Inside Gaming’s Best of Gamescom 2012

There were a lot of good games in Germany this year. There were new announcements and new demos. From every corner of the convention halls, crowds lined up to play the biggest titles. So it was difficult for us to narrow down our 15 best games of the show. There was a lot of arguing, a lot of hands on time, and a lot of interviews. In the end, we came an agreement. While it was ultimately our opinion that Capcom’s Remember Me stole the show, here are Inside Gaming’s 15 best games from Gamescom 2012:

Remember Me

Why we loved it: It’s cyberpunk as hell, it features a really compelling main character, and the weather and lighting effects are insane. At first we thought it was next-gen, but then Capcom told us 2013 for Xbox 360 and PS3. SOUNDS GOOD TO US.

Far Cry 3

Why we loved it: In the words of Adam Kovic: “It’s like Skyrim with guns.”

Call of Duty Black Ops 2

Why we loved it: The gravitas that Treyarch has approached the story with is really showing through in all facets of the game. They are clearly passionate about the issues they’re tackling. Plus the additions to multiplayer look great.

Guardians of Middle Earth

Why we loved it: The license is really approachable, but it’s really the gameplay that has us addicted to what’s in this little downloadable game. Not many of us on IG play MOBAs, but this game has us reconsidering our position on the genre. It’s fast, accessible, and works like a dream on the controller.

Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel

Why we loved it: Frostbite, Frostbite, Frostbite. The level of environmental destruction being showcased in the gameplay is amazing.

Dead Space 3

Why we loved it: The story of Isaac Clarke is a big favorite around here, and the fear-inducing sci-fi aesthetics of the series just tickles us in all the right ways. MOAR DEAD SPACE.

Hitman Absolution

Why we loved it: Contracts mode looks like a really great way to keep users interested in creating custom content. Even better, in order to make a great assassination level, you have to be good at the game.

Dishonored

Why we loved it: Because you can teleport to the top of a building, slow down time, shoot a crossbow at someone’s head, and then throw his body into a river. That’s why.

DmC

Why we loved it: The new level and boss fight at Gamescom were unlike anything we expected from a Devil May Cry title; it was uniquely twisted and insanely creative. Ninja Theory’s take on Dante is one we want to jump into head first.

God of War: Ascension

Why we loved it: Because we can’t believe a game can look this good. It literally blows us away every time we see it in motion.

Tomb Raider

Why we loved it: The new Lara Croft has a strong appeal as a character, and the world she’s exploring feels rich and dangerous, like any good adventure world should be.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Why we loved it: It’s beautiful, like visual poetry. The cast of characters is iconic, and the mechanics are solid. This is the next great 3D fighter.

Assassin’s Creed 3

Why we loved it: The Wii U demo of Boston is incredible. The way Ubisoft has recreated colonial America is extremely compelling, doubly so given all of us at IG are American.

The Last of Us

Why we loved it: We’ve never seen a game that conveys raw emotion so powerfully simply through gameplay. The voice acting and performance capture is also world class, as Naughty Dog fans have come to expect.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Why we loved it: We’ve never seen a fighting game with such detailed backgrounds that change and get destroyed during gameplay like they do in Injustice. Everything about the presentation is just so cinematic for the genre.