August is Retro 2010-2012

On 08/03/2024 at 09:35 AM by KnightDriver

August begins my next set of three retro years, 2010-2012. Here are my picks from page one from Metacritic's best-of-all-time games for those years. I organized them in order of score but now also by system because I've found I don't like switching systems too frequently.

Wii:
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - I want to buy this but I haven't found a copy yet. It's going for around $40. I rented it from my library in the meantime and played several hours of it already.
Zelda: Skyward Sword - I rented this and realized I need the Wii Motion + adpater to play it. I'm hunting one down now and considering the HD Switch version.

XSS:
Mass Effect 2 - I'm playing it now on Game Pass as part of the Legendary collection.
Skyrim - On Game Pass.
Red Dead Redemption - I own a digital copy of this. Played an hour or two before.
Batman Arkham City - Just got the Arkham Collection. I've played 2 or 3 hours.
Pac-Man CE DX - On my wish list because I don't have this specific version of PMCE, and I don't see it as part of Pac-Man Museum or other collections.
Persona 4 Golden - Was on Game Pass but now not. On my wish list. I've played several hours of this on multiple systems: PS2, Vita and XSS.
Mass Effect 3 - Is part of the Legendary collection on Game Pass. Played a few hours of it.
Halo Reach - I recently bought this (again?) digitally for a buck. It was a kind of extra for The Master Chief Collection on Game Pass. I've finished it and gone for achievements before.
Gears of War 3 - I own a digital copy of the 360 game. Why this hasn't been remastered (or Gears 2) is a mystery to me. I've completed it and gone for achievements before.

PS3:
God of War III - I own this on PS3 as part of The Saga Collection. I wouldn't mind owning a seperate copy if I found one cheap. Completed it years ago.
Uncharted 3 - I own this physically for PS3 and digitally on PS4. I'll play it on PS3 becuase that's what I have set up at the moment. Played it to the end a while back.
MLB 10 The Show - I just picked this up for $5. I remember this series being much talked about back in 2010, but it used to be exclusive to Sony, which is why I never played it. I generally like an arcady sports game like Super Mega Baseball better, so I'll see if I like this.

Xbox 360:
Bayonetta - I have this digitally for 360. I put the remastered version on a wish list for XSS. If it goes on sale in August, I'll get it and play it there. I've played it but I don't think I finished it.

Any memories of the years 2010-2012?

Cary Woodham

08/05/2024 at 07:08 PM

Galaxy 2 is just as good as the first one. Top of the Wii tier right there.

It's hard to remember which collections have which version of Pac-Man CE. Some have the original, some have DX 2, etc. Pac-Man CE is one of my favorite Pac games, though, and one of the reasons why I got a 360.

I have Bayonetta on the 360. It was a fun action game, but got too violent for my tastes. I don't like fighting angels. One time at E3 or PAX, I was walking by SEGA's booth and I heard a CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP behind me. it was a lady dressed as Bayonetta (and a rather good costume if you know what I mean). But it was those gun shoes that was making all the noise. I turned around to her and said, "Ma'am, you're not sneaking up on anyone with those!"

KnightDriver

08/10/2024 at 09:06 AM

Yeah, I'll get a copy of SMGalaxy 2 for myself one of these days. I wish they'd put it out on Switch.

I think Pac-Man CE DX is not collected anywhere. I tried to find it but I'll just have to get it seperately sometime.

I don't think I finished Bayonetta. It certainly has dazzling visuals.

daftman

08/06/2024 at 04:13 PM

I know this is the top of the Metrcritic lists for those years but man, what a stack of games that is! Galaxy 2 is so good. And Skyward Sword gets a bad rap, I think. People hate on it for the motion controls and the over tutorializing and chatty sword—none of which bothered me too much—but I felt its worst offense was bloat. It's just too long. BUT it also has excellent dungeons and the Zelda in this game is a really great character.

08/10/2024 at 09:08 AM

Luckily, I was talking to my coworkers at the library and discovered that we really do have the Switch version of Skyward Sword even though only the Wii version shows up in our catalog. So I have it now and will play it next week. I've been told too that the controls are a little better on Switch. I'm excited to check it out.

PixlBit