2013 just ended and I played a lot of video games in it. Some of them came out during it. These are the 5 best games I played enough to properly evaluate. Listed with the platform I played them on and who made them.
5. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS, Nintendo)
Sometimes a game series will change for the worse and never recapture its former glory. This has never happened to Zelda, but they had never really revisited the style of the weird-yet-amazing classic A Link to the Past. ALBW is a concious effort to pay homage to ALTTP, even going so far as to take place on the same world map and basically use the same art direction. At the same time, it’s completely unlike any other Zelda game. There is a specific “formula” to Zelda that has been in place basically since ALTTP, and it’s fitting that a game built off of it’s foundation throws it away. By allowing you to purchase every item in the game early on, the level design is liberated from being a series of tutorials on how to use each new item. This helped lead to some of the most inventive labyrinths in the entire series.
4. BioShock Infinite (PC, Irrational/2K)
At it’s core, it’s an action game where you ride on sky-rails and shoot crows (among other things) out of your hand and eat pineapples (among other things) you find in dead people’s pockets to regain health. Consistently thrilling and engaging throughout. Flying through the air shooting lightning bolts and rocket launchers at giant, mechanical death-bringers never got old to me. It takes place in a fantastical world filled with beauty and horror. The art direction and audio design are top notch, and it has a pulpy (whether it was trying to be or not) sci-fi story that kept me interested.
3. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, Nintendo)
Until 2011’s Super Mario 3D Land (3DS), 3D Mario games (Super Mario 64, etc.) and 2D Mario games (Super Mario Bros, etc.) have existed in distinct pockets. SM3DL created a hybrid of the two, with gameplay in 3D but with the power ups and linear paths of the 2D games. 3D World takes the new hybrid formula introduced in 3D Land and ups the ante considerably. Adding playable characters that play differently (similar to Super Mario Bros. 2) as well as simultaneous 4-player multiplayer makes things more interesting, but where the game really shines is in the levels themselves. This is the case in most Mario games – the best moments are when your skills are tested to the limits and you pull through. It’s hard to really explain the appeal if you’re not already a fan of the series, but basically it’s a top-notch Mario game and that means a lot. An instant classic.
2. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS, Nintendo)
I played the original Animal Crossing for GameCube and enjoyed it for what it was, but found it difficult to invest too much time into based on the simple fact that it required me being at home and sitting in front of a TV. I had skipped further entries in the series, but New Leaf seemed like a substantial enough upgrade that I’d give it a chance. Plus it was portable, so I could play it anywhere. I thought I’d play it for a few days or weeks then move on to something else. 150 hours later, I’m still running errands for my neighbours and paying the slumlord Tom Nook for upgrades to my house. It’s simple, casual fun that can be played for an hour or less every day. What really keeps me coming back is the feeling that there is still a lot of content left to experience, the most appealing of which is the fantastic writing. The dialog is hilarious and clever, and it makes me want to come back every day to have conversations with fake animals that live in tiny houses and ask me for fruit.
1. The Last of Us (PS3, Naughty Dog/Sony)
This game has been praised a lot, rightfully, for its story. The writing and performances are on-par with a good TV drama, and the post apocalyptic world is well realized. None of that matters without a great game to back it up, and luckily The Last of Us would be amazing even if the story was terrible. It’s a survival/horror game, a stealth game and an action/adventure game all at once. Every encounter and challenge can be approached in multiple ways depending on your play style, and having your wits about you is especially crucial later in the game. The game manages to make you feel vulnerable without making you feel hopeless, which makes every tactical decision feel important and ever encounter feel intense. The sheer craftsmanship alone is worth noting – the game feels like a cohesive, complete piece of work. The artificial intelligence, both friendly and otherwise, is some of the best in any video game. It looks fantastic, the music is great. A memorable game, and a milestone for the industry as a whole.
Adam McDonald 