I generally get upset whenever I see annual game awards delivered before the specified year comes to a close because holiday releases often get the shaft (Gran Turismo 5 for example released late 2010 and wasn’t included in, or nominated in Spike’s award show for “Best Driving Game” in 2010, or 2011, leaving the awards to Need For Speed, and Forza) and for whatever reason the Japanese game industry has kicked this trend to a new low by announcing their game of the year awards well….now.
But let’s push logic aside, and revel in victory for a moment – PlayStation exclusives won 9 awards in all major categories, and Gravity Rush net Sony the GOTY equivalent “Grand Award”
Let’s take a look at the winners:
Grand Award
Gravity Rush
Game Designers Award
Journey
Award for Excellence
Gravity Rush
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Super Mario 3D Land
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Dark Souls
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Mario Kart 7
Monster Hunter Tri G
One Piece: Pirate Warriors
Special Award
Touch Detective: Nameko Saibai Kit
Best Sales Award
Mario Kart 7
Global Award Japanese Product
Pokemon Black/White
Global Award Foreign Division
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
Nintendo 3DS Development Team
Future Division Winners
Ace Attorney 5
God Eater 2
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle
Soul Sacrifice
Tales of Xillia 2
Resident Evil 6
Fantasy Life
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Monster Hunter 4
Yakuza 5
All in all it’s been a great showing for Sony, and the future’s looking particularly bright for Japanese PlayStation exclusives as well with promising titles like: Soul Sacrifice, Yakuza 5, Puppeteer, and Rain all on the horizon.
Personally, I’ve got my sights set on Puppeteer and Soul Sacrifice; but what Japanese developed games are you eagerly anticipating?
