THPS2>THUG>THPS1=THPS3. There we go. I think everything after THUG was terrible. And to stay on topic, in 2012 I look forward to Persona 4 the ultimate in mayonaka arena, soul calibur v, and I guess DJ technika for vita if that ever comes out and I ever get a vita.
I actually forget which levels are from THUG and which are from THUG2 a lot of the time... THPS2 probably had the most profound effect on me overall, but looking back, the lines on THPS4 are just incredibly well designed. The number of possibilities on a level like Altacraz is mind blowing.
Some of the games post-THPS3 had a few good levels I could just never get back into the franchise after Aggressive Inline. Granted all those Matt Hoffman BMX games sucked but AI offered some huge levels and interesting design changes before THPS4 and I felt it actually had a better objective structure. I'm surprised anyone can get excited about a new Soul Calibur game after the last two. I loved the original on Dreamcast and SC2 on Gamecube but the series has been going downhill for years now. Character customization and women with cartoonishly unrealistic proportions don't make up for lackluster gameplay. I'm willing to bet even the character designers behind the DOA franchise took one look at 50 year old Ivy with her laughably large yet non-droopy boobs and went "WTF are they thinking?". Looking forward to picking up the original SC on iOS tomorrow though, way better then SC4.
I'm looking forward to SSX and probably Borderlands 2. Also Paper Mario 3DS if that comes out (will have to get the 3DS from my kids, though In fact Paper Mario would be #1, but I don't know if it's coming out this year or not.
