Last night were whe game awards, and I was nervous. I wanted Elden Ring to win GOTY in a way I haven’t wanted any game to win before. I was convinced that Ragnorak was going to creep up at the last moment and steal it away. I annoyed Ian by bemoaning the situation over the last week. He was like, “Minna. Come on.”
I couldn’t help it. The last time a Daddy of War game was released, it beat out RDR2 for GOTY. Even though it was a PS exclusive and shouldn’t have been in the running. I don’t believe a game that not everyone could play should be up for GOTY. That’s just me. No one else feels the same, and I’m fine with it.
Anyway, a few days ago, I suddenly realized it didn’t matter if Elden Ring actually won. It had given me so much joy, that was all that mattered. And the day before yesterday, they announced the PvP coloseums would be opened. It was pretty much expected that there would be more DLC at the awards show.
When the game first opened, it was noted that Miyazaki was there. The minute I saw that, I relaxed. There was no way they would fly Miyazaki to the show without giving him the award. That would be the height of rudeness, and Geoff Keighley is nothing if not polite. More like, he appreciates being friends with the devs and would not want to do anything to fuck that up.
Once I saw Miyazaki, I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. As I said, there was no way they would fly him out and then diss him. The last thime he was at the show, From won GOTY for Sekiro (2019, pre-pandemic).
I have to admit that I found the show to be draggy. I am that way with award shows in general. Very painful and forced ‘comedic’ interaction that is so cringe. The pre-show was hosted by Sydnee Goodman, and I had to just nearly shut my ears beacuse of what she was being made to say.
Then, the real show started. They made a point to note that Miyazaki was there, which made me instantly relax. There was Kojima to promote (coyly) Death Stranding 2. There was Al Pacino doing a very unfunny bit to hand out the best performance award (Christopher Judge for Daddy Kratos with a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long acceptance speech). There was Hozer, which, eh. Halsey! I liked that for my niece.
Then they announced that Supergiant had something new. And it looked like Hades!!! DLC? Oh, hell NO. It was a brand spankin’ new Hades (II) with a female protag and witches. I actually gasped out loud. I was so incerdibly stoked and taken completely off-guard. I was unbelievably happy at that point.
Then, the show dragged on. I really wish that we could refresh the whole genre–awards shows, I mean. Along with late night shows. They are both just so stale.
My brother called so we watched the end of the show together. He did not care for the Final Fantasy XVI trailer. I had to laugh because it’s so not him. Emo Japanese fantasy? Nope. Not up his alley at all.
Lords of the Fallen looked dope as hell. I had forgotten about that, but the second trailer looks as dope as the first one. It’s a remake/reboot/sequel to the original Lords of the Fallen by Deck13 Interactive, but it’s by a different dev? I think? Defiant Studios. It’s moody and gritty, and it’s dark as fuck. I’m big into that, and I’m cautiously hopeful that it’ll be a decent soulslike. I hated the first one, by the way. They seemed to think that the biggest thing about the Souls games is how difficult they are. THe combat in the original LotF was clunky and clumsy. I put in a few hours twice before giving up.
Then, there was a trailer from FromSoft. I was expecting it to be Elden Ring DLC, and it was feasible for the first several seconds. Then, ok, mechs. Well, maybe it’s the upgraded version of the mausoleums? Talk about fire…yes…Feed the fire. Let the last cinders burn. We’re talking about Dark Souls, yes????
No! We’re talking about *checks notes* Armored Core? There had been talk earlier in the year about this being their next game, but who the hell would have expected a trailer for it rather than Elden Ring DLC? Not me! I was not expecting this and I was not wanting this, but good lord, I was hyped for it after seeing the trailer. Ian messaged me asking if he was wrong in thinknig there were Dark Souls vibbes to the trailer. I said he was not. There were definitely Souls vibes to the trailer. And feeding the fire? Let the last cinders burn? That is SO Souls! I’ll have to look at the other games to see what the lore is. Is there Armored Core lore? There seems to be according to the people in the RKG Discord.
I know the trailer is all CG, but I trust that FromSoft will craft a wondrous and grogeous world in which I’ll delight to drive giant mechs in. I was so not into it before the trailer, but now? I’m all. over. it.
Before the final award–by the way, I really dislike Josef Fares, the directior of It Takes Two (which won GOTY last year, and head of Hazelight Studios). He said, “Fuck the Oscars!” one year and has been a darling ever since. “Oh, that crazy Josef. He’ll say anything!” That’s not a good thing, honestly.
Anyway. After he did his charming thing, he announced that Elden Ring had won GOTY. Oh, and earlier, Miyazaki won best direction. I was talking to my brother at that point and explained to him at length why Elden Ring was going to win. He found my tale amusing and was not surprised when I was right. I did say that it was only my opinion, but I really couldn’t see it any other way. Even the fact that Daddy of War got several of the other awards made me think that they were not going to get the GOTY.
It’s coming up on my own post in which I hand out silly and nonsensical awards for the year. There’s really no point this year, but I’m going to do it, anyway. In a week or so. Cheers!