NYTimes names Mass Effect game of the year

66 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Dec 23rd 2007 6:25PM
Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

A little lesbianism goes a long way as the New York Times names Mass Effect its game of the year for 2007. The NYT bestowed Mass Effect with the honor for its "focus on character development, personal growth and moral tension, all fueled by a graphics system created to evoke emotional empathy." Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction was honored for being the shining star on the PS3 and BioShock was named the "best newcomer." There's also digs at Halo 3 and Super Mario Galaxy for being "unambitious representations of the state of the art."

Speaking of unambitious, for the second time in less than a month the New York Times copyeditors took a nap (albeit a minor one) on a video game-related story, which is slowly becoming inappropriate in covering an $18 billion-plus industry. There's no telling when reporter Seth Schiesel submitted his copy for this piece, but E3 2008 was already confirmed for the Los Angeles Convention Center last Tuesday, so the article's suggestion that "the solution for [E3] next year can be summed up in one word (or is that two?): Las Vegas" is just about 1,000 New York minutes behind the times.

Tags: error, mass-effect, masseffect, new-york-times, newyorktimes, nyt, ratchetandclank, super-mario-galaxy, supermariogalaxy

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Diskoboy: Dec 23rd 2007; 6:30PM

Mass Effect is a great game, but I still think BioShock was superior.

roxxxo: Dec 23rd 2007; 6:32PM

i love both, but i'm on my 5th playthru of mass effect already. i'm saving my "good" playthru of bioshock for next year, so things will seem fresh. it sure was a great setting/atmosphere though

Hashbrown_Hunter: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:44PM

If you were to put BioShock and Mass Effect in a room together and told them to fight to the death (and the reward would be a cake!), BioShock would be chomping upon Mass Effect's mangled and bloody alien lesbian flesh.

James: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:16PM

Now I have to buy the game >.>

Azerael: Dec 24th 2007; 2:21AM

Bioshock just felt like System Shock underwater for me. I sort of hoped that SHODAN would pop up somewhere.

Mass Effect, at least, felt like something different.

ogvor: Dec 24th 2007; 3:41PM

@ Azerael

You ever play Knights of the Old Republic?

bm: Dec 23rd 2007; 6:49PM

I'm sorry but, any other flaws notwithstanding, anyone who seriously thinks Galaxy does NOT revitalize the platforming genre in completely new ways, either hasn't played the game, is a troll, or a complete goddamn idiot. I can't believe they lumped it in the same category as Halo 1.3.

Worst Review Ever: Dec 23rd 2007; 6:50PM

Word.

Raikage (ROFLBERRY PWNCAKES Defence Force): Dec 23rd 2007; 7:05PM

Tru dat, read my post below. I really didn't like 3D Mario *ducks* before this, this... is just amazing...

Best game EVAR? No. Best game in it's genre? Oh yeah.

Stupidiot: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:08PM

Although Mario Galaxy did revitalise platforming games in my eyes, and was great fun to boot, I still don't think it did anything particularly new or exciting. Halo 3, too, was good fun but didn't really do anything new either.

Still have yet to complete Mass Effect, but I've enjoyed it so far, and have heard good things about the rest of the game. I don't think it's quite as good as the KOTOR games though.

KrazyKoala: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:01PM

I have Galaxy and to be honest, its funky and cool with its worlds but I didn't enjoy it much and got bored at 65 stars. Plus it's complete lack of any story (and you can technically beat the game half-way through)is a huge strike against it. Its a pretty good game and all but with the aforementioned problems and its out of date graphics (I thought RE4 looked better) means its no GOTY contender. I love Halo and don't agree with your 1.3 claim but I also wouldn't call that GOTY. Its definitely Bioshock for me though to be fair I never tried Mass Effect.

Happy gaming.

Ghen: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:44PM

Mario at 65 stars is still a longer game than a lot of other releases. I applaud nintendo for not skimping on the content. And heck, for a kids game... its hard!

bm: Dec 24th 2007; 8:05AM

No, see, whether or not any of you like the game is besides the point. The point is that it is hardly unambitious, regardless of your opinion on its quality.

To mention Galaxy in the same breath as the third near-identical installment in a series that was already just another FPS to begin with, on the basis that it somehow doesn't do anything new, is the most idiotic thing I've read all week.

LordMinogue: Dec 23rd 2007; 6:58PM

Initially Bioshock looked like it would be all about choices and how "in the end our choices make us." However, it released as an atmospheric game with a typical linear revenge plot. Mass Effect's morality system and cause/effect game play make it a clear winner in my book.

Geist: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:09PM

Well if you want to go with morality and all that, check out The Witcher. I haven't played it much myself, but I hear that choices play a very important part in that game.

Stupidiot: Dec 24th 2007; 4:00PM

I thought the whole point in us being told we'd make all these choices in Bioshock was just to make us better realise the irony of it later in the story (assuming you've actually played through the game).

Raikage (ROFLBERRY PWNCAKES Defence Force): Dec 23rd 2007; 7:00PM

Having played all of them but Mass Effect (I'm a HUGE KOTOR fan though) I'd have to say

Halo 3: It's the next Halo, It's not gonna deviate much from the formula that works, which makes more people happy than not.

Bioshock: Unfortunately I've only played a tiny bit of it, I fought a Big Daddy though, amazing.

R&C: It's a R&C game... If you like them you'll like it, if not, you won't have your mind changed.

Mario Galaxy: The first and ONLY 3D Mario game I have liked (not counting spin-offs) IMO it truly has the most incredibly amazing level designs I have ever seen. I'm serious, the best there is.

Game of the year? Well if I had the chance to play Mass Effect that would definitely take the cake (It's a lie BTW) because anything that resembles KOTOR is a major plus in my book. Mario is just so awe inspiring that I can't really make a call. Halo is what you play with your buddies, not much else. I also loved Assassin's Creed :D

This post really doesn't have a point to it but O well...

My 7 &1/23 cents

Deck: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:07PM

w00t! Hell yea! Finally, Mass Effect gets a GOTY from somewhere! (If there's others already, I must have missed 'em).

Mass Effect is a great game and I believe they did a great job by naming it GOTY. Specifically for the reasons that they listed is why I've though it should get the award. Someone was able to look by the small little issues that really aren't bad at all (hell, none of 'em bug me at all really. Only the Mako). That pleases me.

Yay Mass Effect!

AK: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:05PM

"the right reasons"
you mean the sex?
thought so...

hegemonyhog: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:08PM

Wait...Mario Galaxy is an uninspring example of "state of the art" despite revolutionizing the genre (again), but Ratchet and Clank: Rail Grinding and More Weapons gets a shout out?

Noshino: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:19PM

revolutionazing? I'm sorry, but I played it for quite a while, and didn' find it "revolutionazing", yes, this is the first time the use of round planets WITH gravity has been applied in game, but to call it revolutionazing is a bit too much, but then again, its Mario, so it WILL, despite what MANY others belief, be somewhat related to a new era of games and crap like that....sigh

Steve: Dec 24th 2007; 1:11AM

Hey, it's hegemonyhog from the other blog's board! Yeah, I was about to post the exact same thing.

And to the other guy: nobody claimed Mario Galaxy was revolutionazing anything.

Kazi: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:16PM

I totally agree with the New York Times. (sips his Triple Mint Mocha Latte Decaf Espresso w/ Whipped Cream while typing this post on his Mac iBook in the middle of a trendy cafe while wearing a top hat, monocle and striped turtle neck sweater)

Raikage (ROFLBERRY PWNCAKES Defence Force): Dec 23rd 2007; 7:23PM

It's all about the Benjamin's err Macbook baby!>So owning a Macbook Pro makes me a monocle wearing rich man? AWESOME!

Tamer Brad: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:55PM

I'm not sure you realize how fucking awesome all of that sounds.

Geist: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:11PM

I need to find me a monocle and top hat and do exactly that.

Speddy: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:31PM

I played it. I enjoyed it. What more do you need?

Will: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:59PM

What? No cardigan? :P

Will: Dec 23rd 2007; 7:59PM

What? No cardigan? :P

tlj101010: Dec 23rd 2007; 9:22PM

Who cares what the NYTimes thinks. Aren't these the same people that said the Xbox 360 had the "Cell" processor a couple of weeks ago?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Dec 23rd 2007; 11:01PM

I don't understand how that has anything to do with picking Mass Effect for GOTY. Gaming publications have made similar mistakes. Should we now not listen to them because of a simple mistake? Please. Every voice should be heard, even from the mainstream media. But it's nice knowing that magazines like Time are recognizing this great game.

Geist: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:15PM

Does anyone else consider Mass Effect a bit of a casual title? I find the simple combat and deep dialogue and story make it a great game for someone who doesn't really want to get too much into twitch stuff. Except for the poor interface (for the inventory, mostly), I find Mass Effect is kind of like reading an interactive book, where you shoot things from time to time, and so perfect for a lot of people that typical games don't cater to.

Zsavior: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:16PM

Yes but you see this week they are reputable because they are picking the games the internets over here like. That is gaming journalism for you, a crack head can have a reputable opinion if they back the right person and have the right name. The games that everybody got tons of enjoyment out of were Mario Galaxy and Portals. Yet they aren't winning game of the year, sit and ponder that.

People will trust the word of a publication that doesn't even know the freaking system they played the game on. I look forward to next year, I really really do, because the anger that is going to hit these boards will be like sweet Candy to me.

Dirk Dorkelson: Dec 24th 2007; 4:03AM

The guy who wrote this is their lead video game writer. As far as I've seen, he only writes about games, so yeah, I trust his opinion. He recently took part in that excellent gaming roundtable over at Slate.

jcd: Dec 23rd 2007; 9:27PM

So has galaxy won any goty yet?

Not that I want it to. I am more of the 360/PC camp me-self and just want to giggle at the N fanboys.

mr nimblewick: Dec 24th 2007; 12:40AM

It has.

Prrrrrrrrrop: Dec 24th 2007; 2:52PM

Galaxy has won a ton of GOTY awards. It's easily the best Mario game since the originals on the NES.. 64, and Sunshine are nowhere near as awesome as this one. They knocked it out of the ballpark.

AK: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:03PM

yes a little lesbianism does go a long way because...

portal is superior.

Jerk Face: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:11PM

I see what you did there!

SuiXide: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:06PM

Bioshock was good, no doubt about that, but the final deciding factor for me was the ending. Both Bioshock endings SUCKED and Mass Effect was a cliffhanger, but a good one (if such a thing can exist). So Mass Effect gets my vote.

Geist: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:18PM

I always hate cliffhangers. It feels like the writers gave up and didn't feel like giving a conclusion to the story. Now, I remember hearing Mass Effect was a planned trilogy, but there's a game with an open ending, and a game with a cliffhanger.

Basically, it's like comparing Star Wars: New Hope with Empire Strikes Back. Guess which one I didn't like the ending to.

roxxxo: Dec 24th 2007; 2:52AM

mass effect is more like a new hope, not empire

SuiXide: Dec 24th 2007; 3:09AM

Exactly.

tmacairjordan87: Dec 23rd 2007; 10:10PM

finally someone gets it right...and the new york friggin times of all places, who woulda thunk it?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Dec 23rd 2007; 11:08PM

Yes. Because god forbid they pick a game you don't like. Because as we all know, that just means they're wrong.

tmacairjordan87: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:10PM

basically nailed it on the head, congrats!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Dec 23rd 2007; 11:13PM

I know. I do my best.

Zsavior: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:02PM

Does anybody know what game was Famitsu's pick for game of the year, and Jeux France, every year I only see American picks, I was wondering if we would get different regions in the world this year.

phihexy27: Dec 23rd 2007; 11:19PM

Why would I really care what the NY Times would have to say about a video game? I don't read EGM to find out what is going on in the world, and I don't read The NY Times to get for their opinion of a video game, or for any video game information for that matter.

This is not to say that I necessarily disagree with their choice. I do however feel that this is probably one of the hardest years in recent memory to pick a game of the year. With so many great games I feel that it all boils down to what type of game do you like to play, and even at that most genres have multiple great titles this year.