Just to respond to the one random Zelda Q, I think it's a beautiful game and also deserves recognition for what they've done with environmental interactivity and exploration in a 3rd person POV. I will just never get over how insane it was to see climbing, swimming, paragliding and all that stuff executed so flawlessly, and I'm legit blown away at how far Nintendo pushed that stuff in the new one.
I'm less bowled over by things like Link on a motorcyle or construct vehicles, but still that whole idea of just climbing up that tree and jumping off it to float down like Mary Poppins somewhere, swimming in the river or coasting some kind of makeshift raft. It's unreal how satisfying the simple things are. Like they even pulled off cooking and broken weapons in a way that's actually kinda fun. I'm surprised that in 6 years nobody has yet matched it, and so the new entry still kind blows the competition out the park, cause there is no competition for that, really.
I mean my total wish would be if BG3 or a party based D&D game set in the Forgotten Realms could do exactly that sort of thing, but with a full crew of characters, and then also to have a transparent systems turn based form of combat on D20. If they could pull that off with the dress up we see in stuff like Cyberpunk, there would be no stopping a Dungeon Dragon, but it's like clearly not really here yet. Tears of the Kingdom is to Breath of the Wild what Majora's Mask was to the Ocarina of Time. Like sure they look practically the same, but it's an entirely different story, and it's not like an expansion cause you don't need the first one to do the second one, but the fact that they are connected and maintain a cohesive visual aesthetic is also something I think could be celebrated there. It's hard to maintain that sort of coherence and not succumb to the need to be so avante garde that it gives up what hooked people in the first place, which was also a kind of in the look. It's charm is that is more cartoon animation as opposed to cinema mimetic, like it reminds me of Jim Henson worlds in that way, and Nintendo always does excel in that arena. Because it's Japan they also have to lean into other conventions too, which favor whimsy over grit, which is kinda interesting for a point of contrast.
To me this is a real contest, like both these games have done something very special, and full disclosure, I absolutely adore Patricia Summersett's voice! The Japanese dub is stellar too, obviously, and I can do that for sure. It's a bit like deciding whether to watch Ninja Scroll or Akira or Fist of the North Star with a dub, though for any of those I prefer Japanese, but Zelda I loved what she did. I know it was a thing at one point, but that performance and that voice, damn, I mean really, I loved it! And all the backups in that one too. It's just special, I can't think of any reason to knock it.
BG3 though damn, like when I log in, sometimes I do just think instantly, "why can't I climb that?!" or "why can't I swim there?" and so I think BG3 could kind go there a bit more, without having to fully go there, and it could give me sort of what I'm after. Shadowheart's swim DLC? hehe
I'm not sure how to really weigh in on the Multiplayer aspect, it seems like there's some jank there at least in the respect that I can't find any ready way to export/import between an MP session and an SP one which is what I expected, and I don't feel like there's a ready pick up thing built-in that does sufficient leg work. But then I'm not on discord much so maybe that's how that's done. Discord moves a bit too quickly for me, I tried it for A&A EAs and that wasn't nearly as large, kinda warp speed, but I don't think of BG3 as on the lvl of a NWN with it's Persistent Worlds or sub communities of MP that way. Seems like a stretch, but I have seen some co op floating around and it does appear to have something going there in the antics and spontaneous fun. I feel like it's probably just all MP with peeps you already know though, whereas to really by like an MP best in class game it has to provide more onboarding to randomly link up with new peeps, or find peeps with similar playstyles and interests. I just don't know that I need that from a BG game though, so yeah, maybe not for that one specifically.
Still, love the game, and hopefully it gets some love! These are sorta like the Oscars to the Baftas that just happened right? Like in game to film parlance? I mean then there's one more right that I guess would be like Golden Globes or maybe Cannes or Sundance, or even MTV hehe seems like there are more than I remember.
I caught that they wanted a sign in of some form to vote, though I suppose at this point google probably runs my brain, so I guess it's whatever, I'll toss in a vote once I can truly decide for some stuff. Alan Wake 2 just made in under the wire, like I don't know if November release is kinda pushin' it, I'm already thinking about hanging Xmas lights now. So it's sorta like a 2024 game for me there, cause I'm still too into the stuff that came out at the end of Summer. Cyberpunk had a rocky start for sure, and that's like not how I want things going here either, to that last point on the previous page, but if Larian can do what they did and just keep banging away until we eventually get something super clean in 2 years time, I guess I'd prefer that to them just bouncing on D&D. I feel somehow that if it gets all the plaudits it can, that could only help to sorta stake out a little claim for a dlc expansion or sequel, or at least to raise the roof a bit with mod integration on steam and such, so I can raise the roof on my camera heheh. Fingers crossed!
Here is Swen’s tweet about the nominations: “This is a real honor, especially in a year with so many releases. Seeing our little “niche rpg” make such waves is very motivating. I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries. I’m very excited about it.”
Sorry for my english ... I hope you understand what I try to say:
I don't understand why everybody is so "into Zelda". To be honest: I never played it, but my children have played the first and the second part for weeks on the TV.
I remember how I bought them the second Zelda-part and have seen them playing on TV. And I asked: "Why are you playing the first part when I just bought you this (expensive) second part??" And they told me that they ARE playing the second part. And I was like:"WHHAAATTTTT?? Looks EXACTLY like the first part!! I see NO difference!"
My children really loved both parts and say the second part have A LOT great improvments. But I see the "same game" with improvents (and without housing!!). Ok, the improvments are great, but why does everybody treat this game like a new game. It is somehow unfair ...
.... just my personal opinion.
TotK uses the foundations of BotW to create a gaming experiences that is completely different from its predecessor. It is absolutely a brand new game and one of the most creative reinventions of a game series I’ve ever played. This is the common opinion, as there were very few players voicing any consternation about the gaming feeling like a rehash.
This does require a certain creative input from the player though. It’s possible to approach TotK just like BotW and really miss out on what made the game unique. My cousin did this, frustrating me to no end. Never built any vehicles at all. Rode a horse around everywhere.
Meanwhile the first thing I did was design a personal battle mech for quick map traversal and enemy clearing.
That wasn't what the award was for, though - it was "For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences"
BG3's multiplayer is a buggy broken mess, by most accounts, and it doesn't do anything new or innovative with its delivery or design that wasn't already done by its divinity predecessor.
Personally, of all the categories, the only one that I felt BG3 was worth a vote for was the one acknowledging the voice actors.
Edit: That aside, I've been playing a multi-player narratively driven RPG with voice acting and cutscenes for the past 16 years, and would not call Larian's multiplayer 'novel' or 'bold' in any real respect.
This. The category isn't for 'most novel' or anything like that. You can acknowledge things like that just fine, but voting it over another game in the same category that not only did it well enough to be nominated but also works is counter productive.
That wasn't what the award was for, though - it was "For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences"
BG3's multiplayer is a buggy broken mess, by most accounts, and it doesn't do anything new or innovative with its delivery or design that wasn't already done by its divinity predecessor.
Personally, of all the categories, the only one that I felt BG3 was worth a vote for was the one acknowledging the voice actors.
Edit: That aside, I've been playing a multi-player narratively driven RPG with voice acting and cutscenes for the past 16 years, and would not call Larian's multiplayer 'novel' or 'bold' in any real respect.
This. The category isn't for 'most novel' or anything like that. You can acknowledge things like that just fine, but voting it over another game in the same category that not only did it well enough to be nominated but also works is counter productive.
Well i voited but I have a strong feeling that the Nintendo fan base will not let this happen. I think in any way the most realistic game of the year award is happening at the Golden joystick.
Best of 2023...for me. Sea of Stars. Hands down. Played it way more than BG3...and anything else. Immersive world, day/night (lol), fast turn base, and just so much fun.
Last edited by Count Turnipsome; 15/11/2312:07 PM.
It just reminded me of the bowl of goat's milk that old Winthrop used to put outside his door every evening for the dust demons. He said the dust demons could never resist goat's milk, and that they would always drink themselves into a stupor and then be too tired to enter his room..
Well i voited but I have a strong feeling that the Nintendo fan base will not let this happen. I think in any way the most realistic game of the year award is happening at the Golden joystick.
Public voting only accounts for 10% of the overall aggregate score. The rest is done by professional critics and industry veterans, people who have only given Nintendo 1 GOTY award, ever. In comparison the Golden Joystick was a pure popularity contest. As far as 'realism' goes, fast food is not a contender in a contest among professional chefs for food quality and fine dining, no matter how popular it is.
Originally Posted by Count Turnipsome
Best of 2023...for me. Sea of Stars. Hands down. Played it way more than BG3...and anything else. Immersive world, day/night (lol), fast turn base, and just so much fun.
I also voted for Sea of Stars where applicable. Overall amazing game. Alan Wake 2 seriously impressed me as well.
