GOTY 2012 - Best of the Rest

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Best of the Rest
Some games just didn't fit the bill for certain categories.  Some combine puzzles and guns, or may be technically a platformer but I don't consider it to be, etc etc.  Fighting games and beat em ups included since I didn't play enough of them throughout the year for their own category.  And with that, here is the last genre specific list.

Honorable Mention:
Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis) - A great beat-em up with some sweet weapons, Streets of Rage 2 is a Genesis classic.  A little too slow for my tastes, and me not being a big beat-em up fan in the first place this game won't get much higher on my list.  Still a great game though.

Honorable Mention:
Burning Rangers (Sega Saturn) - Fun, unique game by Sonic Team.  I thoroughly enjoyed it throughout, especially the soundtrack.  It did lack some things, namely good controls and graphical problems throughout the game.  This NEEDS to be remade and I was so happy to see a Burning Rangers track in Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed with a sweet remix of the Burning Rangers theme song.

#5 - Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
This was a game recommended to me, and I must say I was impressed.  Only problem is that I suck terribly at the game.  If I was any good this game might be higher on the list but I just frankly can't get very far in the game.

#4 - Ms Pac Man (Atari 2600 and Atari 800 versions)
I had played Ms. Pac Man in the arcades before (who hasn't?) so this wasn't much of a surprise.  The Atari 2600 version is vastly different from the arcade but almost in a good way.  The ghosts are so freakin random and move at varying speeds throughout the game because of the Atari 2600's oldness but it kind of adds a new dimension to the game.  The Atari 800 version is the most arcade perfect version I've ever played, and for that it deserves a nod on this list.  Other version I played this year was the SNES version, which was actually quite good, and the Genesis version which sucked miserably.

#3 - Christmas Nights Into Dreams (Sega Saturn)
I never understood Nights Into Dreams until I played the Christmas version.  I highly recommend this especially around Christmas time, it really gets you in a festive mood.  Although this version is only a demo, I prefer it over the original Nights Into Dreams because of the sweet music and festive gameplay, along with presents you get when beating levels.  There's a lot packed into this demo so make sure to play it various times throughout the year.

#2 - Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (SNES)
If you've never played any of the Battletoads games that is a shame.  I hadn't before this year either so don't feel bad.  It takes a very light hearted and comical approach to the traditional beat-em up that I found very appealing.  This one barely won out over the NES Battletoads game, but both are extremely fun and not too expensive.

#1 - Portal 2 (Xbox 360)
I need to buy this game at some point.  I played it for awhile and I had a blast with it even though I had some trouble with the puzzles.  It's an extremely unique game and I applaud the developers for coming up with an original idea.  We need more games like Portal 2 nowdays and for that reason it takes #1 on the Best of the Rest list this year.