GOTY 2011 Fighting

Each nomination in the fighting category kicks ass, literally, and it’s our job to separate the king of fighters from the pussy cats, the Floyd Mayweather’s from the Ricky Hatton’s, and the CM Punk’s from the Alberto Del Rio’s. There may not be a single original entry amongst them, with some sequels, a 3D port and a reimaging of a series all vying for top spot, but each one offers up some premium blow-by-blow combat. However, there is one title that was bigger and better than the rest and bullies all others into submission.

The King of Fighters XIII  (PS3, 360, iOS)
While it may not have the overall package of some of its rivals, it does superbly well in the right areas – primarily gameplay wise. Let that take nothing away from its superb visual styling’s though, that really bring the whole thing to life with a much-welcomed vivacity.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds  (PS3, 360)
Not resting on its laurels, the game maintains the same action-packed three versus three tag-team system that has brought it so much success over the years, but with the character models getting visual enhancements it really helps to bring those fan favourites from many beloved series’ to life.

Mortal Kombat  (PS3, 360)
The game doesn’t just represent a solid fighting package; it also represents an entire reboot of one of the most successful series of all time. The remapping of buttons, the introduction of a super-meter and a great retelling of the original story makes playing Mortal Kombat fun and current for a whole new generation.

Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition  (3DS)
Many games are written off simply for the fact of being a port, but this is a perfect example of how to do it right. The graphics, gameplay and overall feel of the original title sit really well on the handheld, and the integration of various 3D elements takes it to another level.

WWE ’12  (PS3, 360, Wii)
Wrestling games tend to get a bad rap, but WWE ‘12 flies in the face of the critics with an entire reworking of its fighting mechanics to include fresh and intuitive ways of besting your opponent, including the execution of certain moves based on your opponent’s current physical state.

“Excellent!” is only scratching the surface with Mortal Kombat. NetherRealm Studios worked on this game from the ground up, changing the buttons so that each represented a limb, tightening up the fighting mechanics and throwing in various meters and special moves that add an extra level of depth, enhancing the graphics so that the 3D graphics would really pop on the classic 2D plane, and creating a long and fulfilling story that alters and retells the events of the first three games in the series in a way that feels current and quite movie-esque. The gore in this game is as horrendous as ever, perhaps the most cringe-worthy its ever been, with some of the finishing move making you squirm in your seat, as limbs are torn from torsos and rib cages are split apart; it’s enough to make the creators of Saw vomit a little.

Best Platform Game