2010 is nearly complete but we couldn’t finish it off without a BANG. Monstervine proudly ends off the year with our conclusive, definitive, extraordinary Best of feature, Game of the Year for year 2010. We deliberated for nearly a month, enduring rigorous and extensive procedure to finally bring you our collective opinion on what we thought was the best game released this year.
Red Dead Redemption
Developer: Rockstar Games San Diego
Price: $60.00
Platform: Xbox 360 & Playstation 3
Runner Up: Mass Effect 2 [Bioware], Heavy Rain [Quantic Dream]
William Saw, US Editor in Chief: I have lobbied for countless years that the western genre is an exciting medium to portray a narrative driven, high octane style of video game. It finally came true this year in Rockstar’s envisioning of the Wild West in the pulp western serial, Red Dead Redemption. It comes as a surprise, perhaps, considering the market for Game of the Year is typically filled with sci-fi, modern warfare, Hollywood action adventure blockbusters that a setting more nuanced but prolific in American culture like the Old West comes as a refreshing pick. John Marston’s narrative and the struggle he faces during the changing times at the turn of the century pose a dynamic and authentic theme that delivers a realistic story that anyone can get attached towards. Scoffing, as you may, towards these statements Red Dead Redemption still delivers a visceral statement on the traditional R* open world gameplay that bears constant as the industry benchmark for various offspring imitators. There is plenty to accomplish for enthusiasts and self-fulfilling completionists alike and the coupled cooperative and competitive multiplayer provide nearly endless replay ability of throwing tomahawks at people’s faces. And zombies. Who doesn’t love them?
The collective of our opinionative staff chimed in on Red Dead Redemption and delivered their thoughts on our GOTY.
Gyuri, Appetizer Host and Features Editor: To put it simply, RDR is the first western game that can claim itself as a western game. Apart from being really good, it’s also very detailed, very atmospheric, and just oozes out that western feel that such a setting should have. You aren’t just riding horses and shooting revolvers, you’re part of the period, living the western life, hunting, playing cards, robbing banks or whatever you feel like doing. All the little details make the game very immersive, without suffering from usual sandbox issues. The developers took every idea they had and mixed it into the very first western game that truly stands out, not just in its genre, but in gaming as a whole. And I haven’t even mentioned the multiplayer or the awesome Undead Nightmare DLC yet.
Sakuchan, Community Moderator at Kingdom Hearts Ultimania: As much as I love Heavy Rain, I think RDR wins for gameplay.
Trevor Stamp, Associate Editor: It was a very strong release for Rockstar, living up to their own standard of detail to open world games. John Marston is also one of my favorite characters of all time, and the story revolved around his actions. There is a lot to love with this game, from the beautiful wide landscape shots, to the intense and often times brutal gun fights. This game lived up to the great western films by John Ford, but also delivered as an open world game.”
George “Darkwatch,” Graphics Designer: This game, unlike many other titles I played this year, was certainly a title where I had friends–and myself–saying: ‘This is the game of the year.’ Fantastic work by Rockstar Games.
Sarah “SparklingBlue,” Nintendo Editor: [Red Dead Redemption] because it brings the Western into the gaming world and does it well with a compelling story.
Francis “Project Sora”, Copy Editor: While I’m not a big fan of the Old West genre, Rockstar proves that anything with great writing and a solid gameplay system (well, there are a few blips here and there) can make for something meaningful. Rockstar continues to create a brand for itself by tackling period pieces outside of their usual field of view and still delivering the same level of excellence. Congrats, guys.
Diego Escala, Reviews Editor: Not only did Rockstar breathe new life in a slowly dying genre they helped set an example of how western games should be done with slick controls, brilliant characters, and an immersive world full of life. Not to mention zombies.
Craig Ballard, UK Editor in Chief: Rockstar’s standard formula set in the Wild West? It was an interesting concept from the get go. What we ended up with was not only an improvement on the formula but a solid story with an ending that just left me putting the controller down and emotionally reflecting on what had just happened. I can tell you not many games have done this to me. Sure it had it’s flaws like the disconnection between Marston in-game and in cut-scenes for example. But as a whole it is without a doubt one of the best titles you will play this year. Don’t forget the pretty amazing online and arguably one of the best additional downloadable content in history with Undead Nightmare you have a winner.
It’s also a sigh of relief that Heavy Rain didn’t win. If that did I would’ve proceeded to impale spikes into my skull.
This is MonsterVine and this is my favourite game in the Citadel.
James Cobb, Co-Founder: While I don’t think Red Dead Redemption is quite worthy of GOTY, I still admit that it was a fantastic game. The story was just as mature as GTAIV, but it successfully delivered with feelings of immersion. Even though I’ve been quoted saying, ‘it’s just GTAIV in the old west,’ truth be told it’s not. Red Dead Redemption was a sad, thought out, action packed tale that is the closest gaming has to a masterpiece. If any game beat Mass Effect 2 for GOTY, I’m glad it was Red Dead Redemption. Good job RockStar. Let’s hope a sequel won’t be so far away.
