The Best Bits of 2012 - Top Titles of the Year

It’s been a good year for gamers, with title after titillating title keeping us firmly rooted to our consoles. Running through every release would take most of 2013, so we’ve picked a few of our favorites to sum up the best bits of 2012. If we’ve missed your own favorite why not leave a comment and explain what’s made it into your list of top titles?

In no particular order then, let’s consider some of the best games to reach our consoles in the past year.

Halo 4 Halo 4
We couldn’t ignore one of the biggest releases of the year for the Xbox 360, Halo 4, in our list. 343 Industries has successfully taken the mantle of this highly successful series, breathing some new life into the franchise without removing too much of what makes Halo fans keep coming back for more. An excellent campaign sparks the start of a new trilogy, and we’re excited to see what happens next to our favorite Spartan.

Assassin’s Creed 3
Ubisoft has taken us back in time once again to join with the assassins in a new era of history, the American Revolution. There are a few technical hitches with the title, but some excellent storytelling combined with a range of missions to keep us occupied makes this a game that’s definitely worth playing.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown
With so many bit titles released in 2012 it’d be easy for this game to slip under the radar, but if you’re a fan of turn-based strategy games and haven’t given XCOM: Enemy Unknown a go yet then this is one for you. It’s always been difficult for console strategy games to achieve the depth that their PC equivalents can boast, but this sci-fi title has achieved it. What’s more, the creators have even managed to create an emotional buy in to the game that has historically been absent from strategy titles, meaning you really will care about how your little soldiers fare.

Max Payne 3
With developer Rockstar taking the reins of the Max Payne series we weren’t surprised that this newest addition was a lot of fun to play. New additions such as multiplayer have brought the franchise well and truly up to date, with some absolutely stunning graphics thrown in for good measure.

Mass Effect 3
Yes, we were just as disappointed with the ending as every other gamer but there’s no denying that the game up until that point was good. Bioware wrapped up the trilogy with some excellent gameplay and kept us playing up to the very end of its enthralling RPG trilogy. Extra effort was made in wrapping up the saga with some incredible level design to stimulate some truly epic battles, and it really shows as you play your way through the campaign.

Dishonored
Indisputably one of the best titles of the year comes from developer Bethesda with its absolutely stunning world design and enticing gameplay. Taking on the role of an elite assassin in Industrial Britain makes for an interesting array of tactics, from killing everything that moves to sneaking your way along the slated rooftops without a single spill of blood; it’s entirely your choice. This is a title that you may find yourself replaying even after completion, just to explore the multitude of hidden nooks and crannies that can be found around every corner, and to indulge in its delectable combat system.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Any game that comes complete with the Call of Duty title is likely to be an instant bestseller, but Black Ops 2 did live up to the hype with an excellent campaign complete with great dialogue and a new kind of multiplayer to bring something new to fans of this first person shooter. Unlike previous games, Black Ops 2 takes us into a future filled with an assortment of new weaponry, and even allows player choices to impact the plotline during the campaign.

Far Cry 3
Receiving almost universally positive praise from critics and gamers alike, Far Cry 3 is a real contender for best game of the year. In this game you’ll find yourself immersed in a beautiful and frightfully deadly tropical land. There’s a story that packs a real punch with a multitude of different gameplay elements to keep you interested, with an excellent combination of stealth and action, and even role playing elements.

So there we have it, just a few of our highlights of what has been an impressive gaming year! If you have anything else to add why not leave it in the comments.

Article by - Rebecca Waterman
Insert Date: 12/21/2012

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