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Personal Picks for GOTY 2013

Winners in our hearts.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

by Travis Hawks

Detractors of the big games of 2013 often found themselves shambling around in discussions of “ludonarrative dissonance.” Frustrated at how potentially powerful themes were weakened by hours of mindless and discordant shooting sequences, critics had lots of ammo to use on BioShock Infinite, The Last of Us, and a few other notable titles. Left out of every one of these attempts at high brow discussion is my personal game of the year, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.

Where other games try to squeeze in some thought-provoking social commentary, Blood Dragon revels in silliness and takes full advantage of the strong mechanics of its big brother, Far Cry 3. Most of the missions allow for varied and creative means of resolving them, with a few exceptions that are purposely linear to an extreme. There’s some chance that the humor of the game is going to chafe you, an inevitable risk with any comedy, but if the jokes hit your sweet spot there is nothing to dislike as long as your critical mind is powered down.

Whether you are sniping from afar, sending a dragon into an enemy outpost, or blasting through wave after wave of mindless charging undead, each moment of the game is pure fun without any pretensions. Even though I like to see the medium take new and expansive risks, we should never forget that one of the foundations of gaming is fun, and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is the embodiment of this principle.

 

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Comments

Michael117

01/17/2014 at 12:21 PM

Hah, I like that Chris picked the DSII Beta. I didn't expect that but I should've seen it coming. 53 days till launch, Chris. Then we all dine in Hell together.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

01/17/2014 at 12:23 PM

yeah that pick is hilarious... but reasonable.  Laughing

Chris Yarger Community Manager

01/20/2014 at 09:50 AM

Whoa Michael..

You expected less than that from me?
puh-lease!!!

lol

C.S.3590SquadLeader

01/17/2014 at 01:35 PM

So many good games in 2013, not nearly enough cash to go around. Oh well, looks like I'll be playing my least-favorite game of catch up once again!

transmet2033

01/17/2014 at 03:27 PM

Way to be awesome Joaquim.

Joaquim Mira Media Manager

01/17/2014 at 04:13 PM

hahahahahahaha thanks. I kind of got suggested to write it because it was either Steamworld, Shantae (3DS VC), or Luigi's Mansion.

BrokenH

01/17/2014 at 03:31 PM

I still need to play Raymen Legends. Looks like a real stunner! Blood dragon is up my alley too!

Super Step Contributing Writer

01/17/2014 at 03:54 PM

So the GOTY year list was quantitative, this was qualitative. Personally, I enjoy the more esoteric, but also more in-depth results you get from the latter. 

I really wanted to get DuckTales Remastered when it was on Steam's Winter Sale, but I had already bought so much crap by then. I may just bite the bullet and buy it anyway. I've only played its original NES sequel on nintendo8.com, but it looks fun. Plus, I actually did watch the show, so I'd like to hear the voiceovers. 

Blood Dragon looks so cool. I love 80s neon. The fact it focuses on entertainment like entertainment should makes it even more appealing. 

I'm still not a mark for anything close to an RPG or RTS that has its complexity talked about ad nauseum, even if it is more accessible now. However, this is the first I've heard of the dialogue and characters, which are elements that have always interested me in RPGs, and made me wish they weren't turn-based or strategy games. Hey, Roy was my favorite character in Smash Bros.Maybe his story is good, too. 

I haven't played Pokemon since Blue, and I'm amazed that it's stayed relevant so long, but X & Y sounds like another reason to maybe get a 3DS. I don't know what it is, but I tolerate RPGs made by Nintendo much more easily. Also sounds like they made Internet interaction a part of it, which that series was screaming for from the start. 

Like Joaquim, I think Steamworld sounds dull at first glance, but maybe if I had a 3DS, it would win me over too. 

Also, Rayman Legends is too expensive on Steam for me right now, but as a platforming enthusiast myself, I'm keeping an eye out. Guess I'll miss that gamepad stuff, though.

In closing ... you would, Chris. lol

Joaquim Mira Media Manager

01/17/2014 at 04:16 PM

Steamworld is on... Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/252410/

If you're still hesitant just get it when it's on sale like $4.99, or less.

Chris Yarger Community Manager

01/20/2014 at 09:50 AM

I totally did..

lol

daftman

01/18/2014 at 08:23 AM

I think it's so cool that they gave DuckTales Remastered a physical release. I'm hoping to get it for the Wii U sometime. That just seems like the platform it ought to be on.

This list reminded me that I was going to get Blood Dragon on the PlayStation sale. It's $3.75 right. I love things that go for that crazy '80s vibe.

I think I have enough credit on my 3DS to get SteamWorld Dig but I gotta play the new Phoenix Wright game first. I love that pixel art though.

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