[standardman]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

After having played top to bottom and after a bit of time to cool my head, AA is definitely the top game of last year. The challenges are uber fun, and the attention to detail is just gorgeous. I hope they dont fuck it up with the sequel.

I'm leaning in that direction myself. I think it might even be up there in my favourite games period. I need another playthrough to decide; I think I'll be Zur-en-arrh this time

With same cool head i can say that actually bioshock 2 has dropped from an enthusiastic 9 to a 7.5. It is still tops in the atmosphere department, but the overall experience seems a bit more of a remix of the first chapter, far more simplistic and with way too much scripting. Re-playing Half Life 2 has showed me how simply charming a game could be, and B2 simply lacks that magic (that the first one had in spades).

For this year, the top is Mass Effect 2 (which was insanely entertaining and intelligent).

Playing HL2: Episode one for the first time now. The charcter design of Alyx is still incredible, even at today's standards. I cant think of another virtual character with such a large scale of emotions and an abilty to connect with the player. I know that comes from extensive beta testing by the Valve workaholics, but i still find amazing how they managed to create a bunch of pixels that feels like an actual living (and extremely likeable, and i'm not talking about looks) person. Her animations and reactions give me the goosebumps.

I've restarted Bioshock now that 2K released a patch that sorta fixes most of the widescreen issue kindaish if I set it to 16:9. Too early to give real thoughts but I love the level design, hate having control taken away from me.

I noticed that the new steam redesign has added achievements to Half-Life 2 and Episode 1, that's a damn good excuse to go back to City 17.

Alyx makes me angry at other games; in a medium full of ridiculous adolescent sex objects with all the characterisation of a paper bag, she's a believable person that you empathise with and care about.

On a sillier level, King's bounty is genius. Has the same nuttygoose approach to fantasy that the best King's Quest games had. ("You're probably the most intelligent and charming dwarf i ever met! And i say that cause i never met another dwarf! Farewell, my short friend!").

I bought this twice in one week but haven't been able to play much, I'm looking forward to it.

Gave a look at the Wolvering Origins game. Too repetitive and very frustrating.

Wolverine is a rushed, repetitive grab bag of the last five years of third person action games but it makes an ok rental and you can unlock his yellow and blue costume, which made the game 90% better.

Pondering about Plant Vs Zombies. I know everyone loves it, but i dont really like that genre.

It's PopCap, it doesn't matter if you don't like the genre! There's a quick, free, limited flash demo here with a link to a downloadable trial. Give it a go.

It's on iPhone too but you'll get slowdown without a 3GS.