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2010 Aggie Awards

Written by AG Staff
It will take you 36 minutes to read this feature.


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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

Runners-Up: Lost Horizon, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, The Whispered World

 


Next up: Best Concept... the envelope, please!

Best Concept: Heavy Rain

 

 

Life is a series of moments: decisions made, words spoken, actions taken or not. Usually adventure games challenge players to find the one predetermined course for its protagonist. Heavy Rain does just the opposite. Four lives, interwoven, all of them touched by the Origami Killer in one way or another, their fates now literally in the player’s hands. Every choice made as a singular character could influence the path of the other three and change the whole direction of the game. If one dies, how will that affect the ability of another to survive? Research done while investigating a lead with a Detective could impact another character’s plotline greatly, and add extra layers of depth to the experience – or it could be bypassed entirely and a totally different result be achieved.

Heavy Rain took what was started in Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit and ramped it up immeasurably. While Quantic Dream’s earlier game did allow for branching decisions and diverging pathways to reach the goal, each resulted in only a minor, often cosmetic change in the game. You could solve puzzles in multiple ways, but the results were normally more or less the same, with multiple outcomes quite limited. What Heavy Rain does is provide situations that truly change, entirely dependent on your choices and actions. The conclusions for each actor in this thriller can vary wildly, and one playthrough can be truly unique from another. Freedom of choice is hardly a new concept, but rarely (if ever) has it been pushed to these extremes with such impressive results.

Runners-Up: Puzzle Bots, Again

 


Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain

 

 

Though it might make a purist’s head explode, there’s no denying that Heavy Rain is a bold, ambitious experiment in interactive storytelling. Largely forsaking traditional puzzle-solving in favour of constant decisions, context-sensitive actions and Quick Time Events, the welcome sense of genuinely controlling the fates of four different characters is a degree of freedom rarely offered in adventures.

Runners-Up: Amnesia: The Dark Descent, The Whispered World

 


Next up: Best Setting... the envelope, please!

Best Setting: Puzzle Agent

 

 

Who would have expected a game set in Minnesota to be so memorable? Scoggins, the sleepy setting of Telltale’s Puzzle Agent, combines cartoonist Graham Annable’s simple art style with the equally simple sensibilities of a remote northern American town blanketed in snow… and secrets. Soon after FBI special agent Nelson Tethers arrives by snowmobile, it becomes clear that something is “off” in Scoggins. Local establishments such as Valda’s Hotel and the Moose Ear Diner appear to be warm and hospitable, but when Agent Tethers tries to get down to business, the tight-lipped citizens give him the cold shoulder. No one wants to talk about the accident at the imposing eraser factory on the outskirts of town. That’s partly because the townsfolk are too obsessed with solving puzzles to give him their full attention. In another game this preoccupation may seem tacked on, but in a town as remote and eccentric as Scoggins, we’re willing to believe it.

Though its cozy locales and Nordic-accented inhabitants sprinkle the town with character, Scoggins’ stark outdoor locations are the ones we remember most. Vast landscapes with no footprints in the snow – yet someone has been here. An icy forest that yields a grisly surprise. Bright eyeballs shining from the shadows. (You see them, don’t you?) Those shivers running down your spine aren’t due to the weather. No, there’s a mystery adrift in Scoggins, and it infuses this seemingly idyllic winter wonderland with an ice-cold edge. Who knew little guys in red pointed hats could be quite so terrifying? Puzzle Agent combines cute and creepy in a wintry rural landscape unlike any other, and for that reason it made the Aggie cut for this year’s Best Setting.

Runners-Up: The Whispered World, Alchemia

 


Readers’ Choice: The Whispered World

 

 

The world of Silentia is about to be destroyed unless young Sadwick can stop it, though he himself is fated to cause its ruin. And what a loss our readers have decided that would be, clearly impressed by The Whispered World’s rich fantasy setting filled with rural caravans, lush forests, cliffside towns, and towers in the clouds. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s all beautifully designed in stunning hand-drawn 2D artwork.

Runners-Up: Lost Horizon, Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 


Next up: Best Graphic Design... the envelope, please!

Best Graphic Design: The Whispered World

 

 

As soon as the first screenshot was displayed, years before the game’s actual release, every adventurer was drooling over the gorgeous hand-drawn graphic design of The Whispered World. Thankfully, Marco Hüllen and the artists at Daedalic ensured that the end result looked just as good in action, making Silentia the perfect backdrop for this melancholic adventure. Luxuriant autumn forests, blue skies filled with milky clouds that resemble frothy waves, underground caves enlightened by emerald rivers, nights so gloomy they appear to be taken straight from a Gothic novel, tumbledown buildings of impossibly curved shapes, opulent interiors that resemble a Victorian dream... Wow.

But it’s not just the scenery that looks great. The strange, bizarre, and sometimes downright scary creatures that inhabit the world make the joy of exploration so much more rewarding. From the adorable shape-shifting caterpillar Spot to a crystallized, many-eyed anglerfish monstrosity to the jester-garbed, blue-faced protagonist clown himself, Silentia is populated not by elves and dwarves and orcs, but by its own distinct, memorably original inhabitants. All told, with its bright colours, vivid lighting, curious buildings and breathtaking landscapes, The Whispered World is a visual pleasure that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a painting come to life. For that it’s earned our Best Graphic Design award, beating out the stunningly realistic Heavy Rain by the slimmest of margins.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island, Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World

 


Readers’ Choice: The Whispered World

 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, are words really necessary with a screenshot to the side? Seeing is obviously believing, as we weren’t the only ones smitten by The Whispered World’s gorgeous art design. The rich colours, painstaking attention to detail, whimsically stylized architecture and magical inhabitants all come together in what is surely one of the best-looking adventures ever made.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Lost Horizon

 


Next up: Best Animation... the envelope, please!

Best Animation: Professor Layton and the Unwound/Lost Future

 

 

When you think of the Professor Layton games, puzzles probably spring to mind more readily than animation. And with its presentation largely done in a slideshow format, you might assume that the latest game in the series is an odd choice for this award. However, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (or Lost Future in Europe) is packed with extensive cutscenes that are true exemplars of the animator’s art, packing a wealth of detail onto the small DS screen. Utilising the same attractive European art style of its predecessors, reminiscent of such critically acclaimed feature films as The Triplets of Belleville, these are animations that would not look out of place in a cinema release themselves.

Improving further still on the earlier Layton games, the cutscenes in Unwound/Lost Future are truly impressive pieces of work. The opening scene of Layton and Luke riding a bus through London includes a smooth pan around Big Ben’s clock tower, milling crowds on the pavement and London traffic all around them. A shot showing Luke through the double decker bus window even includes reflections of the bustling activity outside. This attention to detail is maintained throughout, right up to the spectacular conclusion. With quality this good, it is hardly surprising that in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, the series has taken the strength of its animation to a full Japanese film release. This is cinematic animation as it should be, and a worthy winner of our Aggie Award.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, The Dream Machine: Chapters 1 and 2

 


Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain

 

 

When a game is touted as an interactive drama, it had better be able to back up the claim with an engaging cinematic experience. Heavy Rain succeeded in doing just that, in no small part to the high quality of its likelike animation. With convincing, emotive facial expressions and smooth motion-captured performances from real actors, this game comes as close as any we've seen to pole-vaulting over the Uncanny Valley.

Runners-Up: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, Lost Horizon

 


Next up: Best Music... the envelope, please!

Best Music: Heavy Rain

 

 

Hiding under a bed, you can hear the footsteps of a suspected killer grow closer as the soundtrack begins to stir and grow. Strained, tense musical movements heighten the tension and reach a crescendo when the creepy taxidermist discovers where you are hiding. Now shifting tone and tempo, the chase is on and the action becomes more frantic. As you panic and waste time, the strings get more and more erratic, punctuated by dark, overbearing woodwinds, and you can almost feel the sweat rolling down your forehead. Somehow you manage to escape, and both your character and the instruments let out a relieved sigh, the anxiety draining from the music as the pace slows again. Whew!

The score composed by Normand Corbeil to accompany Heavy Rain almost becomes a character of its own. Mirroring the mood and atmosphere of the in-game action perfectly, the music doesn't seem scripted but entirely organic. Rather than being cued by the action, it seems to be reacting naturally along with it, flowing seamlessly as players make different decisions that dictate the direction of the game. Several scenes use synthesized music where appropriate, such as a visit to a nightclub, but the bulk of the score is made up of grand orchestral, stirring pieces. It may not be particularly groundbreaking in its arrangement or style, but the fact that it resembles a perfectly assembled theatrical score – one which has the ability to change with each different playthrough – is an impressive feat that makes it the deserving Aggie winner of a very close vote for Best Music.

Runners-Up: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 


Readers’ Choice: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 

 

Jared Emerson-Johnson one-upped himself with a soundtrack as epic and frenetic as The Devil’s Playhouse itself. For Sam & Max’s third season, the usual noir-influenced jazz is joined by a diverse smattering of other themes, from ancient Egyptian fanfare to turn-of-the-century ragtime to “wakka-chikka” jive straight out of a 1970s B-movie. The result is a game that’s every bit as fun to listen to as it is to play.

Runners-Up: The Whispered World, Heavy Rain

 


Next up: Best Voice Acting... the envelope, please!

Best Voice Acting: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 

 

When David Nowlin and William Kasten were first announced as the voices of the new Freelance Police, there was a minor furor – they weren't the same guys who did Hit the Road, so the project was doomed from the start. No way, no how could the games ever be the same… Well, three series in and it's now hard to imagine the rabbit and dog duo without their current voices. So a lot of credit must go to the two vocal leads, but The Devil's Playhouse also had a superb supporting cast. Whether it's Andrew Chaikin as the plummy narrator or Thessaly Lerner as the sharp-tongued Baby Amelia Earhart, every voice just sounds right.

Just as importantly, Telltale clearly gives their voice actors direction as well, rather than just handing them a script without guidance (or apparently much rehearsal), an example the majority of developers could learn from. This is crucial in a dialogue-driven comedy like Sam & Max, which relies on perfect timing and convincing vocal nuance to support the snappy banter among its ensemble cast. Even the slightest missed cue or poor inflection can be the difference between a gag hitting the mark or falling flat, and this game consistently delivers. Of course, Telltale gave itself a run for its money with Puzzle Agent, as did Quantic Dream’s extensive Heavy Rain cast and Blue Toad Murder Files’ impressive one-man performance, but The Devil’s Playhouse scooped this hotly-contested Aggie for its impecabble vocal production.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Puzzle Agent, Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mysteries of Little Riddle

 


Readers’ Choice: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 

 

With a casting call that included an anthropomorphic cockroach, a power-craving alien ape, a Cthulhu-like talking appendage, and a headgear-wearing teenage molegirl, you could excuse Telltale if they flubbed a part or two. But they didn’t. The Devil’s Playhouse introduced a whole new host of memorable characters, each performed to the same high quality as returning favourites like Superball, Stinky, Sybil, and Flint. Oh, and that canine shamus and hyperkinetic rabbity thing. They’re not bad, either.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Lost Horizon, Black Mirror II

 


Next up: Best Sound Design... the envelope, please!

Best Sound Effects: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

You swear you just heard something. A scraping noise… something like that. Where did it come from? Somewhere behind you, maybe? Or above you? Wait… is it getting louder? What's making that sound? There's something in here with you. But what IS it? You don’t even want to think about those horrific cries of anguish and pain echoing in the distance. It’s terrifying enough right here, because the only thing scarier than a nightmarish flesh-eating monster lumbering straight at you is the nightmarish flesh-eating monster that you can hear but not see.

Frictional Games understands the power of imagination in creating fear, and it's the sound design of Amnesia: The Dark Descent that will set your heart racing and your mouse hand trembling. Sure, the game has its fair share of loud, sudden noises that will make you jump out of your chair, but it's far more impressive how every faint trickle of water, panicked footstep, or tortured moan raises the tension right to the breaking point until you can't take it anymore. Just as powerful is the interplay between the game's sound and its signature physics engine. Sometimes that scraping noise is a monster, and sometimes it's just you crashing into a nearby desk. Either way, you'll freak out. For making players forget that they aren't actually in constant mortal danger through a brilliantly-crafted soundscape, Amnesia wins the Aggie for Best Sound Design in 2010.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 


Readers’ Choice: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

They say that when one sense is blocked, your other senses are heightened. Since so much of Amnesia is spent skulking about in the dark, it’s no wonder we were all so attuned to the game’s incredibly terrifying soundscape. The unseen denizens of the Brennenburg castle do a whole lot more than go bump in the night, and we not only heard each hair-raising shuffle, scream, wail, and skitter – we felt them. Now THAT is effective sound design.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 


Next up: An all-new addition: Honorary Aggies!


Honorary Aggies

 

Not all achievements fit neatly into a “Best of” category, nor can they all be fought on a level playing field. Some games stand out for doing one thing particularly well in a narrow field of competitors, or for doing everything well but no one thing in particular, possibly falling under the radar in the process. This year we’ve decided to recognize a few extra games that fell short of regular award status but still deserve attention for their noteworthy accomplishments. We first considered such possibilities as Best Puzzle and Most Memorable Moment, but getting adventure gamers to agree on anything is a challenge, let alone something that subjective. Then someone suggested “Best Use of Innovation” and we laughed ourselves silly. But finally we came up the list you’ll see below, as we celebrate their positive contributions to the genre in 2010.

 

Lost Horizon

 

 

Ever wonder how the person who finishes fourth in the Olympics must feel? Oh so close… yet oh so far. That’s probably how Animation Arts feels right now. Modeled after the popular movie serials of the ‘30s and ‘40s, Lost Horizon was one of the more enjoyable games of the year, offering an epic plot full of high adventure and derring-do in a variety of exotic locations, seamlessly weaving together subtle humour, physical danger, and even romantic tension between its two bickering leads. There were car chases, fist fights, plane battles, and dastardly Nazi villains to overcome. Indiana Jones would have been proud. Not only that, but the game looked good, sounded great, and delivered plenty of good old-fashioned fun. And yet, it didn’t win anything. (Spoiler alert! Oh, sorry.) This year, there were always a few other games a little bit ahead in one category after another, leaving Lost Horizon perpetually juuuust off the podium. But it’s too good to fade into fourth-place obscurity, so we’re pleased to award it our “Best of the Rest” honorary Aggie distinction.

Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World

 

 

If you’d like a delightful blend of old school comic adventure sensibilities and modern day accessibility, look no further than Petar Ivancek’s Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World. Its beautiful 2D cartoon graphics should trigger fond memories of the days of Curse of Monkey Island, and its challenging inventory puzzles (even to the point of straining logic at times) will remind everyone of the pre-walkthrough days of yore. Yet there’s no need for hint hotlines here, as this game is extremely user-friendly, with two difficulty settings, intuitive point-and-click interface, and a built-in hint system. So why aren’t more people talking about it? Maybe because the characters themselves don’t talk. Oh, there’s plenty of witty dialogue exchanged between amusingly-exaggerated characters, but there’s no voice acting at all, which is a big hindrance for some. Add in the fact that it’s available only as a download, and perhaps that’s enough to drive many people away. But it shouldn’t. There’s a charming, often entertaining adventure to be found in our “Best Game No One Has Played”, so do yourself a favour and change that.

Drawn: Dark Flight

 

 

Many games have tried to bridge the gap between full-fledged adventures and casual design, but few truly succeed. Most simply end up being an uneasy compromise between two styles of gameplay, alternating between elements in a forced and unnatural way. Drawn: The Painted Tower was one of the first to genuinely feel like a cohesive “casual adventure”, and its sequel was arguably even better. Far from a standard hidden object game, Big Fish’s Dark Flight was a fascinating journey through a whimsically gothic world filled with imaginative obstacles and creative puzzles that put most adventures to shame, all wonderfully supported with beautiful 2D fantasy imagery and an impressive orchestral soundtrack. Its fairly streamlined nature and light plot focus are the only things that separate this from any award-winning adventure, and as our honorary “Best Casual Game“ winner, it remains the gold standard that every gamer owes it to themselves to try.

Jolly Rover

 

 

Who the heck is Brawsome? A year ago, no one knew. Well, Andrew Goulding knew, as the indie Australian developer was hard at work on his debut adventure. And what an impressive first foray into the genre that became, offering up a lighthearted swashbuckling romp unlike any other. Perhaps somewhat overlooked in the deluge of recent pirate games, Jolly Rover managed to distinguish itself nevertheless with its pleasing 2D graphics, humourous dialogue, user-friendly interface, and abundance of things to see and do and collect, many of them purely optional. Well, that and the fact that everyone’s an anthropomorphic dog. While most first-time developers make plenty of rookie mistakes, Goulding clearly did his homework along the way, as this game hits just about all the right notes. For giving new meaning to the term “fetch quest” (in an entirely good way), this scurvy sea dog’s tale earned our award for “Most Promising Debut” in 2010, and here’s hoping that this is only the start of good things to come from Brawsome.

DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie

 

 

Everything about Parallax Studio’s DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie simply oozes nostalgia. Of course, maybe that’s because this futuristic space opera is so darn OLD. This massive indie production was ten years in the making, so it’s really no surprise that it clings tightly to old school design principles that weren’t nearly so dated a decade ago. Not all of them hold up well in today’s adventure landscape, like instant deaths and even the occasional dead end, but the most important one does. This “interactive movie” is true to its name, delivering more than thirteen hours(!!) of live-action FMV video, which it proudly boasts as being “more cinematic footage than any video game ever released”. As Captain John O’Neil, players awaken from cryo sleep aboard the damaged Westwick spaceship in the year 2499, but in many ways you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the mid-‘90s, when FMV was all the rage. For being every bit as much a blast from the past as an epic space odyssey through the future, this game claims the honour of “Most Nostalgic Adventure” of the past year.
 


Next up: Best Independent Adventure... the envelope, please!

Best Independent Adventure: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

It used to be reasonable to associate "independent" games with low production values or unpolished design. You remember the drill: voice acting by the designer's sister (if any at all), cut-and-paste graphics, and a decent chance that you might stumble on a game-breaking bug if you didn't play your cards right. Not anymore. The independent development scene is now flourishing, with designers willing to take risks that big publishers won't, yet still delivering an impressive level of quality. Amnesia: The Dark Descent showcases the originality and daring of developers freed from the restraints of often-stodgy publishers, delivering a truly terrifying adventure that we'd surely never have seen otherwise.

Unlike a lot of horror games that gnash their teeth but never bite, Amnesia has no interest in being your friend. In fact, it might be too consistently intense for some players, so unrelenting in its tension that it will surely threaten your psyche along with the playable character’s. And yet it seldom relies on cheap scare tactics, preferring instead to let you be an active participant in creating your own fear, wondering what awaits you out there in the dark. The small team at Frictional Games have dedicated their careers to honing the craft of interactive horror, and Amnesia is by far their best effort yet, proving that you don't need a huge budget to make a heart-pounding immersive experience. By turns mysterious, tense, and wet-pants-inducing, this game is expertly paced and designed to freak you out. The only thing we DON’T fear is ever regretting our decision to award it the top indie adventure of the year.

Runners-Up: Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World, Puzzle Bots, Hector: Badge of Carnage

 


Readers’ Choice: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

It’s only fitting that Amnesia: The Dark Descent was the runaway winner for staff and readers alike. After all, we did so much running away while PLAYING this game. Resisting the urge to give players weapons or special abilities, indie studio Frictional Games was determined to make a game where the greatest fear was fear itself – a gutsy move that would likely never have made it past the meeting room of a mainstream publisher.

Runners-Up: Jolly Rover, Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World

 


Next up: Best Console/Handheld Adventure... the envelope, please!

Best Console/Handheld Adventure (Exclusive): Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

 

 

Interactive fiction is a concept that dates back to experiments like the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, but there was nothing particularly interactive about those. Then text adventures like Zork came along and everything changed, allowing us to be active participants for the first time. The reason we love adventures in the first place is that rather than being passive spectators, we can truly influence how a story unfolds, perhaps even changing the final outcome. While other graphic adventures continue to streamline this process, perhaps even a little too much, Last Window: The Secret of Cape West stands out as the modern embodiment of interactive fiction. With the Nintendo DS held sideways in hand, it's just like holding a book. And when playing a game this good, it’s easy to lose yourself in its page-turning fictional world.

The sequel to Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a deeply engrossing, highly immersive, and fully interactive noir mystery, filled to the brim with fascinating characters to interrogate, like a contemporary Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. The game plays smoothly, its investigative segments feel natural, and its well-honed exploration allows us to be the protagonist, acting as Kyle Hyde’s eyes and hands. All the while, the DS-centric puzzles make excellent use of the handheld’s capabilities, making the experience all the more personally engaging. Even the way we hold the console, the way we handle it, becomes an interactive opportunity. Point-and-click? Pffft. So much wasted potential. Competing against the heavily-hyped, big-budget Heavy Rain made Last Window: The Secret of Cape West a decided underdog for this category, but it ultimately provided a better-rounded gameplay experience. As such, Cing's swan song has earned the distinction of not only being the best console adventure of 2010, but one of the finest examples of interactive fiction ever made.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Professor Layton and the Unwound/Lost Future, Hector: Badge of Carnage

 


Readers’ Choice: Heavy Rain

 

Many people lament and even resent the fact that Heavy Rain is a console-only exclusive. But there’s no doubt that Sony and Quantic Dream achieved their goal of presenting a highly cinematic interactive drama. Its gritty premise, multi-character narrative arc, organic control scheme, and of course an impressive amount of freedom to control the storyline all added up to one of the most memorable adventure experiences of the year, regardless of platform.

Runners-Up: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

 


Next up: Best First-Person PC Adventure... the envelope, please!

Best First-Person PC Adventure: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

It just may be the scariest adventure game ever. In a genre that includes classics like Dark Fall, Amber: Journeys Beyond, and Shadow of the Comet, such a statement really means something. Amnesia: The Dark Descent is THAT special. It's also a game that could only have been made from a first-person perspective. Everything about it is geared toward full immersion, from the lack of any visible interface during normal gameplay to the "insanity" effects that warp and blur your vision. While notes you discover remind you that you are playing a man named Daniel, it won't be Daniel's safety you’re concerned about. When the panic sets in, you’re not controlling a character; that’s you. And you’re not playing a game; you’re there.

So are other unseen… things, frightfully lurking in the dark shadows. All around you, phantom noises rumble and echo throughout the crumbling gothic halls of Castle Brennenburg. Creatures with warped flesh dip in and out of the light. Even the walls can turn against you at a moment's notice, spawning a deadly growth somewhere between human flesh and fungus. The confinement of the first-person perspective means that when you're hiding behind a barrel praying silently that nothing evil comes your way, you won't know until it's too late. You can never be sure when you are in danger, and so you can never rest. All these elements come together to evoke the feeling that makes Amnesia a modern classic, and for that it earned an overwhelming victory in the battle for top first-person PC adventure of 2010.

Runners-Up: Drawn: Dark Flight, RHEM 4: The Golden Fragments, DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie

 


Readers’ Choice: Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

 

Amnesia: The Dark Descent still would have been scary with a visible protagonist, but only its more limited, claustrophobic viewpoint could generate the kind of terror we clearly all felt as we scrambled frantically between scarce light sources. While some would argue this game isn’t even an adventure, really the only victim of this “survival horror” was our sanity, and we loved every masochistic pulse-pounding moment.

Runners-Up: Drawn: Dark Flight, Darkness Within 2: The Dark Lineage

 


Next up: Best Third-Person PC Adventure... the envelope, please!

Best Third-Person PC Adventure: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 

 

With two Aggie awards for this series already in Telltale's trophy cabinet, it should come as no surprise that Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse takes the honour as our top third-person PC adventure of the year. Its somewhat wonky controls took some getting used to, but otherwise the third round of episodic adventures for the canine shamus and hyperkinetic rabbity thing took what worked in the first two seasons and pushed the envelope even further, delivering an often brilliant, bizarre, and hilarious experience. The series’ high level of polish, expressive character animation, playful musical score and witty dialogue were as laudable as ever, but this season included a richer story arc, intentionally scuzzed-up graphic design, and a whole host of unique puzzle-solving gimmicks to make it stand out from its closest competitors.

While previous seasons maintained a degree of continuity throughout, The Devil’s Playhouse is a true “episodic” adventure. With increasingly dramatic cliffhangers that left you eyeing the calendar for the next monthly release, you wouldn’t dare miss out on a single episode to find out how Max lost his brain, who the Sam & Max-shaped skeletons really were, why zombie-like Sam clones were running around in their underwear, or what could stop the horrific rabbity monstrosity rampaging through the city. And what a city it was – still done in a comic 3D design but now more detailed and grungier than before, far closer to Steve Purcell’s original vision than ever. Just as compelling was the unique puzzle design, which largely abandoned traditional solutions for a creative, original approach, with the incorporation of psychic powers opening up a whole new type of lateral thinking conundrum. Telltale could have simply recycled the same old formula, but in refusing to rest on their laurels, they’ve rightfully earned the top PC adventure Aggie for another year.

Runners-Up: The Whispered World, Black Mirror II, Lost Horizon

 


Readers’ Choice: The Whispered World

 

 

There’s no need to keep quiet now, as our readers have sung the praises of The Whispered World loud and clear. The melancholic fantasy tale of a sad young clown’s quest to save the world excelled in so many ways, from eye-popping graphics and impressive orchestral soundtrack to its memorble hero-and-sidekick duo and unforgettable finale. It needed every one of its credentials, too, as the game only narrowly claimed victory in this hotly contested field of impressive adventures.

Runners-Up: Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, Lost Horizon, Black Mirror II

 


Next up: The moment you’ve all been waiting for – Best Adventure of 2010... the envelope, please!

Best Adventure of 2010: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

 

 

Choosing a game of the year is always a challenge. Only the top games are still in contention at the end, and each of them is rightfully deserving of acclaim. The task can be even harder for adventures, as our oft-unappreciated genre diversity means the possibilities can be remarkably different. Never in the (albeit short) history of the Aggies has that been more true than 2010. From a cinematic multi-million dollar Sony exclusive to an independent horror that raised the bar on psychological fear; from a text-heavy interactive pulp novel to a jaw-dropping traditional fantasy adventure, the finalists were as varied as they were exceptional in their own way. Then, of course, there was a new entry from the Freelance Police, who no doubt expected to reclaim their title from 2008. This was our dilemma: large or small, funny or sad, PC or console, old school or new school, mainstream or niche? Only one could be the winner.

Our choice of Last Window: The Secret of Cape West as the Best Adventure of 2010 may come as a surprise (and probably disappointment) to anyone who doesn’t own a Nintendo DS. Yet those who do will need no convincing, as the sequel to Hotel Dusk: Room 215 took everything that made the original game great and fine-tuned an already-winning formula even further. The ongoing saga of troubled ex-cop Kyle Hyde offered everything fans of story-driven adventures could want: fully immersive film noir-styled storyline full of dark secrets and unexpected twists and turns; richly detailed characters whose personalities aren’t controlled by your actions; impressive jazz soundtrack you can even access from an in-game jukebox; varied use of the unique DS functionality; inspired puzzles nicely integrated into the plot, some with multiple solutions; and distinctively stylized hand-drawn artwork reminiscent of animated graphic novels. Plus an actual novel to boot, as your exploits are recorded at the end of each chapter in a written narrative that’s well worth a read in its own right.

Alas, rather than simply lauding one of the best adventures to ever grace the genre, this award is a bittersweet honour. For one thing, Last Window has received only a limited release in the UK thus far, limiting the exposure of a game that every adventurer (at least, those who enjoy reading) really must play. (Hey publishers: wake up! We don’t hand out GOTY Aggies to just any game, you know!! Get this game on store shelves everywhere!!!) More tragically – and not unrelated – The Secret of Cape West marks the final adventure from Cing, as the Japanese developer was recently forced to close its doors. But if they had to go out, they certainly did it in style, treating us with a swan song adventure for the ages. And so, fellow gamers, we encourage you to beg, borrow, or buy a DS and seek this game out, to experience for yourselves the many worthy qualities that earned it our top 2010 Aggie Award. And Cing… we salute you. Thanks for the memories.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Amnesia The Dark Descent, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, The Wispered World

 


Readers’ Choice: The Whispered World

 

 

At last! Something that would make even Sadwick smile. Toppling Telltale from its two-year reign at the top, and proving you don’t need millions of dollars to fashion a memorable adventure, Daedalic’s The Whispered World edged out the competition in a photo finish. (If ever there was proof of the adage “every vote counts”, this is it!) But with four individual Aggies to its credit already, this ultimate honour is well-deserved, and a testament that traditional point-and-click adventures have plenty of life left in them yet.

Runners-Up: Heavy Rain, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse

 


That concludes the 2010 Aggie Awards! Still to come, a few administrative notes and a complete eligible game list, along with other assorted fine print that you probably should have read before signing. Think we got our choices right? Agree or disagree with your fellow gamers? Feedback is always welcome! Besides, we’ve got a whole year to fill up until we do it all over again.


The Adventure Gamers staff would like to offer our sincere congratulations to the developers (and publishers) of all games that won awards, and our thanks to the many readers who participated in our public voting poll.
 


Aggie Awards rules and regulations

 

All staff nominations were submitted privately, seen and verified only by two awards administrators. Final voting followed the same procedure.

To be considered, a game must have had its first release in a major English language market in the calendar year 2010 (except where otherwise noted below). Major markets include North America and the United Kingdom. Alternatively, any game first made available through digital distribution or self-published online during the year was also eligible.

For the sake of administrative simplicity, the episodic Blue Toad Murder Files, Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse have each been listed as a single entity.
 


Complete list of eligible games

 

Traditional PC Adventures (includes multi-platform releases)

 

Alchemia (self-published in 2009 but re-released to retail in 2010)
 

Console/Handheld Exclusives

 
1112: Episode 02 (iPhone/iPod Touch)
Again (DS)
Calling (Wii)
Crime Scene/Ciminology (DS - limited release in late 2009, but wider distribution in 2010)
The Train: Episode 1 (iPhone/iPod Touch)

 


Contributors to the writing of this article include: Jack Allin, Nate Berens, Astrid Beulink, Steve Brown, Emily Morganti, Andrea Morstabilini, Robin Parker, Reece Warrender, Stuart Young.

The Aggie Award was designed by Bill Tiller.

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