i am so sick and tired of the exclusivity of gaming spaces. any game that isn’t soulslike or a cod remake is often written off (unless it’s indie, but those are different) i’m someone that enjoys simple games. yes, i like story-heavy and immersive games, but i also appreciate the value in a game that’s just plain fun. games like wukong are very good, but are also relatively niche in the grand scheme of things.
in case you haven’t guessed, this is about astro bot. imo this game 100% deserved goty. i understand that this game isn’t for everyone, but it upsets me to see so many people write it off for being a “kids game.” astro bot had the highest audience rating out of any of the nominations. that counts for something.
astro bot was my favorite game of 2024, so i’m a little biased. i understand being upset that your favorite game didnt win, but writing it off as just an ad or a mario rip off spits in the face of all the talented people that clearly had passion for making the game. having similar mechanics to mario does not make it a mario rip off, it makes it a part of the 3d platforming genre. yes, it is clear some elements are inspired, but saying everything was a direct copy is silly. mario did it first, but others can still do it better. no one cares when the hundredth cod remake comes out, but having a 3d platformer that isn’t mario or indie is blasphemy.
plus, there are so many original things to astro bot. for example, the controller haptics are absolutely insane. i loved playing the game sometimes just to feel the haptics. sony incorporates the controller in their games in ways i’ve never seen before, not even with the switch.
it just upsets me that so many people are so angry at astro bot for winning. i understand if you didnt like it, i understand if you liked the other nominations better, but astro bot won. i think it was earned.
to give a short perspective on how engaging this game is for the average person, this is something that happened the other day. my mom has never been big on video games. the last time she played was in the 1990s with her brother. when she saw me playing astro bot, she not only stopped to watch me for over an hour and a half, she asked to play. this is a woman who hasn’t touched a video game in almost 30 years, and yet she asked to play this game
that is the point i’m getting at. a lot of triple a games are really good, but they aren’t easy or accessible for the average person. even now, i’m apprehensive to get into games bc i am intimidated by the toxicity of the community. i don’t always want to play a 50 hr walking simulator. i don’t always want a super realistic art style. sometimes i want something cute, something simple.
sorry i’m bad at articulating thoughts. i just had a ramble i needed to get out.
i love astro bot with my whole soul