Nintendo @ The 2020 Game Awards: Guts, Goodness and Glory
With the year coming to a close, it’s important to look back and appreciate the things that brought us joy in this tumultuous time. For me, nothing quite compared to the escapism and joy that Nintendo brought to us in 2020. With The Game Awards right around the corner, I thought it’d be nice to take a look at the Nintendo nominees and what they mean to me.
ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS
Now, I’ve spoken at length about this game before, so I won’t dwell on this game too much. Still, it deserves repeating: Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the best gaming experiences I’ve enjoyed. Not just for this year, but in general. The Game Awards seems to agree, having nominated it for Game of the Year, Best Family Game, and Best Multiplayer.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the most relaxing, comforting experiences I’ve had on consoles period, and it came at a perfect time in my life. I was truly despondent in quarantine, just like many others back in March. Animal Crossing: New Horizons allowed me to forget my troubles and immerse myself in a world of cute animal friends and a place to call my own. For that reason, this is my personal pick for Game of the Year. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a host of other incredible games up for honors at this year’s Game Awards.
DOOM ETERNAL
On the polar opposite end of the gaming spectrum from Animal Crossing, we have DOOM Eternal, the long-awaited sequel to DOOM (2016) and a game that very recently came to Nintendo Switch courtesy of Panic Button. The Game Awards have set to honor it with nominations for Game of the Year, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, and Best Action. At the time of its initial release, I didn’t have a console to play it on – my laptop was too old to run the game effectively and I had no other current-gen consoles. With my recent PC upgrade, I was finally able to rip and tear into this Id Software’s magnum opus. There’s truly no other first-person shooter game out there like DOOM Eternal – the constant emphasis on movement and using the right weapon against the right demon in chaotic, arena-style battles leaves you in a frenzied state that’s not quite quantifiable.
“Doom-Guy”
The truest definition of “Power Fantasy”, DOOM Eternal has you take control of the Doomslayer (or DOOM Guy), a one-man army fighting against a horde of demons that have overtaken the Earth. However, just because you’re touted as being the only thing the demons fear, the game takes some getting used to. Even on Normal difficulty, the gameplay is intense, hectic and feverish. It demands so much of your attention at all times that I personally can’t play it for too long without getting a headache. If you’re not paying attention at all times, you’ll surely end up dead. Still, when the action is going, and you’re in the zone, it’s some of the most satisfying, primal and rewarding that I’ve ever experienced in a first-person shooter.
DOOM Eternal dominated my thoughts during my first playthrough. When I wasn’t playing the game, I was thinking about it, racking my brain to figure out just how I would engage the demonic horde on my next attempt, or blasting the amazing soundtrack in my car. With how much strategy is involved in combat, it’s almost like a puzzle game as much as it is a First Person Shooter. The satisfying, adrenaline-pumping game would have been my pick for Game of the Year, had I not played Animal Crossing: New Horizons first.
CARRION
Continuing our examination of the gorier side of gaming, we have Carrion, an indie title created by Phobia Game Studio nominated for both Best Indie and Best Debut Game. Carrion puts you in control of a fleshy, murderous unnamed entity that is working to escape from an underground science facility, as you the player also discover just how this creature was captured to begin with.
Carrion takes a lot of cues from one of my favorite horror films of all time, John Carpenter’s The Thing, but plays it in reverse. You are the monster, the thing lurking in the dark. It’s another great power fantasy, especially as you proceed through the environment, growing and adapting to further your violent escape from your hapless human captors. Phobia Game Studio does a phenomenal job making you feel like a monster in their very first title, with expert sound design, satisfying gameplay and fluid, unearthly character movement. Now that the beast has escaped, I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.
STREETS OF RAGE 4
Another impeccable indie on Nintendo Switch and up for an award for Best Action is Streets of Rage 4, the long-awaited sequel/revival of the Streets of Rage beat ‘em up games. The Game Awards has nominated Streets of Rage 4 for Best Action, alongside DOOM Eternal. While this was my first foray into the series, it was a truly excellent introduction.
You are one of four fighters in the rough streets of Wood Oak City, on a journey to stop the corrupt Y Twins (Mr. Y and Ms. Y) from destroying the home you hold dear. Dotemu has brought back the beat ‘em up with breathtaking 2D visuals, all traditionally animated and a true feast for the eyes. The core combat is incredibly satisfying with a cast of characters that all play unique and each bring their own style to the game. Streets of Rage 4 has both online and local multiplayer, allowing for fun nights of gaming with friends even in quarantine. It’s also more forgiving than other beat ‘em ups such as River City Girls, which punishes death by cutting the money you have in half. With no such penalty here, the barrier for entry is lower and Streets of Rage 4 makes for a great time with friends.
HADES
Zagreus - Son of Hades
Last, but certainly not least, we have Supergiant Games’ Hades. This game has garnered a lot of attention since its release earlier this year, culminating in nominations for Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Performance, Best Indie and Best Action at The Game Awards. And, after finally playing the game, I’m beginning to see that this indie title lives up to the hype.
Hades centers on the eponymous Greek God of Death’s son, Zagreus, and his quest to escape Tartarus and reach Mount Olympus. This tale is told to us by way of a roguelike system, where if you die you have to start all over again, reinforcing the futility of your journey. Yet, each time you die, you learn from it, understanding how the enemies work or gaining new items or abilities to give yourself a leg up on your next attempt. You the player become as determined as Zagreus to escape, to win. Hades weaves its own design into the narrative, a stroke of brilliance on Supergiant’s part. Very few other roguelikes do this, but the ones that do are some of the best, like Into the Breach and West of Dead.
Supergiant Games breathes new life into Greek mythology with its unique depictions of the Gods in its striking, visually appealing style. As you continue to attempt to escape, you learn more about the history of Tartarus and the people that reside there, so even a failed attempt still feels like a sort of victory because you’re always progressing. This constant upward momentum makes the game that much more rewarding and addicting to play. I can see myself sinking many, many hours into Hades, and loving every minute of it.
CONCLUSION
If you’re a Nintendo fan like I am, 2020 has been a phenomenal year. Whether they’re indies or AAA titles, video games have never been better. I sincerely hope that these games get the awards they deserve, or that you try them out for yourselves. After all, what better place to do some gaming than in quarantine? Stay safe, everyone!
