Home » Features » GOTY » Stevivor’s GOTY 2015: Game On or Game Over
GOTY News

Stevivor’s GOTY 2015: Game On or Game Over

Microsoft versus Sony, Battlefield versus Call of Duty and Forza versus Gran Turismo. These are some of the rivalries that can get people talking about console wars. “Game On or Game Over” is your place to get inside the minds of Nicholas and Andy as they seek to find the true meaning of gaming and tackle some of gaming’s most controversial subjects. Both are award winning authors – although the awards haven’t been mailed or created yet — but trust them. Would they lie to you?

Nicholas: As we approach the end of 2015, there’s just one final topic that you and I need to discuss. It’s something that we teased last week and something that all other gaming sites have been talking about for the past month. In our introduction we cover that we’re both award-winning authors – which is true – but with Christmas having just past, it’s time that we stop and give back. I am of course, talking about our picks for Game of the Year 2015.

For the past twelve months gaming developers and publishers have been working tirelessly to deliver quality game after quality game, and what finer way to finish the year than by the two of us, heroes from Sydney, Australia and Minnesota, USA, bestowing three lucky titles with our pick of the best titles of 2015.

So to kick things off I wanted to give my first honourable mention for GOTY. This isn’t my top three, but more-so that one title which just missed the cut, but deserves recognition nonetheless. For me, it goes to Slightly Mad Studio’s Project CARS. It was years in the making, developed with constant feedback and requests from the racing community and featured some of the most enthralling racing I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in recent years. It didn’t quite make it as the overall package, but it offered raw racing which is something quite rare in most titles.

How about you? Before we get into our top three games of 2015, is there any one particular game that you’d like to shine the spotlight on?

ProjectCars-McLarenP1

Andy: Well, first off I wholeheartedly agree that we’re both international heroes. I mean we are both intelligent, good looking, charismatic and we both know our video games. Heck, the more I think about it, there should be an international gaming museum with statues of us out front. Someone should record all of our articles so people for years to come can appreciate what the millions… and millions, of our readers appreciate now. I’m thinking marble floors, gold inlays, door attendants and so many other things… but I digress.

When I think of honourable mentions, I always think about it as more of a reminder to people of things that are easily overlooked. Anyone that knows me and my gaming preferences won’t be surprised by this, but aside from a few major AAA releases there is one game I played more than any other this year. That would be Pinball FX2. Now, before the pitchforks come out and people get up in arms about me including this as my honourable mention look at it this way. My hours played on this game is only surpassed by two other games this year. The amount of content that was released this year with different licenses and original tables was fantastic and the price can’t be beat. Bang for my buck Pinball FX2 was my best gaming value of 2015, but it was also some of the most fun I had. It’s a mark of a good game when it continually jumps to the top of your “to play” list, even when you have brand new games still sealed. Pinball FX2 just fills a niche that most other games can’t. There’s no high production cost, no insanely deep story and no over the top explosions… but for me the fun factor is hard to beat.

Enough with the honourable mentions though, let’s jump into the meat of this topic and see how we stack up against each other. Going in ascending order, what is your second runner up for your own personal Game of the Year this year? What about it did you like, but more critically what about it stopped it from being higher on your list?

Nicholas: It’s an easy decision for me, and with that I’m going with The Witcher 3. In terms of what I liked, straight off the bat, is how well the game has been developed by CD Project Red. In times when we talk about games being half-finished or tarnished with over-the-top launch DLC and season passes, it was a breath of fresh air to experience a game like The Witcher 3 which really did feel like it was for the players. There weren’t micro-transactions at every menu or anything of the sort, it was a straight-out-of-the-box adventure, which when it had DLC, added even more insane amounts of hours of gameplay.

The Witcher 3 was also my first foray into the franchise, and despite not being a fan of fantasy as a whole, I found myself almost immediately engrossed in the story, the pursuits of Geralt and also just him as a character. In the 40+ hours I played through I found myself wanting to play just that little bit extra to find that little bit more, and everything was surprisingly accessible for a game of its size. The combat was easy enough to get used to and the RPG elements were both vast for those who wanted it to be, but also simple enough for players like me to still feel like we could get our hands dirty and feel like we accomplished something.

As far as why it isn’t higher on my list, it’s for two reasons – it’s length and also its genre. I don’t play many RPGs, but the one thing that I learnt playing The Witcher 3 is how inconvenient massive games are. I like that there’s over a hundred hours of content, but as someone with limited time, having sunk 40 hours and still not come close to finishing it is somewhat frustrating. I’ve lost interest in continuing because I want something new, and while the game is always changing, I did get sick of it eventually. Secondly, like I said before, I’m not a fan of fantasy and eventually I was back wishing for something modern. Cars and not horses. Guns and not swords. Again, not an issue of the game, just a reason why it isn’t my second or top pick for GOTY.

How about you though? What would you consider the third greatest game you’ve played this year?

thewitcher3

Andy: As odd as it may sound, I really struggled trying to figure out which game I wanted to say was my second runner up here. Partly because I have yet to play a couple of the heavy hitters from this past year, but also aside from my top two games there weren’t many games that really stood out to me. Not to mean I didn’t enjoy them, it just didn’t seem like many separated themselves from the pack this year.

With that said, I whittled it down to a couple options for my third best game of the year and ultimately decided on Batman Arkham Knight. I really enjoyed the main story and there were a couple literal gut punches that I wasn’t expecting. For me when a game can get you to put the controller down after a cut scene and just stare at the screen in amazement over what just transpired – that’s a very good game. Solid combat controls, a go at your own pace story where you could explore areas if you wanted to take a break from the drama that was unfolding around you. It was just a very good experience.

Why isn’t it higher on my list though? Well a couple things, one has been a long-time complaint of my with the past few I games. That being the metric crap ton of collectibles that are in the game. Most of the time I am a fan of collectibles in games when they are done right. They get you to explore new areas and try new things, but when a game has over 400 of them that is way too many and is no longer fun. The other thing that knocked this one down a peg was the Batmobile. Not so much it being in the game (that was actually pretty cool), but the absolutely terrible controls and handling of it. I got to the point where I dreaded the sections of the game where I had to use it.

Now, I throw the ball back to you sir. Same question I asked before, but this time what is your runner up for Game of the Year?

Nicholas: The decision between second and first is an extremely tough one for me, only because both games that I’m going to mention here and in my response to follow were well-developed and thoroughly enjoyable. They’re different genres and difficult to compare against each other, but overall, the package they provided were top-notch. So with that said, and with some indecisiveness, I’m going with Batman Arkham Knight as my runner-up for GOTY.

I’ll try not to repeat all of the sentiments that you’ve expressed above, but for me, perhaps one of the biggest draws to this game and what made it so enjoyable was the story and the Batman universe that Rocksteady were able to create. There are so few games where you truly feel like the character you’re playing, but there’s something about the Batman franchise that the developers are able to nail it each time. You really feel like the caped crusader, you really feel a threat by the super villains that occupy Gotham and there’s a sense of urgency and desperation behind everything you do. When you’re not exploring the city at your own pace (and that in itself makes this a game a winner with how perfect the gliding controls are) and you’re tackling the story, it’s everything you’d want from a super-hero game. Dark, gritty but engrossing.

Further to the points above, the combat and overall gameplay controls make this game such a winner in my books too. The saying “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” certainly applies well here, and that’s been one of the core strengths of the franchise since Arkham Asylum. Combat is accessible yet rewarding and so is stealth, and they both come together brilliantly in this game. I’ll also disagree with you and say that I loved the inclusion of the Batmobile too, and aside from some of the races, I loved the controls. The combat sections were also fun and intense and I never felt like it was ever overused (perhaps I’m in the minority there though).

Occasional bugs and glitches aside, Batman Arkham Knight is everything I love from the franchise and it’s almost with regret that I don’t select it as my top game of 2015. How about you? We’re now getting to the tail-end of this article, what’s your runner-up for GOTY 2015 and is there a clear distinction between it and your top game of the year?

batmanarkhamknight

Andy: For me this was actually a fairly easy decision. There were only a couple games I played in 2015 that really monopolized my gaming hours. There is always that initial rush of getting a new game, but this year it seemed harder for games to really keep me wanting to play them exclusively. Again, not that I didn’t like a lot of games this year, but they just didn’t hold onto me as tightly as some of the titles from the past couple of years.

So, without further ado the game I chose for my runner up to Game of the Year is The Witcher 3.  I’m putting this one here for a couple reasons. Firstly, it’s a massive game. Literally, everywhere you turn there is something new to explore, people to meet and monsters to slay. It’s not a cookie-cutter RPG either, it’s a game where some of your choices truly do matter. Choose not to help someone and you may find them unwilling to help you 30 hours later. I love choices like that. I also like it when you have two choices and neither of them are necessarily great choices to make. It’s not a game that holds your hand, once you get past the tutorial they pull back the curtain and spit you out and basically say “Here you go. Go make your story.” It’s a refreshing approach to most RPGs that have been released the past couple years.

The other big reason I am putting it here is because I expected not to like it. I was excited for Witcher 2, but after about two hours with it I became frustrated and dejected. The controls were confusing, I had no idea what I was supposed to do so I just gave up and found something else to play. So when Witcher 3 came out I was expecting pretty much the same thing, but gave it a chance and man I am so glad I did. I don’t know about you, but when I go into a game expecting not to like it and come out loving it that’s something that doesn’t happen very often. The reason I put Witcher 3 here and not at the top is oddly enough as much as I enjoyed the game I reached a point where there was almost too much to do and I started getting bogged down with the little things. I’m a gamer who likes to do as much as I can, especially with games this large, but there just didn’t seem like enough of a balance between giving me a lot to do and giving me too much to do. I’m not sure that really makes sense to anyone else, but that’s my reasoning and I’m sticking to it.

We’ll we’ve reached the point in the article that I’m sure a lot of people have skipped ahead to. It’s time for you to show your cards and let us know what was your Game of the Year from 2015. For you was there any one thing, or maybe a couple things, that really set it apart from every other game you played this year to top your list? I’m curious to see what your top pick is.

Nicholas: Like I said with my previous response, the decision between my second and first game is a tough one, but for Game of the Year 2015, my top title is Forza Motorsport 6. I’m a racing gamer at my core, so perhaps it’s not a surprise for everyone that a game like this claimed the number one spot, but there’s a few reasons why I’ve made the decision I did.

First and foremost, overall, Forza Motorsport 6 is currently the most complete driving game on the current generation that I’ve played. Dollar for dollar, it offers the most content, has some of the best visuals and the gameplay is amazing. There are some other decent racing titles, Project CARS being one of them, but none offer that complete package like Turn 10 has delivered with Forza 6. Graphically it’s certainly their best game to date, the car roster is vast and varied and there’s a great selection of both existing and new circuits to master too.

Another reason why Forza 6 is my GOTY is because it hasn’t been since Forza 3 that a racing game has made me truly appreciate why I love cars and racing so much. It’s all that polish that comes together with an accessible yet still rewarding physics model that keeps you wanting to come back and play more. Admittedly I haven’t played it for a little while because I’m stuck on a championship that I don’t like, but if I muster up the patience and spend 40 minutes with it I’ll clear it and go back to loving everything I did when it launched. I love the new card system that add assists and challenges to change up the game. I love the inclusion of classic cars from the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise. Whether you prefer Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport is always going to be up for debate, but at this point, Turn10 are killing it. So as far as my favourite racing game and GOTY is concerned, Forza Motorsport 6 has the title.

So to close things off this week and also for the year, what is your Game of the Year? At this point I’d also like to thank all our readers who have stuck with us and for their ideas in 2015. I’m excited to see what 2016 brings!

fallout-4-power-armour

Andy: Ah yes, Forza 6, I should have expected that one.  We talked last week about you being disappointed with Need for Speed, so it doesn’t surprise me that Forza 6 may play a little part in that. When you consider a game perfection, it’s hard for any other game to really compete with it – especially when it’s in the same genre.

As for what game I am picking to sit atop every game I played in 2015 it should come as a shock to no-one. Hands down when I think of the year 2015 the one game that stands out above all of the games released is Fallout 4. I could write a whole article on why I love this game, but I’ll just hit on a couple points for the purpose of this piece. First the setting, I’ve said before the games I really fall for the setting is as big – if not bigger – part of the game than some of the characters. I love post-apocalyptic games, they feel like an old pair of shoes to me. Comfortable and it just feels like home. On top of that there are just so many places to explore, stories to uncover and mysteries to solve.

I love the scope of Fallout  and the additions they have made as well. They didn’t fix anything that wasn’t broke, but added to things just enough. From the Minecraft-esque settlement building, to making Power Armor more like a vehicle, to being able to fully modify weapons to suit your playstyle. At the time of writing this I currently have 140 hours into the game and there is no sign of me getting bored with it anytime soon. I could continue to gush about how much I enjoy the game, the variety of companions, the tweaked way you can acquire perks and the ability – if you play enough – to fully max out your character. Yet, there is one thing that stands out to me as to why Fallout 4 is my top game. From the minute it was announced it literally shifted my holiday plans and what games I was going to get. I passed on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Rise of the Tomb Raider, I pushed back the purchase of Halo Guardians and Star Wars Battlefront all because Fallout 4 was going to be released. After pouring two months of game time into this tit;le I can’t think of anything I would personally change in it. Without a second though Fallout 4 is by far the best game I have played in 2015.

I too would like to thank everyone for their continued support of our little endeavour with Game On or Game Over. It’s been an absolute blast to see how it’s grown over the past couple of years. We have big things planned for next year included GameOn-Con which Steve is funding… he just doesn’t know it yet. Thanks to everyone and here’s to 2016 being an even better year for gaming!

Tune in next time for the next instalment of Game On or Game Over. If you have any ideas for our next article, feel free to contact Andy or Nicholas on Twitter.


This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

About the author

Nicholas Simonovski

Events and Racing Editor at Stevivor.com. Proud RX8 owner, Strange Music fan and Joe Rogan follower. Living life one cheat meal at a time.

About the author

Andy Gray

From the frozen land of Minnesota, I was the weird kid that begged my parents for an Intellivision instead of an Atari. My love for gaming has only grown since. When I’m not gaming I enjoy ice hockey and training dogs. I’m still trying to get my Elkhound to add to my Gamerscore though, one day this will happen.