecraft, but once you were given your own set of pixellated land to cultivate at your leisure, your social life was gone. The game has in fact become so popular that its creator, Notch has even given people public permission to pirate it if they can't afford it. Wow.
- The Mighty SOB Award (Best Boss Fights)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
- Shadows of the Damned (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Dark Souls (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Rayman Origins (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
- Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
WINNER: Dark Souls (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: 2011 wasn't the best year for boss battles, granted, and with the exception of Shadows of the Damned providing something a little different, players mostly had to fall back on the usual franchises for their boss fix. On the bright side though, they got Dark Souls, and Dark Souls alone is enough to keep them coming back to some truly epic boss encounters for months on end! The sequel to surprise hit, Demon's Souls delivered staggering foes that were even more punishing and intricate than its predecessor, but after finally slaying one of these bad boys, you once again felt an unparalled sense of accomplishment, especially when you can still see the blood of other players strewn about the landscape so liberally, and to make a great deal even better, Xbox gamers could now join in on the carnage after being left out by the PS3-exclusive Demon's Souls. Dark Souls is tough as hell, but in a real extreme, teeth-cutting way, it's still a fair experience that demands only the very best of boss battling sensibilities. No bosses came close to thrilling gamers in 2011 quite as much as the super challenging Dark Souls, that's for sure!
- The Impending Lawsuit Award (Best Use of a License)
- Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
- The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings (PC)
- Alice: Madness Returns (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WINNER: Batman: Arkham City (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
WHY: Are you really surprised? Even though Star Wars: The Old Republic finally brought the world an authentic, immersive Star Wars-themed MMO, Batman: Arkham City took the perfect interactive Batman experience, and somehow, someway, made it even more perfect. Players were given a much larger area of Gotham City to explore, while more of Batman's triple-A foes showed up to the proceedings, each with their own separate story arcs and agendas. Never has a Batman game been delivered with such authenticity, such chilling faithfulness to 70+ years of the source material, and such a huge sense of scope. Not only is this game every Batman fan's wet dream, even more than its predecessor, but it's also the perfect game for players who don't know anything about Batman, or don't even care for the acclaimed DC Comics franchise normally (and God help you if you don't like Batman, because you have issues!). Even considering how many new Bat-fans were no doubt converted by Christopher Nolan's excellent Batman films, even more of them were no doubt converted by this game. Superhero games are surprisingly lacklustre at the best of times, but Batman: Arkham City has once again changed that. Here's hoping that other comic book properties start stepping it up in turn!
This concludes Part 1 of the Brentiverse 2011 video game awards! Check back later for Part 2, and for the first posting of the movie awards as well!
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