The Games of 2003 / December 20 2003
I've never done this, but since I'm relatively obsessed with video gaming, figured the end of the year is as good a time as any for this post. These are PC games that are my personal favorite, not necessarily which I think are the best.
01: Splinter Cell
An unpretentious, action-oriented Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell has redefined stealth gaming for me. Until now, I've always been too impatient or bored to play games like Thief without trying to bust out a 9mm. SC gives me a great atmosphere in which I'm actually encouraged to be stealthy.
02: Call of Duty
With an exceptional, tension-filled atmosphere and mind-numbing levels, Call of Duty is undoubtedly the best World War II game in history. Specifically, the creators of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault have brought forth the Russian missions in Stalingrad as an experience to behold.
03: Madden NFL 2004
Unparalled depth in a sports game, complex yet clean gameplay and just good fun: EA Sports has finally gotten sports gaming exactly on the dot. The franchise and owner modes, filled with options such as pre-draft scouting and setting prices on hot dogs, makes the game hands-on.
04: Midnight Club II
Amazing tracks/different cities (Paris and Tokyo are especially fascinating) and a hell of a lot more attitude than any Need For Speed games. Hands down my favorite racer now, Midnight Club II is the only game I've reinstalled this year to beat all over again.
05: Max Payne 2
Beautiful storytelling, more of the same (which is more than welcomed) and solid action. Max Payne is a franchise now, one that probably will keep on churning out enjoyable (if unrevolutionary) video-cinemas time and time again.
06: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Unoriginal yet refined. Great time waster, fun premise, nostalgic/memorable soundtrack. In short, the game is addicting. As pointless as it may feel, for weeks and weeks, you still get the itch to play it again.
07: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Crystal clear graphics, great controls for a platform game, ambitious presentation and enjoyable story. They failed miserably with Prince of Persia 3D, but they've more than made up for it with this Game of the Year candidate.
08: Rise of Nations
Fusing a seamless blend between Civilization-style technologies and Age of Empires-style gameplay, Rise of Nations has proven that Microsoft's Ensemble Studios knows the meaning of a refined, history-based RTS. The game is fantastic, and although I'm not a big RTS player, kept me busy for a good while.
09: Deus Ex: Invisible War
Better than most people say; I had fun, but it was very short-lived and not nearly as memorable as the first. The game was too streamlined and heavily hurt by the Xbox exclusivity, which forced it to be dumbed down.
10: Beyond Good & Evil
Simple but enjoyable storyline and gameplay, great use of music/sound and nice cinematics. Although it looks very much like a console port, Beyond Good & Evil has that borderline kids/adult feeling that makes it just feel good to play.
Honorable Mention: Knights of the Old Republic
I generally dislike RPGs, but I actually played a decent bit of this. For both Star Wars fans and RPG geeks, this is a godsend. Unfortunately, I'm half the first and none the latter.
