“Relink” gets snubbed at the Game Awards

While Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Maybe it was the action RPG that got the most attention this year, but one contender completely blew me away. Granblue Fantasy: Relink was my introduction to that Granblue franchise, and honestly? It’s disappointing that this incredibly solid game didn’t win a single award at the Game Awards in a year where it rightly deserved recognition.

“Granblue Fantasy: Relink” deserves more credit than it gets

When Granblue Fantasy: Relink Released on Steam earlier this year, it has exceeded players’ expectations. With a peak player count of 114,054, this combined single/multiplayer RPG was the king of the castle during its release month and for a period thereafter. It’s easy to see why; It’s visually stunning, has a great cast of supporting characters, and the action flows better than almost any other action RPG released this year.

Videos from VICE

I have to keep it real with you; If it had been my choice, I would have chosen Granblue Fantasy: Relink above Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth in almost every category. And the fact that there were no nominations at all feels criminal. It is an exemplary example of the action RPG genre, with a lot of community and developer support following its release to keep players interested in the game and staying active. It was also much more condensed and bloated than other Games that were nominated.

In a year full of crowded games, Granblue Fantasy: Relink was a wonderful experience. It knew what it wanted to achieve. And it didn’t overstay its welcome either. It was fast, furious and full of personality and style. It always felt satisfying to beat enemies, regardless of my character’s level. Sure, it wasn’t perfect by any means, but it deserved its roses.

If we are fair; Vyrn wasn’t my favorite sidekick. To be honest, Vyrn was my least favorite in general. But one annoying sidekick wasn’t enough to detract from an otherwise fantastic game. It was easily one of my favorites at the start of the year, and now it’s even better than ever to re-read it.

You’re telling me there wouldn’t even be a nomination for Best Original Score and Best Music?

While the gameplay captivated me beyond words, the beautiful soundtrack should have at least gotten a nod. Every title included Granblue Fantasy: Relink is expertly crafted and I would have to give up the overall win for that Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and given the sheer number of tracks created, even a nod for participation would have been nice.

Honestly, I’m shocked to see that there wasn’t a single thing Granblue Fantasy: Relink was nominated for. Even something in the Players Voice category or even Best Art Direction would have been enough. It’s a bad feeling to see a game that so much love and care was put into being completely canceled and shelved.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s all over. There are many other awards Granblue Fantasy: Relink I deserved to take it home with me. The Steam Awards are coming soon, and there are many reasons why they could be added. The best OST, the best art design and possibly even the game of the year could come home here.

Even if Cygames isn’t sad from the snuff, I am. Granblue Fantasy: Relink has to be one of my favorite gaming experiences of this year. And its 33,000 positive reviews on Steam show that it has a loyal fanbase. If you’ll excuse me, I have to grind up Proto Bahamut while wiping the tears from my eyes.