Long-time Mercury readers may remember a year end gaming awards story that has, at this point, become traditional.
Unlike Kotaku or Joystiq though, our awards system skips the dull “game of the year” crap and instead focuses on the little things. Best use of an in-game fedora? Most depressing casualty of Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops hype machine? Most adorable use of a gelatinous blob?
That kinda thing.
In previous years I’ve put together the entire thing by myself, but for the 2010 edition we’ve decided to involve you a bit more in the process. Once you finish reading this bit of text, click your way into the comments section and leave us one or two suggestions for award categories you’d like to see.
Obviously, try to avoid the cliché, but otherwise this is your thing. Suggest any quantifiable gaming concept you’d like to see specifically spotlighted.
Best Menu/Pause screen
Best place where they obviously went cheap/ ran out of
money
Worst ending that was obvious from the start of the game
Best self-referencing-moment
What a relief. From the headline, I thought this was a pledge drive.
Most self-indulgent hackneyed video-game writer: (PROTIP: It’s Nex)
Most “fuck yeah” weapon in a first person shooter.
Most skilled cloaking of game cliches.
Best enemies whom you felt kinda-sorta guilty about shooting in the face. (Fiends are people, too…)
Best use of a small burrowing mammal.
Most badass facial hair of any game character.
Most personally unpleasant main character who is not Kratos.
Best use of the dull brown color palette.
Best Special Edition schwag.
Best clone of a more successful game.
Game most likely to cause physical injuries.
-Crappiest loading screen! (Castlevania: Harmony of Despair)
-Most explosiony car crash.
-Most creepily-obsessive video game review commenter? (probably Graham)
-Least comprehensible plotline.
BEST VIDEO GAME BLOGGER WHO BLOGS FOR OTHER BLOGS THAT ARE NOT THE MERCURY. (me)
Best Anti-Climax! Alan Wake was my most recent game that had an enigmatic cut scene instead of a final boss fight, but I know I’ve heard there were worse examples this year.
Best Use of a Bear Trap (Limbo)
Best Gay Character That Isn’t An NPC
Game That Causes the Sweatiest Hands
Least Annoying Game to Watch Others Play
Worst Voice Acting
Most improbably-shaped sword
Best Japanese character name
Best Easter egg
Least aerodynamic spaceship
Best attempt to explain an impossible plot twist through “science”
Best mini-game with actual replay value
Most random celebrity voice-cameo
Most entertaining bug/glitch
Least tiresome Zombie-themed DLC
Best applicant for new job reviewing games at the Mercury!
Most unnecessary tutorial.
Annual awards story complete. I chose 3 of your submissions, so watch for the story in next week’s edition of The Merc.