Looks like Undertale got shafted for best music. I was going to post all the best music from the game so people could see how it was robbed, but then I realized there is no point. There will be plenty more discussions in the GOTY deliberations that will be full of disappointment so it's better to get used to it now.
Giant Bomb's Game of the Year discussions are now more like "My favorite game/art/music/stuff that I happened to play this year when I got around to it."
This is what they've always been, and they've never claimed it was anything other than that. They go out of their way to clarify that these are incredibly personal and subjective lists based on their individual experiences.
Subjective, absolutely.
But this is the first year where in the lead-up they all seemed to be saying "I still have to check out this game and this game for Game of the Year discussions" and then spent that time playing Mario Maker instead.
Hell, I don't play a lot of games anymore. I'm married with a full-time job and 2 kids. But more of these discussions seem to be about games hardly anyone has spent any time with, or games that people have spent TOO much time with.
And whoever is loudest wins...... Okay, that part hasn't changed, I'll give you that.
Looks like Undertale got shafted for best music. I was going to post all the best music from the game so people could see how it was robbed, but then I realized there is no point. There will be plenty more discussions in the GOTY deliberations that will be full of disappointment so it's better to get used to it now.
Giant Bomb's Game of the Year discussions are now more like "My favorite game/art/music/stuff that I happened to play this year when I got around to it."
@uninvincible: Undertale (the track) is also like a 7 minute song that they never would have gotten to the better parts of so I don't think it would have helped. I think they actually played the best stuff from that soundtrack, only missing Megalovania or Death by Glamour.
With half the staff tired of that style of music though that's just how it had to be I guess.
"best stuff from that soundtrack"
"only missing Megalovania"
So only missing the best track?
I'd actually say Spider Dance or Asgore are better themes but there you go.
It would not have changed the discussion overmuch, I don't think.
Yeah, I don't think Megalovania would have been a gamechanger. It's my favorite song on the soundtrack, and I would definitely include it at some level, but leaving it off I don't think hurt Undertale too much. Plus, no one who played Undertale here actually played through the Genocide route, and I feel that Megalovania gets some of its punch from when you finally experience it.
Now, Battle Against a True Hero. THERE'S a fuckin' song.
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Nothing was going to be a game changer.
The various themes that mix and build throughout the soundtrack is what makes the music work, especially in the various final bosses. Without that connection and familiarity, it doesn't work to the same degree. Even Bonetrousle works so well because of when it's introduced during the fight after having heard Papyrus' 8-bit sounding music for so long. It's an "Oh shit" kind of moment. The mechanics and the music complement each other. Muffet's track is great, but it suits the fight - it's super tense and almost seems like your movements are in time, even though they don't have to be.
There are some individually great tracks, but without having played through the game, it's "just chiptunes."
I also think it's a bummer that Jeff didn't get into the game, because the narrative goes places that I think he would've appreciated.
On the podcasts, Jeff always brings up the feeling you get when numbers go up in games. That's a freaking CHARACTER IN THE GAME.
@uninvincible: Undertale (the track) is also like a 7 minute song that they never would have gotten to the better parts of so I don't think it would have helped. I think they actually played the best stuff from that soundtrack, only missing Megalovania or Death by Glamour.
With half the staff tired of that style of music though that's just how it had to be I guess.
I'm bummed because it sounds like Undertale probably isn't going to get mentioned in the Best Soundtrack/Song categories.
The music in that game, man.
What makes you say that? Both Austin and Dan has raved about the soundtrack in the past.
It sounds like most of the crew hasn't played enough to get to the really good tracks, and Jeff is usually the decider on music. Maybe if they can play one or two tracks during the discussion.
After seeing this, I'm really hoping we see a range of classic console/arcade games for Playstation VR. Games like Daytona USA, Descent... basically anything that was in first person. Jumping Jack Flash? Myst? Hell, old arcade wireframe Star Wars would be rad.
Partly just because it'd be cool to experience those games in VR, but they also wouldn't be very taxing on the hardware.
I had the Genesis/Mega Drive infra-red controllers. They actually had a really forgiving range. The only time they'd lose line of sight is if someone walked in front of the screen (when you'd have paused anyway).
I came home from my trip, saw a note from my sister telling me not to go through her shit (like I would!), so I was gonna crash on the couch and watch the X-Files for a bit, but the VCR must've been in for a service, so I just went to bed.
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