TSA’s Top 100 of 2011 Recap: 100 – 96

At the end of 2010, we took a look at the top 100 most anticipated games we were reasonably sure would be coming out in 2011. We missed a few, thanks to shifting release windows, announcements made after our voting closed or just being forgetful. The list was still a herculean task for Lee Cash, who almost sent himself insane trying to compile it. We’ll be doing something similar, although not quite so labour-intensive, for 2012.

In the meantime, following a suggestion from bunimomike, we thought it would be fun to recap the entire list and see where we are in terms of what came out, what got delayed, what we’re still looking forward to in the packed holiday release window and what we really shouldn’t have gotten our hopes up for.

That recap starts here…

100 – Dissidia Duodecim: Final Fantasy

There have been about a bajillion games in the Final Fantasy universe but this PSP RPG/fighting game still managed to pique our interest enough to make a somewhat rare appearance in our charts for Sony’s beleaguered handheld. It was released in March and scored well in our review although it was noted that perhaps those without a die hard interest in the world of Final Fantasy wouldn’t find it so enticing.

The gameplay revolves around a peculiar mix of RPG elements, combat and the occasional bit of platforming. It’s all served on a shaky premise for why so many disparate characters would find themselves in the same area but it has a deep and engaging adventure tale once you’ve allowed yourself to permit to leading characters from over a dozen games all to arrive in this one little handheld package.

99 – FIFA 2012

As certain as a new PGA Tour or Madden game, FIFA is the world’s most popular sports title and every year’s iteration brings with it the smattering of sequential updates to gameplay and upgrades to visuals.

It is perhaps noteworthy that such a recurring title in the yearly games release schedule still had us excited enough to prompt a few votes and get it on to our big list. Not many franchises which are nearly twenty years into their lives, with multiple “double years” for World Cup releases, could still feel as fresh or connected as FIFA does.

This year’s iteration makes the usual boasts about slightly better gameplay or slightly prettier graphics. They’ve even scanned in Manchester City using big head scanners so there will be at least one team that looks almost lifelike.

98 – PES 2012

In some circles, the placement of PES one position higher in the chart would be the cause of some anger. The fact is, with FIFA being so reliable every year, it’s PES that we look to for that big jump forward. From its position playing catch up – both in terms of sales charts and critical response – PES has to take that chance in order to better their huge rivals.

Maybe it’s just the underdog spirit we liked but maybe it was the fact that PES 11 came closer than the franchise has in several years to being a better game than FIFA. The tactical depth and training were back to top form and the flow and rhythm of the gameplay were very close to matching EA’s heavy-hitter.

Boasts for 2012’s iteration include better AI that makes more intelligent runs and closes gaps in defense as well as the possibility to control an off-the-ball player in order to make your own space. That’s the kind of thinking that makes PES’s near future a little more interesting, if not assuredly better quality, than FIFA’s

97 – Mario Sports Mix

Mario has starred in more games than the phrase “Press Start”. Well, perhaps that’s an exaggeration but he certainly gets around. Nintendo’s iconic platforming plumber seems able to turn his hand to just about any task if the videogame giant’s stable of top-notch first party releases is any indication.

This game brings Mario and all of his notable friends back, fresh from their domination of the Olympics, to take part in some less formal sporting fun. The motion controls and simplified gameplay are just what you’d expect and, as always with Nintendo, the production values are stellar.

You were invited to play volleyball, basketball, dodgeball and hockey with the portly prince of platforming and his mates. There were even cameos for some Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy stars and you could of course play as your own little Mii.

It was released in February but wasn’t particularly well received, with a current Metacritic rating of 64 which is on the low side for Nintendo first party titles.

96 – Fight Night Champion

After almost two years off to hone its fitness and stamina levels, the Fight Night franchise was ready to return in a blaze of glory. This grittier representation of the sport may have turned up the narrative elements and fitted out the game with a mode that involved corrupt promoters and bare knuckle prison fights but at its heart it was still a great tribute to the noble sport of boxing.

It was released in March and did well in our review with particular praise heaped on the human interest that we found in André, the lead character in the story mode, and the wide selection of fighters on the roster.

With no Fight Night game announced yet for 2012, it looks like EA are sticking with their more relaxed release schedule for this game. That’s no bad thing, it will give them time to make a few more noticeable differences and by the time a new release is announced, fans will likely be ready for it. There is plenty in Fight Night Champion to keep fans going for a while anyway and it’s still a great game if you’re after something a little more sporting and a little less brawling than the now-yearly MMA games we’re seeing.

Join us again tomorrow for a look back at what happened or what’s expected of another five titles we were looking forward to.