[Question] The Gamingforce Game of the Year 2014: All aboard the hype train - voting edition

I'd never participated in this before because I just rarely play new releases. 2014 looked set to be no different with most of my (rather unreasonable) gaming time spent on oldies such as L4D2, Super Meat Boy or Borderlands 2, but I happened to pick up a few noteworthy games near the end of the year that appear to be eligible.

All of these are PC.


The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - 40 points


[Best RNG] [Worst RNG]

Yes. Fuck yeah. They've absolutely nailed this remake. A lot more content was added to the already ridiculous amount that Wrath of the Lamb had to offer: new enemies, bosses, characters and a stupendous number of items. The cheap flash engine was ditched. This nerve-racking game rapidly gets hardcore - the challenge is designed to increase after a few successful playthrough, while an ever-growing amount of unlocked items give you a wide range of play styles. The randomly generated levels make each descent unique, you'll have to adapt to whatever the game throws at you.

As for the music, they've chosen to replace Danny Baranowsky's dark and melodic original soundtrack with a much more "ambient" approach. The result, albeit fitting, is much less memorable, and I can see why people are disappointed with it. But it doesn't detract from the fantastic gaming experience that Rebirth has to offer.




Battleblock Theater - 30 points
[Best Coop] [Most Heads]



Pleasant surprise. A friend made me pick that one up during a sale and I didn't think much of it at first. But this game is just irresistible. The design and music are lovely. The announcer's lines are splendidly written and spoken in one of the most memorable voices I've heard in a video game. The gameplay is excellent, especially in coop with a wide range of options to solve certain puzzles... and the obligatory trolling. I've barely scratched the surface so far but the content looks plentiful to say the least. Getting through the game isn't that difficult but the Encore levels and the Insane mode will surely test your patience if you're looking for a more hardcore challenge. All in all, a very refreshing experience.




Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut - 20 points
[Riskiest Boots]



As Qwarky some people in chat were pretty insistent on Shantae being a Thing to Have, I eventually decided to give a chance to the only available PC port from the series. What I discovered was a lovely platformer with a Metroidvania-style of gameplay, a pleasant oriental-themed soundtrack and some purty sprites. The story isn't anything special but the characters are quite charismatic and some of their lines will surely make you chuckle. The game isn't that challenging but some achievements will require smooth execution, like a sub-2 hours speed run or beating the final boss without healing. Recommended if you like platformers and nice things.




10 Second Ninja - 5 points
[Most Swastikas]



As a tiny blue ninja, you're mankind's last hope against the mischievous Robot Hitler and his robot army. In this fast-paced platformer, your aim is to clear every single level in less than ten seconds - that is, kill every robot on the screen, using your weaponry and triggering environmental hazards. Aim for the lowest possible time to earn a three-star rating!

The concept is really nice, and the par times are very tightly balanced. Finding the optimal route for each level will require meticulous planning, and the execution leaves no room for error. It is incredibly satisfying when you nail your inputs perfectly and maximize a route's potential, and deeply unnerving when even then, you're still half a second too slow; reconsider what seems obvious, think outside the box and, most of all, keep optimizing your inputs. The original core concept, the precise controls and meticulously balanced level design are the game's main strenghts.

Now for the cons. The visuals and cutscenes are entirely forgettable, which can be excused in a low-budget indie game such as this. The soundtrack, albeit repetitive, serves its purpose but isn't particularly memorable either. My main criticism would be that the game is really short, and perhaps not quite as "hardcore" as it may appear at first. I was a little disappointed to hit the ending credits after only a few hours (plus maybe an extra half hour on the bonus world), with all the three-star ratings earned and without hitting any major roadblocks.




Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel - 5 points
[Lowest Gravity] [Best Pewpews]



As a huge fan of Borderlands 2, I was really looking forward to this one. To be honest, most of it felt like a space DLC for Borderlands 2. The gameplay introduces new elements such as low gravity and Oz kits which enable the player to perform air boosts and to "butt-slam" enemies, and laser weapons which cause a burning effect but - SCIENCE - only in an atmosphere.

The design of the Elpis moon is... acceptable for the most part, but I thought the Helios space station was much better overall. The story was mediocre and the jokes were hit-and-miss - more so than in Borderlands 2, I felt. Not to say there wasn't a single interesting twist or funny moment... but. Among the four new classes, Claptrap may be the most original, but his random routines are more of a handicap than help in solo play - he's great for some laughs in coop. The other three are solid options, and perhaps slightly more charismatic than their Borderlands 2 counterparts - having them take part in the dialogue is a very nice touch. I didn't like the NPCs so much.

I was also frustrated at the low amount of content, but part of this might be because I got into the series with Borderlands 2 GotY and its four DLC campaigns included. Still, Pre-Sequel felt kind of cheap in that respect, with a Raid boss quest that just makes you fight the final boss again... and then the first DLC wasn't even a campaign but an arena.

All in all, much less immersive than BL2 but still a solid gameplay experience.




Honourable Mention: Crypt of the Necrodancer



Early access, hence not eligible - but man does that game look awesome. Take a roguelike and combine it with a rhythm game: you've (almost) got Necrodancer. The extra ingredient here is Danny Baranowsky's music, which never fails to deliver. Solid concept and they keep adding more and more content. Jam, motherfuckers. There's a good chance you'll see this one in my 2015 list.

Jam it back in, in the dark.