I started this train of thought under the assumption that there were few games that were actually worth it and it was more of a quantity rather than quality year... not so!
Time for some rationalization:
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Mortal Kombat
Outland -- Great game, but Bastion is better.
Bastion
Trenched -- AWESOME Tower-Defense Game with a great sense of humor and tons of customizability. So why don't I play it more?
Catherine
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet -- Totally stylized graphics, Metroid style game. Should be all over it, but other games are taking priority.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition
Disgaea 4
Resistance 3 -- Great potential here, but I don't think I'll ever give my GOTY to a FPS.
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Why These?
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Catherine -- An "Adult" game that doesn't rely on Tits (much). Totally unique. Simple gameplay premise, but sooo addicting. Must play at the very least!
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Bastion -- Narration that makes you feel like you are part of a story as it unfolds. The weapons, skills and equippable boosts lets you play this game just as you want to!
Disgaea 4 -- Nearly every single aspect of this game in the series that redefines the word "depth" is customizable. Humor, ingenious strategy, difficulty that you can tailor to your own tastes, and post game content that lasts longer than most full games... Wow!
Deus Ex: Human Revolution -- I haven't witnessed a game which so many gamers play sooo differently. I'm taking the Stealth/Hacking Route, Travo gave up on that in 2 seconds. Archie likes to shoot people. You CAN really do it all!
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked -- Heaven vs. Hell done again in the Shin Megami universe. Apocalyptic themes where the hundreds of Demons you FUSE and the stats and Skills you trade amongst them are at your command as YOU decide which way the story turns. Handheld masterpiece done all over again for the 3DS!
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Mortal Kombat -- The MK game they've been promising for the last 15 years, but was never delivered. Klassic Gameplay, modern graphics, game modes to spare and the re-conceptualization of what "Story Mode" means in a fighter!
Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition -- Someone took one of the best 2D Fighters of all time and made it BETTER... and ONLINE!
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As much as I LOVE the other three, almost nothing in this day and age beats a game that lets YOU play it the way YOU want! Street Fighter and MK resonate with the teen in me and will always be close to my heart, but as I grow as a gamer, the FREEDOM these types of games provide REALLY makes them special!
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Bastion
Disgaea 4
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
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When it comes to SRPG's Disgaea 4 BEATS Shin Megami Tensei!
Deus Ex seems like the type of game EVEN I will play again and again! Bastion? Not so much!
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** What a long road this train of thought has become! Errr... or maybe it was a Traffic Circle all along? 
**
So it comes down to Deus Ex or Disgaea...
I'll have to play both a little more!
Undoubtedly ONE of these games will be my GOTY this year, ALL things considered!
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Deus Ex
Disgaea 4
Batman: Arkham City
Dark Souls
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
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Well, first I'd have to buy a Wii again, then actually play it thru to completion... something I haven't done with a Zelda game since...
...
...
...Oracle of Time...(?)
*Somewhere in Miami a grown man starts to cry.*
I am going to have such a hard time choosing my GOTY... no I'm not.
Right now its LittleBigPlanet 2 but even that game I dont feel that strongly for, not like the first game. And not cause its worse, its actually better, I just got occupied with other things and couldn't invest the time I did with the first. That first game was an experience I will never forget, just like Sonic games growing up, playing PSO late nights with friends, RE midnight first plays. It was something special that the sequel could just not match up with, the same has happened with PSO games, that magic will never be captured again.
Second choice right now is actually Mortal Kombat.
Dvader said:I am going to have such a hard time choosing my GOTY... no I'm not.
Right now its LittleBigPlanet 2 but even that game I dont feel that strongly for, not like the first game. And not cause its worse, its actually better, I just got occupied with other things and couldn't invest the time I did with the first. That first game was an experience I will never forget, just like Sonic games growing up, playing PSO late nights with friends, RE midnight first plays. It was something special that the sequel could just not match up with, the same has happened with PSO games, that magic will never be captured again.
Second choice right now is actually Mortal Kombat.
Zelda will be out soon don't worry.
If I'm not mistaken the only game I played (I started) which was released this year is Shadows of the Damned. Really loving it so far... BUT as you said, this is very much "before the flood". I am thinking it will be between Zelda and Dark Souls for me. Xenoblade also though it's a bit of a wildcart
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Listen to Wu-Tang and watch Kung-Fu
I'm gonna have to go with Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten on this one.
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Deus Ex is brilliant, stylized, fun to play with a great story and well crafted world...
--BUT--
Disgaea almost always trumps everything else in my eyes! Ridiculous, over-the-top but with a sound strategic base which invites (no BEGS for) you to exploit it to the fullest... The biggest complaint I've had about the series in the past years was there was no upgrade in graphics... 4 takes care of that! The characters are just as endearing as ever. The Prinny-centric plot, which goes hand in hand with the folly of Human Existence in these modern times... (Yes, really!) Disgaea always takes pertinent, REAL issues and makes them as PETTY, STUPID and TRIVIAL as they SHOULD be! You --REALLY-- just HAVE TO play one to "get it." [I'll mention this one plot point only, as I do encourage people to actually PLAY ONE of these games at least: Prinnies are the Souls of Humans, sent to Hades to work off the sins of their former lives. They are treated like crap in the Netherworld, but are comical as hell and loveable, none-the-less!]
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**I mean, c'mon... How can a game where you Bribe Zombie and Penguin Senators into passing a Bill NOT be GOTY material?!**
This was NOT a foregone conclusion! This was absolutely something I've been pondering for the last week or two! These are BOTH tremendously great games with awesome replayability, but when it comes down to it: Gritty, Sci-Fi with Moral Decisioning versus Lighthearted, Colorful and Humourous Fantasy with undertones of commentary on the Human Condition? Lighthearted and Colorful will win almost every time!
That's not to say D4 isn't serious, but it's a BEAUTIFUL Dichotomy to it's very Core! A Noble, Tyrant Vampire seeks to take over Hades using the power of SARDINES! (rather than Human Blood) by Defeating the current Corrupternment President so he can fulfill a Promise (he ALWAYS keeps his Promises!) he made to his Prinny Students and at the same time Strike Terror into the Human World to Teach them the true meaning of FEAR and Reform them from their ever-increasing corrupt and insane ways.
(Yes, Really!)
...and there you have it!
I wonder how Disgaea will hold up to the likes of Batman, Uncharted, Super Mario 3D Land and Dark Souls though? I guess we'll find out!
Wow! I just realized after reading thru this Topic and my Backloggery that I have been referring to Oracle of Ages as Oracle of Time for yeeeaaaarrrrssss now! 
phantom_leo said:Wow! I just realized after reading thru this Topic and my Backloggery that I have been referring to Oracle of Ages as Oracle of Time for yeeeaaaarrrrssss now!
OoT 2?
The Witcher 2 is still my #1 game of 2011.
I'm not going to be able to figure this out until well after 2011 because I'm still going to be playing this years games well into next year.
Which Leaves:
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Mortal Kombat
Outland
Bastion
Trenched
Catherine
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition
Disgaea 4
Resistance 3
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