A good year to be a Guardian
This year, the Doublejump Management decided to use Game of the Year time to allow each of its writers to shine individually by producing a short article containing their Game of the Year selection for 2018 along with up to two honourable mentions and up to five things that they’re looking forward to seeing in gaming in 2019. As always, we more than welcome your thoughts and opinions as well; head on over to our Discord server or our newly-created Facebook Group to discuss gaming’s past year with our team and our community!
My Game of the Year: Destiny 2: Forsaken
Forsaken is a fantastic example of what a large-scale expansion can do for a fledgling game. The memorable story, new game mode, and quality-of-life improvements introduced with it form a very compelling package for both new and returning Destiny 2 players. There is no shortage of things to do when logging into the game and the current Annual Pass is set to give high-level players even more end-game activities to tackle. I’m still working my way up to max level, but I’m doing so with a smile on my face!
Honourable mention: God of War
Kratos’s latest adventure trades the previous games’ non-stop rage-filled storylines with something more personal-yet-quiet. While the gameplay itself is mostly boring, the emotional grieving family narrative was really touching, with a helping of poignant moments that really humanised Kratos as a father.
Honourable mention: Red Dead Redemption 2
I’ve only played a couple hours of this game, but I sat in awe at what was presented to me onscreen. The attention to detail in the visuals is amazing, and I think that Arthur Morgan may supplant John Marston as Rockstar Games’s best written protagonist.
What I’m Looking Forward to in 2019:
More cross-platform multiplayer: Epic Games blazed the trail for bringing Sony and the PS4 into the multiplatform age, and I’m sincerely looking forward to other games joining Fortnite in allowing players to play across PC, PS4, Xbox One and more.
Increased Dolby Atmos support: Dolby Atmos for headphones was a revelation when it was included in Overwatch by giving players accurate surround sound audio in both vertical and horizontal planes. This (literally) added another dimension to the audio experience in the game and made locating other Heroes above or below the player much more accurate.
Donning Artyom’s gas mask again in Metro Exodus: The Metro games are some of the best around in terms of conveying a desolate and hostile atmosphere, and I’m really looking forward to how 4A Games continues its work on the latest console hardware.
A new Burnout-like game: Burnout Paradise Remastered was the first time that I’ve ever played a Burnout game for an extended period of time, and, yes, it did show its age, but it also reminded me just how much fun a purely arcade racing game can be. I know that EA does not have a studio that can live up to Criterion Games’ legacy – sorry, not sorry Ghost Games – so I’m hoping that the original developer announces a revamped (if low-budget) spiritual successor to its classic series.
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