Best Xbox One Game of 2015 - Article
by Brandon J. Wysocki , posted on 12 January 2016 / 6,474 Views
2015, the year “the greatest games line-up in Xbox history” was announced. Subjective, exaggerated marketing claims aside, 2015 was truly a great year of gaming for most Xbox One owners. Microsoft's console boasted a strong and varied selection of games that spanned the gamut of strong console exclusives (timed or otherwise), high quality AAA multiplatform games, and some incredible indie experiences.
The Nominees:
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Ori and the Blind Forest
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Halo 5: Guardians
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
And the winner is…
Ori and the Blind Forest
Community's Choice - Rise of the Tomb Raider (23% of the vote)
Ori and the Blind Forest is an excellent game through and through. However, its win exposed a small, closed-minded and outdated (if it truly ever had a time in which it was justified) prejudice in me that indie titles, while great, were with their often petite sizes and price tags little more than filler material between the great, fuller experiences of big-budget, AAA games. Like most gamers I've traditionally seen indie titles as fresh, experimental appetizers that hold you over while you wait for the main course that only big developers and publishers can provide. When I saw that Ori and the Blind Forest had won the staff vote I was little bit surprised.
But it truly is deserving! Ori and the Blind Forest is a spectacular game that features balanced, well designed controls and gameplay, encompassed by gorgeous graphics, a superb score, and a wonderfully enchanting story. It is a must play game and the success of developers like Moon Studios represents a fundamental and bright future for the industry, whether it be by continuing to release marvellous titles like this, or by expanding and leaving room for more deeply inspired and skilled artists to demonstrate their talents. For me, this is a well-deserved, enlightening, feel-good win for the underdog.
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Brandon J. Wysocki is a writer for VGChartz. You're invited to contact Brandon (username SpaceLegends) in the comments below or through private messages on VGChartz, or even at his barely ever used and effectively dormant Twitter account @BrandonJWysocki.
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Good thing Rocket League wasn't released on the X1 last year, otherwise it would have swept the GOTY awards for PS4 X1 and PC lol.
Man, I have every game on this list but the only titles I've completed are Halo 5 and MGS V. I've been too busy play Yakuza games recently. Personally, I think MGS V is the GOTY because its kinda amazing in spite of its flaws.
So after all these Game of the year 2015, I can predict the Game of the Year 2016 at least for the Xbox One^^
Good to seeing Ori win, this is also a "console exclusive" game that actually won on the Xbox side of things.
Even though I find Halo 5 amazing, Ori is one of the greatest games I have ever played. I sure hope the whole discussion of the "lower" value of small titles dissapear some day, because what we should value is gameplay and quality, no matter how big the package.
Oh, okay. Yeah, really not taking any of this seriously this year, are you guys?
Lol! We take it very seriously. We're passionate gamers and care tremendously about the content we deliver. As such, we did our best to objectively cast our votes and honor the results.
What's the difference between this selling itself on its art style and a "triple A" selling itself on bullshots and "in-engine" visuals that later turn out to be unrepresentative of the final product? Aren't they both the same since they're selling themselves on less important, but more noticeable, aspects?
Halo 5.....A lot more effort went into that game and overall it's a better experience than a $10 Indie game...
Uh, bullshit... Ori is a $20 indie game.
^^^Dat twist LOL
Great to see these small games getting recignition hope it comes to more platforms.
