Official GS GOTY 2013 - Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Nintendomination continuation. I have a sneaking suspicion that Gamespot did this just to piss everyone off that thought trash like GTAV deserved the award.

LOL Gotta feel bad for how irrelevant Gamecrap's opinion has become.

I don't see why the fuss about a handheld game winning. Last year, it was Journey and the cows couldn't be more ecstatic.He He.

Yes, I was dead serious when I asked him the question. I like to understand people better. I'ma serious fucker, lol.

These are all very, very valid points. And it's actually the one beef I had with A Link Between Worlds: Its story said absolutely nothing, and just retreaded well-worn ground with a new coat of paint (in more ways than one, I guess). Its characters aren't really changed by anything, the shape of the narrative is still exactly the same despite the shake-up of the game's formula, and just when it borders the line of "clever" with its dialogue, it goes right back to the dependable cliches. But speaking to its gameplay, it's by far the best Zelda game in years -- probably since Wind Waker. And I think that, because of how engrossing that element of the game is (that "escape from reality"), it makes up for all of the above complaints. Because at the end of the day, even when I think about what made Ocarina of Time so magical for me, it was that sense of freedom and adventure that was guided *just enough* by a story to make me feel at home in a whole 'nother world.

Zelda definitely doesn't have the same cultural impact as something like GTA, but then again, it really doesn't need to. Or at least not right now.

Treme kind of sucks ass.

Didn't mean to keep you in the quote.

And yet here you are...in their forums. Giving them hits and thus giving them revenue from said hits.

They are so irrelevant you showed up to talk about their GOTY choice.

Looks like they're the ones laughing to the bank buddy.

Been a great year for 3DS owners.

I love this post.

I like to call them beatnik nonconformists.

SO GLAD GTAV isn't taking home game of the year on most sites. The initial AWE wears off rather quickly and then the trudge of the games lame missions set in. Once again gamespot puts gameplay above anything else for their GOTY.

Way to go gamespot! Excellent choice!!!

It's funny seeing all the cows cry, bitch and moan about a handheld getting GOTY. They didn't say anything when a 2 hour PSN game won last year. Double standards much cows?

Handheld for game of the year. Way to dodge a bullet GS. Controversial as always.
A very nostalgic SNES game.
To the delight of Nintendo, by no way does this mean Wii U has won anything.
As for handhelds, theres been some others 9/10 ie Guacamelee, Rayman Legends, but not exclusive.

If GS had an ongoing mobile review section, then handhelds war here would be something else.
Device 6 92/100
Asphalt 8 91/100
Ridiculous Fishing 93/100
XCOM enemy unknown 91/100
Zelda ALBW 90/100 on Metacritic.

Credit to the 3DS for sticking it out throughout the Tablet, Smartphone domination.
My two cents.

GTAV, TLOU, Bioshock, AC4, Tomb Raider are still raking it in everywhere.

More like your butthurt has gone downhill.

Well I will say this: ALBW >>>> GTAV.

So yeah ALBW is the best Zelda game since Majoras Mask. Why? Because 2D Zelda>3D Zelda and I love the rental and wall merging mechanics. Plus you can go any order. Although SS has the better dungeons, ALBW has the better ideas. Only issue I have is that the regular overworld being too similar (Lorule is awesome).

Anyways I beat all the dungeons but I haven't finished the game yet. Plus I still have to try some of the mini games and get more heart container pieces.

Ice Ruins is my favorite dungeon in the game.

Anyways I will try out the other nominees this month and next month. I just ordered TLOU so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm assuming The Last of Us is sweeping it most everywhere else. Or am I wrong?

lol you should read the youtube comments.

I still think The Last of Us should've won, but I can't complain.

Easily the best Zelda game since Ocarina of Time, and probably my 2nd favorite next to A Link to the Past.

GTA5 and TLOU are winning thee majority of the awards. Its like 50% TLOU, 40% GTA5 and 10% everything else.

lawl can you imagine if a Vita title like Tearaway won GS GOTY? The cows would be going all ape shit against Nintendo and sheep, and annoying the **** out of everybody for months to come.

There nothing wrong with playing a game because it's getting awards. That normally a good reason to go play a game or watch a movie. It lets you know that there is a movie or a game you have not played that you might like.

Journey was wonderful.

It's fine if it's for the right reasons, but suddenly liking something solely because other anonymous people's opinions isn't one of them.

Wasn't my GOTY but I certainly agree with you. That said, you were here last year when it won and people were calling it the artsy flavour of year game. Meh, I wasn't convinced it would be any good til I played it. Very solid game was fantastic art direction. Also one of those games that knew not to overstay its welcome (which I prefer).

It's one of the few artsy games that gets it right. I disagree with its place as flavor of the year. I can easily go back to that game at anytime.

Regardless this forum loves crying about someone having a different opinion.

Eh, it wasn't like it was The Sopranos ending or something. I don't know, it's not great, but what are you gonna do. It's not like dude went from making Six Feet Under to True Blood.

Did you see the Boardwalk Empire season this year? Season was sooo good.

It's one of the few artsy games that gets it right. I disagree with its place as flavor of the year. I can easily go back to that game at anytime.

Regardless this forum loves crying about someone having a different opinion.

Truth.

Cows are so salty because The Last of Us didn't win. They thought it could pull off the upset, even with dat 8.0. And then McShea crushed their hopes and dreams, like he always does.

Fair enough about Journey

Also agreed about SW, its just a massive culmination of people being pissed about someone else's opinion. Any how, I'm just happy a handheld game can be GOTY. I like that gaming (at least on GS) is getting to the point where a good game can be recognized simply because its a good game. (not that winning GOTY is the only way to be recognized)

I approve of this choice.

Yeah I don't know about that. Handhelds are still slums

Wow congrats cant wait to play it myself, but my backlog is giant right now, haven't even opened Wind Waker HD :(

I never really understood why you dislike handhelds so much. I mean, I personally like consoles more for certain genre but handhelds have had great games for such a long time.

I'm just going to put this here

GOTY awards on a site like this don't have any weight whatsoever for two reasons

-The people that choose the winner haven't even played all they games THEY wanted to let alone any games that might pleasantly surprise them. How can a game of the year be awarded if the deciders haven't even played all the possible candidates.

-Your opinion is the only one that matters. Why should you care what a random group of people think is the best? It means nothing

Having said that, A Link Between Worlds is a fantastic game and worthy of praise. Platform should never matter when deciding what game you enjoyed the most. That's completely irrelevant.

You think this is different for any other site? Of course all the people picking GOTY haven't played every single possible nominee. They all have lives outside of video games and many of these titles are long as hell and many are in genres they don't like. Its just a reality that they won't play all the candidates individually? Who cares? The point is they came together as a collective and tried to make a group decision.

You're telling us what each and every person already knows. This is all for SW shits and giggles. No one is using GS opinion to now define what they think is the best. I dunno why people constantly feel like they need to say this. Its obvious, its always been obvious :|

Oooh. that's gotta be a pain in the udders.

Lol, cows am cry.

Sorry, poor word choice on my part. I meant pure game design. As in unadulterated game design not bogged down by any tangential concerns. Just a focus on game mechanics, interactivity, level design, and player agency. I think A Link Between Worlds exemplified that approach and showed how ultimately, if a game is accomplished in those key areas, nothing else matters.

Of course, this is my opinion, and both of you are free to disagree.

You should really have an early Christmas :P

There we go, that's what I was looking for. There you are right.

Not really: A Link Between Worlds does everything I want from a Zelda game best. But like I said, everyone seems to want different things from Zelda games, so your mileage may vary xD

I'm just glad GTA5 didn't win, I fell for the hype yet again ;(

Yeah I'm aware it isn't just this site. That's why I said a site like this one. I just don't get why most entertainment awards are worth much to anybody when, as far as I can tell, they mean nothing.

It seems like a lot of people don't know this and are taking it too seriously. That's why I posted what I did. People need to calm down. A Link Between Worlds won... So what? It's no big deal

Haha, I got carried away in my excitement :P

I sent you a friend request on Wii U brah, accept it when you get the chance.

Don't do it AM, don't taint your friends list with this pleb.

Considering how impressed staff members like McShea were, I'm kind of not surprised.

I own this game and it is pretty freaking awesome.

1. Gamespot has consistently given GOTY based on gameplay, not narrative or characters. Last of Us had no real chance.

2. Gamespot has consistently given GOTY to something original as opposed to a game that is well executed. Obviously the changes within GTA5, Bioshock Infinite, Arkham Origins, and AC4 weren't enough. I can see that.

Bottom line is that Gamespot likes to make a statement with their GOTY. Journey comes to mind. This is the site that correctly gave GOTY to Demons Souls instead of Uncharted 2 (unlike a lot of sites)

I didn't expect ALBW to win, but I'm liking the choice more and more. It's the only game I played this year that I played all the way through twice and would replay again.

How many people are bitching about this choice without even playing a link between worlds ?

Pathetic

Ok, Chaz you were right. This did cause alot of butthurt.

...but now I have to get ALBW...bleh

The Zelda series is a mighty fine one all things considered, so it makes it all the more strange that I still cannot care less about ever playing this game despite winning the grand prize.

So there's that.