Rhea's 2024 Media Awards
Well, it's been quite a year. In an effort to distract myself from, well, everything that was going on this year, I consumed quite a bit of media! So I wanted to take the opportunity to honour the good and the not so good, with an array of arbitrary categories that I made up so I could talk about the various games, movies, and music that left an impression on me. So, without further ado, the First Annual Rhea Media Awards!
Biggest Waste of Time (Positive)
Balatro (LocalThunk)
For a couple of months in early 2024, I lost a whole bunch of my friends to the phenomenon that was Balatro. Steam tells me I played for 43 hours, and I’m pretty sure that was on the low side compared to most people. The inventive poker-hand based roguelike gameplay left me in a zen like trance as I racked up bigger and bigger scores. This isn’t even my genre usually, so for that, I take my hat off to you, Balatro. Truly, an excellent waste of time.
Biggest Waste of Time (Negative)
Zenless Zone Zero (miHoYo)
So this was the first time I’ve tried a Hoyoverse game and, yes, it was because there was a cute anime girl with effective marketing that got me. Guilty as charged. I think it says something about Zenless Zone Zero that the exact point at which I rolled Burnice, the object of my burning desires, was also the point at which I completely exhausted my interest in the game and I never went back.
It’s truly remarkable how predatory they managed to make this game. There are approximately three thousand different reward systems and screens, all of which are flashing at you with exclamation marks whenever you do anything, so that you get a little rush of endorphins for collecting the tiny amount of currency they offer. The game does have an excellent array of art (the comic-style sections are especially beautiful) and is very well polished but the gameplay, whilst initially fun thanks to the satisfying VFX and sound design, is paper thin and it quickly becomes apparent that although there are many characters, they don’t really feel all that different to play.
As a result, it becomes clear what Zenless Zone Zero truly is — a pretty wrapper for a devilish piece of software designed to extract as much money as possible from you as you gamble for your favourite waifu (or husbando). I got out without spending a dime — but my recommendation is never to venture inside in the first place.
Character Design of the Year
Gemma (Monster Hunter: Wilds)
I am convinced she was designed specifically to appeal to me. She's just so cool.
Surprisingly Relevant Musical Film Adaptation of the Year
Wicked
As someone familiar with the musical, and a critic of the length of films these days, I was really surprised with how good this film adaptation was. Surprisingly few films I watch manage to pass the low bar of not leaving me bored, and also having something to say with their narrative, but I was entertained for the full 2 hours 40 minute runtime, and boy does Wicked hold up remarkably well in 2024.
It is incredibly easy to draw parallels here: The Wizard of Oz is a fraud who employs and encourages discrimination amongst the populace to maintain power (I wonder who else does this in reality, hmm). Galinda is an “ally” of the oppressed on the surface, but when it comes down to it she is willing to throw them under the bus to appease oppressors (identically to how neoliberal centrists are currently throwing trans people, amongst other minorities, under the bus). And Elphaba undergoes an arc of radicalisation, culminating in the incredible finale that is Defying Gravity. As a trans person myself, the parallels in some of these lyrics are incredible. This could easily be mapped on to someone deciding to transition, knowing that the world will hate them for it. The great irony is that this film absolutely could not exist in 2024 had it actually featured a positive narrative for a trans person. So I’ll settle for what we can get, and for anyone willing to look even slightly below the surface, Wicked is strikingly critical of the state of the world right now. And the world needs media like that to exist.
Most Anticipated Game That Will Surely Release Next Year, Right?
Misericorde Volume Two: White Wool & Snow
I need part two of this nun-based mystery-thriller on a primal level.
2024 Award for a 2023 Performance of a 2023 Song
all-american bitch (Olivia Rodrigo)
Does liking Olivia Rodrigo make me a basic bitch? Probably, but I am too old now to care about what other people think about my music taste. What can’t be doubted is that she’s a hell of a performer. This performance from SNL really stuck in my head this year. Everything about this is meticulously crafted: for example, the outfit initially looks like a classic modest “America’s Angel” dress from her sitting position at the beginning, but is revealed to be short and is paired with black combat boots — this matches the contrast between the soft and heavy sections with perfection. The song itself is pretty remarkably written too — I love how the contrast in exterior emotions is matched by the difference in density and simplicity of the melodies between the chorus and verses. The final section is my absolute favourite: the soft instrumentation and melody of “I’m grateful all the time” contrasted with the image of her smiling pretty and innocently kicking her legs whilst covered in blood-red cake is incredible. And even when the song is over she doesn’t break character for even a second, instead scowling and sticking out her tongue. Absolute cinema.
Game of the Year
1000xRESIST (Sunset Visitor)
1000xRESIST is one of those rare games that I can say is a truly unique experience. Unfortunately it’s also one of those games where the less you know going in, the better. So if you are at all on the fence I would urge you to stop reading right now and play the game. I’ll be spoiling as little as possible in this summary but will touch upon the broader themes.
The worldbuilding is nothing short of immaculate — the game presents its science fiction setting with such confidence that at no point does it feel the need to exposition dump. During the first chapter you’ll hear a lot of jargon, but through its repeated use in context, you’ll soon pick up on the meaning of “hekki grace”, “hair to hair” and “ALLMOTHER”, and be fully immersed in the world.
The game has a limited budget but really uses it to great effect. You can really tell the developers have a stage show background, with masterful use of lighting and framing to tell its story with striking shots around every corner. The voice acting is also remarkable — it sounds nothing like what you’re used to from "usual" video game voice acting, but it works perfectly alongside the visuals, and the decision from a small dev to fully voice act the project really does elevate it.
But of course, the main event here is the narrative. It deals with really big topics: generational trauma, oppression, and what revolution looks like — and requires. The answers it presents are not easy, and though the game is mostly linear, the ending features a player decision that is really poignant and almost tests the player on if they have truly understood what the game has to say. To say any more would be to spoil the experience — it’s something you should really play yourself.
Those of you who know my taste are probably unsurprised that the metaphor-heavy, symbolism-rich, narrative thriller would appeal to me, but in a year full of strong games this is the one that really stuck in my mind. Hekki grace, Sunset Visitor - I cannot wait to see what your next project will be.