I mean at least explain why you think it isn't the case then. I agree that going into the thread for an outlet's GOTY and expressing distaste that it isn't YOUR GOTY is silly (especially, as you say, for the Bayonetta 2 fantasists), but at least then elaborate.
First and foremost, I'm not fully, but at least partially informed, in that I haven't finished the game but have put quite some time into it. I have tried to play it several times, I really have, but each time I've ended up putting it down and not coming back to it immediately.
Anyway, for starters, out of the games released in 2014, it's relatively low on the Metacritic scale, with an 83. As another GAFer in this thread also mentioned, the game's review from EuroGamer (whose "best games" list is the subject of this thread) themselves was relatively lukewarm. Now onto my own opinion...
I can't out my finger on it, because the game is colorful and well animated, but something about it feels somewhat bland and uninspired. I found the levels to be too long (if you need TWO checkpoints, yea, your levels might be too long), which might not actually be a problem if they were actually fun. I feel Donkey Kong himself handles awkwardly; slow (it feels as if only has one speed), heavy (which I can feel every time I jump), and the rolling mechanic leaves something to be desired. At least in past DKC games, if you had problems with the way one Kong handled (which was a common complaint against, for example, Kiddy Kong in DKC3), then you can choose the other Kong as your primary and the "awkward" Kong as your partner. And maybe I missed something in the instruction manual, or the game itself, but this game does not give you that choice; seems like you
have to play as Donkey Kong.
If you're not gonna give me a choice, at least make the character not feel awkward/heavy to handle. In platformers, I like my characters to be at a minimum balanced. Rayman in Origins felt awesome. Or, do what SMB2 and 3D World did, which is phucking absolutely, unequivocally genius: give you a CHOICE that actually affects GAMEPLAY. Want a balanced character? Mario. Want a fun, super jumpy, somewhat awkward character? Luigi. Want a slow, "heavy", floaty character? Peach. Want a super fast, easy to handle, but short on the jumps character? Toad (My personal favorite in those games, BTW).
Of course, everything I'm talking about is single player mode. Maybe the situation is different in multiplayer and I may actually be able to control Dixie, or Cranky, or whoever.
And not everything is bad, of course. David Wise is a man who never disappoints, with an amazing soundtrack. The levels are indeed detailed, colorful, and nice to look at, and I particularly like the "faux 3D" visuals. The different strategies revolving around your different partners is a very nice addition (I LOVE Cranky's ability to allow me to jump on dangerous surfaces).
So I don't think the game is terrible. I don't even think it's a bad game, and I'll give it a try again this year. But GOTY and "best 2D platformer ever" qualifications are definitely things I can't agree with. For me, MK8 fulfills the former, while Super Mario World / Rayman Origins fulfills the latter.
