Following up with our Evil Awards: Red Style for 2008, we present the 2008 Community Games of the Year. These two titles were first nominated by the community at large, then voted on in a similar manner.
------------ January 1st
Community Game of 2008
2008 GOTY: Fallout 3
The Fallout franchise fell into limbo after Interplay went nearly bust. Following the success of Oblivion super-house Bethesda picked up the rights to the franchise and set about working on one of the most anticipated sequels, not only of the year, but of all time. Fan expectations, both of Bethesda and the Fallout series, were incredibly high and based on the Evil Avatar community feedback it looks like it smashed them.
Taking the best of Oblivion, the atmosphere and art direction of the original Fallout games and wrapping it up in new concepts resulted in a game. The consensus is that Fallout 3 delivers a deeply satisfying game in a rich, beautifully crafted post-apocolyptic world. Taking the role of a survivor you escape the nuclear bunker that provides shelter during the games opening hours and your formative years. "The Vault" sets a precedent for an involving story with truly memorable characters as you search for your father.
Combat is a mix of real-time action and turn-based choices through the innovative V.A.T.S system. Effectively a method of pausing the chaos in order to carry out distinct actions this is perhaps the titles biggest difference from it's fantasy brethren. The main quest is supplemented with a massive array of side missions that deepen your relationship with the world and the characters within it.
You can become truly enveloped in the world of Fallout 3 and that is perhaps the sign of the true escapism that so many gamers seek. A beautiful world, fantastic gameplay and a re-invention of a classic franchise the title is truly deserving the title of Evil Avatar Community Game of the Year.
2008 Runner Up: Left 4 Dead
Our runner-up is starkly different from our winner. Left 4 Dead is a very traditional videogame that makes the very best of some particularly next-gen concepts. An online focused co-op zombie slaying gore-a-thon the game offers gamers the purest sort of fun.
Tasked with surviving the zombie apocolypse you, and hopefully three of your friends, will tackle 4 "movie" campaigns in which you must work together to overcome the odds and reach that next safehouse. It's arguable that Left 4 Dead's true strength comes from it's limitations. The game only features a restricted set of enemy types or weapon choices. The levels are tightly designed but focus on the shooting rather than any real puzzles or mental challenges. This means even the most novice player can pick things up quickly, leading to some truly cinematic matches.
When you play with the right bunch of guys Left 4 Dead is unmatched in the online arena. The pace of play, the intensity of the firefights and that fated moment went somebody screams Tank! An excellent title and a worthy runner-up.
... and that'll do it for this year's Evil Awards. I hope you all enjoyed them and thank you for participating in the community voting and nomination process. In case you missed them, be sure to check out the Community Shame of the Year and the Evil Awards: Red Style.
Multi platform support? LULZ. Real developers know the PC is where it's at.
GIVE IT UP!! Real developers know Games for Windows - Live and Xbox 360 is where its at! And that's what the community pick, Fallout 3, pulls off brilliantlly, along with Gears of War, Lost Planet, and a few others.
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Gamertag/PSN/Zune: ElektroDragon
PAX & Video Games Live attendee. ECA Founding Member
Is it wrong for me to love Left 4 dead so? God it is the most fun I have had playing a game in.....years.
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I had that dream again…the one where I do terrible things to Penguins with a Croquet mallet. Twinkles The Marvel Horse.
Gamertag: Todeswulf Steam: Balamoor
I got Fallout 3 for Christmas. I love this game. I love finding a new town or city and just taking in the scenery, then wasting the baddies in it of course. I love it, I find it a true escape. And thank God for fast traveling.
Well this sure was a surprise. It is overrated though, but then again so many games are these days.
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Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra
