It’s that time of the year again, when the best of the best battle it out for some very prestigious awards. Among the first events to start off the “Best Games of 2013” hierarchies was last night’s IGA (Inside Gaming Awards) 2013. The nominees and winners were not really surprising, but we still got to say a few “I wasn’t expecting that”‘s. So, let’s sum it up!
IGA 2013 – Game of the Year
Grand Theft Auto V
Other nominees:
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Battlefield 4
Bioshock Infinite
Dota 2
The Last Of Us
Thoughts:
This really wasn’t a big surprise. GTA 5 has a huge fanbase, and the game had long been anticipated. Rockstar managed to deliver and surpassed expectations, giving out a much better game than the previous installment. The fact that it’s currently still console exclusive didn’t stop GTA 5 from nabbing the highly fought for prize, even among such stiff competition. Then again, with a Metacritic score of 97 and an IGN score of 10, we’re not surprised. It has great story, interesting characters, a well-built world, content that keeps you going for days and days, and well, it’s incredibly fun.
IGA 2013 – Best Co-operative Multiplayer
Battleblock Theater
Other nominees:
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Final Fantasy XIV: A realm reborn
Payday 2
Splinter Cell 2
Thoughts:
This was somewhat of a surprise. Battleblock is nowhere near being a flawless game, although it does have some great features, and the amount of content it provides makes it a solid game. While Battleblock failed to deliver in terms of competitive multiplayer, it does have a great appeal when it comes to co-op. I have to admit that I was betting on Splinter Cell 2 though, considering it provided a very fun co-op setting that was one of the best features of the game.
GA 2013 – Best Competitive Multiplayer
Battlefield 4
Other nominees:
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Dota 2
Divekick
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Thoughts:
This was fairly predictable, and really can’t surprise anyone. Even die-hard Call of Duty fans have to admit that Battlefield 4 provides for some great online competition. As runner-ups, I’d mention Dota 2, which I’m sure will develop into one of the major e-sports names out there, and Injustice. When it comes to battling it out with your friends on the couch over a couple of beers, there’s really no competition this year for Injustice.
GA 2013 – Best Story
Bioshock Infinite
Other nominees:
The Bureau: Xcom Declassified
Injustice: Gods Among Us
The Last of Us
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Thoughts:
For this category, I can safely assume that the final battle went down between The Last Of Us and Bioshock. I’m happy Bioshock got the award, there’s no doubt about the quality of the storyline, but I also loved the atmosphere and the general plot in The Last Of Us too. Definitely stiff competition in this category as well.
GA 2013 – Gamer’s Choice
Dota 2.
Other nominees:
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Bioshock Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Battlefield 4
Saints Row IV
The Last of Us
Tomb Raider
Battleblock Theater
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Thoughts:
This caught me off guard, I must admit. I was almost certain GTA 5 would win. Still, there’s no doubt about the quality of Dota 2 and it seems the fans really came through. There’s obviously going to be a lot of discussion between different fans about which game is better. And that’s a good thing. In the end, we’ve had a year with some very solid games, catering for very different gamers, using different platforms. The thing is, 2013 was a great year, and no matter what gaming gear you own and what you’re into, you have plenty of choices in terms of quality games. If I’d have to pick from this list, I’d be divided among Tomb Raider, The Last Of Us and Bioshock. But ultimately, it comes down to taste.
For the other categories, let’s go over the winners quickly!
The Last Of Us didn’t go home empty handed, taking the prizes for Best Sound and Best Voice Acting. These don’t come as a surprise, as sound was a key factor in creating that unique world the game is set in, and the devs pulled it off flawlessly.
Best Art went to Bioshock Infinite, the game nabbing the prize from the reach of solid competitors such as Crysis 3, The Wolf Among Us: Faith and Devil May Cry. The Most Immersive game of the year award went to GTA 5, which we can’t really argue with, even though I must underline again the strength of the feelings The Last Of Us infused in me. Starcraf 2: Heart of the Swarm squashed all opposition in the Best Additional Content section, including stiff competitor World of Warcraft: Siege of Orgrimmar.
In terms of lower-budget productions, the Best Indie Game award went to Runner 2. A solid choice from Inside Gaming there.
And I’ve left the Best Trailer category for last for good reasons. It may sound strange, but I really think this is where the hardest battles were fought. Some of the best trailers I’ve ever seen made it into the nominee list, and I honestly don’t envy the guys at IG for having to make a choice here. First, there’s the Battlefield 4 Multiplayer trailer, with showed some epic editing skills and really caught the essence of what BF4 really is.
Then, we’ve had the Alliances trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online, a huge surprise. It was the kind of trailer we would have expected from Blizzard, not from Bethesda. I’m not sure how great the game will be, but when it comes to the trailer, they really nailed it.
Lastly, two CD Projekt trailers made it into the nominee list, mainly Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 – Killing Monsters. Now, both of them are extremely well made, there’s no question about it. The winner was Cyberpunk 2077, but I honestly liked The Witcher 3 trailer more. There was something artistic and sublime in the fight choreography. Still, I congratulate CD Projekt for managing to make such quality trailers, especially since their financial situation doesn’t even come close to that of major studios such as Bethesda or Blizzard. In the end, they had 2 trailers in the nominee list and went home with the prize. Not bad at all!
What are your thoughts on the nominees and winners? What changes would you make in the winner list? Leave you feedback in the comment section below.