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[MrGreencastle]

I haven't played Tearaway (looks brilliant), AC4(tried but it's not pulling me in), or PoE (a little too hardcore for my tastes), but out of the remaining which I have played, I would rank them as:

Super Mario 3D World
The Last of Us
Zelda ALBW
GTA V

Very good year for games.

 

[trixx]

Don't really get what the big deal is. Seems like a fair pick. Other games on the list are great also

 

[Fireblend]

It's a pretty good game (shakes up the Zelda formula just enough) but GOTY?

Whatever it takes to get clicks eh Gamespot?

Lots of people seem to agree on this thread, so why do you automatically assume that they're only trying to "get clicks"? It's not my GOTY either, but it amuses me how people can't get themselves to believe Gamespot might have chosen the game because they did think it was the best of the year. I certainly have friends that think the same, and plenty of people here do as well.

 

[Kade]

Well deserved.

 

[SmokyDave]

Guess GameSpot needed a few clicks on their website this week.

It's a pretty good game (shakes up the Zelda formula just enough) but GOTY?

Whatever it takes to get clicks eh Gamespot?

They chose the sequel to A Link to the Past.

That doesn't strike me as a terribly controversial choice that's bound to garner a ton of 'clicks'. It certainly shouldn't be, anyway.

 

[bishopcruz]

I guess good on them for picking something nonstandard.

But is it really good on them? Is the fact that they chose an unconventional GOTY in itself praiseworthy?

I'm starting to think a lot of great games are going to get snubbed by a bunch of sites' GOTY awards because they're "too obvious." And really that's kind of a shame, because while recognizing lesser known or unusual games for doing interesting and cool things is nice, to some degree it's dishonest to pick a GOTY just for the sake of giving the game more exposure.

I mean if everyone agreed that A Link Between Worlds really was the best game of the year then fine. I disagree, but hey, opinions. On the other hand if they picked it to get people talking about how they boldly didn't go for the obvious choice, then I think that's kind of dumb.

Despite what others are saying here, it's not a 'daring' pick. It's a Zelda, one based on quite possibly the most loved game of all time and it cashes in on that Nostalgia pretty hardcore. Very good from what I have played of it, and the non-linearity helps the formula, but again, a safe pick.

Surprised Bioshock Infinite isn't on that list.

Came out too early this year, not as fresh in people's minds, that and there was a huge backlash against it that I don't understand to this day. Beautiful amazing game.

Gamespot finally showing some balls, this was the last site I was expecting to choose a handheld (Nintendo) game as GOTY, well done. As for the comments on YouTube, no comment.

Again, this was a safe pick, especially in the current climate of Nintendo sympathy that has been running through the gaming press. Nintendo makes great games, that is what they do, Zelda is a great game, but it is by no means revolutionary in the few hours I have played so far, this may change, and I'm excited to keep going, but don't frame this as some revelation.

Hell, from what I have played of both, Ys: Memories of Celceta stomps on Zelda in speed, combat, exploration and characters, and the dungeons are great too. No one would have picked that game, because I highly doubt any of the Gamespot editors even played it.

 

[Fallout-NL]

I still don't understand why people like Assassin's Creed so much. I've only played the 2nd one, and the only thing I really liked about it was the setting. The actual gameplay ruined the game for me.

Yeah, I had the same problem, it's just bone dry 'when it gets right down to it'. Bought AC4 hoping that a few more years worth of iteration would have solved some of those problems, but no, I can only tolerate it because it's the one PS4 game I have right now.

Taste cant really be discussed though.

I'm of the opinion that it can.

Spoiler

Indeed. I saw this one guy talking smack about GTA 5. I didn't bother telling him he was dead wrong, but he was.

Right, exactly.

 

[GetemMa]

Guess GameSpot needed a few clicks on their website this week.

It's a pretty good game (shakes up the Zelda formula just enough) but GOTY?

Whatever it takes to get clicks eh Gamespot?

Why is this always the go to response when a game site posts something that a person doesn't like?

Isn't Gamespot the most heavily trafficked games site in the world?

I doubt they are sweating over their "click" numbers.

 

[dorkimoe]

path of exile over dota 2? nope

 

[Diddy Kong]

I am surprised. Good on you Gamespot!

 

[Tripon]

Looks like they've been reading that NeoGAF thread LOL I love them now

Wasn't there a topic on here asking why handheld games are never considered for GOTY?

Mothafuckin prophetic shit goin on

As the person who made that thread, I am genuinely and happily surprised at Zelda winning GOTY from a major publication.

 

[turnbuckle]

Hell yeah, excellent pick.

 

[Sectorseven]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

 

[commish]

I can't imagine how anyone thinks Zelda is better than Fire Emblem, but to each their own. Not really surprising coming from Gamespot. They tend to go with the more "random" games for winners.

 

[Orayn]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

Well, none of the other nominees have this. GTA V is South Park level satire at best.

 

[y2dvd]

I love these goty lists because it's never going to please everyone. The weirdest posts are the ones that goes "they are wrong and don't know gaming". It's an opinion people!

 

[Yamauchi]

Why is this always the go to response when a game site posts something that a person doesn't like?

It's just the standard response for someone who can't understand why a group of people who play games for a living, and certainly play all the major titles in a year, would choose a gameplay-centric title as their GOTY.

You have to give them credit. It's a full step up from "but Zelda is kiddie!"

 

[Ysiadmihi]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

Spoiler

Shyguy avatar kind of ruins it

 

[A Link to the Past]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

Will people look back and think about how GTAV changed their life, or about how The Last of Us blurred the line between video game and experience? Probably not. There's nothing wrong with video games affecting things in real life, or affecting people in any small way - much in the same way that there is nothing wrong with games that DON'T do that. Phoenix Wright Dual Destinies is my GotY because I enjoy the story, the characters, and the premise. It's not because it changed my outlook on life. You have a really weird outlook on it if you think that gaming needs to be categorized into one specifi box.

 

[CecilRousso]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

Does all publications need to have this social commentary aspect as the most important criteria? I mean, GTAV and The Last of Us already have like 30 publications each that have named them GOTY.

 

[Chill Penguin]

Great choice imo. In the console space i'm mostly a Sony fan, and I've played GTA 5 and TLOU. However when it comes to actual gameplay and level design ALBW is absolute king, the game is just a masterwork that shows no one in the industry can do level design quite like Nintendo. Anyone saying a handheld game shouldn't win is simply out to lunch...that handheld game is ten times the game that 99% of console games are.

 

[RobFox64tm]

Wow, a portable game that's also a Nintendo game? That's a genuine surprise to me. It really is a great game though.

 

[andymcc]

I can't imagine how anyone thinks Zelda is better than Fire Emblem, but to each their own. Not really surprising coming from Gamespot.

i don't really like Strategy RPGs.

 

[FairXchange]

Awesome! Makes me even more excited to open my copy and play it all the way through.

 

[chickdigger802]

GOTY need to provide social commentary now?

shiiiit

*deletes current list of goty for me*

 

[daveo42]

Really surprised at the winner here. Was legitimately expecting GTAV

Spoiler

based on sales alone.

 

[Sectorseven]

Spoiler

Shyguy avatar kind of ruins it

I never decreed it avatar of the year

 

[Tadale]

I'm genuinely surprised by how much recognition GTAV is getting, not that someone would give GotY to Zelda. GTA built a really impressive world and refined the mechanics in some great ways, but fell flat with everything else - the story was bland, most of the characters uninteresting, and the mission design was sometimes boring.

 

[castlemadeofsand]

hell yeah gamespot

 

[phanphare]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

so to be GotY the game has to provide some kind of social commentary on where the world was at the time the game was released? it can't just be the best game of the year?

 

[Maxrunner]

They chose the sequel to A Link to the Past.

That doesn't strike me as a terribly controversial choice that's bound to garner a ton of 'clicks'. It certainly shouldn't be, anyway.

Your love for big N is fully palpable....

 

[shamanick]

While everyone is all a-flutter about a handheld Nintendo game winning GOTY, it would have been nice to see an award going to something relatively fresh. But I guess if it's Nintendo it's ok if it's the 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000th game in the series.

 

[turnbuckle]

I can't imagine how anyone thinks Zelda is better than Fire Emblem, but to each their own. Not really surprising coming from Gamespot. They tend to go with the more "random" games for winners.

Fire Emblem is great, but I liked the Gamecube/Wii versions more. I'd probably feel a bit different if all the paywalled content was included for free though.

I'd rather SMT IV get it than Fire Emblem, but I still hold the same criticisms for that game. Etrian Odyssey IV would be deserving if it were just me voting, but that's pretty niche and not really THAT different than the previous 3 versions - and inferior in a couple of ways from Etrian Untold.

I like the Zelda choice because it's the first handheld Zelda I liked since the Oracle games and I've never been able to get into the 3D Zeldas.

 

[Chill Penguin]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

Nintendo's entire philosophy is to create games that temporarily draw you away from reality. Games that are essentially created in a vacuum. That's a perfectly fine sort of game to enjoy, and it's possibly why their franchises have aged so well, but they're so abstract nothing can really be gleaned from them.

There's no incite. The player isn't changed by the experience. You turn the game off and move on with your life. You won't hop on the subway and see an elf. You will see GTA 5's Trevor, but you won't understand him.

If in 50 years someone want's to get a feel for what gaming (and life) in 2013 was like, is Zelda really the best example?

The difference being if you're looking for satire or social commentary, there's about a million better things you could watch or read instead of GTA 5. Videogame writing is relatively horrible, and if you're having a profound experience from GTA, there's a lot of amazing film and literature recommendations I have that would blow your mind.

Now Zelda is pure gameplay and level design, and when it comes to that no one on earth does it better than Nintendo. They are the masters and play to their strengths. Well deserved GOTY and i hope other sites follow suit.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Zelda to get GOTY.

 

[Levyne]

And everyone bites, haha

 

[Meier]

Well deserved. It's flawless, frankly.

While everyone is all a-flutter about a handheld Nintendo game winning GOTY, it would have been nice to see an award going to something relatively fresh. But I guess if it's Nintendo it's ok if it's the 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000th game in the series.

Considering this game is exceedingly fresh, your wish is their command.

 

[andymcc]

While everyone is all a-flutter about a handheld Nintendo game winning GOTY, it would have been nice to see an award going to something relatively fresh. But I guess if it's Nintendo it's ok if it's the 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000th game in the series.

by that metric, Tearaway should have been the winner then.

 

[phanphare]

While everyone is all a-flutter about a handheld Nintendo game winning GOTY, it would have been nice to see an award going to something relatively fresh. But I guess if it's Nintendo it's ok if it's the 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000th game in the series.

lol, I wonder if Nintendo has made 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 games period

 

[Revolutionary]

They chose the sequel to A Link to the Past.

That doesn't strike me as a terribly controversial choice that's bound to garner a ton of 'clicks'. It certainly shouldn't be, anyway.

In the year when The Last of Us was released? As someone who has played through both to 100% completion, it is definitely a controversial choice to me.

One is a step forward for storytelling in our medium, while the other is the definition of a retread. I enjoyed both games but there's no doubt in my mind which is more deserving of accolades. But I digress - I regret even posting in this thread because I usually just ignore reviews and awards. It just disappoints me to see such an original and amazing game get snubbed over nostalgia.

 

[jgmo870]

I'll take a stab in the dark and say that ALBW doesn't have this great level design or great gameplay that it's being praised for, just like the majority of modern Nintendo games that get lauded for both.

I can't imagine how anyone thinks Zelda is better than Fire Emblem, but to each their own. Not really surprising coming from Gamespot. They tend to go with the more "random" games for winners.

It shouldn't be hard for a game to be better than Awakening. The only 2013 game I played that isn't is LM2.

 

[Darksol]

Eh...to each their own, I suppose. It was probably my fifth or sixth runner up this year.

 

[shamanick]

Well deserved. It's flawless, frankly.



Considering this game is exceedingly fresh, your wish is their command.

I can think of about 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 games this year that are fresher than ALBW.

 

[Ivan 3414]

They chose the sequel to A Link to the Past.

That doesn't strike me as a terribly controversial choice that's bound to garner a ton of 'clicks'. It certainly shouldn't be, anyway.

I'm guessing you didn't look at the Youtube link in the OP.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

That is an awesome choice. I like it when the game of the year isnt one of the blatantly obvious choices.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

it would have been nice to see an award going to something relatively fresh..

Well then you should be happy with this Zelda game winning

 

[ScreenSplitter]

The problem with Zelda winning GOTY is it doesn't provide any social commentary.

How's the IGN application going? Don't worry if you haven't heard anything yet man.

 

[H_Prestige]

Good pick

 

[BHZ Mayor]

They chose the sequel to A Link to the Past.

That doesn't strike me as a terribly controversial choice that's bound to garner a ton of 'clicks'. It certainly shouldn't be, anyway.

Your love for big N is fully palpable....

HAHAHAHAHA! Smoky Dave? A Nintendo fanboy?

 

[Malvingt2]

In the year when The Last of Us was released? As someone who has played through both to 100% completion, it is definitely a controversial choice to me.

One is a step forward for storytelling in our medium, while the other is the definition of a retread. I enjoyed both games but there's no doubt in my mind which is more deserving of accolades. But I digress - I regret even posting in this thread because I usually just ignore reviews and awards. It just disappoints me to see such an original and amazing game get snubbed over nostalgia.

I had play both and the choice doesn't bother me. I don't think LoU is amazing.. Good game tho. I enjoyed it