Now that 2013 has come to an end, it’s a time for lists of what was great. 2013 was an exciting and great year for all gamers! From great game after great game and the introduction of the next generation of consoles from Microsoft and Sony, 2013 did not disappoint. Despite being the busy bee that I am, there’s nothing like relaxing with video games. For those that may not know, my alias in the gaming world is LadyLoveMonster, hence my title. Although I spent some time working on a backlog of games that came out before 2013, here are 5 games from 2013 that I enjoyed the most.
Coming in at #5 on my list is Ryse: Son of Rome. With it’s beautiful visuals and my love of Rome, it’s not hard to wonder why it’s on my list. Though many have complained of repetitive combat, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing in my book watching the combos result in glorious blood and decapitations that enhance a lot of what made Rome, Rome. Although Ryse is a rather short game, there is potential with the multiplayer. Ryse also serves as a beautiful show of what the Xbox One can do and what we may see in the future.
At #4, I’m adding The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. You can’t go wrong with a Zelda game, especially this game. I enjoyed being able to play this great game on the go. The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is fun. Here’s to hoping for Ocarina of Ages and Ocarina of Seasons remakes.
Whether or not this counts, Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm is #3 on my list. Out of all the video games on my list and otherwise, I probably put most of my time for video games in 2013 into this game. It was a huge improvement from Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, which is saying a lot since I enjoyed that installment quite a bit. Although the multiplayer aspect of the game is the gem, the campaign was amazing, fun, and had a great story. There’s nothing like being able to play as Kerrigan and become a part of the swarm.
It is no shocker to anyone that knows me that Pokemon X/Y comes in at #2 on my list. I have played the Pokemon games since the first generation came out in 1998. What makes Pokemon X/Y so great is this much needed revamp to the video game franchise. As someone that has been with the video game series since the very beginning, there were different aspects, primarily the visuals and parts of gameplay, that were starting to get stale. This staleness manifested most for me in Pokemon Black/White and Pokemon Black 2/White 2. Pokemon X/Y changed that! The most noticeable upgrade is the visuals! Pokemon X/Y is the first 3DS game in the series, though reserves the 3D graphics to specific parts of the game like battles. I personally tend to keep the graphics in the 2D mode, but that doesn’t take away from the game at all. The story is also improved and I actually found it quite touching when I finished the game. My only complaint at the moment for this game is how easy it can be to get stuck in the GTS waiting for the other player’s decision for what you’re offering in a trade. I’m hoping that improves in time. In the mean time, I’m also waiting for the Pokemon Bank and PokeTransporter to finally make it’s way to North America at the measly fee of $4.99 per year. Due to issues, it was not released on the intended launch of December 27, 2013 and we have yet to hear word on when it will be launched. Despite these issues, Pokemon is a simple pleasure with plenty of continued play value if you’re into filling up the Pokedex and competitive battle.
Finally, coming in at #1, BioShock Infinite was my favorite game of 2013. I thoroughly enjoyed the visuals, music, gameplay, and story. For those that haven’t gotten around to playing this game yet, I highly recommend picking it up. It’s a great experience all around, especially if you love a good story that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire ride. BioShock Infinite’s story is so rich and engaging entrancing you with a unique take of the time period with an Ayn Rand twist (as the BioShock games do very well with). If there’s anything that I look for most in games, it’s the story and BioShock Infinite excels.
Some may wonder why other great games that came out in 2013 are not on my list, but the reasons are fairly simple. For some games, I may not have had the opportunity to get around to playing them. I’m in graduate school so it can get difficult to play as much as I wish I could. For other games like The Last of Us, which I know many loved, it wasn’t a game I could get through because of those darn clickers. I prefer to not play horror-esque games that leave me with nightmares. That does not mean that it wasn’t great or that other games weren’t great. This list comes down to my personal preferences with the genres I like to dabble in. With the end of 2013, a great year in gaming, there is a lot of anticipation for what’s to come in 2014. Look for a list of what I’m most excited for in 2014 soon. Let us know what you think of my list below in the comments section. I’d love to hear any and all opinions on your personal top lists of 2013.