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Best Adventure Game
Sphinx & The Cursed Mummy
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Did you know the reason why the Sphinx is missing her nose is because British soldiers used the nose as target practice during WWI? Well this re-incarnation of the Egyptian mythology is fully complete with nose intact. Sphinx is an expansive vast adventure game which puts you in control of the young demi-god sphinx and a troubled cursed mummy. Puzzles, exploration, and action awaits the gamer in Sphinx set behind a interesting story and covered in great graphics and animation. Sphinx is the total package when comes to adventure. |
Runner-up
Beyond Good and Evil
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Beyond Good and Evil is an excellent adventure from Ubi Soft. With a unique plot, plenty of areas to explore, and memorable characters, it's a gem amongst the mass of games released each year. Although cartoon-like, the atmosphere of the game would make Orwell proud, as just by walking through the town you'll be bombarded with endless streams of propaganda. With it's combination of serious storytelling and comical characters, Beyond Good and Evil is a bright world waiting to be explored. |
Honorable Mention: Grabbed by the Ghoulies |
Best Fighting Game
Soul Calibur 2
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I know this wasn't a surprise. One of the biggest games to come out this year was Namco's Soul Calibur 2. This follow up to the mighty Dreamcast's Soul Calibur lived up to the high standards it set in the past. The graphics of this fighter can only be matched with DOA3, which is saying a lot. It has a wide variety of game modes, weapons and characters. This has to be the best story mode integrated into a fighting game to date. A great bonus to this cross-platformer is the different characters for each system. I think the Xbox got away with the cherry of them all with Todd McFarlane's hell-demon, Spawn. Soul Caliber 2 is one of the best fighting games of all time, and can be enjoyed by all levels of gamers.
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Runner-up
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
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Tao-Feng is good, but its not in the same league as Namco's Soul Caliber. Tao Feng has some interesting ideas in a year that was severely lacking fighting titles. Most notably is the ability to injure your opponent and give them the disadvantage off less power and mobility with their inured body part. The battles between the Pale Lotus and the Black Mantis clans are epic and come and add a sense of importance to the game. Tao Feng is worth a look, and the guy on the cover is one bad dude. |
Honorable Mention: Capcom vs. SNK: EO |
Best Role-Playing Game
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
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The only way you haven't heard of this game is if you've been living thousands of miles away from internet and tv access. It's the most talked about title of 2003, and it deserves every single bit of praise it receives. There isn't another RPG that brings life into a game like KOTOR does, and it's all based in the popular universe of Star Wars. Finally, a game of the same calibur as the original trilogy (but without Ewoks). KOTOR will stun you with it's story, deep combat system, and graphics, gluing you to your couch for the next two weeks. Despite George Lucas's best efforts to ruin this franchise, Bio-Ware shows what a great world it can be.
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Runner-up
Morrowind: Game of Year Edition
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Morrowind is back with an interesting development in console gaming. Morrowind is the first titled to be re-released with two expansion packs integrated into the original. The PC Add-on packs Bloodmoon and Tribunal give more hours to explore and feed your addiction. Just when you thought Morrowind couldn't be more immersing they give us more delights in the world of Blight and Magic. |
Honorable Mention: Arx Fatalis |
Most Innovative Game
True Crime: Streets of L.A.
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True Crime: Streets of LA had a lot of hype to live up to. Not only did fulfill those expectations, it exceeded them in such a way as to move past the GTA series and show a truly innovative and blended game. It doesn't shine for any single innovation, but for the way it merged various aspects into one cohesive package. If the game's dynamics and branching storyline weren't enough, they accomplished the huge task recreating one of North America's biggest cities, Los Angeles.
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Runner-up
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic broke many of the old conventions of role-playing games. It features an immersive third person camera reminiscent of shooters, not RPG's. Combined with the turn-based combat (yet played out in real time), this game puts more action into an RPG than any other. An intriguing storyline that's better than anything Lucas puts out, and enough dialogue options to make you really choose what type of character you want to play. The choice to be a dark or light Jedi and a superb cast of characters make this an RPG that will set a new standard for all others. |
Honorable Mention: Apex, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time |
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