GOTY 2011 Sport

If there’s one thing you can count on like clockwork it’s the churning out of yearly sports titles to appease fans and bring in wads of cash along the way. However, it’s not as tedious an affair as it sounds, because with every man and his dog ploughing money into these franchises it provides those companies with the resources to push boundaries and create physics engines, impact engines and small graphical enhancements that spill out into other genres and cause a knock on effect that drives the industry forward as a whole.

FIFA 12  (PS3, 360, Wii, 3DS, PC, Mac, iOS, PSP, PS2)
After nineteen releases you may be mistaken for thinking things are becoming a little stale, but that would be far removed from the truth. With the introduction of a new Impact Engine, Tactical Defending and Precision Dribbling the series has never looked stronger than it does at this moment in time.

Madden NFL 12  (PS3, 360, Wii, 3DS, iOS, And, PSP, PS2)
Many have tried to emulate the success of the Madden series over the years and most have failed. It continues to incorporate fresh ideas and a slew of options that keep it one step ahead of the pack and in 2011 it was no different, with no fewer than twenty-five new plays added to an already bulky package.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012  (PS3, 360, Wii, 3DS, PC, iOS, And, PSP, PS2)
With Konami working from the ground up, artificial intelligence was on the agenda for this year’s installment, and it works surprisingly well. Each attacking and defensive manoeuvre now feels a lot closer to its real-life counterpart and that’s ultimately the target all sports titles aim for.

NBA 2K12  (PS3, 360, Wii, PC, iOS, And, PSP, PS2)
The epitome of what a basketball game should look and act like - the graphics, the gameplay, the presentation, the feel of the ball at your fingertips - everything about this game screams pure class. Nobody comes close to 2K games in this field of play and I expect nobody will for a long time coming.

Top Spin 4  (PS3, 360, Wii)
Directly competing with Virtua Tennis 4 and turning out the winner with a straight sets knockout. Its resplendent blend of deep fan-infused gameplay and easy to approach casual elements make it the perfect all-rounder. With a few more key licences under its belt this series would soar.

Fifa 12 takes the plaudits again and it’s a result that will split football fans everywhere. Pro Evolution Soccer had a strong showing, with some fundamental changes to their formula, but the team at EA matched them every step of the way and have cemented their place at the top for another year. The inclusion of tactical defending is okay; Precision Dribbling is decent, but the real jewel in the crown is the Impact Engine that was in development for the best part of two years and directly affects every single collision in a match depending on things such as the speed, angle, and momentum of the ball and players involved. Overall it’s a real step forward for the series at a time where there wasn’t all that much pressure to improve, but once again the gulf in class is clear for all to see.

Best Strategy Game