IGN The Best of 2003 Award

[Janus]

IGN The Best of 2003 Award

PC Games
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Best Action Game: Call of Duty
Publisher: Activision | Developer: Infinity Ward
Runner-Up: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Reader's Choice: Call of Duty

Best Adventure Game: Uru: Ages Beyond Myst
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Cyan Worlds
Runner-Up: Broken Sword 3
Reader's Choice: Beyond Good and Evil

Best Economic Simulation Game: SimCity 4
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Maxis
Runner-Up: Railroad Tycoon III
Reader's Choice: SimCity 4

Best Expansion Pack: Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: EALA
Runner-Up: Railroad Tycoon III
Reader's Choice: SimCity 4

Best Flight Simulation: MS Flight Simulator 2004
Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Microsoft
Runner-Up: Lock On
Reader's Choice: MS Flight Simulator 2004

Best Multiplayer Game: Call of Duty
Publisher: Activision | Developer: Infinity Ward
Runner-Up: Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne
Reader's Choice: Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne

Best Persistent World Game: Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment | Developer: LucasArts
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy XI
Reader's Choice: Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided

Best Racing Game: F1 Challenge '99-'02
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Electronic Arts
Runner-Up: Need for Speed Underground
Reader's Choice: Need for Speed Underground

Best RPG: Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare
Runner-Up: Deus Ex: Invisible War
Reader's Choice: Knights of the Old Republic

Best Sports Game: Madden NFL 2004
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Tiburon
Runner-Up: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Reader's Choice: Madden NFL 2003

Best Strategy Game: Command & Conquer Generals
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: EALA
Runner-Up: Empires: Dawn of the Modern World
Reader's Choice: Command & Conquer Generals

Best Graphics: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Tron 2.0
Reader's Choice: Max Payne 2: Fall of Max Payne

Best Sound: Call of Duty
Publisher: Activision | Developer: Infinity Ward
Runner-Up: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Reader's Choice: Call of Duty

Best Story: Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare
Runner-Up: Deus Ex: Invisible War, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Reader's Choice: Knights of the Old Republic

Biggest Surprise: The Half-Life 2 Story
Runner-Up: IGN/GameSpy merger
Reader's Choice: Theft of the Half-Life 2 Source Code

Best Game No One Played: Savage
Publisher: iGames | Developer: S2Games
Runner-Up: Freedom Fighters
Reader's Choice: Freedom Fighters

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NGC Games
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Best Action Game: Viewtiful Joe
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
Runner-Up: Prince of Persia
Reader's Choice: Viewtiful Joe

Best Adventure Game: Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo
Runner-Up: Beyond Good & Evil
Reader's Choice: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Best Extreme Sports Game: SSX3
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Electronic Arts Canada
Runner-Up: 1080 Avalanche
Reader's Choice: SSX 3

Best Fighting Game: Soulcalibur II
Publisher: Namco | Developer: Namco
Runner-Up: Gotcha Force
Reader's Choice: Soulcalibur II

Best Multiplayer Game: Soulcalibur II
Publisher: Namco | Developer: Namco
Runner-Up: Pac-Man Vs.
Reader's Choice: Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Best Platform Game: Tak and the Power of Juju
Publisher: THQ | Developer: Avalanche
Runner-Up: Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Reader's Choice: Wario World

Best Racing Game: F-Zero GX
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Amusement Vision
Runner-Up: Burnout 2
Reader's Choice: Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Best Sports Game: Madden 2004
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Tiburon
Runner-Up: NBA Street Vol. 2
Reader's Choice: Madden NFL 2004

Best Graphics: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Reader's Choice: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Best Sound: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: Factor 5
Runner-Up: Beyond Good & Evil, Prince of Persia
Reader's Choice: Rogue Squadron III

Best Story: Beyond Good & Evil
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft
Runner-Up: Prince of Persia
Reader's Choice: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Biggest Surprise: Nintendo's New Philosophy
Runner-Up: Nintendo cryptically announces it will release a new product

for 2004.
Reader's Choice: NGC outsells PS2 during Thanksgiving

Best Game No One Played: Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Publisher: THQ | Developer: Eurocom
Runner-Up: Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Reader's Choice: Simpson's Hit & Run

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Xbox Games
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Best Action Game: Freedom Fighters
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: IO Interactive
Runner-Up: Panzer Dragoon Orta
Reader's Choice: Max Payne 2: Fall of Max Payne

Best Action-Adventure Game: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Beyond Good & Evil
Reader's Choice: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Best Extreme Sports Game: SSX 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Electronic Arts Canada
Runner-Up: Tony Hawk's Underground
Reader's Choice: Tony Hawk's Underground

Best Fighting Game: Soulcalibur II
Publisher: Namco | Developer: Namco
Runner-Up: Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Reader's Choice: Capcom vs SNK 2 EO

Best First-Person Shooter: Rainbow Six 3
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War
Reader's Choice: Rainbow Six 3

Best Music Game: Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix
Publisher: Konami | Developer: Konami
Runner-Up: Music Mixer
Reader's Choice: Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix

Best Online Game: Rainbow Six 3
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Reader's Choice: Rainbow Six 3

Best Racing Game: Project Gotham 2
Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Bizarre Creations
Runner-Up: Midnight Club II
Reader's Choice: Project Gotham 2 Racing

Best RPG: Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare
Runner-Up: Deus Ex: Invisible War
Reader's Choice: Knights of the Old Republic

Best Sports Game: NBA Street Vol. 2
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Electronic Arts Canada
Runner-Up: Madden NFL 2004
Reader's Choice: ESPN NFL Football

Best Downloadble Content: MechAssault
Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Microsoft
Runner-Up: Splinter Cell
Reader's Choice: Splinter Cell

Best Graphics: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Microsoft
Runner-Up: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Reader's Choice: Project Gotham 2 Racing

Best Sound: Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare
Runner-Up: Rainbow Six 3
Reader's Choice: Knights of the Old Republic

Best Story: Deus Ex: Invisible War
Publisher: Eidos | Developer: Ion Storm
Runner-Up: Knights of the Old Republic
Reader's Choice: Knights of the Old Republic

Biggest Surprise: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Microsoft
Runner-Up: The Simpsons Hit & Run
Reader's Choice: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge

Best Game No One Played: Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Publisher: Vivendi Universal | Developer: Swingin' Ape
Runner-Up: Otogi: Myth of Demons
Reader's Choice: Panzer Dragoon Orta

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PS2 Games
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Best Action Game: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Runner-Up: Dynasty Warriors 4, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Reader's Choice: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Best Adventure Game: Beyond Good & Evil
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft
Runner-Up: Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Reader's Choice: Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

Best Extreme Sports Game: SSX 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Electronic Arts Canada
Runner-Up: Tony Hawk's Underground
Reader's Choice: SSX 3

Best Fighting Game: Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
Publisher: Sega | Developer: Sega-AM2
Runner-Up: Guilty Gear X2, Soulcalibur II, War of the Monsters
Reader's Choice: Soulcalibur II

Best First-Person Shooter: SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALS II
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America | Developer: Zipper

Interactive
Runner-Up: Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior
Reader's Choice: SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALS II

Best Music Game: Amplitude
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America | Developer: Harmonix
Runner-Up: Karaoke Revolution
Reader's Choice: Amplitude

Best Online Game: SOCOM: US Navy SEALs II
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America | Developer: Zipper

Interactive
Runner-Up: ESPN NFL Football, Tony Hawk's Underground
Reader's Choice: SOCOM: US Navy SEALs II

Best Platform Game: Ratchet and Clank Going Commando
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America | Developer: Insomniac

Games
Runner-Up: Jak II, Tak and Power of Juju
Reader's Choice: Ratchet and Clank Going Commando

Best Puzzle Game: Culdcept
Publisher: NEC Interchannel | Developer: OmiyaSoft
Runner-Up: Bombastic
Reader's Choice: Bombastic

Best Racing Game: Midnight Club II
Publisher: Rockstar Games | Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Runner-Up: Colin McRae Rally 3, Need for Speed Underground
Reader's Choice: Need for Speed Underground

Best RPG: Final Fantasy X-2
Publisher: Square Enix | Developer: Square Enix
Runner-Up: Dark Cloud 2, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy X-2

Best Sports Game: Madden NFL 2004
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Tiburon
Runner-Up: NBA Street Vol. 2
Reader's Choice: Madden NFL 2004

Best Strategy Game: Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII
Publisher: KOEI | Developer: KOEI
Runner-Up: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Gladius
Reader's Choice: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Best Wrestling Game: WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain
Publisher: THQ | Developer: Yukes
Runner-Up: Def Jam Vendetta
Reader's Choice: WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain

Best Graphics: Jak II
Publisher: SCEA | Developer: Naughty Dog Software
Runner-Up: Dark Cloud 2, Zone of Enders: The 2nd Runner
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy X-2

Best Sound: Final Fantasy X-2
Publisher: Square Enix | Developer: Square Enix
Runners-Up: Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, SSX 3
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy X-2

Best Story: Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Publisher: Namco | Developer: Monolith Software
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy X-2, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy X-2

Biggest Surprise: Sony's PSP Announcement
Runner-Up: Eidos handing Crystal Dynamics development of the Tomb Raider franchise, IGN/GameSpy merger, no PS2 price drop in 2003
Reader's Choice: Sony's PSP Announcement

Best Game No One Played: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Publisher: Atlus | Developer: Nippon Ichi
Runner-Up: Downhill Domination, Magic Pengel
Reader's Choice: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

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GBA Games
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Best Action Game: Wario Ware
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo
Runner-Up: Max Payne
Reader's Choice: Wario Ware

Best Adventure Game: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Publisher: Konami | Developer: Konami
Runner-Up: Boktai
Reader's Choice: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Best Extreme Sports Game: Tony Hawk's Underground
Publisher: Activision | Developer: Vicarious Visions
Runner-Up: Jet Grind Radio
Reader's Choice: Tony Hawk's Underground

Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition
Publisher: Midway | Developer: Midway
Runner-Up: Digimon: Battle Spirits 2
Reader's Choice: King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood

Best Multiplayer Game: Ultimate Brain Games
Publisher: Telegames | Developer: Cosmigo
Runner-Up: Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Reader's Choice: Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Best Platform Game: Super Mario Advance 4 Super Mario Bros. 3
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo
Runner-Up: Sonic Advance 2
Reader's Choice: Super Mario Bros. 3: Super Mario Advance 4

Best Puzzle Game: Lost Vikings
Publisher: Blizzard | Developer: Mass Media
Runner-Up: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
Reader's Choice: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Best Racing Game: Top Gear Rally
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Tantalus
Runner-Up: Rock 'n Roll Racing
Reader's Choice: GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing

Best RPG: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Alphadream
Runner-Up: Fire Emblem
Reader's Choice: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Best Simulation Game: Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
Publisher: Natsume | Developer: Natsume
Runner-Up: The Sims: Bustin' Out
Reader's Choice: Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town

Best Sports Game: FIFA Soccer 2004
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Exient
Runner-Up: Madden NFL 2004
Reader's Choice: Madden NFL 2004

Best Strategy Game: Fire Emblem
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Intelligent Systems
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Best Use of NGC/GBA Connectivity: Pac-Man Vs.
Publisher: Namco | Developer: Nintendo
Runner-Up: Rayman 3

Best Graphics: Max Payne
Publisher: Rockstar Games | Developer: Mobius
Runner-Up: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Reader's Choice: Golden Sun: The Lost Age

Best Sound: Fire Emblem
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Intelligent Systems
Runner-Up: James Bond: Everything or Nothing
Reader's Choice: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Best Story: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Alphadream
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Reader's Choice: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Biggest Surprise: PSP Announcement at E3

Best Game No One Played: Ninja Five-O
Publisher: Konami | Developer: Hudson
Runner-Up: Gem Smashers
Reader's Choice: Ninja Five-O

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Sports Games
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Best Baseball Game: World Series Baseball 2K3
Platforms: PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Sega | Developer: Visual Concepts
Runner-Up: MVP Baseball 2003

Best Basketball Game: NBA Street Vol. 2
Platforms: NGC, PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: EA Canada
Runner-Up: ESPN NBA Basketball

Best Football Game: Madden NFL 2004
Platforms: NGC, PC, PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Tiburon
Runner-Up: ESPN NFL Football

Best Hockey Game: ESPN NHL Hockey
Platforms: PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Sega | Developer: Kush Games
Runner-Up: NHL Hockey 2004

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Overall Game of the Year
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Platforms: PC, Xbox
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare

Runners-Up:

Viewtiful Joe | Platform: NGC
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Platforms: NGC, PC, PS2, Xbox
Publisher: LucasArts | Developer: BioWare

Reader's Choice
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Platforms: NGC
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo

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Gear
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Best Gaming Peripheral: Creative Decoder DDTS-100
Manufacturer: Creative Labs
Runner-Up: ATi Radeon 9800 XT, Nintendo Game Boy Player, Nyko Net Extender

Best Handheld Device: Game Boy SP
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Runner-Up: Tapwave Zodiac, Sony Clie PEG-UX50

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Links
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Main Page
http://bestof2003.ign.com/index.html
PC Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/pc.html
NGC Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/gcn.html
PS2 Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/ps2.html
Xbox Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/xbox.html
Handheld Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/gba.html
Sports Games
http://bestof2003.ign.com/sports.html
Game of the Year
http://bestof2003.ign.com/overall.html
Gear
http://bestof2003.ign.com/gear.html