Thanksgiving Special

It’s that time of the year where loved ones get together and pay homage to all that they’re thankful for and here at NoobFeed we’re no different. Each of our writing staff has come together to reminisce about our favourite games and gaming moments of the year past, and we hope you can join us in sharing some of your personal choices.

I've always stuck to games that were my cup of tea--from role-playing games to shooters--and avoided the ones I was terrible at. This year, I decided to get out of my comfort zone a bit. Puzzle games are probably my weakest, yet I enjoyed the heck out of Portal 2 and Catherine. I wasn’t really a stealth guy and was never comfortable making non-linear decisions; I ended up hacking my way through Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Point-and-click? Fuggedaboutit! Yet, I liked King’s Quest III Redux and Hector: Badge of Carnage. I’ve yet to experience other new games, but I’m thankful I finally took the plunge.

David

You know what I’m thankful for this gaming year? Bastion. Even though Space Marine was the most amazing title to grace my eyes this year, it’s Bastion that captivated me the most. From its conception to watching it grow into an admiring title, I’m just glad the hype didn’t kill the game. The incredible story and vivid scenery did not disappoint one tiny bit and that’s a hard feature to pull off. Bastion is probably one of the best written titles to date and as a newcomer; it set a high standard for developers everywhere. Thanks for the memories, kid!

Daav

It might come as a surprise to many, but I’d like to give extra special thanks to the guys who brought us Plants vs. Zombies. The simplistic tower defense game has personally brought me many hours of enjoyment over a good month’s worth of play. Much like Angry Birds before it, its approachable interface, easy to grasp concept and quirky nature kept me coming back for more -  one more level, one more mini-game, a couple more feet higher for my Tree of Wisdom – and has eased the burden of many otherwise arduous night shifts.

Craig

I thank Deus Ex: Human Revolution for showing me that yes, great, engaging narratives can be done on games, and that a great game can and will surpass its predecessor, even if it's an old school classic. I'm also thankful for Demon's Souls (and its younger brother, Dark Souls), for laughing in my face when I thought I had played tough games before, and proving that extreme challenge, when done right, results in extreme sense of achievement.

Bruno

This year, I am giving thanks to 343 Industries. In what has been a breakthrough year for the developer, 343 are now the holders of the keys to the Halo Universe, taking over from where Bungie Studios left off. In 2011, 343 have remastered the game which started it all, Halo Combat Evolved, and even given it a multiplayer component based off of the Halo Reach engine. Not only this, but they have also announced the production of Halo 4, which is set to release in 2012. 343 are giving the Halo series a fresh input, and taking the games in exciting new directions. Thank you, 343 Industries. 

Ashley

What game am I most thankful for this year? Too easy. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Yeah, call me a Nintendo fanboy, but for me, the Wii’s entire existence has been leading up to this moment. And sure, Nintendo took its sweet time in developing the latest Zelda, but it looks like that effort finally paid off. The art direction, orchestral score and updated combat hit all the right notes for me and I can’t wait to stay inside for an entire week while I play it. Too bad the Wii has nothing else coming this year (and probably next).

Aaron

I’d like to thank NetherRealm Studios for giving the Mortal Kombat series the long-awaited makeover fans have been craving for years. The fighting is tight, the finishers as gory as ever and it has that knack of drawing you back in for “one more game”. I’d also like to thank Konami for getting Pro Evolution Soccer back on track with some great core gameplay additions that have reignited my passion for the series and in the last month alone brought me and my friends together in many great matches.

Craig

I am thankful for the great games released this year. Thank you for being able to buy them. I am not mentioning any names, but, thanks for the great time playing them. Playing games makes me forget the outside world, full on unconscious people. I may sometimes play war and violent games but when I turn off the console, it is all over making the world of video games a virtual and peaceful world to live. Although I don't celebrate this season like others do, I leave this message to all of you, fellow gamers. Enjoy thanksgiving!

Marco

I’m thankful 2011 wasn’t such a disappointing year after all. It’s not hard to think the industry might be losing its touch because of the constant stream of highly anticipated sequels and annual blockbuster franchises getting most of the attention. Perhaps not all of it is bad; some amazing titles are getting serious GOTY consideration, like Portal 2 and Batman: Arkham City. I managed to find some surprisingly fun experiences from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, BloodRayne: Betrayal, and others, and games like Mortal Kombat rekindling my interest in fighting games. Hopefully next year will be just as good or better.

David

Lastly, a thank you to the entire team for their passion and commitment in writing for the site and the many great articles we’ve been treated to as a result. I hope they and you enjoy a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. Be sure to look out for much more festive-themed stuff on NoobFeed coming into the Christmas season.

What are you thankful for? Tell us here or on the comment section below.