The top five games of 2011
5
Batman: Arkham City
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release date: October 21, 2011
“Nonetheless, Batman: Arkham City is a class above many games in the action-adventure genre, marrying gorgeous graphics and strong level design with potent story-telling and a kick-ass selection of gadgets and moves. The starring role is undoubtedly the visceral combat system, but way beyond that there's a lot of fun to be had out of solving Riddler puzzles or clearing a room by stealth. Despite some tedious back-tracking and the lack of online multiplayer, Batman: Arkham City is most definitely an experience not to be missed and one of the finest action-adventures of recent times.”
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4
Gears Of War 3
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: September 20, 2011
“Gears of War 3 is one of the best-looking games on Xbox 360, with stunning vistas, iconic structures and highly detailed environments. When you combine these high-quality visuals with the mega soundtrack, there are some genuinely memorable moments, and times where you'll be in awe of what you just saw or encountered.
No doubt about it: Gears of War 3 is a polished, cinematic piece of work that is sure to go down in Xbox 360 history as one of the best shooters of this console generation.”
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3
Portal 2
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release date: April 21, 2011
“Portal introduced such great technology with the portal gun and laid down a solid framework from which to gain further inspiration; the sequel simply had to be even better. The good news is: Portal 2 doesn’t disappoint. From the captivating storyline and the casting of the brilliant Stephen Merchant as Wheatley, to the sheer volume of challenging test chambers and the ingenuity that has gone into their design, Portal 2 is everything it promised to be and much more.”
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2
Dark Souls
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
Release date: October 7, 2011
“Dark Souls is a breath of fresh air in a sea of games that take you by the hand and give as much help as possible in pushing you to the end, quickly and in one piece. As a result, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, and there's likely to be just as many people who turn it off than stick to it through thick and thin.
Those who embrace it fully, however, and know what they're getting themselves into from the outset, will live the experience and feel totally fulfilled by its unique blend of fear, challenge and reward, and will be motivated by the undying community spirit to succeed.”
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1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release date: November 11, 2011
“Though Skyrim does require a serious amount of time investment, the game rewards back ten-fold. Make no mistake; this is single-player role-playing at its very zenith. The biggest compliment I can pay Bethesda's latest Elder Scrolls game is that overnight Skyrim has become a way of life in our house, and when I've not been playing it I've been thinking about it. That's the mark of great RPG, and Skyrim is most certainly the greatest.”
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