Best of 2020: Clint's Picks
I think we can all agree that 2020 (i.e. Work From Home Simulator) was an absolute dumpster fire, but luckily for us, there were a few silver linings hidden in there somewhere. Along with all the social distancing and widespread panic, most of us found ourselves with a lot more spare time on our hands and in desperate need of some distraction. Video games definitely came to the rescue this year, both as a personal escape and as a way to spend time with friends and family when being together in person just wasn’t an option. Here are some of the games that helped me keep my sanity as I weathered my introduction to fatherhood and my first global pandemic:
Ghost of Tsushima (Best Visual Style of the Year): For me, there’s a lot more to “visuals” than just graphical fidelity and while GoT is certainly no slouch in this department, no game absolutely nails artistic styling, ambiance, mind-bending colors, and no-HUD cinematic glory like Ghost of Tsushima. This game single-handedly justified my purchase of an OLED TV and I really hope other open-world devs were taking notes because when you find a way to present the world in all its beauty unmarred by a screen full of waypoint markers and gauges, the result can be absolutely breathtaking.
Doom: Eternal (Best Soundtrack of the Year): I’ll keep this short, this game is great - the music and gameplay come together and mesh into an experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. I couldn’t get enough of DOOM after the 2016 refresh and this game takes that formula to new heights. While the base game can be very accessible (on the right difficulty setting), the new Ancient Gods DLC is proof that id is looking to make DOOM the Dark Souls of the FPS genre, so whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore challenge-seeker, this game has something very special in store for you.
The Last of Us: Part 2 (Best Storytelling of the Year): The year is 2020 and the world is literally on fire but the internet is sadly ablaze as an angry horde of gamerz are outraged that a game about the end of the world favors female and LGBT characters instead of the straight white guy we play in literally every other game ever. If these themes offend your fragile sensibilities then I would go back to playing Hello Kitty: Island Adventure immediately because we haven’t even gotten to the murder, torture, and cannibalism yet. TLoU:2 is a game about what happens when the lights go out and society crumbles in the wake of a deadly pandemic and it unapologetically tackles some of the most difficult and horrific themes I’ve seen in a game to date. It’s unedited, unfiltered, and often uncomfortable (hitting a little too close to home in a year like 2020), but this game is a literal masterclass in storytelling and impactful narratives. Don’t let the trolls shy you away from this experience - emphasizing raw emotional impact over fun, you won’t always like it but you’ll probably end up loving it.
Hades (Surprise Hit of the Year Award): I have never been a fan of the roguelike genre but this game has shown me that, if handled a little differently, these games can be pretty amazing. In general, I make it about 10 runs in before I get bored, but after 60+ runs and multiple wins, this game still keeps me coming back for more. Hades is a prime example of what early-access gaming should be and how this development method can be utilized, not as a cash grab, but as a way to fully utilize fan feedback to revolutionize a genre and make one of the best games of the year.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Virtual Happy Hour Award): Some of you may be rolling your eyes at seeing a Call of Duty title in a top 10 list but this game, more than any other, allowed me to have some great times with friends this year and really helped carry me through. Aside from being the best Call of Duty title in a decade (which it easily is) and probably the best FPS multiplayer experience around right now…according to stats I would rather ignore, I evidently spent over 500 hours playing this game this year, and it didn’t get old. Whether it was the core multiplayer experience or the free battle royale mode, Modern Warfare was the quintessential friend’s hangout for me this year and while I have no idea how many bourbons and bullets I went through in the process, it was time well spent and a great social experience.
God of War (Right in the Feels Award): Aside from just being an all-around amazing game, God of War tackles a lot of meaningful themes, including what it means to be a father and a positive role model. Fans of the original trilogy are likely scratching their heads about how the bloodthirsty, one-dimensional, rage-fueled Kratos could possibly be the new poster child for parenthood, but hey, it works. I replayed this game in early 2020 as I prepared for the birth of my son and it hit just as hard as it did the first time around. For anyone that hasn’t played this yet because old God of War wasn’t their style, grab some tissues and give this game a shot.
Super Mario Odyssey (Sit Back and Relax Award): In a year when I often just needed an easy, relaxing distraction, Super Mario Odyssey came to the rescue. Nintendo doesn’t really do anything new or groundbreaking in this easy-going, road trip adventure, but the standard 3D Mario formula is on high-polished display here and is was exactly what the doctor ordered for a little gaming R&R.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (I’m So Glad It Got Delayed Award): I feel like we’ve been talking about this game since the PS4 was released around 7 years ago…almost to the point where I was questioning whether this heavily anticipated, ever-delayed game would ever see the light of day. Now that we have a copy in our hands, I can happily say that this reimaging of one of Sony’s timeless classics likely took so long because of all the loving care that was taken in bringing an old gem back to life. Having played the original FFVII, it was an absolute treat to revisit the streets of Midgar and I’m really excited that this great story is being exposed to a whole new generation of people who are getting to experience it for the first time. Sometimes you just can’t rush genius, and I’m so glad Sony took their sweet time with this one.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Oops, I Actually Learned Something Award): You know you have a lot of spare time on your hands when learning how to pilot a Cessna Citation is a big deal. As someone who gets flight anxiety, I almost guarantee I’ll never be piloting one in real life but seeing how everything works in the cockpit shed some light on something that a lot of us just take for granted (you know, when we can actually travel again). Sims aren’t usually my thing, but the technological achievement alone where you can literally fly anywhere in the world piqued my interest enough for me to log around 100 hours of virtual flight time and while I’m not sure it matters, I now know how to operate the autopilot function of a 737..so hey, I actually learned something.