Russell's Odd Awards of 2020
As I review games, I sometimes come across games or aspects of games that are noteworthy in a way that is separate from a review score. Whether it be a standout character, unique mechanic or even an entire game that’s more interesting than good, I like to make sure they’re recognized. As we wrap up the year, I’d like to tell you about some of these to make sure they get their due.
Game I Most Regret Not Playing
Umurangi Generation
The week Umurangi Generation debuted, I was extremely distracted by the Satanic show-stopper that was Monster Train. I’m not saying I’m unhappy I played Monster Train, far from it, but in the intervening months I have heard incredible things about Urumangi Generation that felt incredibly relevant in light of the happenings of 2020. It is a game all about contemplating and opposing oppressive governments through the artistic medium of photography. I don’t know that playing Urumangi Generation would have changed my reaction to this year, but at the very least it might have given me a better understanding of oppressed peoples and the subtle ways they oppose their oppressors, which is always good knowledge to have.
Best Game to Play with Friends
Deep Rock Galactic
I think if someone had told me at the beginning of this year that one of my favorite ways to game with friends would be a strange mixture of Minecraft and Left 4 Dead, I would have assumed you were pranking me. But, as it turns out, Deep Rock Galactic is a terrific combination of mechanics and themes that make it an excellent multiplayer game. Each of the four character classes allows players to help gather treasure and fight space bugs in a unique and thematic way. Unfortunately, that same feature makes the game feel incomplete at lower player counts. It’s not impossible to have fun with Deep Rock Galactic with one or two players, especially thanks to hyper-competent robot assistant Bosco, yet it does feel like there’s something missing. Thankfully, the game has an incredibly deep progression mechanic filled with odd equipment and unpredictable modifiers which kept me and my friends coming back for more long after I would’ve gotten tired of any other game in the genre.
Best Friend
The Diminutive Guardian
(Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity)
A good friend will help you live your best life and keep you from making mistakes, and there is no greater friend than The Diminutive Guardian, or “Li’l Egg” as I call them. When Princess Zelda’s life is thrown into complete chaos by the emergence of an ancient evil, Li’l Egg flings itself back through time to help Zelda prepare for the oncoming disaster. Beyond the prognostication of doom, Li’l Egg provides the heroes of Legend of Zelda: Age of Calamity with a suite of magical abilities to fight against the minions of evil and provides access to time fragments that can be looted for additional treasure. I think everyone could use a friend that could help us undo past mistakes, but, seeing how 2020 went, it seems none of us have a time traveling best bud like Li’l Egg.
Worst Enemy
Tarantula
(Animal Crossing New Horizons)
For me, the Animal Crossing games have always been the essence of escapism. This franchise is all about transporting players to a serene and relaxing alternate world where money is easy to come by, friends are made by the dozen, and debts have no deadline. The only harm that could befall players in this utopia were bees, but they only pursued players who messed with their nests. Unfortunately, Animal Crossing New Horizons released a serpent into their Eden: The Tarantula. Now, once the sun sets, players must stay on their toes watching for this bloodthirsty monster. With a bite twice as potent as any bee’s and a crazed dash fast enough to test even the sharpest reflexes, the Tarantula is a blight upon the once peaceful world of Animal Crossing. Even as I write this, my skin crawls at the thought of this horrid wretch, rendered and animated with far too much detail to let truly relax with this game ever again.
Biggest Mystery
What Happened to Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory?
(NACON Publishing)
Not long after my review of Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory was published, I accidentally discovered that the game’s page on the Epic Games Store had totally vanished without a word from the developers. On top of that, the game’s social media accounts ceased updating and the game’s page on Steam was perpetually marked as “coming soon.” Then, in August, Lovecraftian adventure The Sinking City was also pulled from the Epic Games Store. This time, developer Frogwares were able to inform customers that the disappearance was due to ongoing legal problems with publisher NACON. With the developers of The Sinking City tied up in legal battles and the creators of Paranoia maintaining radio silence, I fear we will only ever learn what happened with these games when someone with the resources and connections tries to get to the bottom of NACON’s bizarre choices. Neither of these games are super stars, but this sudden unavailability is the worse case scenario many worry about in this modern age of digital purchases.
Best Soundtrack
No Straight Roads
Some people might say that it’s not fair to measure all of this year’s video games against a game all about music, but every developer had an opportunity to make a music game and they didn’t, so No Straight Roads more or less ran unopposed. Thanks to the talent of over a dozen musicians and composers, No Straight Roads treated fans to an absolutely incredible selection of songs. Not only that, but the game’s music played a larger role than most soundtracks do in the game’s seven boss encounters. With each major opponent representing a different genre, the characterization of the boss and their music is explored in their battle themes. These themes are then warped as the game’s protagonists begin to win each fight, slowly forcing the songs to shift away from their natural style and into rock and roll. It’s rare for a game to have a truly stand-out soundtrack, but to incorporate it into the game’s story is another level of excellence.
Newest Idea
The Longing
Novelty is something video games, along with most other creative fields, are constantly chasing, but more often than not they end up as a mixture of two well-established ideas. However, The Longing came up with an idea that was both original and strangely perfect for the COVID-19 world. To beat The Longing, players need only let time pass. There are no skill checks, no quick time events, and no battles, only 400 lonely days to patiently watch pass. Of course, players can do more than simply wait. The vast underground kingdom has a plethora of rooms to explore with treasures and mysteries abound. It’s a nearly perfect metaphor for life, in that the more players do, the more enjoyment they will get out of The Longing, both in the sense that they will be more entertained, and also because the more players do, the faster time passes. Strictly speaking, my review isn’t actually done for about 70 days, but so far I’ve been very impressed with the new way it forces me to engage with a familiar medium.
