Disclaimer: This is an editorial piece guys — my opinion. Everybody’s entitled to an opinion, I realize that, but I’m just FLOORED at this, so give me a moment to make a case and then you can sound off.
Apparently there’s an organization that gets together solely to give out various awards for things shown at E3. Game critics from highly respected gaming sources like: USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Complex Magazine, Gannet News Service, Variety, and Wired Magazine… you know; the veritable who’s who of gaming coverage. I kid, I kid… mostly. I mean they might as well be giving out awards at a Home Show for Best Kitchen Appliance.
More after the jump…
Okay, sure, I’ll admit there are also some honest-to-God gaming journalists and bloggers in the mix too such as: 1UP, Game Informer, IGN, Joystiq, Play Magazine, Kotaku, PC Gamer, etc. That said, I attended E3 and I just can’t believe that from the nearly 30 organizations represented by the “Game Critics” group, one of the top-nominated games was Brütal Legend; it got nominated for Best of Show. They were at the real E3, right? We’re not getting Punk’d are we? Wait, maybe they got Punk’d! I mean Brütal Legend may end up a decent enough game, but Best of Show is just that… the best damned thing at the show. Brütal Legend?!?! You’ve got to be kidding me!
What other games did they nominate for Best of Show? Let’s see: Mass Effect 2, Modern Warfare 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. What I notice here is that while at E3, I heard several people talking gushingly about each and every one of those last four games but nobody said “OMG! You have GOT to go see Brütal Legend!” Nope, not once. Is this going to be a repeat of Psychonauts where the press praises a Tim Shafer game that gamers don’t end up buying? Only time will tell.
It doesn’t stop at Best of Show though, Brütal Legend was also nominated for Best Original Game, Best Console Game, and Best Action/Adventure Game. I’m starting to wonder if these guys all got to see behind-closed-doors demos that the general media didn’t get to see because I sure wouldn’t have put Brütal Legend on those lists either. Now if there was a Best Metal category… sure. I’d even consider it if there was a Best Comedy Writing in a Game.
Make no mistake, this isn’t a Brütal Legend bashing article, I’m just wondering where these nominations came from and I’m curious if you, the gaming public that will ultimately be buying (or not buying) the upcoming games, are even remotely jazzed about Brütal Legend? If so, tell me why. If you’re not, tell me what game you’d replace Brütal Legend with in the coveted Best of Show category.
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I dont remember seeing too much of Brutal Legend at E3(Not that I was there or anything), so I guess thats a little surprising that its everywhere on the top lists. But, on the other hand, Pychonauts was one of the most original, funny, and exciting games I played during the last generation of consoles, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Brutal Legends ends up doing the same thing for this generation for me.
So, basically, I have no idea what you are talking about. Brutal Legend has a right to be up there with the heavy hitters, and I know Im more excited for it then the other games you mentioned on the article banner.
So, to summarise your post:
Group of games press professionals decide they really like a game that you’re not particularly into, and you’re a bit upset about it. End.
Considering Schafer’s previous games beat the shit out of the competing E3 games you named — as well as their predecessors — it doesn’t seem far fetched to me that Brutal Legend might genuinely be a lot more interesting to play.
Let’s not forget that Brutal Legend is also something original, whereas every single one of the others you mentioned is a freaking sequel. And to be honest, excluding Uncharted 2 they don’t look that good.
If I had to choose it’d definitely be between Uncharted 2 and Brutal Legend, and I’d probably go with the latter because every single one of Schafer’s previous games sits in my ‘best of all time’ list.
Too all those “look at awesome game, expect next awesome game guys” I present to you the progression from Katamari Damacy to Noby Noby boy. End of story.
Past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance. Brutal Legend should be judged for what it IS, not what it may be and what his past work was.
Has anybody seen/played the game that has used the word “fun”? I’m just askin’…
I thought only my wife said ‘past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance…’
@Tweep
LMAO
Please. Everyone knows that Scribblenauts was the real Best of Show. Brutal Legend does come in a very close second, though.
i agree with them about brutal legend. I’m ready for it to make my Rocktober.
You said in the article that it wasn’t a bashing article but really it did feel like thats what it was
also, no love for Bioshock 2? (I taught lots of people like me were pumped for it but apparently noone here is)