The Game Critics Awards For Best of E3 Are In

While every entertainment media outlet that ever covers gaming is sure to release some list of top picks from E3, the Game Critic Awards is the closest we come to a unified opinion. That is because it’s merely a conglomeration of all the other reviewers. After carefully and meticulously assembling and comparing the opinions of the 21 participating news outlets, winners are decided. The process takes weeks. Those weeks just ended.

Behold, the winners are chosen. Here they all are. Commentaries by me, Geekosystem’s humble visitor to the expo, below. (For reference, here are my original thoughts from days one, two, and three)

Best of Show
Nintendo 3DS
(Nintendo)

Best Original Game
Dance Central
(Harmonix/MTV Games/Microsoft for Xbox 360)

Best Console Game
Rage
(id Software/Bethesda for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Handheld Game
God of War: Ghost of Sparta
(Ready at Dawn/Sony Santa Monica for PSP)

Best PC Game
Portal 2
(Valve)

Best Hardware
Nintendo 3DS
(Nintendo)

Best Action Game
Rage
(id Software/Bethesda for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Action/Adventure Game
Portal 2
(Valve for PC / Mac, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Role Playing Game
Star Wars: The Old Republic
(BioWare Austin/LucasArts/EA for PC)

Best Fighting Game
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
(Capcom for PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Racing Game
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit
(Criterion Games/Electronic Arts for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Sports Game
NBA Jam
(EA Canada/EA Sports for Wii)

Best Strategy Game
Civilization V
(Firaxis/2K Games for PC)

Best Social/Casual Game
Rock Band 3
(Harmonix/MTV Games/Electronic Arts for PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii)

Best Motion Simulation Game
Dance Central
(Harmonix/MTV Games/Microsoft for Xbox 360)

Best Online Multiplayer
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
(Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Special Commendation for Graphics
Rage
(id Software/Bethesda for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Being just one dude who went to E3 for the first time this year, I didn’t get to play everything, so there are none of these choices that I can outright say are wrong. In fact, none of them are even all that surprising except perhaps that SuperScribblenauts didn’t get the handheld nod. But what these awards do show is that Rage is going to be one hell of a game. I was already planning on buying it, now I’m just planning to even harder. The 3DS coming out on top should be a shock to no one.

What I personally am most excited about is the win for The Old Republic, which I didn’t get to demo myself. I’ve been waiting what feels like eons for a Star Wars MMO to redeem the slow ruining of Star Wars Galaxies. Also, to anyone who was doubting whether Assassin’s Creed can pull of multiplayer, let this be the final requisite piece of proof that it can. And it’s crazy-addicting.

(Via Kotaku)