Normally, I wouldn’t rant about something during a time that should be about celebrating, but I want to go on a rant. Someone get me a soap box!
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BEST XBOX 360/ONE GAME |
| Previous Winner (Xbox 360): Dust: An Elysian Tail | |
You know how people rail on the Wii U for not having third party support? How about a system with nothing but third party support? How about a system that maybe one exclusive and a game that would be on PCs 5 months later? How about the makers give you a new system and only give you two games worth playing? If given the choice between a system with only unique experiences versus a system with games I could get elsewhere, I’ll take the unique experience.
Okay, rant over. Here are the nominees for Best Xbox 360/One Game…
- State of Decay
The only non-exclusive to make a final (due to extenuating circumstances), State of Decay is an open world, third-person survival horror game in which you navigate the zombie apocalypse. However, rather than focusing on fighting the zombies, the game focuses more on stealth, evasion, distractions, base building, your survivor community, and securing resources. An excellent change of pace in the genre from Undead Labs.
- Dead Rising 3
AHHH! MORE ZOMBIES!
To be honest, this new entry in the survival horror series didn’t quite click with some people until well after E3 when they started to show some of the ridiculous weapons you could create, one of the staples that carried over well into the new generation. Once gamers started playing it, they fell in love with it. A major coup for Microsoft to get this game as an Xbox One exclusive.
- Ryse: Son of Rome
Don’t laugh. We actually like this game. We know a number of people out there didn’t care for it but we found it to be an enjoyable and unique experience for a pair of systems that desperately needed them. (I’m sorry; I slipped and landed back on my soap box) And stop beating down on quick time events. They’re a perfectly fine gameplay mechanic. Just admit that you’re not good at them and move on. (there I go again; I’m sorry)
AND THE WINNER IS…
Dead Rising 3
With all due respect to the other games, it was pretty clear which game would win this category. However, if you put Dead Rising 3 against some of the best Xbox 360 exclusives, it would still hold up well. An excellent game for the young system.
And now we bring in Staff Writer Dalton McClain to present the award for Best PC Game. Take it away…
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BEST PC GAME |
| Previous Winner: FTL: Faster Than Light | |
DALTON: When it comes to the world of gaming, PC-exclusive games are often overlooked; but not here! This year has been a good year for PC games, both new and remade. But we aren’t looking for good, we’re looking for the best!
And the nominees are…
From the creative minds of Sean Hogan and Jonathan Kittaka, Anodyne is a game where explore the dreams of the game’s protagonist, Young. You explore dungeons and other areas, as well as solving puzzles and defeating enemies, while finding cards that you need in order to progress through the game. The name itself has a wonderful meaning: anodyne is a type of medicine that helps relieve stress. This is a nod to how video games help relieve the stress of the player through elevating music and intriguing story. All of these things are included in this game, making it a spectacular item!
- I Get This Call Everyday
I Get This Call Every Day is a dialogue-based indie game created by David S. Gallant, based off of his former day job at a call center. You play as him, answering a call from a customer who wants to change their address, but isn’t equipped with enough information. Despite the game’s looks and length, it is really enjoyable to play and can be pretty entertaining.
- Papers, Please
Papers, Please is an indie PC game that, at first glance may not look like much, but is really quite a unique experience. Your job in the game is an immigration inspector. All you have to do is control the flow of people coming in and out of the country, stopping smugglers, spies, and terrorists from getting in. While this might sound simple, the challenge is that you only have their documents, fingerprints, and the abilities to inspect and search them. Overall the game is fun and a bit challenging, too, combining the perfect flavor of both to create a truly interesting game.
- Rogue Legacy
Itching for an old school Castlevania-style romp? Then I have a game for you. Rogue Legacy is an indie platformer by Cellar Door Games that includes many roguelike elements, such as hard difficulty, randomly generated dungeons, and their own version of perma-deaths. It adds to the fun because, when you die, you become a descendant of yourself that has a different trait. The game never gets repetitive and is all around fun to play.
- The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable was developed by Davey Wreden and is a HD remake of the former Half-Life 2 mod of the same name. In the game, you either follow the narrator on the first path or go completely against what he says and take your own way through the game. Having 15 endings and a lot of secrets, there is no boredom in this game while trying to find the many different ways that the story could go.
AND THE WINNER IS…
The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable is an all-around amazing, fun, hilarious, and enticing game. From its smooth gameplay and graphics to its hilarious story and secrets, it’s no surprise that this game was voted as the Best PC Game. If you haven’t played this game yet, I strongly urge you to do so. The clever story and witty dialogue will have you falling out of your chair and laughing for hours on end.
