Rayman Origins

Logan 9/10
I am a Rayman fan, I like almost everything about Rayman, and I'm happy to say that this was the most fun I had in a Rayman game in years. Rayman Origins took a very different approach in the series, it can be cute, wacky, and most of the time, challenging. The platforming is very smooth and tight, honestly it feels like you can do almost anything, its artistic style stands out more than any game I've played in 2011, and its music is very wacky but very memorable and fun. My only problem with Rayman Origins is that while the levels are challenging, some of them can get a little frustrating, but its multiplayer and tons of collectibles make this game worth buying. A must-get and one of my favorites of the year.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter

Logan 8/10
I have to be honest, I was not expecting a fourth Professor Layton game, but there is. Does it hold up to the other games in the series? Almost, in fact, this was probably my least favorite in the series as it didn't have a story that was as engaging as its past games were, in fact that what the series is built upon. What Professor Layton and the Last Specter does have though is more clever puzzles that just really makes you think, a storyline that's while not as interesting as the others, is still interesting, and nice cinematic scenes and actors. If you're a fan of puzzles in general, you'll really like this game, as Professor Layton keeps showing me why he is one of my favorite video game characters.

Sonic Generations

Landon 6/10

Maybe I'm being a little harsh. But "Sonic Unleashed" had pretty spectacular pure Sonic gameplay and levels that never let up. So I went into "Sonic Generations" fully expecting Sega to have finally gotten it right. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The idea of two Sonics feels more like a gimmick, the levels are just copy and paste from past games making it feel very unoriginal, and voice acting and dialogue is just flat-out awful. However, Generations does retain some of Unleashed's awesome gameplay, and about half of the levels are actually a ton of fun. Some of the best levels are from Sonic games made before "Sonic Adventure 2" (with the exception of Sonic Unleashed). If you enjoy Sonic games as much as the next guy, then you will have fun with this game. But I'm still waiting for the perfect Sonic game to finally come along.

Minecraft

Garrett 9/10
Minecraft. Probably the most unique game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. This game is a 100% sandbox game, where anything goes. I've been playing this game since before it was popular (almost no one had even heard of this game back when I started playing), back when it was in alpha stages, through beta, and now it has been officially released. My first impression of this game is "What the heck is this game with really crappy graphics?" However, after I started to play, I quickly realized that this is one of the most fun, and addicting games I've ever played. The entire point of the game is in it's title. You mine, and you craft. The game begins in a randomly generated world, and you start with literally nothing but your bare hands. You make a shelter from the monsters that come out at night, start to make some tools and supplies, then you create. Even though all the blocks in this game are cubes, the creations you can make are endless. Huge mines, mansions, castles, cathedrals, statues, cities, and almost anything you can think of can be built. Even now, over a year since I started playing, I still play Minecraft all the time, and it is easily one of my all time favorite games. When I first started playing minecraft, I would have rated it a 10, no doubt about it. But now, Notch (the creator of minecraft) has added too many things to the game, so it's not the simple game it used to be, which is what I liked most about it. Now the game technically has an "end", there are enchantments, potions, starvation, etc. I don't really mind these things, but it's really not the same game it used to be. But even with these annoying additions, I still love the game, and play it all the time.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Garrett 9/10
I have to start this review with one word. Wow. This game exceeded any expectations I had. I really enjoyed Morrowind and Oblivion, prequels to this game, but Skyrim blew them out of the park. Skyrim has an amazing story line that will have your adrenaline rushing. The side quests can be just as exciting, and even more fun in my opinion. One of the greatest parts of this game is the flexibility on what you can do with your character. In previous games you would choose a type of character and perks, and you would be locked into that type of character the entire game (i.e. warrior, mage, thief, assassin). But with the new system Skyrim introduced, that's no longer an issue. One problem I had with this game is that it took away some of your ability to interact with the AI's on the game. In past games, you could persuade people, have more conversation choices, and talking to people in general was more interesting. In Skyrim, you can't even talk to guards, even for quests or directions, and most people you talk to that aren't related to a quest just have generic conversations points. Other than this minor issue, the game was incredible, and one of my favorites.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Landon 10/10

What better game to give my first 10 on the site to than "Skyward Sword." Nintendo's swan song on the Nintendo Wii and their latest addition to the huge collection of Zelda games is one of Link's best adventures yet. The graphics are a combination of "Wind Waker" and "Twilight Princess" and brings a unique style. The gameplay really brings out what the Wii is capable of, blending perfect swordplay with unique puzzle solving. The story is epic and emotionally satisfying, finally showing some great chemistry between Link and Zelda. Hyrule itself feels like a complete dungeon, being completely barren of any towns and villages. "Skyward Sword" attempts to fly towards new heights and lands successfully. If there's anything to gripe about at all is that there are a few side quests and they can be a tad tedious at times. But how could I complain when the rest of the game is this good? "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" is an incredible addition and soars right to the top of my list game of the year. Nintendo, you've wowed us again