Ben-DutkaThe best shooter, that is.
While both Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 are great, and we definitely love Killzone 3 and Resistance 3 , we have to admit that in all fairness, RAGE may be the front-runner for Best Shooter of 2011. Played it yet?
Some critics didn't like the story, while others called it repetitive, neither of which I necessarily agree with. Well, the story really wasn't a high point but due to the structure of that game, which absolutely was not linear and cinematic in style like KZ3 or R3, we didn't really need a compelling narrative. It was all about the gameplay and atmosphere and in our eyes, it totally succeeded on almost every possible level. There's a little too much emphasis on vehicles and driving but besides that, the adventure is an absolute blast.
And for those of you going, "eh, it doesn't really deliver anything new," you have to be careful with that accusation because it can be applied to many of your favorite games. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception didn't really do anything "new," either, and many consider it to be the lead candidate for Game of the Year. In fact, as we haven't seen The Last Guardian yet and Heavy Rain was last year, we don't have a heck of a lot of innovation and originality this year. The best games are simply refinements and improvements on tried-and-true formulas.
Side note- Catherine is a noteworthy exception.
And you know, there's nothing wrong with making something better. It's sort of how any business thrives. In my view, RAGE is just fantastic, and it was what Borderlands should've been. It has that addictive quality that keeps you coming back for more (the RPG style of obtaining and completing quests in a relatively free environment is essential), and the gameplay really couldn't be much better. We also maintain, despite the naysayers that pick at the textures as if it's some deal-breaking mess, that RAGE is the best-looking game of 2011…with the exception of Uncharted 3 , of course.
But it's close. There were plenty of great shooters this year. We're not saying RAGE is a definitive winner (note the word "might" in the headline); we just want it to get the attention and respect it so richly deserves.