A Look Back At 2012

Without further ado, we introduce PG’s Best of 2012 Awards.  This is the first round of PG’s 2012 Awards. During the weekend we’ll follow on with more awards, and our much awaited Game of the Year. All the selection has been done by Team PG as a whole. 2012 made many gaming memories and we have tried our best in bringing the best of everything to you. We’ll start with the Genre Awards first. We strongly feel that these categories deserve their own space here. Rightfully, many of these acclaimed titles have done their job for us. We hope you enjoy reading our favourite picks.

Navigation: Special Achievement Awards – Game of The Year 2012

BEST FPS

HALO 4

For many, Halo is not just a game; it is a lifestyle. With something that holds such great importance, 343 industries had some pretty big shoes to fill after Bungie’s departure from this beautiful universe they created of Halo. 343i, however, have made what I consider to be the most memorable and powerful game to ever grace the franchise. Not only did they meet everyone’s expectations but they surpassed it on every front. Starting from scratch 343i managed to create one of the best shooters of this generation. Halo 4 is 343i’s love letter to the franchise. This game is perfection from every aspect. Equipped with remarkable gameplay, driven by an outstanding story and presented with breath-taking visuals Halo 4 is probably a game you will find hard to forget. Right from the beginning when Master Chief wakes from cryosleep till the end, you will have goosebumps. Addictive and engrossing, this game alone is reason to own an XBOX 360.

BEST HANDHELD

SOUND SHAPES

It’s easy to overlook a platformer like Sound Shapes, especially when you haven’t quite understood the gist of it. Just about every instrument, beat, and note of music you hear in the game resonates with the level design and, consequentially, affects gameplay. As a portable game, its strength lies in its robust level editor, which makes capable use of the Vita’s touch screen, allowing you to create and share your own levels on the go. This has led to the rise of a large amount of user-generated content that is easily accessible from within the game. The use of creative features and the gradual build up of a dedicated community earns Sound Shapes the award for Best Portable game of 2012.

BEST PLATFORMER

SPELUNKY

Modern platformers are becoming relatively easier. The popularity of platforms started with the success of Mario on the NES. Afterwards, we had plenty of platformers including Sonic. These platformers weren’t exactly as easy as the ones released today. Most of this was due to the lack of Checkpoint system. Spelunky is a sort of nod to those classic platformers, which punished the gamers for each of their wrong move. It was originally released on PC and got ported to XBLA later this year. There is no checkpoint system and we have to restart each level from the beginning after death. What makes it more difficult is how each level is generated randomly and hence we cannot master any level and it’s enemy placement. The upgraded visuals really make it stand out. The animated sprites look great and gameplay still feels solid. In the end, it is satisfyingly an addictive platformer that values your precision and fun at the same time.

BEST RPG

MASS EFFECT 3

“I’m Commander Shepard and this is my favorite RPG of the Year on PakGamers”.

BEST STRATEGY

DOTA 2

Technically we know that this game is still in beta, but the prowess of DOTA 2 is unimaginably too awesome for us. With Valve’s support, the DOTA franchise has single-handedly owned 2012 in terms of battle arena strategy plays. Hours and hours of competitive rage; this game sucks you in like no other. Demonstrating a showcase of skills and aptitude, DOTA 2 is meant to shake up strategies to a whole new level. But other than that the development has been very well consistent; constantly updating and proving why there is so much loyalty associated with DOTA 2. It’s no wonder why this game has a dedicated support even here. Here’s to hoping that DOTA 2 marches on with its domination and keeps us occupied for many years to come.

BEST SPORTS

FIFA 13

The question is rather straight forward, is there any sports game which excites us as Fifa? The answer is a simple no. Other sporting ventures like NBA 2K13 and Madden 13 have made significant ground, but for us the sheer excitement on scoring at 90th minute is unsurpassed. Hold these awards in a different continent and you might get a different result. EA has done it again, but not as comfortably as they would’ve liked. With PES 13 a real threat this year, FIFA manages to nudge ahead by polishing up the immense work put in past 3 iterations. There isn’t any revolution but subtle improvements on the pitch like first touch control, complete dribbling and smart attacking runs combine to really heighten the realism. Off the pitch we are greeted with match day updates, deeper career mode, richer ultimate team experience and a dedicated EA sports football club; all pushing FIFA more into a personal charcterisation. The presentation is excellent as expected and the introduction of skill mini game is a better loading screen than any. The replay-ability is well put due to the different online modes. We simply love it, and at this rate they are looking to hold the throne comfortably.

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