Wish it had come out in 2016 so it could be on GOTY lists award: Galak-Z.
This came out near the end of 2015, but I didn’t discover it until 2016 when it became part of the PS+ giveaway. I now own it on GoG and on Steam. When games come out near the end of the year, most people have already made their end-of-year lists, and they don’t get included the next year. This happened with DiRT Rally also. Though in that case, I’d been playing it for months already as an Early Access title.
I hope the makers of Star Control are paying attention award: Galak-Z
Seriously Stardock. Play Galak-Z. It’s the best physics-based 2D fighting since Star Control 3, and it works brilliantly using a controller. This should be the template for this kind of space combat for 2D space games from here on out.
Making me fall in love with iD software all over again award: DOOM
I loved DOOM so much, when I was done, I actually went back and bought RAGE, just so that I could experience more id Software goodness. It isn’t as good as DOOM, but you can see the germs of what made DOOM a good game as seeds here in the earlier game as well.
Late to the Party Award: Wolfenstein The New Order
Holy shit, I loved this game. I started it in 2015, but was slow to start liking it. Once the game finally switches over to the 1960s, it gets really entertaining.
Runner Up: Bloodborne - I initially hated this game. But despite hating the setting and art style, I’ve come around to it in 2016 because of the excellent gameplay.
Most Disappointing Award: Just Cause 3
After loving Just Cause 2, Part 3 felt like a step backwards. The graphics didn’t look as good in terms of level of detail transitions, and the setting of the game was in a less varied environment, and the damn wait times when trying to retry a challenge were just ridiculous.
Biggest Surprise Award: Grim Dawn
This is by the guys who made Titan’s Quest? Seriously? But the weight of your actions, the feel of the game, the OOMPH behind every attack that feels so good is diametrically opposed to what we saw in Titan’s Quest. Also, I thought I was done playing ARPGs using mouse and keyboard after the excellent Diablo 3 on consoles. But Grim Dawn showed that if you’ve got the right physics and sound effects, even the limp mouse-click and keyboard tap can be made to feel all-powerful. Well done Crate. You guys have renewed my faith in ARPGs and mouse and keyboard gaming.
Game that set me on an epic journey of pain and awesomeness Award: Dark Souls III
So Tom started streaming games this year. He started with a game called Dark Souls III. Despite loving Demon’s Souls, I never could really get into Dark Souls. But after watching Tom die over and over and over again and be persistent in his defeat in Dark Souls III, it really inspired me to give the original another go, along with several other people here at Qt3. We struggled together but never actually helped each other within the game. But we did help each other with encouragement and camaraderie, which was very much appreciated. In the end I finished Dark Souls, including the excellent expansion content. I finished Dark Souls II, but not the expansion content. And I started Dark Souls III. But I held off on playing it until all the expansion content is out.
Game hardest to keep on the shelf waiting for Expansion Content Award: Dark Souls III
Oh my god, I could continue my game right now. All I have to do is start playing and resume at the point where I left off fighting a giant Tree. But no, I’m going to wait until they’ve finished releasing expansion content. I love the art style so much. Unlike Dark Souls 2, they really did a good job in making things look so much better than the previous game while still maintaining the look and feel of the excellent art in the original Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls. I already love this game, but I know I don’t have time to replay games like this. So I want to play through it only once the expansions are out.
Other awards to come. 2016 isn’t over yet!
