Manburgian Candidates 2024

The previous installment was a bit of a chaotic mess— which, in fairness, is completely on brand. Well, hopefully this one is a bit more of a comfortable read. Onward!

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Starting the show with the showstopper:

Game of the Year: Shadow of the Erdtree

“can a expansion pack be the *Game* of the Year??” I mean, no truth but what we make baby, but yes: especially when it is the size of a complete standalone release. I tried to avoid ingesting too much information about it before diving in, but I had seen Miyazaki’s answer from a IGN interview, regarding size: (ahem)

“Can you approximate the size of the world compared to the world in the base game?

Miyazaki: It's hard to answer without giving away too much and to a high degree of accuracy, but if you think in terms of scale or size, it's probably comparable, if not larger, than the area of Limgrave from the base game.”

Which I think is a bit of an understatement?* And, sidenote: what a fabulous situation to be in, to be able to downplay the scope of your game, and not feel beholden to hysterically scream the Feature List;

• 2300 New Guns To Shoot! • 6000 New Swords With Which To Shoot The Guns! • Etc.

You trust the ravenous players (hi!) to show up regardless. I Just Think It’s Neat!

*In truth, I really don’t know and it might actually be technically accurate– Limgrave is Quite Large– but it feels bigger, at least. Probably due to the winding, vertical level design. Stellar stuff!

Anyway: what more is there to say? I was fully enveloped in the Scadutree’s umbra and ended up enjoying it more than the base game. Some bosses feel overtuned and veer too heavily into visual spectacle over readability, at least to me, and yes… that final fight. Boy howdy. I absolutely would not have managed to succeed without finding a cheese strat. But it remains a completely Messmerizing adventure and my favorite of the year.

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Runner-up:

Dragon’s Dogma II

I like to believe I prefer a concise one-sitting story experience in games of the videoed variety, but dang it if I didn’t get absolutely blasted on huge open-world action RPGs in a row. I do love getting completely lost in wacky adventures for weeks on end and rifling through everyone’s cupboards and old bones.

Also receives: Best Late(st) Title Card, and “Haha hey! They said the thing!”-Moment of the Year. (spoilers)

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2024’s 2023 Game of the Year:

Lies of P

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Intermission: Quick dip into the Book Nook

Best book wot I read:

Frode Grytten - The Day That Nils Vik Died (2023) whoa spoilers!!

Remarkably beautiful book. Unfortunately it has not been published in english yet.

Also pretty good: Frank Herbert - Dune (1965)

Whilst reading this ornate, politick-heavy space opera I was inspired to make a game based upon it, one that would undoubtedly go on to serve as a blueprint for “Real Time Strat— no you’re right that’s fucking nuts what was i thinking

Sweetest Show:

Dungeon Meshi (Runner-up: Dandadan)

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Highest density of "aww!" uttered out loud:

Infinity Nikki

And I’ve only played a few hours, which gives this game a highly respectable APM. Now, you might want to talk about the gachophont in the room: and, yes, I'm not stoked on how these games run on whale oil, so to speak. That being said, this game did not feel especially egregious or predatory* to me, and I believe you can inhale the cozy, hyper-cute Nikkotine without spending any money. (*Low bar, I know)

Runner-up: Great God Grove

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Matt Berry Presents: Highest density of LOLs:

Thank Goodness You’re Here!

I don’t think there are many games that have had me howling like a hyena quite like this one. While I did not keep cackling crazily for the entire experience, a smile remained permanently plastered upon my grim visage. Criminally britishly surreal ‘slap around and find out’-type comedy adventure.

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Best Free Multiplayer FPS: STRAFTAT

I mean how can you say no to this face?

Best UI: STRAFTAT

I mean how can you say no to these faces?

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Best game launching into the Netflix Prison:

Monument Valley III

While not a monumental success(or), this is still a soothing trip through gorgeous puzzle-dioramas. The main negative is the fact that this is just “another one of these” and the diminishing returns that follow. But it is still a joy to look at!

If you are not familiar with the games: you click/tap & drag around various M.C. Escher-inspired impossible geometry & optical illusions, manipulating the environment to create paths for your diminutive protagonist. It might be too easy for professional puzzle perverts when even simpletons like me can breeze through, but I find the experience delightful nonetheless. If you are interested, I recommend picking up the Panoramic Editions of the two first games. (I haven’t played Echochrome, but it seems to operate in a pretty similar space)

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KILL KNIGHT: KILL KNIGHT

KILL KNIGHT KILL KNIGHT KILL KNIGHT KILL KNIGHT KILL KNIGHT KILL

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SEGA (Saturn) Blue Skies Award:

Parking Garage Rally Circuit

Charmingly crunchy retro arcade racing goodness! I am a sucker for a good drift, and this had the most satisfying, tight corner cutting I’ve sampled in a hot minute. Drift to boost to drift to boost!

Also receives: Most Surprisingly Boppy Ska Soundtrack

I mean just listen to this Sonic Adventure-ass* jam. (*I know Crush 40 is buttrock, not ska— it just feels spiritually similar)

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Most Viscerally Fucked Up Moment:

Mouthwashing

I won’t go into spoilers, but this is referring to a puzzle near the end where you turn valves to rotate screens… sounds innocuous enough, but, man... If you know, you know.

Also receives: Most Fucked Up Protagonist (possibly spoilerific award)

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♪ Sick Sounds, Triumphant Tunes:

Yuka Kitamura, Shoi Miyazawa, Tai Tomisawa, Tsukasa Saitoh - Shadow of the Erdtree ♫ Divine Beast Dancing Lion

Hey, I swear I’m not completely Frompilled, I just really like these new tracks, okay! You don’t have to keep calling me a Fromsimp, mom! You always do this!

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Finally, listing the games I loved:

• ⭐Shadow of the Erdtree
• ⭐Dragon’s Dogma II
• ⭐Thank Goodness You’re Here!
• Lies of P (2023)
• Bomb Club Deluxe (2022)
• Shady Knight
• Pepper Grinder
• Nine Sols
• Great God Grove
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Most honorable mentions:

✨Parking Garage Rally Circuit • Alan Wake 2 Expansion Pass • KILL KNIGHT • Mouthwashing

Go Mecha Ball! • I Am Your Beast • Children of the Sun • ARCO • Core Keeper • Arzette: Jewel of Faramore • Penny’s Big Breakaway • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown • Flock • Botany Manor • Snakebird Complete (2023) • Arranger / Storyteller (2023) • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle / CODBLOPS 6

Exciting upcoming games:

Bionic Bay • TRIP • Cairn • HYPERBEAT • Sword of the Sea • Skate Story • Lil Gator Game: In The Dark • Morsels • Mina the Hollower • Too many to count, mutha'uckas

But now, allow me to deliver the Grand Prize to the True GOTY: