Top 30 videogames of 2011: part one - 30-21

Mario makes a comeback!

26

LittleBigPlanet 2
Platform: PS3
Release date: January 19, 2011

“LittleBigPlanet 2 is one of those rare games that has the ability to make your jaw drop to the floor and beam like a Cheshire cat thanks to its host of insane concepts, which you will never have seen before in any other videogame. The unique level design has, on more than one occasion, had us giggling like naughty schoolgirls and shaking our heads in disbelief, wondering how anyone could have thought of such brilliant ideas.

 There’s no doubt in our minds that LBP2 represents the pinnacle of modern-day platform games.  With its mind-boggling array of different levels and unique ideas, coupled with its stunning art-style and toe-tapping musical score, it’s a game that’s hard to put down.”

Mario Kart 7
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Release date: December 2, 2011

“Mario Kart 7 captures the same magic as the original game and embraces the community with some great community features that makes multiplayer racing a joy. It’s as instantly accessible as ever, with great pick-up-and-play appeal and the new additions, such as the hang-glider kart attachment, give you more ways to dash to the finishing line.”

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
Release date: February 18, 2011

“After a decade of waiting, iconic Marvel and Capcom characters join forces again in a re-envisioned team fighting game for a new generation that ticks all the boxes. Wild, over-the-top gameplay complete with signature aerial combos and hyper-combos takes the action to a whole new level in a fantastic-looking, utterly compelling series of fights against the likes of Wolverine, Hulk and Iron Man."

Dragon Age II
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release date: March 11, 2011

“Unbalanced battles and numerous glitches prevent Dragon Age II living up to its hype, but the new art direction, new skill trees, excellent story-telling and dozens of engaging quests still make it one of the most enjoyable RPGs of recent years."

FIFA 12
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, 3DS, iOS, PS2
Release date: September 29, 2011

“Put quite simply, EA has all bases covered in FIFA 12 and it delivers the finest, most challenging, realistic and entertaining football experience since FIFA 11. All of the new features enhance play on the pitch and make it a more tactical game of football, while the online arena continues to grow incredibly, thus making FIFA 12 one of the most active and vibrant gaming communities on the planet. Yes, we like it."

Resistance 3
Platform: PS3
Release date: September 9, 2011

“If anyone knows how to create a weapon set to inspire and excite gamers, it’s Insomniac Games. With the brilliant Ratchet & Clank series and two Resistance games already behind it, the California-based developer has had plenty of practice at getting it right, and has proven that there's creativity to think outside of convention to create some unique weapons.

As a PlayStation 3 exclusive, Resistance 3 harnesses the power of Sony’s console to deliver a movie-quality production, but once again it’s the vast array of powerful weapons and upgrades that turn out to be the main stars of the show. What's just as impressive, however, is that the series has improved in a multitude of ways, and in this third iteration Insomniac has finally delivered a first-person shooter that consistently delivers in every area throughout its gripping campaign.”