WCNC Staff 2016 Game of the Year Awards Part 2

Game of the Year Reviews - Chris

            2016 was certainly an interesting year in gaming. We had many titles come out that were highly anticipated and almost as many that were disappointing. Thankfully, we are not focusing much on the later. However, we are focusing on some of the top games of the 2016 year. But, we are going to keep it simple with Top Exclusive, 2016 Game of the Year, and Top Game regardless of year.

Top Exclusive

            Unfortunately, this one was a tie for me. Both of these were games that I have been able to play at any time and able to enjoy at any time. Forza Horizon 3 was another fantastic edition for the Forza franchise by Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games. Forza Horizon 3 was by far the best of the Horizon series. Known for being an open world racing game, Turn 10 and Playground really turned Horizon 3 into a truly open world game where you can go virtually anywhere. Whether you want to be able to cruise inside the cities, slide around in the desert, speed through the countryside, or weave through the forest, you now have the ability to. The mechanics and physics of the game were fantastic and really set the new standard for open world racing games. While still an "arcade" style racing game, it has a nice blend of both worlds for the racers that prefer simulators. Each car handles and feels different from the next whether driving your car right off the lot or have it upgraded. Racing around Australia along the coastline, around the airstrip, or even searching for that barn find, you can do it in the largest selection of cars in the Forza Horizon lineup. Whether you are a diehard racer, or just picking it up for the first time, you can race in one of your dream cars and have an absolute blast.

            Uncharted 4 was a fantastic end to a truly great series from Naughty Dog. While the final chapter to the saga of Nathan Drake unfolds, we get to meet Nathan's older brother, Samuel Drake. Sam is in a bit of trouble and needs the help of his younger brother in order to pay off some serious debts. Nathan reluctantly jumps on board, of course with his old friend Sully and Nathan Drake's wife. He leaves his "boring" life behind and sets back off to do what he does best, be a thief. As they set off on an all new adventure with all new twists, challenges, and puzzles. Nathan's wit and sarcasm carries you through each moment. The voice acting does not disappoint and the story sets the tone of the game. The combat is just as chaotic as ever with more intense moments. Each new puzzle offers a new challenge, with some being agonizingly difficult. The story in Uncharted 4 was another great one and continues to prove how great Naughty Dog is when it comes to storylines. While the game had been pushed back into 2016 from 2015, it was because Naughty Dog wanted to make sure this game was done correctly. While taking time to rewrite the ending four times to ensure it was what they wanted, it was the absolute correct decision. Uncharted 4 is a must play from 2016 and should be on everyone’s list to play.

           

Top Game of the Year

 

            While Fallout 4 came out in 2015, it was a game that I always came back to in 2016, and even currently in 2017. Fallout 4 offered so much from the previous games and added in some great new features that helped added to a more immersive feel. Fallout 4 continues with the post apocalyptic nuclear warfare style and is still the open world sandbox we know in love, but now you can also build your own settlements with all of the junk that is left around. That’s right, you can pick up almost anything and turn it into something. You can upgrade weapons, armor, even power armor. You can also dismantle these same things to use to upgrade your items, repair your power armor, and build your settlements. You can spend hours into building a settlement if you wanted, gaining experience for each piece you build and dismantle, all the while turning that settlement into whatever you can imagine. Or you can simply play the story, which was also interesting, giving interesting twists along the way and forcing you to make choices along the way. Some choices are easy, some a little more difficult. Bethesda once again gives us the chance to do whatever we want. Boston, also known as the Commonwealth, adds new enemies, along with the familiar ones in the largest map to date. The game also adds all new companions and the return of few from Fallout 3 including a fan favorite, Dogmeat. A familiar level up system with a combination of new perks and old perks being added, makes you decide how you want to level your character. The additions of Far Harbor and Nuka World add more hours of game play to a game that has plenty of play time as it is. While there were 6 add ons to the game, three added to story and three added to the settlement building. Fallout 4 is the most immersive game to have released in the Fallout franchise and possibly one of the best.

Game of the Year 2016

            Anyone who has known me for longer than fifteen minutes knows that I am not a fan of Final Fantasy. Which is why, even for me, this is a very surprising pick for my Game of the Year. While I have not yet finished it due to my work schedules, I have enjoyed every moment of this game. The scenery is absolutely stunning from the desert to the forest to the volcano and everything in between. From the banter between the team, the car rides and the combat, it really does feel like a group of friends just going on an adventure. The game is set before Prince Noctis gets married, and that's when everything seems to hit the fan. The kingdom falls just after Nocits and his friends leave, and it is up to them to attempt to regain control, all while being on the run. The story has been great and easy to follow even if you have never played the franchise before. The combat system is now a real time combat instead of a turn based which brought some new life to an old series, while keeping a certain nostalgia that long time fans will love. The teamwork between everyone works well while having a very smooth flow to it.  It also brings a few other things that you can do in the game. Example, you can go fishing, which I probably spent more time doing that I would like to admit to. You can even race chocobos! That’s right, everyone’s favorite giant chicken is back! That being said, if you have not played Final Fantasy XV yet, it is a MUST! If you enjoyed Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantsy XV is by the same group of people, and guaranteed to give you even more action, adventure and intrigue. Final Fantasy XV is a game that is great for everyone, whether you are coming in as a fan of the series or maybe as a new comer like me. Regardless of which side you stand on, it is a must play.

Big O’s 2016 Game of the Year

3.  Final Fantasy XV

 Final Fantasy XV was cursed with a long development cycle.  Starting life in 2006 as Final Fantasy Versus XIII (originally meant to be a companion game to XIII), the game saw many changes and a complete overhaul in 2013 where it was announced as Final Fantasy XV.  Normally when a game sits in development for this long and sees so many drastic changes, the final product is pretty disappointing (see, Duke Nukem Forever).  Thankfully, Final Fantasy XV is the exception to the rule.  Square-Enix has taken great care to listen to fans and fix mistakes from previous installments of the series.  Final Fantasy XV is a beautiful, open world experience that the player can explore at their own pace.  I constantly found myself getting lost in the world and exploring incidents at nearby towns all while neglecting the main story.  I got so lost, I poured about 80 hours into it in the first few weeks of owning the game.  I realize that this game isn’t for everyone.  I found the story and characters incredibly charming but they could come off as annoying to others.  That being said, I loved my time in Final Fantasy XV and would gladly give it my third best game of 2016. 

2.  Overwatch

 If you read Rory and Frankie’s lists from last week, it should be no surprise that this game is one of my choices.  What can I say that they haven’t already?  The characters are fun and imaginative, the mechanics of the game are much deeper than you would think at first glance, and it’s just fun.  Personally, this game has been the main way I’ve kept in touch with my friends on the opposite side of the country for the past year and that makes it special in my book.  Not to mention the work that Blizzard has put into crafting the wold with the use of online comics and videos.  While there is no story in the game itself, the world of Overwatch contains a rich lore.  I was a little hesitant to put this game on my list because it is a multiplayer only experience, but it does that one aspect so well it is hard to deny that Overwatch is one of the best games of 2016. 

Honorable Mention.  Pokémon Go

While Pokémon Go did come out in 2016, I’m giving it my honorable mention for a different reason.  I’m not putting this game on my list for the traditional reasons you would select a game of the year nominee, like gameplay, story, or graphics.  I’m putting Pokémon Go on my list because of experience.  The experiences I had playing this game with my friends and by myself trump that of any other game to come out in 2016.  I’ll always remember chasing a Charmeleon through a trailer park during an Arizona Summer while my phone got so hot it turned itself off to keep from melting or simply sitting at a park bench with some of my closest friends while we lured the local Pokéstops and talked for hours on end.  While I understand that the play base for this game is dwindling and the gameplay is not fun in the traditional sense, I will continue to cherish many of the memories that this game gave me. 

1.  Uncharted 4

 Could there be any other?  Many of our long time readers/listeners will know that Uncharted is one of my favorite game series of all time.  I still hold Uncharted 2 Among Thieves to be one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.  Needless to say, this was my most anticipated title of the year.  Luckily, it did not disappoint.  The game is fast paced, while never feeling overwhelming.  In the slower moments, the game’s phenomenal writing has a chance to shine.   I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, Uncharted 4 is a special experience.  You follow Nathan Drake (expertly voiced by Nolan North) as he goes on a journey of love, betrayal, mystery, and most importantly adventure.  Many of the classic characters return Sully and Elena.  The newest edition to the cast of loveable rogues is Sam Drake, Nathan’s brother (Also expertly voiced by Troy Baker).  The journey will take the crew along a set of increasingly breathtaking set pieces around some of the most beautiful locals in the world.  Uncharted 4 was the perfect ending to the Nathan Drake story, a character I have seen grow and develop over five games.  I couldn’t think of a better game for us to part on, and that is why it gets my number one spot. 

A Delicious Nolan North and Troy Baker sandwich

Thank you everyone who has continued to support since we started.  2016 was an amazing year for video games and 2017 is looking like it might be even better.  Seriously, we’re not even done with February and we already have some strong game of the year contenders.  We have a lot of fun projects coming up on the blog, as well as a few surprises.  So, stick with us and we hope to entertain you for years to come. 

-Big O

Rory and Frankie Review Overwatch

For this review we though it would be fun to try something kind of different.  First Rory gives his take on the game as a Blizzard noob, followed by Frankie who is a Blizzard fanboy.  How will their opinions differ?  You have to read to find out.    

Rory

I've been playing video games since I could pick up a controller. I started on the NES and the giant grey and purple Gameboy, moved onto the N64, had a PS2 and an Xbox, then moved to the 360 and now finally the PS4, plus I've owned pretty much every handheld that Nintendo has ever made. Through all this time Blizzard (which has gone through a few name changes during it's existence) has been making critically acclaimed games and I had not played a single one. It's not like I haven't been exposed to their work, seeing as two of my best friends are enormous Blizzard fanatics (I'm looking at you Frankie and CJ), I have seen many sessions of Wow, Diablo, and even a few rounds of Heroes of the Storm take place. Blizzard has historically been a PC based developer, a gaming platform I've always been lacking. But now with Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls and Overwatch out on consoles, I can jump into the fray. And jump in I have.

After playing a little bit of Diablo 3 earlier this year but not being extremely hooked by it, I went into Overwatch with high but tempered expectations. The beta washed all my doubts away and made these past couple weeks unbearable. Luckily, a busy work schedule has kept me occupied, but now the game is out and it's clear that the wait was worth it. 

 
Overwatch takes place in the not so distant future. A future where A.I. called omnics began a war with humanity that pushed the world to the brink of devastation. Overwatch, a special task force of powerful heroes, was commissioned to put an end to the omnic war and keep the peace afterward. The war was ended but eventually infighting and corruption tore Overwatch apart and the group disbanded. While the game doesn't have a single player campaign, the rich backstories of the world and characters keep Overwatch from feeling as hollow as most multiplayer only games like Titanfall and Evolve. To dive deeper into the lore Blizzard has been releasing animated shorts and web comics to fill in some of the blank spaces in the character's pasts. I highly recommend looking into these as it attaches you to characters you wouldn't expect and gives the game an even more personal feel. 

 
Each character handles so different from the next even if they reside in the same class group. For example Hanzo and Widowmaker are the 2 snipers in the game but they are vastly different in play style. Widowmaker is very much the typical sniper, preferring to hang out far away from the fight picking off enemies with her powerful sniper rifle. Hanzo on the other hand is better at medium range, weaving in and out of cover to take people out with his bow and arrow and setting up massive group kills with his deadly dragonstrike ultimate. No matter what character you play as you're bound to have a blast, win or lose.
For a game with this many characters it's impressive that it feels so balanced right from the start. There do not seem to be any characters that are just terrible, or flipside, any that are downright overpowered. Yes, the much maligned Bastion can be a real pain in the butt, especially when the other team is using two of them on the defend matches, but the community clearly has caught on to stopping his insanely powerful turret mode and therefore seems to be much less of a threat because of it. Also Zenyatta could use a tiny health buff but these are minor problems that can be patched later. The game runs incredibly well, even on console. I've never seen the framerate dip even in the heaviest of battles. Everyone has always told me about the polish Blizzard games but now seeing it first-hand, color me impressed.

 
I knew I would like Overwatch but I wasn't prepared for just how much I love it. It reminds me of my love for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. Colorful characters with different and interesting powers duking it out for supremacy in interesting places. The drab environments and characters of Call of Duty/Battlefield have just never really appealed to me, and outside of Gears of War I have never really invested heavily into online shooters. But Overwatch is a breath of fresh air that is bringing me back into the world of competitive multiplayer, a world I thought I mostly left behind on my 360. Just when I thought I was out, Blizzard managed to pull me back in. 
-Rory
.... but seriously go buy/play Overwatch right now. There's a talking gorilla scientist who loves peanut butter. What more do you want?

Frankie

Blizzard is easily my favorite game developer, and with a track record of quality games over the span of 20+ years they have definitely earned the praise. From the fantastic space RTS that is Starcraft, to the horrific dungeon crawling of Diablo, to the mystical quests through the World of Warcraft, Blizzard has proved to be a true juggernaut in the gaming industry. They have sustained a incredible following because of these titles, and even threw in some new additions such as the online TCG Hearthstone, and the MOBA esque Hero Brawler Heroes of the Storm, but these are just new games based on the pre-existing universes Blizzard has already invested so much in, until now. Overwatch is not only Blizzards first new IP in over 17 years, it is also the creation from the ashes of the trashed MMO Project Titan, and boy does it prove they made the right call. Overwatch is a six on six FPS team arena shooter (they call it a hero shooter) that not only embodies all the personality and polish Blizzard is known for. Overwatch achieves something that every developer should always strive for above all else, it is an incredibly fun experience that will have you loving every second you spend with it, win or lose.   

 

Now for a little backstory, Overwatch is set in a fictional futuristic Earth where there was a global catastrophe called the Omnic Crisis. A.I. beings that were created to serve eventually rebelled, creating hostile omnics and triggering a full-scale war. Overwatch was created to restore order and maintain peace in the midst of the worn torn world, but eventually Overwatch would be torn apart from the outside, and inside. The world then blames Overwatch for everything that had happened and is outlawed, causing the family of heroes to go their separate ways, and try to find a new path. The game takes place after the official disbanding of Overwatch, and after the gorilla scientist Winston re-establishes it. Even though there is no traditional campaign the game is still rich with backstory, history, lore, secrets, and much much more. Each level even has easter eggs pertaining to Blizzards other titles, such as a murloc in a flying saucer on Hanamura, or Heroes of the Storm fighting games in that same levels arcade spawn zone. One thing Blizzard does so well is putting everything they have into whatever project they undertake, the finesse and polish on Overwatch is spectacular.  From the breath taking cell shaded visuals, to the wonderful soundtrack, and even the little nuances of each character, you can't help but smile during every second of it. Overwatch even has a website you can go to read up and discover the finely crafted lore behind their shooter, causing it to be much more then just a Team Fortress 2 clone. Each character isn't just a class, but a hero completely different then any other on the roster, in both play style and design. For example the poster child Tracer has the ability to teleport short distances and rewind herself placing her ammunition, position, and health back to where it was just a few moments earlier. Now at first glance this may just seem like an ability, but by diving into her backstory you find out she was a test pilot for a project called the "Slipstream", a time traveling fighter that malfunctioned and caused her to be lost in time. Unable to stay in present time for more then a few moments, Winston created a device that not only allowed her to stay anchored in present time, but control her own time flow, allowing her to jump forward and move backwards through time. This is what makes this game so impressive, just a simple ability becomes so much more interesting just because of the lore Blizzard has created for the character, and everyone gets the same treatment. 

You can truly feel the love Blizzard has put into creating this world, they want you to care about the people in it, they want you to care about the world, they don't want to shove another generic shooter at you, slap a $60 price tag on it, and call it the best thing around, they want to prove to you it is. Even the characters will interact with each other while on the same team, such as Zenyatta saying how happy he is to be fighting alongside his pupil Genji, Tracer challenging Lucio to a race, or even Reaper throwing some mean spirited words towards Mercy. Overwatch even has several comics and animated shorts that allow you to learn more about each character that once again proves Blizzard is committed to making this a living-breathing world.   Even though Blizzard has put so much into the lore of Overwatch, that doesn't mean they slacked on the gameplay.  Quite the opposite, this is easily one of the most balanced and polished shooters I have ever played. Each of the twenty-one characters is placed under one of four roles, offense, defense, tank, and support, and has strengths and weaknesses that can be countered, or used to counter another. For example my personal favorite Reaper has twin shotguns that devastate anyone unfortunate enough to be in close quarters with you, and with Wraith mode making him invincible but unable to perform any actions other then moving and Shadow Step, a long range teleport with a slow start-up and end time, he is a great at flanking and eating up tanks, and his ultimate Death Blossom can wipeout an entire team if you can ambush them. However he struggles against characters like Pharah, who can fly high into the sky and rain rockets of death down on the enemy, or Widowmaker, a sniper who can grapple up to hard to reach places and pick off unsuspecting targets. Even characters in the same role are vastly different, such as Zenyatta and Symmetra. Zenyatta is a omnic monk who can place a healing orb on an ally to passively heal them, or a discord orb on an enemy to boost damage on them by 50%.  Couple that with his high damage projectiles he's basically a healing sniper. However Symmetra doesn't heal at all, she instead places a shield on her allies and uses her Ultimate which is a teleporter, to allow her allies to absorb a bit more damage and get back into the fight quickly, and with sentry turrets that be placed virtually anywhere along with her high damage weapon she completely lock down an area basically by herself. The uniqueness of each and every character means regardless of skill level and playstyle, there is a Hero that will suite you perfectly. That doesn't mean you will main any one of them, this game is about strategy, and part of strategy is adapting, and with the ability to switch character mid match during any respawn, causes a giant rock, paper, scissors match between the two teams. Communication and team composition is key here, as it will determine whether you snatch victory, or fall into the arms of defeat. Each character not only counters others, but compliments them as well.  Mercy is a great match-up with Pharah because she is the only one that can follow her into the sky to heal and boost her damage, causing the devastating Pharah to become and even bigger threat then normal.  Another example is Reinhardt and Bastion, by holding Reinhardts shield right in front of Bastion while he is in turret form allows him to chew through the enemy team with little threat of taking any type of damage at all. 

The other intriguing thing about Overwatch is that not only is every game mode objective based (that's right COD fans, no Team Deathmatch), but each map is catered to a specific mode.  So, Hanamura will always be two point control, and Ilios will always be domination, making each map feel tailored fit perfectly to each mode. Every map is designed thoughtfully to help you find multiple ways to an objective without the fear of getting lost, also meaning you need to take the time to know every nook and cranny of the area. Knowing where every health pack, choke point, and entry/exit point is crucial for offense and defense.  Because knowing where you can ambush, or be ambushed can greatly change the flow of the game. I do wish however that there were more game modes, or at least different versions of each map was made for each other mode, I would love to escort a payload through the beautiful setting of Ilios, or play domination on King's Row, but despite this I still have zero issue playing for hours on end. Maining a character is something that does not exist in Overwatch, and if you think you do this, you aren't playing it right. As I've stated before Overwatch is a constant rock, paper, scissors match with the enemy team, and you have to be familiar with each and every character to fight them. If you are playing Hanzo and are constantly being killed by a Genji player, switching to the cowboy McCree who can flash bang and triggers his secondary fire "Fan the Hammer" to fire all six shots quickly can stop him right in his tracks. On the surface it may seem like just another shooter, but once you start to really analyze and learn each and every hero, it reveals a whole new depth that proves this is a truly deep and complex multiplayer game filled with endless possibilities of strategy and tactics.

Overwatch even has a training mode where you can practice against dummies to hone your skills with a character you aren't very good with but want to learn, and even weekly brawls that reset every week that range from reduced cool downs on all abilities and ultimates, to only being able to choose from a limited pool of heroes or role. Overwatch even has a progression system that you accumulate xp for each match you play.  Every level you acquire unlocks a loot box with random vanity items that range from voice lines, player icons, and sprays, to color swaps for each hero all the way to legendary skins that can make Reaper a Mariachi, or Junkrat look like a Juggalo. You can even earn in game currency from each loot box and duplicates to purchase the vanity items that you want. The option to purchase loot boxes via micro-transactions is also possible, so you can stock up to increase your chances to get even more sweet loots.   

 Blizzard has once again proven that they have the ability to take a formula that has been done time and time again and make it truly special and unique. When you play Overwatch you won't be thinking, "oh this is just like Team Fortress 2" or "this is just like Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare".  You'll be thinking about how much fun you're having playing with all your friends, in each adrenaline-inducing match. Overwatch is not only a finely crafted FPS, but also it is just flat out fun.  I promise if you pick it up, you'll be smiling from ear to ear in no time. So what are you waiting for? It's time to get in the fight, because the world can use more Heroes, and trust me, you fit the bill.