The Xbox 360 never stops catching flak, especially now that the console is the oldest of the current generation. Yet the community rarely goes wanting, thanks to a robust library of multi-platform titles and exclusives.
Over the course of 2012, the Xbox LIVE service has undergone major transformations. A new design shows Microsoft's continued dedication to the Kinect, and the introduction of SmartGlass brought LIVE into the mobile realm. At the end of the day, however, we're really just here for the games.
It's been a sequel-happy year, certainly. Major franchises, new and long-running, vie for attention with sequels. Ubisoft brings us another Assassin's Creed, and 343 Industries revitalizes the Xbox 360's most iconic game series, Halo. But no matter what genre you favor, this year's 360 lineup delivers, from RPG to action to shooters.
Who it is for:
- Halo fans who've really missed Master Chief
- Science fiction lovers everywhere
- Gamers who prefer their shooters with a proper story
"In a way, Halo 4 is much like the first Halo, just as 343i promised. The studio managed to restore that sense of awe and discovery that drew so many of us into Combat Evolved, yet they’ve also managed to create something new and unique to themselves as a studio. Through Halo 4, with its surprisingly powerful campaign and multiplayer innovations, 343i have proven worthy successors to one of the most iconic game series in history."
Who it is for:
- Gamers who appreciate stealth
- Also gamers who appreciate action!
- Anyone who loves building their own story/adventure
"For long-time gamers, Dishonored will feel familiar in so many ways, because the game draws some clear inspirations from several of the industry’s most celebrated series. Certainly this can raise alarms, because many games have attempted to and failed at assimilating elements from successful titles to create something totally new. Fortunately, Dishonored is an example of the opposite, a graceful amalgamation of influences plucked from Deus Ex, Half-Life, BioShock, and so many others. The result is a completely new identity that Dishonored can claim as its own."
Who it is for:
- Assassin's Creed fans, of course
- History buffs who dig historical accuracy in games
- Multiplayer gamers who need a break from shooters
"Assassin’s Creed 3 marks another annual installment for Ubisoft’s historical sci-fi action series, and it’s undoubtedly the biggest Assassin’s Creed game to date. To say so might raise doubt among fans at first. After all, Assassin’s Creed Revelations was also bigger than all its predecessors, but rather than bigger being better, it felt bloated and encumbered by everything the developers tried to do. Assassin’s Creed 3 aims to make up for this misstep. Sure, it’s somehow longer and crammed with so much more content than any of its predecessors, yet the game carries its weight with surprising grace."
Who it is for:
- Fantasy buffs, because this lore is amazing
- Anyone who digs hack 'n' slash action
- Gamers who don't mind playing as a total badass
"Over two years ago, Darksiders showed us the end of the world, and we met War, a Horseman of the Apocalypse and the unlikeliest hero. Darksiders II shines the spotlight on his eldest brother Death, the only horseman who was explicitly named in biblical text and arguably the most terrifying and powerful of the Four. Through his eyes, Vigil Games tells another side of the story we already know, one centered on guilt and vindication. As War rampages across the Third Kingdom, searching for the truth behind humanity’s untimely extinction, Death leads a campaign of his own, hoping to save War and clear his name."
Who it is for:
- Fans of roleplaying games
- Those of us who prefer RPGs with more than one setting
- Mature audiences, on account of some very heavy themes
"Although not without faults, The Witcher 2 is by far one of the best RPGs we’ve seen in recent years. The gameplay transitions very well from PC and Xbox 360, and even on an aging system, the graphical quality barely falters. Above all else, Assassins of Kings excels in its storytelling, and never shies away from its own maturity. Instead, it embraces the adult themes – no matter how gut-wrenching – that most other RPGs simply ignore for fear of alienating their audience."
Who it is for:
- Transformers fans, obviously -- especially G1 fanatics!
- Anyone looking to forget the Bay movies exist
- Action-shooter hybrid fans
- Who doesn't love Dinobots? They're dinosaur ROBOTS!
"High Moon must be the best thing that’s happen to Transformers in a very long time. In 2010, the studio won fans over with Transformers: War for Cybertron, and just over two years later, they’ve managed to outdo their previous success with Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
The games couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Transformers movies turned out to be utter trash, and Hasbro came close to retiring the Dinobots. Consider Fall of Cybertron a remedy, of sorts."
Honorable Mentions:
