Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Spike Video Game Awards 2008: Echo calls it

Spike have announced their nominations for the 2008 Video Game Awards and this year’s competition is as steep as everyone knew it would be.

Since I completely spaced on the latest UFC predictions (GF is still a sad panda about Couture losing), I figure I can give my predictions to this instead. There are 20-something categories in all, but I’m just going to cherry pick a few and give my thoughts. Here we go:

Game of the Year:
Fallout 3
Gears of War 2
Grand Theft Auto IV
Metal Gear Solid 4
Little Big Planet

Yowza. Maybe I should have started with an easier one. All of these games are deserving, but Little Big Planet gets my nod. I felt MGS4, for instance, was a better “game,” but LBP is one of those titles that could quite literally change the industry forever. Like the original Mario Bros., Final Fantasy VII and Halo, future gamers could likely divide games into two categories: those that came before LBP, and those that came after.

Best Multi-player:
Call of Duty- World at War
Gears of War 2
Left 4 Dead
Resistance 2
If there’s any justice in this world, the award will go to Left 4 Dead or Res 2. Not knocking the other two nominees, but Left and Resistance went well out of their way to bring something new to the multi-player table.

Best PS3 Game:
GTA IV
Little Big Planet
Metal Gear Solid 4
Resistance 2
It’s short and the online is flawed, but MGS4 got emotional reactions out of me several times. The story is great, the characters are amazing and the gameplay, though quick, is top shelf. I loved this damn game so, so much.

Best Wii Game:
Boom Blox
No More Heroes
Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Wii Fit

Wii Fit? I mean, really? Maybe a win from No More Heroes will turn more gamers onto one of the few quality titles the system has going for it.

Best 360 Game:
Fable 2
Gears of War 2
Fallout 3
Grand Theft Auto IV

Why is this even a category? Gears 2 is going to win. Just give em the thing. (Not griping. The time I’ve spent with the title was pleeeenty of fun.)

Best Graphics:
Fallout 3
Gears of War 2
Little Big Planet
Metal Gear Solid 4
This one is surprisingly tricky. Fallout won’t get it, but Gears 2 looked great. For those who actually pay attention, LBP’s graphics are also ridiculously good. The game that made me drop my jaw the most, though, is MGS4. Visually mind-blowing.

Best Handheld Game:
Castlevania- Order of Ecclesia
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Patapon
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Though Prof. Layton might provide a surprise upset (yay Level 5!), God of War on the PSP made me question the limitations of portable gaming. When you can cram all the action, story, sound, graphics and gameplay of a console game into the palm of your hands, you’ve managed to impress me.

Well, that’s it for my predictions. To see the full list of nominees and make some guesses of your own, visit Spike.com and remember to watch the show’s airing on Dec. 14.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

My predictions (not what I want to win, but what I think WILL win):

Game of the Year: Gears

Best Multiplayer: Gears

Best PS3 Game: Gears (just kidding! It will be LBP)

Best Wii Game: Smash Bros.

Best 360 Game: Gears

Best Graphics: Gears

Best Handheld: God of War


Given Spike's audience, I think it's safe to say Gears will win every award it is up for. And Dude Huge will be there to accept the awards, chainsaw machine gun in hand. LOL

Anonymous said...

Also, out of curiosity, what would you give the award to in the 'Best Action Adventure Game' category?

Metal Gear Solid IV
Mirror's Edge
Grand Theft Auto IV
Dead Space

-Ryan Winslett said...

Sadly, I think you might be right on the Gears thing. Great game, but come-freaking-on. Americans are Coo-Coo for their XBox and anything with the word Halo or Gears in it.
As for "Best Action Adventure Game," that's another tough call. I didn't include several good categories due to space. Mirror's Edge might be a dark horse due to originalidy, and Dead Space was an absolute blast, but I call a toss-up between Metal Gear and GTA. My vote goes to MGS, though I would not be too angry if GTA won out...Even though MGS is a better game.

Anonymous said...

I've gotten the impression in the past that Spike doesn't try very hard with these things, so it would not surprise me if they went with GTAIV simply because it has the biggest audience.
Mirror's Edge, undeserving though it may be, would stand as a refreshingly bold choice.