A Leg Up for the Little Guy

Well let’s get to the real meat of why you are here: Who exactly won Game of the Year?

The following are some of big winners of the night:

• EA Sports FC 25 for Best Sports/Racing Game,
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Innovation in Accessibility
• Neva for Games for Impact
• Frostpunk 2 for Best Sim/Strategy Game
• Batman: Arkham Shadow for Best VR/AR Game
• CaseOh, formely known as randomsimplestuf35, for Best Content Creator
• Amazon’s Fallout for Best Adaptation
• Melina Juergens’ performance as the titular Senua for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for Best Audio Design.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 for Best Community Support
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for Best Score and Music
• Continuing to the butt of many memes, Grand Theft Audio VI is Most Anticipated Game

Tekken 8 wins Best Fighting Game, later coupled with the announcement that Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI will be added to the game.

League of Legends was most represented in all respective Esports categories, winning Best Esports Game, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok  for Best Esports Athlete, and T1 for Best Esports Team.

Helldivers II won Best Mutiplayer Game and Best Ongoing Game.

Black Myth: Wukong won Best Action Game and the vote for Player’s Choice. Developers Game Science went on to complain they didn’t win more.

Balatro won Best Mobile Game, and took the gold for indies winning both Best Debut Game and Best Independent Game. Otherwise, the game’s team is currently at odds with PEGI, the European video game content rating system, for giving the game an 18+ rating.

Metaphor: ReFantazio won Best Roleplaying and Best Art Direction.

In spite of Sony’s recent blunders, Astro Bot won Best Game Direction, Best Family Game, and ultimately took home the gold for Game of the Year.

Laura Carter was recognized as a Global Gaming Citizen, co-founder of TreesPlease Games, a studio aiming to create games and develop initiatives to combat climate change.

Amir Satvat, a game developer and currently Business Development Director at Tencent, wins the new Game Changer award for his ongoing efforts in creating and sharing resources in response to the continuing, astronomical layoffs and job losses that are plaguing the industry—an issue that was surprisingly acknowledged during the show. That said, some have critiqued the introduction of the award in the absence of the Future Class program this year, with some past inductees and alum having raised complaints over the lack of actual support they ended up receiving and several of the program’s shortcomings.

Show Spotlights

We seemingly cannot ever escape anticipating what bombastic moment is going to happen at The Game Awards every year.

While our host Geoff Keighley was getting roasted by puppets for the whole duration, the show was once again mostly peppered with mostly trailers, teases, and showcases over what is to come.

Man of the hour, Josef Fares, once again was in attendance of the show with much vigor and foul-mouthed enthusiasm. Founder of Hazelight Studios, he took the stage to introduce another co-op game in the works, titled Split Fiction.

A new Indiana Jones game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, is slated to arrive Spring 2025. In introducing the game, performer Troy Baker and Todd Howard were joined by Harrison Ford, transitioning into the Best Performance category.

Keighley also gave dedicated spotlight on a new sci-fi IP in the works called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. While showing a tease of potentially impressive graphics, the big reveal (unfortunately) is that the game is being developed by Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann. Further details about the game’s plot, relayed from Druckmann himself, already has us apprehensive about it. We already were annoyed hearing about The Last of Us getting “remastered” for the upteenth time.

Snoop Dogg was also hyped as the big climatic musical performance of the night, a tie-in with his appearance now added to the next season of Fortnite Festival. He will be joining musical likes such as Lady Gaga and The Weeknd. Leaks suggest Vocaloid superstar Hatsune Miku will be dropping in come next year.

But most importantly, flute guy makes his return to the fray once more.

Following much pomp and circumstance, Swen Vincke, founder and CEO of Larian Studios, was presenter for this year’s Game of the Year, after Baldur’s Gate 3’s Game of the Year win in 2023. Before ultimately passing on the torch to Astro Bot, Vincke took his time to make a scathing joke at being told, among others, to “wrap it up” last year.

Sequels and Reboots Galore

But overall, the nostalgia cycle is in full force!

While there was a sliver of some potential new, original hits that are expected to land in gamers’ hands next year, teases of releases were mostly updates to ongoing games, sequels, and reboots, and revisits of IPs new and old.

Koei Tecmo is putting out a new Ninja Gaiden title, to be called Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.

While RGG Studios is working on a new title, Project Century, they’re taking the lead with handling a new Virtua Fighter.

There will be yet another Double Dragon game, a new installment to the Onimusha franchise slated for 2026, and the big drop of the night: Hideki Kamiya jumping off the burning ship that is Platinum Games to make a sequel to beloved PS2/Wii Classic Okami! (But never mind all that, we also got a new Turok game baby!!!)

Apart from just full on reboots, tonight also showcased some more current continuations: CD Projekt Red unveiled The Witcher 4 with a full focus on Ciri as the protagonist.

Enemy of the site Randy Pitchford also pulled up to announce Borderlands 4, a shocker to those of us who wanted to forget Borderlands 3 was out in the world. Potentially, there might be less “toilet humor.”

Both The Outer Worlds and Slay the Spire are getting sequels.

We also got a surprise taste of what is going to be a new Sonic Racing game!

Tales of the Shire, a cozy-looking Lord of the Rings game that seems to focus on peaceful Hobbit life is coming for the Switch.

There are also two new games in the works set within the Dungeon & Fighter universe: teased earlier last year, the gristly, bloody, and dark The First Berserker: Khazan, and the more lighthearted-looking, anime-stylized open RPG, ARAD.

Highly anticipated is Mafia: The Old World, the newest installment in the Mafia franchise set in 1900s Sicily.

Oh yeah, and there was also this cat game that most obviously looks like it is some suspicious AI-generated shlock. The developers have hastily thrown up a “gameplay” trailer in defense of the game’s first impressions

Movements in Mobilization

Studio People Can Fly, known for Outriders, goes through its second wave of layoffs this year.

Developer of Gotham Knights and additional support to Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad, WB Games Montreal lays off 99 developers.

Meanwhile, ZeniMax Online Studios, have officially unionized with the CWA.

Workers at 2K’s Motion Capture Studio, with numerous games credits such as the NBA 2K and WWE 2K games, have voted to unionize. The shop will be represented under IATSE. This is the first successful unionization of a motion capture studio in the video games industry.

In other news…

Video game-inspired anthology series Secret Level is renewed for another season.

itch.io was briefly down due to a AI tool used by Funko Inc. falsely reporting their domain to their registrar for phishing. itch.io’s domain has since been reinstated, but the issue also escalated to the point that a Funko representative allegedly went as far as calling itch.io’s founder’s mother.

Shuhei Yoshida is leaving his post at Sony come January of next year. He joined the company in 1993 at the height of the first PlayStation’s development.

Tencent is ending Nintendo Switch eShop services to the Chinese version of the console in 2026. This most likely does not mean it will be down forever, the current agreement the two companies had will lapse, and Nintendo may go with another avenue for Switch and Switch 2 in China.

And yes, Skibidi Toilet is coming to Fortnite.

The post The Bulletin: The Game Awards 2024 appeared first on Gamesline.

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Snow buries the leaves

The weight is gone from my heart

It’s finally done

10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I had to buy Zelda when I picked up my Switch in May. Obviously, there wasn’t much else out, but I was also ready to try something new. Thankfully, Breath of the Wild is real fun, even if it didn’t stick in my heart like most of these other games.

My first Zelda joint

Gameplay fun but not perfect

The mood is the charm

9. Night in the Woods

Night in the Woods came relatively early in the year, and I was thrilled to play it after keeping up with the development process. While the dialogue is occasionally janky, the story of Mae is a dark, timely tale which hits too close to home.

I relate too much

A perfect world construction

Thank you for the gays

8. Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil 7 combines incredible level design with the exact brand of weirdo quasi-brutal horror I enjoy, so it’s no surprise that I ended up loving it. Everything in the first 2/3rds or so is totally perfect, right down to the discarded Whataburger cups.

Gruesome and wicked

Baker Estate masterpiece

Love it despite boat

7. Emily Is Away Too

I love experiences that show me something I’ve never seen before, and Emily Is Away Too delivers. An emotional story questions the way we make choices in games, all through pitch-perfect recreation of the Internet circa 2006. Log in and let yourself go.

Not too distant past

Making lots with a little

YouToob blew my gourd

6. The Sexy Brutale

Everyone dies like clockwork, but you’re the errant tic in the cogs. A murder mystery in which you prevent the murders from occurring, The Sexy Brutale is a short but essentially perfect experience that’s stylish, unforgettable, and wholly unique.

Death’s vivid cycle

We’ve (never) been here before

Drown me in style

5. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

This sure was something, huh? It shouldn’t exist, but it does, and for that I am eternally grateful. I played Mario + Rabbids more than I should have, or maybe exactly as much as I should have. Either way, I loved it and I need more. Thanks, Ubisoft.

Rabbids XCOM now

Finished one-hundred percent

Days glued to my Switch

4. Persona 5

I never finished Persona 4. I loved the story, but something about it just kept putting me off. Thankfully, Persona 5 is so wholly engrossing that I played it for eight to ten hours at a time without even noticing. It’s not perfect, but Persona 5 reminded me why I love RPGs.

One hundred hours

My eyes ears brain all thank me

Takemi best girl

3. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

I barely squeezed in Hellblade before making this list, but I’m glad I did. Hellblade is a deep, terrifying journey into literal Hell that pushes itself beyond current boundaries – narratively, technically, and mechanically. It destroyed me. I loved every second.

Harrowing journey

Beyond the veil of gaming

I can’t forget it

2. Super Mario Odyssey

Seeing Mario at E3 convinced me to buy a Switch, and it was the right move. 2017 was the most tumultuous year in memory, and Super Mario Odyssey was the life raft that got me through. It’s the only 3D Mario I’ve ever properly played, and it was great. Thanks, Nintendo.

Rihanna was right

Super f***ing Mario

I live for the fun

1. Nier: Automata

I have a more complicated relationship with Nier: Automata than any game ever. First I liked it, then I thought it was the worst game I’ve ever played, then I loved it, and then I was crying. Once I saw the whole picture, my life was changed. It’s that simple.

Never felt this way

First game tears since Undertale

Total masterpiece

The post Ryan’s Top 10 Games of 2017 appeared first on Gamesline.

2017 was packed with great games from top to bottom, so many in fact that I could easily make a top twenty list if I had to. It’s been such a strong year that games like Mainlining, Tokyo Dark, Wolfenstein 2, The Sexy Brutale and Divinity: Original Sin 2, all of which would be shoe-ins for high placement any other year all wind up missing the cut for me. It’s been a year like none other, one that’s catered to every possible conceivable taste and interest that a person could have, and one that will hopefully set the scene for an even better year in 2018. With all that out of the way, let’s get down to the brass tacks, nuts and bolts.

10. She Remembered Caterpillars

Sometimes after a long, tiring day at work, you just want to put your feet up and unwind with something low-impact, relaxing, and oddly heartwarming. For me, that game is She Remembered Caterpillars; an esoteric, chilled-out, yet still appropriately challenging fungipunk puzzler that boasts a subtle and underrated score, compelling prose and a gorgeous hand-drawn art style. I don’t know if there’s a single game this year that has quite mastered the art of charm in the way She Remembered Caterpillars has; it wins you over the minute you see it in motion, and it never lets you go.

9. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

This was a tough one; for the vast majority of the experience, I loved Danganronpa V3. The game grabbed me early, and as the hours flew by, I expected V3 to easily crack my top five, if not come up just short of the top spot on this list. Unfortunately, the game’s cynical, botched ending forces me to knock it down a few spots, yet, as bad as it was, I still adore 95% of the game. While not as strong as Goodbye Despair, V3 still manages to ramp up the stakes amid some of the wildest and most over-the-top storytelling games have to offer. The mysteries are on another level here; with the fifth trial in particular being a real rollercoaster. If only they’d stuck the landing.

8. Yakuza 0

I’ve been a big fan of Yakuza since jumping on board with the third installment, and while that game still holds a place in my heart, it’s hard to argue that Yakuza 0 doesn’t set a completely new standard for the series. Yakuza has never been afraid to blend over-the-top wackiness with nuanced and genuinely sharp character writing, but 0 takes things to another level. Not only does the game keep the laughs coming – with the Miracle Johnson substories being particular highlights – but it also fleshes out the world in which Kiryu lives to amazing degree, and humanizes Goro Majima in a way that, prior to playing it, I’d have hardly believed. The love story at Yakuza 0’s core is one of the best games have told in a very long time, and I couldn’t be more excited to get my hands on Yakuza 6 next year.

7. Everybody’s Golf

Here’s my hot take; golf is for assholes. When I think about golf, I think middle-aged middle-to-upper class men wearing terrible clothes slowly smacking a little white ball around while projecting an air of smarmy self-superiority that, quite frankly, makes me gag. So for Everybody’s Golf to do away with all that; to demolish golf’s inherent sense of smug self-satisfaction and classism, and instead let me run around a course as something resembling Gollum with pink dreadlocks, screaming “X-GAMES!!!” as I drive a golf cart off a spectator stand into a pond below, I gotta give it credit. Clap Hanz deserve all the kudos in the world for turning the world’s worst sport into something that doesn’t completely suck, but the fact that they’ve actually made it fun is nothing short of a miracle.

6. Persona 5

I’m not sure if I’ve ever played a game the way I did Persona 5. I took the week of its release off work in order to quickly grind a review out, and wound up playing it for 12-16 hours each day to ensure I got it done in time. The thing is, though, that I’d never have known I was spending so much time with it; such is the quality of Persona 5’s writing, gameplay, music, and just general style. Sure, it’s not perfect, the game’s writing occasionally clashes with its themes of rebellion and self-identity, and I’ll never accept that my favourite end-game Persona, Scathach got busted down to the mid-game level, but even so, Persona 5 is a hell of a ride. Also, Tae Takemi.

5. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

I’m not sure there hass a more intense moment in my life than the first round I ever played of PUBG. I genuinely thought I was about to have a heart attack as my pulse raced, and yet I managed to win on my first attempt. It’s a high that’s hard to explain to those who haven’t felt it for themselves; such is how well PUBG ramps up the tension every time you play it. Every action is crucial, every movement could be your last. It’s such an intense, exhilarating, and often frustrating experience, but it’s all worth it when you get to tuck into a chicken dinner at the end. Please get rid of the aimbots, though, Brendan. 

4. Detention

Detention really came out of nowhere to be the best of a strong lineup of horror experiences in 2017. Resident Evil 7 and Observer may have been wider in scope, but neither comes anywhere close to matching Detention’s overarching sense of disquiet and unease. Throw in some truly messed-up visuals, distinct art-style and nods to some classic Asian horror staples, and Detention is a wonderfully unique and incredibly effective debut effort from Taiwanese studio RedCandle Games.

3. Pyre

I’ve never really connected strongly with any of Supergiant’s previous output. While I can see the value of games like Bastion and Transistor, neither one really ever held any lasting appeal for me, so I was pleasantly surprised by just how good Pyre is. From it’s drop-dead gorgeous visual stylings, to it’s wonderful music, Pyre’s presentation is immaculate, and combined with some incredible writing feats, it’s something special. With an overwhelming number of ways the story can unfold, Pyre manages to feel completely natural every step of the way; it never feels like the story’s been stitched together despite the granularity on offer, and every character feels well fleshed-out in a way that often makes it truly difficult to decide who to part with. The actual Rites themselves are also a lot of fun to play, and the atmosphere is aided by Logan Cunningham’s supremely good performance as The Voice. Pyre is a beautiful game. Play it.

2. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Much the way that I’ve never really connected with Supergiant’s previous output, I’ve had even less affinity for Ninja Theory’s work through the years. I’m not a big character action guy, and I expected very little from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice when I picked it up, almost more in service of supporting the concept of a return to the era of B-tier games than anything else. Colour me surprised then, when what I wound up getting wasn’t a fairly by-the-numbers piece of character action schlock, but a well-told, surprisingly sincere, mostly-narrative experience with a strong grasp of Norse and Celtic mythology at the core of a story about mental illness. Pushing the boundaries of game design on a purely technical level with bar-raising audiovisual work, and a stunning performance from Melina Juergens, combined with tight combat and a surprisingly solid script, Hellblade proves something incredibly valuable; that the mid-tier game can still work. It might be the most important lesson games have learned this year; as “Triple A” publishers continue to push the boundaries of ethics and decency in seedier and more manipulative ways, studios like Ninja Theory can, in fact, deliver high-quality experiences at affordable prices on sensible budgets without any of the bullshit EA, Activision and the like are pushing. Here’s hoping that Hellblade is a trendsetter in that regard.

1. Emily is Away Too

If I’m being completely real here, I don’t think Emily is Away Too is the best game of the year – that honor goes to Hellblade – but it is definitely my favourite game of 2017, and probably belongs up there with Mirror’s Edge and SSX 3 as one of my favourite games of all time. Emily Too brings me back to the one of the happiest periods of my life; a time of hope and optimism, of finding myself and finally fitting into my own skin. It reminds me of all the long nights spent chatting with friends around the world until the sun rose, of naive, doomed teenage relationships, of finally being a part of a subculture I wish existed where I was. Emily is Away Too hits me right in the heart; but it’s more than just a cheap nostalgia ploy, it’s a truly fantastic game in its own right. It makes me happy in a way that’s hard to put into words, and it’s helped me rekindle my fondness for a lot of things that I once felt pressured out of enjoying. I can’t stop thinking about it, and that’s why it’s my Game of the Year. 2006 for life.

The post Niall’s Top 10 Games of 2017 appeared first on Gamesline.

Day one begins with trophies for the games with the Best Music, Best Audio, and Best Visuals.

Best Music: Persona 5

Chances are you’ve heard at least one song off the Persona 5 soundtrack even if you haven’t played the game. Maybe you’ve caught the high-energy blast of “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There,” the nightlife pulse of “Layer Cake,” or the slow jam of “Beneath the Mask.” It’s likely, though, you’ve at least heard one of the iconic battle themes, such as “Rivers in the Desert,” or, of course, “Last Surprise.” No matter your taste, Persona 5 boasts a wealth of catchy, engaging, and atmospheric tunes that all go a long way in cementing the unique eye and ear-catching style of the game. Composed by series veteran Shoji Meguro, Persona 5’s soundtrack still feels fresh after over 100 hours of gameplay, which is no small feat. The size, extensiveness, and variety of Persona 5’s music is topped only by its quality, which never misses a step. Even if you don’t believe in the Phantom Thieves, you can believe in their taste in music.

Runners-up:

NieR: Automata

NieR: Automata’s soundtrack is a realization and evolution upon all of composer Keiichi Okabe’s past works for the NieR and Drakengard series. Sung across languages real and invented, the diversity and emotional power of Automata’s soundtrack help imprint each and every scene in our memories, and really makes us feel “The Weight of the World.”

Danganronpa V3

V3 continues the trend of previous Danganronpa titles, punctuating tense moments with killer songs that keep you on the edge of your seat. A special shout-out must be given to “Rise and Shine, Ursine” for having the wildest lyrics in the history of music.

Best Audio: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Games are often content for their audio to be merely functional, but what Ninja Theory have done with Hellblade is truly breathtaking. From the quiet, almost imperceptible sounds of running water, to violent gusts of wind, it doesn’t take long for Hellblade to establish itself as a masterwork of audio design, and from there the game continues to build upon its soundscapes in unique ways that games as a medium have typically ignored. Hellblade’s use of binaural audio creates an unparalleled sense of spacial awareness, while simultaneously ramping up the tension and disquiet crucial to the game’s narrative experience. From clues on how to progress, to jibes and insults flung Senua’s way from the disembodied voices of the ether, Hellblade’s audio intertwines with gameplay like none other, and raises the bar ever higher for everyone else.

Runners-up:

Night in the Woods

The audio design of Night in the Woods brings the town of Possum Springs to life through “hand-made” sounds so charming and distinct that the game is unimaginable without them. From plucking power lines to ghostly musicians, Night in the Woods owes a sizeable amount of its unmistakable atmosphere simply to sound design.

Cuphead

The plunks of the weapons, the plinks of the bullets, and the wonderfully muffled and messy audio all add to the already astounding look of Cuphead. It all serves to reinforce the whimsical and cartoony setting.

Best Visuals: Cuphead

Cuphead just shouldn’t be. Somehow a game that looks remarkably like 1930s cartoons cannot exist. For years we’ve praised games for approaching modern graphics with a sharp attention to detail or a distinct and kickass style. Cuphead breaks loose and sets its own standard. The harsh early era cartoony style doesn’t just look fantastic either, they serve to reinforce the difficult and frustrating gameplay. Each boss animates into a monstrous version of itself and the old and grainy aesthetic makes the entire package feel well worn. Despite that it’s always a joy to just see Cuphead. Every single inch of this game that is worth witnessing.

Runners-up:

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

With its amazingly realistic facial capture, which takes games as close to climbing out the other side of the uncanny valley as we’ve yet gotten, Hellblade is potentially the best looking game of the year from a purely technical standpoint. It’s not just a technical powerhouse though; boasting some surprisingly beautiful and macabre art direction that feeds into its narrative themes with great effect.

Persona 5

Persona 5 oozes style, especially in its presentation. From slick menus, shadowy environments, and amazing character design, you’ll always have something nice to look at while you’re saving the world from corruption.

The post Game of the Year Awards 2017: Day One appeared first on Gamesline.

Ryan, Andi and Niall have gathered around to spend a couple hours laughing at John! The gang talk Seinfeld, Metroid, Destiny, Everybody’s Golf, Paul Giamatti, John’s distaste for K-pop, Danganronpa, Hellblade, Yakuza, MvC’s bonkers story, NBA 2k18’s garbage microtransactions, Randy Pitchford being Randy Pitchford, Tokyo Game Show, and Tigger’s Numbers.

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