2010 Aggie Awards
It’s time to put on your finest designer sweats and custom-made slippers (aren’t you glad this isn’t televised?), as we roll out the red carpet once again for the one, the only… Aggie Awards presentation from Adventure Gamers!
In this, our third annual awards ceremony, we recognize the best and brightest adventure offerings from 2010. Sure, the list may not include many “AAA” titles, but everyone likes an underdog. Will Telltale reclaim its top honours for the third year running? Can a strong field of handheld and console games pry the PC’s grip off the golden statuette? Will the strongest indie candidates show up the publishers that backed other titles instead? What is the meaning of life? All these questions (okay, except the last one) will be answered soon.
For double the Aggie pleasure, we have tallied up the votes from our recent Readers’ Choice poll as well, and will be announcing the public winners along with our own. You may just be surprised at how the results played out: sometimes you even agreed with us! But certainly not always, including a difference of opinion on the biggest prize of all.
As always, there are really no losers here, only runners-up. There was plenty of competition for each and every award, including more than a few tiebreaks to settle before reaching a verdict. But like the Highlander, in the end there can be only one to claim the coveted hardware.
Read on, then, and find out which games claimed the Aggie Awards for 2010.
Table of Contents
Page 1: You are here
Page 2: Best Story
Page 3: Best Writing – Comedy
Page 4: Best Writing – Drama
Page 5: Best Character
Page 6: Best Gameplay
Page 7: Best Concept
Page 8: Best Setting
Page 9: Best Graphic Design
Page 10: Best Animation
Page 11: Best Music
Page 12: Best Voice Acting
Page 13: Best Sound Effects
Page 14: Honorary Aggies
Page 15: Best Independent Adventure (Commercial)
Page 16: Best Console/Handheld Adventure (Exclusive)
Page 17: Best First-Person PC Adventure
Page 18: Best Third-Person PC Adventure
Page 19: Best Adventure of 2010
Page 20: Final Notes
First up: Best Story… the envelope, please!
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Best Story: Heavy Rain
Children have been disappearing. Missing for days, their bodies are inevitably discovered in an abandoned location along with the namesake calling card of the ‘Origami Killer’. The kidnappings only happen during periods of hard rainfall, and this is their doom, as the children are locked in an enclosed space, drowned by the rising water level. Against this horrific backdrop, happy family man Ethan Mars is about to see his life fall apart, as a terrible accident claims one child, leaving him only a shell of his former self when the Origami Killer strikes again by taking Ethan’s remaining son. This is just the start of the dark, emotionally unsettling, but always utterly compelling storyline of Heavy Rain.
Other playable players include Scott Shelby, a Private Detective tasked with investigating the case for a distraught mother; Norman Jayden, FBI Profiler also working the crime, albeit in a more official capacity; and Madison Paige, a photojournalist who also begins following the killings. It is this multi-part cast that makes Heavy Rain’s story so rich, presenting the unfolding drama from very different points of view. Some characters become aware of facts others don’t know, while some are hiding secrets they musn’t reveal. As their paths eventually cross, more of their personal motivations are revealed, and it is the slow burn of each piece gradually coming together to unveil what is really going on that proves such a draw, finally converging in a memorable climax. Even more impressively, the story changes to suit the many actions and decisions you make. Heavy Rain is not so much one story as the choice of many that you alone will determine, making it truly worthy of the game’s “interactive drama” moniker and our best story Aggie award.
Runners-Up: Last Window: the Secret of Cape West, The Whispered World, Black Mirror II
Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain
It seems many of us were moved by the tragic story of a serial killer’s impact on the lives of four different people… except who knows if we all experienced the same one? Making an already compelling tale even more immersive, the freedom to truly influence the direction and outcome of the story helped catapult Heavy Rain to the top in an extremely tight competition.
Runners-Up: The Whispered World, Black Mirror II
Next up: Best Writing – Comedy… the envelope, please!
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Best Writing – Comedy: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
However the creative process works at Telltale HQ, the end result is a genuinely surreal mix of concepts that rarely fails to tickle the funny bone, at least where Sam & Max are concerned. Lovecraft meets Godzilla plus a giant corn dog? Why not! And that’s not even mentioning purple alien apes, man-sized talking cockroaches, an army of naked, mindless Samulacra (doggelgangers!), a chestful of psychically-infused children’s toys, and a 1950s-style B movie narrator that could give Rod Serling pointers on weirdness. Okay, maybe that is mentioing them, but some things are just too memorable to leave out.
But lunacy alone doesn’t succeed – cramming off-the-wall scenarios and random words into a blender does not equal funny. But whether it’s Max irreverently skewering pop culture icons or Sam deadpanning film noir narrations, The Devil’s Playhouse is a triumph because Telltale has once again shown a deft touch, a knack for comic timing and the conviction to see their bizarre ideas through to a sort-of-logical conclusion. Great one liners, epic plots that span time and space (and even life and death), and everything from outright slapstick to surprisingly subtle visual gags make the third season of Sam & Max our runaway Aggie winner for top comedy writing.
Runners-Up: Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World, Hector: Badge of Carnage, Scarlett and the Spark of Life
Readers’ Choice: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
The Freelance Police take no prisoners, and that was never more true than the best comic writing category. Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse rumbled over the opposition like a giant mutant rabbity thing romping through New York. And no wonder, as the quips, gags, and general manic hilarity started early and never let up through the entire third episodic season.
Runners-Up: Jolly Rover, Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island, Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World
Next up: Best Writing – Drama… the envelope, please!
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Best Writing – Drama: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
The necessary elements in every story are character, plot, setting, theme and style. A truly great narrative is capable of blending all of these components into a cohesive whole that is both distinctive and believable, allowing the audience to immerse itself fully in the fictional world conjured by the author. This is what great novels and movies do, but it’s rare for an interactive video game to come close to that level of quality and credibility. Yet that’s exactly what Last Window: The Secret of Cape West managed to achieve, making it stand out among its contemporaries and earning our best dramatic writing Aggie.
Every piece fits right into place: a charismatic lead character, Kyle Hyde, a former NYPD officer whose past never ceases to haunt him; a gripping mystery worthy of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window; a richly atmospheric, claustrophobic location where every corner hides a secret and every character has plenty of reasons to lie; a melancholic theme that speaks of decadence and progress, of human beings who have lost their way in life, and of things we hold most dear to our hearts; and a style that is both unique yet mindful of decades of hard-boiled detective fiction and noir films. Playing through Last Window is as deeply engrossing as reading a page-turner you simply can’t put down until you reach the end. You even hold the game like a book, and can read back through Kyle’s exploits in novelized form when you’re done. And you may very well want to, as it’s a masterpiece of interactive fiction that is sure to leave you fully satisfied.
Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Black Mirror II
Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain
Many games strive to evoke intense emotions, but few manage it as well as Heavy Rain, which places ordinary characters in extraordinary events. Its dramatic scenarios are powerful in their own right, but the feeling is heightened by a script that gradually fleshes out the motivations of its conflicted characters. This creates a vital connection for the player, as it is you who holds their lives – or the welfare of their loved ones – firmly in your hands.
Runners-Up: Black Mirror II, The Whispered World
Next up: Best Character… the envelope, please!
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Best Character: Miles Edgeworth, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Everybody loves Edgie! Even in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, where he and the titular character were bitter enemies, there’s little doubt that Miles Edgeworth was the real scene-stealer: foppish, elegant, impeccably dressed, subtly sarcastic and tirelessly defiant, he was Phoenix’s perfect nemesis. Then, when we got a chance to explore his troubled past, he emerged as a deeply human character, even a flawed one; an idealist turned cynic in the face of a harsh reality. There’s no surprise that he instantly became a fan favourite. Watching his renewed friendship with Phoenix grow was nothing short of a pleasure, and we were thrilled to hear that the “perfect prosecutor” was to get his own game. We weren’t disappointed.
Sure, Ace Attorney Investigations isn’t as strong an adventure as the previous installments, but Miles Edgeworth’s charisma is more than enough to overcome the game’s other shortcomings. Surprisingly, Capcom originally intended the new series to star Ema Skye, but then changed their minds after hearing from the fans. Smart move, as Edgie’s presence is what really sets the game apart. His banter with Detective Gumshoe keeps the various investigations fresh and enticing, and his flippant demeanor is what motivates players to sift through the long (and sometimes far-fetched) dialogues. He’s not only deserving of the Aggie Award for best character this past year, he arguably deserves a spot amongst the likes of Gabriel Knight and Guybrush Threepwood as one of the most intriguing characters ever to grace an adventure game.
Runners-Up: Kyle Hyde (Last Window: The Secret of Cape West), Hidden People (Puzzle Agent), Sal (Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse)
Readers’ Choice: Sadwick, The Whispered World
Apparently everybody loves clowns, too (at least, those who aren’t afraid of them). In a wonderfully diverse race that included characters from 22 different games, The Whispered World’s childlike protagonist won over hearts with his determination to overcome not only the physical obstacles standing in the way of saving the world, but his own fatalistic cynicism as well.
Runners-Up: Max (Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse), Fenton Paddock (Lost Horizon)
Next up: Best Gameplay… the envelope, please!
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Best Gameplay: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Creating a fully immersive experience is always a tough challenge for any developer. We’ve all heard the debates: what’s more imporant – story or puzzles? And we all know the answer: BOTH, working in fully-integrated harmony. Yet even then, gameplay is so much more than those two alone. Exploration needs to be inspiring, character exchanges must be engaging, and interaction should be both relevant and rewarding. The best games understand this, and seek a balanced blend of elements for welcome variety, proper pacing, and sustained interest. You might think an “interactive novel” like Last Window: The Secret of Cape West would favour story to the detriment of all else, but you’d be wrong, as this gripping noir-tinged mystery is deftly supported with equally compelling player participation, making it a worthy winner of our Best Gameplay award.
Exploring the Cape West apartment building means frequently conversing with its other memorable residents, and deftly navigating sensitive subjects becomes an obstacle in itself. You’ll need to pay close attention, too, as each day closes with a reflective quiz that recaps the details of the investigation. The other puzzles provide interesting challenges as well, each seamlessly integrated into the plot and usually involving manipulating objects in clever ways. More impressively, the game frequently uses the unique control features of the Nintendo DS to their fullest. Even the simplest act of tapping directly to knock on a door draws you into the game world, but the many standalone puzzles make even better use of the touch screen. Actions range from delicately fishing out a lost ring to shaking money out of a piggy bank and hurling furniture around. The shoulder buttons, microphone, and folding platform itself are also put to good use in situations where the player’s actions perfectly mimic in-game activity. This constant variety of both challenges and means of personal interaction is more than enough motivation to keep investigating right up to the bittersweet finale.
Runners-Up: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Puzzle Bots, Heavy Rain
Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain
While some criticize Heavy Rain for being more movie than game, it seems many welcomed the change from traditional adventure fare, albeit only by a whisker in the closest five-way race of all. Emphasizing exploration, dialogue, decision-making and dramatic action sequences, this game gave players a range of freedom rarely experienced. And with its context-sensitive control scheme, everything from car chases to bringing in the groceries felt natural and rewarding, immersing you further into its multi-layered storyline.
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