2016 was host to many video games. Some good. Some bad. Some that were worthy of discussion for Game of the Year. Ultimately one emerged victorious and here is MonsterVine’s GOTY for the year 2016.
Game of the Year – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Spencer: Uncharted 4 is a stunning achievement for Naughty Dog. I had high expectations for the finale of one my very favorite series, and every hope I had was met and succeeded. The thrilling action and touching characters Uncharted is so well-known for are in top-form, alongside some of the most gorgeous visuals I’ve ever seen. I can safely say that A Thief’s End is not only a masterpiece, but one of my favorite games of all-time.
Will: Uncharted 4 brings a fantastic blend of storytelling and gameplay in many ways. Naughty Dog proves its ability to blend over-the-top action moment with moments of exploration that showcase its commitment to not only developing its characters, but also the context and emotion behind their motivations. In the swan song to the series’ gritty hard-nosed adventurer, I believe they have succeeded in humanizing Nathan Drake.
Austin: The larger focus on character development and emotional storytelling is what makes Uncharted 4 much more than just another uncharted game. The incredible facial capture and animation allows the characters to convey emotions and use body language in a way that’s very rare in games. The out-of-action moments are stronger than ever and compliment the set piece action moments, breaking up the combat and creating a cohesive pacing that pays off in the end.
Diego: Compared to the preview entries in the series, A Thief’s End is a bit more lowkey in that the action takes a backseat and the entire game is more of a character study of Nathan Drake and who he is. That’s not to say there isn’t much action, since what’s there is just as explosive as you’d expect, but that Naughty Dog took the series in an interesting direction that I believe heavily paid off. Throughout the game I found myself wanting to spend less time in shootouts and more learning about Drake’s history with his brother and conflicted emotions about settling down after his years of carefree murder. Now we wait for the eventual Hollywood movie to completely ruin a perfect idea that had all the work already done for them.
