Games of the Year 2011

Written by bit-tech Staff

December 21, 2011 | 08:09

Tags: #2011 #awards #bastion #best-games #best-pc-games #game-of-the-year #goty #skyrim

Companies: #bit-gamer

Number 3 - Frozen Synapse


We've gushed plenty about Frozen Synapse ever since we first got out hands on the beta last year, immediately revelling in the heavily stylised and incredibly tense matches it created. The game has improved immeasurably since then, with a lengthy singleplayer campaign and a variety of new multiplayer modes and community features added in for the full release.

A simultaneous-turn based multiplayer tactical game with an emphasis on random elements, it's all too easy for discussion about Frozen Synapse to get bogged down in jargon. However, the core conceit of this UK-developed indie title is its simplicity - two players enter an arena and take control of identical squads, plotting their moves in five-second instalments that only play out when both parties commit to their choices.

Crucially though, you can't see what your opponent is doing, which makes matches between close friends the most interesting to watch - how well can you predict your pals? Is Harry the sort to hang back with snipers, or will he sweep randomly through the map like Joe?

If you've not played Frozen Synapse before you could anticipate this structure soon becoming tedious, especially as players can take as long to plot their moves as they need; days, if they want. In practice, though, Frozen Synapse's community features enable it to overcome this flaw by letting you juggle as many matches as you want at once. If Jamie is taking ages to get his grenadiers into pixel-perfect position, play a quick-fire match with a stranger.

'I love the asynchronous aspects of the gameplay,' said bit-tech-appointed judge David Hing. 'I want more games like this, though I'd like it more if I felt my strategy had anything to do with winning a match as opposed to just my opponent screwing up!'
Discuss this in the forums

Posted by Centy-face - Wed Dec 21 2011 08:34

Good to see Frozen Synapse and Bastion to break apart the much more obvious main stream choices.

Posted by cjoyce1980 - Wed Dec 21 2011 08:40

I really tried with deus ex but I couldn't get into this one like the previous version

it felt to like the first assassin's creed with the whole mission structures being the same, especially with the sneaking around a build bit, then finding item(s), maybe rescue someone then escape and sometimes a awful boss fight just to round it off.

for me, it never felt like the mission structure had enough variation to keep me entertained and after the about 6 hours of hinding behind computer desks/low wall/boxes the game started to where very thin.

Posted by Hovis - Wed Dec 21 2011 08:47

I'd have dropped Batman: Arkham City in there somewhere, probably in place of Deus Ex, which is a game that lost it's shine so rapidly I never even finished it.

Can't argue with Skyrim for game of the year though. It's spectacular. A work of art.

Posted by runadumb - Wed Dec 21 2011 09:05

I'm playing through bastion now and its not doing much for me. The graphics and music (oh my the music) are great but I only find myself playing it in short bursts before loading up Batman for the 10 millionth time. Its quirky and original but when I'm done I will never play it again.
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