The 14th British Academy Games Awards had been handed out this week and, whereas the awards themselves could also be a bit disconnected from the place the remainder of us in Games Proper see the business, they’re measurement of how The Establishment sees interactive leisure at this level. To that finish, it’s each surprising and a bit thrilling to see the awards spotlight a recreation that was overwhelmingly ignored this 12 months, and which deserved extra celebration than it has acquired up to now. I’m talking about Ninja Theory’s darkish journey fantasy recreation Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and its 5 BAFTA wins: Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, British Game, Games Beyond Entertainment and Melina Juergens took the Performance class for her position as Senua.
Hell: Sen Sac (the suitable acronym, I consider) was a title that I by no means noticed marketed within the US exterior of a 3rd social gathering Facebook video function on a cool upcoming recreation that was flying below everybody’s radars. And then it flew below everybody’s radars. Which is a disgrace as a result of all the pieces I examine He:SeSa makes me respect it extra. Psychologists and neuroscientists had been introduced in to advise and guarantee its portrayal of psychological sickness was correct, which allowed the event workforce and story division to sort out psychological struggling in an progressive format.
H:SS was nominated in 9 classes and is the primary ever winner for the class Games Beyond Entertainment, which celebrates new releases with a political or social message. I don’t love all the pieces concerning the BAFTA displays, however that’s an thrilling class added at an essential time, and I’m anxious to see who will get nominated shifting ahead.
What Remains of Edith Finch, the second recreation from Giant Sparrow Studios, gained Best Game. Nintendo gained three classes, together with Super Mario Odyssey for Game Design and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Game Innovation. Elsewhere, hand-drawn story puzzle recreation Gorogoa gained Best Debut Game. Blizzard’s Overwatch gained the Evolving Game class whereas Golf Clash took Mobile Game. RPG Divinity: Original Sin 2 gained for Multiplayer title. Cuphead gained Music. Night within the Woods gained the Bafta for Narrative. And Guerrilla Games’ motion role-playing recreation Horizon Zero Dawn gained for Original Property.
So that’s what the BAFTAs noticed video games as this 12 months. I’m delighted to make use of this push to lastly take a look at Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which is a bizarre push I didn’t see coming from the BAFTA awards. Also, kudos to the Edith workforce and Gorgoa is hella value your time. (Yes, individuals nonetheless use “hella” exterior of Life Is Strange. I’m one among them. I’m the issue.)
If you’re focused on giving Hellblade a spin, it’s currently 10% off on the ole Steam store. Perhaps with this win, Ninja Theory can lastly do the Enslaved: Odyssey to the West sequel that I and I solely wish to see made manifest.
Finally, in wrapping up BAFTA protection, right here’s Tim Schafer’s BAFTA lifetime achievement award speechwords in full. I believe that is very a lot value your 4 minutes.
