411 Games Top 5 12.29.11: Week 146 - Our Favorite Portable Games

Posted by Todd Vote on 12.29.2011

From Street Fighter Alpha 3, Angry Birds and Phoenix Wright to Chrono Trigger, Super Scribblenauts and more, the 411 staff ranks their top 5 games for portable systems!

Welcome back, last week we talked about our favorite console games of 2011. Let's take a look at some of the feedback from that.

Comment Time with Toddo!

Where the fuck is Uncharted 3?
Posted By: RBZ (Guest)

Uncharted 3?????????????
Posted By: FCT in 3D (Guest)

Uncharted 3?????????????
Posted By: FCT in 3D (Guest) on December 22, 2011 at 08:03 AM

that game is overrated. its the same game as uncharted 2.
Posted By: Guest#4979 (Guest)

I love the Uncharted series, but the third installment was a major disappointment when compared to the first two. It's the only one of the bunch I traded back, and I did that within three days. I'll pick it back up as a greatest hit to re-complete the full collection, but for my money (70 bucks worth) it was the biggest video game disappointment of the year.
Posted By: Bahb (Guest)

For my money - $29.99 which is what I paid for it (really you couldn't find ANY deal for it?), it was probably the best game value all year.
Posted By: Guest#8630 (Guest)

Guys, calm down. Just because you didn't see Uncharted here, doesn't mean it wasn't a great game. But as other feedback points, some were extremely disappointed with Drake's 3rd adventure. You may not have seen it make any lists here in the top 5, but who knows, maybe it will pop up in the best of the year column that Garmer is working on.

I like the first guy's list giving some love to awesome Kirby and Rayman games. The other guys all had pretty much the same list without a single person putting Zelda, Mario 3dland, or Kart 7 on their list. Pretty lame.
Posted By: ee (Guest)

Well, about that... Here just tell 'em Guest:

...Did I read the title wrong?
The title says CONSOLE... Not HANDHELD.

Kirby Mass Attack, Solatorobo, Plants vs Zombies...
Posted By: Guest#5939 (Guest)

There you have it. Last week was consoles, this week is portable games.

Glad I'm not the only one who was disappointed in Uncharted 3. The damn game was almost devoid of story, with Chloe and Elena virtually absent, and the main characters literally asking Drake "why are you doing this?" at multiple points. When your own characters don't understand their motivation, that's a disaster. The game came off as a Capcom-style cash grab. I got it for $30 and just sold it back to Amazon for $22, and I'd say the $8 it cost is about what it was worth.

Very disappointed Catherine isn't on anyone's list. That game was original, challenging, and fun enough that I've kept it for further playthroughs even after beating it four times.

Batman Arkham City is so good it makes other games seem bad by comparison. I was burned out on the open world concept but Rocksteady just nailed everything. Great to see a game earn the hype.

2011 has been the best year for games in a long while.
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Registered)

2011 was a great year for games. Whatever your pleasure, there was something this year for you. Fight game fans had MK, and several thousand MvC updates. Shooter fans had Battlefield, Cod, and a whole host of others. It was definitely one of the better gaming years in my mind.

LISTS!!

5) LA Noire
4) Dead Space 2
3) InFamous 2
2) Portal 2
1) Batman: Arkham City
Posted By: Guest#2304 (Guest)

1 - Arkham City
2 - LA Noire
3 - Skyrim
4 - Uncharted 3
5 - Mass Effect 2

I own all 3 consoles and have to say I haven't turned the wii on but a handful of times all year.

Ever since Kinnect came out I don't even touch it, hence why there are NO wii games on this list. There hasn't been one wii game has come out where it's like OMG I HAVE to play it (Zelda included)
Posted By: greenguy (Guest)

5. Mario Kart 7
4. Arkym City
3. Dragon Age 2 (fuck the haters)
2. Mortal Kombat
1. Skyrim
Posted By: stronelis (Guest)

My top 5
4. saints row the third
3. modern warfare 3
2. skyrim
1. gears of war 3
And i can't think of a 5th because these are all i liked to list
Posted By: Guest#2718 (Guest)

honorable mentions: l.a. noire, dues ex:human revolution, portal 2, batman arkam city, dead space 2...
wow... there are so many good games, hard to pick just 5!
5. dead island
4. battlefield 3
3. gears of war 3
2. mortal kombat
1. skyrim
Posted By: Guest#9431 (Guest)

Here's my list in no particular order:

Mortal Kombat
The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Mario Kart 7
WWE All Stars

Actually, this is all I can think of right now. I didn't buy many games this year, lol. I had/am having lots of fun with all these games though. My brother has Arkham City so I could play that, but I'm holding off until after I beat Skyward Sword.
Posted By: Yup. (Guest)

And, our comment of the week

Just don't get how MW3 or Uncharted 3 isn't on here, yet shit bag games like MvC3 are here.
Posted By: Guest#4963 (Guest)

Oh, that's easy. It's because the guys who submitted their lists, didn't have those games in their personal top 5. Really, a brainbusting quandary, I'll give you that.
Posted By: Lanoit (Guest)

Finally someone gets it. If it isn't on our list, who cares? These are our lists, yours can be different. It's okay. thank you Lanoit for cracking me up, and finally hopefully getting that point across. That's the feedback for this week. Thanks for reading, and keep it coming kids



This week we continue our look at our favorites, only this time out we are looking at portable gaming. Same formula as last week. If you have only one portable system, list your five favorites on there. If you have multiple portable systems, break it down any way you want. For the purpose of broadening the scope a bit, I am making it okay to include cell phone games as well as games that may only appear on a tablet. Not as many lists this week, though that was to be expected. Unfortunately, I mistakenly posted the subject as top portable games, and not top portable games of 2011, so some lists may contain some older games, my bad on that one. Quick note, this week's Reader Voice comes to us by way of Donald Stewart's wife. Donald wasn't much of a portable gamer, much like myself. So he had the wifey throw a list together. Yes, his wife is a gamer. How lucky is he?

Dan Watson

5. Bubble Blast 2 - I love a game that is endless and allows me to pick up and play for a few minutes. Bubble Blast 2 continues to release tons of levels and also is hard enough that I can't just fly through the game.

4. WordFeud/ Words with Friends - What better way to waste time than playing Scrabble over the phone. This has gotten me through numerous conference calls and regional meetings and always works out well in the end.



3. Bejeweled 2 - I love puzzle games. This game has always been a favorite of mine and being on the cell phone really helps me get through the rough days. I have really enjoy the entire series as long as the screen is big enough to select the right jewels.

2. Angry Birds - I have loved playing this game. It is very challenging to me as I am going to perfection but hey that is just me. This game is pretty cool, especially for a cell phone.

1. Tetris Of course the top game on every list should be Tetris. This is a solid game that has survived over twenty years of gaming. The game is amazing and has spawned many different spinoffs. This game is awesome for puzzle lovers.

READER VOICE Mrs. Stewart

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Big Brain Acadamy - DS - Released in 2006 this 'test your brain age' game was one of the first to be released on the DS. Going through a selection of mini games it can calculate your brain age and various other factors. My wife mentioned that this had a good multiplay component in that you could play against other ds users and compare your scores to them.

5.Angry Birds - Various - With 500 million downloads and sales this game is a phenomenon. Simple gameplay has you propelling your angry bird towards the hungry pigs in an attempt to retrieve your eggs that they have stolen. You attempt to eliminate the pigs to save the eggs. This game is a pure success for the creators, Rovio, and has since went multiplatform with versions appearing on android phones, computers and rumoured Xbox 360. There is also a stuffed toy range, and the images of angry birds/hungry pigs have even been used for satirical news purposes. Talk about main stream.



4.Nintendogs DS - One of the launch titles for the DS this game was a commercial and critical success. Players take their dog, and attempt to teach and train it just like a pokemon. Different versions of the game where released with different breeds of dog and different items for your canine friend to use. Appealing to all levels of gamer from child to adult this was a fun filled family friendly game. Woof!

3.Phoenix Wright Series DS - The popular anime lawyer adventure game gives players a chance to take part in a stylised legal setting and attempt to prove the innocence or guilt of the accused. From the strong stories to the cast of characters these games have proven to be extremely popular to DS audiences. Capcom have also got a movie in the works. My wife enjoyed these games due to the adventure game styling and that it reminded her of LucasArts point and click games. OBJECTION!

2.Professor Layton Series DS - With five games and a movie, tthe Professor Layton series shows no signs of slowing down. With fiendish puzzles and endearing characters plus voice acting, this is one series that she enjoyed. The puzzles are brain taxing without too much head scratching giving you a real sense of accomplishment once beaten and the story keeps you wondering what's going on and coming back for more. Good times

1.Hotel Dusk Room 215 DS -This interactive novel has you controlling PI Kyle Hyde. The game uses both screens of the DS in conjunction with the stylus to create an unique experience. Players have to unravel the mystery of the vanishing of your ex partner and the secret of the hotel. With a strong story and some memorable characters, its easy to see why she enjoyed it so much. A sequel was released in Europe and Japan last year though no more will be made as the company has went under. So lets enjoy what they made. take the notes and solve the case!

And now, R. Lee Ermey

Adam Larck

Adam's list contains only iOS games

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Tiny Wings - I don't know why, but launching that little bird from island to island is too entertaining.

Words with Friends - I like Scrabble, so of course I like being able to challenge my friends on the go.

Bloons TD 4 - I like most TD games, but Bloons really stands out to me on the iPhone for a fun time.

Swords & Sworcery LP - I'm still not sure how to describe this game, but the story and gameplay is definite worth a look, just to see how different it is from most iOS games.

5. Robot Unicorn Attack - Say what you will, but RUA is a simplistic and fun game. You simply have to jump your robot unicorn from island to island while destroying stars. Between that, the dolphins that start jumping around and the soundtrack, it's a different experience, but an entertaining one.

4. Crayon Physics Deluxe - One of my more recent acquisitions, it just seems made for the iPhone. Using your fingers to draw simple shapes to solve levels is relaxing, yet rewarding. Plus, there's always the challenge of figuring out what other shapes you could draw to solve a level quicker.

3. Super Scribblenauts - Another game that seems made more for iPhone. The controls seem more fluid, and gameplay just seemed to flow better. Plus, with the latest update, you can just say the word you want on newer iPhones. Definitely a game not to miss.



2. Angry Birds - Angry Birds has never been a big addiction to me like it has to other people. I like playing it from time to time, but never have fully beaten it. It's catapult formula is simple, but has been refined enough to make it work nicely. There's a reason it's usually around the top five for purchases.

1. Jetpack Joyride - My top iPhone game. I'm not sure what it is about this game, but I always love wasting a few minutes here and there with this. Seeing how far you can get is fun, sure, but I also like to just go after the challenges and try to unlock every jetpack and costume. As long as updates keep coming for this, I'll keep playing.

Francisco Ramirez

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Pokemon - Got to give the devil his due.

5.Chrono Trigger - It's on the PS Store now, it's downloadable, and playable on the PSP. What more can you ask for? The game is legendary, it still holds up today. What better game to take on the fly, especially with the multiple endings.

4. Lumines - One part Tetris, one part rave. This flashy puzzle game is a great way to kill some time. The game can be simple,but the challenge definitely picks up.

3. Jeanne D'arc - Level 5 crafted one hell of a gem with this game. With Final Fantasy Tactics having countless ports, why not try something original. The retelling and re-imagining of the Joan of Arc story in strategy RPG form is one of the better games in the PSP library.

2. Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX - Who could of imagined the definitive version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 would be on the PSP? It happened, it still holds up, and the amount of features in the game is insane. Street Fighter goodness in portable form.



1. Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - I've been addicted to this game for a while now. A great battle system, customization options galore, and enough side quests to give the game an extra 20 hours of life. For those like me that have been disappointed as far as JRPG options this gen need to look no further than the PSP library.

What Toddo Plays:

So, as I told JT last week, I would get back into some WWE '12 to test out my theory on winning the tag titles. and I was well on my way to testing said theory when my CAW was injured in a match defending my WWE Championship against The Rock. Not being able to find anywhere that displays how long the CAW would be sidelined, and with the Money in The Bank PPV looming in just a few short weeks, I decided to duplicate my CAW and just try to get him in the MitB match, so I could net that achievement. Now that I have won Money in the Bank, I intend to get back to the tag titles. Stay tuned, I'm determined to figure this out.

I've also ramped up the difficulty, and I am playing on hard. I played on Legend for a few matches. I can win them, but sometimes they just run way to long. Hard mode offers a good challenge, and still leaves that chance of getting beat. I may have to turn it back down to experiment with winning the titles. We shall see.

Over the holiday, I finally got my hands on New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Oh my god, that shit is fun!!! I love the way you can play the game with a friend, and then either be cooperative, or competitive in the game. Now in addition to wanting a PS3, I may have to re-add a Wii to my wishlist. Damn it!! Anyways, During the holiday, I also got to try out a few other Wii games, most notable being the Wii version of RE4. I didn't think I would like the game using the wii-mote as an aiming device, but I was pleasantly surprised. I much prefer the aiming on this to the tiny red line on the GameCube version.

For all intents and purposes, I am done with the Multiplayer in Battlefield. I've gave it several shots over a couple of months, and it just isn't for me. I still plan to play through the single player campaign, as well as the co-op missions before getting rid of it though. Anyone want to trade BF3 for a copy of MW3? I'd be willing to use another writer on the site as sort of a midpoint person if there is any interest. We both send our games to him, and when he has them both, he ships them off to their respective destinations. If there is no interest, I will trade it in at Gamestop, no worries, just thought I would throw it out there.

Lastly, I received a 1600 MS point card for Christmas... Any recommendations on which XBLA title to purchase with part of that?

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That's it. That is the final edition of the Top 5 for 2011. It really has been a great year for gaming, all things considered, with the tail end of the year typically loaded with great games. What games would make your best of list for portable systems? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments section. If you celebrate the New Year, be sure to do so in moderation, and for the sake of all things good, find a designated driver. If you won't do it for the safety of others, think of all the money you will save by not being picked up for an OWI. It is not cheap, and could lead to a whole host of other problems for you. So, as cliche as it may seem, drink responsibly... unless you are under 21... in which case you don't want to drink at all. We'll see you all next year.

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