During the past 12 months we’ve brought to you, our beloved readers, gaming content of all flavors. We’ve interviewed giants of the industry, reviewed the hottest games, and even put together editorials and analysis.
Chances are you missed some of our best stuff, and that’s okay. With over 1,550 articles published on the Gaming channel alone, it would be unreasonable to expect you to catch everything.
In an effort to give you a chance to see some of our best work, we’ve put together a list of what we think are CraveOnline Gaming’s best pieces of 2013. You can see them in the gallery below.
The Best of CraveOnline Gaming 2013
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50 Most Memorable Moments in Video Game History
In February Paul Tamburro put together a thorough list of 50 memorable moments in gaming. This powerful list encapsulated some of gaming's most nostalgic moments, ranging from Metal Gear Solid's Psycho Mantis fight to our first battle with a giant in Shadow of the Colossus.
"As video games have evolved, so too have the moments that define the medium. Primitive 8-bit explosions have made way for intense and elaborate action set-pieces; narratives are no longer driven by simple blocks of poorly translated text, but rather crafted by teams of writers and portrayed using expensive special effects – the landscape of gaming has changed, but CraveOnline is here to walk you through the memorable moments that have helped define it, both past and present."
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Funny Quotes from Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V was our Game of the Year 2013 for several reasons, one of which was its unrelenting humor. We decided that we should compile a list of the game's best quotes so you don't have to start the game over to experience them.
"Grand Theft Auto V is a game healthily laden with humor. Whether you're driving down the street, listening to the radio, or watching a cutscene, there's bound to be something comical happening in the world of Los Santos. Below we've compiled a list of a few of GTA V's many funny quotes:"
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Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Review
Square Enix's revival of Final Fantasy XIV startled us when it released in August. We were expecting an incremental upgrade, and were instead presented with one of the most flavorful MMOs in history.
"Unfortunately, FFXIV turned out to be a disaster, and one that myself and many others would mark as one of the greatest disappointments in gaming history. So when Square Enix announced that it would be rebuilding the game from the ground up I was happy but reserved. I knew just like the development team did that it would require an exceptional amount of effort to successfully rectify the game's shortcomings. Now that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is here, has Square Enix conquered its greatest challenge yet?"
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Assassin’s Creed IV’s Creators on Bringing Stealth to the Caribbean
After more than half a decade of Assassin's Creed releases, Ubisoft decided to take to the seas with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. We were compelled by its focus on pirates, and had some questions to share with the development crew.
"Prior to the game's release later this month, I had a chat with Lead Scriptwriter Darby McDevitt and Lead Game Designer Jean-Sébastien Décant to discuss bringing stealth to the game's Caribbean setting, its dangerous wildlife and even cheekily suggesting what the setting should be for Assassin's Creed V. Well, you've got to make the most of these opportunities, haven't you?"
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5 Awful Games That Make the End of the World Not Seem So Bad
Talking about great games is fun, but sometimes talking about awful games is even more enjoyable. We put together a list of five games that you probably shouldn't buy. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take about how amazingly bad they are, though.
"There are times when we as the human race must just sit back and say to ourselves “maybe our time has come,” that maybe we will never get better than that time we base jumped from orbit, or uploaded that cat video that tops all other cat videos. Times when it seems we've reached our potential. And conversely, there are times when we just slap our foreheads as hard as possible, stupefied by the sheer absurdity of members of our own species. This list covers the latter, not the former, by the way."
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Top 5 Worst MMO Launches in History
As great as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was, its launch was a tragic mess. That summoned our memories of some of the worst MMO launches in history. We hope to never experience anything like these ever again.
"Time and time again developers release MMOs that simply aren't ready for launch. Whether it be server issues, game glitches, or account-related problems, customers are left wondering why they play online RPGs as they rush to hop into the latest virtual world and begin leveling."
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Batman: Arkham Origins’ Voice Actors and Creative Director
Batman is one of the most iconic superheroes in American culture, and the new Batman video game series takes advantage of its potential. The latest release, Batman: Arkham Origins, sought to glide back to the dark knight's roots. Who better to talk to about it than the director and several voice actors for the game?
"While at New York Comic Con 2013 we had a chance to speak to several stars behind Batman: Arkham City. Troy Baker and Roger Craig Smith, who voice Joker and Batman respectively, took the opportunity to discuss how they will bring their characters to life. Meanwhile, Creative Director Eric Holmes spoke about the myriad of improvements and innovations coming to the latest in the Batman gaming franchise."
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Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Hands-On Preview
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls is a huge deal for not only PC gamers, but PS4 owners as well. I had a chance to play it at BlizzCon 2013 and was happy to report that what I played was truly exceptional.
"This year, not only did Blizzard announce its first expansion for Diablo 3, titled Reaper of Souls, but also the removal of the game's controversial auction house. They appear to be doing everything to make Diablo 3 the game fans wanted, but does its vision translate into reality?"
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Nvidia Says GTA 5 is Coming to PC, PC Revenue More Than PlayStation and Xbox Combined
Back before Grand Theft Auto V was even out, we broke the story that a PC version of the game is definitely in the cards. Gaming forums and comment sections across the web instantly exploded with gamers who wanted to share their opinion on the matter. Nvidia would rescind its statement, but only due to pressure from GTA V's publisher. We know it's in the cards, now it's just a matter of when it's announced and when it releases.
"With the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One both set to include AMD chips, you may feel a bit sorry for Nvidia being left out in the cold, but the company doesn't seem too worried. In fact, Nvidia believes that a lot of PC users will invest in new hardware to play games like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed IV, and Grand Theft Auto 5. Wait a minute!"
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Missing the Loneliness of Old Games
There's just something about classic games that makes them impossible to imitate. I think Joey Davidson's article back in May did the best job of describing what that quality is.
"What’s odd, though, is that we’re missing out on something a little indescribable and hollow in today’s games. The loneliness is gone."
