Cerebralbore101 on 17 June 2017
Horizon is a major game contender, but BotW's gives it's player way more freedom in getting around. Being able to climb any mountain, para-glide to any point, and ride a horse that auto-pilots itself changes the way you get around the world too much. Trying to bethesda your way up a mountain, or find a safe way down feels clunky and outdated by comparison. Then there's the multiple points at which Horizon's map just flat out tells you "don't go any further or we will load a save".
Nioh is another great GotY contender, but the game asks you to grind too much. Constant random loot drops are an annoyance when 95% of what you pickup is a garbage tier weapon.
BotW's biggest flaws are the stamina system, and weapon breakage. The stamina gauge is upgradable to three full rings though, and with the right armor you can climb/swim forever. Weapons break, but the game showers you with weapons, especially late game. My current inventory is filled with nothing but weapons that have extra durability, extra attack power, or an elemental effect. There are a thousand different ways to take out enemies quickly, from freezing them and dropping them off a cliff to walking up to them with full thunder gear on in a rainstorm.
If Odyssey is anything like Galaxy it will be a serious GotY contender.
