Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, how The Rock satisfies his women, the Dwight Howard Greg Oden sweepstakes, or 4th of July sales like the excellent Bastion for iOS currently costing 99 cents, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Half of 2013 is over and I want to hear about your favorite game of the year (thus far). Were you enthralled by BioShock Infinite? Were you captivated by Lara Croft’s return in Tomb Raider? Perhaps Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch brought you a slice of gaming heaven. I know that some of you are down on The Last of Us, but it has been getting rave reviews, so maybe the game is working for some of you? Please talk about the best game you’ve played this year in the comments section.
As for my choice, it’s an oldie but a goodie. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition for OS X was old-school RPG bliss for me. The original is one of my all-time favorites (played through the frickin’ thing 18 times) and it was nice to experience it again with updated elements. The enhanced version of the game brought improved graphics, new characters, and gameplay improvements from the sequel (class kits!) to the mix. It was everything I loved from the first time around, with a few bells and whistled that improved the overall experience. I’ve played through the BGEE multiple times with multiple characters. So yeah, I kind of loved it and it was easily the most satisfying gaming experience I’ve had in 2013 (thus far).
Now it’s your turn! Kindly talk about your game of the (half) year in the comments section!
Bioshock Infinite. Great characters, lots to collect, great story that makes you think. You can discuss and dissect this game quite a bit.
I’ll actually buy the dlc for this game.
I’m trying to think of all the games I’ve played this year. Last year, I remember that I ended with L.A. Noire and Arkham City. After that I started my “Assassin’s Creed” marathon with AC:1 in December. I completed Alan Wake: American Nightmare and The Walking Dead in January, then I got started on AC:2. Upon completing AC:2, I played and completed AC: Brotherhood, AC: Revelations and AC: 3. Tomb Raider was my March game and that took me into April, where I finished up the last achievement I needed for Halo Wars. Dust: An Elysian Tail was my April game. Dishonored in May. Bioshock Infinite in June and now I’m almost done with Fable III.
To be honest, my game of the year so far has to be Dust: An Elysian Tail. Bioshock Infinite would be the runner up. The game mechanics were good (not great, as they were in 2005), but the real reason to play the game is for the story and to see how far down the rabbit hole goes in Kevin Levine’s mind. Unfortunately, I think Bioshock Infinite is better left as a movie or novel or at the very least, an entire school semester philosophy course. Dust, on the other hand, is a true gamer’s game. It’s a pure game. It’s a rare, 2D platforming, action, RPG-ish game that mimics perfection. The characters have character, the controls are tight, the story is told well, it’s challenging without being frustrating, and it is just a beautiful game to look at. The artwork is mesmerizing. Overall, it’s just the more fun game to play. Bioshock Infinite is the more fun game to think about.
I cannot recommend Dust: An Elysian Tail enough. Amazing game and my GOTY so far.
-M
Thanks for the reco on that. It was totally off my radar, but now I want to check it out.
Yeah I looked it up as well. Currently on sale via Steam
Whatever they are selling it for; it’s worth it. I paid $10 for it and feel guilty about that. The game may not be for everyone, but it just struck a chord with me, taking me back to the good-old SNES/SEGA days of 2D action-platformers. The developers put in a lot of care and effort into this simple, little game.
-M
Totally worth the $10. You’ll thank me later.
-M
Thanks. Got it for 7.50 :)
Im digging Last of Us. My runner up bioshock and injustice.
I still haven’t beaten anything I’ve bought this year. Fail. But I do enjoy Ni no Kuni. I’m kinda stuck on one spot of The Last of Us, lol. I think I have 6 more purchases this year not counting the PS4. But once Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn launch kicks off, I’ll have less time. Q_Q
Oh and I forgot about 3DS games.