Overall/Platform Awards
Overall (and Multiplatform) Game of Show:Portal 2 (PC/360/PS3)
So what makes Portal 2 such a unique experience, especially when we live in a time when sequels really only need to live up to the "bigger, better, and more badass" credo to be considered successful? Amazingly, the game feels less like a sequel than the first true Portal game, almost as if the game we all came to know and love was just a glorified tech demo. There are a staggering number of new and wildly inventive gameplay mechanics on display here (note to Valve: we probably would have been happy with one or two), from squirtable goos that can help you move faster or bounce higher to air vents that allow you to suck enemies in through your portals to lasers that can be redirected using special crystal cubes to... you know what, you're better off just watching these hilarious videos of the entire demo (but continue on for some stuff you won't see!):
Pretty cool, huh? What wasn't show publicly was the new co-op mode, which looks to be one of those types of experiences that ends marriages and drives wedges between old friends (and we mean that in a good way). There's actually a completely separate co-op campaign with different puzzles that will intertwine with the single-player story. Best of all, both the single-player and multiplayer offerings will be upwards of six hours in length, dwarfing the all-too-short original game. We generally feel like longer isn't always better, but we think you'll agree that this is one case in which we'll happily take as much as we can get.
Runners-Up: Dead Space 2, Epic Mickey, Rock Band 3
PS3 Game of Show:
Heavy Rain: Move Edition (PS3)
Runners-Up: Infamous 2, Killzone 3
Xbox 360 Game of Show:
Dance Central (360)
Of course, it's not like you're going to be doing Power Step Hops or Flares right off the bat, as all it takes is a few embarassing gaffes to turn off beginners. Instead, players have the option of practicing the core moves before the song starts, and will even be able to slow down more advanced moves so it's easier to master the footwork. It's also one of the few Kinect games that actually shows off the true potential of the peripheral, providing a fun, educational experience with instant feedback. After just a few dances, we were hooked.
Then there's the music, which (so far) ranges from Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and "Hella Good" by No Doubt" to "Body Movin'" by The Beastie Boys and Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison". There looks to be a nice mix of songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s, meaning there will be a little something from everyone. And to think you might have never known about Granny's former life as a disco queen.
Runners-Up: Fable III, Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach