Game of the Year Awards 2013

 

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“Probably the best part of the story in The Last of Us is the relationship between the two leads which evolves over time and becomes more heartfelt and personal, helping offset the often depressing mood of the game world. Not only that, both Ellie and Joel are great characters on their own and provide a unique perspective to every situation. It is just as enticing to see how Joel deals with his past as it is to learn more about Ellie and her personality.” – Alex V

Gone Home, Bioshock Infinite, Ni No Kuni

 

“There is a very consistent art style that ties together the different regions of Columbia. Buildings hover on clouds as the sunlight sears into detailed facades. They drift on the air like they were bobbing on an invisible ocean. Huge monuments litter the sky and sun shafts penetrate through structures. The unique Sky-lines are Columbia’s rail system that link floating structures and provide avenues for supply.” – Ben Thomas

Rayman Legends, Guacamelee, Antichamber

 

“Metro 2033 was one of the most visually impressive games around when it came out in 2010, and Last Light lives up to this legacy of cutting edge visuals. Interior areas look similar to 2033 with incredibly crisp and detailed textures, excellent lighting and particle effects and soft, smooth shadows. The biggest improvements have occurred above ground, where the previously drab landscape has been transformed by absolutely stunning lighting and weather effects. I was repeatedly blown away by how vivid and hauntingly beautiful the ruins of Moscow are in Metro Last Light, as clouds gather and disperse and rain drops land on your visor.” – Tim Reid

Killzone: Shadow Fall, Crysis 3, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

 

The soundtrack for BioShock Infinite features original compositions by Garry Schyman, who previously composed the BioShock and BioShock 2 orchestral scores. The game also contains licensed music from the time period of the game’s setting, including some songs from the bluegrass and gospel genres. Some songs heard in Columbia are covers of modern hits. Booker and Elizabeth also hear the original version of the modern song through certain Tears.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, The Last of Us, Contrast

 

“Mutants can be heard calling to each other, roaring and scuttling around in all directions around you. Often you will hear the beasts long before you see them, creating a slowly growing sense of dread as you progress further into the levels. Sound is used cleverly throughout the game, with detailed weapon effects adding to the intensity of firefights and loud gusts of wind that give you chills as you venture onto the surface.” – Tim Reid

The Last of Us, Battlefield 4, Grand Theft Auto V

 

“Music is relatively low key throughout the game, with moody pieces enhancing the superb atmosphere. Last Light is a compelling and engrossing experience that fans of post-apocalyptic settings and immersive first person games will relish from beginning to end.” – Tim Reid

The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite, Gone Home

 

“The game sounds and looks quite phenomenal at times, and that should come as no surprise from the folks who pushed the PS3 to its limits with the Uncharted franchise. Audio design also gets a standing ovation – not just thanks to the voice acting, but rather the subtle yet well-crafted soundtrack and the haunting ambience of the game world created by distant sound effects.” – Alex V

Beyond: Two Souls, Bioshock Infinite, Grand Theft Auto V

 

“Trevor has been living on the outskirts of the big city, running his own drug and guns business while behaving like a redneck. He’s probably legitimately crazy, with wild mood swings and a taste for violent behaviour. Whether you like him or not, however, this is one of the more complex characters that Rockstar Games have created. He’s seemingly insane in his actions, yet he often shows remorse and deeper understanding of why he is committing these acts. He’s dangerous and unpredictable, but self-aware and takes advantage of his own personality. Compared to the random wackiness and violent tendencies of others, for example the characters in Saints Row franchise, Trevor has a much deeper level of complexity.” – Alex V

Elizabeth The Lutece Twins (Bioshock Infinite), Ellie Joel (Last of us), Edward Blackbeard (AC4 Black Flag)

 

“The first thing anybody notices about Antichamber is also the defining quality of the game: in Antichamber, space is weird. Really weird. Antichamber’s flagship quality is the fact that the environment is non-Euclidean. Insides might be bigger than outsides. A straight path might take longer than a detour. Travelling in one direction might get you right back to where you started, while running around in a circle might take you someplace new. It means that players finally have a chance to crawl into an M.C. Escher picture.” – Evan Witt

Papers, Please, Surgeon Simulator 2013, The Stanley Parable

 

“The vastness of the open world is as impressive as ever. You can partake in some standard past times, such as tennis, golf, darts, car and sea races and more. Some brand new additions include yoga, triathlons, hunting, and parachuting. More involving activities include taxi missions and underwater exploration. The mini-games vary in their level of engagement and perceived entertainment value, but chances are you’ll find something enjoyable to do during the downtime.” – Alex V

The Last of Us, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Metro: Last Light

 

“Like every previous game in the series, it is an evolution of concepts. This time players are treated with a comprehensive class system with more gadgets and customisation options. Levolution is a new feature that causes large changes to maps based on player-triggered events. There is nothing quite like a multiplayer gunfight on the deck of an aircraft carrier while choppers fly overhead and the weather escalates.” – Ben Thomas

ArmA 3, Monaco, Call of Duty: Ghosts

 

“There is more to explore and do in GTA V than ever before. In addition to being able to easily replay story missions for better scores or try alternative heist plans, the amount of activities and mini-games is quite extensive. With stores, the game offers extensive amounts of customization for both your cars and characters. You can buy all sorts of hairstyles and beards, clothes, and weaponry. Guns can be extensively customized, in both function and look. Weapons also feel more satisfying, and there’s a big arsenal available to the players. Shooting mechanics have been improved and feel more responsive than before. The police are much more ruthless this time around and can provide a good challenge if you earn a high wanted level.” – Alex V

Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Tomb Raider, Guacamelee

 

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“With Metro: Last Light, the developers have bolstered the previously uneven game play and further improved on the setting and narrative aspects, resulting in a significantly improved sequel that almost completely lives up to the series’ lofty potential. Last Light is a compelling and engrossing experience that fans of post-apocalyptic settings and immersive first person games will relish from beginning to end.” – Tim Reid

The Stanley Parable, Antichamber, Gone Home

 

“The Last of Us is a very solid outing for one of the best PlayStation 3 developers. It’s a game that caters to zombie fans, with great stealth mechanics and even more impressive presentation. It’s a fun ride that genre enthusiasts can easily get on board with. The addition of online play that so closely resembles the campaign prompts no complaints of being a tacked-on feature. The Last of Us is a standout and enjoyable experience.” – Alex V

Ni no Kuni, Puppeteer, Gran Turismo 6

 

“Resogun is an incredibly well-crafted game, a must-play for anyone picking up the PlayStation 4. While new consoles like to flaunt their new graphics, having something like Resogun, this video game comfort food, feels like an important addition to any launch line up. After you’ve popped in Battlefield or Killzone, to show off the pursuit of photorealism to your friends, turn on Resogun, hand them the controller, and show how old-fashioned arcade shooters can still amaze and excite, no matter what generation they are a part of.” – Josh Hinke

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Contrast

 

“The game plays, sounds, and looks just as the main trilogy, making it easily recommendable to any fans that are looking for their next Gears fix. It’s a solid enough experience for action fans as well. The Unreal Engine still has the power to showcase the aging Xbox 360 hardware, and some sound design is well produced. The potentially final Gears on the current generation of Xbox.” – Alex V

Grand Theft Auto V, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, State of Decay

 

“Dead Rising returns to exclusivity on the Xbox One with its third numerical entry. On the whole, Dead Rising 3 is a solid zombie adventure, filled with plenty of gory fun for you to get lost in. Running around, grabbing collectibles and finding new ways to slay the undead has a solid rhythm and the layout of side quests is a strength of the design. For fans of the combo making series or even fans of zombies, there is plenty to enjoy.” – Josh Hinke

Ryse: Son of Rome, Forza Motorsport 5, NBA 2K14

 

“3D World is a brilliant Mario game. The imagination on display here is so consistent that you won’t be able to stop smiling throughout most of the experience, and it’s hard to ask for much more from a game. A game, for better or worse, that seems designed around four-player co-op. Multiplayer is great fun with a competitive edge. It’s a marvelous ride for what it is, and it’s the best Mario in years.” – Alex Moore

Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Rayman Legends

 

“If you are a completionist, this is a great game for you. Getting 100% will turn Guacamelee into a pretty good length for the price. However, even if you only play the game for the main story, you will still have an enjoyable time. You can even bring in a friend for some co-op action. It’s quite short, but the old saying about good things coming in small packages rings true here.” – Matt Porter

Antichamber, Gone Home, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

 

“Heart of the Swarm is an expansion in every sense of the word. New units, new abilities, new story elements, new characters; even a new interface and new multiplayer battle system! Every single aspect of the game has been toyed with and given a variant, and the depth of the changes is truly surprising. A few quibbles about Blizzard’s particular form of storytelling simply aren’t enough to stop a wave of good things to say about this expansion. If you are playing Wings of Liberty, buy this expansion and rediscover the thrill.” – Evan Witt

Enemy Within – XCOM Enemy Unknown, Burial At Sea – Bioshock Infinite, Rising Storm – Red Orchestra 2

 

“If you’re one of those types (like me) who likes to play games for their thematic content and revelation of interesting dilemmas, Papers Please is well worth the ten dollars and ten hours. It has strongly developed themes and an intriguing premise, but perhaps not enough of a gameplay core to attract casual players.” – Evan Witt

Antichamber, Puppeteer, The Stanley Parable

 

“Developers Naughty Dog are known for their franchises on PlayStation, from Crash Bandicoot (PS), Jak (PS2), and finally Uncharted on PlayStation 3. It’s with high interest, then, that most fans approached one of their few brand new IPs in over 15 years. Thankfully, The Last of Us is a worthwhile stealth survival experience with high production values and solid gameplay design, as Naughty Dog prove once again that they are very capable of creating great new experiences.” – Alex V

Remember Me, Puppeteer, The Wolf Among Us

 

“Following the good, but somewhat underwhelming Assassin’s Creed III, the development teams across Ubisoft’s numerous studios have once again produced a full-fledged title just a year later. With Black Flag, the franchise finally has a fresh gameplay focus, interesting characters, and well organized multiplayer. It’s one of the best releases the series has seen in quite some time.” – Alex V

Metro: Last Light, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Payday 2

 

“The Devil May Cry game series has acquired a huge fanbase since it was first introduced in 2001, and it is considered a classic among hack n’ slash fans. So when a reboot of the series was announced it was met with both great excitement and skepticism. This time around the DMC game is developed by Ninja Theory, the team behind Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the west. Being a big fan of the franchise I have to admit that I also was a bit skeptical, but on the other hand you cannot really judge a game until you play it, and in the end the new DMC, no matter the changes, is still a worthy part of the Devil May Cry franchise.” – Annie H

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Call of Juarez: The Gunslinger

 

“Colonial Marines isn’t an abject failure, it’s just incredibly disappointing. Dated textures, rubbery characters, poor animation and a lack of lighting effects fail to capture the feel of the films. A terrible story accompanies the by-the-numbers FPS gameplay. The co-op campaign suffers from lag, making targeting some enemies a nightmare. The constant loading times hidden by slow doors are all the more annoying when the game is only loading another identical corridor.” – Brendan Griffiths

Beyond: Two Souls, God of War: Ascension, Grid 2

 

“Crysis 3 is a flawed entry in a series that held amazing creative potential from its first iteration. The sandbox qualities have faded behind scripted sequences, linear vehicle segments and frequently spawning enemies. The AI is inadequate because they fumble grenades, spot you unrealistically and execute bizarre tactics. The campaign is trapped between a desire to stay true to the franchise and an attempt to emulate shallow modern shooters.” – Ben Thomas

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Dead Island: Riptide, Cities in Motion 2

 

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“Open combat with human opponents has seen improvements, mostly in the form of an expanded arsenal and much tighter gunplay. Great weapon sounds and enemies which react well to being shot make firefights really intense; enemies will take cover and throw grenades, communicating with each other about your position. If you aren’t dealing with levels filled with human opponents, there is a good chance you are fighting mutants. Steps have been made to improve the variety of these beasts, with the standout addition being giant spiders. There are some really tense moments where you have spiders coming in from multiple angles and you are forced to try and shine your light on them the entire time, all the while desperately scrambling to keep the flashlight batteries charged.” – Tim Reid

Bioshock Infinite, Call of Juarez: The Gunslinger, Call of Duty: Ghosts

 

“Black Flag addresses the needs of fans of booty marvelously. Sailing across the vast Caribbean is freeing and captivating, with your crew’s collective singing helping add atmosphere. Steering your ship into position and firing on enemy fleets is exciting, and the naval warfare seemingly never gets old, as you try to outmaneuver the bigger ships and go for the killing blow. All of the classic gameplay elements are still present – any time you’re on land, whether it’s in a small coastal shack town or a major naval hub, the staple free running and melee combat are at the core of the experience. In combat, Edward is versatile and always dual-wields, lending him new finishing moves and animations.” – Alex V

Grand Theft Auto V, Tomb Raider, DmC: Devil May Cry

 

“Gran Turismo 6 hasn’t missed a step as far as the gameplay is concerned. Taking to the track in your tuned ride is as enjoyable as usual. The physics and suspension engine have been tweaked to provide more realistic handling. The title offers new cars, tracks, and new career experience. A solid driving simulation is still intact, as is the game’s addicting nature of winning events and collecting cars.” – Alex V

Forza Motorsport 5, Grid 2, MotoGP 13

 

“While winter weather is one of the most dramatic additions to the series, a number of tweaks have been made that improve the experience appreciably. The rock-paper-scissors gameplay of the first game returns and remains excellent, winter weather and a few tweaks make for a smoother and more varied experience. Company of Heroes 2 offers up a huge helping of high quality RTS gameplay for both multiplayer and singleplayer” – Tim Reid

Xcom: Enemy Within, Europa Universalis 4, Total War: Rome 2

 

“Gone Home is an important game. It has a superbly well written story about empathy, heartbreak, compassion, reconciliation and love, but the way in which it is told is unmatched in the medium. You are left to piece together the story on your own, rather than it being forced upon you. It looks great, with excellent use of lighting, and has a Riot Grrrl soundtrack related to the narrative discovered through cassette tapes. This is the kind of game best talked about after playing it, so you should check it out and share it with as many people as possible.” – Matt Porter

The Last of Us, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Tomb Raider

 

“The game’s combat system, which is divided into different forms of play. The wide variety of elements is ambitious, and offers some fun ideas. In addition to a charmingly unique graphical style, the game has an amazing soundtrack recorded by the renowned Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch offers a narrative experience that is commendable and, per Studio Ghibli tradition, unforgettable.” – Eileen Murphy

Shadowrun Returns, Path of Exile, Tales of Xillia

 

“FIFA 14 celebrates the best of what the series has come to offer during this console generation. It plays and feels differently than last year’s version, mostly for the better. Real teams, players, and stadiums create a strong sense of atmosphere and authenticity. Graphical touch ups are most notable with arenas, which are brimming with life. It doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, but it’s difficult to deny the level of quality and polish on display.” – Alex V

NBA 2K14, NHL 14, Madden NFL 25

 

“In order to truly embrace a video game challenge, players are in need of tight controls, luckily Rayman feels as finely tuned as ever. Buttons are responsive, movements are exact, so the game is able to require millisecond reactions because it can accommodate them. Sure, the hardcore old-school platform lover is going to enjoy Legends on a whole different level, but even if you are just a casual player or just someone who likes to have fun, Rayman Legends is bound to be an amazing time.” – Josh Hinke

Guacamelee, Puppeteer, Super Mario 3D World

 

“The puzzling in Antichamber goes above and beyond the call of duty. There’s a wonderful variety of puzzle types here, some using basic environment interaction like buttons and keyholes, and some using your trusty “block-moving gun” which you acquire early in your journey. The game includes excellent touches that give the puzzling great character and unity. Antichamber’s synthesis of gameplay, environment, and philosophy make it a landmark in quality that deserves special notice and attention.” – Evan Witt

Papers, Please, The Swapper

 

“As a simulation, Arma 3 is excellent. Gameplay is essentially everything the Arma series has led us to expect so far – that is to say, hyper-realistic first-person military combat in an environment roughly five times the size of the entire known universe. Arma 3 comes across as an impressive game: it’s well-polished, changes things up often enough and is frankly frighteningly deep. I had bouts of genuine fun with the game and it fills the niche it’s carved out for itself wonderfully.” – David Will

Forza Motorsport 5, Rocksmith 2014 Edition, Gran Turismo 6

 

“While the game is new, the feeling of Resogun is that same ol’ twin stick action the developer is so famous for. Much like arcade games of old, watching someone take on Resogun’s challenge is almost as much fun as playing the game yourself. Resogun is a ferocious, mile-a-minute assault of twitch gameplay that sucks you in and seems to fast forward time, as you lose yourself by simply begging for one more go-round. Few games can elicit fist pumps and joyful screams quite like Resogun can.” – Josh Hinke

Call of Juarez: The Gunslinger, Bit Trip Runner 2, Just Dance 2014

 

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It’s tough to pick a single subject to describe a title as expansive as Grand Theft Auto V. Perhaps it should start with the vastness of the open world, or the near endless gameplay and general chaos possibilities that await you in San Andreas. Or maybe readers should focus on the game’s immense plot and memorable characters. That’s before mentioning the improved vehicle handling, satisfying shooting, and incredible attention to detail. But then you realize that this is barely scratching the surface; merely pointing out the biggest pillars of the experience from a bird’s eye view.

The three main characters come to life thanks to great writing and voice acting. All three are excellently presented and standout for their voice work, not only in the realm of the GTA franchise, but gaming in general. The actors should be commended for delivering their lines with enthusiasm and expert execution, but it wouldn’t work if it wasn’t for the great script. GTA V’s writing is pure brilliance at times; filled with jokes, parodies and all kinds of sharp commentary – an accomplishment that many games fail to achieve, let alone those with so much story to tell.

The city of Los Santos itself is quite large, easily comparable to that of GTA IV, and just as detailed. Every street corner is unique, each area modelled after its real-life counterpart, or at the very least inspired by it. Those who have been to Los Angeles will easily recognize some of the landmarks, recreated here with full grandeur but with their own unique take on the architecture. It’s probably the largest world that Rockstar Games has ever built, and although the rural areas are not as detailed as Los Santos, they add sheer scope to the game.

Refined shooting and driving mechanics deliver one of the most enjoyable experiences to date. The sheer variety of activities offer tons of gameplay possibilities. Ambitious but flawed, the online component is both engrossing and frustrating; but even it is not enough to take away from the overall grandeur of the experience.

Grand Theft Auto V is a significant milestone in gaming. And even though it’s not perfect, this is a title that continues to prove one of the most popular franchises ever has still got it. And it is the 2013 Game of the Year for New Game Network.

Honorable Mentions: The Last of Us, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Metro: Last Light, Bioshock Infinite, Gone Home

Thanks for joining us for the 2013 edition of Game of the Year Awards, and we hope to see you next year!