Game of the Year

[shichahn]

Yeah, yeah, most of you aren't gamers. I wouldn't even say I'm that serious a gamer in that I don't play the majority of games because a) I don't have the time and b) I don't have the money. That said, I do play a few, which usually would be my favorite games in a year anyway. I probably would have enjoyed Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Halo: Reach, and Red Dead Redemption, but to my knowledge those are Xbox-only titles. Or at least, they don't have a version for PC. If I'm wrong, do correct me.

So basically that leaves two games that stood out to me this year. Fallout New Vegas, and Mass Effect 2.

I may as well re-title this post MASS EFFECT 2 WINS HANDS DOWN.

I mean, okay, New Vegas is fun, if you can ignore the constant game-breaking glitches and the overall sense of disappointment at how unfinished it is. Obsidian had such high hopes for New Vegas, and early promises of a truly vast landscape sure set my hopes high, as the part I most enjoy about the Fallout series is the ability to explore absolutely everywhere, whenever you like. But as it turns out, NV is smaller than Fallout 3, despite having more locations and quests, to the point where it just feels cluttered. It also looks a lot like an uglier version of Fallout 3. I'm sure you all remember my Wasteland Photography posts. I loved wandering that game and taking screenshots of scenery and NPCs because it was such a beautiful game. I had no such desire in New Vegas, even though the game provides you with a camera (which doesn't actually save your images, which is also a letdown). So... nice try, Obsidian. There were a lot of things I really did like about New Vegas or I wouldn't have spent so much time playing it, but everything I liked about it, I liked even better in Fallout 3. What a shame.

Mass Effect 2 on the other hand... Okay, there were a few things I liked better about its predecessor. But there were so many things that were streamlined and improved. The whole game feels very cinematic, both in terms of how beautiful it is and how well-written it is, and I love the camera work that manages to really bring simple conversations to life. And honestly, who didn't replay Mordin's Pirates of Penzance tribute over and over again? This game, like Mass Effect 1, draws heavily from classic science fiction sources such as Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein, to create an engaging space opera that truly lives up to the definition of an epic tale. It has an all-star cast - Seth Green and Tricia Helfer (Cylon Number Six) make an especially great team as Joker and the ship AI, EDI. Combat is fun and challenging, and exploration is once again enormous, enabling the player to visit a wide range of star systems across the entire galaxy.

Anyway, I'll stop now. I have a feeling fewer of you care about this than my music post. But I just had to say something, because, well... I wanted to. Take that, Black Ops.

Comments

[zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww, that's so sad New Vegas didn't turn out as awesome as we hoped!

Ohmigod those cut scenes are AMAZING. XDDD

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

Yeah... Like I said, I still enjoyed playing it, but... Meh.

The whole game is full of stuff like that. I love their writers so, so much.

[magusronin.livejournal.com]

Yay for awesome games! Boo for the fact that Mass Effect and Fallout 3 have no chance of running on either of my systems. One of these days I need to do some serious upgrading.

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

... Yeah, sounds like you're a few years behind since both ME1 and F3 are 2-3 years old. Luckily, desktops are cheaper and cheaper these days.

[drownedcities.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was really disappointed with New Vegas. I got as far as Novac before being too bored to continue. :/

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

Aww. You didn't get very far at all then. I'd say you gave up too soon, but... I dunno. There are fun places and cool things to see, but it just doesn't live up. :(

[look-alive.livejournal.com]

Omg. Omg okay you had me at Seth Green and then I watched the ranty thing and just. NnnnnghYES.

Idk, the character modeling looks clunky to me, but the environment looks totally badass. Can I come leer over your shoulder at some point and be the gamer-leech I so enjoy being? ...Or, you know. Spore-esque two-player. :D

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

The character models can be a touch clunky, sure, but it's nothing too bad. And yes, you're definitely welcome to come and observe. ;D I wish there was a good way to two-player it... hm. I think it would be pretty hard to do this game like we do with Spore. We can certainly try though, hehe. I just expect a lot of fail and dying to result. XD

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah it also has Michael Hogan (Col. Tigh) and Martin Sheen and Carrie-Anne Moss. And probably others I'm forgetting. So, lots of talented voice actors.

[regonym.livejournal.com]

MARTIN SHEEEEEN. Does he play somebody presidential? Does he does he? :D :D :D

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

Haha... not really. He plays the mysterious director of a shadowy pro-human paramilitary organization with ambiguous goals!

[regonym.livejournal.com]

...that sounds fairly presidential to me. :O

[shichahn.livejournal.com]

In the context of today's world? Yeah, point taken. ;)