gamrReview 2010 Game of the Year Awards - Xbox 360 - News
by Craig S , posted on 23 December 2010 / 9,969 Views
It's tempting to say it every year, but this really does look to have been the Xbox 360's biggest year so far. In sales terms, 2010 has outstripped 2008's hardware sales (hitherto its 'peak' year). This year also saw a stunning and highly anticipated re-design, in the form of the 360 'slim', which, combined with the hyped launch of Kinect, has brought a whole new buzz to the system. But this article is all about software. On that front, its perhaps not its strongest year - that's always up for debate after all - but it undoubtedly had a great line-up, featuring the return of huge console-exclusive franchises (Halo, Fable, and, at the time, Mass Effect), big-name multiplat franchises (Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Rock Band, and Fallout), and some great new IPs (LIMBO, Alan Wake, Dance Central and Vanquish, to name just a handful).
Anyway, on with the awards:
Best First-Person Shooter: Halo: Reach
After the luke warm reception to 2009's spinoff Halo 3: ODST, Halo is back on top this year with Halo: Reach. Bungie say farewell to the franchise that has truly defined Xbox, leaving behind what many consider to be the best title in the series so far. 343 Industries certainly have their work cut out trying to best this one.
Runner-up: Bioshock 2
Reader’s Choice: Halo: Reach
Best Third-Person Shooter: Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar once again managed to craft an excellent open world game, really bringing the Wild West to life in Red Dead Redemption. Taking the core gameplay components from the Grand Theft Auto franchise, refining and polishing them, and adding a few new tricks has really paid off for this title. Red Dead Redemption is our third person shooter of the year.
Runner-up: Alan Wake
Reader’s Choice: Alan Wake
Best Action/Adventure: LIMBO
It's rare that a title comes along that's so unique and compelling that you can't help but be drawn into a world; the world of LIMBO just begs to be explored. It's one of those endearing little indie titles that quickly acquires a devoted fan base. Almost as quickly, and in no small part thanks to its burgeoning popularity, it also rapidly acquires its detractors. We fit into the former group, well and truly taking LIMBO to our hearts and wishing the small team over at playdead every success with LIMBO, our action/adventure game of the year.
Runner-up: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Reader’s Choice: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Best Fighter: Super Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter IV narrowly missed out on winning the fighter category in 2009, but the new and improved Super Street Fighter IV has managed to take the trophy this year. Packed full of extra content, from 10 new characters to improved online multiplayer, and a more accessible set-up, Street Fighter IV got a whole lot better.
Runner-up: Blazblue: Continuum Shift
Reader’s Choice: Super Street Fighter IV
Best Racing Game: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Criterion Games, the developer behind numerous Burnout entries, including the highly-praised Burnout Paradise, took over the reins for the latest Need for Speed game. Ironically, Criterion have managed to both take the series back to its roots and infuse it with new life at the same time. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is our racing game of the year.
Runner-up: F1 2010
Reader’s Choice: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Best RPG: Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is a phenomenal game, undoubtedly one of best RPGs this generation and a huge step forwards for the franchise. This award was a no-brainer. Mass Effect 2 is our RPG of the year.
Runner-up: Fable III
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2
Best Strategy/Simulation: Plants vs. Zombies
It may have taken over a year for Popcap's take on tower defence to make it to the 360, but that hasn't made it any less enjoyable. It's quirky, fun and funny, and as one of the most compelling, accessible and enjoyable turret (or should I say 'plant'?) defence games in recent years, it truly deserves the praise it's garnered.
Runner-up: The Sims 3
Reader’s Choice: Plants vs. Zombies
Best Music Game: Rock Band 3
Facing some stiff competition in the form of Kinect's first must-have title, Dance Central, Rock Band 3 nonetheless managed to pick up our award for best music & peripheral game of the year. In a genre that has, at times this year, felt like it was teetering on the brink of a full scale crisis, Rock Band 3 managed to demonstrate why the Rock Band franchise is the premier music game of its generation and why it doesn't deserve to be put to rest just yet.
Runner-up: Dance Central
Reader’s Choice: Dance Central
Best Kinect Game: Dance Central
Dance Central was obviously the clear favourite to win this award. Widely recognised as being Kinect's first 'must-have' title, Dance Central is Harmonix's attempt to revolutionize the dance and music genre by utilising Kinect, and for a first attempt they did brilliantly well, but there's still room for improvement, something Harmonix themselves have no doubt already begun to address in the form of a sequel.
Runner-up: Kinectimals
Reader’s Choice: Dance Central
Best Sports Game: NBA 2K11
It's not often that sports games, let alone yearly sports franchises, manage to generate a fresh and invigorating buzz around them. NBA 2k11 has managed to do that, garnering universal praise that goes well beyond that which usually accompanies such a release, and as the outsider pick for some game of the year awards, this is a sports title to take notice of.
Runner-up: FIFA 11
Reader’s Choice: FIFA 11
Best Downloadable Content: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
The first title on our list to claim a second prize, Red Dead Redemption picks up the best downloadable content award for its Undead Nightmare. A huge DLC pack which includes a new story arc, new characters, animals, locales, weapons, outfits, multiplayer modes and, of course, zombies, if you buy just one piece of DLC from 2010 then this should be at the top of your list.
Runner-up: Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker
Best XBLA Game: LIMBO
LIMBO is such a beautiful, haunting, memorable experience that it will live with you long after you've finished it. This desolate wonder is our favourite XBLA title of 2010.
Runner-up: Plants vs. Zombies
Reader’s Choice: LIMBO
Best Graphics: Mass Effect 2
In Mass Effect, BioWare have managed to create a truly interesting and beautiful game world; one that any sci-fi fan should be able to appreciate. Colourful, polished and serene, Mass Effect 2 is our pick for most attractive Xbox 360 game of the year.
Runner-up: Halo: Reach
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2
Best Original Music Score: Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is a complete package, and that's why we were so impressed by it when we reviewed it earlier in the year, and it's why the game has managed to stay fresh in our minds ever since. An often overlooked, but nonetheless crucial aspect of videogames is sound design, and it's an area where the Mass Effect series truly shines. The soundtrack for the first game was perfectly suited to its sci-fi setting, and Mass Effect 2 is no different in that respect.
Runner-up: Halo: Reach
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2
Most Innovative: LIMBO
'Most Innovative' was a tough award to hand out this year. Kinect as a whole (or some of its better games) would've been an easy pick. Indeed,Kinectimals managed to nab the runner-up prize. But in the end we opted to give the award to our favourite Xbox Live title of the year, for its dashing monochrome art style, for its brutal juxtaposition of children and death traps, and many other reasons. LIMBO is a title that excels because it's different and because it's one of a kind.
Runner-up: Kinectimals
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2
Biggest Disappointment: Dead Rising 2
Even most fans of the original Dead Rising can admit that it has its fair share of flaws, and for those who aren't fans but who absolutely love the concept, those flaws are game-breaking. What better opportunity to improve upon the most widely expressed complaints of a game than with a sequel? But no, Dead Rising 2 is almost as uncompromising and frustrating as its predecessor, leaving many of us with a deep sense of disappointment at an opportunity missed.
Runner-up: Fallout: New Vegas
Reader’s Choice: Halo: Reach & Final Fantasy XIII (tied)
Best Game No One Played: BlazBlue: Continuum Shift
BlazBlue is one of the most critically acclaimed fighting series this generation, and yet for some reason its sales have never managed to live up to that billing. Not enough people know about BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, and not enough people played it, so go buy it! Now!
Runner-up: Vanquish
Reader’s Choice: Metro 2033
Most Anticipated Game: Portal 2
OK, so we're all a little sick of smarmy, annoying 'cake' references, but if you played Portal before all that, back when it was just a little jewel in the Orange Box crown, then maybe it holds a special place in your heart. For many of us, Portal is a special game, one of the surprise joys of the generation, and a game that will be remembered for years to come for its ingenuity and dialogue. Can Portal 2 do better? We hope so, and we can't wait to find out.
Runner-up: BioShock Infinite
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 3
Game of the Year: Mass Effect 2
There was a fear, with it releasing so early on in the year (January), that Mass Effect 2 would be forgotten come the end of the year, when the time came to vote for our games of the year. It's understandable that those big blockbuster holiday releases would still be too fresh in our minds and too overpowering for us to remember a January release. For most titles that's a justified concern, but not in this case. The warmth of feeling for Mass Effect 2 has only intensified over time. Mass Effect 2 is hands down our favourite Xbox 360 game of the year.
Runner-up: Halo: Reach
Reader’s Choice: Mass Effect 2
Be sure to check out our other Game of the Year Awards here!
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@zzyoshiman
Think thats really based on what your expectations were of it. Reach certainly wasnt a disappointment for me.
For graphics though, cant believe Alan Wake was overlooked. It definitely had more detail than Reach, and the cinematic shots were much better than Mass Effect. Was the writing basing it off the PC version?
dead rising 2 was awesome, halo reach was more disapointing
dead rising 2 was awesome, halo reach was more disapointing
I was pretty dissappointed with splinter cell conviction. The lax stealth and short campaign was not what I've become accustomed to with sam fisher.
Where is Bayonetta?
Horse shit that dead rising was disapointing it was great
Reach should have won best musical score and 360 game of the year. AND WHAT THE **** IS IT DOING TIED IN READERS CHOICE MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME OF 2010 YOU PEOPLE ARE SIMPLETONS!
How comes Fallout New Vegas is 2nd biggest disappointment on 360 while it's the RPG of the year on PS3? Surely the 2 versions can't be THAT different? There might be a problem to be adressed here...
other than ME2 it doesn't seem like 360 had anything to offer this year or really any edge over PS3.
I don't understand how this became 360's new 2008. Universe has a weird sense of humour
You people are crazy people. Dead Rising 2 wasn't a disappointment at all. Maybe if you wanted it to be something completely different than the first game, to you it could have been. But fans of the first game all like part 2 even better. And that's who a sequel should appeal to, fans of the first game.
Awesome! PS3 Owners are getting 360's GOTY here xDDDD
close for me in regards to goty between mass effect 2 and reach, and I personally thought that the score of reach was awesome as is the norm with all halos, wars included. genuinely thought that Alan wake was serious contender for graphics as it was a pretty awesome game. Also metro as the best never played game, really.. the readers choice awards cannot be taken seriously after that.
@RockMan10 That was actually the reader's choice for biggest disappointment (tied with FF XIII). The runner-up for VGChartz was Fallout: New Vegas.
Damn straight Mass Effect 2 wins game of the year. That is the best game o be produced in a long time, it may just be my favorite game of all time. I can't narrow it down, Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG were just as good.
As for the rest, I wouldn't classify Alan Wake as a third person shooter, technically it is, but it's more of an Action/Adventure title, and it should have won that category. Limbo is over-rated, it's eerie and cool, but Assassin's Creed and Alan Wake are both better titles.
Other then that, great list of awards, I'm glad to see Mass Effect 2 win so many awards, and Limbo was innovative. However Dance Central should have won best Music game. Also my best game no one played is Metro 2033, and Mass Effect 3 should have won most anticipated.
Otherwise, perfect list, everyone is different, and you guys did a great job. Hope Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, it deserves it.
So the runner up for game of the year also go runner up for biggest disappointment... what the fuck?
Huge congratulations to ME2 for getting GOTY, on 2 platforms. It'll have tough competition to win the PS3 2011 GOTY, not least because it'll be up against its sequel, and some other big names.
Interesting with the racing result. Wii and 360 have multiplats as racing GOTYs, that are also on PS3, PS3 racing GOTY is ModNation. Unless DS has a stand out game it looks like overall racing GOTY for 2010 will go to ModNation...if so then Yaaay for MNR!
Funny categorisation of Alan Wake as a TPS. I got the impression it was action/adventure.
And readers choice for disappointment Halo: Reach? Come on, expectations must have been unrealistically huge for this game to be a disappointment in any way.
On the disappointment side I would have said Blur or Crackdown 2...
Music score I really thought Alan Wake nailed it more then Mass Effect 2.
The rest are pretty much bang on!
my question is how does halo reach get reader's choice biggest disappointment. Oh right this is vgchartz the most biased sight and readers i have ever seen but oh well.
DR2 really..... really..... i knew the review was unfairly biased against the game (I had never wanted to put up an angry counter review more, but sensibility held me back)..... man i dont know if i know my fellow gamers anymore
if you felt DR2 is as hard as dr1 ... and that they are both beyond you ... just head back to namby pamby land (in gunnys voice)
side note as much as i loved crackdown... how is crackdown 2 not the winner, so much promise so much fail ...
Best graphics should have been castlevania lords of shadows
Surprised Alan Wake got overlooked for the graphics award, personally thought outdid both Halo and Mass Effect. And second year in a row a blazblue title got 'best game no-one played'. Also surprised LIMBO got onto the list, but cant argue about it.
why was Dead Rising 2 such a disappointment? are people complaining its recycled? sorry, I thought it was a good game but want to know why it was such a disappointment.
Mass Effect 2 is incredible. I go back and play it every so often. Probably my favourite game this year (followed by Red Dead).
I am surprised Super Meat Boy got no mention at all.
@Lodder
I think it's telling of the strength of RPGs on the 360 vs PS3 this year as well as how much hype swarmed around New Vegas. We were expecting Fallout 3 with improvements. Instead we got a good, possibly great game that was buggy and never lived up to the grandiose pedestal we all put it on before its release.
Runner Up biggest disappointment is Fallout: New Vegas yet it's best RPG on the PS3 awards???
Joke awards the readers awards are far more important
@Cueil
You can go back on N4G to bash VGC for all we care.
@flint this is you showing your ignorance, but you'll understand soon enough why ME2 won so many awards
Reach a disappointment... I'm glad I didn't participate in this "readers choice" what a bunch of hog wash
wooohoooooo!!! GOTY Mass Effect 2!!! agreed 100% It so good PS3 must have it ;)
You know 360's losing it when ME2 and LImbo win in more than one category and Kinectimals is runner up in best kinect game. Next year with just GOW3 is going to be a distaster.
@Darth Tigris. Wii series?
how is halo reach most disapointing?
Nice list. Readers having Halo Reach on most disappointing list is very strange to me considering it got best FPS (and the existence of Crackdown 2).
Mass Effect 2, though, as GotY makes as much sense now as it did when the game was first announced. THE defining series of this generation.
Black Ops is underrated :/
ME2 deserved it imo.
Very good Choices. I agree with most of them.
Thanks for Giving props to Plants vs Zombies!!
Some good choices
