Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Take Captain Falcon, Bowser, and Pit to the mat with your favorite Pokémon to find out for yourself. With or without classic Gamecube controllers, regardless as to whether you invest in amiibo figures or not (notice I haven’t mentioned them much in this review), and whether or not you even know who these characters are, Smash is fun. That’s one of the most boring words to use in a video game review, I know, but I can’t sum it up any other way. Nintendo’s developers made it an obvious objective and they’ve unequivocally hit the motherload. You’ll feel like you did too, so make sure you’re tossing opponents off-stage to explore it all.”
Halo 4
Reviewer: Alex Osborn
Quote: “If you’re new to the series or you simply have a passing interest, I implore you to give this game a look. Unless Black Ops II or Far Cry 3 manage to revolutionize the genre in astronomical ways, Halo 4 is the clear frontrunner for best first-person shooter of 2012. Heck, it may very well be the best game you play all year.”
Rayman Origins
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “For a fantasy game presenting dozens of hours of gameplay, Dragon Age: Inquisition largely delivers on its promises, both mechanically and in gameplay that fans will want from the third title in the series. There’s loads of freedom, opportunities for adventure, and more gameplay than I could digest in a single week. I ran into a few system-locking bugs, but BioWare’s product is polished and presented with the player in mind.”
Sound Shapes
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “I will say now that Sound Shapes earns its grade as a PlayStation Vita game, and while I recommend you play it on that platform, it’s just as entertaining and enjoyable on your PS3. Even if you don’t have one, this is the must-buy Vita title you can play today.”
Super Mario 3D Land
Reviewer: Josh Laddin
Quote: “Super Mario 3D Land is one of the best Mario games in recent memory. It’s better than New Super Mario Bros. and just about on par with Galaxy. A few months back I stated that Ocarina of Time 3D was the premier reason to own a 3DS. That is no longer the case. Mario is still Nintendo’s man to move hardware, even if he is a bit late to the party.”
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Reviewer: Eddy Fetig
Quote: “Drake’s Deception is why most gamers play video games—experiences that keep us awed and engaged, and extra content to keep us coming back for more. It’s definitely one of the most well-produced games you’ll find available this year. It’s hard to say whether it concretely surpasses its predecessor as an overall campaign, but with a much-improved multiplayer and more ambitious settings in its single-player, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many games this generation that can match its scope and prowess.”
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Reviewer: Josh Laddin
Quote: “Last week, I gave my first ‘A’ in two years here at GR to Super Mario 3D Land. Now I’ve given my second. Somehow, Nintendo is still improving on a series that keeps setting the bar after 25 years. If you’re a Zelda fan—hell, an adventure fan in general—you need to play it. Even if you have to buy a Wii on Black Friday to do it.”
Batman: Arkham City
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “The long and the short of it is that you need to play this game. You’ve just got to play it. Even if you’re not a fan of Batman, there’s a lot to love in Arkham City. It’s easily stolen a spot on my Game of the Year shortlist, and it will on yours too.”
