Idk if it's a bit but I love that they are repeating the topic/game
Someone asked them to repeat what game they are/were talking about more regularly, as it can be easy to lose track if you aren't paying full attention and have no clue what game is being discussed (I have been guilty of this many times). It's been a nice change.
Really great review! You echo many (pretty much all, actually) of the points I noted while "playing" through Virginia, with a lot more detail and care than I probably would have.
I very much see what they were going for, but I definitely feel like they leaned a bit too far in the film direction and not enough in the game direction, forgetting to make good use of the medium of gameplay. It's a fascinating experiment, but I don't really see it having any lasting effect on games as a whole, even in this "walking simulator" genre.
I think they messed up this category because they forgot that it was originally more about games that are smooth and suave and have this undeniable slickness that oozes from every second of the game--it's why the category is Best Styyyyyyyyle instead of Best Style. Cuphead is a great looking game, but it already won the category for best visuals. It didn't need to win this too.
The top three should have included something like Ruiner or Observer in place of Cuphead and Persona 5 should have won without question. Instead, it felt like half the team stumbled over itself to give another visual award to Cuphead, even though it makes no sense in the context of the original category.
@sixtyxcelph: I think the way they recontextualize it is a great way to both pay respect to the original game and give it a new twist that makes it even better. It's a better homage than Drakengard 3's ending, which was literally just the same thing as Drakengard 1 again.
They left out the actual best moment of Nier: Automata (and the year)--the Devola and Popola sacrifice, complete with Song of the Ancients--but I can understand why as none of them ever played that game. It was such an emotionally resonating sequence for me.
You're not wrong. FFXIV alone has one of the most incredible collections of music in any game, let alone a Final Fantasy game. There's so much variety and it's all fantastic.
@aurahack: While I would have loved to see a Top 10 albums list instead, this is a great collection of excellent soundtracks! Not surprised to see Nier on top here, although I would argue that (aside from the callback tracks and the breathtaking credits songs) it doesn't quite have the same impact (for me) as the original Nier's soundtrack did, which still remains one of the most tone-perfect soundtracks to a game's atmosphere that I've ever heard. I can also admit that time may play a role in changing my mind, as I find Automata's soundtrack growing on me more and more every time I hear it.
@lonelyspacepanda: The Hat in Time stuff has been bugging me for months, ever since I saw it disappear from the upcoming videos list. Hearing everyone hint at there being more behind that decision here reminded me of just how strange it was, especially from a site like Giant Bomb that made their name on being transparent and open. I still haven't seen enough against that game to understand why they refused to cover it and/or why they are so hesitant to talk about it now.
@golguin: Persona 5 and Nier are absolutely my two favorite, with Persona 5 certainly taking the top slot. Nier is also fantastic, but I prefer the original Nier's too much to give it the edge.
@benderunit22: Them missing those two songs makes sense as much of the impact of them is based on playing the original Nier. I personally think the Song of the Ancients moment is the best moment of that game and of the entire year. It's much weirder that they didn't mention Weight of the World at all, considering how all the different versions of it.
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