[Vandiger]

Edge has no credibility when they list Dark Souls as having the best online experience for 2011. I can't take them seriously now.

[Kiriku]

I have this issue here. Does anyone want the text for any of the GOTY choices/runners-up?

Would love to hear what they wrote in the audio category. :)

[bigdaddygamebot]

I have this issue here. Does anyone want the text for any of the GOTY choices/runners-up?

Publisher of the year please.

[ASIS]

What is the point of qualifying the score by saying perfect then? Why not just say 10? It's directly adding connotations that a score of 10 is a game without flaw.

It's just something that people say. Like when they say a "solid" 8. Just don't pay much attention to it.

[MarshMellow96]

Edge has no credibility when they list Dark Souls as having the best online experience for 2011. I can't take them seriously now.

Online game has online issues. Did you want Battlefield or MW3 to win?

[Rahxephon91]

Online game has online issues. Did you want Battlefield or MW3 to win?

What would be the problem if they did? BF3 is really fun online.

[Dresden]

I guess for Dark Souls online they judged the ideal of what it should have been, not what it was for a good portion of players.

Lol.

[MarshMellow96]

What would be the problem if they did? BF3 is really fun online.

It had a host of issues at launch, waiting in queues for games etc. They've been ironed out now for the most part. Same goes for DS's issues.

Both games are fun, just saying that the 'credibility' issue is irrelevant if EDGE found Dark Souls more fun regardless of the problems that all games seem to have early on.

[Atomski]

Online game has online issues. Did you want Battlefield or MW3 to win?

Most online games have issues.. but it was over a month before we got a patch. BF3 ran almost fine on the first day but had some day one server issues on consoles. It was fixed pretty quick though.. not a month wait for a patch.

Also Darksouls is fun and all but you cant even play with friends without cheating the system.

[Maxrunner]

That cover makes my stomach churn more than their goty choice does. But hey at least they gave Eidos Montreal some love, it's probably all they'll get :(

What GOTY choice wouldnt make your stomach churn more?Skyrim???

[Like the hat?]

I thought everyone loved edge and thought they were one of the better sources of reviews?

[Kazerei]

I'm also kind of surprised that Portal 2 was runner-up for best online experience ... I only played online for a short while, and it went smoothly and all ... but Portal 2 is just not what I think of when I hear "online experience". *shrugs*

[bigdaddygamebot]

It had a host of issues at launch, waiting in queues for games etc. They've been ironed out now for the most part. Same goes for DS's issues. Both games are fun, just saying that the 'credibility' issue is irrelevant if EDGE found Dark Souls more fun regardless of the problems that all games seem to have early on.

I'm backpedaling some on the online category having chewed on it some more.

It's entirely possible they are recognizing Dark Souls for the online experience offered regarding how unique it is.

...and it IS unique.

[Tain]

lol, "Indie Game of the Year" is its own category. Way to demonstrate how wonderful these games can be by refusing to compare them to "dependent" games.

[Maxrunner]

I loved Skyward Sword but GOTY over Skrim in the same category? Come on. That's ridiculous.

why? skyrim is oblivion with better graphis and worser bugs....there i said it...even the hand to hand combat is broken as it was in oblivion....

[Majora]

Would love to hear what they wrote in the audio category. :)

Portal 2 - Some might have found the Bristolian burr an annoyance, but the casting of Stephen Merchant as Chell's idiotic robot sidekick Wheatley - along with a garrulous JK Simmons as late Aperture Science CEO Cave Johnson - meant Portal's transition from blackly comic thriller to full sci-fi comedy was assured. But even when it's playing things straight, every audio aspect of Valve's title astounds: the clanking rattle and groaning metal of Aperture Science's abandoned innards conveys an almost disturbing sense of isolation and scale, while the infinite, pneumatic rhythm of a hundred weighted companion cubes flowing through a giant glass tube convinces you that you're trapped in a giant self-perpetuating machine. And while we might have expected a Coulton-written single for the credits, the Turret Opera preceding them was another baroque finish.

Yet Portal 2's real audio achievement isn't in these touches, but hidden in the puzzles at its heart. An adaptive music system gives each puzzle tool - the lasers, the gels, the plates, the cubes - its own musical beat, and turns the crafting of a solution into an act of composition. And when you slide, bounce and fling yourself to a room's exit, and all the music notes come together, it sounds like nothing less than a performance.

Skyward Sword - We defy you not to feel a swell of emotion at SS's grand theme, which opens with delicate harp and triumphantly ends with a full orchestra. But it's just one of the game's vast number of distinctive melodies and styles, from lilting ballads to percussive electronica, many with multiple dynamic layers that respond to the action. SS's scope has a score to match.

Dark Souls - Sparsely populated with clinking armour, crackling torches and sombre vocal performances that provocatively teeter on just the right side of hammy, FromSoftware's soundtrack is powerfully alluring. Clipped, metallic and dissonant, it acts almost like another enemy to overcome, sapping your humanity and leaving you feel as hollow as the character you are playing.

[Vandiger]

I'm backpedaling some on the online category having chewed on it some more. It's entirely possible they are recognizing Dark Souls for the online experience offered regarding how unique it is. ...and it IS unique.

If they fixed it great, I had to put it on a backog of games I had due to online being broken when I first got it. Haven't touched it and will have to wait till next year.

[Mooreberg]

I know about "Operation Rainfall" but something else has to be going on for Nintendo's publishing year to be viewed so favorably in Europe.

Still feels like they almost want Apple to ruin gaming, though.

Nothing can happen that the industry didn't bring upon itself.

[Majora]

Publisher of the year please.

Nintendo - Dismissing Nintendo's efforts over the past year would be easy. Take its disdain for the App Store-like prices in its e-shop and Dsi-shop, for instance, which sees games released for a mere 69p on other platforms costing 5x as much. And the games that Nintendo have released, as superlative as many have been, have been agonisingly mistimed. The 3DS launch line-up had to rely on the relatively flimsy charms of nintendogs + cats and Pilotwings Resort as its flagships, so it wasn't until the end of the year's Mario 3D land, Mario kart 7, and OOT 3D that the handheld finally found the broad relevancy and buzz it needs.

Similarly, as Wii enters its twilight period, having enjoyed so few marquee Nintendo releases in the past couple of years, it was only late in 2011 that Nintendo released SS, prompting thousands of internet commenters to 'dust off' their consoles in anticipation. But though the games may be late, what games they are. Each one is polished to perfection, reflecting nintendo's attitude to quality and value, as well as its respect for its fanbase. Such an exemplary approach to game-making is something to which other publishers, many of which are apparently happy to put out rushed products in order to meet launch windows, can only look up to.

Ubisoft - AC Revelations, Child of Eden, Rayman Origins, Driver San Francisco, From Dust. Old Ezio might be getting severely creaky, but Ubisoft's keen eye for a marketing campaign almost let him off. other key releases emphasised its inspiringly catholic tastes - New Age toy From Dust, the happy-clappy Child of Eden and Rayman Origin's HD upgrade of the platformer - while its faith in Driver, when everyone else had given up on it, resulted in the best driving game since NFS Hot Pursuit.

Bethesda - In a world of publishers running after gaming's rapidly expanding borders or releasing me-too FPS's, Bethesda stands proud with a roster of distinctive , concept-rich games that make gamers care. Brink's concept may have surpassed its execution and it wass a pity that Rage's tech didn't extend to its design, but Skyrim's success is testament to an old-school attitude paying-off.

[Mlatador]

My respect for edge has risen!

[Guardian Bob]

WTF is going on with that cover.

It's a die cut.

[Anth0ny]

It's just something that people say. Like when they say a "solid" 8. Just don't pay much attention to it.

This.

But really, if it's not perfect (or DAMN close), it shouldn't have a 10. This gen especially, 10's have been given out far too often in all publications. They've lost all meaning. I remember, for the longest time, the only game with multiple perfect scores was OOT. Halo CE got a couple, THPS3 got a couple, some other games too, but OOT was on a whole other level. Now... they hand out 10s like nothing.

Whatever. Reviews don't mean anything to me anymore. Good shit to Zelda, again.

[bigdaddygamebot]

Nintendo - Dismissing Nintendo's efforts over the past year would be easy. Take its disdain for the App Store-like prices in its e-shop and Dsi-shop, for instance, which sees games released for a mere 69p on other platforms costing 5x as much. And the games that Nintendo have released, as superlative as many have been, have been agonisingly mistimed. The 3DS launch line-up had to rely on the relatively flimsy charms of nintendogs + cats and Pilotwings Resort as its flagships, so it wasn't until the end of the year's Mario 3D land, Mario kart 7, and OOT 3D that the handheld finally found the broad relevancy and buzz it needs. Similarly, as Wii enters its twilight period, having enjoyed so few marquee Nintendo releases in the past couple of years, it was only late in 2011 that Nintendo released SS, prompting thousands of internet commenters to 'dust off' their consoles in anticipation. But though the games may be late, what games they are. Each one is polished to perfection, reflecting nintendo's attitude to quality and value, as well as its respect for its fanbase. Such an exemplary approach to game-making is something to which other publishers, many of which are apparently happy to put out rushed products in order to meet launch windows, can only look up to. Ubisoft - AC Revelations, Child of Eden, Rayman Origins, Driver San Francisco, From Dust. Old Ezio might be getting severely creaky, but Ubisoft's keen eye for a marketing campaign almost let him off. other key releases emphasised its inspiringly catholic tastes - New Age toy From Dust, the happy-clappy Child of Eden and Rayman Origin's HD upgrade of the platformer - while its faith in Driver, when everyone else had given up on it, resulted in the best driving game since NFS Hot Pursuit. Bethesda - In a world of publishers running after gaming's rapidly expanding borders or releasing me-too FPS's, Bethesda stands proud with a roster of distinctive , concept-rich games that make gamers care. Brink's concept may have surpassed its execution and it wass a pity that Rage's tech didn't extend to its design, but Skyrim's success is testament to an old-school attitude paying-off.

Thank you! You're a gentleman and a scholar, sir.

So...they're mad as a hatter with all three of these but...I don't really know what publishers they could actually put in there that I would agree with.

[Rad Agast]

Mainstream Game of the Year The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Dark Souls The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Best Online Experience Dark Souls Portal 2 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

This is a joke list yes? Dark Souls a mainstream game? Since when? And the online while interesting is kind of broken since you can't easily invite your friends for co-op.

[Tain]

This is a joke list yes? Dark Souls a mainstream game? Since when? And the online while interesting is kind of broken since you can't easily invite your friends for co-op.

all the "mainstream" tag means is that FROM isn't in the cool dudes indie game club.

[SykoTech]

Seems it's cool to hate it on GAF.

What? Anyone who dares hate on any aspect about this game is guaranteed to get at least 2 angry responses.

There have been a decent amount of complaints about the motion controls, but it certainly hasn't become a MGS4 or ME2 situation.

[MarshMellow96]

There needs to be a t-shirt or something for people who knock Dark Souls for not having 'friend co-op'.

[Rad Agast]

all the "mainstream" tag means is that FROM isn't in the cool dudes indie game club.

Bleh, I don't feel special any more.

[Tain]

The Dark Souls pvp stuff is cool, but taking part in the hint stuff and the co-op ultimately make the game worse, I think. Fun boss fights can get totally thrown out by co-op, and my excitement just wandering around was definitely lowered once I started seeing the hint messages pop up everywhere.

[Gravijah]

yes, dark souls is a mainstream game. it's not a niche shmup released exclusively on the dreamcast in the year 2013.

[Rad Agast]

There needs to be a t-shirt or something for people who knock Dark Souls for not having 'friend co-op'.

Sorry for wanting to play with my friends during our weekend LAN sessions.

[MarshMellow96]

Sorry for wanting to play with my friends during our weekend LAN sessions.

Go shout out From Software, leave me out of this!

[Concept17]

I'm rarely in agreement with Edge. The mag just seems to get worse over time.

[Shadow of the BEAST]

honestly edges reviews suck.

They are about as overrated as famitsu was 10 years ago.

Their whole review system is retarded. I really dont understand why it is held in such high regard on us sites.

[Primate Ryan]

Well, SpaceChem is my Game of the Year and Skyward Sword is in second place, so that definitively proves that Edge was right in picking those two.

[Indyana]

...

Could you post what they wrote about the GOTY?, please

[ASIS]

This. But really, if it's not perfect (or DAMN close), it shouldn't have a 10. This gen especially, 10's have been given out far too often in all publications. They've lost all meaning. I remember, for the longest time, the only game with multiple perfect scores was OOT. Halo CE got a couple, THPS3 got a couple, some other games too, but OOT was on a whole other level. Now... they hand out 10s like nothing. Whatever. Reviews don't mean anything to me anymore. Good shit to Zelda, again.

Personally, what I think of a "10" game. I think of a game that pushed not only its genre, but the entire industry in new territories, it also has to be a technical marvel, something that can be called an achievement. Finally, it has to connect with me emotionally, doesn't mean I have to cry or anything, but I want to feel the game, get sucked in, whatever the game's purpose is, I want to feel it.

The ONLY game that has matched all this is OOT, hence why I think it's the only game in the 3D era that deserves it. SS was a fantastic game, and honestly I'm starting to think that's going to become one of my favorite games of all time, but it's not a 10.

That said, it is a 10 when you compare it to this generation's 10s, but I think that says more about gaming journalism than the quality of SS really.

[StevePharma]

honestly edges reviews suck. They are about as overrated as famitsu was 10 years ago. Their whole review system is retarded. I really dont understand why it is held in such high regard on us sites.

Their articles and columns are really fucking good. They had a bit last month on a disabled gamer initiative and a Dutch art vendor who invested into game-art. You don't read that shit in other mainstream gaming mags a lot and that stuff is what I read EDGE for. Plus the mag has a nice clean look to it, not like those tabloid style gaming mags that are a pain to read.

[User33]

Could you post what they wrote about the GOTY?, please

Poor guy's going to end up typing the whole magazine

[Maxrunner]

EDGE just doesnt go with the typical US Bro choosen games...and thank god for it...

[zoukka]

honestly edges reviews suck. They are about as overrated as famitsu was 10 years ago. Their whole review system is retarded. I really dont understand why it is held in such high regard on us sites.

It's just a little bit less rotten and corrupted than anything else around really.

[Majora]

Could you post what they wrote about the GOTY?, please

Skyward Sword - There's nothing inevitable about the lastest Zelda being this year's best game. Doing it all again wouldn't have been nearly enough, but SS is about the unexpected. It re-engineers a formula most players think they know, and conjures surprise from ingredients both old and new. Initially, MotionPlus provides the novelty, and it's the finest example of motion-controller gaming we've encountered. SS is the greatest expression of the Wii's promise; it's taken 5 years, but Nintendo have finally delivered such precision, consistency and fun that you soon barely think about it.

Instead you enjoy SS's delicate remixing of classic Zelda structure. It recaptures a sense of mystery in its exquisitely designed dungeons and detailed overworlds, and familiar items turn up in the most unexpected of places. The game's backbone is the strongest ever Zelda storyline, a tale of maturity, duty and love, played out by characters who you delight in spending time with. Their scripts are deft and funny;their design and animation both weird and enchanting. And it's all drawn in pristine lines and rendered with a beautiful dappled graphical effect, blending technical skill wih artistic vision. The result provides more reward and delight in its span than any other game this year.

Dark souls - Never before has a fantasy rpg offered such contrasts, with cloud-splitting god beams and regal architecture above-ground, and fetid sludge and poison-spewing basilisks beneath; frustration and pleasure; confusion and epiphany. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki constructs a world sprawling enough to feel boundless, yet dense and sculpted enough to feel memorable. The damnable dying is simply Lordran's price of admission.

Skyrim - Few terms are trotted out to market a game as readily as 'epic', but only to a few does the term truly apply. Skyrim is one. The size of the overworld thrills through sheer scale, but in the careful plotting of its mountain paths, the variety of frosty terrain types, and the crafted nature of its interiors, Skyrim overs more than scope. it offers a world worth exploring.

[Sir Fragula]

Boring choices really.

[Penguin]

This is a joke list yes? Dark Souls a mainstream game? Since when? And the online while interesting is kind of broken since you can't easily invite your friends for co-op.

I read Mainstream/Indie as retail vs digital releases. At least based on the nominees. *Shrugs*

[Rahxephon91]

EDGE just doesnt go with the typical US Bro choosen games...and thank god for it...

Jesus Christ. Enough with the bro comments. These same games will win nominations in the US.

[Dresden]

At this point review-wise EDGE doesn't offer anything that a Game Informer or IGN won't.

But then, by this point you shouldn't be trusting game reviews anyways. It's about the features, the interviews, the news. I guess ignoring reviews would be akin to reading Playboy for the articles for many people, but w/e.

[Shadow of the BEAST]

It's just a little bit less rotten and corrupted than anything else around really.

edge is way rotten.

They've done cover/first review/high score before.

turok 2.

But thats not my problem with them. My problem with edge is the anonymous-collective-objective-review.

All edge reviews are completely anonymous, presented as edge view, even though its well known that edge uses free lancers. Its not only retarded in theory its fucking retarded in practice.

[Risk Breaker]

EDGE just doesnt go with the typical US Bro choosen games...and thank god for it...

And Assault Horizon scores a 7. LOL

[Chinner]

Edge threads have been abit dull lately, but nice to things are back to normal!

[Emitan]

Battlefield 3 should be getting an online nomination? After Battlelog? LOL