The Game Awards: Expansions, DLC, Remakes, Remasters All Eligible for All Categories

[Vertigo]

I was thinking comparing launch No Man's Sky to the No Man's Sky of today is probably far more content than TOTK has that's "new" compared to BOTW.

And it didn’t need a “sequel” to accomplish any of this but still manages to improve and build on the gameplay in bigger strides forward than most boxed sequels accomplish.

So yea, that’s kinda the point. Much of what players expect from sequels are now done without needing a new game.

Theres no clear cut definition of what a sequel should be for absolutely anything; games, film, successive music albums …. It can be more of the first or they can turn it all on its head.

End of the day… expansion, dlc, or whatever the fuck Fortnite does should never be discredited

 

[RE4-City]

You could always ask one of the people actually claiming it's a big DLC if they consider any other games to just be glorified DLCs. It's not all of a sudden either, I was saying it prior to release and turned out to be right when it came out and continued saying it then. I don't have any interest in Spider-Man 2 but I DO have an interest in pointing out how long it took Nintendo to make a game that is just multiple DLCs packaged together as admitted by their own devs. It's lazy trash especially if you didn't want Minecraft shit added to a Zelda game.

You might want to actually read what the article says in it and not the title .

They were talking about how after they released the DLC for Breath of the Wild which got a gameplay reveal at the game awards 2017.
they wanted to add more but they couldn't because DLC is just adding more data to a preexisting title.
But the ideas they had for a sequel required more than what was possible with DLC.
Nothing in that article backs up what you say.

I can see your argument about Elden rings DLC being counted a a stand alone game, I'm not gonna argue against that as I don't really care.
But ears of the Kingdom literally uses a different engine that Breth of the Wild:

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses the same engine as Splatoon

And Nintendo Switch Sports!

gonintendo.com

Hence why when Tears of the Kingdom came out so many devs shared their surprise :

Game Developers Share the Most Mind-Blowing, Inspiring Elements of Tears of the Kingdom - IGN

IGN spoke with five game developers — ranging from indie devs working on their first solo projects to devs with decades of AAA experience — about the most mind-blowing parts of Tears of the Kingdom, and if a universally-loved game like this is inspiring, deflating… Or a little bit of both.

www.ign.com

Also just remember the creator of Elden Ring claims those previous Zelda games you are calling DLC should never be compared to his games as his games are unworthy of being compared to Zelda:

The Creator Of Dark Souls Feels That The Series Is Unworthy Of Being Compared To Zelda

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of Dark Souls, took part in an interview with Rolling Stone. At one point, Rolling stone says “many journalists over the years have said that the Souls games, from Demon’…

mynintendonews.com

 

[Explosive Zombie]

You might want to actually read what the article says in it and not the title .

They were talking about how after they released the DLC for Breath of the Wild which got a gameplay reveal at the game awards 2017.
they wanted to add more but they couldn't because DLC is just adding more data to a preexisting title.
But the ideas they had for a sequel required more than what was possible with DLC.
Nothing in that article backs up what you say.

I can see your argument about Elden rings DLC being counted a a stand alone game, I'm not gonna argue against that as I don't really care.
But ears of the Kingdom literally uses a different engine that Breth of the Wild:

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses the same engine as Splatoon

And Nintendo Switch Sports!

gonintendo.com

Hence why when Tears of the Kingdom came out so many devs shared their surprise :

Game Developers Share the Most Mind-Blowing, Inspiring Elements of Tears of the Kingdom - IGN

IGN spoke with five game developers — ranging from indie devs working on their first solo projects to devs with decades of AAA experience — about the most mind-blowing parts of Tears of the Kingdom, and if a universally-loved game like this is inspiring, deflating… Or a little bit of both.

www.ign.com

Also just remember the creator of Elden Ring claims those previous Zelda games you are calling DLC should never be compared to his games as his games are unworthy of being compared to Zelda:

The Creator Of Dark Souls Feels That The Series Is Unworthy Of Being Compared To Zelda

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of Dark Souls, took part in an interview with Rolling Stone. At one point, Rolling stone says “many journalists over the years have said that the Souls games, from Demon’…

mynintendonews.com

New engine = new game, what are these weird goalposts? It all looks and functions mostly the same except now with dumb physics stuff. You got to the same dumb towns with the same dumb NPCs but now you do a slightly different dumb side quest for them or the korok seed is hidden in a slightly different dumb spot. The only interesting stuff the new engine is doing is stuff no one needed added to a Zelda title because it has nothing to do with making a quality Zelda game.

I've read the quotes you're reading, they're pretty much what I'm saying. They had lots of DLC ideas and decided they could just package them together as a new game. They also pretend it's impossible to do this to the existing game as DLC... uh okay? Tell me something in all sincerity... do you think there's more content in TOTK than EVERY MAJOR DESTINY 2 EXPANSION SINCE THE GAME LAUNCHED? The answer is fucking no lol. Maybe the Switch can't handle them doing it but it's not a limitation in terms of VIDEO GAMES as a whole. It's beyond obvious how narrow the play area is for you guys on games you actually play because there are so many games overflowing with content added POST-RELEASE that are NOT SEQUELS.

Also, yes, Japanese people are all nice and respectful. I'm American, fuck Zelda, Dark Souls shits on it.

 

[TrishaCat]

Tears of the Kingdom has two new large map zones, a bunch of new abilities (traveling through the ceiling, fusing materials to create new materials, a more robust god hand that allows for vehicles to be created), changes to the existing map showing modernization and population growth in previously uninhabited areas, etc, a new story, new dungeons... It has more than enough to justify itself as a new game. If you must complain about new games that should just be dlc, Splatoon 2 and 3 are right over there along with Mario Maker 2 just building on 1.

I do have complaints about TotK though, mainly that the new tools trivializes travel across the map, discentivizing the more direct exploration you'd be doing in BotW, which was really important to the game. The new areas aren't quite as interesting to explore either, especially the sky islands.

I will also fully admit that I don't like Dark Souls primarily because I find it's combat too slow and because to be frank I'm very bad at it.

 

[Explosive Zombie]

Zelda mogs Dark Souls as a game and it's not even close lol

Okay real talk though Tears of the Kingdom has two new large map zones, a bunch of new abilities (traveling through the ceiling, fusing materials to create new materials, a more robust god hand that allows for vehicles to be created), changes to the existing map showing modernization and population growth in previously uninhabited areas, etc, a new story, new dungeons... It has more than enough to justify itself as a new game. If you must complain about new games that should just be dlc, Splatoon 2 and 3 are right over there along with Mario Maker 2 just building on 1.

I do have complaints about TotK though, mainly that the new tools trivializes travel across the map, discentivizing the more direct exploration you'd be doing in BotW, which was really important to the game. The new areas aren't quite as interesting to explore either, especially the sky islands.

I will also fully admit that I don't like Dark Souls primarily because I find it's combat too slow and because to be frank I'm very bad at it.

This is more about the idea of how much content shadow of the erdtree has. Especially when dealing with quality versus quantity. I keep seeing people say tears of the Kingdom has more than enough content to be a sequel and all I can think is "okay so does the DLC some people are mad is nominated since it's DLC". Basically making the point that it becomes nebulous and pedantic what is DLC and what's a new game

 

[Vertigo]

New engine = new game, what are these weird goalposts? It all looks and functions mostly the same except now with dumb physics stuff. You got to the same dumb towns with the same dumb NPCs but now you do a slightly different dumb side quest for them or the korok seed is hidden in a slightly different dumb spot. The only interesting stuff the new engine is doing is stuff no one needed added to a Zelda title because it has nothing to do with making a quality Zelda game.

I've read the quotes you're reading, they're pretty much what I'm saying. They had lots of DLC ideas and decided they could just package them together as a new game. They also pretend it's impossible to do this to the existing game as DLC... uh okay? Tell me something in all sincerity... do you think there's more content in TOTK than EVERY MAJOR DESTINY 2 EXPANSION SINCE THE GAME LAUNCHED? The answer is fucking no lol. Maybe the Switch can't handle them doing it but it's not a limitation in terms of VIDEO GAMES as a whole. It's beyond obvious how narrow the play area is for you guys on games you actually play because there are so many games overflowing with content added POST-RELEASE that are NOT SEQUELS.

Also, yes, Japanese people are all nice and respectful. I'm American, fuck Zelda, Dark Souls shits on it.

I wasted my time looking into it. It’s not a “new engine.” They ported botw over to their switch engine (used in a bunch of games). At its core I wouldn’t be surprised if Botw was still built off Wind Waker. Each new release I often considered new engine for some devs even if it’s just the newest version of the previous.

 

[Explosive Zombie]

I wasted my time looking into it. It’s not a “new engine.” They ported botw over to their switch engine (used in a bunch of games). At its core I wouldn’t be surprised if Botw was still built off Wind Waker.

It's a weird goal post anyways didn't they modify the engine for destiny 2 at some point during it? I don't understand these arbitrary goal posts for what constitutes a real game or a DLC. The real truth is most people are just going to go with whatever the developer decides to consider it.

 

[Vertigo]

It's a weird goal post anyways didn't they modify the engine for destiny 2 at some point during it? I don't understand these arbitrary goal posts for what constitutes a real game or a DLC. The real truth is most people are just going to go with whatever the developer decides to consider it.

Destiny was just the multiplatform version of their engine previous engine. They had a major update for better networking updates w/beyond light, etc… technically, it’s updated every year with a new version w/ various pieces being rebuilt at any time. Marathon will be sharing it so it’ll keep moving forward and both updated alongside each other.

A new engine has never been mandatory for sequels. Most don’t even bother to do such. Also… not really necessary either? It’s a silly requirement and you think Insomniac’s next 5 marvel games won’t be running on the bones of spider-man 1??

Bethesda claims Starfield was “new” engine. 343 claimed Slipspace was a “new” engine. Is any of that true? Kinda and kinda not.

 

[Yurinka]

If they include all this then they shouldn't call the award game of the year.

I think the nominated ones only should include new games released that year, not dlc, expansions, remasters or remakes.

I think they should have three different awards:

• Game of the year: best new games released this year
• Ongoing game of the year: best new DLC/expansion/seasons released this year (of titles that may have been released in previous years)
• Best remaster or remake of the year: best remakes or remasters released this year

 

[Zzero]

"Content" seems to include all the base game stuff they re-used, like all the bosses from the base game you fight over and over again, all the areas as well, not to mention the underground which is just the above ground flipped (but with less landmarks). The only totally new areas in TOTK are the sky islands and they're a very small portion of the "content" in the game. What do you mean by "main campaign"? If you mean the dungeons those are much bigger and better in SOTE with better bosses at the end. Everything in between those is rehashed shit in TOTK with the most awful story ever told in a mainstream game to boot.

What is this new story vs complementary story idea? Was Halo: Reach a DLC? I need a yes or no on that before I can proceed with you.

One of the best in the last decade? Okay, dude, you enjoy that shit all you want, no one else needs to acknowledge it as one of the best anything besides maybe one of the best games for crafting vulgar dick-machines.

You don't fight a single BotW boss in TotK. Clearly didn't even play the game....

 

[Zzero]

You should look that up. Lmfao.

But thanks for more comedy and Nintenyearold copium. Botw ported to latest version of Nintendo’s switch engine. You can pretend that they engineered something brand new for it but that’s a lie.

Wait till you realize most developers consider each new cut of their engine for a new game to effectively be referred to as a new and upgrade engine; like starfield.

Straight up copy and paste. They didn’t even touch combat either.

Sequel tier content drops, new stories, and sweeping meaningful overhauls to gameplay can be done with expansions. It’s a dev choice more than it ever was.

Totk was a shameless copy and paste rehash. Sure it added layers, but that’s at base what players expect from a dlc. The problem for me is I don’t value the banio Kazooie nuts and bolts Minecraft stuff for shit. Zelda has moved away from what I liked about it… dungeons. Others do value the physics based stuff and building aspect — hey fallout 4 even gave you more shit to build with in dlc if that’s your thing. So yea; still could’ve been done in dlc. Lols

This debate stretching into narrative makes it even funnier because Zelda also gives zero fucks about story. Like what? All other games described take it more seriously.

Cardboard for sale! $99

BotW was using an external engine, they switched over to LunchPack (their internal engine for Switch games) for TotK. It really was an engine change.

 

[ethomaz]

you are simply egregiously wrong, like I already said the DLC has different dialogue to acknowledge if you have become Elden Lord prior to entering.

That doesn’t happen… I’m not sure what dialog you are hitting at but you are mistaking it for sure.

The only moment some NPCs says something related to Lord is not you are the Lord of Marika but because they recognize and acknowledge you as the chosen by Makira to inherit the Elden Lord position.

BTW the you can continue playing after beat the Elden Beast is merely a gameplay mechanic because lore wise it is back to before you beat the Elden Lord.

 

[Explosive Zombie]

You don't fight a single BotW boss in TotK. Clearly didn't even play the game....

LOL this is total bullshit, either that or you're pretending you don't know what an "Overworld Boss" is...

Bosses in Tears of the Kingdom

The following is a List of Bosses from Tears of the Kingdom.

zelda.fandom.com

That doesn’t happen… I’m not sure what dialog you are hitting at but you are mistaking it for sure.

The only moment some NPCs says something related to Lord is not you are the Lord of Marika but because they recognize and acknowledge you as the chosen by Makira to inherit the Elden Lord position.

BTW the you can continue playing after beat the Elden Beast is merely a gameplay mechanic because lore wise it is back to before you beat the Elden Lord.

I'm looking into this, personally I got dialogue acknowledging me as Elden Lord but what Reddit seems to believe is that the dialogue is actually random dialogue that is triggered like a dice roll and not based on when you entered the DLC. So, you might be right. Don't see conclusive proof, though. All of that said, you keep ducking my question of whether or not Artorias of the Abyss is DLC since it's a prequel, c'mon man, DLC means concurrent to the current game's events according to you, explain yourself.

 

[Zzero]

LOL this is total bullshit, either that or you're pretending you don't know what an "Overworld Boss" is...

Bosses in Tears of the Kingdom

The following is a List of Bosses from Tears of the Kingdom.

zelda.fandom.com

Well, lets see....

9 of those 14 monsters (they aren't bosses, by the way, Zelda wiki is an unofficial source that uses unofficial terminology,) are not in BotW and they are all rare in the game. So sorry that you had to fight each of those monsters a single time to explore their area. And then there's sixteen actual bosses, none of which are fought repeatedly in the overworld.

I don't know who you are trying to impress here but pretty much everyone reading the thread thinks you sound like a dumbass.

 

[Explosive Zombie]

Well, lets see....

9 of those 14 monsters (they aren't bosses, by the way, Zelda wiki is an unofficial source that uses unofficial terminology,) are not in BotW and they are all rare in the game. So sorry that you had to fight each of those monsters a single time to explore their area. And then there's sixteen actual bosses, none of which are fought repeatedly in the overworld.

I don't know who you are trying to impress here but pretty much everyone reading the thread thinks you sound like a dumbass.

Not trying to impress anyone, just talking my actual experience playing the game, where things like Flux Constructs were fought over and over again as well as Hinoxs and Stone Talus'. Your pedantry over whether or not they're actually bosses is besides the point (lol even the wiki disagrees but I guess it's less official than you?).

Is this what you mean by RARE?

Also what's this about NONE of the sixteen "actual" bosses repeating in the overworld? Someone didn't explore enough to find Temple bosses appear in the Depths?

 

[Zzero]

Not trying to impress anyone, just talking my actual experience playing the game, where things like Flux Constructs were fought over and over again as well as Hinoxs and Stone Talus'. Your pedantry over whether or not they're actually bosses is besides the point (lol even the wiki disagrees but I guess it's less official than you?).

Also what's this about NONE of the sixteen "actual" bosses repeating in the overworld? Someone didn't explore enough to find Temple bosses appear in the Depths?

Yes the wiki is unofficial, dipshit. Its a fan wiki, thats what it is an unofficial wiki.

As to the actual bosses, since you were using Zelda wiki I did too, they appear lower down on the list than the stone taluses as story bosses. I'll note that those bosses you complained about, the constructs, don't appear in BotW (what you called the "base game") at all. Clearly not just a level pack then, is it?

 

[Explosive Zombie]

Yes the wiki is unofficial, dipshit. Its a fan wiki, thats what it is an unofficial wiki.

As to the actual bosses, since you were using Zelda wiki I did too, they appear lower down on the list than the stone taluses as story bosses. I'll note that those bosses you complained about, the constructs, don't appear in BotW (what you called the "base game") at all. Clearly not just a level pack then, is it?

Exploring the open world you will fight 87 Stone Talus' which are from the base game. Think about how much of your game time is spent doing things FROM THE BASE GAME. Even the stuff in the underworld (which is bereft of content) is mostly just reskins of enemies from above ground (including a boss battle you do 5 times and repeats of temple bosses). There are no bosses in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC from the base game... zero... even regular enemies aren't from the base game. None of the map is from the base game, ZERO. It has tons of new weapons, weapon arts, talismans, etc. Based on your own criteria for what is "more than a level pack" Shadow of the Erdtree CAN count as a full game.

 

[arvfab]

Shadow of the Erdtree CAN count as a full game.

Can I play it without owning the base game?

 

[Explosive Zombie]

Can I play it without owning the base game?

I've said numerous times I'm not arguing technical definitions. If all anyone wants to stand by is technical definitions then I have no argument, but people insisted there were arguments beyond technical for it being DLC, and that is what I've been engaging with.

 

[ExtraWildGames]

Not a fan of DLC as potential GOTY nominations.