10 Best Video Games of 2012

Nick's 2012 Video Game Awards, First Five - Nick's Gaming View Episode #116 by Nick McCandless

10. SSX

Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date: February 28, 2012
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, asynchronous multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings 82.90% (X360), 81.62% (PS3)
Metacritic 82/100 (X360), 81/100 (PS3)
Edge 5/10
Eurogamer 9/10
G4 4.5/5
GameSpot 8.5/10
IGN 9/10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) 8/10
Official Xbox Magazine 7.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 9/10

IGN – “…the video game this generation has been missing.”

Edge – “…[it] has found a worthy infrastructure to establish an online community, but this same approach has found the brand veering away from some of the fun…of yesteryear, leaving its more seductive silly side out in the cold.”

Source

9. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Developers: SCE Bend Studio, Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Platform: PlayStation Vita
Release date: February 15, 2012
Genres: Action-adventure, platform
Modes: Single-player (third-person view)

RATINGS:
GameRankings 80.62%
Metacritic 80/100
Electronic Gaming Monthly 7/10
Eurogamer 8/10
G4 3.5/5
Game Informer 8/10
Game Revolution 4 of 5 stars
GameSpot 7/10
GamesRadar 8/10
GameTrailers 8.6/10
IGN 8.5/10
PlayStation LifeStyle 9.5/10

Electronic Gaming Monthly – “A story worthy of the franchise, [it] falls short in terms of pacing and controls, as the touchscreen gimmick takes the experience down a big notch.”

IGN – “…great…a beautiful, fun game…It’s just not an instant classic like the other entries in the series.”

Received the first award at the Gamescom 2011 for Best Mobile Game and was also nominated for Most Wanted Mobile Game at Computec Games Award.

Source

8. Max Payne 3

Developer: Rockstar Vancouver
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Distributor: Take-Two Interactive
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release dates: PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 – May 15, 2012; Microsoft Windows -May 31, 2012 (Steam), June 1, 2012 (Retail)
Genre: Third-person shooter
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings (PS3) 86.44%, (PC) 85.67%, (X360) 84.67%
Metacritic (PS3) 87/100, (PC) 87/100, (X360) 86/100
Edge 7/10
Eurogamer 7/10
G4 5/5
Game Informer 9.25/10
GameSpot 9/10
GameSpy 4.5 of 5 stars
GamesTM 8/10
GamesRadar 10/10
GameTrailers 7.6/10
IGN 9/10
Giant Bomb 4 of 5 stars
Destructoid 9/10
Gamereactor 9/10
Polygon 9/10
The Guardian 5 of 5 stars

Game Informer – “As much as Max Payne 3 is a fascinating portrait of a man, it tells a great, action-packed story that runs in-stride with Max’s inner turmoil.”

The Guardian – “A masterpiece of underworld carnality, depravity and violence.”

Destructoid – “Packed with fast action, brutal violence, and a striking cinematic style, all of the stops have been pulled out to make this the most exciting entry in the series to date.”

It’s shipped approximately 3 million units in its first week and sold 440,000 units in the United States in its first month. It won ”Best Animation” at the Inside Gaming Awards.

Source

7. Mass Effect 3

Developers: BioWare, Straight Right (Wii U)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U
Release dates: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3 - March 6, 2012; Wii U - November 18, 2012
Genres: Action role-playing, third-person shooter
Modes: Single-player, co-op multiplayer (third-person view)

RATINGS:
GameRankings (X360) 92.12%, (PS3) 91.73%, (WIIU) 88.50%, (PC) 87.75%
Metacritic (X360) 93/100, (PS3) 93/100, (PC) 89/100, (WIIU) 87/100
1UP.com A
Edge 8/10
Eurogamer 10/10
G4 5/5
Game Informer 10/10
GameSpot 9.0/10
GameTrailers 9.5/10
IGN 9.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 10/10
PC Gamer US 93/100

Edge – “It’s off-putting to new players, too busy tying up loose ends to dangle any threads of its own, and fails to stand up as its own game in the same manner as its predecessors. But it’s also a spectacular, powerfully imagined and dramatically involving final act to one of gaming’s richest sci-fi sagas.”

PC Gamer (US) – “…the end of the series is a mixed bag. Satisfying in some ways, nonsensical in others, and ultimately too simple. But the sheer scale of the adventure it’s ending – and the music, which is gorgeous throughout – gives it an emotional impact that goes beyond its plot payload.”

It won “Best RPG” at Spike’s VGAs and Gameinformer awarded it their “Game of the Year”.

It sold 1.5 million copies for consoles with 3.5 million shipped for all platforms in March 2012 and has grossed more than $200 million.

Source

6. Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Developer: Treyarch
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Wii U
Release dates: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & Microsoft Windows - November 12, 2012 (Steam),  November 13, 2012 (Retail); Wii U - November 18, 2012
Genre: First-person shooter
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer, Co-op

RATINGS:
GameRankings (WIIU) 87.25%, (X360) 85.55%, (PC) 83.00%, (PS3) 82.56%
Metacritic (X360) 83/100, (PS3) 83/100, (WIIU) 82/100, (PC) 79/100
G4 4.5/5
Game Informer 8.5/10
GameSpot 8.0/10
GameTrailers 9.4/10
IGN (X360) 9.3/10, (WIIU) 9.3/10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) 8/10
Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 8/10

It grossed more than $500 million in its first 24 hours of release to become the biggest entertainment launch of all time and has sold 7.5 million copies in November 2012, making it the highest grossing game of the month.

Reviewers were critical of the artificial intelligence of Strike Force mode, and were unimpressed by the “Pick Ten” system introduced to multiplayer modes. However, they praised the narrative and structure of the single-player campaign.

Nick's 2012 Video Game Awards, Grand Finale - Nick's Gaming View Episode #117 by Nick McCandless

5. Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Developers: Criterion Games, FireMonkeys (iOS/Android)
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Wii U
Release dates: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire - 30 October 2012; Wii U - 2013
Genres: Racing, open world
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings PS3: 87.09%, X360:84.40%, PC: 82.00%, Vita: 79.00%
Metacritic PS3: 85/100, X360: 85/100, PC: 82/100, Vita: 79/100
Computer and Video Games 7.5
Edge 9/10
Eurogamer 8/10
G4 4.5/5
Game Informer 9/10
GameSpot 7.5/10
GamesRadar 4 OF 5 stars
GameTrailers 8.7/10
IGN 9/10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) 8/10
Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10
PC Gamer US 85%
VideoGamer.com 9/10
Destructoid 8.5/10
Joystiq 4 of 5 stars

It won “Best Driving Game” at Spike’s VGAs and was the seventh-best selling game in the U.S. in November 2012 at 509,000 copies, which doesn’t take into account the number of PC units sold, nor sales through digital distribution.

IGN – “…one of the year’s most exhilarating experiences.”

The Guardian – “…a new standard for arcade-style racing games…”

Reviewers were critical of the single-player mode, but praised multi-player.

Source

4. Twisted Metal

Developer: Eat Sleep Play
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release date: February 14, 2012
Genre: Vehicle combat
Modes: Single player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings 76.28%
Metacritic 76/100
1UP.com B
Electronic Gaming Monthly 8.5/10
G4 3 of 5 stars
Game Informer 8.5/10
GameSpot 8/10
GamesRadar 8/10
GameTrailers 8.1/10
IGN 9/10
Destructoid 7/10
Joystiq 3.5 of 5 stars

Reviewers praised the multiplayer and gameplay, but several criticized its story mode, lack of characters compared to earlier installments, and somewhat difficult controls. Many fans have also raised complaints about the lack of downloadable content.

Source

3. Assassin’s Creed III

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Microsoft Windows
Release dates: PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 - October 30, 2012; Wii U - November 18, 2012; Microsoft Windows - November 20, 2012
Genres: Action-adventure, open world, stealth
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings (PS3) 85.77%, (PC) 85.50%, (X360) 84.80%, (WIIU) 82.36%
Metacritic (PS3) 86/100, (PC) 85/100, (WIIU) 85/100, (X360) 84/100
Edge 8/10
Eurogamer 9/10
G4 5/5
Game Informer 9.5/10
GameSpot 8.5/10
GamesRadar 4 of 5 stars
GameTrailers 9.2/10
IGN 8.5/10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) 7/10
Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10
Joystiq 3.5 of 5 starS

Critics praised the visuals, story, combat style, hunting mechanics and Homestead system, while some complained about the game’s glitches, which included environmental instability, severe NPC (non-player character) technical issues, occasional console crashes and sound synchronization.

Game Informer - “Most players will likely spend the first six hours of Assassin’s Creed III wrapping their heads around the profound size and ambition of the game”.

Official Xbox Magazine – “…its unwavering commitment to storytelling is both rare and impressive”.

It was nominated for six awards in the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards: Game of the Year, Best Xbox 360 Game, Best PS3 Game, Best Action Adventure Game, Best Graphics, and Character of the Year (Connor).

On October 25, 2012, Ubisoft announced that the game is the most pre-ordered game in the company’s history, more than doubling pre-orders for Revelations, the previous record holder.

It sold more than 3.5 million units in its first week and has sold 7 million copies in total.

Source

2. Halo 4

Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: November 6, 2012
Genre: First-person shooter
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings 87.12%
Metacritic 87/100
1UP.com A−
Computer and Video Games 8/10
Edge 8/10
Eurogamer 8/10
G4 4.5/5
Game Informer 9.25/10
GameSpot 9.0/10
GamesRadar 4.5 of 5 stars
IGN 9.8/10
Official Xbox Magazine 9.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 9/10
Destructoid 10/10
Joystiq 5 of 5 stars
Machinima 10/10

IGN – “a bar-raising triumph for the entire first-person shooter genre.”

Forbes – “…beautiful, tragic love story”

It grossed $220 million on launch day, with an estimated gross of $300 million in its opening week, marking a new record for the franchise, and has sold approximately four million copies.

It won Best Xbox 360 Game and Best Graphics at Spike’s VGAs and was awarded Game of the Year, Best Competitive Multiplayer and Best Sound Design by Inside Gaming Awards, and Shooter of the Year by GamesRadar, Best Shooter by X-Play, and earned GameSpot’s Shooter of the Year.

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1. Borderlands 2

Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, OS X
Release dates: September 18, 2012, OS X – November 20, 2012
Genres: First-person shooter, action role-playing
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

RATINGS:
GameRankings (PS3) 90.50%, (PC) 90.10%, (X360) 89.26%
Metacritic (PS3) 91/100, (PC) 89/100, (X360) 89/100
Computer and Video Games 8/10
G4 5/5
Game Informer 9.75/10
GameSpot 8.5/10
GameSpy 4.5 of 5 stars
IGN 9/10 (PS3)
Giant Bomb 4 of 5 stars

It’s shipped more than 5 million copies since the game was released and won “Best Shooter”, “Best Multi-Player Game”, “Best Performance By a Human Male”, and “Character Of The Year” at Spike’s VGAs.

WRITTEN BY – Neal, an Editor / Content Manager for Dailymotion.

About the Author-  Nick McCandless is the Editor In Chief of TheGamerAccess.com and host of Nick’s Gaming View— a show that delivers an unbiased opinion on the latest and greatest from the world of gaming and technology. As this year comes to a close, diehards debate over which title ruled them all. Some might disagree with Nick’s top pick, or his rankings, but for those more casual gamers, below should serve as a nice guide for getting back in the swing of things and working on those sore thumbs.