2011 Video Game Awards

Just in time for Black Friday, here is my list of the best games of the year:

Sports: FIFA 11 - The next evolutionary step in the refinement of the finest sports engine ever made. Runner Up: Forza 4

Kinect: Once Upon A Monster - Finally a family game, made to be played by small kids, you know, half the people who actually make up a family. Runner Up: Gunstringer

Wii Exclusive: Skyward Sword - The best Zelda title in at least ten years and the final achievement in perfecting Wii controls.

Xbox Exclusive: Halo Anniversary - $40 for a gorgeous remake of the game that proved FPSs could be played on consoles and that birthed the Xbox. Runner Up: Gears of War 3

PS3 Exclusive: Uncharted 3 - An amazing, gorgeous, polished adventure with the best writing in gaming. Indiana Jones, be jealous. Runner Up: Infamous 2

Handheld: Super Mario 3DS - The best Mario title since Super Mario 64. A perfect mix of challenge, camera, 3D, and portable controls. Runner Up: Ocarina 3DS

Shooter Campaign: Modern Warfare 3 - Amazing that after the loss of virtually all the creative talent behind Modern Warfare, replacements craft the best campaign of the Call of Duty series. Runner Up: Bulletstorm

Shooter Multiplayer: Battlefield 3 - Class based, destructible environment, vehicle bliss. Runner Up: Modern Warfare 3

Role Playing Game: Skyrim - The pinnacle of open world exploration and discovery for this entire console generation. Simply amazing. Runner Up: Nothing even comes close.

Adventure: Uncharted 3 - Every chapter is a set piece of gorgeous design, shooting, and platforming. Runner Up: Arkham City

Biggest Surprise: Modern Warfare 3 - Sure I knew I'd buy it, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy the story, cooperative, and multiplayer.

Biggest Disappointment: Rage - The best gameplay and graphics engine, wasted on a campaign that has no player engagement or ending resolution. Runner Up: Battlefield 3 campaign

Best Value: Skyrim - 300 hours of wonder for $60?!?! Throw in the inevitable DLC and I may not need to eject this disc until February (Reckoning). Runner Up: Gears of War 3

Game of Year: Skyrim - Possibly the best game of this generation. This is less of a game and more like a living, breathing, world packed onto one disc. There simply is nothing like it.


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