Every year, we attend E3 and Gamescom. While there, we hand out awards to games that impressed us (or, if we’re Darryn, for any games we got to play) with behind closed doors demos or hands-on opportunities. However, we recognize that the perfect experiences at trade shows aren’t always indicative of how a game will be in final form. With E3 behind us and Gamescom rapidly approaching, here’s a look back on last year’s award winners.
We were right!
At E3 2014, we gave Shadow of Mordor the “Biggest Surprise” award. It also got an honorable mention at Gamescom for “best RPG”. Upon release, Shadow of Mordor surprised many with its innovative gameplay thanks to the Nemesis System and earned a review score of 9/10 from us.
Batman Arkham Knight landed awards at both E3 and Gamescom, with the new Batmobile and slick gameplay getting a lot of love. With a review score of 9/10 and general critical acclaim (not withstanding the failed PC launch), we actually knew what we were talking about when we raved about Batman.
Mortal Kombat X blew our minds in 2014, grabbing best fighting game awards at E3 and Gamescom. Upon release, everyone was playing it all the time, probably in the hopes of winning our local championships. Still, the game was reviewed with a highly respectable 8.5/10.
Picking up best RPG awards at E3 and Gamescom, Dragon Age: Inquisition looked incredible. It was massive and gorgeous and got a generous 9/10 from us for review. While I don’t think it deserved quite such a high score, it still gave me an incredible 100 hours of gameplay in the 2014 holidays and made me proud to have given awards to the game.
The next one is a bit tricky. Splatoon got an award at E3 and an honorable mention at Gamescom. It’s a great game, but hasn’t quite wowed everyone as much as expected. Still, with a 7.9/10 review score and plenty of love, I think it deserved the award. Similarly, the Super Smash Bros award we gave at Gamescom was fully earned and validated by the 9.4/10 review score.
Far Cry 4 snagged a deserved award at Gamescom, which makes sense considering the 8.5/10 review we gave it. But our biggest and easiest success of last year was giving The Witcher all the top marks at both E3 and Gamescom. It blew us away with visuals and gameplay and we were so convinced that it would be an incredible game. Earning a 9.5/10 review score, yeah, I think we knew what we were talking about… sometimes.
We were wrong!
At E3 2014, the award for best FPS went to Destiny. While Darryn has gone full fanboy with the game and would probably still stand by that award today, the game was panned upon release. Perhaps it’s better now, but last year it only got 7.5/10.
I was horribly wrong, though. I gave Evolve best multiplayer awards at E3 and Gamescom. I swear, it really was fun under ideal circumstances at the show; it’s just when you throw in strangers and people who aren’t playing as journalists but as normal idiots that it all falls apart. Still, it only garnered a 7.2/10 upon review.
Oh Assassin’s Creed Unity, how you failed us. Grabbing best new generation game at E3 and best open world at Gamescom, it really was in excellent shape for journalists to play at the trade shows. How did they manage to break it to the point of only getting 7/10 upon release?
We still don’t know…
We have awards to Quantum Break and No Man’s Sky last year. Unfortunately, neither game is out yet, so we don’t really know if we were duped by glorious demos, or the games are actually going to be great. No Man’s Sky got another award at this year’s E3, and with Sony absent from Gamescom, I doubt it will be playable during the conference in Germany. At least we should see more of Quantum Break, maybe give it another award, and then tremble in fear as we wait for its release.
Looking at all that, I don’t think we were so horribly wrong with our awards. Some of our honorable mentions were also a bit off, or right on the money, but I think it’s indicative of the preview experience – demos are only shown under ideal circumstances at these trade shows. If the games had lived up to the potential shown at E3 and Gamescom, we might have had a very different year of gaming.
Last Updated: July 13, 2015
Lord Chaos
July 13, 2015 at 15:37
You’re all wrong. 😛
1) Fallout 4
2) Doom
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:37
3)Deus Ex
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:42
Dubious Sex?
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:44
Or in Dutch terms, “normal coitus”
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:46
Not what your mother said! She said Amazing Coitus! Also: I am your father!
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:46
Did you press the button on the cloning machine?
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:47
If that is what you want to call your birth…
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:46
Rofl
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:44
1) Horizon
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:38
Lesson here? Don’t buy day one!
*Preorders DOOOOOOOOOOM
Lord Chaos
July 13, 2015 at 15:40
Well… technically there’s a difference between day one and pre-order
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:40
technically….
Lord Chaos
July 13, 2015 at 15:42
This should help you understand big words: http://dictionary.reference.com/
*Runs
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:47
Bwahahaha
Brady miaau
July 13, 2015 at 15:40
That is just the worst pun, intentional or not.
Way to go.
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:41
It’s a lesson in hype.
VampyreSquirrel
July 13, 2015 at 15:48
Technically buying Doom wouldn’t be a pre-order or day one purchase… it’s a re-purchase (unless if you were a filthy pirate back in the day)
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:48
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:49
Oh Fuck No….
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:49
Is that what she said?
[rhetorical answer]
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:49
*question
Moer
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:50
Whoops! Fail!
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:50
As you did above too!
😛
Seems I really am human after all
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:51
Where did I fail? Other than fathering you is what I am referring to..
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:52
If you are my father, then this pic is worthy:
(refresh)
Hammersteyn
July 13, 2015 at 15:50
Lord Chaos was kind enough to give me this link
http://ask.reference.com/web?s=t&q=rhetorical+question&qsrc=19&o=10616&l=dir
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:52
Ah, so I was not wrong, but I was wrong thinking that I was wrong. WRONGCEPTION
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:43
@OddSockZA:disqus mandatory comment please, oh and why is Arnold in that last picture?
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:44
That little poop scoop is not Arnold!
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:45
Looks awfully like him, atleast I think so
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:44
So far, into Witcher 3 I only done 1 quest and it is a side quest. It was the most glorious side quest of them all! Most definitely my game of the year!
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:45
Lol, dont worry there are many, still haven’t finished the game, I don’t want to actually, but running out of side quests
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:46
Same here, BUT MY GLORIOUS GWENT DECK IS SO POWERFUL!!!
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:47
I just got the gwent and fist fights to go, but there a bug where the one guy in novigrad runs away and you cant chase after him
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:49
I’m champion in Velen and Novigrad, and I’m finishing up a few more quests before hitting Skellige
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:53
I’m busy with the upgraded griffon armour at the moment, want to collect everything, achievement hunting, after that I’m going to play gwent to pass time
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:54
Yeah I got those, doing the cat school treasure hunts now (btw enhanced griffon armour is schweet!)
Matthew Holliday
July 13, 2015 at 16:22
mastercrafted griffin was pretty legit, that 20% igni bonus per piece is >> but using it is like switching to easy mode.
feline armour looks the best though, no doubt. plus its the only real option for light armour, which i prefer.
wolf school armour is pretty cool if you’re going to hack and slash stuff, but it feels too much like a reskin of Lamberts armour.
what i really wanted was a mastercrafted version of the armour you started with, that really felt like a geralt outfit.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 16:33
I love my Ursine armour.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 14, 2015 at 07:55
Agreed, that was a pretty schweet set of gear.
I created and started wearing the feline armour last night, awesome set!
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:44
Barring some silly bugs, (stupid Roach), W3 is by far the best game I’ve played in ages
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:46
That honest trailer nailed Roach, Demonic horse
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:47
Transporting demon horse. AND STOPS FOR NO REASON OR RUNS INTO INVISI-WALLS
Dutch Matrix
July 13, 2015 at 15:48
HEre be a serious question:
How co-operative would you be if someone called you Roach?
Aries
July 13, 2015 at 15:48
Get that alot also
Sageville
July 13, 2015 at 15:47
Evolve… it deserved the award I thought (given the competition in that genre), just didn’t have the pull of conventional multiplayer games, it makes me sad so many peeps missed out. But I totally see why it didn’t take off.
Also sad I bought the game now, though the play experience was cool…. *sniff
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 15:51
I LOVED Evolve Alpha and Beta, pity it took a nose dive
Brady miaau
July 13, 2015 at 15:53
So, essentially, you guys need real world tests of products in order to truly see if is good or not.
nothing new there, but I think we all, journalists, gamers and gaming journalists tend to get a bit carried away by show hype.
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 16:01
At least you peeps are good at giving score and awards, merchandise though…
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 16:01
Only because they know certain individuals tend to spill wine on said merch…
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 16:07
LOL
Most affordable car cover I’ve ever bought 😉
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 16:11
Yeah, I lend mine out for weddings…
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 16:12
XD
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 16:03
Best of E3 2007, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
The Last Guardian 😛
RinceThis
July 13, 2015 at 16:03
hahaha
Ranting Raptor
July 13, 2015 at 16:04
Bwhahahahaha GG
Admiral Chief's Adventure
July 13, 2015 at 16:05
GG
WP
Lord Chaos
July 13, 2015 at 16:05
Can someone say “Atari: E.T.”?
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 13, 2015 at 16:08
No 😛
Captain JJ wants moar
July 13, 2015 at 16:05
Evolve looked like it was going to be a disappointment right from the start. Though the idea seemed nice, it never looked fleshed out.
Nikola
July 14, 2015 at 08:28
I can confirm you guys are always wrong when it comes to Award season;) haha