Best game/s of 2011

[Jaysyn]

Witcher 2

One of these days I'll reinstall it again to see if I can get past the INTRO.

[R-e-n-n-a-t]

Definitely Skyrim.
I don't remember when Dark Souls released, but certainly that as well if it's from 2011 and not 2010.
(btw, for anyone looking for an interestingly-themed game, Demon's Souls. You fight demons the entire time, and listen to a few hilarious religious people rave, and throughout the game you find out that only the demons exist, not a god, and the 'miracles' that the priests use stem from the demons as well. You can also kill whoever you want. It's a leet game, and it won't hold your hand. Ever.)

Dark Souls works much the same way, with you striking down psuedo gods the entire time, watching religious crusaders get eaten, invading people online, breaking prophecies, and learning about some very dark, twisted lore. Best console game ever made. Plus you can get to like level 700 if you play for a long time and go into new game+. Did I mention you can join just about anyone you want, including a maggot-witch and you can enter a covenant with one of the major enemies, the Gravelord Nito? Once again, best console game ever. I seriously think nobody has still found the best-hidden secrets in that game. Just recently a rumor popped up that you only get the real ending if you complete the game without ever refilling your health flasks or getting a checkpoint. (and the game is absolutely kill-you-fifty-times-per-hour-and-make-you-watch-your-face-be-eaten brutal even with all the health and checkpoints you can get)

[Braveheart]

SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. Oh and SKYRIM.

[Napoléon]

SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. SKYRIM. Oh and SKYRIM.

Killed it.

[mrjack]

1. Skyrim
2. Portal 2
3. Battlefield 3
4. SpaceChem

[leo-rcc]

I still don't get the allure of Skyrim. I really don't. The same as with Oblivion, I feel it is massively overhyped.

[Tiberius]

They are notoriously buggy, but that is to be expected when you make a game that is so open.

[mrjack]

I still don't get the allure of Skyrim. I really don't. The same as with Oblivion, I feel it is massively overhyped.

I guess it depends on how you play it. Do you enjoy other RPGs?

I have only just begun roleplaying seriously and it makes the game much more interesting and fun.

Some important things to consider when creating your character would be the following:
- What is the background of your character?
- What is your characters profession? Is it by choice?
- Are there any conflicts with factions that exist in the game's world?
- How have those conflicts affected your character?
- What, if any, principles does your character have?
- Would he/she be willing to do something that goes against those principles?
- What would make him/her be willing to do so?
- What kind of personality does your character have?
- What beliefs does your character hold?
- How have past experiences affected your character physically (scars, tattoos, body type, hairstyle etc.)
- How might the culture of your character's race (or the people he/she has been brought up by) have affected his/her personality/beliefs/principles etc.?
- How does your character's principles, personality, job, form of combat, etc. affect his/her actions? How does he/she act when he/she is in danger, in a social situation, in a fight, etc.?
- How does the history of your race affect your attitude toward other races?

And there are a lot more things to consider. Try to flesh out aspects of your character's life that you think are important. When you play your character, try to think and act based on what that character would do based on his/her experiences, personality, principles etc. If you notice that you have conflicting feelings about a certain action because it's not something you like or would do, but it's something that your character would do, then do it.

Then there are certain rules you can set up for yourself. Here are some examples:
- Sleep, eat and drink regularly.
- No fast-travel. Walk, ride a mount or make use of transport services provided by NPCs.
- Dead is dead = if your character dies, it's permanent. Saving and loading a game is only for being able to play in multiple sessions or in case of a bug in the game. You'll just have to create a new character.
- Realistic amounts of stuff that your character can carry.
- Character can only use certain equipment (he/she is not a god/goddess that is a master at spells, archery, swordsmanship, boxing etc.) or has limited abilities in some activities while being proficient in a few.

The Elder Scrolls series has a lot of lore that you can use to help make your character. You could even have something you find out in in-game books affect your character deeply, if that new knowledge contradicts the beliefs your character holds.

They are notoriously buggy, but that is to be expected when you make a game that is so open.

I waited for Skyrim to be patched at least a few times before I bought it, so I haven't really noticed anything major.

I have had one CTD and that was when I did a quick save. But I had no problems continuing from that save. And I have learned to save a lot in TES games from playing Oblivion.

The only other bug I've had was a section of water missing in a river that I had passed several times before and not having that bug. It might have something to do with a new mod.

[Napoléon]

I still don't get the allure of Skyrim. I really don't. The same as with Oblivion, I feel it is massively overhyped.

Some people won't get it(Think I had this discussion with you before?).

However the beauty of Skyrim isn't in the combat, or gameplay mechanics, or the graphics, or even the storylines IMO. It's in the practically limitless freedom to play the game how you want to, to go where you want, do what you want, kill what you want, become what you want.

Love or hate it, no other game on the market gives you freedom like that.

[mrjack]

However the beauty of Skyrim isn't in the combat, or gameplay mechanics, or the graphics, or even the storylines IMO. It's in the practically limitless freedom to play the game how you want to, to go where you want, do what you want, kill what you want, become what you want.

Exactly! I've read posts of people talking about how they are playing a character that is a scholar specializing in the Falmer and Dwemer cultures. The character isn't very powerful, but he has specialized in being able to survive encounters with Dwemer machines, Falmers and Chaurus. And that's not even the weirdest character build out there.