My take on GiantBomb's GOTY, and the many awards therein.
By emfromthesea 3 Comments
It's that time of year where everyone and their grandmother writes a top 10 list, so I figured I'd jump on that bandwagon. I'm not nearly as original as some other folks here, so I'll just be taking the easy route of using a slightly modified version of GiantBomb's 2013 GOTY awards. Before I start, I think it's worth mentioning that I would have given several categories to The Wolf Among Us, but instead opted to wait until that is fully released before considering it a finished product. I really loved the music, art and premise of that first episode. Anyway, without further ado, here is my take on GiantBomb's GOTY awards.
2013’s Old Game of the Year
Before this year, the only Metal Gear Solid game I had played was the fourth entry. After playing the other installments, I'm so glad I got to experience Metal Gear Solid 3. The setting was a nice contrast after playing the first two games. Seeing younger versions of several characters was really neat. The boss fights were great, I particularly loved this one. And, for all the cheesy humour and hammy storytelling in the Metal Gear Solid series, I found the ending to be really powerful and decently written. It is definitely my favourite game from the series, and my favourite old game of the year.
Worthy Mentions: Persona 4, Darksiders
Best Surprise
I had a decent time with Payday: The Heist, but I never found it to be very memorable. It always felt like a Left 4 Dead 2 re-skin. When PAYDAY 2 swung around, I didn't really intend on picking it up, that is until a friend told me that I really should. I was really impressed after playing the game. The guns felt powerful, the heists felt like real heists, the music was fantastic, and the customization (while a little unbalanced) was really addictive. Not only that, but the game has seen good support form the devs over the past few months, with new content coming in fairly regularly. It's one of my favourite FPS's of the year, and my best surprise.
Worthy Mentions: Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Most Disappointing
Firstly, I should say that I don't think God of War: Ascension is a bad game. It's visually stunning, and I liked the new elemental gameplay mechanic. But this was the first God of War that I really struggled to finish. With it being a prequel, there was no feeling of urgency to the story. And compared to God of War 3, the scale of the battles was pretty underwhelming for the most part. I know we were given a multiplayer mode instead (which admittedly I haven't tried), but I also really miss the challenge mode. The previous God of War games always had a level-based mode to try after beating the game, which was always made for a fun challenge. I was sad to see that gone. While the next game (we know there will be on) might hook me again, I can't say I'm all that enthusiastic about another God of War game. It wins my most disappointing game of the year.
Worthy Mentions: Persona 4 Arena, Dead Space 3
Best Looking
I don't feel I'm being hyperbolic when I say Bioshock Infinite is a visual masterpiece. Say what you want about the rest of the game, but it's hard to deny the style that oozes out of Infinite. Be it the way the water moves in the beginning, or walking around Columbia witnessing the variety of contraptions at work, or watching the blood and gore of the incredibly violent combat, or being chased by the SongBird as structure collapse around you. There was very rarely a moment where I wasn't blown away by how Bioshock Infinite looked. It wins best looking game in my book.
Worthy Mentions:
The Last of Us, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Best Music
If there's one thing PAYDAY 2 nails, it's the music. Countless times I find myself sitting listening to the soundtrack when I'm working on other things. But what I find most impressive, is how it works in the game. You get a very subtle music track going on in the background when you start a heist, which helps get you in the mood to be stealthy. When someone messes up, and you suddenly become a most wanted criminal, the music adjusts itself to match the tone. And then it goes even further, growing into an explosive climax as the police raids begin. It really gets your adrenaline pumping, and when it all comes together, you feel completely absorbed in the moment. It's great, and it's the best music of 2013.
Worthy Mentions:
GTA V, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Best Story
There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Great characters, great writing, great atmosphere, great conclusion, great story. Best story.
Worthy Mentions: Gone Home, Bioshock Infinite
Best Moment/Sequence
*spoilers ahead*
My favourite part of The Last of Us, the winter segment left me in an emotional wreck. I was so attached to the characters by that point that I was constantly worried something was going to happen to them. I found how it starts, places you in the role of Ellie, and leaving whether or not Joel survived ambiguous, to be an expertly jerk move. The new character, David, was also fantastic. Nolan North really hit it out of the park in voicing a believable character, without resorting to his Nathan Drake voice. He was masterfully creepy. Overall, great sequence. The most memorable of the year.
Worthy Mentions: Bioshock Infinite - Intro, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - Metal Gear Ray
Best use of a Licensed Song
GTA V: The C90s - Shine a Light (Michael's Acid Trip)
JIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMY
Worthy Mentions: Rayman Legends - Eye of the Tiger, Saints Row IV: Aerosmith - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
Worst Game
I was lucky this year in that I didn't play many bad games. Which means I can give this whole category to the garbage that was Aliens: Colonial Marines. In short, Fuck. This. Game.
Worthy Mentions: Aliens: Colonial Marines, Aliens: Colonial Marines
Best Debut
The PS3 couldn't have asked for a better send-off. The game is masterful in it's storytelling, and despite the complaints, I really thought the gameplay added to the tense, despair-filled atmosphere. The multiplayer is surprisingly fun, too. Personally I hope we don't see a sequel to The Last of Us. I think the ambiguous nature of the ending is perfect, and I don't want to see anymore of the characters after that. Regardless, here's to my favourite debut of the year.
Worthy Mentions: State of Decay, Gone Home
Best Sequel
Before Rayman Legends, I wasn't a big fan of Rayman. I even tried Origins, but it simply didn't click with me. When I heard the glowing praise of Legends, I decided I'd check it out on my newly acquired Vita. Playing it, it just felt...right. My problems with Origins were gone, and I was playing a much better game. Even on the small screen, it looks phenomenal. And there's a lot of game here, the Origin levels are even all here. While on the surface the differences between Origins and Legends might look minimal, they made all the difference for me, and that is why Rayman Legends nabs best sequel of the year.
Worthy Mentions: Bioshock Infinite, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Games of 2013 that I should play in 2014
I started playing Metro: 2033 not long ago, and while I'm having some good fun getting immersed in the atmosphere, the shooting is quite lackluster. After hearing that Last Light makes improvements in that regard, I'm very eager to get started on it. The game looks great, too, which helps.
Worthy Mentions: Papers, Please , Gunpoint
Most anticipated games of 2014
The Wolf Among Us
I really, really wanted to give The Wolf Among Us some of these awards. The first episode of that game is easily one of the best things I've played all year. But I don't know if the rest will be as impressive, so I'll hold off another year. Still, in terms of how excited I am to play a game next year, my excitement for The Wolf Among Us is through the roof. I cannot wait.
Worthy Mentions: Dark Souls 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
That'll do for this blog, but if you made it this far and you just want to see another top 10 list, well you're in luck because I am in the process of writing another blog that goes into more detail about those 10 games. It's going to be a stretch whether or not I finish it before the end of the year, so in case I don't, I hope everyone has a great New Year's and here's to another 365 days of GiantBomb and video-games.