Our GOTY content continues, with discussions on the Best Soundtrack, our Best Surprise, the Best VR game and our Most Anticipated title for 2019!
BEST SOUNDTRACK
This one was split two ways, with Gari opting for Spider-Man’s orchestral bombast – saying: The soundtrack for Spider-Man really is one to behold. From the epic opening orchestral score to music that feels like a mixture of The Amazing Spider-Man theme mixed in with other entries from the Marvel universe, the score really hits you in the feels. Alongside the score changing and adjusting depending on what’s happening in the world, it really pulls you in to make you feel like you’re part of the world that you’re controlling. A score that will stick with me for a very long time and for it to beat God of War for my “Best Soundtrack”, that says it all about how incredible this made me feel being a huge Spider-Man fan since a very young age.
However, taking home the title to join it’s other win in the best looking game category, the winner is…
WINNER: RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2
Red Dead’s soundtrack is a wonderful blend of jangling western guitars, subtle acoustic lilts and outright furious tones at times, with a fantastic score underpinned by a collated OST that adds to some of the most incredible moments of the game. “May I Stand Unshaken” and “That’s the Way It Is” hold their heads way above anything in most other games this year thanks to some emotionally powerful scenes that stick in your mind well past the closing credits.
Robin: The sound design as a whole is thoroughly impressive throughout RDR2. The music, speech and sound effects all combine seamlessly to add to the depth and atmosphere of what is one of the most impressive achievements in gaming in recent memory. RDR2 is a real living, breathing world, and one where its excitement and emotion is heightened by the authentic, evocative soundtrack.
BEST SURPRISE
Some tough choices this time out, with a number of games taking a spot on the list – but there was one winner that edged out all the others…
Robin: Being a huge fan of couch co-op games – a genre which has sadly been an a steep decline over the last few years – A Way Out was a breath of fresh air. Ok, it may not have the most original storyline, or boast any particularly impressive gameplay innovations, but the title was built from the ground-up to be a shared experience and in that regard it succeeds immensely. Culminating in a twist ending that you will either love or hate, this is a real friendship maker and/or breaker.
Gari: I loved the Spyro trilogy as a kid and although I had a feeling that it would get remastered at some point, I did not expect developer Toys for Bob to do such a stellar job. built from the ground up, the work and craftsmanship put into the game are evident from the moment you start playing. Tighter controls, beautiful animations and to top it off, it’s a stunner to look at. With 3 games included, there’s enough content to keep you happy. With a game that both adults and kids will love, you can’t go wrong with the Spyro Reignited Trilogy if you’re after that retro style 3D platformer with a modern lick of paint.
Jonny: Metal Gear Survive was something that should have been the original Fallout 76, in terms of hanging survival mechanics on an existing IP just to plug a release schedule gap, in fact turned out to be perfectly enjoyable and enjoyably silly.
WINNER: TETRIS EFFECT
If you’d told me that a new Tetris game would feature in my top ten games of the year list way back in January, I’d have told you to get lost. However, Tetris Effect was unveiled at E3 and a part of my tiny little mind began to melt. A wonderful game from Mizaguchi and his team, Tetris Effect reinvents what it means to drop blocks into holes,
