God of War bags another game of the year award at BAFTA
Cory Barlog, director of God of War said winning the awards was "amazing, overwhelming, and scary."
(Web Desk) – God of War, the action-adventure genre game, bags another best game of the year award at 15th annual BAFTA Games Awards.
God of War is rooted in ancient Norse mythology with Kratos, the former Greek god of war, along with his demi-god son Atreus.
Despite receiving six nominations, UK-made western adventure Red Dead Redemption 2 walked away empty-handed at the glitzy ceremony in central London.
The first God of War game was released in 2005. This eighth instalment in the series, developed by Santa Monica Studio, sees its iconic lead character Kratos - son of Zeus - as a struggling single parent.
Cory Barlog, director of God of War, told the BBC winning the awards was "amazing, overwhelming, and scary".
He said the win showed that story-led games could be as "relevant" as the presently popular Battle Royale style titles.
Nintendo’s Labo won two awards, one for best family game and the other for innovation.
It is the cardboard toolkit that lets players explore the interactivity of the firm’s Switch console, for example by creating a piano.
The BAFTA winners in full were:
• Original Property: Into the Breach
• Music: God of War
• Game Design: The Return of the Obra Dinn
• Evolving Game: Fortnite
• Narrative: God of War
• Debut Game: Yoku s Island Express
• Mobile: Florence
• Family: Nintendo Labo
• Artistic Achievement: Return of the Obra Dinn
• Multiplayer: A Way Out
• Audio Achievement: God of War
• Game Innovation: Nintendo Labo
• Performer: Jeremy Davies, God of War
• Best British Game: Forza Horizon 4
• Game Beyond Entertainment: My Child Lebensborn
• Mobile Game of the Year (Audience Vote): Old School Runescape
• Best Game: God of War
According to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat’s gaming reporter Steffan Powell, he said it was surprising that Red Dead Redemption 2 had not won in any category.
"A game of such depth and innovation (whether you finished it or not!) - their loss is the independent sector’s gain. Tonight shows titles from smaller teams that manage to speak a certain truth to players can be just as successful (in awards terms - not cash!) as the big guns," he tweeted.
Not had a chance to share any thoughts on the @BAFTAGames tonight yet - cos running around lots...
— Steffan Powell (@SteffanPowell) April 4, 2019
... but I have to say I m surprised that Red Dead Redemption didn t walk away with anything tonight...
Presenter Dara O’Briain told the BBC the event celebrates the diversity of the games industry and the award results can be surprising.
A game of such depth and innovation (whether you finished it or not!) - Their loss is the independent sector s gain. Tonight shows titles from smaller teams that manage to speak a certain truth to players - can be just as successful (in awards terms - not cash!) as the big guns.
— Steffan Powell (@SteffanPowell) April 4, 2019
"Like the movie industry suddenly going indie and choosing all indie and not choosing the blockbusters, BAFTA has a tendency to do that," he said.
Sales of video games, consoles, PC gaming add-ons and other related products topped £5.7bn in the UK last year, according to trade body Ukie.
