Below is the remaster of "Games of 2011." Each game I played in 2011. Each game has some of my thoughts on the game, as well as statistics from my playtime. It is a mix of "Games of 2011: What I've Played" and new stuff. When I created that post, I only went over games I played between January and July. I re-wrote those paragraphs and added them here. I tried to keep the old perspective intact. Some of the games I was able to find in a different post with thoughts on the game. I linked the post after the paragraph. For the rest of the games, I wrote the paragraphs from memories. Lots of games and game stats were lost, but I was able to scavenge save files and achievements to complete many of the stats for this post.
Remember the Golf Course
Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3)
Release date: 06/23/2008
Date played: 01/01/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 16/51 (31%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 12/01/2010
Acquired from: NA
Price: $29.99 (List $29.99)
My memory is very hazy around Battlefield: Bad Company. I remember collecting gold bars. I remember fighting on a golf course. I also remember the destruction. I love destructible environments, and Bad Company has some. The banter with your squad mates is funny. That is all I remember.
I Hate Cliffhangers
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3)
Release date: 03/02/2010
Date played: 01/04/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 23/51 (45%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 12/01/2010
Acquired from: NA
Price: $29.99 (List $29.99)
I like Battlefield: Bad Company 2. I had not played very many military shooters before the Bad Company series. The ultimate edition was only 30 bucks, so I bought it. The story has a good, action-movie story, and I like the humorous mood. The controls on the Playstation 3 are great. The dialogue felt real among your company. I wish it did not end with a cliffhanger.
Fun Together
Gears of War (360)
Release date: 11/07/2006
Date played: 01/10/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 19/49 (39%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: NA
Acquired from: Borrowed
Price: $0.00
A buddy and I went through Gears of War together. He wanted a refresher before Gears of War 3, and this was my first time playing through the entire game. I learned the series is more than horde. I put a lot of hours into the second game's horde mode, but the first game establishes a really good story. I also love coop games, so that does not hurt.
Eat More Pills
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (PS3)
Release date: 11/17/2010
Date played: 01/11/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 12/15 (80%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 01/09/2011
Acquired from: Playstation Store
Price: $9.99 (List $9.99)
For ten bucks, just go and buy Pacman Championship Edition DX. It is Pacman with pretty visuals. It has new gameplay elements, such as chain eating ghosts to rack up a lot of points. There is something so satisfying about chaining; it is addicting.
Beatifully Ugly
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC)
Release date: 03/20/2006
Date played: 02/13/2011
Hours played: 67.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: NA
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 08/12/2010
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $5.96 (List NA for GotY Edition)
I bought an Id and Bethesda bundle from Steam during the last Quakecon. Part of the bundle was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I had never played an Elder Scrolls game before, but I had played Fallout 3. My friends kept pestering me to play Oblivion, so I did it over winter break (2011). Steam says I have put 66 hours into the game. I have started a couple of characters and have beaten the story with one of them. The game is old and uses a crappy engine, but the game can be beautiful. I was climbing a mountain at twilight, and I looked outward and saw a beautifully colored sky, river, and forest. It was awesome in every sense of the word. Not to mention I like the gameplay and story of the game. I am excited for Skyrim.
Best Modern Contra Game
Vanquish (PS3)
Release date: 10/19/2010
Date played: 02/26/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Mostly
Achievements: 21/51 (41%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 01/20/2011
Acquired from: Amazon
Price: $25.45 (List $38.00)
I picked up Vanquish for cheap. I really like it. PlatinumGames continues to showcase their talent. The game is a fast paced, cover based, third person shooter. The abilities, such as power sliding, dodging, and slowing down time, mix up the gameplay. It is refreshing to see a Japanese developer's take on a predominantly western genre. Some of the challenges are frustrating, and the bosses are hard. The last few bosses are tough. I played on Normal, and I was tempted to drop it down to easy several times. I let my pride talk me out of it, and now I am stuck on the final boss. All around I recommend it.
Jack Thompson's Worst Nightmare
Bulletstorm (360)
Release date: 02/22/2011
Date played: 02/27/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 21/50 (42%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 02/22/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: $59.99 (List $59.99)
I bought Bulletstorm, because it looked awesome. I was not disappointed. You score points by finding creative ways to kill enemies. The leash adds new and creative way to do this. The single player story is not interesting, but who cares when I can leash an enemy towards me and kick them into a cactus. The coop online mode, Anarchy, is fun for a while, but gets old quickly. Team kills are easier with only two people and can make waves go quick. Fun game.
Charming-est
Stacking (PS3)
Release date: 02/08/2011
Date played: 03/01/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 17/17 (100%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 03/01/2011
Acquired from: Playstation Store
Price: $9.99 (List $9.99)
I bought Stacking, because I want to support Tim Schafer and Double Fine. The game can be summed up in one word: charming. The story and characters are charming. The gameplay is charming. The world is charming. You play as the smallest of the Russian stacking dolls. As the smallest you can stack into the next size up, and then stack that doll into the next size, and so on. The problem with the game is it is not challenging. It is worth $10, but do not expect a game that challenges you.
Funner Together
Gears of War 2 (360)
Release date: 11/07/2008
Date played: 03/04/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 31/66 (47%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 01/10/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: NA
I got into Gears of War 2, because of its Horde mode. After playing the first game with a friend we continued with the sequel. The story continues to get better, and I look forward to the third game. Not much else to say.
PC Barely Runs It
Crysis (PC)
Release date: 11/13/2007
Date played: 03/11/2011
Hours played: 7.50
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: NA
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 11/15/2007
Acquired from: Target
Price: $59.99 (List $59.99 for Special Edition)
I have had Crysis for a while. I had gotten deep into the story before, but that was a long time ago. I started to play it again last year (2010), and the game still looks amazing! Not bad for a game from 2007. I like the openness of the world. I was able to complete objectives however I wanted. The nanosuit powers are fun. I plan on getting Cyrsis 2, but I need to chip away at my current game library.
I Can Get High!
Just Cause 2 (PC)
Release date: 03/23/2010
Date played: 05/09/2011
Hours played: 111.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 43/50 (86%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 03/16/2011
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $31.38 (List $36.98 for base game and DLCs)
I bought Just Cause 2 right before spring break. I played it all through spring break and beyond. I have poured over 100 hours into this game and I am at 99.4% complete; that is the highest percentage I could get, because of a glitch. The over-the-top action is fantastic. The combination of parachute and grappling makes moving around the large map fun. There are thousands of collectibles and I had fun getting each. The story is "meh," but the action sequences made up for it. I highly recommend this title, especially at $30.
Left Me Sated
Red Dead Redemption (PS3)
Release date: 05/18/2010
Date played: 06/11/2011
Hours played: 34.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 22/49 (45%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 01/20/2011
Acquired from: Amazon
Price: $24.77 (List $36.99)
I was a little skittish about Red Dead Redemption, because I did not like Grand Theft Auto IV. The game was on sale, won several Game of the Year awards, and so I bought it. I love it. John Marston is a great character. I found myself doing the honorable thing when it came to decisions. I enjoyed doing the side stuff; I put several hours into playing poker. I have the game at a little over 90% complete, and I have finished all story missions. Do you know what? I do not want to do anything else. The game left me full. I highly recommend this game.
Good Add-On
Crysis Warhead (PC)
Release date: 09/17/2008
Date played: 06/11/2011
Hours played: 5.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: NA
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 05/07/2011
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $4.99 (List $19.99)
Crysis Warhead is only five hours long. I like the pacing of this game over the original. Warhead focuses on Psycho and his past. Brief recordings from his history are scattered around the levels. The nanosuit, weapons, and enemies are all the same as the original Crysis. I had fun with it, but it is a game you can skip over if you have played the first. It is a fun game, but I like the original better.
$20 of Fun
Torchlight (PC)
Release date: 10/27/2009
Date played: 06/12/2011
Hours played: 15.25
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 14/66 (21%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 10/27/2009
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $19.99 (List $19.99)
I bought Torchlight when it was first released. I followed this game, because the developer, Runic Games, is made up of several people from the Flagship Studios (Hellgate: London). Many members of the team have impressive resumes of games, including the Diablo and Fate series. Torchlight takes the best elements from these series. It is fantastic. For $20 you cannot go wrong if you like action RPGs. Killing massive amounts of enemies, collecting even greater amounts of loot, and exploring dungeons is fun. The story sucks, but the gameplay makes up for it. Runic are working on Torchlight 2, which expands on everything from the first game. Keep your eyes on it.
Do Not Forget About Science
Portal 2 (PS3)
Release date: 04/19/2011
Date played: 06/18/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 41/51 (80%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 04/19/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: $59.99 (List $59.99 includes Steam)
Protal 2 is fantastic. I do not think I need to say more, but I will. I bought it on Playstation 3. I tied by PSN account with my Steam account before the downtime. This gave me a copy of the game for Steam for free. I beat the story on PS3, and then beat it again on PC. GlaDOS is back, as well as some new characters. I beat the coop campaign with a friend via split screen on the PS3. Fun times. The game greatly improves on the first game.
Game With Two Names
Iron Brigade (360)
Release date: 06/22/2011
Date played: 06/29/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 19/20 (95%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 06/22/2011
Acquired from: Xbox Store
Price: $19.99 (List $19.99)
Iron Brigade, formerly Trenched, is a fun downloadable title. I had a blast playing with friends. It combines tower defense and third person mech games. I had fun killing enemies and collecting loot. The trenches can be customized with new load outs as you collect them.
"Double Fine Zone," 11/2/2011
Same As Before, But With Fuzzier Graphics
Borderlands (PS3)
Release date: 10/20/2009
Date played: 09/20/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 56/81 (69%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 07/22/2011
Acquired from: PlayStation Store
Price: $14.99 (List $59.99 for base game and DLCs)
I bought Borderlands on Playstation 3. I do not know why. I am not as good with a controller, and the menus can be clunky. The framerate is lower, and the game looks worse. Split screen is a big plus. The game is still fun. I had to get as many trophies as I could. I ended getting the platinum trophy for it, but I still have a few DLC trophies to get. The PS3 is not a bad way to play the game, but the PC is the best way.
So Scary. So Good.
Resistance 3 (PS3)
Release date: 09/06/2011
Date played: 09/21/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 35/59 (59%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 09/06/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: $59.99 (List $59.99)
Resistance 3 is a scary game to me. All three of the Resistance games scare me, but this one scared me the most... and I love the game. Resistance 3 drops Nathan for a new protagonist. It is a much more personal story. I want to replay this game, but I cannot get the courage to face it. It is the best of the series, and I wish we would get more.
Third Times the Charm
The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection - Ico (PS3)
Release date: 09/27/2011
Date played: 10/08/2011
Hours played: 6.50
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 10/16 (63%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 09/27/2011
Acquired from: Newegg
Price: $34.99 (List NA for The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection)
I tried to play Ico on the Playstation 2, but I did not have any luck. I bought a used disk from eBay, but it was too scratched. I tried playing it on a Playstation 2 emulator, but the emulator could not play Ico. Thankfully, it released as a bundle with Shadow of the Colossus on Playstation 3. It plays and looks great on the PS3. The game is a giant escort mission, but it works well. There are puzzles to solve, and tons to explore. It is simple, but I like it.
Déjà vu
Portal 2 (PC)
Release date: 04/19/2011
Date played: 10/10/2011
Hours played: 28.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 41/51 (80%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 04/19/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: $0.00 (List $49.99)
Protal 2 is fantastic. I do not think I need to say more, but I will. I bought it on Playstation 3. I tied by PSN account with my Steam account before the downtime. This gave me a copy of the game for Steam for free. I beat the story on PS3, and then beat it again on PC. GlaDOS is back, as well as some new characters. I beat the coop campaign with a friend via split screen on the PS3. Fun times. The game greatly improves on the first game.
Funnest Together
Gears of War 3 (360)
Release date: 09/20/2011
Date played: 10/18/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 37/53 (70%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 09/19/2011
Acquired from: Newegg
Price: $72.97 (List $84.97 for base game and DLCs)
My Gears of War playthrough culminated in playing Gears of War 3 at release. The story punched me right in the emotions. Horde 2.0 is a blast to play with friends. Everything that makes the series great is here and improved.
Keeping It Simple
Costume Quest (360)
Release date: 10/20/2010
Date played: 10/29/2011
Hours played: NA
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 15/15 (100%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 10/28/2011
Acquired from: Xbox Store
Price: $4.99 (List $4.99)
Costume Quest is an exception. I do not like turn based games. If I do play them, then I want them to be simple. Costume Quest keeps it simple. I played it, because it is made by Double Fine. I am glad I did. The concept is cool. Halloween costumes become real, and I needed to fight my way through the town to save my sibling. Simple concept, simple combat, and simply fun.
Psycho-Yes
Psychonauts (PC)
Release date: 04/19/2005
Date played: 11/02/2011
Hours played: 40.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 35/37 (95%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 01/23/2008
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $19.95 (List $19.95)
Psychonauts is the first game I ever bought from Steam. I played it for a bit when I first bought it, but I got sidetracked. I started over, and I beat it. It is fantastic. The story is great and funny. I played as Raz who snuck into a psychonauts training camp, because he wants to be a psychonaut. Psychonauts go into people’s minds. The abilities, bosses, and the world are fun and interesting. I am hoping Tim Schafer and Double Fine will make a sequel.
It's Adventure Time!
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (PS3)
Release date: 11/01/2011
Date played: 11/05/2011
Hours played: 9.25
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 23/55 (42%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 10/31/2011
Acquired from: Newegg
Price: $47.99 (List $59.99)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is more Uncharted. Each game, Naughty Dog focusses on a couple of mechanics and builds set pieces around them. Uncharted 2's train sequence is a great example of this. Naughty Dog went big in Uncharted 3. They had boat sequences, desert sequences, and burning building sequence, all which showcase their talent. It is impressive how much they have pushed the Playstation 3's limits. The story is a personal story for Nathan, and it gets emotional. I love this game, but I do think Uncharted 2 edges it out as the better game – just slightly.
Where Did 200 Hours Go?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)
Release date: 11/11/2011
Date played: 11/30/2011
Hours played: 211.50
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 50/50 (100%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 11/11/2011
Acquired from: Steam
Price: $59.99 (List $59.99)
There is a lot to see and do in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I felt like a tourist, except I got to go around killing dragons! It is easy to get sidetracked. What's that cave over there? What's that crumbling tower in the distance? Who's this cat-man coming at me? I was never bored. Some people did not like the simplification of some of its systems from previous games, but I did not mind it at all. The engine still is not great, but the continent of Skyrim is beautiful (especially with mods).
The Past and Past Meets Present
Assassin's Creed: Revelations (PS3)
Release date: 11/15/2011
Date played: 12/11/2011
Hours played: 30.00
Completion status: Complete
Achievements: 31/50 (62%)
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 11/14/2011
Acquired from: Newegg
Price: $47.98 (List $59.99)
Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the best of the Ezio trilogy. It takes everything from the previous Assassin's Creed games and makes them better. It also adds a few things. Hookblade and ziplines were great additions to the gameplay. I did not like the den defense minigame, but it is mostly optional. My favorite part of Revelations is the fact that it bridges Ezio's and Altair's story.
That Happy Little Accident Is a Bomb
Okamiden (DS)
Release date: 03/15/2011
Date played: 2011
Hours played: 6.75
Completion status: Early
Achievements: NA
Screenshots taken: NA
Acquisition date: 03/15/2011
Acquired from: NA
Price: $29.99 (List $29.99)
I have not beaten Okamiden. I had fun with what I did play. Okami is a great game, so I had to buy Okamiden. Okamiden takes place a few months after Okami. It was fun revisiting the world and see some of the changes to it. The touch screen on the Nintendo DS is perfect for drawing with the brush. Okamiden is mostly more of Okami, except with DS graphics.
2011 Summary
Games played: 27
Total hours: 571.75*
Oldest game played: Psychonauts (PC) - 04/19/2005
Newest game played: Assassin's Creed: Revelations (PS3) - 11/15/2011
Most achievements earned: Borderlands (PS3) - 56
Favorite game to 100%: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)
Most hours played: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC) - 211.50
Total spent: $786.29**
Game of the year: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)
*Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3), Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3), Gears of War (360), Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (PS3), Vanquish (PS3), Bulletstorm (360), Stacking (PS3), Gears of War 2 (360), Portal 2 (PS3), Iron Brigade (360), Borderlands (PS3), Resistance 3 (PS3), Gears of War 3 (360), and Costume Quest (360) are not included in total hours. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC) includes hours from 2011 and 2012.
**Gears of War 2 (360) is not included in total cost.
I must have been bored in 2011. I played so many games! I also put in a lot of hours. I enjoyed most of the games I played. I wish I could have played even more. There are a lot I did not get a chance to play that came out in 2011.
The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection - Shadow of the Colossus. I played it for a little bit, but I got sidetracked. It is a good game.
Rage. I played it for a bit, but I got distracted. John Goodman is always good, but the gameplay was a little bit lacking.
Battlefield 3. I played it, and I talk about it in "Games of 2012."
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I played it in 2012, but did not like it. I talked about it in "Games of 2017."
L.A. Noire. Its facial capture looks great, and it sounds fun. Driving around old LA and doing detective stuff. I did end up buying it for the Playstation 3, but never did play it.
Saints Row: The Third. I was not a fan of the series, so this one was not on my radar. However, I played it, and talk about it in "Games of 2013."
Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Was not really on my radar, but I talk about it in "Games of 2017."
Bastion. This indie title got great reviews, and the narrator aspect sounded right up my alley. I talk about it in "Games of 2012."
Minecraft. It left beta this year. I finally got around to playing it in 2013, and have played it several times since. I talk about it in "Games of 2014."
Super Mario 3D Land. I did not get a 3DS until much later. I talk about this game in "Games of 2018."
Crysis 2. I played this game for a few hours, but did not get into it. It is not the same as the original Crysis; it is too linear.
Shadows of the Damned. Looks cool, and had a lot of big names behind it. The final release did not really look like my type of game.
Dead Island. The infamous trailer that sold something that this game is not. Still, an outstanding trailer, but the game did not live up to the hype.
Infamous 2. I played this game for a few hours. I loved the first game, but I got sidetracked.
The Binding of Isaac. Weird. Gross. Fun. I talked about Rebirth for the PS4 in "Games of 2014."
Homefront. THQ was going downhill fast, and this game went down with it. I never did play it, but I heard it is "meh." I did buy it on Steam.
Duke Nukem Forever. They did it. They released the game...
LittleBigPlanet 2. Got it free on Playstation Plus. I played it a bit. I loved the first game, but never got into the second. At this point, many of my friends moved away for college, which made couch coop games hard to play.
Batman: Arkham City. I played Arkham Asylum and this game looks just as fun as the first.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. I got half way through this game, but I never did beat it.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Love this game. I did not get a 3DS until 2017, so I did not talk about his game until "Games of 2017."
Thank you for reading this thing. I worked hard gathering the data to recreate this post. I played a lot of good games this year. I hope your 2011 was, also, filled with good games.
- Royfuss