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[Linkyn]

As someone who played UC1-3, loved 2, and found some of the stuff in 3 silly enough to make a thread talking about it, and who has no PS4 and hence have not played UC4, I find all this shade really weird. Like, why are people so vindictive? It's fucking Uncharted, how different can 4 be to make people this mad at it. Lol.

It really isn't. There is definitely less open combat, but that is also in part due to the fact that stealth is a much more viable option, with entire combat sequences becoming effectively skippable. There is more exposition, and more time spent on puzzles and platforming, but I feel that both of those actually involve a bit more thought now. The puzzles, while still not overly complicated, were definitely more enjoyable than the simple mix-and-match challenges of the earlier games, and the less linear platforming progression (including the use of mechanics like the rope and sliding) also require more spatial awareness than jumping along a series of grips.

The biggest issue with A Thief's End, in my opinion, is its pacing. It takes quite a while to get going (

Spoiler

the first 5 or so chapters serve as a setup for the main plot

), and there are entire chapters with little to no action throughout the game. Thinking back, it actually isn't much worse in this regard than earlier games, which also had entire chapters dedicated to platforming or puzzle solving or exposition. The main difference is probably that the individual chapters in 4 felt a lot longer than the average PS3 chapter. It also has fewer set pieces than eg Among Thieves and Drake's Deception (the only real one I can think of being the one from the original E3 demo). As such, the game is a lot less bombastic, and becomes more about its characters than its events.

On the point at hand, I certainly agree that it doesn't deserve winning an award for best action game, because its action has been toned down in favour of other elements, but that doesn't necessarily make it a worse game than its predecessors. I actually think it's quite interesting to see how ND's storytelling and core gameplay mechanics have evolved since Drake's Fortune almost ten years ago, and even if A Thief's End ends up being the final Uncharted game, I'd love to see many of its elements return in later ND games.

In the end, Overwatch and Uncharted 4 represent very different game design philosophies, and I absolutely agree that there is much more player agency in Overwatch. In a sense, I can see someone choosing Overwatch as the better game (as much as I appreciate what it does, I simply can't come to that same conclusion because of my own feelings about online shooters), but I found Uncharted 4 to be the better overall experience.

 

[Gnome]

Shame. I don't believe that multiplayer only games deserve to even be nominated for GOTY.

You don't believe a video game should be up for consideration for best video game?

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I assumed Roadhog was Maori.

Considering his name is Mako and he has Maori-themed skins, that hardly seems like an assumption.

 

[RocknRola]

It really isn't. There is definitely less open combat, but that is also in part due to the fact that stealth is a much more viable option, with entire combat sequences becoming effectively skippable. There is more exposition, and more time spent on puzzles and platforming, but I feel that both of those actually involve a bit more thought now. The puzzles, while still not overly complicated, were definitely more enjoyable than the simple mix-and-match challenges of the earlier games, and the less linear platforming progression (including the use of mechanics like the rope and sliding) also require more spatial awareness than jumping along a series of grips.

The biggest issue with A Thief's End, in my opinion, is its pacing. It takes quite a while to get going (

Spoiler

the first 5 or so chapters serve as a setup for the main plot

), and there are entire chapters with little to no action throughout the game. Thinking back, it actually isn't much worse in this regard than earlier games, which also had entire chapters dedicated to platforming or puzzle solving or exposition. The main difference is probably that the individual chapters in 4 felt a lot longer than the average PS3 chapter. It also has fewer set pieces than eg Among Thieves and Drake's Deception (the only real one I can think of being the one from the original E3 demo). As such, the game is a lot less bombastic, and becomes more about its characters than its events.

On the point at hand, I certainly agree that it doesn't deserve winning an award for best action game, because its action has been toned down in favour of other elements, but that doesn't necessarily make it a worse game than its predecessors. I actually think it's quite interesting to see how ND's storytelling and core gameplay mechanics have evolved since Drake's Fortune almost ten years ago, and even if A Thief's End ends up being the final Uncharted game, I'd love to see many of its elements return in later ND games.

In the end, Overwatch and Uncharted 4 represent very different game design philosophies, and I absolutely agree that there is much more player agency in Overwatch. In a sense, I can see someone choosing Overwatch as the better game (as much as I appreciate what it does, I simply can't come to that same conclusion because of my own feelings about online shooters), but I found Uncharted 4 to be the better overall experience.

The coolest setpiece, IMO, was the

Spoiler

falling tower + quick fight with Nadine once you reach Libertalia.

That was just all levels of crazy to me, and looked amazing too.

Spoilers just in case.

 

[Alo0oy]

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast? smh.

I wish it was just as simple as country of origin stereotypes, the whole thing is a mess of jumbled together cultures paying no regards whatsoever to the culture they're representing and appropriating.

 

[Sloane]

I'm legit offended by the Uncharted 4 begging. That game doesn't deserve any prizes beyond presentation.

As for Overwatch, I didn't really get it when I played for a couple of hours during the beta but seems many people are quite literally in love with it -- so, cool, I guess.

 

[HK-47]

From the top of my head, Roadhog has some pacific islander ones that are problematic.
Symmetra has the Hindu Goddess ones, but I don't consider them to be problematic, she's Indian, after all.

Roadhog is likely of Polynesian or Maori lineage. He just lives in Australia. The first name Mako combine with the sharkhead skins and the Toa skin seem to point to this.

 

[Trey]

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast, smh.

I wish it was just as simple as country of origin stereotypes, the whole thing is a mess of jumbled together cultures paying no regards whatsoever to the culture they're representing and appropriating.

Lucio is a boring ass Brazilian, I agree.

 

[Vex_]

Wow im surprised. The motherfucking game is so limited in content. Dayum. I guess we can expect more clones of this shit until that eventually gets burned out on the demographic. Or more pvp only games in general.

Sigh!

 

[chromatic9]

I can see why after the impact and fun it injected into multiplayer. The game attracted a wider audience of players and had an accessible aesthetic. Uncharted 4 didn't really have the impact in retrospect and had a lot of slow sections.

The quote in the OP is kind of odd really. There never was a MP only stigma. it just took a game like Overwatch to have the impact. Titanfall 1 didn't. Ultimately Overwatch was voted in because those people thought it warranted it and previous MP games didn't and perhaps the single player stuff was a little lacklustre helped.

A future of games like Overwatch, Destiny, Division, Titanfall is not for me at all I must add but I can appreciate what Overwatch has done.

 

[BossDarkseid]

I assumed Roadhog was Maori.

I think the lore/story says both Roadhog and Junkrat are Australian but given his costume I thought some of them were like hints at their backstory, like Roadhog was Maori who moved to Australia and so on. My friend thought Pharah's native american skin was some hint at her father/parentage.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I think the lore/story says both Roadhog and Junkrat are Australian but given his costume I thought some of them were like hints at their backstory, like Roadhog was Maori who moved to Australia and so on. My friend thought Pharah's native american skin was some hint at her father/parentage.

Yup.

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast, smh.

I wish it was just as simple as country of origin stereotypes, the whole thing is a mess of jumbled together cultures paying no regards whatsoever to the culture they're representing and appropriating.

You've done very little to actually explain your position, so you shouldn't be surprised by the pushback.

 

[RocknRola]

I can see why after the impact and fun it injected into multiplayer. The game attracted a wider audience of players and had an accessible aesthetic. Uncharted 4 didn't really have the impact in retrospect and had a lot of slow sections.

The quote is the OP is kind of odd really. There never was a MP only stigma. it just took a game like Overwatch to have the impact. Titanfall 1 didn't. Ultimately Overwatch was voted in because those people thought it warranted it and previous MP games didn't and perhaps the single player stuff was a little lacklustre helped.

Assuming the mechanics of TF2 are a carbon copy of the first game; I'd wager TF1 would have made quite the impact if had been available everywhere at the time. Or maybe not, who knows.

 

[Stabby McSter]

so uh

does anyone in this thread actually enjoy video games or what

 

[Purest 78]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

 

[Mar Nosso]

Personally, this is bullshit. Multiplayer only games are like unfinished games to me. There's little point to things if a narrative isn't present to guide it along and provide motivation . Gaming is not only gameplay, but also a lot of other things.

I should add as well that I have played the game and found it wanting in the fun department. For FPS's they should have gone with DOOM. Now that's pure gameplay bliss with a narrative spine to it.

 

[Hierophant]

so uh

does anyone in this thread actually enjoy video games or what

something something multiplayer games should never win goty due to arbitrary commandments pulled from my ass

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast, smh.

EDIT: nvm, I misinterpreted your point. I think.

 

[dyergram]

I haven't actually played it so I can't really complain regardless of how much I love titanfall2.

 

[HK-47]

Personally, this is bullshit. Multiplayer only games are like unfinished games to me. There's little point to things if a narrative isn't present to guide it along and provide motivation . Gaming is not only gameplay, but also a lot of other things.

I should add as well that I have played the game and found it wanting in the fun department. For FPS's they should have gone with DOOM. Now that's pure gameplay bliss with a narrative spine to it.

Plenty of games dont have any narrative, including single player games.

 

[zoukka]

Personally, this is bullshit. Multiplayer only games are like unfinished games to me. There's little point to things if a narrative isn't present to guide it along and provide motivation . Gaming is not only gameplay, but also a lot of other things.

I should add as well that I have played the game and found it wanting in the fun department. For FPS's they should have gone with DOOM. Now that's pure gameplay bliss with a narrative spine to it.

You do realize that the roots and foundation of video games as a medium lies in games that had no narrative and were often multiplayer only?

 

[Eumi]

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast? smh.

I wish it was just as simple as country of origin stereotypes, the whole thing is a mess of jumbled together cultures paying no regards whatsoever to the culture they're representing and appropriating.

Most cultures represented have multiple characters that belong to it, often each displaying different aspects of said culture.

The only person reducing the characters to stereotypes is you. Whilst also taking issue with a character having a costume that doesn't fit with that stereotype.

 

[TheYanger]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

If it took 20% of the effort then it's a shame it's a significantly better game, which is the only actual criteria that should enter into GOTY.

Of course we all know the truth is it didn't take less effort but, y'know, salt.

 

[HK-47]

If that was all the characters are presented as, I would agree with you. But they all have a detailed backstory that goes far beyond their country of origin. Ask any Overwatch player to describe Lucio in one word and the vast majority would say something other than "the Brazilian."

Also there are two egyptians so you'll have to specify.

 

[Hierophant]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

is amount of effort a serious way to measure a games quality, what?

 

[paulryp]

Im over GOTY awards. So pointless, I hated ever second of the Free weekend i played in Overwatch. I also hate Uncharted 4 and Witcher 3. So yeah maybe its me, best game for me is Destiny no question nothing else comes close.

 

[Gnome]

so uh

does anyone in this thread actually enjoy video games or what

No, you're right, they're stupid. I'm going back to OT.

 

[zoukka]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

20% of the efforts to make UC4 went to the gameplay design so I guess the games are equal in that sense.

 

[Spirited]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

Yeah and it probably only took about 20% of the time and effort to make UC4 compared to FFXV.

 

[Mush]

Lucio is a boring ass Brazilian, I agree.

He was originally supposed to be Canadian, which explains all the Ice Hockey skins and the DJ outfits which were intended to be a homage to deadmau5.

So yes, I suppose you are right.

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

Sends a terrible message OverWatch winning goty The game is Barebones. Probably took 20% of the time and effort to make OW Compared to UC4. I'm all for it winning MP game of the year but Goty No way.

Man-hours spent is the criteria for selecting GOTY now?

Congratulations, annual AAA Ubisoft game.

 

[jon bones]

Deserved, OW is a real game changer.

 

[Wyndstryker]

It's like people don't realize their opinion is the minority and they take offense to it.

OW is amazing, best new shooter in ages.

 

[Acquiescence]

so uh

does anyone in this thread actually enjoy video games or what

One thing's for sure, you can't like both Overwatch and Uncharted 4. It's got to be one or the other. Pick one and disregard the other game as absolute shit.

 

[OléGunner]

Called it. Nothing could've fought against the Overwatch wave this year. It's one of the best MP games in years and I love it's focus on Team play objectives.

As an aside, what's amazing perusing this thread is some posters need to still shit on UC4 even though Blizzard fans had their game win.
It's hilarious and I called this happening weeks ago.

 

[HK-47]

Man-hours spent is the criteria for selecting GOTY now?

Congratulations, annual AAA Ubisoft game.

One dude has been working on Dwarf Fortress for 10 years. That game should win every year.

 

[Wallach]

One thing's for sure, you can't like both Overwatch and Uncharted 4. It's got to be one or the other. Pick one and disregard the other game as absolute shit.

FOR or AGAINST

 

[Alo0oy]

You've done very little to actually explain your position, so you shouldn't be surprised by the pushback.

The cultural appropriation in Overwatch is well documented and has been covered extensively, I'm not the first to mention this.

 

[Purest 78]

If it took 20% of the effort then it's a shame it's a significantly better game, which is the only actual criteria that should enter into GOTY.

Of course we all know the truth is it didn't take less effort but, y'know, salt.

Are you kidding me? Love OverWatch or Hate it The game is Barebones.

 

[The_White_Rose]

Yay

 

[Elixist]

noice. my choice as well game is soo good.

 

[Matticers]

Bunch of wacky opinions in here which was inevitable so I'll throw my own wacky opinion into the mix.

Overwatch won due to hype and because Uncharted is the fourth game in the series and people probably feel like they have won enough awards. Overwatch is a great game and it would probably finish second behind Uncharted to me but in my opinion, the game as a total package has a lot of value to me. Single player and multiplayer provide a better experience than MP alone or SP alone, assuming both are pretty good. And they certainly were in UC4's case. I'm a little sad that there isn't more emphasis placed on content in games, not just for awards like this but it seems like reviews don't talk about it as much as they should.

 

[schlynch]

One dude has been working on Dwarf Fortress for 10 years. That game should win every year.

DF would deserve it anyway. Nothing comes even close.

 

[Gnome]

I see people are getting very defensive about Overwatch. "The Brazilian", "The Chinese", "The Egyptian", "The Native American" are perfectly reasonable descriptors of a "diverse" cast? smh.

I wish it was just as simple as country of origin stereotypes, the whole thing is a mess of jumbled together cultures paying no regards whatsoever to the culture they're representing and appropriating.

Love the self righteousness, right out of the gate.

 

[kami_sama]

uh what's wrong with this one.

I stand corrected, I didn't know he had a Polynesian name.

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

One dude has been working on Dwarf Fortress for 10 years. That game should win every year.

And if we factor in development time on Titan, then Overwatch is probably a shoe-in for next year, as well.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

Personally, this is bullshit. Multiplayer only games are like unfinished games to me. There's little point to things if a narrative isn't present to guide it along and provide motivation . Gaming is not only gameplay, but also a lot of other things.

I should add as well that I have played the game and found it wanting in the fun department. For FPS's they should have gone with DOOM. Now that's pure gameplay bliss with a narrative spine to it.

I mean this is utter nonesense. Games absolutely dont need narrative to be considered a game. Thats some really tunnel vision you got there.

Maybe just the game you like but thats not the definition of games.

 

[Purest 78]

Man-hours spent is the criteria for selecting GOTY now?

Congratulations, annual AAA Ubisoft game.

For something as Barebones as OW yes. I loved Rocket league But I wouldn't give it Goty over the Witcher 3. Mind you I didn't even like The Witcher 3.

 

[HK-47]

For something as Barebones as OW yes. I loved Rocket league But I wouldn't give it Goty over the Witcher 3. Mind you I didn't even like The Witcher 3.

...why not?

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

The cultural appropriation in Overwatch is well documented and has been covered extensively, I'm not the first to mention this.

But if you want to argue for it you should be willing to step up, or don't mention it.

Pharah's Native American culture-inspired costume seems kind of incongruent but that's about it. If it was mercy running around with a bindi or something maybe you could say something but the cultures shown in Overwatch are generally rocked by characters from those cultures. They're not taken away or shit on by some separate culture.