Midway GOTY Chinwag: 2013

[danielpholt]

 
 

Last year PXOD member Strangelove posted THIS thread to kickstart some debate regarding early year games that could potentially get lost in the shuffle when it comes time to name GOTY (Game of the Year) nominations. And a little over a year later, I'm bringing it back.

 
Lets try and stick to the same formulae that Strangelove coined last summer; try and keep your selection of games to around 5 or less (I guess listing a few honourable mentions wouldn't hurt), if possible write a few words or even a mini review about each game, explaining why you feel it deserves some love, or a second look from players who missed it the first time round.
 
'...And go!'

[Saturnine Tenshi]

All I can think of:

 

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk

Bioshock Infinite

 

I've played some good titles this year. But that's all most were, really: good (Tomb Raider, Shadowrun Returns, Animal Crossing: New Leaf). Which is still good. Just don't know that I'd put them on the list solely because I can't think of anything else. I'd like to try Metro Last Light before the end of the year. Maybe The Last of Us.

 

As far as future titles are concerned, Saints Row IV may qualify. Looking at release lists, that's all I see.

[TCP]

The Last of Us

The Last of Us

The Last of Us

The Last of Us

Bioshock Infinite

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

...chinwag?

[Waldorf and Statler]

So far eh?

 

 

Fire Emblem Awakening: This is probably the most niche of my year selections since it's already in a console that doesn't tend to win GOTYs and a genre that doesn't have mass appeal [jRPG and tactical] in the west. But it is easily one of the driving forces the 3DS used to become as popular as it is 2013 and the game had a fantastic story and game mechanics. It brought many, including myself, into the Fire Emblem series.

 

Bioshock Infinite: This is probably one of the bigger contenders this year.It has mass appeal and sparked a bit of debate. The characters were fantastic and the only downside for me was the actual shooting sequences. Felt a bit too arcadey. If it wasn't for this next one I'd say it would have easily won.

 

The Last of Us:  Probably going to win. It's being called the Citizen Kane of video games. Has some of the best mocap I've seen in games, one of the better post-apocalyptic stories and the ending is both beautiful and non-edgy which I find a treat nowadays. The characters in here were also fantastic, particularly Ellie and Joel.

 

 

I don't know if I can think of other games that have as big of a chance imho as these 3. I mean Halo 4 would probably be up for the running but won't win.

[toxicitizen]

I don't think I have a lot to contribute to this discussion this year. Most of my favorite games have been smaller downloadable and indie games. Stuff like Gunpoint, Dust: An Elysian Tail (although I guess this one originally came out last year, I think?), Rogue Legacy, Don't Starve, Spelunky and Guacamelee!

 

BioShock Infinite and The Last of Us are the two obvious contenders that dwarf everything else. I haven't played TLoU yet but I suspect it would be my pick out of those two. I loved Infinite and am including it on this list but I wouldn't call it my personal GOTY. It was great fun but about halfway through, once the novelty started wearing off and it started feeling identical to the original, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. 

 

So yeah, while I don't think these are necessarily going to be getting accolades come GOTY season (other than Infinite, that is), they would be my personal top games of the year.

 

Guacamelee!: Mexican-themed Metroidvania in which you play as a Luchador and can turn into a chicken. What more needs to be said?

 

Rogue Legacy: Try to imagine a 2D version of Dark Souls and you're on the right track. It's being referred to as a "roguelike-like" but that's a fucking stupid name. What's great about this one is it has a persistent progression system so even though it technically has permadeath, all your gear and character upgrades carry on to your next character. So unlike most roguelikes, progress is more or less inevitable.

 

Tomb Raider: Although I don't think this one is a serious contender by any stretch of the imagination, it's one of my favorite AAA releases this year. In terms of pure gameplay, I actually like it better than Bioshock Infinite. What can I say, I love me some Metroidvania and, much like Arkham City, this is the 3D equivalent of that same game structure.

 

BioShock Infinite: Because, well, it's fucking BioShock Infinite. It has some glaring issues and I don't think it's quite as memorable as the original. But it's a GOTY contender, no doubt about it. 

 

 

Honorable mention to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Technically, it's standalone DLC to a 2012 game but it's a completely insane love letter to the 80s and I loved every second of it.

[danielpholt]

...chinwag?

 

 

/british/ a long and pleasant conversation between friends

We had a good chinwag over a bottle of wine

Source - Urban Dictionary 

--

 

I think i've got one or two potential GOTY calibre titles to offer.

 

Gunpoint

 

I don't seriously think this has any chance of winning a GOTY award, but i think it's deserving of a brief mention. I loved this game. The 3-4 hours i spent with its campaign are probably my favourite hours of gaming this year. Its tight, funny and has an awesome soundtrack and overall aesthetic. That being said, its very short, and i think that works against it. I just want more.

 

 

Metro: Last Light

 

Perhaps a more popular choice that Gunpoint; Metro Last Light is everything the first game wanted to be, without as many niggles and glitches. Great story, and visuals (seriously great visuals) combine to make this a seriously atmospheric FPS. Please don't play it on the 360, that hardware just isn't designed for this game.

 

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

 

My final nomination goes to CoJ: Gunslinger. I played this immediately after finishing the moody and tense Metro: Last Light, so maybe that clouded my vision somewhat; but this game is great. I've only really explored the story mode, but i hear the fun really begins in Arcade mode. However i chose to play on PC so i've not got any friends scores to beat. Woe me. Play this game, its great fun.

[deanb]

See I'd link the Ellen video from English vs English thread but I do think Hugh Laurie fucked up in saying shin wag, as in to waggle ones lower leg.

 

My current Games of the Mid-Year (I'll be honest when this thread first appeared I was somewhat confused) would be, in no particular order:

 

Bioshock Infinite.

It's the only 2013 game I've played*, so it kinda currently wins by default. I wasn't overly impressed with the game. It was okay but I think original Bioshock did many things much better (I imagine Devs are aware of this, hence Rapture-based DLC).

 

 

*Except Dota 2 on a technicality.

[Hot Heart]

I think I've only played two 2013 games this year.

 

The first being Tomb Raider, which I really rather enjoyed but wouldn't consider traditionally GOTY-worthy, and the second being The Last of Us which will probably be many people's GOTY (mine included).

 

I'm hoping the TMNT game turns out to be as awesome as it looks (pseudo-Arkham Batman combat with even more variety), though I'd feel odd picking it over TLoU even if I did really like it for different reasons. Other than that, Watch Dogs could be the ticket since I doubt Arkham Origins will blow me away after what Arkham City already achieved.