Find out what games of 2011 best represented the nine most notable genres in gaming.

 

It had been about ten years since Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and in that time, the game had achieved a legendary status among hardcore fighting game fans. There were hopes that the series would make a return, but would a polygonal “vs.” game be able to replicate the speed, precision, and overall insanity of the previous games in the series? The answer, as you may have guessed, is a resounding yes. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 maintains that signature element of turbo-charged fighting goodness that Capcom brought to the arcades in the late 90s and early 2000s. There’s a plethora of aerial combos, team attacks, and Hyper Combos to master, and finding that perfect team that clicks for you is half the fun. In addition to the normal insanity that the series is known for, you can now unleash the X-Factor mode, which gives you a massive boost in attack power, speed, and even regenerates your health. This is a last-ditch move that increases in duration if you are down to your last fighter, and adds that extra bit of strategy to the organized chaos.

With a staggering roster of 48 characters (plus more coming as DLC), you would be forgiven for thinking that UMvC 3 might be lacking in the visuals. Thankfully, you would be wrong. This is a gorgeous looking game, taking cues from the inky, sketched look of Street Fighter IV and running with it. The backgrounds are astounding, and the screen fills with so many particle effects, hit flashes, and combo counters that it can all be a little daunting to the new player. This iteration adds 12 characters over the first version of MvC 3, and they are welcome additions. Players finally get their dream of bringing Phoenix Wright out of the courtroom and into the fighting arena. Characters like him really shine with the amount of detail that’s gone into the animation for the roster, and it’s a joy for Capcom and Marvel zombies alike. Capcom may have made a misstep by releasing two versions of this game in such a short period of time, but you can be sure that this is a robust fighting package.

Mortal Kombat - Runner Up

The new title in the Mortal Kombat franchise had a lot to prove. After the previous game added DC characters and removed the "mature" fatalities, the gimmicky mini-game gameplay and watered down mechanics resulted in a game that was less than stellar. As a matter of fact, publisher Midway went out of business soon afterward. Picked up by Warner Bros Interactive, Ed Boon and the developers at Netherealm Studios decided to get back to basics, Christina Aguilera style.

The story went back to the saga during the first three games, 3D gameplay was replaced with 2D and blood and gore was back in. Oh man was it back in. The moment you see Noob Saibot’s Make a Wish fatality move, you knew they had some sick bastards creating this game. Of course, the blood and guts is just a flashy way to pull you into the in deep story mode and satisfying combat mechanics. Combos are easy to start, but hard to master and fighting game junkies will be rewarded just as much as the nooblet learning to throw a freeze ball. Simple but deep controls enable you to win with just punching and kicking, but there’s potential for combos and special moves. No matter which way you play, the fighting is incredibly rewarding and satisfying. Add a big roster of characters, an entire crypt filled with extras to unlock, and strong online play, and you’ve got one of the best fighting games of the year.

Honorable Mentions