The Game Awards are upon us. The nominees have been in for some time, fans are casting their last votes for the fan selections, and there’s a lot to look forward to tonight. We’ve thrown together a short list of five things to look out for during The Game Awards stream later today.
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
The last installment in the Uncharted franchise is up for a number of awards this year, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction (Naughty Dog), Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Action/Adventure Game, and three of their voice actors are up for Best Performance. Uncharted 4 has been a fan favorite as well, as it was well received when it landed earlier this year, and is expected to walk away with a number of these awards tonight.
- Overwatch
Blizzard’s smash-hit release built up quite the following and is still running strong, gathering players and keeping them hooked as they continue to improve the game and introduce new combat modes. Overwatch is up for quite a few awards, among them Game of the Year, Best Game Direction (Blizzard), Best Art Direction, Best Action Game, and Best Multiplayer. It should give Uncharted 4 a good run for its money, as Overwatch has had a huge impact this year.
- Abzu
Developed by Giant Squid Studios and published by 505 Studios, Abzu features the art direction of Matt Nava and the musical compositions of Austin Wintory–both of Journey fame. Up for Best Art Direction this year, Abzu is a visually stunning adventure game that emphasizes swimming and interacting with aquatic life, which simulates shoaling and predatory behaviors amidst them. It feels very akin to an underwater pass to Journey, but features some breathtaking art direction.
- Hyper Light Drifter
A 2D action RPG, Hyper Light Drifter was developed by Heart Machine, and is an homage to the old 8- and 16-bit games of the late 20th century. Up for Best Action/Adventure game and Best Independent Game this year, Hyper Light Drifter features some stunning visuals and compelling narrative centered around the player character, who has access to technology long forgotten, and suffers from an unknown illness. Some have compared the narrative to Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky, and it’s lead developer, Alex Preston, has sited Nausica as a source of inspiration for the story, along with his own struggles with Heart Disease. It’s certainly a contender in both of its categories, and will be one to watch.
- Run the Jewels
The American hip hop supergroup, Run the Jewels, will be taking the stage tonight to perform in advance of their release of their next album, RTJ3. Run the Jewels features Killer Mike and El-P, and their performance promises to be epic.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda Gameplay
After a successful N7 Day and a month of coverage from Game Informer, Bioware has promised over five minutes of new gameplay from the upcoming Mass Effect: Andromeda. Andromeda is the fourth installment in the Mass Effect franchise and steps away from the original trilogy, taking place in the Andromeda Galaxy and 600 years after the events of the trilogy. Fans were given their first, full length trailer on November 7th this year, and–with a release set for sometime in the spring of next year–many of them are eager to see what the worlds of Mass Effect: Andromeda have to offer. - Zelda: Breath of Wind
Nintendo has promised new footage from the upcoming Zelda: Breath of Wind game that will be releasing on the Nitendo Switch and Wii U. They’ve not said much beyond a few tweets about the reveal, but it’ll definitely be worth the look.
This year’s Awards promises to be packed with quality performances and awards from the industry, and is not to be missed. The live coverage begins at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on The Game Awards website, and will also be streamed on most major platforms. Tune in, and we’ll see you on the other side!
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