The GNamer Forum Awards 2021 and Five Years of Switch (Thanks For Voting!)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (4 votes, 30 points)


You said:
“It’s the biggest and best Smash has been. Always good to hop in for a few battles here and there and even with a roster as large as it is each character still feels worth playing. I’ll always have a space in my heart for Smash.”
“It's rare that a game in the series perfects the formula in such a way that you genuinely don't know where they can go next, but SSBU accomplished just that in my eyes. A boost to game speed without compromising the ease of access to the game resulted in the best Smash experience to date and that roster is the stuff we could only dream about back in the Melee/Brawl days.”
“EVERYONE IS HERE! I don't know where they go from here with Smash Bros because this has it all, an incredibly complete roster of fighters, fast and fluid gameplay and plenty for both single player and multiplayer options.”
“Fully living up to its Ultimate moniker, it’s simply the best single player and multiplayer fighting game of all time.”

I said: Yes, Smash placed, and Mario Kart didn't.  We can argue until the cows come home about whether MK8D is one of the best Switch games, or merely one of the best games on Switch.  Anyone reading the thread will already know my take.  I didn't vote for MK8D because for me, the things it adds to the already excellent original aren't enough to make it a top 25 Switch game, let alone top 10.  ("Who the fuck outside of us nerds owned a Wii U?"  It's us nerds voting!  And we had us nerds to play online against, plus this nerd played a bunch of local multiplayer on Wii U as well.)

I didn't vote for Smash for much the same reason.

To me, Smash Ultimate feels a bit like a remaster, or expanded edition, of Smash for Wii U.  The gameplay felt very similar, the vast majority of the (pre-Fighter Passes) characters were already present, they added a grand total of five new stages, and the only other big addition was World of Light, a single-player campaign inferior to Brawl's from 14 years ago.  Almost every game builds on those that go before, but Ultimate's core felt so similar to For Wii U's that as a Switch game, considering solely what was added for Switch, I didn't think it was worth highlighting and I don't have much love for it.  And that all predates the Fighter Passes, a drawn-out process of introducing Banjo and ten anime sword fighters (or so it felt at the time) that managed the impossible: it actually made me bored of Smash reveals.

All that's a lot of negativity, but as the culmination of its series rather than as a standalone game on Switch, Smash Ultimate makes my top ten of all time.  I love Smash!  And on the positive side regarding Ultimate itself, it introduced my most-wanted fighters following For Wii U in Ridley, Inkling, and K. Rool; the return of a proper campaign mode was much welcomed, and I spent several tens of hours on it; and any game that allows you to stick Alolan Exeggutor in the middle of the stage for a laugh deserves a place in the top ten on that alone.  I simply think that games like Celeste, Hollow Knight, and even Hades added more to my gaming experience than Ultimate did given the existence of its predecessors; and it's a wee bit of a shame that nothing more original or interesting beat Ultimate to the third spot.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (5 votes, 45 points, 3 firsts)


You said:
“What can you say about this that hasn’t already been said?  Marvellous world, great interlocking systems, fine combat, beautiful game, enough character to make this post-apocalypse feel like the start of something new.  Except, that sounds like I’m giving those all equal weight.  It should read: marvellous world!  Truly, the best in videogames.  Truly, the best game in videogames.”
“Still the best thing on Switch and I can't see that changing until it's sequel comes along, every part of it is so expertly crafted and the game mechanics allow for so much freedom and experimentation to the point that people are still finding new things to do 5 years on. Simply breathtaking.”
“One of the most indescribably amazing and unforgettable games any of us have played. Considering it quality of its world and gameplay, how masterfully it plays and how much there is to it, I’m truly astounded as to how good Breath of the Wild is. It’s a rare and special type of game that only comes along a couple of times a generation. Already, we can see that it’s deservedly going down in history as one of the all-time classics.”
“Still unmatched in my eyes even after five years of the Switch being a thing. I still think fondly of the hours upon hours spent exploring Hyrule. Its influence has spread far and wide into other open world games too, even into this year with titles like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Elden Ring. It's such an important game for open world games, the Zelda series and the Switch as a whole. Masterpiece.”
“Time has done nothing to assuage my opinion that this is objectively the best game ever made. Over one hundred hours of delightful discovery.”

I said: In before Mas goes 'I called it'.  There's not much more that can be said about BotW The Game (either positive or boringly neutral) on here, so I'll save discussing its relative placing for the next spoiler box.

Super Mario Odyssey (7 votes, 54 points, 2 firsts)


You said:
“I'm not actually a huge fan of a lot of Odyssey, but what it does best it does best. Mario et. Cappy is the best playing platforming protagonist ever, by some margin.”
“This represents Nintendo at their absolute peak. Considering any variable by which you can measure a game’s quality – I’m talking about graphics, sound, gameplay, lifespan, mastery, fun, all that chat - Odyssey is nearly perfect. For me, the best game in the series is a three-way conversation between Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy and this. Odyssey is that good.”
“Pure joy from start to finish, nobody does this level of bright and beautiful quite like the Mario series and Odyssey does a great job and turns it up to 11. The mix of realistic and surreal locations and characters was the best possible move they could have made after Galaxy, it allowed for plenty of memorable moments.”
“There’s room for all sorts in the 3D Mario canon.  2D Mario in three dimensions, spectacle that boggles the mind, and this: Mario let off the leash.  Run free, Mario, run free!  And turn into a realistic frog while you’re at it!”
“There's nothing quite like a Mario game firing on all cylinders, eh? Levels packed to the brim with challenges and collectables, a Mario who is a delight to control and Nintendo's trademark inventiveness and creativity at its best. Odyssey 2 please, Nintendo, I need it.”
“It’s just the best, a joy from start to finish, a great adventure, so much to explore and see. I don’t have a single negative thought to give. Perfection.”

I said: I wonder if this would have flipped if the remaining expected voters had voted?  Ah well, that's hypothetical, and this is the fact: Odyssey is GNamer's favourite Switch game, still, four years later.  And it's still a two-horse race, four years later.  And SMO still benefited from everybody who voted voting for it, while some people (you all know who they are) didn't vote for BotW, four years later.  Can excellence be boring?  Because this almost feels like excellence being boring.  

Which is a shame, because that risks obscuring a game that wasn't afraid to be different: only Nintendo are mad to whisk Mario from Tim Burton's Hatpeopleville to a frozen desert to a realistic city to Pastelfoodvolcanoland.  The worst thing about Odyssey is that Bowser's Fury wasn't DLC for it, because that would have provided a timely reminder of that anarchic spirit, rather than 'is it really better than BotW' again, four years later.  Odyssey deserves that much.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (3 votes, 11 points)
“Best on Switch, and truly one of Nintendo’s greatest ever games. I don’t think there’s any argument that this is the greatest Mario Kart ever, am I right? I think this vote will prove that. That said, by taking this up to 96 courses by the end of 2023, the only thing left to remark is: how can Nintendo possibly improve on this perfection with Mario Kart 9?”
“A shame that this is the only Mario Kart on the console and that little has changed since the Wii U, but it’s worth a shout out all the same. They nailed it and it still feels fresh”
“As I've been writing my comments for each game on my list, I've found I've been talking a lot about how certain titles have really perfected the formula in their series, but I don't think that rings as true as it does for MK8D. I think the fact Nintendo aren't bothering with MK9 this generation and are instead opting to release a new suite of tracks exemplifies this. This is the Mario Kart formula refined to perfection.”

Pokémon Legends Arceus (3 votes, 11 points)
“The shake up to the formula the series needed, gameplay is very addictive and much like Breath of the Wild I found myself getting easily distracted between tasks and getting lost in what Hisui had to offer. The best Pokémon game ever.”
“Recency bias may be in effect here, but I'm honestly so happy to see some forward movement in regards to the Pokemon formula. Roaming about the world, catching creatures and just exploring to see what new beasties I could find was a treat. I'm glad they seem to be retaining this style for the next mainline games in the series.”

Untitled Goose Game (2 votes, 8 points)
“It's crazy how an Australian developer perfectly captured a quiet British town, being a bastard Goose has never been so good, the use of music is als perfectly done.”
“Strip aside the memes, and… no, wait, don’t.  Because the memes were part of the full Untitled Goose Game experience, and the game shouldn’t be divorced from that.  Rather, it should be praised for living up to the memes when it finally released.  The horrible goose was as fun and funny to play as, as it had looked like it would be.  That is some feat.”

ARMS (1 point)
“What I expected to be quite throwaway and a bit of a waggle-fest is actually one of the Switch’s richest and most underrated games. It’s much bolder, deeper and entertaining than it appeared at first, and it uses the JoyCons brilliantly. It improved a ton over time too, growing into a really well-rounded game. The version of ARMS that you might have traded in during the summer of 2017 is a lot different from the one you can play today.”

A Hat In Time (4)
“Before I played A Hat In Time, I’d never played a 3D platformer that could be reasonably said to be better than any of the 3D Mario games, even the undercooked unimaginative one on 3DS.  Now I have.  Hat Kid’s adventure mixes the feel of Sunshine with the freedom of 64 and set-pieces that couldn’t have come out of either.  A must-play for everyone here.  (We do all love Mario, right?)”

Horizon Chase Turbo (2)
“Capturing the speed, exhilaration and, crucially, the spirit of all of history’s greatest arcade racers, it’s an absolutely superb homage to a style of game that’s disappeared for far too long. The subsequent DLC truly elevates into the clouds. I’ll broadcast my love for Horizon Chase Turbo any time I can, and I’ll gladly parade its name through any conversation where I can get away with it."

The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition (2)
“In the fifth year of the Switch I played two games that I didn’t think I’d like, just because they were critically well received, that I really got on with.  The other one was Hades, but when playing Hades my only tears were of frustration.  THiFM is a piece of grim beauty.”

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (1)
“Another Wii U port that absolutely nailed it. I loved Hyrule Warriors both on Wii U and 3DS and this meshed the packages keeping you slaying with all your Zelda faves for infinite hours. The adventure mode is still peak Warriors as far as I’m concerned.”

Into the Breach (3)
“A tactical masterpiece that is always satisfying to take a quick run through. Different squads to unlock and play as keep it feeling fresh and the gameplay is pure enough that you never feel cheated.”

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2)
“Imagine making the minions of gaming likeable, well that's what they managed to do here, not only was the gameplay fantastic but the soundtrack was a Kirkhope masterclass and the humour was surprisingly good."

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (7)
“A big celebration of everything Monster Hunter, so much content, so much to do and the hunting arts were good fun. This will probably be replaced by Rise when Sunbreak hits, but I need that G rank hit.”

moon (4)
“Every bit deserving of its reputation, this is a stone cold classic. If you have any interest in JRPGs and adventure games, get this played.”

NEO: The World Ends With You (6)
“The best RPG battle system I’ve played, combined with immense style, enjoyable characters, and the coalescing of thirteen years’ thwarted hopes.  Better than the original for me, this is even more what I was waiting for than I thought it would be.”

No More Heroes 3 (5)
“Excellent combat, even better aesthetics, and the most videogame of videogames.”

River City Girls (1)
“Some of my favourite pixel art ever. One of my favourite soundtracks ever. Excellent writing and voice acting. Oh, and the game is great fun in co-op too!”

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (3)
“Nobody else here played this in the end, did they?  That’s a bit of a crime.  Charming farming and smooth satisfying action, combined in one lovely atmospheric package.  The soundtrack’s low-key a banger too.”

Sonic Mania Plus (9)
“It remains one of the most exciting, playable and uplifting games I’ve played. Treating the franchise with the respect and the quality assurance that it deserves, it’s a truly special game that should have been followed up by Sonic Mania 2, Sonic Mania 3 & Knuckles and Sonic Mania Spinball by now. That doesn’t seem like that’s happening, and that’s a disappointment that’s as crushing as it is utterly baffling. Still, as long as we’ve got Sonic Mania. I’m so glad that this even exists.”

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (3)
“Alone, Super Mario 3D World was one of the very best things on the Wii U. Yet with the gameplay’s speed boost and by simply being on a much better system, it feels like a whole new game. Boswer’s Fury is an excellent accompaniment, giving us an exciting glimpse into what’ll perhaps be the next direction for the Super Mario series. Paired together, this is one of the most adventurous, inventive, energising and bargainous Switch games yet.”

Tetris Effect: Connected (4)
“Strangely positioned at seventh on my list, and far from the first (or even seventh) game I think about when I think about the Switch. But it’s just so damn close to perfection. Tetris is the undisputed don of puzzle games, and Effect: Connected is the most refined, addictive and enrapturing version of it there’s ever been.”

What The Golf? (1)
“A solid framework built upon with endless innovation and no small amount of humour, I still can’t believe there are people here who don’t like this much.  Just sheer gaming joy.”

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (1)
“Better late to the party than never! To be fair, considering this version of the game cleaned up the admittedly ugly character models of the original and added some much needed quality of life improvements, I was right to wait. At its core though, it's still the same sweeping adventure you all loved back on Wii with a fun cast and a combat system that takes its time to sink its hooks into you but hooks you deeply once it clicks. I really ought to play the sequel sometime…"  (You are correct. - Balla)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (5)
“Wandering the plains of Gormott, drinking in the scale and soundtrack and dodging the level 81 monkey, is an incredible experience that sums up all that’s great about this game.  Apart from Pyra’s [REDACTED]”

Florence, Gris, Metroid Dread, and Ori & the Blind Forest got one vote each but no comments.  Bet you can't guess from whom.

Just quickly, on the top ten - it's interesting the most placements from any one year came from 2018, widely regarded as one of the Switch's weaker years; and the least (only the tenth spot) from 2021, which has a decent claim for being a stronger one.  Of course that doesn't mean all that much (2017 had the two games that just happened to come overwhelmingly first and second), but I still thought it was noteworthy!

I predicted the top ten before this began, and I pretty much got it right - I didn't guess Hollow Knight or Link's Awakening, and instead guessed our two eleven-pointers.  MK8D didn't place due to stuff we've already discussed ad nauseam, and PLA didn't place due to - being careful of recency bias, perhaps?  A certain lack of polish?  Being a great moment for the series that wasn't quite a great game?  Or just not having played/completed it yet?  Anyway, both missed out.  Untitled Goose Game got most of its points (all but one in fact) from me giving it seven.  I just think it's neat.  

Then we have the rest.  My only other big surprise is that Spla2n didn't get a single vote, whereas ARMS did (albeit literally a single vote and point).  Moderately surprised about Dread getting just the one vote, but at the same time I reckon it would make a lot of top twenties but few top tens.  If the MonHan Ultimate Generations vote had gone to Rise instead it would have come fifth.

I get this vote's hipster award, with none of my picks for 5-10 getting a single other vote.  I reckon that would've been the same even if everyone voted, frankly: my taste is very different from the rest of the forum, bar Rum on a forgiving day, and I've grown to accept that (apart from where What The Golf? is concerned) (also play NEO TWEWY) (okay maybe I haven't accepted it so well yet).  Runner-up prize goes to Cappa, for being the only person to pick a podium-placer that nobody else voted for.  Apparently we're all big Putin fans.  (NB: We are not all big Putin fans.)

Finally: just a really big handshake and vote of thanks to The Cappuccino Kid for his enthusiastic (I hope?) participation in this award.  He followed up two laugh-out-loud gaming votes for 2021 with a comprehensive set of comments and, crucially, mentions in this one.  Does it even need to be said that they were entertaining to read?  Well, I'm saying it anyway.  Massive cheers for that boss!