The Halfway – Best Games of 2011 So Far

Posted July 14 2011 by Keadin
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Oh, how the time flies. It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the New Year and now look, it's half over. While reminiscing about months past, I thought it might be fun to reflect on some of my favourite games released so far this year.
Now, I play a lot of games every month so deciding which were standouts for me is very difficult, and I'm sure some big titles got left off the list. If you've got a favourite you don't see here, feel free to give me a lecture on Twitter (@Keadin).. I'm just as curious to hear your top picks as I am to tell you mine.

Alice: Madness Returns
Being a fan of the old PC classic, I walked into Alice: Madness Returns expecting a tepid remake that would spoil my fond memories. What I got instead was a wonderful update that played like I remembered, but offered a greatly expanded view of American McGee's twisted take on Wonderland. There's a magical sense to the world around you as Alice explores the sometimes perplexing, but always awe inspiring landscapes of her mental prison. It's a dark and disturbing take on a classic, but the aesthetic never fully abandons the youthful sense of mystery the book carries.

Shadows of the Damned
Knowing the earlier works of Japanese developer Suda51, I knew going in to Shadows of the Damned the only thing I could expect was to be delivered the unpredictable. With projects like Killer 7 and No More Heroes under his belt, it was great to finally see Suda deliver his first Xbox 360 feature. Accompanied by an all-star lineup of talent, including Shinji Mikami (creator of the Resident Evil series) and Akira Yamaoka (composer for the Silent Hill series), the newly bolstered Grasshopper Manufacture delivered a game that clearly incorporated everyone's strengths. With tight survival horror mechanics, scene-setting music and an off-the wall repurposing of the Dante's Inferno story, Shadows of the Damned is an irreverent but incredibly well produced shooter that will be remembered for its absurdity as well as its tight action mechanics.

Portal 2
Waiting three long years for a sequel to Portal was just too long, but it was definitely worth it. Portal 2 has been a strong game of the year contender since it released in March and it has set the bar awfully high for its competition. Like a Disneyland amusement ride, Portal 2 takes you through the test chambers, hidden causeways, and forgotten ruins of Aperture Science. With clever gameplay that gets even smarter with its 2 player co-op mode, I'm already willing to declare this game the must-play for those who like to exercise their brain muscles.

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
I might be cheating a bit by adding this to the list, this is technically an expansion, but being a huge Super Street Fighter IV fan, I had to show it some love. Picked up as either a DLC expansion for your current copy of Super Street Fighter IV or on its own, the game expands its roster with twin Hong Kong teens Yun and Yang, as well as Evil Ryu and an out-of-control Akuma (now called Oni). Subtle tweaks for the fighting fanatics make it a necessity for any tournament level player, and the new Elite replay channels are perfect for anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of this incredibly deep system.

FEAR 3
Finding something different in a first person shooter's multiplayer is rare. FEAR 3's almost complete disregard for traditional death match modes made it a pleasant surprise. Between its momentum-driven "F***ing Run!" mode to its creative possession-powered "Soul Survivor" mode, made it a really unique offering. Combine that with the fact its campaign was designed for co-op multiplayer and FEAR 3 isn't like your average first person shooter at all.

Dungeon Siege III
The Dungeon Siege games have always done a good job of offsetting the dark, dirty, displeasing nature of dungeons with beautiful, shiny treasure; Dungeon Siege III is no different. Beyond satisfying my lust for gold the game proved to be a really solid action roleplaying game. Tearing through monsters with a character you've seen grow is extremely satisfying and as the first Dungeon Siege game available in full HD, it looks absolutely gorgeous – a remarkable feat for any game that plays from a pulled-out view.

Child of Eden
Kinect has delivered a lot of really unique experiences to my Xbox 360 since it launched, but Child of Eden is the first Kinect title that gave me the opportunity to interact with something absolutely other worldly. Mixing audio, video and the natural motion of your body, Child of Eden is an experience that takes over all your senses. It's completely abstract but it's gorgeous, and delivers a form of immersion completely unique to Kinect.