A Profile of the Year's Best Games

By: Gil of Monster Hunter Inc.

Best Fighter: Guilty Gear X2

Right now, your all thinking, “Whaaaaaaa? Why isn't Soul Calibur 2 in this hansome and talented man's Best Fighter slot?” Well bucko, lemme explain. While Soul Calibur 2 was nice, it was very repetitive and short. Guilty Gear X2 is a 2d sketch-motion fighter for the PS2, and it is truly individual. Besides the quite obvious (and brilliantly done) sketch-motion graphics, this game has virtually the best soundtrack I have ever heard for a video game. Don't think this game is only about presentation though. GGX2 has brilliant gameplay, and tons of awesome characters. Check this one out.

Runners Up: Soul Calibur II

Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution

Best Shooter: Halo

Perhaps you notice Halo came out a long time ago. But I'm not talking about the Xbox, I talkin' PC baby. Halo was originally scheduled for PC but for some reason has been delayed until now. Bottom line, don't go and get an Xbox just so you can play Halo, as the PC version is most likely better. Though the graphics aren't upgraded in any way, controls are pinpoint accuracy, and there are lots of extras. New maps, 6 new weapons, and the mother of all upgrades: Online play. Halo is a must buy for any PC owner who likes shooters.

Runners Up: Metal Arms: Glitch in the System

Armed and Dangerous

Best Racer: Mario Kart : Double Dash!!

First and foremost: Nintendo is not for kids, and anyone who thinks that knows absolutely nothing about video games. Okay, now that I've said that, on to the game. Mario Kart is easily be best racer out this year, could very well be the best game this year, and is arguably the best racer of all time. Control is near perfect and beautifully whimsical graphics and audio pull things together. Gameplay is super strong with lots of courses, modes, and, well just a lot of really good everything. This game is superbly fun, and anyone can play it. Nintendo isn't for kids; it's for the whole family. It's for everyone. Nintendo also seems to remember something many people have forgotten: these are games .

Runners Up: Project Gotham 2

Need for Speed: Underground

Best Sports: Madden NFL

When it comes to realism in sports games (or in most games in general) few are on par with that of Madden NFL. Madden boasts everything from your first training at football camp to pricing the hotdogs at your stadium in franchise mode. Madden has all 32 American football teams with all the players, stats, and even stadium design all done with eerie accuracy. Gameplay is superb, and there is no doubt that you'll be piling 80+ hours on this one. Any football fan should consider this as a viable Christmas gift. Also, I should mention this is not a pick-up-and-play type game. To win even the easiest game (such as against the Detroit Lions), you'll need to go through all the training and testing possible. Also note that Madden is only part sports game: it is very much strategic RPG.

Runners Up: NBA Street vol. II

Topspin

Best Extreme Sports: SSX 3

Most people were expecting THUG to be the season's best sports game, but it sadly fell (very) short of expectation. On the other side of the chart, SSX 3 was expected to be mediocre, but it just blew the doors off the reviewers. With ten playable characters (and 20 secret ones), not to mention a mountain two and a half time taller than Everest (with over 18 courses on it), and replayability on par with a certain game that starts with tet and ends with ris. This game is a must have for any extreme sports gamer. With realism left in the dust, SSX grabbed some serious airs and some ginormous (giant + enormous) review scores, SSX3 is just plain brilliant. Not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of collectable to be bought/found. Pick this one up.

Runners Up: Tony Hawk 's Underground

1080° Avalanche

Best Platformer: Jak II

Despite being viewed as a GTA rip off (what game isn't?) Jak II was a true stroke of brilliance. The last game was a fairly well done Platformer, but it had nothing that really made it stand out (besides the humor). Jak II has a story, it has comedy, and it has lots of gameplay. The world is free roam like GTA, and you can commandeer vehicles also like GTA. You also will be able to Hoverboard anywhere and anytime. Graphics are nice, and voiceovers are brilliant. Besides all the effects and glamour, it still is based around a very strong Platformer with a lot of comedy built in. Anyone with a PS2 should definitely buy or rent this at least.

Runners Up: Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando

Sonic Advance 2

Best RPG: Final Fantasy X-2

Although the Final Fantasy series has always had a Roman numeral to signify each game's position, none of these games have ever really been sequels. In FFX-2 (it is pronounced Final Fantasy Ten-Two not X two), you play the now depressed Yuna as she frantically searches for her lost love Tidus (cough cough he's gay cough cough). Teaming up with two other femme fatales, Yuna uses her brains, body, and clothes to win battle (sounds and awful a lot like Charlie 's Angels ). Just kidding, just kidding. This game uses a “garment system” (similar to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance's job system), which allows characters to switch skills depending on the battle. Though I'm not much of an RPG guy, and this really isn't a linear RPG, I give it slot one by default.

Runners Up: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Deus Ex: Invisible War (Okay, so technically it's a shooter, but its so much more RPG )

Best Portable Game: Advanced Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

This my friend is what we call a time-suck game. It's just one of those ultra addictive “just one (or 27) more game(s)” type games where you just can't stop playing. AW2 take the strong base of the last game and improves it subtlety with more troop type, more options, more generals, and so much more, I can't even list it. With brilliant gameplay, and good graphics, this turn based strategy game deserves a look from any GBA owner.

Runners Up: Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance

Tony Hawk 's Underground

Best Online Game: SOCOM 2: US Navy Seals

Is it just me or have online games taken over the world? Well, too bad. SOCOM was released on the PS2 a few years ago and started a huge fad. Although online gaming had been around for sometime, this was probably the first popular online game for the next-gen consoles. Combined with real time strategy and realistic combat, SOCOM took the world by storm. SOCOM 2 return with all that made the first game good and more. Better online connections, more weapons, better enemy AI, the list is near endless with improvements. Although there is the price factor of ten or fifteen dollars a month, plus the thirty dollar online adaptor, this game really holds up as strong title for online, shooting, and strategy genres.

Runners Up: Star Wars: Galaxies

Madden NFL