Really great to see Jason & Jan playing Young Souls! I haven't seen many big gaming people jump in. I got into it over the past couple of days and I'm liking it a lot. Jan saying it reminded him of a Cartoon Network cartoon hit the nail on the head; like a 3D Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
TL;DR: Thanks for the content, Happy Holidays and see you in 2019.
And the deliberations have come to a close! At least for me; I just finished them.
First of all, thanks to the entirety of Giant Bomb for the wealth of content this year. As a live-in Carer, the down-time is ridiculous and your content keeps me company in the best and worst of times. You all sit in that hot, cramped room for so long for our benefit. I appreciate that.
Secondly, I want to give some individual shout-outs: Dan's stance on Red Dead Redemption 2 was perfectly valid, articulated well and fell squarely within the category of "Most Disappointing". The category was not "Most Not-Disappointed". He came under undue fire even after justifying his position.
This leads me to my second big shout-out to Vinny; for taking a hard stance when the bricks seemed to be falling on Dan, whom I often feel gets shit on for the way he used to be rather than how he is now. Vinny took charge when chaos reigned and somebody should paint that man on a charging horse, riding to defeat a great evil of the land! (No but, jokes aside, Vinny did a great job mediating this year I feel)
Third shout-out goes to Abby. I personally felt there was a rocky moment in Day 2 - I'm not going to harp on about it - but throughout, I feel Abby was a voice of reason; making a conscious effort to hear out differing arguments without giving too much ground on her own. Days 3 through 5 especially. I'm also incredibly close to buying all six of The Sims 4 expansion packs in the Origin sale because of Abby's passion, I mean that as praise but it's also a special kind of hell for me.
Shout-outs aside, I have to say I'm a bit down on the GOTY deliberations as a whole this year; much as I appreciate your efforts. The first two days felt like filler; doomed to repeat itself in later discussions. As an avid listener week-in, week-out; the format - though clearly intended to highlight the positive aspects of the games - seemed only to suppress the negative until it bubbled up and poured out on Day 5, with overflows of information listeners like myself had heard many times over throughout the year.
The new format also stream-lined the categories in to an uncharacteristically-boring lot for Giant Bomb. I think back to last year with the Wolfenstein II Moment or Sequence of the Year, Best Super Mario Odyssey Capture and - of course - Best New Character. Perhaps you'd say this year's offerings didn't lend themselves to creative and fun new categories, but I'd disagree. Best Monster Hunt of the Year? Best Kratos Kill Animation? Best Sim Death in a Giant Bomb Series? Most Awkard Spider Suit to Wear In-Game During Serious Cut-Scenes? I felt the tension built throughout the discussions because there wasn't as much levity between them as there ordinarily is. I hope next year's offerings allow for some silly creativity on your part.
The most entertaining discussion was "Most Disappointing". Maybe that says a lot about me, but the conflict makes it intriguing. Even more-so when you all know it's a conflict over something that's ultimately inconsequential (a video game) so the knife-wounds will be shallow at best. I understand some people don't want that and appreciate a more civilised discussion, but that's my take.
Anyway, that's enough rambling from me. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year / Happy Holidays and here's to a fantastic 2019.
I'm usually a fan of the Jan and Ben combo, but man; it comes across as if you were given devastating news immediately before starting. Low energy, baffling misinterpretations and just a weak showing overall. I can respect not liking the game, and Jan brings up some valid criticisms, but the Red "??" confusion when it comes to killing a unit seems odd given that you guys have history with the series and skipping the story? (I reviewed it, I know it drags but it's all vital to understanding the world they're in). I'm not saying it's a great tale woven by the Gods of Plot, but I'm really surprised at the two of you. Most of the old-school GB crew I'd expect it from, being "anime! eurgh" for a long time, but I really thought you guys would be better.
Still got a lot of respect for you both by my take on your take is that it's a bad take.
I hope you stick with it Brad. The combat starts off basic but when you start utilising the blade arts system to its fullest and timing the combos, I think it gets very satisfying. I've sank 180 hours (had to review it) and still want to jump back in, despite a whole heap of flaws from my perspective. Glad you and Ben did a QL for it!
Also: Nia is Welsh, but I'm certain you'll have received many a.... "pleasant" message on that front. It could have been worse though; you could have called a Scottish person English :-P
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