"The Red Ring" Award For Microsoft Exclusive Of The Year

[Dave]

Nominees:

Mass Effect 2
Crackdown 2
Halo: Reach
Kinect (AKA Natal)
Alan Wake
Fable III

Selected by the people, for the people!

When I look at it now, it doesn't seem like such a slow year for the 360. Prior to this, I had felt as though I had waited a long time for good games to flow and it was few and far-between. That being said, this list is a pretty good haul for a console that really put it's eggs in the one basket with Kinect.

Which game takes home this prestigious award? You decide!​

*Polls will go up in 2 days! In the event of a tie, written votes will sway the decision

 

[Brilliant Human Being]

I hate to be a bitch, but Fallout: New Vegas was a multi-platform release.

Anyway, I feel that for all the hype surrounding it, Alan Wake was a huge flop and although good, was not the immersive experience that had been promised. My vote (when the polls go up) will go to Kinect. While some say its basically an upgraded Eyetoy, in terms of sheer anticipation, hype and becuase I believe it marks a new advent in interactive gaming in a way that the Eyetoy failed to, it will have to go to the Kinect. Honourable mention to Halo:Reach; also a phenomenal game, however because of the reason stated above

 

[Uncle Sam]

I'm ashamed to say that, of the nominees, I only played two. Halo and Fable. If I find the time, I'll play Mass Effect 2 and Fallout: New Vegas. I doubt I will though, so don't hold your breath.

However, I don't feel bad for giving Halo: Reach my vote. I was a latecomer to the Halo franchise, having initially dismissed Halo 2 completely. I loved Halo 3 - particularly its online component, and went back and loved Halo: Combat Evolved. Most overrated franchise? Pfft - my sweaty arse it is! I'll have to play ODST and 2 again sometime.

As for the latest instalment, it was probably the best yet. Combat was back to its most exploratory and experimental; as I highlighted in that COD vs. Halo thread I made. The fact that armour customisation carried over into single player was a surprisingly satisfying bonus for me. Kicking arse and taking names for hours on end to earn the virtual monies necessary to buy all those stupid doohickies is somehow legitimised by the fact that I can see it in cutscene. Didn't stop some people's Spartans being a mess of shit, mind.

Multiplayer is as strong as ever, despite the questionable addition of Armour Lock to the mix. Oh, look at me, I'm invincible! Fuck that shit. Real men play with Sprint and use nothing but the pistol.

And, despite the story of a videogame being as important as the story of a pornography, I'll admit the story was surprisingly strong. They overdid the noble sacrifice cliche a bit but hey, fuck you. How's that?

I have to criticise whoever nominated Fable 3. That game was a buggy, incomplete mess. There's no other word for it. It was a fucking mess, full of half-formed ideas and half-formed game code.

 

[Trill Co$by]

My vote goes to Crackdown 2. This game had it all. It had zombies, gang wars, guns, big explosions, unbelievable jumping distances, wicked cars, slick mechanics, and my favorite comic book style graphics.

The campaign was challenging to where you knew it was impossible to win but you kept trying until you cracked the win. Honestly, I feel that Crackdown 2 surpassed every game. I mean I've bought Reach, but it sucks compared to CD 2

And yeah FO: NV is a multi-platform.

 

[lenguy]

I have to go with Halo Reach on this one. No game on the 360 this year comes close to matching the content packed in this game. There is enough to get people busy and coming back for more for a long time. Not to mention the quality of the game is fantastic. I've never seen a halo game look so crisp and play to evenly. This is not only the best 360 game of the year but the best Halo ever made. To me this doesn't have to win game of the year but I would be shocked if it didn't claim Microsoft exclusive of the year.

Multiplayer is as strong as ever, despite the questionable addition of Armour Lock to the mix. Oh, look at me, I'm invincible! Fuck that shit. Real men play with Sprint and use nothing but the pistol.

Now, see I have to disagree. Sprint is useful if you want to get around quickly or make a fast escape. But other than that it offers no strategic play. I also find it sad that your only excuse for amour lock is oh look at me I'm invincible. As I've pointed out in your halo vs CoD thread. Armour lock can be a blessing if you know how to use it right. Time it right, it takes down ghosts, even deflects rockets if also timed right. The EMP burst it releases once used takes down enemy shields and temporarily disables vehicles. Got a sticky grenade on your ass? Armour lock to save yourself from certain doom. Hell, I've seen people take down guys with energy swords with nothing but quick succession and well timed armor lock and melee placements. So really there are many ways to use it than to just buy a few extra seconds of life.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I hate to be a bitch, but Fallout: New Vegas was a multi-platform release.

Anyway, I feel that for all the hype surrounding it, Alan Wake was a huge flop and although good, was not the immersive experience that had been promised. My vote (when the polls go up) will go to Kinect. While some say its basically an upgraded Eyetoy, in terms of sheer anticipation, hype and becuase I believe it marks a new advent in interactive gaming in a way that the Eyetoy failed to, it will have to go to the Kinect. Honourable mention to Halo:Reach; also a phenomenal game, however because of the reason stated above

Alan Wake was a huge flop, yes, but it's every bit as good as any other game that has come out this year. The graphics were beautiful and the storyline was quite intriguing (I'd liken it to a mix of three films: Peter Jackson's The Frighteners, John Carpenter's In The Mouth of Madness, and Federico Fellini's 8 1/2).

Also, the fact that the survival horror genre has completely gone to shit also bodes well for Alan Wake: compared to Silent Hill: Homecoming (if Alan Waker's similar to any video game franchise, it's Silent Hill), it was a masterpiece, and its ending was just as moving as that of Silent Hill: Shattered Dreams.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Now, see I have to disagree. Sprint is useful if you want to get around quickly or make a fast escape. But other than that it offers no strategic play. I also find it sad that your only excuse for amour lock is oh look at me I'm invincible. As I've pointed out in your halo vs CoD thread. Armour lock can be a blessing if you know how to use it right. Time it right, it takes down ghosts, even deflects rockets if also timed right. The EMP burst it releases once used takes down enemy shields and temporarily disables vehicles. Got a sticky grenade on your ass? Armour lock to save yourself from certain doom. Hell, I've seen people take down guys with energy swords with nothing but quick succession and well timed armor lock and melee placements. So really there are many ways to use it than to just buy a few extra seconds of life.

Yeah I know - it's ******ed. It's got about a dozen more uses than any other armour ability. Sprinting's good for stealth players or people who want to get around the map. Jetpack's good for those that want to get the jump on people and take cheeky shortcuts. Oh, and it's good to survive falls. Invisibility's essentially useless, nerfed to the nth degree. I mean, I can see invisible people from across the map with the scope on my pistol. The fuck is that? The radar scrambler that comes with it is only useful if you have an incredibly co-ordinated team because it still tells me what direction you're coming from and if you're moving.

Armour lock? Use number one: waiting for your team-mates to come save you after you get your ass handed to you. Use number two: destroying vehicles. Use number three: taking out people's shields. Use number four: EMPing vehicles that are wise enough to dodge round. Use number five: recharging your shield without fear of attack (seriously, what the fuck?). Use number six: pulsing during battle. Use number seven: getting sticky grenades off. Made worse in Elite Slayer where everyone has stickies and armour lock. Use number nine: camping somewhere to fuck.

Basically, every other amour ability has three primary uses - maybe a few more if you get creative. Armour lock has at least nine. You might not be able to get around quickly or become hard to spot, but why the fuck would you need to?