The Game Awards 2016 - Nominations and Predictions

Photo courtesy of Game Informer

Now that 2016 is winding down, it's officially awards season! The Game Awards is back once again, and the nominees for this year's show have been announced.

In my opinion, 2016 was a pretty solid year for gaming (but not a solid year for just about everything else). This is reflected in this year's nominees, as big-budget games and small-scale indies get equal love. Looking at everything on this list, I've found it hard to choose who I think should win (as of writing this, I'm still slaving over my 'best of' list for this year) as just about every game mentioned here is award-worthy.

Following the break, I've included a good portion of the nominations (you can view the entire list here) and have highlighted the games I would vote for. Understand that there are a few categories (Fighting Game and VR, for example) I'm not the best judge of since I don't typically play games in those genres, but I've chosen the winners anyway just for posterity's sake. Also, this list is going to be a pretty big indicator as to what's going to be on my end of year list, if you're into that sort of thing.

My 7 Favorite Games of All-Time

A while ago, #fav7games became a very popular trending tropic on Twitter. It completely took over my feed, so I spent a good amount of time reading about the games that meant so much to so many people. It made me realize just how wonderful a hobby gaming is, and I began to reflect back on the games that I love so much. But no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn't curate my own personal list. I kept adding and subtracting titles, trying to think about the ones that had the biggest impact on me as a person and as a gamer. I've been playing video games for a very long time, so needless to say, this was not an easy task.

Inspired by that popular trending topic, I've come up with seven games that have been burned into the back of my brain forever. If the video game industry collapsed today, these are the games that I could play from now until the end of time and never get bored.

One Last Time

There's a moment early in Uncharted 4 where Nathan Drake, newly retired from treasure hunting, is at home in his attic. Scattered across various shelves are many of the artifacts he has amassed during his adventures; Nate can interact with them and reminisce, in a somewhat solemn tone, about his past. In the corner is a toy gun. If picked up, Nate begins to roleplay as if countless enemies have invaded his attic. There are numerous targets hanging from the ceiling, and you can dive, roll, and shoot your way across the attic. The classic Uncharted battle music plays while Nate makes his famous quips. After a bit, you hear his wife Elena calling from downstairs, beckoning him to come down to dinner. Nate puts the gun down, heads downstairs, and returns to his normal life.

At this moment, I realized this was going to be a very different Uncharted game. Everything you've come to expect from an Uncharted game is here for sure; shooting, exploration, puzzle solving, and traversal are all here in spades, and done better than any game in the series. But what sets A Thief's End apart is its strong focus on story and characters. It's still as swashbuckling and entertaining as fans of the series have come to expect, but the stakes have never been higher. Not only is countless treasure on the line, but so is Nate's personal life. He puts his relationship with those he loves at risk because he simply can't ignore the call of adventure.

The plot rolls into action when Nate's long-lost (and thought dead) brother Sam shows up at his office (Nate now works in marine salvage). Sam owes a huge debt to a very dangerous man, and in order to pay it off he needs Nate to help him finally find the lost treasure of famous pirate Henry Avery, something the two of them have been chasing since they were kids. Hesitant at first, Nate succumbs to the call of fortune and glory once again, and the two head off on a globe-trotting adventure.

The theme of the story is simple: letting go. Both Sam and Nate can't let go of their desire to find ancient treasure. The game's main villain, Rafe, is tired of living in Nate's shadow and is obsessed with forging a legacy greater than his. This theme of letting go can also pertain to the player, as developer Naughty Dog has stated multiple times that this is the final Uncharted game. Whether or not that proves to be true, A Thief's End brings satisfying closure to the series. Without spoiling much, the game's ending is as unexpected and emotionally satisfying as they come.

The influence of The Last of Us is felt heavily throughout the game, both from a mechanical and storytelling standpoint. There's more of a focus on stealth during action sequences this time around, as the game's new massive open-world sections allow you to tackle enemy groups in any way you please. But it's obvious that Naughty Dog has taken everything it learned while making The Last of Us and applied it here. In addition to the various collectible treasures scattered around levels, you can stumble upon various letters that expand the game's lore. Optional conversations also pop up from time to time, providing you with some very intimate and beautiful character moments.

A Thief's End was not the game I was expecting, but in a good way. It's everything I ever wanted from an Uncharted game, but much more grounded. Sure, there's pirate treasure to be found, but the focus isn't on that. It's a very human story about some very human issues. Are we truly willing to sacrifice everything because can't ignore our own selfish desires? This is the real struggle we get to see Nate, Elena, Sam, and Sully go through. We've gone on countless adventures with them but this time they're at their most vulnerable, stripped down to their very core. They may be digital, but they feel real. Their struggles and emotions feel real. In the midst of such an over-the-top adventure lies a very simple, believable tale of love and loss.

From its opening moments to the final, beautiful closing shot, I loved every second of Uncharted 4. It has immediately taken its place among my all-time favorite video games and is one I will return to again and again. As a huge fan of the series, I'm incredibly sad to see it end, but I couldn't think of a better way to send it off. The performances, visual design, gameplay, soundtrack, writing, direction, pacing, thrill, and mystery of A Thief's End are all perfection. I can't say enough about it, other than it's something that must be experienced. It's truly a treasure.

The Endless Magic of Fallout 4

I am currently about 30 hours into Fallout 4 and I have seen and done more things than I can count. I've totally lost myself in post-apocalyptic Boston, exploring every corner of the map, completing numerous quests, liberating and upgrading settlements, and modding every gun I can get my hands on. As someone who sank way more hours into Fallout 3 than they would like to admit, my anticipation for Fallout 4 was off the charts. I'm happy to say that every ounce of hype I piled on it has been justified. It's an absolutely massive game, and as much as I feel I have accomplished in those 30 hours, I know I have just barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer.

I've currently hit the halfway point in the game's main story, and as simple and straightforward as the plot has been, it's the characters and their stories that make Fallout 4's world come alive. The main plot is just fine (and gets really interesting thanks to a pretty cool mid-game twist) but the real draw narrative-wise are the moment-to-moment conversations you have with companions or other NPCs. Getting to know the characters and learn about their history in the wasteland is one of the best things about Fallout 4.

Needless to say, the gameplay here is fantastic and ever-so addicting. The gunplay has been vastly improved, so much so that I've been using V.A.T.S. less than I did in Fallout 3. However, there have been plenty of combat encounters that I had to take a step back and be more tactical. Be careful though, as V.A.T.S. no longer completely stops time; I've actually died a few times while using it. It's a welcome change and adds a new level of challenge. The RPG elements have been toned down a bit, and I really like how leveling up works now, as it's much more streamlined (not to mention that the Perk Chart is absolutely adorable).

A lot has been made of the game's crafting and base building aspects, and though I haven't really dabbled in them as much as I would like (I'm totally afraid I'll lose myself in them) they are a really cool and welcome addition to the Fallout series. While there are a few instances where crafting or modding is required, it's a totally optional part of the game.

If it's immersion and atmosphere you want, the Fallout games have them in bunches. One of my favorite things about Fallout 4 are the character interactions that occur in real-time. You could just be walking around Good Neighbor or Diamond City and stumble upon NPCs engaging in conversations about events that have already or are currently unfolding in the Commonwealth. It just makes the world you're exploring, even as over-the-top and barren as it may seem, more lived-in and believable.

One of the staples of the Fallout series are the various radio stations you can tune into with your Pip Boy; Fallout 3's Galaxy News Radio was perhaps my favorite thing about that game. Wondering the wasteland and murdering countless people/animals/creatures while listening to The Ink Spots and Billie Holiday is one of the most satisfying things in all of gaming. Fallout 4's Diamond City Radio contains a fantastic song list, though has a rather uncharismatic DJ, especially when compared to Galaxy News Radio's Three Dog. Regardless, it just wouldn't be a Fallout game without a robust and varied song list. (Tip: don't ignore the Classical Radio station, as mass murder is much more enjoyable when Chopin is playing in the background).

Perhaps more than anything, the most magical aspect of Fallout 4 is exploring. If you're able to ignore the multitude of quests and crafting/modding opportunities that the game presents you with, just being able to wander around the wasteland, discovering new places is just indescribably cool and surprisingly relaxing, when you don't stumble upon a Super Mutant camp that is). With Skyrim, I completely ignored any and all quests just to wander around marking new places on my map. I'm not doing it as much with Fallout 4, but that sense of discovery still powers my experience. The Commonwealth is so varied (and colorful!) that I have to take time out from my exploring and murder to take in the sights.

Out of everything the Fallout 4 offers (and there's a lot), it's the little moments that make this the best game I've played all year. Whether it be stopping to take in a view, finding that one piece of rare scrap you really needed, blasting off a super mutant's face in slow motion with just a sliver of health left, delving into the backstories of your companions, or watching the little mushroom cloud that happens when cars explode (they're SO COOL!), Fallout 4 is full of intensely satisfying moments that you just can't experience anywhere else.

What a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. game it is.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go play more Fallout 4.

The Game Awards 2015 - Nominees and Predictions

This has been an great year for gaming, filled to the brim with fantastic titles that spanned various genres and earned the acclaim of critics and gamers alike. I can't tell you how great it is to able to say that, especially considering how barren 2014 was. Now that we're reaching the end of 2015, awards season has begun its slow crawl towards us. Last year's aptly named Game Awards returns again this December, and the list of nominees has recently been released. While I enjoyed last year's show, I hope that the 2015 version moves closer to a more traditional awards show format, forgoing the out-of-place interviews and announcement of awards off camera. Regardless, it's nice to see gaming starting to get the recognition it deserves.

Here is the list of this year's nominees, as well as who I think should win (highlighted in yellow):