It's the final countdown...
And we arrive at the top five in our Game of the Year 2015 list! It's been one hell of a year, with sequels and new IP arriving left, right and centre. Which games made the top of our list? Read on to find out!
5 - UNTIL DAWN
Gari: Until Dawn is a game that caught many gamers (including myself) by surprise. My biggest surprise is just how superb and highly enjoyably a title it is. It may be cliched regarding its story, but thats its strengths and charm in all honesty. If you love a teen horror game with a great story that keep you entertained from start to finish, then you can't go wrong with Until Dawn. Alongside a great story is superb voice acting from a cast that includes Hayden Panettiere. If you own a PS4, Until Dawn should quite simply be part of your collection.
Adam: Another game that makes my top 5, another where choices are the key to your success or failure. Until Dawn is a horror title like no other as you, the player, gets to decide who lives and who dies based on your choices in the game. I can't say I was too successful in keeping everyone alive, but the complete journey from start to finish was really enjoyable. Also, Hayden Panettiere.....
Nico: Suspense, emotion, drama and even a few jokes. Until Dawn had everything it took to blow everyone who had the pleasure of playing the game away. Hollywood actresses and actors took a back seat as we made their decisions for them and decided who lived and who died.
4 - FALLOUT 4
Nick It’s easy to wax-lyrical about Bethesda’s superb freedom and approach to their open-world games; we already new that would be the case. What surprised me was the ambition to expand on those staples with deep crafting, building and character development that outdoes anything they’ve done before by some margin. It had its technical issues, but Fallout 4 can be innately charming and can reward your curiosity in ways no other title can.
Deb: There is no doubt that Fallout 4 has seen a lot of hype this year, being at the top of most people’s minds including my own. I was relatively new to the Fallout series; having never played previous entries myself but rather having watched friends playing it for hours. That didn’t stop me from pre-ordering the Pip-Boy Edition the instant it popped up and also the Fallout Anthology for PC.
When it comes to games, I love to drag out each new experience for as long as possible, to take in as much of it as I possibly can. At times of course I want to rush in but I hold myself back; I love to put in a lot of hours painstakingly crafting my story through whichever adventure awaits me. That is why Fallout 4 excited me so much! As a sandbox game it offers me everything I could ever want in a game; a vast open world with no limits, I can go where I want and do what I want; there are no rules. There is plenty to distract me from the main story, from helping various souls with their problems, crafting my very own settlement to just taking a stroll with dogmeat and admiring the views. Of course the game has been riddled with bugs but that has not dampened the experience for me; it is a very beautiful post-apocalyptic world indeed!
It allowed me to craft the perfect in game version of myself, something I always look for to personalise my experience. I can adapt the world in any way I see fit, from crafting my dream town to modifying weapons that better suit my style. I am not one for shooters but here the combat system makes it easy for me to take control, making it much more approachable. The style was also a big sell for me; I love the 50’s and thus the soundtrack and graphics including the many posters and signs make for a very happy adventure, despite the sad events that have unfolded.
Charles: It certainly has it's flaws, but Fallout is a cracking game. The vast amount of choice within Fallout means that you can play it however you like and really personalise your play through.
