Likable and interesting characters - that's what's really important for a good game (and a good movie for that matter) and yet we see so little of those lately.

Think back to the last game you played where the characters were interesting enough to make you actually care about what's going to happen to them.

When I think about it, there are a few games on the list, but few of them were released in 2012. The Walking Dead, understandably, comes to mind first since it was released only a few months ago and it's really one of the most memorable adventure games I've played.

You'd think that games like Dishonored and Diablo 3 would offer more in that department, but they really don't. The truth is that they leave a lot to be desired.

Still, remember games like Dragon Age: Origins and Knights of the Old Republic where the developers clearly put a lot of thought into how the characters should be allowed to shape during a playthrough.

Characterization has become one of the key ingredients to a worthwhile gaming experience. That, of course, and a well-written storyline.