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Personal Picks for GOTY 2013

Winners in our hearts.

Rayman Legends

by Nick DiMola

While The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is my top pick of this year, it barely eked out the win over Michel Ancel's spectacular sequel to Rayman Origins. Clearly a product made for the Wii U, Rayman Legends was woefully delayed to enable a simultaneous cross-platform release. Thankfully, the delay meant more development time for the game, and ultimately, a better product.

And what a product it was. When I say that Rayman Legends might be one of the best platformers I've ever played in my life, I say it without an ounce of exaggeration. It's literally that good. This is due in large part to the collaborative gameplay available in the Murfy levels wherein one player can manipulate the game world and the other must platform through it. It's incredibly addictive and the coordination required between both parties makes it one of the most thoroughly cooperative experiences on the market.

But of course, it's not just about the co-op experience. Legends is a real gem of a single player platformer with a huge variety of courses and countless challenges to overcome. Everything about it is perfectly smooth and mastering some courses requires the utmost precision and timing. And those music levels. My god, they're so good and incredibly catchy!

As something of platformer aficionado and enthusiast, Rayman Legends did a fantastic job of scratching my itch for a quality platformer in 2013, besting even Nintendo's own efforts with Super Mario 3D World. If you have a Wii U, it's a must-have. On any of the other platforms, it's still a damn good buy, but you will miss some of the magic that the GamePad brings to the experience.

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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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