2014 SJ Video Game Awards Pt. 2

The SJ writing staff takes a look back at the noteworthy games and events of the last year and gives out "special" awards!

By Urian Brown January 14, 2015

It’s that time of year when SJ writers take a look at the games and events of 2014 and give out made-up and/or silly awards. It’s a yearly tradition going all the way back to the magazine days! Here are the 2014 Video Game Awards!

Not only was 2014 kind of an bad year for video games because of disappointing sequels and the ugliness that was Gamersgate, it was also the year of re-releases! Seemed like every game that had come out a few years before was re-released again with added content or upscaled graphics. This is not a good trend. Mainly because it encourages gamers not to buy the game the first time, but wait for the inevitable GOTY edition. Plus, instead of focusing company resources on new titles, they're being used to rehash previously released games. Hopefully, this trend will cool in 2015. Hopefully!

The “Looks Like Good Gameplay’s Back on the Menu, Boys” Award
Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor 

Shadow Mordor Screen

Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor kind of came out of nowhere. I wrote it off as another attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Lord of the Rings movies. But this game surprised many people with its unique Nemesis system that makes enemies stronger when they kill you thus making them harder to defeat later. You can also help them get stronger, and help yourself achieve goals along the way. It’s an odd feeling to get attached to an enemy as you help him rise to the top of the ranks. Yeah, he’s a bad guy, but he’s “your bad guy” and you kind of want to see him succeed. This adds a new dynamic to the game that probably got so much attention this year, because many games had that “same old song” feeling. It also helps that the gameplay is a mash-up of Arkham Asylum and Assassin’s Creed. Oh, and the bad guys look neat and have funny names! Grublik the Flogger! Muggrish Brain Damaged! Ronk the Raven! 

Urian Brown

The "I Still Hate Blitzball" Award
FFX/X-2 Remaster

Final Fanatasy10re

Blitzball is back. And I still hate it... I shouldn’t say that—I’d enjoy the sport if I could win a single match. On this play through I really wanted to put some effort into Blitzball and make it a part of my gameplay, rather than erase it from memory after the first plot-related match in Luca. Despite my best efforts, I still have yet to win a game of Blitzball... Sorry, Wakka! But I was finally able to prove Tidus's manhood by completing the Jecht Shot. FFX's HD remaster allows fans to relive our favorite waxy nostalgic moments from the beloved game in crisp HD glory. With thirteen years passing since it's first release on the PS2, returning players may experience neck pain from constantly shaking their head in disbelief at the advances in character models, environments and even rearranged tracks. You can give Blitzball another shot, but don’t beat yourself up if you end up losing match after match. There’s plenty of other stuff to do in Spira.

Cat Rechsteiner

The "Cynical, Blatantly Manufactured Collectible Craze of the Year" Award
Amiibos

Amiibos

Skylanders and Disney Infinity may have had a good time in toy stores around the world in 2014, but both Activision and Disney made a grave error: they actually kept their products in stock. Nintendo, on the other hand, did it right...if the goal was to get people losing their minds as if the world was about to end. Overnight, Amiibo went from odd little curiosities that looked cool but didn't actually do much, to a thing everyone had to have. Secondhand prices shot up well over retail for all but the most obvious characters, all because Nintendo just...didn't bother stocking the things properly.

Lucas White

Most Otaku-Friendly Console of 2014
PlayStation Vita

Psvita

Although the 3DS is beating the Vita, the Vita had an impressive 2014 in terms of Japanese game releases. Like the Sega Saturn and the NEC Turbo Duo before it, the Vita was the machine to own if you liked niche Japanese games. And unlike the Saturn and the Turbo Duo, a good chunk of these Vita games got localized for the Western market. What's even better is that the Vita is a region-free console, so you can import games that aren't localized without having to mod your system or buy a second unit. Games already out in the West include Senran Kagura, Akiba's Trip, Monster Monpiece, Project Diva f2, Danganronpa 1 & 2, Hyperdimension Neptunia, the Atelier series and all those Nihon Falcom games. There is lot to choose from. And 2015 will have games like Criminal Girls, more Hyperdimension Neptunia games and even J-Stars Victory VS.+. The Vita may be dead in the “AAA” sense but it's a goldmine for otaku geeks and folks who wanna try something different from the usual big-budget fare. Also, you haven't lived if you haven't played Klonoa: Door to Phantomile while sitting on the toilet.

Ray n. 

The "Why in the World is John Cena on the Cover of This Game?" Award
WWE 2K15

Wwe2 K

2014 was a heck of a year for wrestling fans. Daniel Bryan, the ultimate underdog, won the WWE championship after spending most of 2013 being held down by The Authority. Brock Lesnar, WWE's big scary man with UFC cred, defeated the Undertaker's multi-decade WrestleMania streak. NXT, the developmental program, made waves with its own live events that rivaled the main shows in talent and storytelling. So when the time came for the yearly game to hit shelves, WWE and 2K celebrated the new generation by putting...John Cena on the cover?

Lucas White

The “Flavor Flav Warned Us” Award
Destiny

Destiny

Flavor Flav said it best (or yelled it, to be accurate),“Don’t Believe the Hype!” And boy, oh boy, we sure didn’t listen. It seemed like everyone was on Destiny hype train. I thought it was the best game of E3! How could it fail? It was made by the Halo guys! It had an insane budget! Some have said as much as half a billion dollars. It had a long development cycle! It was going to be released by Activision! It had everything going for it. And when it finally came out, everybody stood around scratching their heads. How could a game with all this going for it be bad? It’s not “bad bad,” but it’s not “guys who made Halo” good. Not half a billion dollars good. Naturally, the conspiracies started flying and one of the most popular ones was that Activision gutted the game to sell it back as DLC. Who knows, but one thing’s for sure, this game was the disappointment of 2014. 

Urian Brown

The "Is That Your Final Answer?" Award
Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age

Many fans were unsatisfied with Dragon Age 2's limited scope and repetitive level design. It seems that Bioware took fans’ concerns to heart, because Dragon Age: Inquisition is absolutely massive. I was quickly overwhelmed by how much exploring I could do in every new locale. Users can easily spend over 100 hours slaying dragons, collecting crafting material or strutting around their customized stronghold. But the most time-consuming factor in the game may be the player's indecision. Shaping Ferelden with your Inquisitor's decisions allows players to truly connect to their game. However, the player’s choices can have serious consequences, especially towards their relationship with other characters. Some are unafraid of the breaking a few eggs; I, however, saved and saved often. If you do decide to re-load your last file to check on alternative outcomes, you won’t be alone.

Cat Rechsteiner

Game Most Influenced By MacGyver
Sunset Overdrive

Sunset Overd

Sunset Overdrive’s gameplay is focused on one thing: being able to do whatever the hell you want and have fun doing it. The over-the-top weaponry that you acquire during the course of the game also fits into this theme perfectly. Want to freeze every enemy around you then blow them up with a teddy bear rocket launcher? Go for it. Prefer setting anything that’s organic on fire with a firework launcher? More power to you. Want to grind along rails all day spewing fireballs underneath your feet while you utilize a gun that shoots wrenches that act like boomerangs? Who’s stopping you? No one, that’s who! 

Michael Revis

The "Most Thought Put Into a Fighting Game Joke Character" Award
Duck Hunt, Super Smash Bros. WiiU/3DS

Duckhunt

Nintendo fans around the world lost their collective marbles when it was finally revealed that we could play as the Duck Hunt dog in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS. But, that's not exactly the case. The character isn't "Duck Hunt dog," it's "Duck Hunt." You are playing as the entirety of the Duck Hunt game. Just watch the character reveal trailer. You're playing as the dog, a duck and even a person literally playing Duck Hunt off-screen with a NES Zapper Gun. It's just brilliant.

Lucas White

The "Most Faithful Licensed Video Game Adaptation Ever" Award
South Park: The Stick of Truth

South Park Stick

I was way late into playing South Park: The Stick of Truth, but I'm glad I finally did, because this game is just like being in the show. The Stick of Truth looks and sounds just like an episode of South Park, and since it's an RPG, you create a custom avatar and spend your time exploring South Park, becoming one of the boys. All the kids are LARPing as wizards, paladins and elves which works as the perfect excuse for why everyone is "acting" like they're in a video game. The series creators have written the game's scenario, voiced the characters, and even offered developer Obsidian Entertainment (the Fallout developers) the audio and visual assets from the show itself to make The Stick of Truth one authentic South Park experience. It's definitely not a kid-friendly game (hell, it's probably not suitable for some adults either), but this is the most immersive and detailed game I've played in a cartoon world since Virtual Springfield.

Ray n. 

Steamiest Cooking Game
Senran Kagura: Bon Appetit!
 

Senran Kaguras

This game is hot! Better wear an Ove Glove when you play, because you’ll burn your fingers on the PS Vita! An offshoot of the Senran Kagura busty babe fighting games, Bon Appetit is a saucy music rhythm cooking game. Like most rhythm games, to win you’ve got to hit the right buttons at the right times. If you do better than your opponent, the judge eats your food and lets out an energy blast that rips your foes clothes off. Do worse, and your clothes get blown off! It is hilarious! And if you really beat them, afterwards you’re treated to a special scene where they’re naked, covered in chocolate or whip cream on a life-sized dessert platter. It’s sweet! This is one of those Japanese games that are so ridiculous, you’ll be showing it off to your friends just to see the look on their face.

Urian Brown

That wraps up this year's SJ Video Game Awards! A bit of a rocky year, but hopefully 2015 will come roaring back and blow us away!