From fantasy to sports, 2012 was packed with a variety of video games that would appeal to even the most novice gamer. This year had some of the most revolutionary games, but as always, there are a fair share of the must-avoid.
Robert Carrier (junior-computer science), the president of Penn State’s video game club, shared some of his and the club’s picks for the best video games of 2012. Carrier rates the games on the basis of story line, user-friendliness and ingenuity.
Carrier’s top five games:
“Borderlands 2:” A sequel to the game released in 2009, “Borderlands 2” consists of a central mission that takes place on the fictional planet Pandora. This game is unique in that it is heavily influenced by science fiction and has a dynamic plot line. The multiplayer aspect of “Borderlands 2” is revolutionary and keeps all players engaged and entertained.
“Halo 4:” This game continues the “Halo” legacy as the first installment in a second trilogy of the franchise. As in the other portions, in this one the player assumes the role of Master Chief and has to defeat the Covenant with the help of Cortana. This game has been long awaited and has one of the best plot lines of all games released in 2012.
“It’s been promoted endlessly since they announced it,” Carrier said. “It’s been years in the making, and it doesn’t disappoint.”
“Dishonored:” Unlike “Halo,” this game came as a complete surprise and shocked the gaming world as being one of the best this year. It is a stealth-based game and its uniqueness and creativity make it difficult to the put the controller down.
“Mass Effect 3:” The final installment of the well-known trilogy, “Mass Effect 3” succeeds in keeping the players involved but fails in having a solid story line. Players across the board were disappointed with the ending and felt that it held the game back.
“Assassin’s Creed 3:” Also one of the most talked about games this year, “Assassin’s Creed 3” takes place before, during and after the revolutionary war and incorporates creative plot with exceptional graphics.
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Carrier added the worst game of the year goes to “Diablo 3.”
“There really is no reason to go back and play the game again,” he said.
In terms of video game presents, “Diablo 3” is one to leave on the shelves.
This list, however, is subjective to personal opinion as Hamza Hadi (freshman-business administration) said, “‘Borderlands 2’ is a waste of money and no one should buy it.”
Many of gaming’s biggest players spent 2012 investing in the resurgence of popularity of handheld gaming. Handheld games are designed to be compact and convenient in order to appeal to a broader audience, and sales numbers show that they are doing just that.
Nintendo’s newest home console, the Wii U, also made a splash this year and was released just in time for the holiday season. The Wii U’s innovative new Game Pad utilizes a 6.2-inch screen in addition to the traditional directional buttons for a modern, touch screen experience.
Nintendo also released the 3DS XL this year, a larger version of the system that has been around since 2010.
Even though all these systems are being released, Carrier said he isn’t concerned that traditional consoles will become outdated.
