PixlBit

Several members of our staff have taken the time to choose their favorite games in a number of categories.

Best Sequel Title

Kathrine:
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes, because they translated only half the title.

Jason R:
This was announced last year, so I'm going to say it counts: Dissidia 012[Duodecim] Final Fantasy. It's a definite winner in the name category.

Nick:
Dead Rising 2

Stanton:
Mass Effect 2

Chris:
In terms of a title, I'd have to say Diner Dash 5: BOOM! With a name like that, the only thing I can do is get excited.

Jason H:
Mass Effect 2

Nate:
StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty

Best Art Design

Kathrine:
Kirby's Epic Yarn. Seeing the votes below, it would seem that no one can resist the charm of a world made entirely of yarn and cloth.

Jason R:
Kirby's Epic Yarn

Nick:
Super Meat Boy

Chris:
Kirby's Epic Yarn

Jason H:
Kirby's Epic Yarn

Nate:
Final Fantasy 4 Warriors of Light

Better Than Expected

Kathrine:
Metroid Other M, but that's mostly because my expectations were low. The story still ended up pretty terrible in execution, but it didn't get in the way of the action, which is still solid and worth sitting through the uninteresting cutscenes.

Jason R:
Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing

Nick:
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Chris:
Every Day the Same Dream

Jason H:
Red Steel 2

Nate:
Dance Central and Dance Masters

Biggest Disappointment

Kathrine:
Wii Party was not Mario Party 9. The game is basically Mario Party but with Miis replacing Mario Characters instead of simply adding them in like they did with games like Mario Kart Wii.

Jason R:
Sonic Colors, because at E3, I was under the impression it would be great. Epic Mickey had a lot of potential for failure, even at E3, but had I not seen it there, Epic Mickey would win this one hands down.

Nick:
Donkey Kong Country Returns. It was a pretty good game, but between the controls and the overall gameplay, it didn't even come close to matching up to the original titles.

Chris:
Epic Mickey. I wanted to not believe Jason's review, but it really was a waste of potential. Great idea and premise, but the execution was hollow for me.

Jason H:
Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's a platformer with DK in it, but that's where the similarities end. The stop and start gameplay to get all the pickups killed it for me.

Nate:
Other M

Waste of Potential

Kathrine:
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition. How about some New Super Mario All-Stars? Surely at least Super Mario 64 can join the all-star status...

Jason R:
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition. The collection could have included 4-player remakes, a much more complete soundtrack, and a stunning art book, but the whole package was lame. Runner-Up? Disney Epic Mickey

Nick:
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition. Laziest cash-in ever.

Chris:
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition. Not even an update? Nothing? Could have been an instant, insanely awesome buy. It's tied with Epic Mickey in my book.

Jason H:
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition. I already have it for free!

Nate:
Mario All-Stars

Most Unique

Kathrine:
Fluidity, despite the unimaginative name. I can think of no other game where you control a puddle of water, much less one where it sets out on an adventure not unlike one that Samus herself would embark on.

Jason R:
An independent game from E3, B.U.T.T.O.N. It was definitely unique, I'll describe it in the comments to the awards.

Nick:
Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition

Chris:
I can't decide on how to define unique in this case, so I'll go with B.U.T.T.O.N. as well.

Nate:
Limbo

Safely Passed On [a game you had considered buying but are glad you did not]

Kathrine:
My pick is Flip's Twisted World. The concept of flipping the whole stage is interesting, but the game is plagued with technical issues such as poor hit detection, glitches, spotty control, and more.

Jason R:
I intentionally played some of the games I'd normally avoid, like Super Scribblenauts. Pass.

Chris:
Naruto Shippuden: Dragon Blade Chronicles

Nate:
Other M

Best Multiplayer

Kathrine:
Despite its issues, Monster Hunter Tri can be an enjoyable experience with three other people who are into the game. Chatting about whatever's on your mind while taking down huge monsters and customizing equipment is a good way to spend an otherwise uneventful evening, though like most multiplayer games it is the people who will define the experience.

Jason R:
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

Nick:
Crackdown 2. It wasn't that great of a game, but defending the city with 4 players on XBL was a blast.

Stanton:
Crackdown 2

Chris:
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

Jason H:
Crackdown 2

Nate:
Monster Hunter Tri

Best Co-op

Kathrine:
It may come as a surprise to some since it wasn't really designed for it, but I enjoyed the co-op in Donkey Kong Country Returns. I played through the whole game with my sister, and although she had some issues with the later stages and eventually broke down and used an invincibility cheat (which doesn't actually help as much as it might sound), we both still had a good time.

Jason R:
Anything but Donkey Kong Country Returns. The game is nearly impossible with Chris, we go through about twenty lives on some normal stages.

Nick:
Kirby's Epic Yarn. I found DKCR to be nearly unplayable in co-op most of the time.

Chris:
Kirby's Epic Yarn was a lot of "fun" as co-op. Agreed about DKCR co-op, although it can be made to be fun.

Nate:
Monster Hunter Tri

Best Mindless Game

Kathrine:
Tetris is the original mindless game, and Tetris Party Deluxe is a decent heir. It offers a few new modes that put a simple twist on Tetris that alter the gameplay significantly, though still not enough to require actual brain function, making then still the perfect game to play when you don't feel like thinking.

Jason R:
Final Fantasy XIII's first few hours. (All you do is hold forward and press "X"!)

Nick:
Crackdown 2. Orb collecting is as mindless as it gets, but god is it fun.

Stanton:
Crackdown 2

Chris:
Final Fantasy XIII to a degree, I suppose. It doesn't have to be mindless, but it can be.

Jason H:
FFXIII all the way. Extra points for the cutscenes being equally as mindless.

Best Minigame

Kathrine:
Stage Racer in Tetris Party Deluxe. This minigame involves maneuvering a Tetromino endlessly down a play field filled with blocks, and it is an absolute riot with four players all screaming about getting stuck and shouting they won't make it past the next (easily passable) section.

Jason R:
You'd think something would come to mind on this one, but I can't recall anything as far as mini-games go over the past year.

Nick:
The tower defense game in 3D Dot Game Heroes.

Stanton:
Defense Grid

Chris:
I can't recall one in particular, but there were some games on Playstation Home when I was tinkering with it that were surprisingly fun. I think. Or addictive. Something. The 3D Dot Game Heroes one sounds very fun, though.

Most Obsessive Game

Jason R:
Dragon Quest IX

Jason H:
Civilization V

Nate:
Minecraft

Best Game Trailer

Kathrine:
Watch this and tell me it isn't the best trailer of the year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvEGlFwi954

Jason R:
Pass

Nick:
If a trailer that was released right at the end of last year counts for a game that came out this year, this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEJdcRq35xE

Stanton:
Deus Ex, hello? http://www.ign.com/videos/2010/12/10/deus-ex-human...tion-cgi-trailer-directors-cut

Chris:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution director's cut. Totally agree with Stanton.