TechSmart 121, October 2013 TechSmart 123, December 2013 | Page 48

GAMES

5

This year has been a terrific one for games, with
a number of fantastic titles demanding players’
leisure time. It was a difficult process, but here,
at last, our Top 5 for the year.

Top
games of 2013

Tomb Raider

5

4

Grand Theft Auto V

Rebirth of a legend

F-bombs and bullets

Poor Lara Croft. In times past, a fixation with the intrepid explorer’s assets
seemed to blot out just what a compelling character she is. Thankfully
though, Crystal Dynamics’ reboot of the series, which tells an origin story
of how a younger Lara became who we know her to be, was one of this
year’s true gems. Along with giving us a superbly well realised female
protagonist who seemed to leap from the screen with both depth and
grit, Tomb Raider was also a damn fine action adventure in its own right,
offering a number of ‘did that just happen!’ moments.

Grand Theft Auto V is not in fact a documentary of life in Joburg in game
form as you may have first thought, but rather, an immersive adventure
into an open world that is just as, if not more, mad, bad, lewd and crude
– and these are its good points. The game is unapologetically violent,
with its cutting satire of society been sprayed as liberally as F-bombs and
bullets. While tracking the lives of three very different criminals, players
can also indulge in just as much (virtual) recreation as criminal activity.
Not a tutorial for living here, but a game well worth your time.

Top 3 of 2013:
Readers’ choice
You had your say at our online poll
– here is your selection for 2013.
1. GTA V
2. FIFA 14
3. The Last of Us

46

3

DmC: Devil May Cry
Sliced, diced and sworn at

Kicking off the year was this gem from Ninja Theory, a stylish reboot of
the Devil May Cry franchise that had us gleefully lopping off the limbs
of an assortment of demons. Dante also brought the right amount of
attitude, swagger and a potty mouth that would make Dexter’s Debra
Morgan blush. It also helped that the game boasted an interesting story
and was a blast to play, offering fluid combat, an array of interesting
weapons, levels dripping with atmosphere, and engaging boss fights.
Like many of Ninja Theory’s underrated titles, it most certainly was a
standout for us.

December 2013 | TechSmart