The Advent Calendar Guessing Game, 2020 Edition

[MiniMatt]

I’ve long had a theory (I suspect proven bollocks by pesky evidence) that staff whose day job is video games naturally gravitate toward lighter, shorter, and more communal games on their own time - or when forming end of year lists. The sort of games the rest of us might dismiss as a bit shallow but are just the thing if your entire working week is spent on the latest epic 80 hour rpg slog.

[Godwhacker]

The RPS Advent Calendar 2020, December 8th

Another popular one I think. Hard to believe this was this year. Hard to believe anything was this year though.

[Aerothorn]

I admit that I’m a little turned off by the license - there was a massive gap between the critical “GOTY” reception to the original Gears of War and my reception of it, which was as a particularly boring and repetitive 7/10 action game - but it does sound like good fun.

[MiniMatt]

Nate’s calendar writeup is really spot on, brilliantly enjoyable and does some stuff far better than any other xcom-alike. I suspect if I’d actually paid proper money for it (they’re still trying to sell it for £50 which is preposterous) I’d have stuck with it longer, on games pass I felt no guilt dropping it when it got repetitive, which was prob ~20 hours in.

[Aerothorn]

As far as I can tell, Microsoft’s strategy for first party titles is to keep their prices preposterous to drive traffic to games pass. They did this for Sea of Thieves for a long time too.

[Sunnytroglodyte]

After briefly being joined by Sarfrin and and_its_man, I’ve managed to shake them both off and regain my position at the bottom of the table

[BillButNotBen]

I know it was well recieved, although I must confess to being similar to Aerothorn and the license putting me off more than attracting me, but I figured it wasn’t quite well regarded enough to get on the list.

It seemed like a game people talked about for a week and then I never heard it mentioned again. Oh well.

[and_its_man]

I may be visiting the cellar again, don’t worry. That’s something I can expect - and would probably be deserved - considering my list is an assemblage of the few intel I could get from a panic-search that lasted, I’d say a good 30 minutes (peeking at you guys’ lists included). That just can’t work.

Heck, I started the year meticulously bookmarking every article hinting that a game might be a valid contestant.
The entire folder was dumped a few months later. I think I remember I suddenly had a different, better plan (“Fuck it, I’m moving to Cuba anyway”, “My new life is making macramé”, or something like that). I hate my late night epiphanies.

[Sarfrin]

It seemed like a game people talked about for a week and then I never heard it mentioned again

I actually went back and checked because it was on a lot of lists and I remembered almost nothing about it. It seemed like a few different people were playing it based on WWAPATYAPTWW.

[BillButNotBen]

I’d say a good 30 minutes

Huh? I spent a grand total of about 5 minutes on my list

I actually went back and checked because it was on a lot of lists and I remembered almost nothing about it. It seemed like a few different people were playing it based on WWAPATYAPTWW.

I’d entirely forgotten about it. Talking about it now reminds me that it came out around the same time as that X-Com Squad game, which also seemed very popular for about a week and then I never heard anyone mention it again.

[sergiocornaga]

Haha, I only realised Gears Tactics was a Gears of War spin-off after reading the discussion here just now.

[MiniMatt]

Teehee, when the review dropped it looked like this could sneak in at the last minute to monkey with us; the inclusion of giant deity ladies all but guaranteed a spot

The RPS Advent Calendar 2020, December 9th

[Godwhacker]

Oof. First zero of the year, though not surprising given it costs £60 and came out two days ago or whatever. I wonder what it’s edged out?

[MiniMatt]

I wonder what it’s edged out?

I guess Alice B / Ollie games if we’re to infer they were the primary point spenders today. The Longing was one I looked at but thought Alice B would be its sole (but mighty, natch) champion. Ollie is my strongest source of confidence for Factorio (that and it being one of the most influential, innovative games of the last few years, albeit not one that’s had wide RPS attention in 2020)

[BillButNotBen]

Well that wasn’t the last minute game that I expected to edge its way in.

Should have predicted Alice’s thing for giant women winning out. kicks self

[Aerothorn]

Yeah, RIP The Longing. Really worried about the prospects of offbeat indie narrative adventures this year - I was kind of hoping that a year of relatively lackluster AAA releases would clear the way.

Speaking of which, Immortals Fenyx Rising has to be the worst-named big-budget release in memory. I cannot believe anyone approved that name. I honestly think it will hurt sales.

Also: It’s one of the best games of the year, but it’s not RPS Recommended? That’s why I didn’t seriously consider putting it in - if the one reviewer liked it but not quite enough to say it was truly great, it’s usually not a good sign.

[Godwhacker]

Valorant is a worse name, but I suppose at least it’s distinctive. Immortals Fenyx Rising sounds like they were pulling words out of a hat.

[Sarfrin]

Immortals Fenyx Rising has to be the worst-named big-budget release in memory. I cannot believe anyone approved that name

It was originally called Gods and Monsters but I’m sure they could have founded something better to change it to. Or ignored Monster energy drinks stupid lawsuit.

[MiniMatt]

Well that wasn’t the last minute game that I expected to edge its way in.

If other sites are any guide, the other last minute entry isn’t looking quite so sure-fire and Matt’s Day Of Gloating might have to be cancelled I think someone said RPS weren’t graced review keys, so unless they nicked Eurogamers I guess we won’t see a WiT for a week?

[Aerothorn]

Yeah, Cyberpunk 2077 absolutely won’t feature at this point; first, because they can’t play it in time, and second, because it’s clear that in 2020 the game is a hot mess. It will still qualify in 2021 if, when it’s patched, RPS think it is deserving of greatness.