@oscillator Sure I'll make it as soon as I can

Very honored to have my second game in the HoG. I was honestly pretty shocked that Outer Wilds got in, I figured it was a long-shot pick. This was especially because the first few lists I got either placed it very low or not at all, however as I got more lists it was progressively getting picked more and more until it seemed to sneak in at the end. I also wasn't super happy with my presentation, but I have a habit of disliking my work after making it, so maybe in a few months it'll grow on me.

Anyway, here were my picks:

1. What Remains of Edith Finch -- Edith Finch is one of my favorite games of all time. It's a game that I myself have pondered bringing to the HoG ever since the first one, so I was very excited to see JD bring it, and he did a wonderful job explaining what makes the game so special. The narrative is just so impactful, making me cry every time, and the reason it works is because you're an active participant within it. It's not a passive experience, it's an active one, and as such you are able to get so much more engrossed in its world. Just a beautiful game. I was sad to see it not get in (honestly I would have rathered this one made it than my own game lol), but who knows, maybe I'll take a crack at it one day, though JD's presentation was so good I doubt I could do any better.

2. Escape From Butcher Bay -- I love a weird pick. Dipset had so much more on his plate than many of us because he had to explain the merits of a game that I'm willing to bet none of us have ever played before. I think he did a very good job. The game looks very exciting, I'm fascinated by its world and tone, reminding me a lot of the immersive sims of the same era. It truly seems to be a hidden gem, and the fact that Dipset was able to explain that so well is why it gets my two points. I may never play this game, but after this I certainly want to.

3. Star Fox 64 -- I felt the passion. I haven't played this game, and I doubt I ever will to be honest, but I felt Oscillator's passion radiate from the screen as he described it, and that's a very special quality to have. Maybe the game doesn't hold up too well today, I honestly don't know, but I know for a fact that it worked wonders for Oscillator back then, and that's enough for me.

Okay everybody, I have received all of the votes and will now reveal which two games will enter the Hall of Greats. Before I do so, I would like to say that we once again have no banned games. This is our fourth time doing this and to have never had a banned game just speaks to the quality of the presentations you have all made.

Without further ado, here are the games going from least to most points:

#8: Star Fox 64 -- 3 points

Submitted by @Oscillator
Presentation

#6: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay -- 4 points

Submitted by @DIPSET
Presentation

#6: XCOM: Enemy Unknown -- 4 points

Submitted by @Shoulderguy
Presentation

#4: God of War (2018) -- 6 points

Submitted by @bruno_saurus
Presentation

#4: What Remains of Edith Finch -- 6 points

Submitted by @JDINCINERATOR
Presentation

#3: Forza Horizon 5 -- 7 points

Submitted by @ffff0
Presentation

And that means there are only two games left, both of which tied for first place. They are:

#1: Outer Wilds -- 9 points

Submitted by @Capnbobamous
Presentation

#1: DOOM II -- 9 points

Submitted by @Brannox
Presentation

And there we have it! Our fourth Hall of Greats is officially over. I just want to thank you all again for participating. It's officially been a year since we started this thing, and this HoG ceremony has had the most participants we've ever had. I'm super happy to see that it's still going strong, and if anything seems to be growing stronger. I had a great time, I hope you did as well. I feel as though everything went smoothly, but if you disagree I would love to know why.

The next HoG is officially slated for January, however one member has asked me if it's possible to do it every three months rather than every four. I would be fine either way, so ultimately I pose the question to all of you. Would you rather switch this to four times a year, meaning the next HoG would be in December, or are you more comfortable with the way it is now?

Alright everybody, sorry for the wait but cross-examination is now closed and it is time to DM me your votes. As a reminder, here are the rules you need to follow:

1. Only those who brought a game can vote.
2. You must choose your top 3 picks, with your first place game getting three points, second place getting two, and third place getting one.
3. You may not vote for your own game.

I encourage you to go back and look through everything before you decide, and I have updated the aggregation in the original post so that it contains every question and answer. For the sake of transparency, I have also already voted to make sure I'm not influenced by your votes. I will reveal the winners after I have received all of the votes.

Thank you all for participating, I'll see you when I have your winners!

Sorry for the delay folks, working all day so I'll open it up for your votes before the end of the night (I still have to update the aggregation post as well as make my picks.)

Second response to@ffff0

I get what you mean, and you're right it's
a difficult game to share with others, however I don't believe it's a detriment to the quality. In all likelihood, fewer people will play this game for the reasons you listed, and that's a shame, however that doesn't take away from the experience that those who do play it have. I wish I could share this game with more people, I really do, however as I said to Brannox, the reason I avoid revealing aspects of the game's plot is because I think it's so good that I want others to experience it blindly. It's a difficult game to recommend because I can say so little about it, however the reason I say little is because of those moments of awe that the game gave me. I remember my jaw dropping multiple times, pumping my fist into the air after I solved a major puzzle, feeling melancholy after a piece of the plot is revealed. All of those moments -- those emotions -- are worth keeping quiet about so that they have the same opportunity to affect you.

So to answer your question, no I don't believe it's a detriment to the game. It's a difficult game to share, however those who play it are in for a remarkable experience.

And also I played the game for a second time recently, and while it's naturally not as awe-inspiring as the first playthrough, plenty of things still affected me. I could still see the wonder of what was occurring even though it was not my first time seeing it.

(sorry, I asked this in my previous post but it didn't save.)

Question for @Shoulderguy

I know that XCOM has a pretty vibrant modding community. In fact many consider the Long War mod to be even better than the base game, with one of the developers of the main game saying "we're basically a 20-hour tutorial for the Long War, and that's okay."

What is your experience with modding in the game? Do you agree with those who say that in order to have the best experience, mods are a necessity? If so, is it a detriment to the game that you have to download third-party mods in order to have the best experience?

Question for @ffff0

The thing that interested me the most is that you mentioned there are user-created tracks in the game. How advanced is the track creator in the game? What are some of the craziest things you've seen other players make?

Question for @bruno_saurus

I remember enjoying a fair amount of God of War's side-quests, however for every one I enjoyed, I feel like there was another that I was indifferent about (the Wayward Spirits come to mind). There were quite a few that felt like little more than "go here" -----> "kill enemies" ------> "the end," and they kinda just felt like distractions from my main quest. Do you agree with my criticism of the side content? Why or why not?

Question for @JDINCINERATOR

You mention in your presentation that the game has left a lasting impact on you, and that it doesn't feel like it's been five and a half years since release because it is so fresh in your mind. I feel very much the same way, so my question is: what is it about the game that makes it stick with people so long after playing it? What quality does it have that has made it so eternal?

Question for @DIPSET

For years I could have swore that I played this game. Don't remember a whole lot about it, but I have fond memories and recall having a good time with it. I've even had conversations with people about how I recall liking it. However, after watching your presentation I now know that I have never played this game before in my life haha. Don't know what game I've been thinking of all these years, but apparently my life is a lie.

Anyway, after watching your presentation one of the things I was struck by was the atmosphere. Just based on what you showed, I am getting definite horror vibes, so is the game scary? What is the game's overall tone?

Response to @DIPSET

1. Thank you for the kind words! As for your question, there are a number of themes that I took away from it. I think the main one that comes to mind is that the game seeks to combat cynicism, looking for hope in every situation without invalidating the fear and sadness that accompany it. It's very conscious of the time we live in; everyday there's another disaster, our global politics are in disarray, we are destroying our environment, and as a result there's a prevailing sense of cynicism and doomsdayism in our culture. Outer Wilds does not diminish those fears, and yet it asks: when faced with impending doom, do you dig your feet in the sand, or do you simply treasure the time you have left, appreciating the life you've lived and the relationships you've formed along the way? It's a beautiful meditation on existence, confronting nihilism and embracing mortality. These things have stuck with me long after beating it.

2. Hmm, interesting question. I think it's difficult to truly say if it is pushing the medium forward, as well as how it will ultimately impact the industry. I admit it's a rather niche game, and it kind of seems to exist in a genre of its own, however I could very well see it inspiring a new genre of mystery game. It operates on a creative ethos that I haven't really seen anywhere else, in that its goal is to make players interested in playing simply out of a desire to unravel its mystery. It offers no quest markers telling the player where to go, the narrative is only loosely guided, and it offers no rewards for playing it other than satisfying the player's own curiosity.

The game works so well because it makes you ask questions about the world, and makes you wish to find the answers. It doesn't start with some dude giving you a quest, you are literally guided by your own curiosity. You have no idea what will happen when you solve the game's mysteries, you only know that you want to solve them. I think that's remarkably special, and I would love for that ethos to spread throughout the industry.