14 DAY TRIAL // 2014 has just come to an end, and looking back on the last 12 months through the Softpedia Game of the Year 2014 Awards, I have to admit that it was one stellar year for gamers, no matter their preferred platforms.
Over the years, there have been some truly spectacular releases, but even the most hardcore PS3 or Xbox 360 users have to admit that, throughout 2012 or 2013, very few jaw-dropping titles appeared, mostly because they were weighed down by the old hardware.
However, in 2014, the PS4 and Xbox One rose to power, and thanks to a healthy adoption rate, they're now great targets for video game developers, in addition to the always-popular PC.
As such, there were a lot of high-profile releases that amazed not just through gameplay but also visuals, design, and other such things.
Many games impressed last year
The winner of most of our Game of the Year Awards – Dragon Age: Inquisition – is a great example, as thanks to the Frostbite 3 engine, BioWare managed to bring forth not just a great role-playing experience but also a gorgeous-looking one that sets a new benchmark for open-world experiences.
Meanwhile, other games also innovated to some degree, with one of the biggest being Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor through its Nemesis system. While Inquisition looks and plays great, Mordor brings the open world and the enemies scattered throughout it to life, giving them purpose and fleshing out the Uruk captains or war chiefs, allowing for some intense experiences.
Other titles that strived to take things forward include Titanfall, thanks to its online-only competitive shooter experience, that had agile pilots and hulking mechs, but also South Park: The Stick of Truth, thanks to its adaptation of the TV show characters and elements.
This was also a good year for eSports, with Dota 2 hosting the biggest tournament ever in terms of prize money, while Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, or Hearthstone rose to new heights in terms of popularity.
Consoles received some vibrant exclusives last year, with the PS4 getting Infamous: Second Son and a myriad of smaller, independent efforts that delighted Sony fans. Meanwhile, Microsoft treated Xbox One users with stellar new IPs like Sunset Overdrive, not to mention great releases like Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Some disappointed, however
Sure, there were quite a few disappointments last year, with Destiny being arguably one of them. While many were upset about its repetitive gameplay or its lackluster story, quite a few people are still revisiting the online experience to try out new activities and events.
There were also some nasty surprises, especially towards the end of the year, when it comes to online services, as both Sony's PlayStation Network and Microsoft's Xbox Live were under fire from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks, not to mention the traditional rush of fans during the holiday season.
Meanwhile, games such as Assassin's Creed Unity suffered from major glitches at launch or online problems, which affected Driveclub, The Crew, and many more.
Even so, looking back on the last 12 months, it's clear that all types of gamers had something great to enjoy in 2014. Looking to the future, 2015 is shaping up to be a pretty good year as well, so let's hope for the best.
