Now this creates a very interesting debate....should downloadable games be considered for GOTY awards?
Let's look at the 360.
It has "Braid" a very charming, quirky and addictive puzzle title with a great engine and ingenious gameplay. Like WoG, it received a lot of great reviews praising its innovation and concept. The 360's killer app this year was Gears of War 2. Despite advancing the story it played the same as before. But it still received solid reviews from fans and the media.
Using IGN Wii's logic should "Braid" win GOTY because despite being good Gears of War 2 didn't evolve enough from the first one save for story and some multiplayer enhancements?
These awards are mainly popularity contests discussed among the hardcore in order to prove that their games are worth playing. Its sorta like ranking the hottest girls in school; sooner or later you realize you were stupid for even believing it.
The REAL game of the year, in my opinion, is Wii Fit. True, it isn't a game. But not since Wii Sports has a Wii game attracted so many new gamers into the foray, despite facing shortages and a hefty 90 dollar price tag. It has impacted positively since it inspired people to get up and get fit while having fun doing it. Its GOTY material because it was one of the few games to have had such mainstream success in the last few years and people will remember it more than any other game.
Another nominee is Wii Music. I know the game isn't liked by everyone but I am talking about impact, not quality. Wii Music got a lot of people talking about the state of gaming, Nintendo's stance and how simplicity could deliver depth. Again, a very discussed title that will also be remembered for the ruckus it caused.
I recently got WoG as a gift and I CAN see why some would consider it GOTY material. The game is deceitfully simple but with a lot of depth in its design. The fact that all of this was designed by two guys proved that developers can create great things despite things like money, time and other development hell issues. It deserves the nod for that alone.
I think the issue here is that IGN is using the game to take a jab at Nintendo for a beef they have with them, and that's why the win isn't as sweet as it should be. Like I mentioned earlier, since "Braid" is pretty much the WoG of the 360 it should also get the award since GoW2 also failed to innovate.
Again, its the logic behind the award that annoys people rather than the game itself. WoG deserves the away, but it shouldn't be used as a weapon against Nintendo. In fact, thanks should be given to Nintendo for giving 2D Boy the chance to shine exclusively on their system and helped proved that WiiWare can be home to great releases that would have died at retail.
