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Game Awards // 2023

Exodus

'Exodus' is crafted with the assistance of seasoned Bioware developers. While some have suggested that it carries 'Mass Effect' vibes, I personally failed to see that resemblance. In my view, it leans more towards the style of 'Star Citizen', perhaps even resembling a fusion of modern J. J. Abrams Star Trek cinematics with a touch of '90s buddy action. I'm confident that I'll be following updates about this game in the future – it holds an intriguing allure.

Mecha Break

Tell me I'm a Gundam without actually saying it? I mean, just take a look! If that doesn't scream Gundam, I don't know what does. It's like I've already assembled most of the parts when I work on my Gunplas. And those legs – straight out of Gundam Seed, it's impossible to unsee. But you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit, as long as the gameplay delivers. 

Last Sentinel

Light Speed Studios is in the process of developing a Cyberpunk/Sci-fi action game. The trailer visuals have caught my eye, although there's not much to judge yet – not even a release year. I'm intrigued, but I understand that this thing takes a lot of time.

The First Descendant

'The First Descendant' has been on my radar for a while now, and every time I encounter its visuals, I resonate completely with the vibe. The characters exude a charm of innocence, a stark contrast to their appearance. Instead of jolting me out of my escapism, it consistently constructs a dream world that seems to captivate me even more than hyper-realistic content.

Marvel’s Blade

Marvel’s Blade was quite the surprise. Additionally, it's now clear what Arkane Lyon has been up to all this time. Admittedly, the trailer didn't captivate my interest, and the on-stage performance was a bit cringe-worthy, but I anticipated that. Being myself on such a grand stage would induce cringe for days. Nevertheless, I'm eager to learn more details about the game. Perhaps a dash of Arkane's immersive sim flavor? That would be greatly appreciated.

'OD' is a Kojima game that seems to be too scary for me. Admittedly, I don't know much about it, and I'm certain that no more than 50 people on this planet have even a hint of information about it, with only Kojima fully understanding his vision. However, it exudes an intense sense of the darker aspects of humanity that gives me pause. I'm sure I'll never be brave enough to play it alone. The acting we got a glimpse of was frighteningly good, but it was also all we got to see.

 

'Lost Records: Bloom and Rage' comes from the creators of 'Life is Strange', and I appreciate that they didn't even attempt to conceal it. Watching the trailer triggered vivid H.P. Lovecraft flashbacks, especially the distinct hue reminiscent of the 2019 movie reiteration of 'The Colour Out of Space.' While the galactic horror wasn't explicitly showcased in the trailer, I felt compelled to mention the association it brought to mind. There's never a bad time to delve into Lovecraftian vibes.

 

What exactly is 'DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO'? If it's merely a fighting game, I'm not particularly interested. However, if it offers more than that, I'm open to giving it a shot. I enjoyed the older Naruto games on Xbox 360, especially the open-world aspect – exploring the town, discovering hidden things, you know the drill. Unfortunately, the battles didn't quite captivate me as much. There's not much information available at this point, so I'll have to bide my time.

 

'Visions of Mana' by Square Enix – not exactly my usual preference, but it does look.. cute? Jea, i will go with cute. 

 

'Space Marine 2' has dropped a new trailer, and it's reassuring to see that it's still alive and kicking. On a similar note, 'Scull and Bones' also unveiled a fresh trailer. I genuinely chuckled when I caught a glimpse of it. With the numerous delays, I can't help but wonder – is it on track to surpass the notorious Duke Nukem Forever in terms of prolonged development time?

 

I also liked the Sega Remakes. 

 

I've missed the latest lifesign from Crystal Dynamics. What's Lara up to these days? The suspense is killing me. I also had my hopes up for Bioware news. While I'm well aware of their ongoing work on 'Dragon Age' and the conceptualization of the new 'Mass Effect', a sneak peek would have been a delightful surprise. But I spotted the Normandy in the No Man's Sky montage. It may not count for much, but I thoroughly enjoyed that moment.

Picture with phone from monitor.. I know, I am sorry.

Also, we've been discussing what a great year it's been for gaming, but every other week, I hear about significant layoffs and studio closures. It could be a valuable platform to raise awareness at the consumer level. While I understand it's a show, perhaps there was a way to incorporate that aspect as well.

Also, the winners were more or less expected. Even Cyberpunk 2077 secured its first Game Awards trophy. Baldur's Gate 3 lived up to expectations. Surprisingly, Alan Wake won more than I had anticipated. For most categories, I had a pretty good idea of who would take home the award.

 

Check the whole list here:

WOT2.0

Gaming & Stuff


 

They are indeed just industries looking to make money. Yet, in the end, art is supposed to emerge from it.

 

But art is, invariably, a deeply subjective experience, shaped by the unique perspective of the beholder.