Comments on: So, You Wanna Know Why You Keep Hearing About Bioshock?

By: A Link to the Future » Blog Archive » Year Ends Early: Bioshock GotY

A Link to the Future » Blog Archive » Year Ends Early: Bioshock GotY — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:01:33 +0000

[...] friends over at Eat Sleep Game have posted a short summary of why Bioshock looks like it will be Game of the Year. Since that’s been written, even [...]

By: kyle

kyle — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:34:47 +0000

Mass Effect might have a chance, havent really seen that much except a chat system (and no matter how well its implemented thats not the type of preview video that really hypes a game for me at least, perhaps if i was at the controller i would feel different). I guess in respect to that game im still on the fence because as Aegis mentions i get the generic space opera vibe and I’ve learned to wait and see when a developer claims to have implemented a mechanic that revolutionizes a genre.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:32:08 +0000

This is probably spot on. All indications point towards this game as a “benchmark” or “redefining” title. There is an onslaught of awesome games coming out this year for which I’m very excited, but just based on the demo, Bioshock looks like it will represent something beyond special.

I have a feeling Halo 3 will be nearly shut out of “GotY” awards this year. It’s not that it won’t be a great game (I have my copy pre-ordered), but simply that it will basically just be a “meet expectations” game. People think that it has really high expectations, but to be honest.. it doesn’t. Everyone already knows what to expect from it and I’m sure it will deliver. Bioshock looks like it turns expectations sideways and then tramples all over them.

And dear old Mario, probably my favorite series of all time. Galaxy looks like it will be an absolute blast and in any other year would probably be a shoe-in for Game of the Year (or at least a very serious contender). I don’t see it happening this time for really the same exact reasons specified above. It’s kind of like comparing “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “The Godfather.” Sure, we all love FBDO and can have fun every time we watch it, but its not exactly at the same level as “The Godfather”.

I think, really, Penny Arcade’s “Tycho” put it best. “It is my intention to secure two copies of the game, entire – one Collectors’ edition, and one exclusively to shove up Roger Ebert’s ass. If Bioshock isn’t “art,” then art is the poorer for it.”

And there you have it. You’ll have all of these exceedingly well made, fun games like Stranglehold, Halo, Metroid, Mario, Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted (hopefully), Mass Effect, and maybe a couple more, and then Bioshock, making them look positively juvenile in comparison.

-Jeff
http://alinktothefuture.com

By: Aegies

Aegies — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:01:46 +0000

I can foresee Star Wars comparisons and “unoriginal” thrown at Mass Effect. Not that I’m not very much looking forward to it. But it won’t get GOTY, I don’t think.

By: Jayslacks

Jayslacks — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:31:31 +0000

No Mass Effect love? Or do you guys know something I don’t? Sneaky…

By: kyle

kyle — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:05:37 +0000

In many respects i agree with your analysis for the game of the year argument except in that i think that you give a little to much credit to the competitors. For so many that you listed there is going to be as sense of “been there- done that” as so many are either sequels or polished incarnations of well defined genres. I have yet to play bioshock but i find a similar thought process in most of the reviews citing its unique feel and presentation. For that simple reason i have to agree with its potential for game of the year because gamers have been clamoring for something unique and memorable for years now. Heres hoping that gamers put thier wallets where their mouths are and save this game from the dismal fate of other gems like psychonauts or okami, while great and generally well reviewed, were trounced by lackluster entries by gamings big brands.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:59:32 +0000

It’s very curious as to why this game has won universal praise, and other games like Gears or even RE4 did not win nearly as much. Both games I considered beyond awesome. Though I’m not saying it’s a bad game, but more often, you find some people who games don’t click with, and that usually makes the game not get 98%, but more like 90-95%. So either this game is really that fucking awesome, or this game was reviewed by everyone whose ever loved Fallout and Doom (the two games this looks like… but obviously different)