14 DAY TRIAL // With the Tokyo Game Show wrapped up, the CESA, which organizes the event, also handed out the Japan Game Awards, which have the distinction of honoring both older releases judged to be the most impressive and future titles judged to have the potential for greatness.
In the Game of the Year competition, only videogames released between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 in Japan were considered. The Grand Award was offered to Mario Kart Wii from Nintendo and to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots from Konami.
Awards of Excellence were delivered to: Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix; Demon's Souls from Sony; BioHazard 5 aka Resident Evil 5 by Capcom; Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 – from Atlus; Pokemon Platinum Version by Nintendo; 428: In the blocked city, Shibuya from Sega; Rhythm Heaven from Nintendo; Yakuza 3 by Sega and Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel from Level 5.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite received a Special Award, while Pokemon Platinum Version got a nod for the sales it generated, more than 6 million units world wide. The best Global Award for Foreign Product was offered to Gran Theft Auto IV, while Wii Fit got the same award for a Japanese product.
The Future Winners awards attracted a varied array of titles, like Assassin's Creed II, Bayonetta, Dragon Quest VI, Final Fantasy XIII, Ghost Trick, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Lost Planet 2, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Ni no Kuni, Professor Layton and the Demon's Flute, Tales of Graces and Yakuza 4.
Interestingly, most of the videogames on the list are created by Japanese developers, with the notable exceptions of Assassin's Creed II and Bayonetta, which bear more Western styles. It remains to be seen which of them will confirm by getting great reviews and a lot of sales.