Top 5 games of 2003

[Guest Askewniverse]

The title pretty much says it all. What are your top 5 games of the year?

 

My top 5 games of the year (in no particular order):

 

1. WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (PS2)- I’m a wrestling fan, so naturally, this is going to be on my list. In my opinion, not only is this the best WWE game this year, but it’s one of the best WWE games period. From the great Season Mode to the all-new Elimination Chamber, HCTP is a must-have for any WWE fan that owns a PS2.

 

2. Tony Hawk’s Underground (PS2)- I’m a huge fan of the Tony Hawk series and THUG didn’t disappoint. There’s a ton of new features, including the ability to get off the board and walk around. There’s also an all-new Story Mode, which adds some freshness to the series.

 

3. Need for Speed Underground (PS2)- my thoughts on this game can be found in the NFS thread.

 

4. Soul Calibur II (GameCube)- the sequel to one of my favorite fighting games of all-time. This is one of the only games that I’ve played on all three systems. While I think that the Xbox version is the best overall, the GameCube version is my favorite. I’m pretty sure that most people here can figure out why I prefer the GameCube version.

 

5. (tie) Madden NFL 2004 (PS2)/ESPN NFL Football (Xbox)- yeah, I’m kinda cheating here, but it was really hard for me to choose between the two. Each game has something that the other one doesn’t. Playmaker and Owner mode are the icing on the cake for Madden, while the First-Person mode is a cool addition to ESPN.

 

Haven’t played yet:

Viewtiful Joe (GameCube)

Mario Kart: Double Dash (GameCube)

Manhunt (PS2)

Project Gotham Racing 2 (Xbox)

SSX 3

[Damaramu 0]

I thought you were going to give us the top 5 selling games from this year....anyone know that tidbit?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Mine:

 

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

Final Fantasy Origins

Simpsons Hit and Run

Final Fantasy X-2

Castlevania Aria of Sorrow

 

Honorable Mention:

Mario/Luigi Superstar Saga

Diseaga

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Megaman Battle Network Blue

Madden 04

[Guest Askewniverse]

EDIT: never mind.

Edited December 4, 2003 by Askewniverse

[Anya 0]

I'm not sure yet. I am playing through Max Payne 2 and Manhunt now and have Prince of Persia waiting in the wings. So far though I'd say these are what I'm thinking...

 

Final Fantasy X-2

Final Fantasy Origins

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic

Silent Hill 3

Soul Calibur II

 

 

We need a big game awards thread at the end of the year with a bunch of catagories.

[Damaramu 0]

We need a big game awards thread at the end of the year with a bunch of catagories.

You're asking for trouble for that one.

Anyways I can't really give a list as I play games at such random times that I can't even really tell you what came out this year and what didn't.

[Aero 0]

1. Zelda: Wind Waker

2. Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain

3. Madden 2004

4. Wrestlemania XIX

 

I can't even think of any other new games I bought this year. I do plan on getting Mario Kart Double Dash and Tony Hawk Underground, though. I haven't played either of them yet.

[Guest Kamui]

Mine:

 

1. Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)

 

2. Guilty Gear XX (X2 in the states) (PS2)

 

3. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube)

 

4. Capcom vs. SNK 2 (X-Box- picking this version due to the online play)

 

5. Soul Calibur II (Gamecube- Link rocked, so picking this version)

 

Honorable Mention:

Final Fantasy XI (Haven't played it enough yet to put it in my top 5, but I really like it so far)

 

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

 

Xenosaga (too many cinemas keeps it off the top 5, but otherwise this is a really great game)

 

F-Zero GX (bad multiplayer is the only major flaw)

 

Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 (X-Box)

[chirs3 0]

In no particular order...

 

1. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

2. SSX3

3. Final Fantasy X-2

4. Amplitude

5. Viewtiful Joe

[Guest Ahhee]

1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - PC Lucasarts tossed Bioware their license to print money in the form of Star Wars games and BW turned out one hell of an RPG.

 

2. Soul Caliber 2 - PS2 Namco turns out yet another excellent fighter.

 

3. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne - PC If there's anything to fault Remedy/Rockstar for here, it's for playing it safe and following the exact same formula as the original. However when the original is one of my all time favorite PC shooters it's excusable. Toss in a kickass physics system and ragdoll death animations and you've got a recipe for fun.

 

4. Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy - PC Jedi Academy's only fault to me is just like Max Payne's, more of the same. However, being the Star Wars mark that I am I'll gladly look past this as it had an excellent single player campaign and I really enjoyed the fact that I wasn't playing as Kyle Katarn this time around.

 

5. Starsky & Hutch - PS2 If you had told me at the beginning of the year that a budget title based on a 70's cop show would be on my short list of favorite games I would've slapped you. I'll be damned if S&H isn't one of the best two-player experiences I've had in several years. Play this game with a friend, one as the driver (steering wheel optional) and the other as the shooter (light gun required) and just grin as the pr0n music blares. Fun fun game when played co-op, except when your girlfriend can't shoot for shit, and you're forced to bite your tongue and act like it was your bad driving that caused you to get cancelled.

[Jer 0]

I really haven't played many games this year, so thinking of five worthy games was a little hard. Anyways...

 

1. Soul Calibur 2 (PS2) - This definately has to be my game of the year because I've probably played it more than all this years' other games combined. It's probably not as technically good as VF4e, it's too much of a turtle game at top level and the port was kind of weak, but I still love it. It's just fun, and I've met a bunch of awesome people from playing tourneys. The east coast SC2 players are just too cool.

 

2. DDR Extreme (JP PS2) - The definative DDR game. If this is the last home DDR title, it's a great way to go. Definately pick this up if you have an import/modded PS2.

 

3. Guilty Gear X2 (PS2) - Excellent 2D fighter that manages to both be innovative and truly high quality, at least on level with Capcom's stuff. I suck at it, but it's damn fun to play, and awesome to watch at high level.

 

4. Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution (PS2) - A spectacularly good fighting game that unfortunately I don't have time for. It may well be the best 3D fighter ever made. It's just too bad there's not much of a scene for it in the US.

 

5. Final Fantasy Origins (PS1) - An awesome remake of one of my favorite old school games, FF1. FF1 was great before, and now you can play it without having to buy potions one at a time~! Totally quality remake. Too bad FF2 is total garbage, with the worst battle system ever.

[AndrewTS 0]

WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (PS2)- I’m a wrestling fan, so naturally, this is going to be on my list.

 

*barf* If you don't mind, you know, the messed-up gameplay. I've seen some really bad fighting games with more gameplay balance than that. I'm really pissed off at how Yukes f'ed this puppy up.

 

Anyway--my personal list, in no particular order...

 

Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Guilty Gear X2

Viewtiful Joe

LoZ: Wind Waker

[Downhome 0]

I haven't played many for the GameCube this year, so here goes, in no particular order...

 

1) WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain --- It's without a doubt, my favorite USA released Pro. Wrestling game of all time. (PS2)

 

2) Prince of Persia --- This one is quite possibly in my top five or top ten of favorite video games of all time. It's a work or art, perfection, a wonderful experiance for a video game. I can't think of a single thing I dislike about it. (Xbox)

 

3) Wario Ware Inc. --- This beast is consuming my time, it owns me. (GBA)

 

4) The Simpsons: Hit & Run --- The perfect Simpsons video game, I can't wait for the sequel. (PS2)

 

5) Zelda: Wind Waker --- Does this need an explanation? (GameCube)

 

6) Freedom Fighters --- One of my favorite action games ever. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect, is that I beat it so quickly...it was TOO SHORT! (PC)

 

...so there you go, a nice little round of games from all of the systems. If Ninja Gaiden is released this year, I'm sure that it'll take the place of something on this list, it's going to be great.

 

Yea, I did a top six instead of five, so sue me.

[Guest Coffey]

1.) WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain

2.) Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

 

These were the only two games that I played that were new this year.

[Yuna_Firerose 0]

1. Final Fantasy X-2 - I totally agree with Sakura that this is the Game of the Year. The opening cinema totally blew me away [from the first time I saw the Koda Kumi version of the FMV, I was hooked.] Okay, it can be a bit silly at times, but there's nothing wrong with sillyness, now is there?

 

Plus, I simply LOVE the open-ended aspect of it. Different endings, different ways to the play the game...not to mention the job systems. One person can have their Rikku be a total badass Black Mage, while another can have Rikku excel as the gunner. The combinations are totally mind-boggling.

 

And, of course, the replay value. Not just for the endings, but for all the different Garment Grinds, the job classes, etc etc. Through all this fun, you have top-class voice acting to add emotion and depth to the computerized characters. There may be problems in the game, to be sure [some of the acting is cheesy, like the two chicks you need to steal the outfits from, but thankfully, all the main charas, 'cept for maybe LeBlanc, are beautifully voiced].

 

2. Prince of Persia - I haven't played the final game yet, but thanks to the wonderfully extensive demo in OPM, I've gotten a pretty good game of how wonderful it is. Hell, I mastered the demo, it's just that awesome.

 

....Those are the only games that come to mind. I've played Disagae [sp?], but it seems to be rental only.

 

I also have a rental of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, or whatever the PS2 game is. Is it worth playing?

[AndrewTS 0]

I also have a rental of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, or whatever the PS2 game is. Is it worth playing?

Yes. Not perfection, and I like AoS more than it, but I've played a good bit of it over at a friend's place, and I'm very much considering it.

[starvenger 0]

3) Wario Ware Inc. --- This beast is consuming my time, it owns me. (GBA)

It is the perfect game to play on an airplane. Addictive, but short enough "levels" that you can turn it off at just about any time...

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

5. Crimson Skies

4. Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution

3. Wind Waker

2. Project Gotham Racing 2

1. Knights of the Old Republic

 

 

The game I play most is Rainbow Six 3...but since I haven't even touched the single player...I wouldn't know how to rank it.

[Ted the Poster 0]

My favorites, in no real order...

 

1. Firepro Wrestling Z- The only import I got this year, and the only one I've played since.

2. Manhunt- Ho-lee SHIT. This game is scary as hell, no matter when and where you play.

3. GTA: Vice City(XBox)- Rockstar owns me, damn it.

4. Tony Hawk's Underground- Best in the series, except for the horrible driving physics, which don't have a place in a Tony Hawk game, period.

5. WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain- Finally, a good season mode. The main thing it needs now is a way to bury people(coughHHHcough) or push them. The new submission system is also excellent.

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

1. Viewtiful Joe

2. Virtua Fighter 4

3. Mario & Luigi: The Superstar Saga