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The Best Achievements And Trophies Of 2012

Whether you love them, hate them, or forget they exist until they pop on your screen and interrupt your game, achievements and trophies have become a (literally) required aspect of all PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games.

I fall into the love camp, and these are some of my favorites from 2012. The achievements and trophies that I find most interesting aren't the ones that mark your progress in a storyline or reward you for attaining a certain number of headshots. I like the ones that force you to think outside of the normal functions of the game, or simply reward you for doing something weird.

Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect is a game that’s all about its story, and as such many of its achievements tie into specific  storyline moments. This is one that you have to go out of your way to get, and it's not easy. When you do pull it off though, it feels great.
Hijacker – Hijack an Atlas Mech

Journey
I actually have a very specific story as to why I like these Trophies so much, and you can read about them right here.
Ancestors – Find a mysterious creature hidden in the temple
Reflection – Sit and meditate with another player for more than 20 seconds

Dance Central 3
I got this achievement organically, and it made me laugh. Basically you get an achievement for being indecisive in your music choice.
Just pick something! – Skipped 5 songs in Party Time

Fez
This achievement, in a way, defines what is so amazing about Fez. It forces you to think outside of the traditional boundaries of video games in order to find an unlock everything.
Achievement unlocked – RTRTLTRTRTLTLTLT

Prototype 2
Born of an Internet meme, karate kicking a helicopter feels pretty damn good.
Arcade action – Karate kicked a helicopter

Read on for more of the best Achievements and Trophies of 2012.

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Comments
  • Under Borderlands 2, you forgot "Well That Was Easy" for the mission "Shoot me in the face"
  • AC3's how do you like them apples achievement was my favorite of the year
  • I guess I'm missing out, I never really pay attention to them.

  • In Uncharted 3, you can smack some people around with fish and earn "He's Gonna Need a Sturgeon"

  • excellent list. I do enjoy getting trophies and achievements, though i usually dont set my focus on them until after completing the game.

  • It was kill donkey mong, not donkey kong.

  • To this day, the best Achievement I've ever gotten was from that obscure FPS "Darkest of Days", and the achievement was "Horse Puncher: Punch a Horse in the face, killing it".

  • The one that stands out most for me this year is AC3's "How D'ya like them apples" The all-time standout for me is "Irony" in Bioshock. I got that one as a surprise for doing something in the game that I wouldn't have expected the devlopers to expect the player to do. It was so awesome!
  • i <3 achievements

  • The Borderlands one doesn't say Donkey Kong. It was Donkey Mong. Since the enemy was a Bullymong.

  • One does not simply choose the best Achievements/Trophies.
  • fully went for slapping someone with a fish  in sleeping dogs ... it was suprisingly hard too

  • You know what didn't get on here that should have?

    Lollipop Chainsaw:

    I Swear! I Did It By Mistake!

    Peeped under Juliet's skirt once.

    That was soo hard to do. But **BRAAAHHHH** if I wasn't curious.

  • Actually, guys the Atlas Achievement is easy to get.All ya gotta do is take the atlas on the school mission and get the achievement.
  • Nice list, love seeing random achievements.

  • Mass Effect 3: Uncover the horrific origins of an enemy.                            Lego LoTR: Drop Isildur in the fire pitts of Mount Doom during the prologue mission (this one is a little tricky).

  • I'm a trophy hunter myself but I felt that Journey didn't really need them...

  • I didn't realize so many people like achievements. I should have guessed so since they made them mandatory, but they always seemed a gimmick to me.

  • What about from Borderlands 2

    "Well That Was Easy"- Complete the quest Shoot This Guy in the Face.

    Knock knock.

    Who's there?

    SHOOT ME IN THE FACE!!

    End of joke.

  • Ahh come on. Where's the MGS HD Collection? Some of those trophies are hilarious.
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