Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Sunny's Choice: Game of the Year

So in case you haven't heard, a great number of sites have been naming Journey as the overall Game of the Year for 2012. I played Journey, and enjoyed it. It is beautiful, the music is calming, the entire experience for me was serene.

But, perhaps it was too serene. I want some magic and entertainment in my gaming. Maybe even some turmoil and emotion. If I want to feel relaxed and mellow, wouldn't I take a bubble bath and listen to some crap like smooth jazz or Enya?

My vote for GOTY is The Walking Dead - The Game. I know it seems so "me," but it's really not my choice because of the zombies. I loved this game for the emotional rampage it wasn't afraid to unleash. I had never felt such control in a game, and never have I felt like my changes made such a difference. With each episode, I didn't feel like I made a bunch of random decisions just to end up in the same final resting place. Instead, I was making monumental changes to the game's outcome.

Beyond that, the choices that I had to make were unrelenting, and unforgiving. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that The Walking Dead isn't afraid of death, and the game is no exception. It was great feeling like I was in the world of both the comic and the television show, and yet I got to meet an entirely new cast of characters.  It was equally heart wrenching to lose one, and what's worse, I often ended the episode feeling responsible for that choice. And yet, I loved every minute of it.

I can honestly say that I'm excited for Telltale's next installment of Walking Dead episodes (they have already announced a second season), and while I'm hoping to be reunited with a few of my new friends from this round, I wouldn't be entirely disappointed if I met a new group of survivors. It just adds to the reality of the world, knowing that there are other survivors dragging themselves along as best as they can.