The very best (Updated with October's releases)
After a long, long summer with barely any notable games, October continued the the fall avalanche of gaming with some very impressive titles. Platinum Games, one of top developers in the world, released the long awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed Bayonetta. Meanwhile, an Alien game came out that not only captured the feel of the iconic film, but even improved on it. Where do titles like those stand when ranking the best games of 2014?
And just to clear up any misconceptions, 2014 isn't over yet, so we won't be crowning any of these new games with the prestigious of "Game of the Year" moniker just yet. Instead, we're going to be updating this article with the best new releases gaming has to offer each month leading up to our year-end awards. It doesn't matter if the month's releases are indie games or triple-A blockbusters, everything will get a fair shake. So, without further ado, here are the best games of September 2014, followed by the winners from the previous months.
Bayonetta 2 (Runner-up Best Game of October)
Bayonetta 2 is brilliant on so many levels. Technically, it's a showcase for the Wii U as Nintendo's supposedly under-powered machine chucks around beautiful, SFX-laden, high-res visuals at 60fps. Artistically, it's way ahead of most video games' design, with over-the top action, bosses, and cinematics. But crucially, it's also brilliantly playable, with the original game's ultra-precise, combo-tastic brawling action returning unbutchered, complete with its trademark Pure Platinum ranking to strive for.
There's also a new two-player co-op mode, where you and a buddy team up over the internet to take on waves of enemies in closed arena matches. It's great fun. The sum is a brilliant package that any Wii U owner should buy. Granted, it can occasionally get too hectic to see what's happening, and the first half of the game is definitely underwhelming compared to the rip-roaring climax (or is that Umbran Climax?). But seeing as you can buy it with the original, near-perfect Bayonetta packed-in, it's pretty much impossible not to recommend this to anyone in need of a badass action game.
Alien: Isolation (Best Game of October)
Alien: Isolation is a game-changer. In terms of stealth gameplay, game design technology, visual fidelity, and the purpose and potential of licensed video games, it is both evolution and revolution. Its recreation of the Alien universe circa Ridley Scott’s first film is aesthetically flawless, but the authenticity goes much deeper than that. The tone, and sheer feel are 100% there, a feat not previously achieved in the entire 35 years since the film was released.
As much a total-immersion simulation of the movie, to Alien fans, Isolation provides more than a game, delivering a surreal and rather profound portal into a fully-realized cinematic world previously uninhabitable. Isolation’s gameplay follows suit, eschewing the conventional softened edges of the horror adaptation to create a truly uncompromising threat in its living, breathing, deeply sophisticated, AI-driven Alien. This isn’t a game of held hands, safety nets, and protagonist privileges. It’s as brutal and nihilistic to the player as the Alien universe is to its characters. That’s a brave move, but the right one, and one that is also ultimately entirely triumphant.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Runner-up Best Game of September)
No, you're not dreaming--a game revolving around The Lord of the Rings is actually in the running for Game of the Year. Of course, you don't have to be a Tolkien fan to appreciate this self-contained, open-world adventure, because it's got all the gloriously violent action and tactical stealth a gamer could want. As Talion, a Ranger out for revenge with the powers of an ancient Wraith on his side, it's your job to whittle down Sauron's Army of Orc grunts and Uruk Warchiefs, one body at a time.
The world of Shadow of Mordor is vast and varied, with as many picturesque plains as barren wastelands. But nothing tops the variety of the brilliant Nemesis system, which randomly generates the Uruk who oppose you with unique personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses. Should you die by their hand, they'll get a promotion, while you'll be left hungry for revenge, determined to find your rival and kill him (for real this time). It's an addicting gameplay loop on top of an excellent foundation, making Shadow of Mordor one of the fall's must-play games.
