modeps
12-25-2008, 02:17 AM
http://evavhost.com/i/news/evilawards.jpg
In addition to the Community picks (chosen and voted upon by the users at Evil Avatar), on Christmas day the Reds started announcing our personal picks for Game of the Year and the runner up to Game of the Year. These are our picks out of the games we've played, not necessarily out of every single game on the market.
Schedule is as follows:
Emabulator - December 25th
modeps - December 26th
Dirty Harry - December 27th
Everlost_MI - December 28th
lost - December 29th
Evil Avatar - December 30th
Community Shame of 2008 - December 31st
Community Game of 2008 & Big Evil Guide 2009 - January 1st
---------- December 25th
Emabulator
2008 GOTY: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3.jpg Fallout 3 had me hooked from the start. I started the game for the first time to test my graphics settings. Before I knew it the sun had come up and my wife was handing me a cup of coffee. Bethsoft did an outstanding job bringing the Wasteland to life. My initial fears of taking the beloved series into a first-person 3D world were not only alleviated, they were utterly smashed to bits. True role-playing depth, enjoyable quests, a diverse cast of characters and excellent VATS combat made nearly every moment in the Wasteland a memorable one.
2008 Runner Up: Sins of a Solar Empire
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/sins_ru.jpg Ironclad Games and Stardock delivered a DRM free strategical masterpiece. The graphically stunning sci-fi game is well paced and addicting enough to have consumed the majority of my gaming time for the better part of three months. The fact that Ironclad and Stardock continue to update the game on a regular basis bodes well for its long term viability.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg If you had asked me a few days after L4D came out what I thought of the game I would have said It's pretty good, but I'll probably get bored with it soon. Over a month later I can't stop playing the damn game and love the zombie blasting gorefest more than ever. Just when I think I've seen it all the AI director throws another curveball and catches me by surprise. I greatly underestimated the AI director replayability factor. Valve has done it once again! Even though this time it snuck up on me rather than knocking my socks off right out of the gate, like their Half-Life titles have in the past.
------------ December 26th
modeps
2008 GOTY: Burnout Paradise
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/paradise.jpg I don't think I ever thought that I'd ever call a racing title my Game of the Year, but here I am. Since its release in January of 2008, Burnout Paradise won my heart. It's a complete, engrossing package by itself, offering a veritible ton of gameplay straight off the disc. But when you couple that initial package with the outrageously stellar support by developer Criterion Games, offering a full year of content updates for free and continued dedication to further updates... then add the wonderful multiplayer component with its cooperative challenges and races, and you've got the most value packed game of the year.
Sure, Showtime is no replacement for Crash Mode found in previous versions but with its perfect framerate, amazing visuals, stellar sense of speed, and a huge car playground, Burnout Paradise is the single best package you could buy in 2008, and my Game of the Year.
2008 Runner Up: Gears of War 2
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/gears2_ru.jpg My first runner up has to go to Gears of War 2. Not only did it give us more of the great gameplay of its predecessor in a complete visceral and punch-you-in-the-mouth way, but it expanded on just about every other aspect as well. The story was still a bit of a soft spot, but it's co-op support was rivaled only by Left 4 Dead... and the addition of Horde mode is just gaming bliss. Who would have thought that just sticking around on the same map shooting baddies could be so intense?
Epic has proven once again that they know how to make a quality, intense action game and I eagerly await Gears of War 3.
2008 Runner Up: Braid
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/braid_ru.jpg I'd truly be amiss if I didn't recognize the purposefully pretentious Braid in my picks. Prior to actually trying the game, I was in the camp that thought "How can something that lasts about four hours be worth $15?" Then of course, I actually played it and ate my words with a side of humble pie. Not only is Braid worth every penny I paid for it, but its also deserving of the accolades that it receives from many around the web.
If the pristine mind-bending time mechanics weren't enough, Jonathan Blow delivered one of the single best endings to a game that I have seen in a long, long time.
------------ December 27th
Dirty Harry
2008 GOTY: Nothing!
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/place.jpg There has been a large draught of games that float my boat, even though there has been a big harvest of games this year. Some games such as LBP have made new attempts at challenging the user in creating a great gaming experience for themselves. While games like Prince of Persia (2008) have certainly shown that old dogs certainly can learn new tricks, space horror Dead Space has given System Shock a run for its money as the ultimate in space horror. Even blockbuster sequels such as GoW2 and MGS4 showed great potential this year.
All in total I found that all these "great" games had fundamentals flaws. Issues such as weak stories, glitched MP support, Inexcusable short game lengths, shallow game mechanics, long wait times for patches and rushed products have made a large group of "great" games loose their luster in my eyes. So I refuse to award any game GotY because I feel none of them truly deserve it. Hopefully this can motivate devs to polish their games further.
2008 Runner Up: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3_ru.jpg What can I say about FO 3 that hasn't already been mentioned previously?. As a long time and hard core fan of the Fallout series I found more than a few issues regarding the most recent iteration of my beloved series. Even with all its flaws and game play choices FO 3 still succeeds in what the two previous games managed to accomplish, which was transport me into a living and breathing game world itself.
The game has managed to create a convincing and engaging landscape/story. I hate to say it but I was certainly tempted not to Ignite the Nuke in Megaton and at one point all I lived and breathed was bobble heads. These are the reasons I have Chosen Fallout 3 as Runner up for GotY.
------------ December 28th
Everlost_MI
2008 GOTY: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3.jpg A game that takes the long standing legacy of the PC game Wasteland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_(computer_game) and continues to build upon it. The open ended RPG / FPS / Strategic Shooter gives the gamer so many choices in regards in how to handle moral and ethical as well as how to simple play the game. Do you want to run and gun as if you're playing Doom? Go for it! Do you want to take the turn based method? Done! Or how about a nice mix with a little bit of sneaking and hacking? Oh...wait did you want to change your mind half way through the game or a battle of how you want to play. Done!
The scripted game events really make the game come alive as you stumble across well known U.S. landmarks and witness the twisted horrors of post-nuclear life.
The other shiny piece of the game is how much flexibility and impact you have on the game. Do you want to be Mad Max and help those in need as you see fit or become the Walking Dude as you make your way through D.C.? Whatever and whenever you want to be those pole extreme or something in between lies in the your hand. But for every action there is an reaction as well as bonuses and penalties. For example, if you become the white knight then you're going to have a mark on your head from those who can't stand a Lone Ranger making his/her way across the nuclear wasteland.
This title also improved upon Bethesda's Elder Scroll's formula by giving a bit more focused direction and help in regards to mapping and questing. And for those playing either the PC or the 360 version, there are now three reasonably priced DLC packages available in the first part of 2009. For those playing the PC platform, your options expanded ten fold with the recently released G.E.C.K. editing tool that give the community the flexibility to make the Fallout universe come alive.
My two complaints? The occasional glitch/lockup and the level capping. From what Bethesda has stated both should be addressed in the 360 version with DLC and more specifically the level capping by the third DLC offering.
2008 Runner Up: Dead Space
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/deadspace_ru.jpghttp://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg An entertaining and exciting game of space horror survival with an ending that will having you anxious for the sequel.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
One this year's better multi-player games that will keep you on the edge of your seat with the game's randomness and the NEED to play as a team. The only complaint is the lack of variety when it comes to your enemies but that can be slightly remedied by cranking up the difficulty.
------------ December 29th
lost
2008 GOTY: Metal Gear Solid 4
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/mgs4.jpg Those who regularly read my reviews will know that I play a lot of games. In among the sea of quality titles that we've had this year one captured my heart and pulled me along a journey I'll never forget. The storytelling in the Metal Gear Solid series has always been outstanding. This fourth title was no exception; twists and turns delivered at a standard that Hollywood struggles to match. Solid Snake's story ends and, especially for those who have followed it all the way, it feels like you have left the battlefield with him.
That's not to say the gameplay falls flat. The new global-scale works extremely well and provides variety among traditional elements. The familiar MGS mechanics have been honed to their peak. Boss battles, levels and characters all reflect back on games past and deliver the best game in a groundbreaking series.
Quite simply, it's Kojima's masterpiece.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg My runner-up is a game that defies it's limitations. I've reviewed Left 4 Dead and didn't give it a perfect score so why exactly does it merit such praise?
Left 4 Dead's singular parts are not, at first glance, the right components for an outstanding next-gen titles. It's the games simplicity that means it succeeds in the only place it cares about, the online arena. The pace and excitement of Halo mixed with the teamwork and camaraderie of Team Fortress Left 4 Dead chucks zombies into the mix to create the best online title of the year. I've had more fun with EvAv members and friends here than I have had with any other game. Even for a gamer who loves his yarns that's sometimes all that matters.
------------ December 30th
Evil Avatar
2008 GOTY: Dead Space
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/deadspace.jpg Traditionally, Electronic Arts was best known for cranking out minor updates to long running franchises with little or no creativity. Starting with 2007's Rock Band & Skate they decided to stop relying on yearly updates to Madden and Tiger Woods and start branching out into new territories. In a year that brought us Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company, Dead Space and Mirror's Edge, Dead Space stands out as their premier new franchise (one sure to spawn a half dozen sequels). Everything that Dead Space does, it does right. In the end this is a standard 3rd person survival/horror title but, the amazing level of detail, tense storyline and unique twists (like zero gravity combat) made Dead Space rise to the top of my gameplay list. Oh and it has zombies. Space zombies!
2008 Runner Up: Burnout Paradise
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/paradise_ru.jpgThe racing game that keeps on giving and giving and giving. Criterion first released a near-perfect racing game and then continued to support it and support it and support it with free DLC. They have given back so much to the people who purchased the game that I'll be buying their first pay-to-play DLC just as a 'Thank You' for everything they have done so far. Developers who think it is fair to charge $10 for three multiplayer maps might want to look at what Criterion has done for their community and take note.
2008 Runner Up: Patapon
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/patapon_ru.jpg Remember back in February when SCEJ released the musical rhythm strategy title Patapon? I'm not a handheld gamer, I don't even own a Nintendo DS (Ok, I own one, but my kids stole it.) so when a title comes along that all alone justifies the purchase of a Sony PSP and an video/audio cable to hook it up to my TV, it deserves to be on my Game of the Year list. With a unique art style and addictive gameplay Papapon is the kind of pure fun that should be found in all Sony titles. When does Patapon 2 come out?
And there you have it! The Evil Awards: Red Style are complete.
In addition to the Community picks (chosen and voted upon by the users at Evil Avatar), on Christmas day the Reds started announcing our personal picks for Game of the Year and the runner up to Game of the Year. These are our picks out of the games we've played, not necessarily out of every single game on the market.
Schedule is as follows:
Emabulator - December 25th
modeps - December 26th
Dirty Harry - December 27th
Everlost_MI - December 28th
lost - December 29th
Evil Avatar - December 30th
Community Shame of 2008 - December 31st
Community Game of 2008 & Big Evil Guide 2009 - January 1st
---------- December 25th
Emabulator
2008 GOTY: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3.jpg Fallout 3 had me hooked from the start. I started the game for the first time to test my graphics settings. Before I knew it the sun had come up and my wife was handing me a cup of coffee. Bethsoft did an outstanding job bringing the Wasteland to life. My initial fears of taking the beloved series into a first-person 3D world were not only alleviated, they were utterly smashed to bits. True role-playing depth, enjoyable quests, a diverse cast of characters and excellent VATS combat made nearly every moment in the Wasteland a memorable one.
2008 Runner Up: Sins of a Solar Empire
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/sins_ru.jpg Ironclad Games and Stardock delivered a DRM free strategical masterpiece. The graphically stunning sci-fi game is well paced and addicting enough to have consumed the majority of my gaming time for the better part of three months. The fact that Ironclad and Stardock continue to update the game on a regular basis bodes well for its long term viability.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg If you had asked me a few days after L4D came out what I thought of the game I would have said It's pretty good, but I'll probably get bored with it soon. Over a month later I can't stop playing the damn game and love the zombie blasting gorefest more than ever. Just when I think I've seen it all the AI director throws another curveball and catches me by surprise. I greatly underestimated the AI director replayability factor. Valve has done it once again! Even though this time it snuck up on me rather than knocking my socks off right out of the gate, like their Half-Life titles have in the past.
------------ December 26th
modeps
2008 GOTY: Burnout Paradise
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/paradise.jpg I don't think I ever thought that I'd ever call a racing title my Game of the Year, but here I am. Since its release in January of 2008, Burnout Paradise won my heart. It's a complete, engrossing package by itself, offering a veritible ton of gameplay straight off the disc. But when you couple that initial package with the outrageously stellar support by developer Criterion Games, offering a full year of content updates for free and continued dedication to further updates... then add the wonderful multiplayer component with its cooperative challenges and races, and you've got the most value packed game of the year.
Sure, Showtime is no replacement for Crash Mode found in previous versions but with its perfect framerate, amazing visuals, stellar sense of speed, and a huge car playground, Burnout Paradise is the single best package you could buy in 2008, and my Game of the Year.
2008 Runner Up: Gears of War 2
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/gears2_ru.jpg My first runner up has to go to Gears of War 2. Not only did it give us more of the great gameplay of its predecessor in a complete visceral and punch-you-in-the-mouth way, but it expanded on just about every other aspect as well. The story was still a bit of a soft spot, but it's co-op support was rivaled only by Left 4 Dead... and the addition of Horde mode is just gaming bliss. Who would have thought that just sticking around on the same map shooting baddies could be so intense?
Epic has proven once again that they know how to make a quality, intense action game and I eagerly await Gears of War 3.
2008 Runner Up: Braid
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/braid_ru.jpg I'd truly be amiss if I didn't recognize the purposefully pretentious Braid in my picks. Prior to actually trying the game, I was in the camp that thought "How can something that lasts about four hours be worth $15?" Then of course, I actually played it and ate my words with a side of humble pie. Not only is Braid worth every penny I paid for it, but its also deserving of the accolades that it receives from many around the web.
If the pristine mind-bending time mechanics weren't enough, Jonathan Blow delivered one of the single best endings to a game that I have seen in a long, long time.
------------ December 27th
Dirty Harry
2008 GOTY: Nothing!
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/place.jpg There has been a large draught of games that float my boat, even though there has been a big harvest of games this year. Some games such as LBP have made new attempts at challenging the user in creating a great gaming experience for themselves. While games like Prince of Persia (2008) have certainly shown that old dogs certainly can learn new tricks, space horror Dead Space has given System Shock a run for its money as the ultimate in space horror. Even blockbuster sequels such as GoW2 and MGS4 showed great potential this year.
All in total I found that all these "great" games had fundamentals flaws. Issues such as weak stories, glitched MP support, Inexcusable short game lengths, shallow game mechanics, long wait times for patches and rushed products have made a large group of "great" games loose their luster in my eyes. So I refuse to award any game GotY because I feel none of them truly deserve it. Hopefully this can motivate devs to polish their games further.
2008 Runner Up: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3_ru.jpg What can I say about FO 3 that hasn't already been mentioned previously?. As a long time and hard core fan of the Fallout series I found more than a few issues regarding the most recent iteration of my beloved series. Even with all its flaws and game play choices FO 3 still succeeds in what the two previous games managed to accomplish, which was transport me into a living and breathing game world itself.
The game has managed to create a convincing and engaging landscape/story. I hate to say it but I was certainly tempted not to Ignite the Nuke in Megaton and at one point all I lived and breathed was bobble heads. These are the reasons I have Chosen Fallout 3 as Runner up for GotY.
------------ December 28th
Everlost_MI
2008 GOTY: Fallout 3
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/fallout3.jpg A game that takes the long standing legacy of the PC game Wasteland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_(computer_game) and continues to build upon it. The open ended RPG / FPS / Strategic Shooter gives the gamer so many choices in regards in how to handle moral and ethical as well as how to simple play the game. Do you want to run and gun as if you're playing Doom? Go for it! Do you want to take the turn based method? Done! Or how about a nice mix with a little bit of sneaking and hacking? Oh...wait did you want to change your mind half way through the game or a battle of how you want to play. Done!
The scripted game events really make the game come alive as you stumble across well known U.S. landmarks and witness the twisted horrors of post-nuclear life.
The other shiny piece of the game is how much flexibility and impact you have on the game. Do you want to be Mad Max and help those in need as you see fit or become the Walking Dude as you make your way through D.C.? Whatever and whenever you want to be those pole extreme or something in between lies in the your hand. But for every action there is an reaction as well as bonuses and penalties. For example, if you become the white knight then you're going to have a mark on your head from those who can't stand a Lone Ranger making his/her way across the nuclear wasteland.
This title also improved upon Bethesda's Elder Scroll's formula by giving a bit more focused direction and help in regards to mapping and questing. And for those playing either the PC or the 360 version, there are now three reasonably priced DLC packages available in the first part of 2009. For those playing the PC platform, your options expanded ten fold with the recently released G.E.C.K. editing tool that give the community the flexibility to make the Fallout universe come alive.
My two complaints? The occasional glitch/lockup and the level capping. From what Bethesda has stated both should be addressed in the 360 version with DLC and more specifically the level capping by the third DLC offering.
2008 Runner Up: Dead Space
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/deadspace_ru.jpghttp://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg An entertaining and exciting game of space horror survival with an ending that will having you anxious for the sequel.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
One this year's better multi-player games that will keep you on the edge of your seat with the game's randomness and the NEED to play as a team. The only complaint is the lack of variety when it comes to your enemies but that can be slightly remedied by cranking up the difficulty.
------------ December 29th
lost
2008 GOTY: Metal Gear Solid 4
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/mgs4.jpg Those who regularly read my reviews will know that I play a lot of games. In among the sea of quality titles that we've had this year one captured my heart and pulled me along a journey I'll never forget. The storytelling in the Metal Gear Solid series has always been outstanding. This fourth title was no exception; twists and turns delivered at a standard that Hollywood struggles to match. Solid Snake's story ends and, especially for those who have followed it all the way, it feels like you have left the battlefield with him.
That's not to say the gameplay falls flat. The new global-scale works extremely well and provides variety among traditional elements. The familiar MGS mechanics have been honed to their peak. Boss battles, levels and characters all reflect back on games past and deliver the best game in a groundbreaking series.
Quite simply, it's Kojima's masterpiece.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/lfd_ru.jpg My runner-up is a game that defies it's limitations. I've reviewed Left 4 Dead and didn't give it a perfect score so why exactly does it merit such praise?
Left 4 Dead's singular parts are not, at first glance, the right components for an outstanding next-gen titles. It's the games simplicity that means it succeeds in the only place it cares about, the online arena. The pace and excitement of Halo mixed with the teamwork and camaraderie of Team Fortress Left 4 Dead chucks zombies into the mix to create the best online title of the year. I've had more fun with EvAv members and friends here than I have had with any other game. Even for a gamer who loves his yarns that's sometimes all that matters.
------------ December 30th
Evil Avatar
2008 GOTY: Dead Space
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/deadspace.jpg Traditionally, Electronic Arts was best known for cranking out minor updates to long running franchises with little or no creativity. Starting with 2007's Rock Band & Skate they decided to stop relying on yearly updates to Madden and Tiger Woods and start branching out into new territories. In a year that brought us Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company, Dead Space and Mirror's Edge, Dead Space stands out as their premier new franchise (one sure to spawn a half dozen sequels). Everything that Dead Space does, it does right. In the end this is a standard 3rd person survival/horror title but, the amazing level of detail, tense storyline and unique twists (like zero gravity combat) made Dead Space rise to the top of my gameplay list. Oh and it has zombies. Space zombies!
2008 Runner Up: Burnout Paradise
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/paradise_ru.jpgThe racing game that keeps on giving and giving and giving. Criterion first released a near-perfect racing game and then continued to support it and support it and support it with free DLC. They have given back so much to the people who purchased the game that I'll be buying their first pay-to-play DLC just as a 'Thank You' for everything they have done so far. Developers who think it is fair to charge $10 for three multiplayer maps might want to look at what Criterion has done for their community and take note.
2008 Runner Up: Patapon
http://evavhost.com/i/other/awards/patapon_ru.jpg Remember back in February when SCEJ released the musical rhythm strategy title Patapon? I'm not a handheld gamer, I don't even own a Nintendo DS (Ok, I own one, but my kids stole it.) so when a title comes along that all alone justifies the purchase of a Sony PSP and an video/audio cable to hook it up to my TV, it deserves to be on my Game of the Year list. With a unique art style and addictive gameplay Papapon is the kind of pure fun that should be found in all Sony titles. When does Patapon 2 come out?
And there you have it! The Evil Awards: Red Style are complete.