Topic: Biggest gaming pleasant surprises/ disappointments of the year?

So the year (in terms of new game releases) is nearly over. Some surprises for everyone, no doubt, and some disappointments.

For me the biggest disappointments have been Skyrim, which was not the game I was hoping it would be, and filled with shoddy bugs, and the Nintendo eShop, which has not shown that Nintendo understands downloadables at all.

Pleasant surprises for me was Xenoblade, which, while I didn't think it was the amazing JRPG that others did, was still better than I thought it would be.

I shall put down more as I think of them, but it's your turn!

My biggest surprise would probably be Dead or Alive Dimensions. I had never played a fighting game in my life (aside from arcade machine distractions), but this game just wouldn't stop entertaining me. So far, I've clocked over 40 hours with this title, and I've really only played as one character the entire time. Impressive visuals, immersive combat, this game just never gets old for me!
_{Shame no one's online though...}

Disappointment? Hmm...
Oh, how about Pokemon White? I'm not saying the game's bad, but I realized with this iteration that the Poke-forumula is starting to wear thin on me. I've gotten to the fourth badge, and I haven't touched it since. Even though it's a new game, with all sorts of enhancements, I still get the feeling that I've done everything before...

Your just on a role today.

Biggest win, win for me this year was the 3DS. I loved playing Ocarina of Time 3D, and Zelda 2. Also the cool new features and the Eshop are very nice additions. Always room for improvements though.

And Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, and Monster Hunter P3rd should be highlights as well.

Disappointments would have to be: Modern Warfare 3 and Arkham City. MW3 got really boring and Batman wasn't what I wanted...

_{I'd say Zelda as well but I need to finish it first before ranting about it.}

Disappoint
Wii-U unveiling
Kinect Kinect Kinect
3DS third parties not knowing when to release games.
Vita not releasing this year.
Bethesda taking notch to court over the word scrolls.
proprietary memory.

Suprise
Super Mario 3D Land
Rayman Origins
wind-up knight
Vita

Surprises:

Corpse Party being released in America.
Skylanders.
Cave Story 3DS and the fact that the new graphics actually added to the experience without ruining it.

And I wasn't disappointed by anything, as far as I can remember.

Pleasant surprises:

• Super Mario 3D Land - I thought this game might be rushed to give the 3DS a much needed sales-boost, and to be honest it didn't look so hot from the trailers. It is now one of if not my favorite Mario games ever.
• BIT.TRIP FLUX - I know I know, I love BIT.TRIP, but believe or not I didn't think this could be my favorite BIT.TRIP game before it came out. I mean come on, a BEAT sequel? Are they out of ideas? But luckily this has the best music and visual experience I've ever seen in a video game, as well as the deepest use of player interaction I've ever seen. This is a profound game, possibly my all-time favorite.

Disappointments:

• Puzzle Agent 2 - The build-up to the reveal of the mystery was amazing in the first game, but the resolution in this game left so much to be desired. It was obviously rushed and not well thought-out, story-wise, disappointing as often as not. It's still a great game, but not what I was hoping for it to be.
• The 3DS Launch - It's my own fault for buying at launch, I know, but seeing the system on sale for $145 less than a year after release was like a punch in the gut, especially considering there weren't even any must-have games for it until November 13th. I'd much rather have my $100 back than the lame Ambassador games, and have learned my lesson about buying Nintendo systems at launch.

I need to do homework so that's all for now, but great thread and I look forward to reading more responses.

Biggest disappointment...
[youtube:QVU6v53ow8k]

...I'll get back to you on most pleasant surprise.

I forgot about the outage. That was terrible. All I had to play was Mortal Kombat. Which was AWFUL.

Mortal Kombat was pleasantly surprising. I expected it to be bad. The story mode particularly was neat. I was disappointed no one else I knew cared.

surprise Tanooki Mario
Disappointment the "True" Nintendo fans.... they wine and complain about Nintendo "not getting it"

You just described every fanbase ever.

Gaming related Pleasant Surprise: Agreeing with a Mario Kart review, Actually liking a Fantasy Western RPG, Solatorobo getting released in the U.S., and Getting 4-discs worth of soundtracks for The King of Fighters....

Disappointments: Ar Tonelico Qoga:Knell of Ar Ciel, Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny, and Fate/Extra. Oh Yeah, and no Xenoblades for NA.

Surprise:
The Nintendo 3DS.
Super Mario 3D Land.

Disappointments:
3 WORDS;
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER

Biggest surprises:

• 3DS (I love how the graphics are very close to Wii quality)
• Super Mario 3D Land
• Zelda: Skyward Sword (I absolutely love the watercolor graphics, the controls are almost perfect, and the music is fantastic)
• Saint's Row: The Third
• Kirby's Return to Dreamland
• How loud certain games are on my 3DS (3D Classics Kirby's Adventure)
• Uncharted series
• Sonic Generations (I love how it blends Sonic Colors / Unleashed with Classic Sonic gameplay)

Biggest disappointments:

• Manually calibrating the PS Move (you have to manually calibrate the controller every time you start a game, yet the Wii Remote Plus calibrates itself automatically)
• Princess Peach's new voice (I hate the way she yells "MAAAAAAAARIIIOOOOOOO!" in Super Mario 3D Land, so annoying)
• Buying a PS3 over an Xbox 360 (wish I could play Halo on my PS3)
• The PS3's "XMB" menu (so bland and boring compared to the Xbox 360 Dashboard)
• How small the text is in most PS3 games
• Sonic Generations was way too short (not enough levels from each represented game, and only 4 main bosses?)

Anyone want to buy a PS3 with 6 games and an HDMI cable?

pleasants:
Sonic Generations (PS3, not some lame Ninty iteration): THought this would end up much like most 3D Sonics, but it shone trhough and offered great gameplay.
Discovery of the HIBs: Freaking love the Humble Bundles, several great games for 1 cent? Yes please!
Skyrim Sword: Can't believe a Nintendo game actually turned out great.

Dissapoints:
Sonic Generations (Again, superior console version): Yes, this is in both pleasans and dissapoints. THis game was way too short.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception: This is Sony, how could it not be amazing? The story was incredible, so were the graphics, and even the gameplay. i just didn't like the levels as much as the ones in Uncharted 2.
Demon's Souls: OH MY GOD HALF HEALTH AND HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE FIRST BOSS OH DEAR GOD. _{That's all I have to say}

My biggest surprise of the year would probably have to be Xenoblade Chronicles.
I was expecting something great before I got it, but it blew away my expectations.

Surprises: Radiant Historia - Where did this game come from? Like a week before it was released I heard one person mention it and then everyone's like "dude, buy this game" and I did and it was amazing.
AR Gaming - Thought I would hate this as a completely lame gimmick. But while not amazing, it's kinda fun...on 3DS at least.
Nintendo 3DS failing and Nintendo actually doing something about it - This will be good for Nintendo in the long term. I hope they've learned something.

Dissappointments:
Nintendo fails so much. Especially in America - N64 wasn't this lacking in games. Despite Nintendo being ahead. That is pathetic.
Vita is the best handheld ever and will own 3DS with... largely inferior versions of PS3 games...whee.
Capcom becomes a parody of itself with greed.

everything else was kinda completely expected or I don't know/care

Pleasant Surprises:
Skyrim (PS3) - I could never get into Oblivion so it was a surprise when this turned out to be one of my favorite games all year.
The 3DS - I only own one actual 3DS game currently but I really enjoy some of the new features.
Catherine (PS3) - I've been looking for some fun puzzle games for a long time. This one balances difficulty and fun quite nicely.

Disappointments:
The PSN outage...
Dead Island (PS3) - It was a great game but I got it judging from the trailer and word of mouth. I set my expectations a bit high.
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D - They charged full price for a beefed up mini-game with no option for deleting saves...

Surprises:
Mortal Kombat being totally awesome.
The 3DS pulling out of its tailspin
Rayman Origins

Disappointments
Duke Nukem 3D- Although what was I expecting?
Uncharted 3-Not bad, but I was expecting something other than Uncharted 2.5.

I don't know if you're trolling or being serious. If you really think the Vita will succeed with mostly PS3-style games, then have fun thinking that. And your comment about Nintendo being a complete failure reeks of anti-fanboyism. It's ok to have an opinion, but if you don't state your reasons to back it up, then you look like a fool. And no one likes a fool.