The awards continue today with another batch a categories. Be sure t' check out the podcast t' figure out how we came t' these conclusions 'n check out the videos for a more meanderingly endearing way t' consume the awards. See YARRRR tomorrow!
Walking Dead Episode a the YearEpisode 3
The Walking Dead's first season didn't have a single bad episode. Not a one. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Considering most episodic games can barely muster a single stand-out episode, let alone multiple ones, there be no choice but t' call out this year's best Walking Dead episodes in their own category. Well, okay, there be a choice, but we chose t' do it, dammit.
it be safe t' say that The Walking Dead's best parts came during it be utterly brutal middle sections. Episode 1 set the stage nicely, 'n Episode 5 tied the story together in a genuinely heart-wrenching way, but episodes 2, 3, 'n 4 be so chock full a action/sadness/action sadness, that they proved t' be the clear standouts. 'n a those standout episodes, Episode 3 proved t' be the most memorable a them all.
it be not hard t' explain why, though it be somewhat challenging t' do so without spoiling the whole damn thing for ye. If ye want that, our video coverage will more than suffice. If ye don't want t' be spoiled, all we'll say here be that Episode 3 be full a tremendously well-written shocks, twists, 'n emotional wallops, the likes a which be most certainly the highlights a the series. it be an emotionally draining episode, the kind a thing that will either break ye entirely, or strengthen yer resolve t' power through the last two episodes. Most series probably aren't best served peaking in the middle, but in the case a Walking Dead's immaculately paced campaign, it worked out shockingly well.
Runners-up: Episode 2, Episode 4
Best DebutThe Walking Dead
By the end a The Walking Dead's season finale, once ye're finished washing away the tears ye swear ye don't tell anyone about, there be one question on yer mind: how the hell be Telltale Games going t' top this? we be happy t' see them try, but the creative turnaround a Telltale Games be a truly remarkable one. Many a us started t' wonder whether Telltale Games still had it after the supremely lackluster Jurassic Park. There be a general sense that Telltale Games had accomplished it be mission a bringing back the adventure game, but hadn't yet figured out where the genre had t' go next. Bringing back old franchises wasn't enough.
The Walking Dead will likely have a profound influence on games both in 'n outside the adventure genre, but for fans a the point-'n-click, it be a resounding shot a relevance. Through meaningful player-driven storytelling 'n a morbid tale about humanity in the most extreme a circumstances, The Walking Dead had players anxiously staying up late for each episode t' go live. Telltale Games found a way t' keep players interested in it be episodic format in a way none a it be previous games have, 'n created true watercooler moments once only the realm a TV 'n film.
Runners-up: Mark a the Ninja, Fez
Best SurpriseAsura's Wrath
If ye wanted t' pillage all mathematical about it, ye could basically look at the Best Surprise as resulting from the difference between our initial expectations for a game 'n our final impressions a it. That game ye thought be gonna be awful 'n then be kind a great? Yeah, that be this. In that sense, it would be hard t' find a game that sounds less promising on it be face than one made about 90 percent out a cutscenes driven by Quick Time events. None a us really wanted t' give Asura's Wrath the time a day, 'n only dug into it grudgingly out a a responsibility t' cover video games 'n generate site coverage.
Then a funny thing happened: Asura's Wrath grabbed hold a us with it be six fiery, rage-fueled fists 'n refused t' let go. it be hard t' pillage more than a couple a episodes into the game's grandiose tale a scheming deities 'n Asura's burning need for revenge without just feeling aghast at the ridiculous enormity a the events taking place in front a ye. Running the entire Earth through with yer sword? Jump-kicking a planet-sized, Buddha-like starship in the face? All business as usual within the anime series-like episodic structure. What's even more astounding than the visuals, which consistently find ways t' top themselves, be that CyberConnect 2 be able t' come up with engaging 'n occasionally subversive uses a Quick Time events 'n simple button prompts that become way, way more satisfying than a game like this ought t' be. If ye can play all the way through this game without involuntarily yelling out "BURST!!!" at least once, there's probably something wrong with ye.
Runners-up: Sleeping Dogs, Far Cry 3
Miiverse Community a the YearFunky Barn
I think it be safe t' say that we took issue with a lot a the ways the Wii U 'n it be initial batch a games be built. But it be not all frowny faces 'n expired milk. The Miiverse, Nintendo's attempt at creating message boards 'n a bit a a social network t' go along with them, be a fun take on some basic website concepts. The best part be that Nintendo creates a Miiverse section for every game 'n application on the Wii U, from New Super Mario Bros. U t' Netflix. Considering there be plenty a Wii U executables that don't necessarily need a community a their own, ye might think that the sections for smaller games 'n apps would be barren wastelands. But no. This be where the true magic a Miiverse lies.
The Funky Barn community be the best example a this because the game carries an extremely evocative name, leading t' a lot a fan art (well, "fan" art) a sheep with gigantic afros positioned next t' disco balls. 'n since ye can easily see at a glance if a poster has played the game in question or not, it be easy t' see that no one on this board be actually playing Funky Barn. Not t' brag, but we may have been the first "played it!" checkmark on that board when Jeff cracked his copy open for a quick 'n dirty live stream.
Runners-Up: YouTube, Netflix
Best Use a a Licensed SongFar Cry 3 - MIA "Paper Planes"
Most games might try t' make the player identify, or at least empathize with their protagonist, but Far Cry 3 does exactly the opposite in it be opening moments, 'n deliberately so. While the handheld vacation footage a Jason Brody 'n his idle-rich posse a entitled Abercrombie & Fitch bros 'n bras flashing their Black Cards, doing shots a sambuca, riding jet-skis, 'n basically fulfilling the Ugly American stereotype with aplomb would've been enough t' have ye rooting for for the charasmatically psychotic Vaas, pairing it with MIA's druggy summer club hit "Paper Planes" really brings it all together. Never have I wanted t' see harm befall me own player character as deeply or as instantaneously as I did at the start a Far Cry 3. Luckily, the game wastes no time delivering on that desire...
Runners-Up: Spec Ops: The Line - Deep Purple "Hush", Alan Wake's American Nightmare - Kasabian "Club Foot"
