Just like yesterday, it’s time for another Sarcastic Gamer Game of the Year Nominee. There’s been everything from top-notch shooters to bigger, better RPGs and even a decent driving game or two. The question is, which ones are the best of the best? And which is the best of them all?
Here’s the second SG GOTY Nominee, and it’s a noble send-off for a long-time action hero. Read all about it, after the jump.
2008’s been a good year for the PlayStation 3. While 2007 saw the console ridiculed time and time again for its lack of enviable exclusives and the ridiculous pricepoint, 2008 has seen it up the ante with an inspired range of titles, many of which fell under my consideration when deciding a GOTY candidate.
LittleBigPlanet was almost a contender; as a construction kit it’s unrivalled, but as a game it’s a little lacking in substance. GT5 Prologue came into my head, then shot back out again because it’s not really complete. MotorStorm: Pacific Rift came and went in a Vaseline-smudged blaze of glory. I even thought about multiplatform titles: smashing into friends in Burnout Paradise was a blast but it was instantly forgettable. GTA IV was great albeit a little empty once the story was over. I needed something that made a lasting impression. Then, like a smack in the face, it hit me.
There’s always been one game character I’ve admired, almost like a sort of childhood hero. Back in 1999 I picked up Metal Gear Solid and, despite being an eight year-old with a loose grasp of the concept of war, I was hooked. Not just on the sneaking and shooting (usually shooting; c’mon, I was eight) but the story. That took something special, and that something was Solid Snake.
Every guy’s been there. When you’re a kid, you have an action hero you look up to. Some choose comic heroes, others choose James Bond. I chose Snake. All-but-faceless on the PSone, but decorated with David Hayter’s grizzled voice and a quality script, Snake immediately won me over with his no-nonsense attitude and kickass neck-snapping skills. He was the ultimate badass and when you’re eight years old, that’s all that matters.
So then, it was a bit of a shock to see him appear, moustachioed and all, as an oldie in the first trailer for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots. I was a little worried, but at the same time I was giddy; Snake was back! Then, when that trailer was released showing Snake with a gun barrel in his mouth, it was quickly becoming clear that this was Snake’s sendoff.
My full reasoning awaits over the page.
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MGS4? Who didn’t see that one coming?
Way to go, Hamster!
Great choice Yamster.
I think MGS4 is my GOTY too
I totally didn’t see that coming from Yamster
In all honesty I don’t have a GOTY but for single player I would go for MGS4 for a long time fan like me it was just pure greatness.
Why do we have to click “View More” to see what the entry is?
It ramps up the tension.
Ovvveerr-raattteedddddddd.
Its hard to choose between this and Fallout for me.
I really liked this game also. I wouldn’t label it my GOTY. Fallout 3 is it for me so far. It’s got all I want in a game, besides multiplayer, but there’s other games for that.
Agreed Yamster. The story and atmosphere alone make it one of the best games, but that coupled with the amazingly tense gameplay definitely make it GOTY.
I think that the reason that a lot of people liked it but didn’t love it was that they didn’t appreciate all the backstory that went into it. People who played games like GTA IV or Fallout 3 without playing the other games in the series weren’t at a significant disadvantage, but if you don’t know all about the MGS cannon, I can see why not everyone enjoyed it as much as people like us.
well put Jacob816
@Gorilla
It’s not over-rated, it’s just one amazing game =)
Yamster, i agree with your choice ^.^v
Booooooring. Great game, but the cutscenes turned me off faster than Lono’s Fallout 3 pic.
Fantastic choice! GOTY for sure!
The cutscenes made the game even more immense that it already is. Especially the ones right near the end… ; )
Gears of War 2 has to be one of the top 5. Why is it that no-one seems to care about it?!
eather call of duty world at war or fallout 3
@dolmenrage
Only if you don’t follow the story…
Just to remind our reader, MGS4 was a NOMINEE for game of the year and Yamster’s PERSONAL choice for GOTY.
SG’s Game of the Year will be announced on Thursday.