Why BioShock Won Game of the Year 2007 - Part One: The Orange Box

We here at Select Start think that the Game of the Year Award is meant for the one video game that wows both the industry and the individual gamer. That game should not only revolutionize the industry as a whole, but it should also have a lasting impression that makes us say, "Remember when [insert game here] came out?" And so that's why when Chris, a reader, asked, "Tell me why BioShock won game of the year, when it was up against better games," I figured I'd shed some light on the 2007 nominees and it's winner - BioShock.

Before I dive into BioShock, I thought it would be courteous to take a glimpse at the other games in the race, but along the way I realized that a "glimpse" didn't do it justice. Also, know that these games received the chance for 2007 game of the year because of their near-flawless developing, so while I'll try to find something negative to say, don't be surprised if I can't.

And so, without further delay, we'll start with a game that transitioned beautifully from PC to console to show us that not all shooters have to be completely about gun-blazing, bullet-ridden bad asses and that even an FPS can be graceful.

Orange Box (Valve)
It's hard to talk bad about a game that is actually five games for the price of one and especially one that contains Portal, but I'll try. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what made this gem miss the game of the year award, but we can at least find out what made it become worthy enough for one of the best titles in the gaming industry.

HALF-LIFE 2 / EPISODES 1 & 2
Half-Life 2 and Episodes One & Two were all great games, they each graphically ousted the previous and the storyline is like none other. But what I believe lacks are how the episodic content leaves you hanging at the end. Since Valve took an episodic approach at the Half-Life franchise, you're able to finish Half-Life 2 and, without missing a beat, you can easily continue the unlucky adventures of Gordon Freeman in the other two episodes. Then, all of a sudden, you find out that each episode only spans about 4-5 hours and before you know it, the game is over. This left me wondering why Valve didn't just wait and give us a full-length game and save us from that feeling of despair watching LOST gives us. It's a lot easier waiting three months for a show than it is waiting three years for a new installment.

TEAM FORTRESS 2
Team Fortress 2 brings something to the multi-player world that no other game has brought - humor. Most FPS games made now try to bring that bad-ass, unstoppable, make your enemies wear their asses as a hat kind of attitude and sometimes that approach is delivered horribly. For a game to try and throw that out for a comedic approach is not only original, but welcomed to us FPS-ers that just need a light-hearted break from the serious gun-n-run type of games. Unfortunately when I played a few rounds of TF2, I was bombarded by horrible lag issues and that significantly lowered my opinion of the game. From what I got to play, TF2 had a wide array of selectable characters and each had their own strengths that made the game that much more strategic and fun. Plus it was always fun to set up a gun turret as the engineer and rack up kills in hiding.

PORTAL
I left Portal for last because it was the game that I believe made the Orange Box. Even though Portal was at first considered just an add-on to the Half-Life combo, within it's first few minutes of gameplay, Portal showed me what Valve was truly capable of. Mixing outstanding FPS gameplay with mind-boggling puzzles, Portal paved the way for a new world that shooters can now strive for - casual light-hearted shooters. The artificial character, GLaDOS, brings witty humor to the game and in doing so, helps to brighten any dull situation you may encounter. Her interaction with the player makes for a love/hate relationship that become more entertaining as you move through the levels. Though it may only take you 7-8 hours to complete Portal, it successfully keeps you entertained and we here at SS hope that Valve decides to make a sequel.

OVERALL
The Orange Box is a great game and truly deserved to be in the running for game of the year. Although I did not talk about the negatives of the Orange Box, know that I really couldn't find any and if I had to, I'd have to make stuff up. The Half-Life games are well worth a try, and if you haven't played them yet, then you're really missing out on a ground-breaking franchise that dominated PC gaming. Team Fortress 2 offers an alternative type of multi-player and anything besides the gung-ho attitude 90 percent of shooters offer, is welcome. And lastly, Portal, the game which I believe has, by itself, defined why Valve is at the top of the gaming industry and what the future of first-person shooters can be. If someone asked me if this bundle is worth it, I'd laugh and say, "Not only is it a steal for $60, it's almost better than sex ... ALMOST."

That's all for part one of our BioShock GOTY: Breakdown, please before the flaming starts about how little I know about the game, I spent hours playing each game and have come to my own conclusions. Select Start is all about gamers voicing their opinions and we want you to. So here's your chance: Tell us why you think Orange Box should have/shouldn't have won Spike's 2007 Game of the Year Award.

Also, check back tomorrow for part two of the breakdown when we attack Microsoft's heavy-hitter, Halo 3. Was Master Chief robbed of the title or was he another victim of the trilogy curse?

- R

images: http://www.theaveragegamer.com/wp-content/Screenshots/HL2/EP2/HL2%20-%20Episode%202.jpeg
http://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/article/782/782564/team-fortress-2-20070420084418678-000.jpg
http://images.tomshardware.com/2007/10/16/portal_review/portal16-small.jpg
http://www.absoluteblog.co.uk/images/orangebox.jpg